The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-12
ADVANTAGES OF sKEPTICISN.
Mankind's Debt to the Men Who Dis
card Old Beliefs.

In Plymouth Congregational church
last night before large congregation the
Rev. Wallace Nutting preached on the
Advantages of Skepticism. Those who
went expecting to hear anything not Or
thodox were disappointed, as the sermon
was strong argument tor the religion of
Christ. The text was taken from the
twentieth and twenty-first verses of the
fifth chapter of l. Thessaionians. "De-
spise not prophesyings; prove all
things; hold fast that which is good"
The speaker began by describing a GER
tain class of men who believed everything.
and yet another class who believed moth
ing. The former was foolish, the latter
wicked and that men should make a
choice Of what should be regarded as true
and what should be rejected. This ex-
planned why some of the greatest men of
all history were skeptcs as to old time
beliefs.
This was followed by description of
some of the great spirits who were skep-
tics according TO this definition. People
had always regarded the world as fiat.
Homer said it was fiat and his map
showed avast river flowing around it.
But Columbus would not yield, and next
month men will fittingiy celebrate the
discovery of this new world. If Column
bus had not doubted those who had pre-
coded him, the discovery of the Western
world would have been long deferred.
Mr.. Nu,ting in turn discussed Cyrus w.
Fields peculiar form of skepticism and his
indomitable courage in pushing ahead
despite the evil predictions of many men.
He then told of John Il. Whittier. who
doubted the correctness of the preachers
theories who tried to prove that slavery
was a divine institution. Some agreed
with Whittier and admitted the justice of
the anti-slavery crusade, but though the
time not ripe But Whittier doubted, and
mohs and personal sacrifices could not
make him yield. There were many such
sSentics and if they had remained silent
the development of right principles would
have been retarded in this country fully
generation.
The preacher defined true skepticism IS
apeering into things, an inquiry, an in
sestigation. The professional skepticisna,
which holds that the real truth of things
cannot he known in any case has no ex-
euse Tor being The preacher compared II
10 boxing, which, while II would make
nan strong, as a profession IL brutalIzes
him. Two men may be equal distances
from the truth. but If one is going from
the truth ana the other away from II the
difference Is doubly great. No man Is
s&epiic simply because he does not think
Is does his elshbor. Jesus Was called
skepiic, bat he was oulv a hereto. The
ioFmer means no faith, but the latter
Means another faith.
Mr.. Mating proceeded 70 show that
sSep;cism oi the right kind had manF i'm
'porfant advantages. Martin Luther was
sSept.oal Is % the entire correctness and
value Of al that had been taught him.
Prom this arose the reconstruction Of his
theology. The result was live theology
Instead Of the detuncs faith of the old
church
The preacher found consolation in the
iaci that man need not believe very
much provided he did that with all his
Soul. When Jesus came into the world lie
upset half the beliefs that men held. lie
hai no fa.th in the fiummery that men
had wrapped around the image Of God 5
truth IL WAS the commentaries of the
ssss upon the odd Testament that Jesus
AtAcke,i and 50 one bv one he took up
We great IDEAS of the Law OF God. - 10