Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-06-14

still intelligence in the human brain. For
my part, am glad to see this growth in the
orthordox churches, and the quicker they
revise their creeds the better | oppose
nothing that is good in any creed-l attack
only that which is ignorant, cruel and abb
surd, and | make the attack in the interest
of human liberty and for the sake of hu-
man haprinesS.n
What do you think of the action Of the
PRESBYTERIAN Genefsl Assembly at Detroit,
and what effect do you think it will cave
on religious growthg was asked
"That General Assembly was controlled
by the orthodox within the Church, re-
piled Colonel ingersoll, "by the strict con
structionists and by the Calviuists; by
gentlemen who not only believe the creed,
not only believe that Il vast majority OF
people are going to hell, but are really glad
of it: by gentlemen who, when they feel
little blue, read about total dcpraylty 10
cheer up, and when they think or the
mercy of God as exhibited in their saliva
tion and the instioe of God a. illustrated
by the damanatiop II others, their hearts
burst into KIND Of tfhorescence Of JOY
These gentlemen are opposed TO all
kinds of amusements except reading the
Bible. the confession Of faith and the
creed and listening TO Presbyterian ser
mons and prayers All these things they
regard as the food Of cheeriulness. They
warn the elect against theatres and operas.
dancing and games OF chance.
"We!l. if their doctrine is true, there
ought 70 be no theatres, except eXhi oitiOBS
of hell: there ought 10 be no operas, except
where the music is succession OF walls Tor
the misfortunes OF man. II their doc
trine is true. ] do not see how any human
being could ever smile again. do not see
/ how mother could welcome her babe;
everything in nature would become hate
| ful; flowers and sunshine would SIMPLY
| tell US of cur fate.
"Mv doctrine is exactly the opposite OF
! this. Let US enjoy ourselves every mo-
ment that we can. The love OF the drd-
matte is universal The stage has not
! simply amused, but 1t has elevated man
! kind. The greatest genius OF our world
noured the treasures of his soul into cur
| drama. do not believe that any girl can
! be corrupted, or that any man can DC IN
! jured, by becoming acquainted with lsd-
! bella, or Miranda, or Juliet, or lmogen, or
any of the great heroine5 OF Shakes
peare.
$50 I regard the opera as one Of the
qreat civiliZers. No one can listen 10 the
symphonies of Beethoven or the music Of
Schbert. without receiving benefit And
no one can hear the operas Of Wagner
without feeling that he has been ennobled
and refined.
"Why is it the Presbyterians are so op-
nosed to music in this world, and yet expect
TO have so much in heaven. Is not music
inst as demoraliZng in the sky as on the
earth. and does anybody believe that Abra-
ham. or Isaac, or Jacob, ever played any
music comparable to Wagner!
"Why should Ve postpone our JOY to an
other world! Thousands of people take
great pleasure in dancing; and | say let
them dance. Dancing is better than weep
ing and wai!ing over theology born OF ig-
norance and superstition.
"And so with the games of chance There
is a certain pleasure IN playing games, ana
the pleasure is Of the most innocent charac-
ter. Let all these games be played at nome
and children will not prefer the saloon 10
the society of their parents ] believe IN
cards and billiards, and would believe IN
progressive euchre were IL more OF
rame-the great objection to 1t is Its lack
of comOeXity My idea is to get wnat llt-
tie happiness you can out Of this life, and
10 enjoy all sunshine that breaks through
the clouds of misfortune Lie IS poor
enough at best No one should fail TO pick
no every Jewel Of Joy that can be found IN
his path. Every one should be rs h3ppy as
10 can, provided he is not Lappy at the
expense Of another, and no person rightly
constituted can be happy at The expense OF
another.
$50 let US get all we can Of good between
the cradle and the graye-all that we can
of the truly dramatic, all we can Of music,
all we can of art all we can of ENJOYMENT:
and if, when death comes, that IS the end,
we have at least made he best OF TINS me.
and if there be another life, let us make the
best of that.
~ am doing what little / can to hasten
the coming of the day when the human race
will enjoy the liberty--not simply of body,
but liberty of mind. And by liberty of
mind mean freedom from superstition,
and. added to that, the intelligence to find
out the conditions Of happiness; and added
to that, the wisdom to live in accordance
with those conditions.