The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-07

nizes that he can successfully defend
his infidelity with orthodoxy as basis
for his attack, while his victory might
not be decisive in the other relation !?
1t will interest the reader to give
few sentences from this last article in
illustration of the views now presented.
One of the most striking passages is
that in which the teachings of the
orthodox church in regard to repen-
lance is brought into bold relief. Speak
ing of the orthodox creed Mr.. Ingersoll
says;
at teaches that man may be guilty
of every crime that he may have driven
his wife to insanity, that his example
may have led his children to the peni-
Tertiary, or to the gallows, and that
yet, at the eleventh hour, he may, by
what is called repentance be washed
absolutely pure by the blood Of another
and receive and wear upon his brow
the laurels of eternal peace. Not only
so, but that creed has taught that this
wretch in heaven could look back on
the poor earth and see the wife whom
he swOre to love and cherish, in the
mad-house, surrounded by imaginary
serpents, struggling in the darkness of
night; made insane by his heartlessneSs
that creed has taught and teaches
that he could look back and see his
children in prison cells, or on the scat
fold with the moose about their necks,
and that these visions would not bring
| shade fn md
happy face. 1t is this doctrine, it is
this dogma, so bestial so savage as to
beggar all the languages of men-that
l have denounced. All the words of
hatred, lOathing, and contempt. found
in all the dialects and tongues of men,
are not sufficient to express my hatred,
my contempt, and my loathing of this
creed"
Again, speaking of Pfesbyterianism
Mr.. Ingersoll says with almost savage
candor 81 hate Presbyterianism. 1
hate with all my heart the creed of that
church, and most heartily despise the
God described in the Confession of
Faith" He styles the dogma of eter-
nal pain-the very head and fountain
of his unbelief-as shat infamy of
infamies,'' and he evidently glories in
the statement which follows: 81 have
denounced that inhuman belief; have
denounced every creed that has coiled
in it that viper" He goes farther and
says II have denounced every man
who preached it, the book that contains
it, and with all my heart the God who
threatens it."
1t is in such sweeping assertions as
these that Mr.. Ingersoll betrays his
weakness. He is perfectly well aware
that there are multitudes of good Chris
tians who deny that "the book con-
tains" this dogma, or that God threat
ems it." 1t is well known by him as
the very point at issue in the foremost
religious controversy Of the age; and
yet he sweeps by in torrent of indig-
nation, assuming that the matter is all
settled, and that there is no recourse
In this the great agnostic is more
friendly to orthodoxy than the facts
warrant. He should recognize what
all fair and candid minds now admit,
that it is more than an open question
whether the Bible contains the diabol-
ical doctrine Of eternal damnation.
There is no good reason why, as con-
trovertist, he should concede the Pres
byterian view Of God and the Bible
when he starts out to demolish both,
and with them, as he thinks, the Chris
tian religion. If he could only get this
Presbyterian maggot out of his brain,
no doubt he would write and speak
more judicially on the whole subject.
One fact is certainly clear to Mr.. In
gersoll; this doctrine of eternal dam
nation is Presbyterian doctrine. 1t is
clearly taught in their Confession of
Faith. He thinks Presbyterians are
diabolical on many points in their the
ology. Why not believe that they are
simply mistaken on this point, and give
liberal Christians, and their interpreta-
ton of the Bible, the benefit of the
doubt? The probable answer is that it
suits Mr.. Ingersoll's purpose to associ-
ate this doctrine with Christianity and
to make the fight against it on ortho-
dox grounds. 1t throws his agnosti-
cism and skepticism into holder relief
when he makes background of the
doctrines of the orthodox church.
1t remains to be seen whether DIR.
Field will continue the discussion with
Mr.. Ingersoll. He is good antagonist
for the great skeptic, for he advances
substantially the arguments of the Or
thodox church, and Mr.. Ingersoll is al
ways prepared to meet these. The
skeptical arsenal is always stocked with
weapons destructive to orthodoxy. DIR.
Field has been fairly overwhelmed by
Ingersoll's cyclone of hot logic, pas
sionate rhetoric and poetic denuncia-
ton. We doubt if he can rally suffi-
GENTLY to present even a feeble oppos-
ing force to another whirlwind of the
| Ingersoll kind.
UNFAITHFULNESS IN THE USE OF
TIME AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
IF has haen haId and 10 marianne tba