The record-union., 1892-06-09
s'OId Crank,' on ReviyaIs.

| EDS. RECORD-UNION: Permit me tC
| preach short sermon for the benefit O
the young lady skeptic who has writer
an article or two showing a good bur
troubled heart.
! Having been first-class sl<eptic N.Y.
| self, perhaps understand that phase
of human experience better than those
who never had doubts, or who accept
their faith as they were taught.
! How | was cured of unbelief would
wholly disprove the young lady's opinion
that there can be no divine manifestation
outside of the ordinary workings Of ma
ture; but that | consider OF no conse-
quence in an argument attempting to
show truth.
The Rev. Mr.. Burton has shown truth
fully-in brief - that excitements are
common, in secular as well as religious
affairs, and they are stirred up and in
creased by influential spirits (men) at
times for both good and evil (or selfish)
purposes. Witness: How political affairs
are managed; how the laboring mems
! affairs are managed; how stock gambling
affairs are managed; how sympathetic eX
element Affects communities at any great
disaster; and other cases to numerous to
mention.
1t is the spirit of the man which makes
| him what he is, whether good or bad.
and the combined force of many men of
the same spirit is evidently greater than
that of one. a man may be incensed alta
henious crime, but he leaves it to be pun
lshed IN the ordinary way; but the anger
of many men sometimes induces sum-
mary punishment.
We have an inherent sense of power to
control our own actions, but it is admit
| ted that all persons cannot at all times
control their own actions against the
spirit which actuates them. Sometimes
l IN init ITnt f1t 81 S~4l L. Il
sometimes detriment. All this is natu-
raj, and one who worships Nature should
accept it without complaint.
The reverend gentleman'S hint, that err
rors of ignorance and bigotry should not
be attributed to Christianity, was evil
IDENTIFY understood by the young lady,
and her assertion that the source of a
thing is responsible for the thing, il
! good logic, must be carried further back,
TO the Almighty, or to Nature, if that is
what she believes in.
This is the great error of SB epticism-
attributing to Christianity the errors and
crimes oflgnorance and bigotry, such as
uncharltabIeness Of professed Christians
| towards unbelieverS, or the beliefs of
others, or Of their lives or acts, or of the
earlier prosecutions of alleged heretics,
| which are directly contrary to the teach
| ings and manifest spirit of Christ. To
me Christ Is the type of perfect human
lie, teachlng DY precept and example
! that it is the duty of each and everyone
to do all the good possible to each and
everyone with whom their lives are
mingled, and never any harm to any.
! That this is perfect human logic, ap-
| pears to me selt-evident. Certainly if all
human beings were actuated by this
spirit earthly life would be as perfect as
earthly conditions will permit Skeptics
teach a little of this practice and CON
slider it magnificent; as though little
OF Christianity was greater than the
whole.
Wherever see any of this spirit mani
| tested by any individual, whether in the
churches or out of the churches. accept
it as so much Christianity, and I believe
it is growing and spreading: and it will
| grow and spread until the spirit of Christ
| shall rule The world.
! That Christ accepted the conditions of
| earth as the Father created it, is plain to
me, and He also taught existence beyond
/ this life; and His description of judg-
ment shows that the question will be.
! How I'D you treat your fellow mortals
| on earth?
| Another existence is as real to me as
! this existence, but i leave belief or unbe-
! lief in that to the faith which God gives.
! or can give to each. OLD CRANK.
Sacramento, June s, 1892.