The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-22
INGERSOLL "ELSMERE. Z"
HE DISCUSSES THE PECULIAR THEo-
LOGICAL BELIEF OF THE BOOK.
he Thinks, on tho Whole, That Mrs.
Wards New Book is Conservative
The New Religion OF Elsmero is But
a Temporary Relief.
From the New York World.

Mrs. Wards new book. "Robert Elsmere,"
which is now holding the attention Of the
critics OF tho religious and secular press,
World reporter called on Col. Robert G..
Ingersoll at his house and secured his
views Of the book. Col. lngcrsoll has
carefully read "Robert Elsmere, aud no
discusses IL with n characteristic oloquenco
and boldness which points out clearly
many ways in which the author might
have made more powerful work. Col.
1ngcrsoll repeated the reporters question
and said
"Why do people read book like
Robert Elsnerc, and why do they take
any interest in itT Simply because they
are not satisfied with the religion OF our
day. Tho civilized world has outgrown
the greater part OF the Christian creed.
Civilized people have lost their belief in
the reforming power OF punishment They
find that whips and imprisonment have
but little influence for good. The truth
has dawned upon their minds that eternal
punishment Is infinite cruclly-that IL
can serve no good purpose ami that tho
eternity OF he'll makes heaven impossible.
That there can be in this universe no per
fccily happy place while there is per
fectly miserable placc-that no infinite be-
ing can DO good who knowingly, and, as
one may ray, wilfully created myriads Of
human beings, knowing that they would
bo otcrnally miserable. In o,hor words,
the civilized man Is greater, nObIcr nearer
Just than the old idea OF God The ideal
OF few thousand years ago Is far below
the real OF today. No good man now
would do what Jehovah IL said 10 have
done 1900 years ago, and no civilized hui
man being would do now what, according
10 the Christian religion, Christ threatens
10 do at the day Of judgment"
elias tho Christian religion changed in
theory OF late years, Col. lngcpoll?'
"a few years ago the dcisis denied tho
inspiration Of the Bible on account Of ts
cruelty. At the same limo they worhippod
what thoy were pleased 10 call the God Of
Nature, Now We are convinced that
nature Is ns cruel ~ the Bible; W that II
the God OF nature did not writo tho Bible,
this God at least caused earthquakes aud
pcstilcnCo aud famine. aud this God has
allowed millions Of his children 10 destroy
one another. so that now we hnyo ar
rived NJ the question not ~ 10 whether
the Bible Is inspired and not rs 10 whether
Jehovah is the real God, but whether
there Is God or not. The Intelligence Of
Chrstcndom today does not believe in an
inspired religion any morc than il believes
IN an inspired art or an Inspired literature.
II there be- an infinite God, inspiration In
some particular regard would Do but
paich-it would be- the puiiylngoi crack.
the hiding vi q defect in other words ID
would show that the general plan was de-
ioctiyc."
~ AyY RELIGION AprQuNrE7
DO you consider any religion ado-
qualc?'
"a good man, living In England. draw.
ing a certain salary Tor reading certain
prayers ON stated occasions, iur making a
lew remarks ON the subject 81 religion,
putting ON clothes Of certain cut, wear.
ins gown with certain irIliH nnl illnnccs
siarhul boz an orthodox manner. aud then
looking about him nj tho suffering aud
nguny ui iho world, would not feel miis-
1ed that hC was doing anything u value
for ihc human Mro. In thc lr-i place,
he would dcplorc his own weakness, his
own poverty bis Inability ip hrlp his
fellow men. lie would long ryery mo.
mont ior wealth, That Doe might iccl thr
hungry aud gloihc lhc naked lur kuoN.
edge, tor miraculous power that De might
heal Che s'Ck and the lImo aud thlt he
might give 60 ihc a formed the beauty Of
proportion. lie would bralu 90 wonder
how o. being oi infinite poujucss and iu.
finite power could allow l'f children a.
die, ip suffer- Co hc drlurmrl by necessity.
by poverty, to be- tempted hci0nd o..
tisiluuc, how lac could allow tlu lew
e. live boo luxury end the many 100
poverty nud want, and ihr mlrc be- won.
dcrd the moro u.rlcs aud iuuiril would
seem 40 himself hfg sermons and bis pray.
en- such imam is driven 10 tIp ,Uueludlu
that rel. l.ln 1uclmpl.shrg bat iulo that
10 cIva,Cs as much want as ID alpyiairs,
ana that % burdens tho world with pln.
fitca. Such man would hD forced 10
think Of the millions wasted Boz fupprNi-
ton. lnpthor words theinadoluscy the
usU 'UH UU.E oi religion would lo lUfcpd
upon bis uind. llU would uk himself the
question. rs ID possible that thaisa divine
Institution IL this 40 that mon can do
With tie assistance VI GOil j. this the
lcar"
That b perfectly reasonable question.
j. u not, Col mgcr,olII'
The moment % m1n reaches ihc plin,
whom hc asks himself this question DE- hH.
ocu-cd io Doe an orthodox Christian 10 will
not dn .ay ilHi Boo s0mo other world ju.ti,,
VIII lc Some. 10 God allows injustice 81
Wumpb hero, why mot thprrl
'l.'ltU l.sWyrr stands bon tie dawn o
philosophy Iburc is hardly lirut enough
iur hm in gee caryi hut There b. s1 uIupl
hghi that ihc star lu tug nigh, ui nprnu
uun arg oleCurCl'
TINS uuru or rur r0au.
"lOu 90 not deny thlt "a u.'riuH hrIir
81 grsi cbmlou3' inauirul ihp IMPORTER
"lhUrc b one thing Chat it Is implsf,bl,
ior mr iu comprehend. WHY should an,
one Whom convinced that Christianity b.
superstition. have or feel % SOILS, oi lus
Certainly iu1n acquainted with England
with louden, having NJ the same tim
something Ike q heart muse feel over
whClmcd by thc failure OF what IL know
o. Christianity Hundreds Il thousand
exist thofu without decent food. dWp.linl
In toncinonis clothed with rags. hmilia
with every form of vulgar vice. whore th
honest poor eat the crust that the yiriou
throw away. when thr man ul iutrI.
ligence, Of heart, visits the courts. whri
be finds human liberty thing treated "a
OF no value, aud when be- huar ihr Judr
sentencing girls and BOYS b. tlc polil,u
tia"y- knowing that stain b. h.ing pu
upon them that al the tuan Ol al %
coming years can never wash away =kBsu
ing too, aud ic,liug that this Is done will
out thc sllghtcs. sympathy, ~ a mere ma
Ger Of form, and that the JUDI
puts this brand Of iniamy upU
The forehead Of the convict Just o
choenuily ~ Mexican brands hA catt q