The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-31
ANSWER TO SAVAGE.
Front of the Universe Is Not
Changed.
REV. suRcHETT's DISCOURSE.
christians Not Afraid 30 Thfnk-The
World Not so Old After ALL
Evolution Scored.

Rev. g. j. Burchett, pastor OF the First
I Baptism church, preached q sermon yester-
day morning in answer to the lecture de-
iiyered last Monday by Rev. Minot j. Saw
age. the Unitarian orator Of Boston, en-
titled. "The Change of Front of the
Universe" Mr. Burchett gave to his SER
mon or lecture the title "The Front of
he Universe Unchanged" His text was:
Hebrew xiii:s-"Jesus Christ the same yester-
~. snd today, and forever"
IL. Burchett said:
rhsre never a class of feverish cyclists who
- % ruslt themselves believe that they are far
ontstdepIng all the wisdom of the past ages.
They xouid have others believe that they have
resekpd lofty emineuees of thought from which
fbeg an look down with commiseration upon
N a. common herd below. In one sentence
M VII claim to be the lineal descendants of
ne sps and In the next claim that they have
oufrrosn in wisdom all the oracles OF God. The
wespons with which they undertake 10 gain
tier victories over truth and honest scholars
sre peculiar 10 them a. a class. Their weapons
sre not facts, notarguments. In their abnormal
srowth they have outgrown both truth and
10 ic and have no use for either. With their
way of thinking. the fact that they have said
thing should settle all controversy. And those
who would be unwise enough to dissent from
this run the risk OF being called by uneompli-
mentary titles. They must be classed with the
inhabitants OF ages OF ignorance. They are
said to be AFRAID to think. This is their main
lire Of attack upon truth.
They are very fond of saying that all who do
not think with them are afraid to think at ali.
They make great efforts TO have 1t appear that
none but themselves dare Investigate. How
they can come before intelligent communities
and cooliy ignore the march of Christian scholar
ship OF the world; Christian colleges, where the
closest thinking and the most careful investiga-
tons are going on, is possibly best known to
themselves. How can thew stand up without
blushing and face all the Christian scholars, ali
the modern Improvements which have come
from the encouragement given TO free and ear
nest inyestigation under Christian tuition; how
they can pass by all the millions of money given
b. deyout men OF God for the announcement of
The most thorough Investigations in all the
sciences: In every department. OF knowledge
Known 70 man. and to push outward and
ward 70 the departments which are not known
tonan. Hcw any one can face the mighty on
ward march Of higher sducation all the intel
Iecfual impulses OF this age which are guided by
Christian hands and then say that Christians
are afraid to think is evidence that there is
darkncss still. That erroneous things have been
taught concerning the Bible no one will
DOUBT nor is it strange that such should
have been the case. What pure principle
has escaped being counterfeiied in some wayP
But we love questions. Is it right to charge
these things upon the Bible, and ask us to throw
u away on this scoount7 Might az well ask the
banker to throw away his gold because it, too,
has been counterfeited and bad uses have been
made OF it, This line of attack upon the Bible
u very familiar one; every shade OF ihfidelity
prizes IT very highly. There Is encouragement
that this enl ghtened age will soon assign such
things to their proper place among the artiul
works OF darkness. 1t is also very noticeable
that the same class of enemies to the Bible have
much to say about the church. They are care
ful to put their own meaning upon this. How
hsslthful 1t would be for them to ask some
questions here; to do some careful investigating
1t this point not one-sided and prejudiced, but
honest and broad and accurate. That very great
abuses have been made of sacred things no one
will doubt. That companies Of people calling
themselves the church have committed crimes
that might well cause every star In the sky to be
mufaed In blackness no one will call in ques-
ton Now IT IL certain that If any one Is unin-
Mned, or dishonest enough to take these coun-
hzets, and insist that there is not, nor ever has
~ any difference he will have degree OF in
hence over the uneducated. The vicious ele-
nens will probably applaud him.
But such applause is like the bones of the
dead scattered about the open sepulchre at the
beautiful dawn of day. II there is so much
virtue in an interrogation point as that class
them here 10 1t right, or correct, TO charge the
deeds Of the dark ages to the church of CHRISTI
What II Ii be found that some corrupt HER
archy did claim to be the true church OF Christ
IN those days, and committed these deeds of
darkness OF which these modern enemies of the
Bible complaint And suppose the deeds were
committed In the name of the church of Christ,
where should the blame rest? Should il fall
upon these false disciples, or must the innocent
forever bear those things? These enemies grow
eioquents they stir all the fury of their audi
ehees when they array the rack, the thumb
screw, the whip, the dungeon, the wheel and
.he slaxe They hiss il through their teeth that
.ns church did these things. Now, eandidly, is
not very strange that these lovers of questions
nave never thought to ask as TO who they were
VINO we're being tortured9 That were fed to wild
beasts? Who were burned at the stake? How
mas IL come about that all these modern enemies
oi she spell have never found out that those
people who were prosecuted, who were slain
Dut slew no one, were believers in the Bible?
IN our enlightened age they must be exceed.
ingiy hat-blind who fail 20 see that it was cor
Iuption kindllng the fires, and purity suffering
ihey were the people who loved Christ; those
u tne stake went there Tor the crime of trying
70 nave men investigate; did they not suffer Tor
trying to have men think, and be free? The
church OF Christ Jesus have always been those
who have had the Scriptures. The church has
always consisted OF those who have called upon
men 10 think, think, think. These people never
yet put a clasp upon the fountains of kuogl.
edge. These people have never yet told any
one that he must not believe that the world
moves; If he did he would be damned. Never
We owe tt to those who have been prosecuted
for their faith in the Bible that the shack es OF
thought have been broken; that peonle can
think: that they can investigate: that the ma
tons Of the earth have The light of life shining
upon them; thar knowledge has been 60 Won
oronsy multiped: and thai hes, of al. not only
" the mind free but the conscience is free.
Yet We are 10 be told by these wise ones that
,ne church has stood in the way of progress
~ are 70 continue 70 hear it said that those
.s ourned the true sons of the church were
VIC 0nusch- Aud those who were the church.
sad were battling on Tor liberty Of tbopyhf ana
VI cohs'tenee and were laying broad and deem
ene foundations for this gree: day OF light which
e ENJOYING are 10 get no credit for their
80 &c would be very glad to have these wise
ees'StueAts OF the ape become heretics here
anu ASK some questions Some inycstiSstior
mere "1uid help them 10 discover the real 6if-
terence between men aud monkevs. one truIv
anNes'iea'es tor himself; the other initiates
. ,'ils Ase uenshas that men shall think for
themselves they must do this or lose IT, ..
spect of the better class OF peonla -re 'i.e re
lectuai mimics who get unon Chr,x.tn. -'Nt
forms, and Ike the children OF anss - 10
aces at the past, strut about nla 3-s.'-il
in borrowed pumsge for the spnla,sa - .S
present, and stretch their long ears ta,,.rs snS
future deserve all the contempt that 80 - e
beginning 10 get from this thoughtful age IT,.
there are mighty changes going on in he xorts
OF thought ao one can doubt That much OF th,s
mighty revolution has reference to what hsS
been thought about the Bible we should be nro
"A evza a a -.