The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-25
fsVER TO CRITICS.
Appeal Of Christianity to
the Intellect.
nl,son PLEADS IT'S CAUSE.
..~.,,s xssy Esidencss Of It's Truth
~.s~.vs cessbrase the Feass
IL Tsssrnaeies

alexander Alison preached yester-
= 1900 It the First Presbyterian
~ I - he subject Of christianity
s.. 80. 9 - Intellect" and made an
80 & the objections usually made b.
1870. The ts1t chosen Vas. FOR We
"a - fe,iowsd eunningIy devised fables
1870. knoxn 20 you the power and
49, 4 81 Lord. Jesus christ.p Or.
~ I. scr TIE prerogatiye OF man to AJAX
1 = e-.a 70 have them receive q re-
1880 ..seerse when such queries are
e.sees = Isnxrars that is courteous and
e-s.n<<Es, ANY man may say TO me,
49, - yosu Christian r In doing so
!. 80 desir4 Information regarding my
sss.stssn - Christianity IS system or my
- rsrsousi experiences. II he does the
49, - question is private one: IL
- Isuer. there Is no improperly in the
ss.~ -. belnr public. II 10 nv privilege at
/ - t.11e Is siiow that in accepting Chris
{saify sm not following 'cunningiy
I 1900 fxbse. There are difficulties. some
~ ~. that make II hard to believe In
B fs.sstisuity. a man may honestly say,
4 - 81 satistied with the authority for
a. divine origin Of the Scriptures: have
1,1euisies IN regard to the prophecies: /
~ nj clear concerning the miracles;
(kfIutlanity has many doctrines | find IL
fsrt 10 accept: IL does not -een 10 me that
S 4 rnskes tie impression apon its avowed
x;sriuaes which IL should, and the general
sondsfi0o III the church a. q whole. split
- aad rent up into 80 many factions.
Shx Il sfkxxeys me and makes me doubt.
sNox. On The one hand. il must not be
frroflen that Christian people ought 70
,eesrnjzs the force there Is in such objec-
t9ns: on Tho other, Il should also be re-
msmbered By the directors that the fol-
lovers 81 Christ do see NJ times quite
clearly ~ potency Of these demurrers
Bat, acknowledging al we may or should
Is diaienIt and perpIexing In Christianity
IL IL not different from any system or
pisnee IN this rsspsctl without going into
consideration 81 this time Of causes
which may be back of all these In the
etats OF the human heart, let IL be clearly
understood thai Christianity,lif Ii appeals
y the intellect, 10 the reasoning faculty in
nan, mar Be. and believe can be. able 20
ehoa prcponderance Of evidence on the
Gds Of the claim that there is more in
lsyor Of than against 1t. In any court Of
hx this IL always the question, On which
10 does the testimony preponderate p
Hsny noted infideis have been thoroughly
esnrincsd along this line that Christianity
b syps and have truly and LOYALTY en-
bfaesd the faith. am satisfied that there
3 enough In the revelation of God in the
4ible 10 satisfy the human mind, liz IL sill
p ~ unprejudiced manner consider the
81, that the true religion is that of
tkfst Millions have been so convinced,
~ millions today accept its teachings
g lean their whole hope for time and
oefnity upon Its claims.
submit. therefors, for the subject be-
~ - In the appeal OF Christianity to the
md, that Christianity has successfully
eferofne every opposition. The severest
~ have been made. Ithas been laughed
= scorned, treated with calumny and
Mabmpt; IL has been prosecuted and
9Niured. But the greatest test OF all
~ zen that IL endures the light of the
&lesfigatiun OF philosophy. science and
Dndefn thought. That which lives only
me dark is unworthy place In our
1gughts, for its life, IL such there be.
6est be dwarfed and feeble. That which
lures the iiashliaht of scrutiny and
30 examination, that which towers su-
xneiy the more IL Is brought under the
horoscope of high intellectual develop.
unt. that and that alone is bound to
Enmand respect and make its way as q
F@tttk 2At0 f4NAttAI
what has met more heartily the conn
a<adation OF the thoughtful and learned
ftvery age than the religion OF the de.
p!sed GaliIean3 But IL also captures the
sent of the heart and conscience. No
pes conscience is disturbed or unhappy
he accept Christianity; how many hun-
Ifsss OF thousands feel the opposite il
Deg continue 10 give deaf ear to It's low
ag appeais7
Again, what do gain IL reject Chris
Aaalty? True, there are difficulties. DO
xHoss them by refusing 20 have any
ming 10 do with Christianity ttseif2 Do /
~ nd OF the difficulties on astronomy.
'slshes. philosophy. by simply rejecting
latlrely these departments Of thought?
Again. where do | ind anything that
nssts the wants of my nature IL say
nay 10 the Christian system2
Man has innate the idea of God, Where
! anything revealed concerning Him out
he thu Bable2 Man needs an outer self
2 love --some one on whom he may have
hss affection terminate. So In regard 20
a<llsying-tnan needs some one in whom
& eonhde. Once more, man needs reve-
atom OF a future state. lie believes that
70 life il not ali of living. He would
Aks 70 know something regarding the
spfia to come Plato in the .Phaedo.'
Isfsfo In his 'Tusculan Questions are
letksfs after light along this pathway.
1ns cannot help respecting those earnest
saaa They were cropping IN the dark
Ae are In the light | am afraid we some
'nes fail 70 appreciate our mercies.
Again. ] am impressed intellectually
'asara Christianity because of its results
2 me world on the individual and the
IL develops in every one who
'aefaees II the highest powers and facul.
- o. The soul IL grandly ennoblss the
80 What philosophy has ever produced
80 men aud women as the Christian re-
.xsonf Compare Greek and Roman. the
'<saa civilizations OF antiquity, with
esafistan America. Compare the ahodes
= hsathendotn today with the homes OF
e aaarshanity. The skeptie may denounce
4. ~ lhristian religion aud the Bible aud
- snafch, but where Is the infidel who
ssssild care 10 make Ais home and raise his
~ y he could possibly avoid 1t. In the
se.sage, town or city where the word OF
- u ahknown and church had not
80 planted What unbelieying husband
I sais city would feel offended Il his wife
'aoaid return from this service and i'm.
-. her speuse that she had this morn
y. - decided 10 be Christian Where 10
- sisofee court that ever had filed BY q
n ss sio - feasou Tor separation from
- : us Of his bosom the statement that
~ aaa Suddenly embraced Christianity
- - would be ashamed TO have Il placed
ssfon Tie tombstone Of his nearest and
ss. i. That In lite she was a faithful and
$3.50 Nhfistsanf A minister is some
'..1ss Gated In 10 conduct religious serv-
-. - the bier OF one who had lived aud
80. 49, Nesidllng. Does his family feel in
\. - That minister openly aver that
~ seSfassd was anything but Christianf
!. - assarediy. IL would he looked upon
s sseekine. No one, however, would ieel
49, u that minister should seek 10
- ~ ~ TIE impression in some way that
~. Uses OF TIE departed we're in life
esssSsstiy sntagontxtle 20 Christianity.
!, tsnsiis, my reason eoavlnces rae ,hst
49,. 49, = value la Christianity. because II ia
49, a'S az would like 10 embrace in
Many may die without xar-in.. -.