The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-03-07
BOB INGERSOLL REFUTED.
THE FAMOUS AGNOs rio ABLY AN
SWERED.
Rev. a. NJ. Williams, Formerly of Dawson,
breaches an Interesting Sermon
OF h

Rev. A. M. Williams, former pastor
of the Methodist church in Dawson,
preached most interesting and instruc
tive sermon last Sunday morning at Wes-
leyan Monumental church, Savannah.
The following synopsis of the sermon
is from the Savannah Press;
Rev. Mr.. Williams has made study of
this and similar theories and ideas, com
pairing them carefully with the teachings
of the Bible, and pointing their weak
ton, in spite of the rather inclement
weather.
The text was taken from IL. Timothy,
IL, Jesus Chsist, our Savior, hath
brought life and Immortality to light
through the gospel.n A synopsis of the
sermon is as follows:
''In an interview Mr.. Ingersoll said,
Il d. not say that death ends all; neither
do say that man is immortal. All can
say about immortality is there was line
when was not, after that was, now
/ am, and it may be that il is no more
wonderful that should continue forever,
now that l have start, than it was that
i should start. We love, and those we
love died End we cling to the hope, the
wish, that we meet again. Love was the
first dream of immortality, and as long
as we love we shall hope"
=, :, Of : or hoo fI11 MI
terances of this eloquent man. 1t is the
expression of universal yearning of the
human heart His creed is a sad one.
But Christianity crys out jOyously, L
know in whomI have believed and that
he is able to keep that which l have COM
mitted 10 him against that day.
"Ihe don't know philosophy is frivo-
lous and nable-frivolous be-
cause il is mere play on words-unrea-
sonable because it presents definition
of knowledge that would paralyze secu-
lar life if applied to its affairs. The
Christian can meet the agnostic and say:
i have such knowledge of Immortality as
would justify me in engaging in stupen-
dous secular undertakings if it were the
basis of that class of action. No man
can know the effect of tariff bill, cur
rency, railroad or banking law. Yet
men do not cease to legislAte on that
account.
"There are four sources of knowledge.
First, experience-We cannot know inn
mortality this way. No being can know
from experience that he is immortal.
Such knowledge must come to US in some
other way But the young do no: know
old age OF death by experience.
Second, Observ atiOn-Immortality is
not a subject of knowledge from this
source. We do not know old age and
death from what we see in others, but
immortality is beyond the possibility of
any observation. Our personal kn)wl
edge would be very limited if it had to
be gained through observation How
would know that there was Russian
language, Chinese industrial system, if
had to depend on observation?
Third, Raticinative Processes can
study nature and human nature, find out
some of their laws, and by comparison
of one truth with other truths, increase
my knowledge. This form of knowledge
gives a good foundation to the belief in
immortality, and also confirms that de-
rived from another source, to be men
toned later. Let us consider two of its
suggestions:
"Q) A yearning always cOrrelates with
the possibility of qualification. Hunger
means food. Thirst implies water. Pain
suggests auaesthetics. Why should not
this longing after life, immortality, the
loved, mean confined existence?
seq Without immortality life is the
darkest of mysteries. 1t is needed to
explain much that is here. Howcan
YOU explain the cultured intellect, the
loving heart, the noble character cut off
in early life before it had time to more
than show its possibilities, without the
thought of another sphere Of action and
relation?
Another and the last l shall discuss as
a source of knowledge is communication.
We know most things because they nave
been communicated to us by those who
are in position to fathom them. This
is the source of the Christians knowl-
edge of immortality-Jes Christ has
brought immortality to light. He tells
&c :. -. L.. 4.n,- G nm ton in his visit II