The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-22
FIELD VERSUS INGERSOLL.
Rev. DIR. Mcleod Thinks the Infidel Beat the
Christian i'm the Late Controversy.

by Kew Dr. NJ cLeod D0IoS6 tue presbyterian
preachers meeting on Monday morning:
The controversy between Doctor Field and
Colonel fnesrsoH is probably closed. Their dis
pute ash appeared in The North American Re-
view, is how before the public. and If it be not
already, 1t, doubtless, soon will be estimated at
its true value. Some persons have called it ssa
great debate" and, from one point of view, It is
Certainly entitled to that distinction. It is de-
bate 10 which certain great questions are in
volved. and in which greatitruths have been.
the ose hand boldly affirmed, and, on the other,
as Boldly denied. But that it deserves to be
called great debate for any other reason, may
well be doubted.
Che value to religion, of this celebrated CON
trovarsy. its method. and the degree of ability
displayed by the dispufants. are now proper
Subjects for remark; anc concerning each of
these points, it is not unnatural that there
should be q wide difference of opinion.
AS to the value of the debate, howev err if one
should say of it that it has neither weakened
the cause of infidelity strengthened the
cause of Christianity, he could hardly be ac-
cused either Of unkindness or of injustice
Dr. Field tells us that he spent several months
making preparation for this conflict and his
well-poished arrows furnish abundant proof of
both his industry aud his patience. But If the
genial Doctor had spent a little more time In
featherng his arrows, and little less time in
polishing them. cannot but think that the
result OF the duel which he seems to have
sought would have been more satisfactory to his
friends, at least, If rot unto himself. To polish
arrows SO smoothly as to rub off the barb. may
make them look well, but the truth is that such
arrows won't stick. A skiilfu. archer should
never make such Q mistake. The gallant
Colonel WAS very careful not to commit such
act of folly. He saw his opportunity, and ne
vigorously embraced it. In this respect
the child of this world acted far more wisely
than the child OF light 1t is true. indeed, that
upon using his arrows the Colonel himself did
considerable polishing. but 1t Is no less true
that with all his polishing he did rot rub off
single barb Moreover, while he deserves the
unenviable credit of using his well-barbed ar
rows in a superlatively satanic cause, yet II
must be conceded. even by his foes, that he has
shown no little skill IN sending them forth on
their unhoy mission. Indeed. so skillful has
he been in this respect, that if his arrows fail
to accomplish their mission. it will be due, not
hurled them, hut rather to the unspeakable
wickedness of his cause; and, ON the other hand,
it is but truth to say that If the Christian re-
ligion docs not suffer result of this contro-
versy it will be DUE not at all to the strength
of its advocate, but rather to the transcendent
holiness of his cause.
The plain truth and, to a Christian. the sad
truth. is that, viewing the debate between DR..
Field and Colonel Ingersoll simply as a debate,
the nfidel has outwitted and outarcued the
Christian at almost every point Dr. Field is
match for Colonel Ipgersoll, and to Halter
himself, to allow himself to be Hattered into
the belief that in this controversy he has proved
himself to be more tnan a match for the lnhdei
is simply absurd. He has done no such thing.
Instead of making great argument against
infdelity, he has scarcely made even toleraoly
strong one-and this although months were
But has not DR.. Field received many gushing
letters complimenting him upon his great
achievement and has not the religious press
praised him beyond measure? Yes But what
of it2 Gush is very cheap, and editorial cour-
tesy Is not unnatural. 1t Is no new thing under
the sun for even religious papers to praise
well as TO censure some persons and things
beyond measure. What is needed to justify
this praise bestowed upon DR.. Field for this
performance is "a bill of particulars" in which
his strong arguments are made to appear. in
fho cfu r1xy ha MS
seen. It is not likely that such bill of particn-
lars will soon be forthcoming, and for this sim
pie reason: it can not be produced.
But in his controversy with Colonel Ingersol
has not DIR. Field proved himself to be cour-
teous Christian geutlemana Certainly. Nobody
doubts that. DR.. Field is, as everybody knows,
a courteous Christian gentleman But, surely
in order to meet successfully in deb ate the most
brilliant as well the most blasphemous infdel
of the age, one ought to possess, in high. de-
gree, other qualifications besides that of an
irenic ana gentlemaniy disposition. In deal
ing with an out and-out nfdel. like Colonel In
gersoll, his antagonist must be able to employ
other tactics and other weapons. He
must be able to solid arguments. He must
have the ability to meet one of the most adroit
and, at the same time, one OF the most unscru-
pulous of debaters. 1t will not do to meet an
adroit argument with q p1ous platitude. In
deed, pious platitudes are not of much account,
either in the pulpit or in the pages of u maya
zine, and Colonel Ibgersoll does not care plea
yune for all the pious platitudes in Christen-
dom; but in his sober moments he does care for
and respect manhood and reason, even though,
as tcuchiDg religious matters. be himself isifull
of unreason.
Now, as to DR.. Fields argument, it will be
doing him injustice to say that it consists
chiefly in series of pious platitudes; that. from
the beginning to the end, it does not contain
one single new idea; that even the Old ideas ad-
vanced are not stated by him in a new way, and
that, in particular and as = whole, it is alto.
it ans sas
it forth. Why, even Paleys old watch
has been pressed into service-and it is about
the brightest thing in his long argumsnt-and
yet DIR. Field seems all unconscious of the fact
that the Colonel has wound that watch up. or,
at least, thinks he has wound it MP long ago
Now the attempt to shoot down an infdel ag-
nostic with that old flatheaded theological
arrow, while it is. of course, somewhat amusing.
can hardly be called stroke of genius. Then,
again. DR.. Field is only little less fortunate
ness" To a Christian, indeed. such evidence
may seern very strong, but for the purpose of
attacking Colonel Ingersol it is simply useless.
It is, for that purpose, an arrow. not only with
out a barb, but without even point.
1t is just cause for widespread and deep regret
that DIR. Field felt it incumbent upon him to
draw Colonel Iugersoll out of his retirement.
and that he provoked him to make another at
tack upon Christianity for it is to be feared that
the devilish ingenuity displayed by Colonel
ddngerso along with his open blasphemmy, will
and pious homilies of DR.. Field will do good.
Indeed, the Christian who, on religious grounds.
provokes Colonei lngersoll to attack Christlani-
ty assumes good deal of responsibility. The
sheep that would deliberately march out of its
own fold ana would CO. unsent, into the den of
a wolf. and, having entered it, would at once
begin to pet him. and coddle him, and stroke
him down, and pat him on the /. back. and tell
him what dear. kind, good-natured. loving old
fellow he was. could hardly be called wise old
sheep. The wolf would be quite likely to see
through ali that sort of palaver. and il the
sheep should return home somewhat worried.
and also, somewhat disfgured. it would only
have itself to blame. Sheep have, indeed, been
known to go in among wolves. and to come ont
unframed; but before any sheep undertakes
to visit wolf, he ought to be very sure that his
Master has sent him.
1t is. of course very unpleasant. and very
annoying, and very aggravating to the lovers of
truth and righteousness, to see this great
Goliath of infidelity going to and fro on the
earth: and walking up and down in it. cursing
the church of Christ, or defying the armies of
the living God But, annoying and ageravaring
as this is, Christians had better, perhaps. bear
patiently with it little longer The agnostic