The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-08

OnO poooiOiiVy VI WIUuB uOluSs OO ldI
as knowledge and experience enable us
to judge, we may safely say that there
could be no knowledge or love of the
right without an actual contact with
the wrong. Whatever view we are
disposed to adopt, the Theistic or
Atheistic, the same facts meet us and
force themselves upon us for some ex-
PLANTATION.
Let us pursue the idea still farther
and observe its bearings on the moral
conflict of life. The alternative ex-
plantations of life which we have al
ready noticed, may properly be desig-
mated as the Gospel Of hope, and the
Gospel of despair. To the Christian
world is given the idea that above the
sorrows and sins of life there is benef-
Gent Power-a being that we may
safely call our Father. The Christian
faith is uncompromisingly opposed to
that unfeeling fatalism which is the
very essence of Atheism. Is it posi-
BILE for struggling, sin stricken human
ity to abide in peace, to hope in life to
have even the content that is necessary
to social and civil peace, with the infu-
ence of psssimism controlling their
thought? 1t may be well enough, in
one sense, for rich and influential peo-
pie to deride the religious convictions
of their less fortunate neighbors, but
humanity as it is, and as it always has
been, feels the need of faith in a
higher power to lift and to save them.
We need not be surprised, therefore,
when we note that religious Atheism
is the power Of anarchy. The lesson
that America has learned within the
last few years is this: that there is a
vital connection between a healthy, re-
ligious faith, and civil morality. And
it is question that the more enlight-
ened sceptics should ponder, whether
or not the propaganda of Atheism is
not to a great extent responsible for
the persistent and infamous designs of
bloodthirsty revolutionists. The YER
dict of history, of society and of indi-
vidual life, is to the effect that the loss
of religious faith is beyond all question
intellectually injurious. There can be
no assurance of social stability and
safety unless men have religious con-
viction of the binding force of all moral
law.
Mr.. Ingersoll is equally infelicious
in ignoring the evolution Of religion,
both in its doctrines and it's precepts.
He heaps upon Christianity every error,
every cruelty that was ever practiced
in its name, or by its professed follow
ers. Such method may be commend
able in political stump speech, but it
shows his real animus in attacking
Christianity. 1t may suit the flippant
sentiments of the loose and unprinci-
pied elements of the world, but not the
sober and disciplined judgment of seri-
GUS minded men. If Mr.. Ingersoll
were as consistent in politics as he is in
religion he would renounce all political
| utilization. am of the opinion that If
he had the honor and the courage to
attack the Ubiquitous wrongs perpe-
trated by any powerful political party,
he would confer an inestimable good
on our country, although he might not
receive the applause and endorsement
of our patriotic politicians, nor receive
large fees from the gullible public for
his bravery.
We may ask one more pertinent
question-what is the main difference
between Christianity and in6delity?
The great aim of Christianity, both
as contained in the life and teachings
of it's divine founder. in the life and
writings of its apostles, and in the his
tory Of the church, is to lift man above
the tantalizing power of passion, to
give supremacy to reason and love, to
rectify, by moral power, the sins and
wrongs of life; to give to man perfect
ideal of life; to impress his mind with
the memorable law of duty; to reveal to
him the Possibilities of humanity, and
to make him feel that God is not far
off being, but one who is near each and
all of US. Let us take survey of the
world, Christian and heather to-day
and witness, if we are able, which force
is the more wholesome and beneficial,
the religious or the irreligious. Which
of the two forces in Christendom is
fighting the enormous and widespread
evils of intemperance; which party has
established means for the reclamation
of the vicious classes; which party in
stitutes measures for the improvement
of the condition of the unfortunate
poor?
The world is not asking so much for
proofs of the inspiration Of the Bible
or for evidences in support of miracles,
as for the active operation of that spirit
of sympathy and self-sacrifice which
Christ has given to man. We need
not be ashamed to compare our aims
and history with those of infdellty in
any age or in any country. Our reli-
gion seeks the welfare of man and of