The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-26


him home. There he lies as one dead,
merely breathing, knowing nothing and
caring less, for his mind is paralyzed
and deliriOus, and he is less than that
on which he lies. Is such being
man? Can we call him a man? Would
it not soil honor to call him a brute?
Where is his soul and nobler ideas of
life? Buried! Buried under an enormous
load of degradation and wretchedness
nearly destroyed, yearning for the light
Of day.
Is there no pity for such? Is there no
compassion in the human soul? Yesl
But mans redemption lies within his
own efforts.
But in the hour of great tribulation or
of death, then will the soul, which has
been buried for years under the black
cloud of disbelief and denial, burst forth
from its dark cell, crying in great agony
unto the spirit Of the living God. Plead
ing for its Savior You may read the
death Of any of the celebrated infidels
and you can see that the soul cherished
more than the mind cared to believe.
He calls IL weakness and cares not to
efeminate himself thus But much of
this infidelism is only a means by which
10 attain popularity. Many of them are
seekers after cheap nOtoriety.
Perhaps there is a feeling of careless
ness or disregard about many people. but
way down deep in the inner soul there
exists a longing-wOuld that | were
better and truer in life. A pricking of
conscience: a sense of lacking which we
find often times cropping out on the
surface, showing that there exists bait
ling, struggling somewhere in the inner
I nature, and that the soul is seeking the
light and truth and is buoyed by it.
There is a continued seeking for better
life. and hope is the bright star that
leadeth the soul thither
Every thing in heaven and earth aims
only at this, that the soul may know
itself, may make itself its object; may
work out its own development, work out
its own salvation. "-Hegel.
There must be change; a revolution
and revelation also; "A Weakening up
| and a casting i'm Of light upon the soul.
| The nobler must gain control and
supremacy over the baser elements of
his nation. Thought, judgment and
reason must rule for life. The sensual
feeling must be curbed. The great lesson
of willed action and self-control must
! be learned and put in practice. Must be
man of thought and not of
/ avarice. for in the former there is free
| thoughts and progress, the other slavery
/ and backsliding.
/ Again we see a man seemingly good
/ and useful in many ways. but denying the
| existence of an all-wise being: saving
/ there is no soul or spirit; nOught beyond
/ this life and world: nought but what we
] see materially: crying down Christia nitv
/ weakness Of such devotion
But we need go only to the history of
1 the lives Of these men to learn of the
4 fallacy of their doctrine Even their
words and actions Of everyday life are
/ enough to show to our minds the doubt
( ing and shiftlessness of their thoughts
They go to work and manufacture a
] creed that will suit their own narrow
I notiOns-for man must needs have a
creed or belief Of some kind. that in
| which he places reliance and trust-for
! all minds are subjected to something
+ higher and if not superior the mind will
! lower its standard of principal till il is
4 able to look up at its objects of Worship
| Thus we find the infidel forming beliefs
| and devising ideas out OF his own mind
that are 10 preside over and rule his
! life. needing not the inner voice speaking
of faith and unfaultering trust
Bob Ingersoll is no infidel You that
] think of him as such / would beg you
/ read his "Oration at the Child's Grave
and also his "Oration at His Brothers
Grave and you can see that his heart
, is not wholly disbelieving. When IL
comes TO the sum ana essence of exist
| ance then will the soul and heart give
| vent to the feelings, even with the most
vile of mankind.
All I ask is to read and study a mans
writings and I will know him better than
if | had seen him. A man can search
/ through his writings than by actual con
| tact with him. You may take Ingersolls
| conceptions Of home. love, life, liberty
freedom and many other subjects, and
/ they are as grand conception as were
! ever written by any one. They never
| came from a disbelieving heart. but from
one lit by the truth and goodness of such
! things.
Thus we find mankind in every phase
! and form of existence, in all occupations
80
| degree enslaved by the baser elements
| of his own nature and to the degree we
thus find them the same degree do we
find the mind and it's agents restrained
and held back.
And the great achievement Of a lif,
is TO lift this burden and give space Il
mental power. Thoughts guided by juds
ment and reason will become power
In all ages great men possessed think
ing minds. They have been the ligh
and progress of past years. Thought
| ingenuity and project has led TO th'
great inventions. the progress and The
hight Of civilization which we enjoy to
dav.
These men have no time to give L
pleasure and the ruder feelings. but liv'
within their thoughts and by thei
thoughts.
Not only do they lend a powerful in
huence TO others but are developing and
educating themselves, thus keeping on
] Of much sin and 1dleneSS.
| Activity Is the law Of living life and
| energy Is the executive and I'm this ex
| ercise principle must be maintained
II may seem TO some that their way !:
Interchangeable, that the iron bands o.
habit and dali life hold you with
firm grasp, that there is no escape from
! this and despair seems TO fill life's at
mosphere before you; but, my dear read
ers, there is a light i'm the darkest ways
and hope near at hand. though seem
| ingly lost. You that are thus struggling
seemingly in vain there is still one ave
! nue..
To the quiet OF your own chamber go
fall on your knees and lift thy burdeneC
soul TO God in prayer. Yield up thysel
and that humbly and truthfuly. Sa.
everything at Jesus feet and He viii
make you free and you will raise ;
free and a better man. Hundreds o
souls testify to this every day.
There is that peace and joy In needfu
prayer that frees the mind and finds {
connection with a higher power. Their
| exists a connecting link between thu
finite and infinite-a strand OF COLDER