Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-20
INGERSOLL ON CHRISTMAS.
A BIT OF HIS PHILOSOPHY SENT TO A
NEWSPAPER.

How the Noted Pagan Is Pestered by the
Cranks - Deluged With Letters and
Papers-what He Wrote to a Persistent
Editor.
NEW YORK, Dec. 19.-[SpecidL THE fol-
lowing signed article on Christmas by
Colonel Robert G. Ingerson appears in to-
days Evening Telegram:
Tho good part of Christmas is not always
Christian-it is generally Pagan; that is to
say, human, natural. Christianity did nos
come with tidings of great joy, but with
message of eternal grief. 1t came with the
threat of everlasting torture on its lips. 1t
meant war on earth and perdition here
after. 1t taught some good things-the
beauty of love and kindness in man. Bue
as as a. a . torcn,oearer. @ as Drlnger OK
finite consequence to the acts of finite be-
mgs, crushing the soul with q responsibility
too great for m0rtals TO bear. 1t has filled
the future with fear and flame and made
God the keeper of an eternal penitentiary,
destined to be the home of nearly all the
sons OF men. Not satisfied with that, it has
deprived God of the pardoning power.
And yet 1t may have done some good by
borrowing from the pagan world the old fes-
tival called Christmas. Long before Chriss
was born the Sun god triumphed over the
powers of darkness. About the time that
we call Christmas days begin perceptibly to
lengthen. Our barbarian ancestors were
worshipers OF the sun, and they
of night. Such a festival was natural
and beautiful. The most natural of all re-
ligions is the worship of the sun. Chris
tianity adopted this festival. 1t borrowed
from the Pagans the best it has.
believe in Christmas, and in every day
that has been set apart for joy. We, in
America, have too much work and NOS
enough play. We are too much like the En-
glish. think it wGs Heinrich Heine who
said that he thought disappearing
absnsnmdn 6bfact IN GoS GoS than more pleasing
Engiishman. We take our joys too
sadly. L am in favor of all the good free
days-the more the better Christmas is a
good day to forgive and forget, good day
to throw away prejudices and hatreds, a
good day to fill your heart and your house,
and the hearts and houses of others with
sunshine.
A reporter who called on Colonel Inger.
soil noticed on the desk of the famous
atheist copy of the National Baptist, pub
lished in Philadelphia, and there was lit
tie yellow label pasted on it which read:
''R. 6. Ihgersoll, 8 j.
''Why, Colonel" said the reporter, '1
did not know that you INDUCED in this kind
of literature"
The Colonel glanced at the paper. "Con-
found the fellow" he exclaimed. 'I have
told him 1 did not want his paper. Why
does he persist in sending it? Here, take
letter." and this is what his secretary
wrote:
DEAR SIR wish you would stop sending
me your paper. l have no use for it. am
q practical Baptist myself. take q bath
every morning. My form OF baptism Is
superior to yours, for use soap.
Yours truly.
r. G. INGERsoLL.
1t would be superfuous to add that the
world-famous. agnostic and humanitarian,
is terribly annoyed at times-nay, at all
times-by the efforts of well-meaning
eranks to make him "see the error of his
ways" He sometimes begins to think that
there is a hades and that he is getting his
share of it.