The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-05

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
l see from your dispatches of the day fol-
lowing Thanksgiving that certain Christian
people arranged to offer concerted prayers
for the conversion to Christianity of Col.
R. G. Ingersoll Now. this action on their
part strikes me as out of place. inconsistent
with the nature and purposes of prayer,
and source Of derogation to Christianity
Those prayers only tend to advertise their
object-a fact not to be desired by Christian
people, for we should do nothing that will
widen the field of operation or in any man.
ner enhance the agencies of opposition to
Christianity. Too much of the prominence
of infidelity and special agencies of the
same lies in the mistaken notions of many
Christians that every thing said or done
against Christianity should be answered or
gotten out of the way in some manner.
either natural or supernatural. Now, this
is mistaken notion. Christianity has al
ways had this opposition. from the cruel
fixion of Christ until the present time; and,
as compared with some of the past, the
chiefs of opposition to Christianity OF to-
day are mere pigmies. Christianity is
marching on. Ali it's agencies-the Bible.
the ministry, the churches-are eminently
successful 1t is folly for it's agencies TO
stop and parley in debate or otherwise
with its special enemies, or to use the sa-
cred power of prayer unnecessarily. 1t is
not necessary TO the church or Christianity
that Colonel Ingersoll or any other special
Christians unnecessarily give to the OPP
ponents Of the Christian faith only tends
fool according to his folly, lest he be wise
in his own conceit." Christ said. more
plainly. Cast not your pearls before swine
lest they turn and rend you"-which will
no doubt be so in this case
IL is the Christians duty to pray for the
salvation of the penitent, for personal enc
norant. for the spread of the truth, and in
Vulnerable objects consistent with the pur-
poses poses OF prayer But in the case under
Is applicable. When a man reared under
Christian, civilization. trained and edu-
Christian family, and from which institu-
tions he has received and appropriated ev-
cry worthy sentiment he has, deliberately
ticism-and make his denial a living, a pro-
fession, a source of applause. prostituting
rSstoec re- sb1 dicue wit and
tians have no condition Of prayer TO meet
the case unless there is evidence of re-
pentance, confession and reform.
If some one who is ignorant and inlet
tered. having had few if any advan-
tages, yet betrays a desire to know the
est in his sentiments but yet deceived-one
who diverts none Of his higher abilities, at
tanned through Christian Influences, to pur-
poses of gain and applause by tickling the
ear of the unthinking with ribaldry. ridicule
and rhetoric, then there exists the real con-
ditions of prayer, and for such earnest
prayer will be effectual On the other hand
there is limit TO prayer. II man is in an
evil pursuit, has his stock in trade in hand,
is advertising IL widely. and as the town
crier, is using all his powers to publish TO
the world what he has on hand for which
ne wants price, then. until he. changes
from what he is and what he is doing there
is not a condition OF prayer. We never
think Of praying for the devil. He. with a
great many people in the world, has defied
God. resisted the truth. made capital of
their opposition, willfuly and knowingly
placed themselves where God in consider
alton of their intelligence and power of
choice, could only give them over to hard
ness of heart and unbelief, to believe a lie
and be damned" Surely in that case no
Christian need pray for them. Christians
are mistaken when they think there is
need Of something special in such cases.
Agnosticism was answered near two thou
sand years ago. There is nothing new in
IL, and we should not do anything TO re-
vive it again by popularizing it's votaries OF
to-day. In each case in all the history of
the past 1t has died with its apostle. only
to be resurrected by some one else for
like process. Christianity lives. and needs
no other defense than its living. working
progressive existence OF the present day.
VI. A. LEAGUE.
Pendleton. Ind, Dec. 2.