Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
ABOVE OUR UNDERSTANDING.

Miracles Are Not the Interruption of Nat.
uraI Law, but n ManIfesrnfion We Do
Not |Comprehend-BibIfcaI Stories Are
AlIegoricnI and Perhaps CInirvoyanf.
First-I believe in Supreme Will, which
maintains the universe in order and intelli-
gently brings out results. If there was no
supernatural, or perhaps to speak more pre-
cisely, no superior natural, l cannot under.
stand or even suppose that any natural world
would exist. Nature makes no laws, but
passively receives and operates according to
force and energy in, by and upon her. Every
Great ure, plant, animal and doubtless earth,
mine metal and other material subsists
BY virtue of its inhering life; and certainly
the life is prior and superior to that which
it sustains. All life is one essentially, and
includes in its scope the energies which per-
wade and operate upon nature. These ener-
gies may and often do operate after modes
above our power of perceiving, causing mar
velous things to take place which science
cannot account for, and for that reason are
superciliously denied or an honest acknowl-
edgement evaded. With this explanation. I
reply that do believe in miracles; that
they have always existed In this natural
world, and will continue to exist.
Second-The wonderful occurrences mem
toned in the Old and New Testaments are
essentially religious legend rather than his
toric narrative. The Apostle Paul repre-
sents many of the accounts as allegoric,
typical, fgurative, symbolic. We shall be
reasonably safe If we bear in mind that all
religions have sacred books, which will be
found upon candid examination and an in
all 4f tLo,-
meaning, to relate to the spiritual career of
man and bis intimate connection with the
superior powers Believing this to be the
key, 1 respect them all as I apprehend
their merits.
FOUNDED ON MYTHOLOGY.
The book of Judges is probably the Oldest
of the collection known as the Old Testa-
ment. 1t can hardly take higher rank, how
ever. than as group of legends, traditions
and folklore, which may not be scrutinized
too critically. What little is known of CO.
temporary history, if we may make any ac-
count of chronology, disposes pretty effectu-
ally of any historic pretensions. Indeed the
book of Joshua narrates the conquest of
numerous kings and cities that other books
indicate as never conquered. The accounts
of the greater prophet" Samuel, Elijah
and Elisha, are more significant in relation
to the matter under consideration. The story
OF Samuel is apparently reflection of that
of Samson. The names have SINH
lar meaning, and both are nazirs, or conse-
Grated, from their birth. One was the |
Samas, or Sun, whom Da-Lila, or Lllith,
the Night Queen, overcame; the other set up
and deposed Saul, or Sheol, the Lord OF
Darkness. placing in his power David. or
Dud, the Eros, or Adonis, of the coming |
day. David and Eros have the same mean |
ing. Nevertheless, that Samuel, while |
Judge sand Chief Magistrate of Israel,
should not be known by Saul and his |
servant in that capacity. but only aa seer
who might be consulted about lost animals,
indicates levity in story telling that shows
the tale to be untrue. There are so many
palpable contradictions in the accounts of
this parsonage, as the records read, that we
must discard all or most of them as veracious
history.
The encounter between Elijah and the |
prophets OF the Tyrian Baal, or Bacchus, is !
evidently disguised account Of the cele-
bration of the Adonis worship OF Pnenicia. |
The account of Moses is of an analogous |
character. On Mt. Sinai had been "holy |
ground" consecrated from the time of the |
first monarchy in Egypt. Moses, having |
been adopted into the sacerdotal tribe of |
Kenites, repaired thither, and was inducted
into higher mysteries. The luminous tree,
or burning bush," from which came the
voice, was part of the paraphernalia. The
cave in which Elijah abode may remind rs
Of the mystic Sekos at Eleusis and the
initiatory caves of Mithras. The portents
were analogous, but Elijah is represented as
excelling others. His apocalypse was not
by a wind like Jobs by earthquake as with
the Israelites at Sinai, by fire like Ezekiel,
but by voice like Moses. Those Who are |