The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-07
Is GOD A FAILURE.

Is GOD A FAILUREs
One OF the most extraordinary contests,
II IL may be called so, between the powers
OF good and evil is reported from Dallas.
Tex. which is always aching TO get up
a prizehght or something. a professed
inf1del. man who makes money by talk
ing on fad. as do ex-priests. bogus Free
Masons and Congressman Sibley. gave a
lecture for the futile purpose OF discussing
whether or not there is God a good
woman who was present said she would
pray for him, so that his heart might be
touched and his faith secured. 1t was
agreed that II the infidel were convinced
he should make a public recantation OF
his error. and the woman agreed that II
at the end Of three months the recanta-
ton had not been made the woman is TO
admit that there is no efficacy in prayer,
and that. TO quote the dispatch, God is
failure and does not exist"
The subject is rather outside the prov
ince OF a general newspaper. but the pc
culiarity OF the compact is sure to make
it a topic of discussion and a source. per-
haps, OF error which would be extremely
unfortunate. IT would be a misfortune to
the world If prayer were always effica-
cious: n woud be misfortune If a sub
lime faith should depend upon Mrs Swee-
neys test. and Il would be a still greater
misfortune If the human race should sur
render its own convictions upon the die
tun of the Texas inhdel. to whom a sharp
attack OF dyspepsia or a bilious fever due
TO eating overfat pork might assume the
proportions of a provIdential twinge at
his conscience.
The sad experience is that prayer is not
always answered, even when the plead
ing soul can seemingly be asking only
what is good. How many heartbroken
mothers have knelt and besought that
their baby's life might be spared! How
many lives have been snatched away in
spite OF prayer-so cruelty, wantonly, re-
morselessly and purposelessly snatched
away. Rebellious thoughts have Knocked
at the idea of an Almighty Father in the
bitter pangs OF grief. and aching hearts
smarting under a sense OF wrong, have
arisen with the angry taunt, Thou I'M
just God!'
Yet all that makes possible belief in a
God carries with il the conviction that
He is just. and the hope that He is merci-
full. Not more inscrutable than the
purpose which permits a helpless babe
10 suffer or rohs dependent children OF a
parents care. are many OF the most stu
pendous laws of the universe. We know
that there is illimitable space and
infinite time; why cannot we see how!
We know that we live as enthusiastically
sraall atoms in a vast universe which is
ceaselessly In motion. but why we are
here. for what purpose we live, what con-
seriousness is. and what death leads TO. are
SO far as closely sealed mysteries as the
reason why prayer is not answered.
For very many hundreds OF years the
earth was regarded as the universe. lit
by the sun and moon. and set in a dome
studded with tiuselled stars. II seemed so
reasonable. IL answered so fully the lin
tied human intellect which said that only
what II knew could be and only what IL
saw could exist. But when science
stepped out of the darkness of ages and
tore down the painted blue ground and its
giIded points. it revealed 10 view vast
realms of space peopled by glorious suns
As mans eyes became accustomed 10 the
wondrous sight he shrank from his as
sumption Of imperiousness. with his gods
and his demigods. and took his humble
seat with the ant and the mole.
So long as man can think. he will marvel
and waver between conviction and doubt.
until the time shall come when the music
of the spheres finds its unison in the soul
and when out OF the silent depths OF the
nights expanse. voices shall come to the
quickening ear.
Meantime the puny contentious OF Mrs
Sweeney and the Texan inndel may he
SCI aside as aGoriing no new aid 10 knowl-
edge. except that. So far rs human judg-
nrent goes, the trusting woman's motive
and belief furnish a better example and
hold out higher hope than the agnostic
scoaiinEs az the man who makes money
by exposing his ignorance.