The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-12
IN PRAISE OF UNBELIEF.
COZ, INGERSOLL Talks ABOUT V0L-
T4IRE. THE JNFIDEE-
Tho Great Frenchmnn EuIoEized for His
Battle with the Church md for His Pro-
eresslvc Idcas-A DIE mt Parkhurst.

S"ioiS Na' o"ptJ. Iuhv -
sat on the stage. When Col 1pgersoll flung
ono OF his old-time darts OF sarcasm Mt tho
Roman Catholic Church the building trembled
with the applause.
And when. in n voice lowered almost to
whisper. he told OF the agony OF tortured
man. his words fell clear and audible upon the
deep silence OF the hall. An old man. Whose
eyes had followed every gesture OF the speaker.
said. whom the lecture was over:
"Ah. it's the same old Bob lngersoH He
hasn't changed q bit.'
Col. Ingersoil walk ed upon tho platform with
that toddling gait OF men who feel themselves
growing fat. He pecred over the rim OF his
glasses at tho BIC audience. and happy smile
came into his face. There was great applause.
Mrs. lngersol and hor daughters. who sat in
one OF the lower boxes. leaned forward as lie
appeared and prepared to listen. Col. 1nger-
soil plunged abruptly into his subject. lie
| said in part:
The !nldois OF one age have often been the
nurcoled saints Of tho next. Tho history OF
inaaSls Tol hS ria Fights have been preserved
| you peasants and he made mo king: l'e made
| and novels for sou, robes and palaces Tor mo.
lie mad e., YOU e obey and mo to command
And the "r priest said God made you
ignorant aud vile: 10 made me holy and wise:
sscs re the shGs Az ,e do not ooy s9 m
YOU forever il another world. Such is tho
Fortunately for us. there have been trait
ors and there have been heE,etiss blasrhem-
men OF genius. who have given their lives to
better tho condition OF their fellow men. A
be as to ,he SOILS
| from tho bastile OF fear. crosses unknown and
81 9W nna new
| stellations to tho armament OF Mlnd. A great
man docs not seek fpp,hause ,o or place; ne
ness. and what he ascer'Hns he gives to
Of all. stands yo!taire. whose memory we axe
honorinG tonight.
"Voliaire! name that cXcites tho admira-
man and YOU will find that you have made q
from The s face Of the priest the mask Of meek
ness will fall. and from the mouth OF forgive;
cniumny. And yet Volialre was the greatest
man OF his century and did more TO Tree the
human race than any other Of tho SONS OF
ION SUNDAY. the list OF November, 1901.
bnbewas born Il babe eAceedingly Trail. whose
became the greatest man of the eishtecntll
| century. When Vol,are came 10 THIS great
| !seI-not civilizcd--for about l.4UD years. In
this blessed year 1904 ali authors wore al the
mercy OF king and priest lhy ., pr ' SG
that hangmen coul; snatch i.on rroiesSinnal
| duties was occupied in burning books. When
voltaire was born the Church ruled and owned
Francs 1t WAS period Of almost mniys iEsa
| tines. tho Judges cruc! and yenai. Tnn royal
palace was a house OF PROSTITUTION. Tho no;
,h si last dssree III" Common people w"rs
treated as beasts IT took the Church loo
years to bring about this happy condition Of
Tho baby yoltaire.. as have said was n
frai creature So fra.l vas IT.: in iaet; that
Everybody at that time knew how God hated
an .Ynchristcne,i ahy.
tween Himself and the light. hunting Tor the
| water mark of BAPTISM. and falling to I'm! IT,
Ia ,so wa a o. af h,a Regis SS In he hn
real name was Francois Marie, Arouci.
1T Is iashoarbis to say that Toltare was vas
stupid. IL tho presence OF nbsurdity he
IauEhst. and WIS allied irreyerens Zig
forever: this was regarded as blasphemy lie
endeavored I" prevent CHRISTIANS from mur-
ey1e t2 Sa ana .a he S1 ou 9
ssred that GHt OF itr nower and mercy
ings to suffer eternal pain. and all for tho
sake q His glorious ;ustire.that Hs
cunning and crue, Italian Pore authorizing
him to save the soul Of his mistress and send
honcst wives. 70 hc!t-H ne ma slFeh 70 mo
tho incense OF ~" ingot II ne ma nllsu ms
ears. with tho shrieks OF tho tortured. the
music OF the rack. he would ROW be known as
st ts2ltai rel On ev.r sds 10 TONIGHT with
every Weap9n that WI. oEic reason. sGorn. con-
tempt. laughter; Iathos ana lh4iGnntioh coGlu
sharpen. form. devise. or use. he often ap2lo-
gized. ana the apology was an Insult. re oleh
rechnted. and the recnntation was THOUSAND
times worse than the lhinG rSeanseu. nc zoos
It back hy, giving more. n the name o. e'ilnsy
! poison. He often advanced BY rctteatlng. anu
asserted by retraction. r., H.,
loltalre was wealthy man. ne mo
genius for accommodating money And let me
say right hero that thai Is as DISTINCT genius
as tho genius i1r music OF LOT phiI,lhS. nt,t5
ASK mon. Why 90 you no. Rl hi e, mons" nom
loM might as well ask him. why 10 you not
paint Iicturer :. =,
horn me taculty ior m"ney ,r ln
German professor with his head crammed full
OF knowledge has no practical luens. he coulu
nHt Start lre WIN thTse n ,,' VI p!ne
shaElncs and two boxes ot matches: a..
From = great hsight no SIHs'e eye so inc