St. Paul daily globe., 1891-11-09
CHURCHES MAKE INFiDELs.
Rev. 5. w. Sample Discourses on
Doubt"


Doubt"
In his discourse on Doubt before
the Peoples meeting at the Century
music hall last evening Rev. 5. W.
Sample asserted that the Christian
churches of to-day are responsible for
the great army of infidelS and unbe-
levers which is springing up in the
country. He hkened the teachings and
doctrines of the Christian churches TO
Munchausen tales. Because he SAID,
in speaking of the Bible, 1--WE cannot.
as the whale did with Jonah. swallow
the story, then we are told we cannot
believe any of ii. Doubt is the natural
result of inquiry. DertrOy all skepti-
cism from human nature and progress
remains stagnant. Thank God for such
a thing as faith. Thank God also
for such a thing as doubt. Blind unfaIth
IS an objectionable sin, as in the case OF
Calico, where men refused TO look
through the telescope for fear they
might see. Believing is not bad thing.
neither is doubt. The doubt of to-day;
much of 1t is fiippant. but the doubt or
America at the present time is not. 1t
IS a doubt that is too conscientious 10 be-
lieve what some of our churches are try
ing to teach. God looks with much
more favorable consideration on the
honest dOubter than OH the hypocritlcal
believer-the Pharisee VINO pretends 10
believe, but doesn't, and who helps TO
support the churches because he thinks
its good for infant minds. The doubt
that questions creeds, aye, more
than creeds-the theological cir
cles-is the direct result of theology
itself. The church. the pulpit, the min
istry, the theology. are largely response
bic for the doubts that exist to-day.
This is the truth. They are responsible
for the infidelS of today. 1t is like the
little boy who was given an arithmetic
with its sums. Its multiplication tables
and other matters of like nature. who,
when he couldn't understand some OF
the things. had it literally crammed
down his throat, and told he must be-
lieve it anyway. Men are told that God
is one; that God is three. We have been
told with regard TO the Bible that we
must believe everything in it. and if We
don't believe the story of Jonah and the
whale we must throw it all away. No
wonder men have said. i can't believe
this and concluded by not having any
Bible and no God"
1T Is scarcely TO be wond cred at
continued the speaker, 'that men have
such an aversion TO organized religion.
As Mr.. George says relative TO the
priests, They promise US everything
out of sigrt and give us nothing in
sight What is wanted to-day is doubt
doubt Of the proper kind 10 search.
inquire, investigate. Doubt in the
sense of inquiry is more in the direction
of science; it throws the light of day
the calcium of an honest searching for
truth--upOn matters to which an an
swer is sought. Go investigate. Don't
fiirt with reason behind the door, but
take her by the hand and bring her
out. Wed her and search out the
truth. l am amazed, surprised, at
the amount of dOgmas. doctrines. ritual
ism and teachings stuffed into the skin
of men nowadays. If Christ were TO
come from heaven into church of to-
day He would be surprised. did He not
already know, at the pile OF ritualism
and dOgmaS of E:en protesting to be His
followers. Search for the truth with
divine enthusiasm. conviction comes
not easily. 1t is only the doubts as to
Gods infinite mercy and goodness that
are dangerous
Next Sunday evening the reverend
gentleman will deliver an address on
the Labor Question" as viewed by
Henry George, of whom he appears to
be all ardent admirer. There was an
excellent assemblage present last even
ing.