The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-22


of prayer was as strong as ever, for while
he was not converted or even convicted,
SO far as ! know. still there was reason
which. TO every Bible student and Christian.
is more than satisfactory. for there are con-
ditions TO be complied with before We can
plead the promises Of Gods word or claim
the answer 10 our prayers. At the close
OF the time limit L was invited very kindly
by their president, DIT. Lincoln, 10 attend
their meeting and discuss the result, but
TO bear upon me by my friends that
refused to do so. which / very much re-
THE CORRESPONDENCE.
Several letters have passed between us.
the last one 1 append:
Dallas, Tex, Sept. II, Z. VI. 2s5
Mrs. s. J. Sweeney:
:" Dear Madam-Your letter addressed TO
me in care of DR.. Lincoln has been placed
in my hands, and have given IL all due
consideration. / am grateful for your adj
fused to make in public, that you now rec
ognize the folly and futility of prayer, es-
pecially In such an undertaking as We have
You will not believe that, with my bright
intellect and wonderful powers of mind,
can possibly believe what l teach 1T does
seem to me that you are deliberately
charging me with an act of the greatest
possible. maliciousness and dishonesty. 1
had not hoped for such statement from
you, and hope you did not mean what
you have said. for ] wish to state that in
stead of finding a pleasure in prosecuting
internal plans against humanity, atheist as
than thousands of the worshipers of that
God TO whom you have been praying in
vain for my conversion.
have read the tract you inclose, long
before you sent it to me. 1t is not new
one. Sentimental women will cry over such
things as that, but thoughtful men will
light their cigars with 1t. Look again over
page 4. While one man may save another
from the burden of debt of honor by dis
charging that others liabilities, still he
could not relieve him from the response
bilities of a crime You may pay my debts
and so relieve me, but If you should suffer
jail for my sins 1 should be still held
them. A million Christs may die, but the
natural and inevitable issues of mems &C
tons must be faced by themselves. / can
demnity salvation, Your religion would
give to the seducer of your daughter a
harp and a crown of glory. If he would
man, and without crime, but an unbeliever,
must suffer eternal flames. For such
religion which places repentance above vir-
tue l have only the most profound con-
tempt. and for the God who would tolerate
such proceedings / have no desire to OBJ
tain his respect, for he, certainly could
never have mine. pay no heed to the dreful
warnings you are pleased TO underscore
about hell. trembling, blood, perishing, ever
lasting fire: 1t seems to indicate the thoughts
in which you delight to revel. For my part,
j can find more enjoyment in the contempla-
ton of the beautiful face of nature, and
with the study of her laws l am content to
pass into the silent grave. The very meth
DDS you employ repel instead OF attract.
a." To your first question answer with an
emphatic yes "A perfect peace permeates
my life, and / am as happy in all my daily
transactions as it is possible for a man in
my station in life to be. To your second
question. / answer no. On the contrary.
| rejoice in the thought that my bright
Intellect and wonderful powers OF mind
may have been the means of winning away
one poor soul from the corrupting influences
of corrupt religion To your third ques-
ton. must say that you are not, evidently,
In position TO understand what is meant
by science. 1t is not creed. 1t is not an
investigation into the facts of the universe.
III those facts do not agree with revealed
religion it is not the fault of the facts, but
of the revelation. l have the utmost con-
fidence in the beneficent results that are
bound TO flow from a%compIiance with scien-
tine methods for the alienation of human
suffering. Respectfully yours,
JOHN r. CHARLESWORTH.'
After reading this letter every Christian
reader will understand why prayer was not
answered in his behalf. he was in no
condition TO receive the influences of the
Holy Spirit and no prayer land / say il
with all respecD, no power on earth or in
heaven ever has. or ever will be able to
convertsa man that takes the stand that
he does. and yet j can but believe he is
honest in the position he has taken in
science. but science is not religion but ex-
most ignorant may understand, while the
highest educated inanlscan never solve the
problem unless he opens. his heart and I'M
Outstanding TO the teachings of the Spirit,
which / admit are supernatural. Take the
supernatural out of religion and you would
have only science left. l positively deny
represents, OF. TO my going back on my
lifetime belief in the efficacy OF prayer
If they were not converted. and | ask the
papers that have printed and circulated this
report TO please copy my correction made
June T. and give it the same publicity they
have done the article from the pen of the
Free Thinkers I DO not mink they in
tended to do. me the. harm that has re-
suited from the. mistake they. made. con-
treated me with perfect resDect, even more
than some religious papers have done"
The correction Mrs. Sweeney alludes to
was published June 6, as follows:
please give me space to make a few
corrections on the Free Thinkers meet
ing, as reported in yesterdays issue:
i. | am not at present president of the
the Texas w. c.. T. @.
'2. This was my. proposition to the lee
w. c. T. u. prayer roll and let us call that
name before the God of the Bible which
we acknowledges and believe to be a PRAYER
hearing and prayer-answering God and if
at any subsequent time you are convinced
of His existence and power over you as
sertions you have made against Him and
the religion OF the Bible to-night?
.. HIS answer was: How long do you wish
| your God? What say you to three months !:
| Are you willing TO stand the test for thai
length of time? And if at the end of saic
| three months no impression is made on my
| feelings in this regard you will allow me
| to deny the power of this mysterious So
| called God that you profess to believe in?
Il accepted the challenge: but they WRONG
me when they say that If God does nos
convict and convince them OF His exists
ence | will deny His, existence and also de-
~ INV nj
would not deny my Master if every being
| on the inhabtable globe embraced the inf
| del belief; for as L Dartake of food anc
my physical strength is renewed SO 1 have
| partaken of the hidden mama of Gods.
word. and my spiritual hunger has been
satisfied. / have only the kindest Christian
| solicitude for the two men who placed their
names on my prayer roll. and shall re-
member them each day at throne of
estly open to conviction they will gladly
| acknowledge God their ';od and Jesus
| Christ as their Savior before the end of
the stipulated time.
MRS. s. j. SWEENEY
LII