St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-13
MIR. JUDGE RIDDLED.s
A Correspondent Ably Passes Upon
TbeosOphicai Theories.

TbeosOphicai Theories.
To the Editor Of the Globe.
The fact that the lecture on 'Theoso-
ply by Mr.. Judge was listened to by
a large and appreciative audience and
that it called forth extensive press COM
ment, verifies the philosophical princi-
pie that the intellect. no matter how
deeply absorbed by material pursuit.
always finds nourishment and pleasure
in scientific subjects. Mr.. Judge de-
serves credit for turning our mind from
the mOnOtOny of business to spheres
more elevated. Yet his doctrines, though
captivating in appearance, are not
wholesome, almost offensive to Christian
feeling. a wonderful "miXtum COM
postum" of Darwinian evolution and
SpenceTian agnOSticiSm form the nu-
cleus of his lecture. When stripped of
their phraSeOlOgy his statements are
marked by many fallacy and incOn-
Sistency.
One of his first objects Is TO undermine
dogma, or more directly the stability
thereof. He would have dogma, or
truth. as the product of mans mental
power and subject to the law of evolu-
ton in the same manner as man him
self. thus denying the ilnmutabIIity of
truth. That there exists positive and
immutable dogma, independent of man.
is inferred from the law of morality.
Morality, which is entirely confined to
the actions of man, would change with
the caprice Of man were it not regulated
by an eXtrinSic, immutable law. Fur
thermOre, Holy Writ, whose authenticity.
integrity and Veracity as a historical
record have long since been estab-
lished, declares the immutability
OF revealed doctrine. Of course
Mr.. Judge would not admit revelation
since TO him God is ''unkOnwable."
From the fact that Christianity contains
many doctrines which centuries before
formed the code of worship of the Con
fucians and Buddhists, Mr.. Judge
argues that Christianity Is but the 'coin-
pleXuS' and embodiment of those an
cient religions. The premises. which
undoubtedly are true. do not Justify the
conclusion. 1t rather follows that Con-
fucius and Buddha b. their INDUSTRY
succeeded i'll bringing out. with a GER
tain degree of purity, those same doc
trines which were revealed to man in
the beginning. and preserved in the Old
Testament and by oral tradition. Christ
did not come to destroy, but to fulfill and
to perfect the Old Testament.
Mr.. Judges views on the origin and
body and Soul) according to him, was
evolved after long process from pre-
existing matter. Whether that pre-
existing matter was created, OF whether
it is Self-Sufficient, we are not told.
From the context, however, it appears
that it is uncreated. An element self
sufficient and subject to evolution at the
same time is contradiction in terms.
Since Mr.. Judge claims body and spirit
indissOluGle and inSeparable, he must
admit that the spirit is subject TO the
same chemical changes as the body.
Here Mr.. Judge perceived the dilemma.
He is aware of the fact that the human
body. after certain number of wears,
completely changes; and yet man ever
remains conscious of his own person.
ality, and prociaims himself the same
individual throughout his lifetime.
That there is something in man not
subject TO chemical change Mr.. Judge
sees clearly. TO extricate himself from
the difficulty he pronounced that eJe-
! ment the astral body" or inner man.
without explaining to us its nature.
thus multiplying difficulties. Christians
call IL soul, a substance that permeates
the whole body and gives il IFS s.de-
sign" The very example, brought for
ward by Mr.. Judge, that intelligent ner-
sons are often born to iIliterate and To-