The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-10-09
NOT ORIGINAL
Ingersollian Sophistries First Heard by
Mother Eve.

Ingersollian SOphistries First Heard by
Mother Eve.
10 one who can escape the binding
dazzle of Robert G. lngersolrs capti-
waiting rhetoric long enough to look
through the rainbow mist to the
thought, logic and doctrine which lie
beneath. it is not hard to detect some
glazing and transparent fallacies. The
brilliant orator seems more intent on
producing brilliant ord-picture than
to be consistent with acknowledged
truths and psychological data. In par
ticular, he seems to delight in flying
squarely in the face of generally ac-
cepted conclusions OF mental and moral
philosophy.
The occasion of this eloquent law
yer's latest incursiOn into the realm OF
pathos and theology was the death of
mis- old-time friend. Mr. Horace Seaver,
late editor of the Investigator, Boston
sheet devoted to free thought in relig-
on and radicalism in politics. Mr..
Seaver died as he lived, bold, defiant
and uncompromising. He did not want
to be buried with the usual rites and
ceremonies of Christian sepulture. He
wanted no orthodox preacher uttering
pious reflections over his lifeless body,
and so Mr.. Ingersolls aid was invoked
to rescue the funeral from the ordinary
and commonplace. and to elevate it
into special and memorable occasion.
In rising up to vindicate and eulogize
the life of his friend the orator must
needs dwell somewhat upon the contro-
verted issues Of belief and unbelief re-
garding the orthodox doctrines OF
| Christianity. Mr.. Seaver was great
and good man. the orator said. because
he dared to take the unpopular side of
great moral questions, and wait on the
future for vindication and success. Ac-
cording TO his dictum, the many, in this
world, are always deluded, blind and
wrong, and the few. the solitary ones,
the boilers. kickers, mugwumps and
cranks, are always right. To this, one
need only reply that if it were possible
for large majority of the most intelli-
gent people on earth to be honestly and
sincerely deceived respecting a matter
which concerns the highest welfare for
time and eternity, the fact alone
would utterly destroy the credibility OF
human testimony on any matter of
opinion and belief Who does not
know that it is an undisputed maxim
of common law as old as the hills that
sin the mouths Of many witnesses con-
troverted truths are and shall be estab.
lished?"
All the orthodox Christians of Boston,
the United States and the world are
wrong and to be pitied. Mr. Ingersoll
would have us believe. and Horace
Seaver and handful of kindred spirits
are alone right and to be praised! How
is that for logic and philosophy? Could
any thing be more absurd than such a
doctrine?
Again, Mr. Ingersoll claimed great
virtue and praise for his friend because
he was unatfectedly sincere" in all
that he said and did. OF what mis-
guided mortal can not the same be said
with equal truthfulness? The orator
laid great stress on this point and paid
the quality of sincerity in human
character very high and beautiful
compliment But sincerity in itself IL
no test o; Brightness or Righteousness.
Any one can be sincerely wrong in 9
matter of belief. though it would be
impossible for all men to be deceived.
Saul OF Tarsus honestly thought he wa:
doing Gods service when he prosecuted