The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-06
GLADSTONE ON INaERsoLL.

Of Mr.. Gladstone reviewing the contro-
versy between DIR. Field and Col. Bob In
gersoll. Mr.. Gladstone accepts the good
that Field and Ingersoll have said Of each
other, and addresses himself exclusively
to the latter:
Believers in the perpetuity of the life OF
the church are not tied to believing in the
perpetual health Of the church. Even tho
great Latin communion, and that com
munion, even since the council Of tho
vatican in 1870 theoretically admits, or
does not exclude the possibility Of a wide
range OF local and partial error in opinion
as well MS conduct. Elsewhere the admis-
sion would be moro unequivocal. 0fsuch
errors in tenet, or in temper and feeling
more or less hardened into tenet, there
has beeu crop alike multifarious. Each
Christian party is sufficiently apt to recog-
niae this fact with regard to every other
Christian party; and no impartial and
reflective minds are aware that no party is
exempt from mischiefs, which lie at tho
root Of the human constitution in
its warped, impaired and dislocated
condition. Naturally enough these
dciormitics help to indispose men toward
unbelicf and when this indisposition has
been developed into system Of negative
warfare, all the faults Of all the Christian
bodies and subdivisions of bodies arc, as IL
was natural to expect they would be- care
fully rakcd together and become part and
parcel Of the indictment against the divine
scheme of redemption.
notice these things in the mass, with
out particularly which might be inyidi-
Gus, for two important purposes. ~ That
We all, who hold by the gospel and the
Christian church, may learn humility and
modcsty, M well rs charity and indul-
gcncc, in the treatment Of opponents, from
our consciousness that we all, alike by our
cxagycraiions and our shortcomings In be-
lief, no less than by faults OF conduct, have
contributed 10 bring about this condition
OF fashionable hostility TO religious inith;
and, -2) that we may rcsol u ely decline TO
be- held bound TO tenois, or 10 consequences
OF tenets, which represent not the great
Chrislendom OF the past OF present. but
| only some hole or corner Of its vast organi-
zltion, and not heavenly treasure hut the
rust OF the cankcr to which that treasure
has been exposed through the incidents OF
| It's custody in carthen vessels
do not remember ever TO have read a
composition in which the merely local col
oring OF particular, and even very limited,
sections oi christianity was more systonat-
ically used IA Il It had been available and
| legitimate argument against the whole than
la lao. IUN al nj
| writes with rare and enviablc brilliancy,
but also with an impetus which he seems
| unable 10 control Dcnunciation, sarcasm
aud invcctiyes may he said TO constitute
the staple OF his work, aud, II argument or
some favorable admission here and there
peeps out for q moment, the writer soon
leaves the dry aud barren heights for his
! lavorilo and more luxurious gnlloping
grounds beneath. . The paper. note
worthy as Il II, leaves on my mind the i'm
preston Of the battlefield where every
man strikes ut every man, and all Is noise
hurry and confusion.
Better surely had II been, and wor;hio
Of the great weight and elevation OF thu
subject. II the controversy had been wage'
after the pattern Of those engagement
wherc a chosen champion ON either side
in space limited and reserved, doc
battle ON behalf Of each silent and OK
peciant host. The promiscneus crowd
represent all the lower cleiWn,s while
| enter into human conflicts, the chose
, champions and the order Of their process
ing signify the dominion OF reason ou
force, and is Just place M sovereign arbit
of the grcnt questions that involve n
mnin destiny oi man. Twill give anotb,
instance OF the tumultuous method |
which the reply conducts, not, indeed, II
argument, but ia ease. Dr. Field Ia
exhibited an example Of what he though
superstition, and had drawn n distinction
between superstition and religion. Bu
TO the author Of the reply all religion
superstition, and, accordingly, he write
Us follows
"You are shocked at tho llindoo moihc
when she gives her child 10 death at th
supposed command Of her God. What d
YOU think Of Abraham Of Jcphthal
What il youropinion OF Jehovah himself
Taking these three appeals in the rc
verse order to that in which they are writ
ten, | will briefly ask as 10 tho closin
challenge, "What DO you think OF Jchc
yah himself" whether this il the tone ]
which q controversy ought 10 be carrie
|
cncircled In The heart OF every believe
with the proioundest reverence aud low
bat the Christian religion teaches, throug
the incarnation, doctrine OF persons
union with God No lofty that II can onl
be- approached In deep rcycrential cain
do not deny that n person who deems
given religion 20 bc wicked may bc L.
onward by logical consistency to impug
in strong terms the character Of tho.al
, thor and object oi that religion. But h
IN surely bound by the laws OF social me
, raliiy aud deccncy 10 consider well th
terms and the manner Of his indictment
, II he POUNDS Il upon allegations Of fac
/ those allegations should be carefully stated
, NO NJ 10 give his antagonists REASONABLE
, evidence that II IL truth aud not tempe
, which wrngs from him sentence Of col
dcinnation, delivered In sobnsiy and sat
y. ness. and not without due commiscrntio
. for those whom he II attempting 10 und'
! cciyc, who think he II himself both d.
! c.iycd and decciycr, but who surely ~
entitled, while this question Is In procei
OF decision, 10 require that he whom the
adore should at least DO treated with thos
decent reserves which ARE deemed casei
Q tial whom human being, say paron
= wife or sister, IL IN question. hut here
contcmptu0ns reference 10 Jehovah 10
" lows. not upon n careful investigation
- the cases Of Abraham and Jcphlhah, bl
= upon a mere summary citation oil them
@ surrender themselves 10 10 speak, as Gu
!. priis. That II to say, summons toncocl
\ at once on the authority Of the reply u
o view which tho writer 10 pleased TO take