The Washington times., 1894-12-24

Ingersoll's lecture on tho Bible, delivered
recently in this city, brought forth last night
no less than three sermons from Washington
clergymen.
The Rev. J. S. Smith, OF the Central NJ P.
Church, corner of Twelfth and NJ streets. took
his text from Matt. xxi:44-"And whosoever
shall fall upon this stone shall be broken, but
upon whomsoeyer it shall fall it will grind
him to powder"
The subject of his discourse was "The Bible
versus InGersoll," upon which he said,
at is very certain that the one who retaiied
old chestuuts and pleased with his flashes OF
wit at the National Theater astSundaY night
does not deserve any attention himself at the
hands OF good and thoughtful men. II the
public press had had thethought and courage
to withhold from the people any report OF
the unholy proceedings, there would be but
little necessity or propriety in my remarks
tonight.
II hardly suppose.hat many OF those max
ing up Ingersoll's audience are members of
or supporters OF the Christian churches OF
this city. His auditors expected to hear eer-
tain things and they heard them. / wonder
If they feel that they are upon a better founda-
tion? Can they grappie the stern questions
OF duty with any more earnestne than be-
fore?
1T might be thought by some that those
who make replies TO the chief apostle OF in
fidelity should hear him before attempting
such q task There is some sense in this,
but would say 10 such that Ingersoll does
not hear those that do not believe rs he pre-
tends TO believe. He is the very incarna-
ton of conceit and the autocrat of vile COM
edy and base yituperation.
LAS none of Iugersolis Sunday audience
are here it would be unwise TO consume the
time thus, were it not that his Monday
audience was many times larger than thar of
Sunday. ~ '--,n
MANY infldels are not willing 10 be called by
that term; they prefer the word aguostic. it
is more cia steal: it means one who does not
know; an ignoranlus. that is frequently the
proper word
The rev. S. 9I. Hartsock, D. D.. OF Ryland
NJ. i. Church, corner of Tenth and ID streets
southwest chose rs the subject of his dis
course The Ierilous influence of infidelity as
taught by Mr.. Ingersoll, and his text is
found in John. lille. as follows: And this IS
the Condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than
/ light, because their deeds were evil
Mr. Hartsock said: Mr.. ILgerSoll has Just
! be he needed money, and may be be is Ike
/ P. r. Barnum who used TO say that the
/ American people liked to be humbucged and
that he might as we'll dc it for them as any one
else. He spoke upon the subject OF liberty.
Liberty for what? Liberty to say tnat
Moses did not write the Pentateuch; 10 say
! that ether books of the Bible were not written
/ by those TO whom their authorship is as
! signed? Liber.y TO do as he pleased? Lib
erty to trampie the Bible in the dust? tell
YOU this Bible will live when this man has
gone where he belongs.
What we claim is that religion should be
practically proved; that it should be brought
/ to the test Of living it. But Christianity and
! inf1deity have been tried. They have both
been brought to the real true test What is
/ the
BEARING OF INFIDELrTY on MAN?
lit makes him the child of chance, weeping
away his ftful hours OF life, and then vanish
/ ing into nothing. All is yanity-this is the
glory with which inndeiity invests US.
I eff the clain of skepticism is true. what
rule of virtue remains to mani When a
supreme ruler ha; been taken way. he be-
comes his own judge.
"The Holy Bible, a reply to lngersoll," was
/ the theme upon which Rev. Frank Sewall, oi
the New Church, addressed his congregation.
He said:
Even ii all TIE p60piB IfltlI were III the IDe-
ater last Sunday Joined in cheering the in
suits fuag at the Bible, which we very
much doubt, these would constitute but
a very small rroI ortion of the ci liens oi
Washington. There were many probably
there who were not amused by the lecturers
well-worn tests. and vastly many more who
were not there and who have found no amuse-
ment in reading the account of what was
there said.
"Profane even to the extreme of blasphemy
as were the lecturers words, it is consoiing
to remember the true principle, that only
those who know the sanctity of thing can
pro!ane it. Those TO whom nothing is holy
cannot be profane Holy things to the
holy is the ancient legend.
'.But this use of what is to others holy can
not be regardnd as showing in very attractive
colors the lecturers boasted religion oil
liberty. The liberty which takes delight II
insulting that which is most sacred
to others, is a liberty Yerging tc
the most brutal kind of tyranny Even Mr.
IngersoH would no doubt think meanly q
tine man who would allow insult to be cast OF
the name of
HIS WIFE OR HIS MOTHER.
1T is only so far as what Mr.. Ingersoll say
can be regarded by any as having the motiy,
of sincere criticism that his lecture deserves
the slightest consideration of thoughtful men
The same criticisms have been urged for cen
turies, yet the Bible is now the oldest livin,
exponent OF q living religion. The Bible i
its own answer to this attack and it will stant
as it has stood"