The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-03-14
unn nrn1oa on oonPRovnRsY.


with the thunder OF artillery some
extracts arc presented with the hope
that in the words OF the author good
will be done by calling attention TO tho
subject"
oWe may stop 10 say that there are
many people who deprecate controversy
altogether especially when the trnlha
of religion arc the subject, there 10 u
strong aversion Ia many minds TO every
thing of tho sort. hut whore there Is
much intellectual activity on any sub
jeot, controversies are sure 10 arise for
the simple reason that men VIII not
think alike, Most OF the Apostle
Paula writings are controversial Inc
thing TO be desired Is not the complete
avoidance OF controversy, which Is not
10 be expected, but the regulation OF II
according TO Christian principles"
with this preface MI Fisher begins
his statement OF principles with q
oplaIn rule OF the moral code" Yet II
la one, he says, that Is very often yio'
lated,
oThe controyeraialiSt 10 bound TO
state with entire fairness the position
and the argument OF his opponent
This rule Ia broken In other ways than
by o willful distortion OF an adyersarys
doctrine or a mlB'statement OF his
proofs,
"a client Of Mr., Lincoln relates that,
In suit OF much consequence, he spoke
to the Jury for several hours In such a
strain that he seemed 10 be giving away
the case--Bo cleVerly and forcibly did
he describe the grounds which the
adverse party might adduce In behalf
OF his cause. But then the sagacious
lawyer turned, and with complete sue
cess proceeded 10 pull down the struo'
ture which he had built up, He had
/ left no room for charges OF misrepre'
sentation; no had gained the advantage
OF acquainting the jury before hand
with what could be said on the other
side that was likely 10 be effective,
IL win be- a great gain 70 the cause OF
morality, II the day shall come when,
% attribute 10 another's doctrines dis
ayowod or not profeSsed by him, but
forced into his creed, by process OF
argument, shall be universally seen TO
be what II really ls-untpthtul and
unchriatian,
Another controversial sin Is quib'
bling, This consists In ayowing the
essential issue, aud In shifting the
debate 10 some incidental subordinate
point on which ils decision does not ~
an depend, All fallacious modes of
arguing or Of eyading arguments, II
these modes are discerned 70 be sophis'
ucal, are morally unworthy II Is no
answer for example, TO say Of another
that his arguments are abstract or
metaphysical Jonathan Edwards, IN
his day, had TO encounter the objection
that his arguments we're "metaphysic'
lm," lie pronounces the objection to be
vague and impertinent,' "The ques'
| ton is not" he remarks, "Whether what
| is said be metaphysics physics, logic,
or mathematics, Latin, English, French
or Mohawk, but whether the reasoning
be good and the arguments truly con
elusive"
As illustrative Of the effect Of anger
aroused by controversy two cases are,
IN conclusion, presented by the essayist,
one between scientists on the subject
OF squarIng the circle; the other be-
tween theologians, ain the last cen.
tury," says Mr. Fisher, "aviolent debate
sprung up between the Rev Augustus
| Toplady and the renowned Methodist
leader John Wesley. Both were in
orders in tho church Of England. Top.
lady wrote the hymn which Is sung in
all the churches;
Rooh Of ages, olefi ior mo
Lot uo hide myself In mo,
The subject Of their long intermit'
tent conflict was the tenet Of predesti'
nation, which Toplady loved as much
az Wesley hated--a subject which is Of
universal interest 10 ingenious minds,
and which, II we may credit Milton,
was the question discussed IN debat.
ing club of fallen angels in Pande.
monium.
This debate gave Toplady occasion to
say with reference 10 q paragraph OF
Wesleys, In almost any other case asim'
liar forgery would transmit the Grim
inal to Virginia or Maryland, If not to
Tyburn. lfsuch an opponent can be
deemed an honest man, where shall we
find q knayep"
Onanother occasion TOplady attacked
Wesley DR., Johnson, who II is been
said should have been able TO feel for
the wrongs Of our injured people, but
he consented to be employed by the
Ministry 10 defend the taxation of
Americans by Parliament" published
a tract against the American colonies,
Taxation no Tyranny Wesley, who
favored the home government, pub
lished q pamphlet which, though moth.
ing but an abstract Of Johnson's, con
tained no reference 10 IT, Toplady now
appeared with o pamphlet entitled,
IAN Old Fox Tarred and Feathered oc-
casioned by what is called Mr., John
Wesley's Calm Address TO our Amer.
lean Colonies" Toplady opened with
the motto;
Another race u rhlngs Wa poon,
And become TON.
adopts the style Of scripture;
"Whereunto shall liken Mr.. John