The record-union., 1892-06-15
Close of the discussion.

EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: Although dis
cussions of subjects by those who dis
agree often appear to be perfectly useless,
/ am not sure that they are so III fact:
and | should like to say some words in
reply to Miss McConnell's arlicle. which
is published in your paper Of the 18Th
inst.
First. she expresses a lauda1le desire
for the el ovation OF humanity, and hat All
may ENJOY the benefit and peace OF ,nInd
derived from good healthy philosophy.
l take lor my philosophy the doctrine
which Christ Taught, which in few words
Is: That each and every one should do
all the good possible to each ana every
one with whom tney come in Contact
and never harm to any.
| don't profess to be able to live up to
this standard fully, and until / can I
DON'T feel any need of a better philos-
ophy.
she says: christianity does not teach
perfect goodness, that is something the
mind of man cannot formulate or COM
prehoRd."
l only stated that Christ was to me the
perfect human lie, and that his teaching
appeared 10 me perfect human logic; ana
that certainly, if every human being was
actuated 10y this spirit, earthly lie would
be as perfect as earthly conditions would
permit.
II this doctrine is responsible for the
results Of ignorance, prejudice and
| bigotry, ! au unable to see how: and
here | wish TO say that ignorance, preiu-
dice and bigotry are not Confined IN anv
religion. They are abroad in the earth.
ana sleptics need to pluck the beam OFT
OF their own eye, just as much as religious
sects.
That Christianity is opposed to science
or science to Christianity is a mere as
sumption. and | believe the majority of
scientific meu are profe5sed Chris
tians, and surely there are no better
educated men or women than some Chris
tian teachers; and yet 1 have known
many narrow-minded. prejudiced, big
oted, ignorant from local conditionsj
people, who lived beautiful Christian
lives, loving their neighbors, helping
them i'll time OF need. and doing good
generally, many OF them professed Chris
lans and some professors. Christ
said: Not every one who Sayeth unto
Me Lord, Lord shall enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth
the will of My Father" by their fruits
shall ye know them" etc.
As for the presumption of protesting
religionists-t that they are ri hteous and
you sinners; that they are elected to
be saved, and you are lost" etc.-is not
their anxiety in your behalf, believing as
llG} dO, d iJIOOI III tiI6IE gOOuD6SS
heart however erroneous their belief
may be-? You are anxious for the eleva-
ton of the human race simply for earthly
life. They are anxious from more i'm
portant cause, if their faith is truth. Be-
cause yod observe the lives OF protesting
Christians, and they do not live up to
what you think they ought, or appear as
happy as they should, does that AFFECT the
doctrine which is taught? Is it not rather
a weakness IN you TO attribute as a result
of teaching something which is entirely
contrary 10 that teaching?
To me there are many inconsistencies
exhibited by professed skeptics, infidels
and non-belieyers in a future existence.
Ii there is no future existence, of what
possible consequence can the elevation OF
the human race be? Is not the savage as
happy in his ignorance as the scientist
If a few short years is the measure OF
their existence, why not leave them to