The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-30
A Question of a Comma.

The Christian Endeavor unions have
addressed themselves to the pious mis-
sion Of getting Robert G. IngersoH
Cleveland-in that city. at noon of
Thursday. three thousand people en-
gagged in earnest supplication that the
somewhat celebrated agnostic might be
turned from the error of his ways. The
members of the Salvation army also
offered prayer in Ingersoll's behalf.
There Is power in prayer; it's holy in
iuence has swayed many a man of
more brain that ever Colonel Ingersoll
could boast of. His fame rests on no
argument that ever he made, but
rather on the graceful diction in which
he has clothed the fmpious sarcasm
with which he has assailed Christian
believers. The result is that. In his
lifetime. Mr.. Ingerson has bereft him
self OF much Of the Joy. the consolation
and the inspiration that come to mill
ions Of mortals because of their abid-
ing trust In the idea that beyond the
life that now is there is a better life to
come.
That Is Colonel 1ngersoIl's distinct
loss. Even were the doctrine of immor-
tally an illusion, 1t Is one In whose
folds humanity, often downcast, dis
Outraged and dispirfted, may well af-
ford to wrap itself. Colonel Ingersolls
egotism prompts him to fiatter himself
that he is broader, brainier, better than
the millions who cherish the hope of
immortal life. He fools himself; he is
nothing Of the sort. He Is a dabbler in
theology. His profession is law; and
by as good as the common consent of
the American bar. he is a lawyer of in
different merit. II Robert Ingersoll
were to recant, that would be no sur
prise-tnfidels of more brilliant intel
lect than ever he possessed have done
It in their time.
1t appears that up in Canada the
Christian Endeavor people are going to
lend their help in the effort to redeem
Ingersoll; tomorrow afternoon, at 2
o'clock, they intend to pray for his
conversion-at least that is our inter-
probation of the dispatch. In truth, we
are not quite clear, going by the tele-
gram exactly as it reached this office,
what the purpose in Canada is. The
dispatch, with its punctuation precisely
as 1t reached the Standards editorial
desk, read: The Christian Endeavor-
ers of the Dominion of Canada have
been requested to unite in prayer to
God for the conversion of Col Robert
@. Ingersoll on Sunday, Dec. 1. at 2
o'clock in the afternoon"
Not to trifie with sacred things, 1t is
a question of a comma after the word
'Ingersoll" and before the phrase ION
Sunday" The absence OF a comma at
that place makes the sentence mean
that the Canadians would like to have
Colonel Ingersoll converted at 2 O'Clock
in the afternoon of Sunday, December
1. We suspect that the Christian En-
deavor people are for the conversion
Of the Colonel at such time as may
please Providence; 1t is probably not
their intention to name the day and
the hour when, like the famous convert
who was journeying to Damascus, In
gersoll shall see a great light.
Accordingly. on this mornings news
page, by the use OF the comma in ques-
tion. the Kingston telegram is made to
announce that the Christian Endeavor-
ers of the Dominion OF Canada have
been requested to unite in prayer to
God, on Sunday, December 1. at two
O'Clock in the afternoon. for the con-
version OF Robert G. Ingersoll And
may they prevail!
The 1 ID