The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-21
LOGIC OR VERBIACE?
ln Inquiry into the Merits Of a Recent
Attack upon Christianity.

nor 10 content themselves with a one-sided q
Imperfect view Of lt."-Carpenters Menta
Physiology.
All books may be regarded as belongin
to one of three classes-the good books
the bad books, and the Indifferent books
II it is a wrong of commission to attacl
or abuse a good book, it is a wrong o
omission not to do all in our power t,
check the banefuI influence of a bad book
In this country, at least, and in tn,
present state of public opinion, bool
which tends toward infdelity will Ger
tainly not be classed as a good book, MOI
even as a merely Indifferent book; such Z
book then, must belong to the other class
So much by way of excuse for the pres
ent paper.
A book recently published, entitled Gan
Inquiry Into the Truth of Dogmatic Chris.
tianity," by William bearing Harden, is
Notwithstanding occasional lukewarn
protests to the contrary, merely violent
attack upon the Christian religion in all
its forms. The author says he only COM
bats Christianity sin some of its phases. y
but we shall see how inconsistent this
qualification is.
The book purports to be REIMBURSEMENT
of a cores ondeuce which took place be-
tween the author and "a learned prelate~
Of the Roman Catholic church Which
of the two got really the better of the
argument, this paper will not pretend to
decide. The author announces that the
bishop left certain of his arguments,
unanswered, thereby implying the con-
clusiveness of his logic, and insinuating
that the good bishop was, in sporting
parlance, knocked out" For my part
am only surprised that the bishop hal
patience to continue so long such an u
profitable discussion; he took long tie
to find out that no sort of reasong,
even though amounting to a mathewtl-
cal demonstration, would have sliced
his unbelieving antagonist. y
In this paper no attempt will be lade
to disprove any of the so-called 'Topo-
sitions' Of the book further than show
ing up their shallOwness and ironsis-
tency; nor shall any notice be taen of
such portions of the book as attacspecif-
cally certain teachings of the CHrch Of
Rome Furthermore. it does notassume
the standpoint of 'dogmatic Chrjtianity''
that bette nOir of the author vAo states
that no churchman, no matter Ow intelli-
gent, is capable of sensible views concern
ing his doctrines. That is, ifyou want to
learn the truth about a subject, you must
pay no attention to the options of those
who love it and have passed their lives in
studying it; but rather you must apply to
those who hate it, and pass great part
of their lives showing how little they
know of it.
If any one, misled by certain Newspaper
notices, takes up this Inquiry in the
avpaatatior nf fi,,1T ba /
with a wealth of erudition and originality
of ideas, he will be disappointed for they
are not there. Christian believers who
are trembling in their shoes through fear
OF this new enemy, and dread of logical
destined 10 overthrow the
structure of their faith, may allow their
to be allayed. No new foe
has risen-it is the same old one. and
scarcely even in a new dress. And the re-
suit will be the same as in the Shake
Spearean fableof the archer and the moon.
The authors Bible appears to be Am
Oerley's Analysis of Religious Belief"
book with which the present writer be-
came acquainted some twenty years ago,
but which does not appear 10 have at
aimed any very distinguished posi-
ion in literature. He seems likewise
% have imbibed deep and refreshing
iHughts of inspiration from Ingersoll
That sulphurous authority is, I believe,
mentioned by name in only one passage of
he Inquiry" but the influence of the
writer of The Mistakes of Moses, =" and
possibly other mistakes besides, seems
To adopt the method of
he learned prelate we may quote a little
ATTN and parody the old proverb, Tex
mgue felinem"-you can tell cat by its
laws.
The Inquiry" is sub-divided into sew
raj propositions, - each of which in turn
he author attempts to establish The
lrst of these propositions is, that "the
hurch has eXerted, and still exerts, a
laleful influence upon mankind" To
rove this, the author appeals to CHS
DRY, quoting at length from an infidel
amphlet Of an obscure writer. To COM
hence, we learn that the Crusaders found
ne Arabs and Saracens much their supe-
errors in all that goes to make civiliza-
ion-ln fact, the Mohammedans regarded |
ne Christians as "barbarians." Let us
oppose the author of the Enquiry
O. have Chinaman for his laundress.
Nlo can measure the disgust he would
eel II he could read the mind of
ne follower of ConfuciuS and find |
llnself regarded as a barbarian, which |
'ould possibly be the case? The lengthy
notation given as an authority, ends
nus 1t is frequently asserted that in
ne most Christian countries The people |
re the most intellectual, moral and happy. |
'ut the fact is that in those countries in !
men skepticism and infidelity have ac-
ulred the greatest strength and infu-
nee, and in which Christianity has been |
lodlned to conform to the changed condi-
ION OF afairs, the people are the most
dvanCed"
AFTER this statement, the falsehood Of
Hlch IS only equaled by it's effrOntery,
le author says as though with a judicial
ave OF his hand, II hardly think it
orIh While 10 quote further" Perhaps
"; but let US see moment how much
proves by his alleged history"
suppose at the time of the crusades the
raos and Saraceus surpassed the Chris
ans IN civilization. Ofucourse, the Chris
an reIlglon was responsible for this in
rIorlty of the invadersl But some
ldnges nave occurred during the seven
elght centuries intervening between
the author of the ENQUIRY"
ld written. his book at that remote
'rlod, thinking as he does, he would
iturally have demonstrated the absurd
} % expecting that the Christian races
una ever surpaS3 the races following the
rental religion. Handicapped at the
art' and laboring under the incubus of a
'sraulng religion, how preposterous !
~ strange to say, there are some people,
iige Intelligent too, who are fully per- I
aueu mat the Christian races have
elld Ken, and even outstripped the
IcuUdls In several points of civilization.
nc author of the Inquiry" of course, /
'oe not believe any such thing in fact, he ,