The record-union., 1892-06-13


Will publish short letters from correspondents
on topics Of interest to the general public. The
matter in these communications will be un-
Ccrstood to represent only the views OF the
writers. & ii communications must De accom-
panied by the name OF the writer, not tor pub
lication, unless SO desired, but as guarantee
OF good 1llth.-EDS.
Miss McConnell's Reply to sold Crank''
EDs. RECORD UNION: Thanks, "OId
Crank" for the compliment OF good
heart" but the troubled one I most en-
platically deny. What may seem to you
a condition OF disturbance is to me u con-
scious desire for truth. for enlightenment,
for an elevation of humanity, for a desire
that all may advance TO the benefits and
peace of mind derived from a good.
healthy philosophy.
We do witness now political affairs are
managed, the Iaboring mems, the stock
gamblers, and numerous other organiZa-
tons, but we don't in any way consider
their methods criterion for moral action.
1t is generally believed and admitted
fact that the conversions made at q re-
Vival are not of permanent benefit, except
a few exceptional cases, and it is known
that The excitement developed at such
gatherings Is very I'M furious TO the sensi-
tive, nervous temperaments, and insanity
Is not an lnfrequent consequence. Some
are permanently demented, and. a good
many are only temporarily SO, but kind
nature usually restores them after brief
period.
l do not deny THAT there is an inherent
sense OF power to control our actions"
but It is OF great variety of degree.
l sill adhere TO my conclusion that 1.-THE
source OF thing must be responsible for
its result" and | here add that man is
known to be an imperfect being-born so;
but there has been a gradual evolution in
him, going on for ages, in which he has
been greatly improved. During this eyo-
luton he has fallen into all kinds of
error; but when the evolution has gone
far enough he gradually conceiyes and
drops error.
1t Is the presumption assumed by pro-
Tossing religionists that they are right
eous and we are sinners: that they are
elected to be saved, and we are lost; that
they personify all that is good, and we
the reverse. That makes us revolt.
We observe the daily lives and outward
conduct OF protesting Christians, and fail
to discover any superior manifestions or
power; simply determined desire that
all should believe and do as they saw.
Judging from the countenances of the
most ardent, their creed has driven out
most of the joyousnesS and pleasure OF
life. and only i'll the anticipation of that
seat on tie right hand OF Jesus do they
derive any apparent consolation.
do not doubt but that Christ was
man of pure and beautiful nature, and
that he Taught many good precepts, but
many of them were TO be found in con-
temporaneous religions. Confucius enun-
ciated the golden rule" long before
Christ appeared. If Christ really was
savior of mankind, why was His coming
postponed until millions of human beings
had persisted? Christ was considered an
imposter by the people of His time, and
they crueitied Him to free the world of a
supposed evil. Strange that the Lord
should have let Him come to such an un-
timely end, for by what manner of means
could His death appease the wrongs OF
others? Is not all of that plan, of human
sacrifice. revenge and punishment, one of
most human invention, thing very like
the religions which preceded it? There
| appear upon the earth, from time to time,
men more wonderfully endowed than
| the masses. They teach men, give them