The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-22
An Infidcl's Letter.

NeilsDufB, W. va, March 70, 1885,
Dear Friend: Your letter received. 1t
was quite surprise, although 1t should
not have been. because ] know that men
of your profession are always ready to
condemn their fellow-men when they do
not believe as you do. When you make
such assertions you should not only be
ready for argument. but ready also to give
proof that you are right. To believe and
to know are very different If the Jesus
Christ OF the Testament ever lived He lied
He stole, He called his fellow-rnen ugly
names because they did not believe what
He said.
Although do not know that He claimed
to be God, He did say He was equal to
God. But no difference: He was arrested
tried In the courts of His own country and
condemned to death. Am / to suppose or
believe that the officers of justice in His
own country knew nothing about Him and
believe you know all about Him? You
sent part of one of His texts to me; if
you had read the whole of it, and given it
minutes thought you never would have
sent the other to me. But there is nothing
strange in that. Your Jew God did the
same tricks. The pagan gods could not
have played any meaner tricks, and the
pasans had Just as much faith in their
gods as you have in yours, and no doubt
derived as much consolation from their
prayers as you do. My men or leaders
know more about this universe, or crea-
ton, than all the gods that ever existed
will quote briefly from lady writer that
suits very well. / know you will not like
this letter; but take warning; let men like
me alone: remember we have feelings as
well as you.
''The phrase is cruel, misdirecting un-
just. As reverently as those who believe
that the Bible Is the word of God-.psissima
verba-and the church of Christ the sole
ark Of salvation, do we, who doubt of
both. worship the truth and stretch out
our hands to the light! If we think that
such religions as the world has hitherto
seen have been subjective and not given
from without-sef-granteda andnot revealed
1t Is not because we are Indifferent to the
religious idea, not because we want to get
rid of a restraining moral influence, nor
yet because We despise the consultations of
faith and the peace which follows prayer
1t is simply because certain things in
tegral to those revelations cannot stand
the test of scientific truth, and fall to
pieces under the touch of reason And
what is this joy, this exultation to which
MIR. Gladstone assigns so shameful par
allelsm? Is 1t In our sense of freedom
through our deliverance from the cruel
superstitions wich have overwhelmed
brave men with abject terror, reduced
feeble minds to imbecility and influenced
ardent ones to madness-which have
ruined the happiness of multitudes, de-
stroyed innumerable lives and put instru-
ments of torture into the hands of fanat-
les, wherewith to oppress their victims.
till the hell they preached was translated
to earth, and the devil they painted is
embodied In their persons? Must we bury
that devil with the 'decences of mourn
ing and hang up wreaths of parsley and
crowns Of immortelles on thcclosed gates
Of hell? Yet neither the one nor the
other is to be extricated from the correla-
tive ideas of God and heaven as given to
us by the Bible and the Christian churches.
What is our exultation? To feel that we
are men. surrounded by unfathomable
mysteries. but free from the fears which
desolate and degrade-to feel that We can
look up to heaven unabashed II question:
ing-that we are one with nature which
we do not yet understand, and not ruled
off to a destiny of eternal torment"
Now, my dear fellow, l expect to go out
to your brothers and my daughters in
few days Friendship is what will take me
there, hence 1 will not say one word against
their ideas. Instead of telling them that
they are all going to the devil when they
get down on their knees to pray, / will
conform to their ways-not because /
think they are right but If cannot do as
they do. or rather submit to what they
do. 1t is my duty to remain away. l would
not say one word to turn my children
not because I think they are right. l
know positively the whole thing is a fraud.
but 1t is preferred by the majority. and
my children will be better off to 20 along
easier in the current than to strike out
as have done. | hunted for foundation
to build upon, and found quicksand that
would not bear the weight Of reason.
Truth Is what teach. believe in 1t. and
do my level best to live up to 1t. If COM
nit a crime, / do not beg and pray for
anybody to suffer for me- hence I have no
use for your Jesus Christ after am dead.
If he wants to be my friend, now is the
time.
Now, do not get mad at me- According
to your own creed, God hath foreordained
whatsoever cometh to pass hence ! am
not to blame-it Is very good Scripture
doctrine. 1 have read your Bible and
know all about 1t. II II means what 1t says.
If 1t does not mean what 1t says, l know
Just as much as you do. and that is nothing
at ALL But / do know that Gods people
have always been one devil of a crowd.
that is, the ruling or controlling part of
them.
Best wishes. Yours, NJ, S..