The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-18
INGER> OIL, TUE sCOFFER.

In spite of the disgust with which Rob
ert Ingersoll inspired us for himself when
he delivered a lecture here on Shakes
pcare. curiosity might have carried us
to hear him last night if we had not,
during yesterday. met with an account
of his lecture on the same sub
ject in Washington city Sunday night.
In CHANGING over that account our eye
fen on this line of what he said: Lying
was forbidden, and yet Jehovah himself
was a liar"
That was enough for u.s. Why should
Mr.. Ingersoll insist on coming into
Christian community like ours to shock
it with his blasphemy. and TO spread his
repugnant doctrines and poison the
sources of the happiness of our people?
He comes, of course, for money, and
sensational journals have given him a
notoriety that enables him TO sell his
blasphemous diatribes on God and re-
lig,cn TO people of prurient tastes and
ideas.
We have no objection to men holding
to hold, nor do we object TO the fullest
discussion, by which men may seek TO
maintain their opinions in argument. on
religion or anything else; but decency
should suggest to any man that where he
IS seeking only to make money he should
do 50 without ruthessly revilng and be-
smirching the sentiments and opinions
that whole community holds most sa-
cred and revers with all its soul, and
should at least respect their prejudices,
If he can consider them as nothing more
and refrain from open efforts to barter
his blaspbcmy for the dollars of its un-
thinking members.
We cannot understand how any man
or woman who though not protesting
faith in the doctrines of the old or New
Testament-be he Jew or Christian-is
yet in sympathy with those who have
faith in God and who would not be will
ing TO see all churches torn down and ali
religion abandoned, can encourage the
raids which Mr. Ingerson makes upon
us to get money by holding up to ridicue
Jehovah and Christ.
If it was no more than an attack on the
character OF General Lee our people would
not pay TO hear it. Why, then, should
they reward this mercenary biasphemer
of him who spake as never man spake.
We heard this man about a year ago
declaim for an hour or more upon the
~ " ,lat,
was an ignorant humbug. without mind
or imagination. None could have been
mere utterly disguised than we were at
this. From the day that Lord Bacon put
his theories and philosophy before the
world its first minds have acclaimed him
the greatest and most original thinker
OF the age, and his philosophy, by COM
mon consent of the great and the learned,
has enorm ously advanced all modern
progress. For a sophistical rhetorician
to stand up before an intelligent audience
and think to amuse and interest them by
throwing the mud of his contempt at the
gigantic statue which the mind and the
virtue of the world has erected to LORD
Bacon's memory disguised and offended
US.
This is Colonel lngersolrs second visit
here as a lecturer. and we hope it will be
his last. We are hospitable people, and
we welcome nearly all corners. But a line
may properly be drawn a which we shall
hereafter decline to welcome some. That
line Is at the European Anarchists and
Nihrists. and at the blasphemous infidel.
Robert g. IngerSon.