St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-09
A SHOT AT POPE BOB,
Rev. G. L. Morrill, Makes a
Reply to Robert G. lnger-
soil,
Who Is Accused Of Using
Logic and Reason With
Frugality.
The Preacher Says Religion
Brings Peace, Purity and
Prosperity.
A Couple Of Minneapolis limo
cents Run Foul of st.
Paul Police.

Rev. G. l.. Morrill, preached at the
Cavalry Baptist church yesterday morn
ing upon the subject, San Agnostic."
The following is the substance of his re-
marks: 1.-The best answer to lie is a
life, to a sinner is saint, and to bias
pnemer is believer, and yet the fol-
lower of Jesus is commanded to give
a reason for the belief which is in
him. Robert &. lngersoll recently Wis
tied our city. He is said to be model
husband and father. [ have heard him
speak and have read some of his writ
ings and regard him as an able lawyer,
politician and orator, but when it
comes to religion he seems to
use truth, logic and reason
with penurious frngality. He IS re-
ported to be of the opinion that
the average preacher is growing better.
So he seems to have grown through the
lessons received at their hands. He is
not SO dog matte He has changed his
vulgar wit somewhat, although he mis-
takes laughter for logic and ridicule for
reason in his wordy warfare. lie says
the good in the Bible will be pre-
served and the bad thrown away.
Though a lawyer, he has given us
proof that the Bible we have faith in is
false. Destitute of the scientific spirit,
he has not deduced accurate generaliza-
ton of history, and has failed to prove
principles. Biblically he thinks he is a
thinker, but his head is off. even If he
has succeeded in keeping it out of the
basket. He. with some liberal minis
tiers, resembles the king of Judah, who
disposed of Jeremiah'S argument by
penknife.
What he likes is genuine. what he
doesn't is bad and foolish and must be
thrown away. Home, to Mr.. Ingersoll,
is sacred-shall l speak Slightingly of
his wife or daughter? The Bible, to the
Christian, is most sacred-Shall he re-
vile it without our remonstrance? The
church, too, is dying and impractical
BILE. Now, religion in the church
of Christ was never more ro-
bust than at the present time.
The church teaches all people may and
should be happy. here as we'll as here
after. The philanthropic educational
institutions at home and abroad are
manned by orthodox believers. Which
has done the most for men, the antag
Onisticism of ignorance or the religion
of Jesus Christ? He will become
prophetic and declares Reason will
take the place of religion, philosophy of
preaching and virtue of belief" We
become positive in the light of nineteen
centuries and say it cannot, for religion
is reaSOnable; preaching is prOfOundeSt
philosophy, and mans outward virtue
will be the result of the Utmost belief
of his heart. 1t is further claimed we
know nothing of the future and are but
grains of sand waiting for pillows of
death to sweep US to the end. Shall we
accept him or Christ, who told US we
were immortal, and by His resurrection
proved that the grave was but the door
into the mansion he had prepared for
us?
Guiteau's admission of regret hung
him. lngersoll's sweet confession at
his brothers grave proved his better
nature. "Hope sees star, and listen
ing love can hear the rustic of an an
gels wing" He AYERS he does not want
TO interfere with US, and is willing to
allow US TO "hope on if we are content
TO-" Then why this assault? But he
will succeed no better than VOltaire
and Paine, whose ideas he simply re-
masters of the situation, and
defy him, them, earth and
hell. From the first to the nineteenth
century Christianity has been attacked
by men who glared and glimmered for
little while and then went out. They
have not spoken a single truth as origi-
naly set forth by Christ and his apos-
ties, whether the blow struck was by
hand or mouth. The author of Chris
tianity made the human heart, and they
fit each other in all that is essential to
happiness here and hereafter. AgnOsti-
eism demands something new, and yet
it tries to-day to rebuild an altar to the
unknown God which Paul preached
down at Athens.
Believing knowledge may be accu-
rate so far as it goes, and we may APP
prehepd, if not comprehend: agnosti-
cism says "NO-if you haven't every
thing you have nothing" But universal
cism. We must admit mind to be as
real as matter. If we hold on the phys
ical we surely may on the
psychicaI. Because science stands
still and dumb at the border
land of gravity. chemical affinity,
botany and geology, is it to be inferred
she knows nothing? Partial knowledge
is real. Mr.. Spencer says: 1.-The power
is to us utterly inscrutable." If this
be so, bow does he or any one else who
accepts his philosophy, know whether
this or that idea is notsin harmony with
it? Methinks he does protest too
much. Reason refutes him. and he is
hoist by his own petard. Experience,
clean and clear. contradicts agnosti-
eism. Subjective condition implies OBJ
jectlve truth. and has not far to go to
find it. Religious truth is capable of eX-
pertinent. Millions have declared they
know about what they have believed. Is
there no art or music because few
bill i'd and deaf men say there isn't?
Admit that religious knowledge is
beyond our reach, may it not
be received from above? Shall
not the provider of material needs
supply the same? The Bible is silent
very often to our loud curiosity, yet it is
q most practical revelation. A God
could communicate with us if he wanted
to for good reasons. 1t takes very
wise man to prove that what is undis-
coverabe could not be revealed. Re-
ligion brings peace, purity and prosper
ity, because it leads men to recognize
God, His rule our obedience and immOr-
tality. If agnosticism could triumph,
by what motives would purity and phi
lanthrophy be inspired and maintained?
Even Paine believed that strong gov
eminent rests on divine truth. Paley
was philosopher when he said man
was wise who did not allow what he did
not know to interfere with what he did
know. We know enough for present
duty and hope. We are limited but not
pOwerless. We may know to certain
extent who God is and what he would
have US do. Good and able men have
had honest doubt.