The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-06
DIR. REXFORD ON ROBERT NIGER
SOIL.

Columbus church. 1t was probably
expected that DR.. Rexford would
make regular and formal review of
Colonel Robert Ingersoll's recent lect-
ure in Columbus. This expectation
was not realized in form, but there
was enough in the discourse which
the hearers could appropriate as a
good reply to much of the Colonels
lecture, especially his treatment of
the passage from st. Luke's Gospel
which DIR. Rexford took as the text
| for his sermon. In that passage
Jesus says HE that hateth not his
father, mother, brethren, etc., cannot
be my disciple" Ingersoll says in
his lecture that if this is Jesus posi-
ton he for one twill leave Jesus and
stay with the folks" This always
makes his hearers laugh.
We give the report of the Journal
in full as it embodies excellent matter
for the readers of The UNIvERsALIsT:
DR.. Kexford paid warm tribute to
Colonel Ingersoll's genial nature, his love
for humanity and his general goodness
of heart. also to his splendid talents. but
he feared that in his treatment of the
above passage of Scripture Colonel In
gersoll could scarcely be regarded as in
tellectually honest. And indeed in his
general representations of the accretions
which have grown up around the simple
and pure religion of years as being the
Christian religion itself, which he GER
tainly knows is far from true, Colonel
Ingersoll brings his intellectual honesty
under suspicion. In the passage
| quoted, as the church has always inter-
preted it, and as all the circumstances
show is the true Interpretation, Jesus
simply taught that men should be will
ing to leave all their old associations be-
hind them. if necessary. rather than alb
andon their highest convictions OF duty
and right. Jesus own life, so fraught
with love, and divinest tenderness for
his own kindred, his own brethren and
for all humanity, proves beyond doubt
that this is the true meaning of the pas
sage 10 Luke. Does not Colonel Inger-
soil know this? Yet he leaves the au-
dience to infer that the great teacher
who preached the sublime Sermon on
the Mount, whose every sentence throbs
with the love he felt for men and the
other, intended in the lecturers Colonel
Ingersoll's) opinion, to proclaim { doc
trine of inhumanity and hate! DIR. Rex
ford might we'll be excused for entertain
ing doubt of the genial colonel's in
tellectual honesty.
DIR. Rexford wanted to say, however,
and he laid charge upon any reporter
that might be present to mark his words.
that he believed the twomen living who
are throwing away the grandest oppor-
tunities for good are the czar Of Russia
and Robert G. Ingersoll. II the czar
would abandon his system of despotiem
and cruelty and govern according to the
principles Of justice and humanity, he
would accomplish more of good than any
other ruler can accomplish, and make
the history of his reign immortal. If
Ingersoll, with his real love and kindness
for his fellow-men and his splendid abil-
tiles. would cease to devote himself to
attacking the excrescences that have at
tached themselves to Christianity and
give himself to the work OF disseminat-
ing that sublime gospel of humanity,
brotherhood and love which Jesus really
preached, he QngersolD could do more
toward softening the hearts and ennobl-
ing the lives of his fellows than any
other half dozen men in America.
DR.. Rexford then continued and am
plified upon the main theme of his dis
course, which was the duty of every man
to stand fast by his own highest convic
lions of truth and right, no matter what
the consequences. The men who do this
are the men who, following Christ's ex-
ample, bring about all progress for the
better, and benefit. reform and bless the
world.
DR.. Rexford gave the following inter
esting personal reminiscence in illustra-
ton Of the duty of every man to adhere
to his convictions: My father was a
Baptist clergyman. l left his fellowship
when / was II years old. and it was a
great grief to him. / was the only one
of the family that ever left the old paths
His preiudices we're strong about the
Universalist teachings. and my mothers
prejudice was similar. My fathers grief
was theological and hers mothers
The first conversation we ever had on
the subject was at my sisters. where
was spending vacation from the acad-
envy. and in that he said, II never want
you to come home and poison the chill.
dren's minds with those ideas" When
we closed the conversation five years
went by. kept on with my work, went
through the university, went to Cincin-
natl and was chosen there pastor of q
church when was % years old. After
being chosen to that place went back