The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-11-06
A skEPTIc sILENcED.
Els OBJECTIONS TO CHRISTIANITY AND HOW
THEY WE'RE SUCCESSFULLY VET.

@I don't believe in a personal God,
remarked skeptic TO F. R. Jones. a
Welsh Presbyterian minister. on a rail-
road train between Toledo and Cleve-
land.
why not ?" asked the minister.
" Because / can't see Him. His exist
ence is not demonstrabie, capable OF
proof, like facts of science"
The minister asked = Don't You be-
lieve that you are alive, and that / am
alive?7
"Yes," he answered.
"Why do you believe it p
" Because can see you move"
"WelI, said the minister, the loco
motive that is drawing this train ako
moves-is it aliye?"
No, but the engineer who runs it is
alive"
Please tell me, whether the engineer
is part of the machinery, or living
person."
He is living person" replied the
skeptic."
Now, sir, reiorted the minister, ''con-
sistency is jewel-pIease tell me why
you attribute the movement of the loco
tive to living person, but deny that
God. who sets the universe in motion, is
living person p
He could not answer silenced On
this argument, he branched Off into
another objection against Christian
ity.
"What hate, said he, in orthodoxy,
is this endless talk about creed, which
is thrust upon US everywhere, and at ali
tines
"What do you mean by mans creed, /"
asked his opponent.
understand By creed that which
man believes"
well, SIR rejoined the minister, you
have just as much creed as | have. 1
believe there is a personal God ; you be-
lieve the opposite doctrine. believe in
the incarnation of the Son of God for
our redemptions you believe the oppo-
site. | believe in the ruined estate Of
man, you believe the opposite. What is
the difference in the bulk of our creed
only that believe one side Of the ques-
ton, and you believe the other Now,
sir, when we come TO that point, you
have just as much creed on your side as
have on mine but you want the right
to advocate your own sentiments, and
yet wish to deny me the right on my
side"
He was sileneed again.
But" said the skepiic, resuming the
attack by another argument, Christian
ity is not capable of scientific dem0nstra-
ton. When we take the sciences, all
truths ara capable of demonstration by
experiments which prove them. You
can put them to the test. l take pecul-
lar pleasure in the study Of chemistry.
It's propositions are plain, capable OF
proof by facts and experiments which
appeal 10 the senses.
You have studied chemistry, have
you?" inquired the minister.
Yes, sir" he answered.
Vel" resumed the minister, IF YOU
are a student Of chemistry you are ac-
quainted with the fact that charcoal,
coal and diamonds are the same in their
molecules-namely, carbon Now, can
you take molecule out of the charcoal
and put it into the diamond and get
perfect thing of it %
He acknowledged he could not
Where, then" said the minister, is
your demonstration in chemistry? Bot
so far as Christianity is concerned your
objection is not valid, for it is capable of
demonstration. You can try and find it
all that God has represented il all to be.
God says to all oh, taste and see Try
it, and experience will attest its truth.
Millions have put it to the test of their
experience, and found it the power OF
God unto salvation TO every one that be-
lieveth."
The skeptic then, in somewhat con-
ciliatory spirit, acknowledged that his
father and mother were orthodox, Chris
tian people.
The minister inquired Were they
good people?H
ayes, excellent, my father was an ex-
cellent, good man"
well" inquired the minister, what
practical benefit do you get by changing
the religion of your parents for skepti-
cism Does it make you q better man
Are you better husband to your wife
better citizen IN the community in which
you live?"
He frankly acknowledged be was
not
Have you watch ;" inquired the
minister.
"Yes, an excellent time-p piece" he said,
taking it out and displaying fine gold
watch.
at keeps good time, does ii?"
ayes"
well, how would you trade it ofT
Would il not be for a better time piece,
one more valuable, rather than an infe-
rior one 2"
YES certainly"
Here. again" retorted the minister,
ayou are not acting consistently with rea-
son for you have changed the creed Of
your parents for one that, by your own
confession, does not benefit you a par
ticle r.
Now, my brother concluded the
minister, why do you embrace infdeli-
ty in preference to the good faith of your
parents Is it not only because yoa love
sin, and the first principle Of Christianity
is holiness-oppOsition to sin Is it not
so?"
He was speechless.
The train stopped. and they separated.
The skeptic seemed 10th to part on un-
friendly terms, and insisted upon the
minister's repairing TO a neighboring
dining saioon, and enjoying good sup
per at his expense.-Ponsiac Gazette.
An Active Sense.
Teacher" How do we tell if anything
is sweet or sour %
ptrn;l-s Bv the sense of taste