The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-19

ING TOOK place IN t~Elcd&o 10 listen 70 6oo-
srt G. InEersoIi. chief of American agnos-
tics. He was there upos the invitation Of
Rev. John Rusk. the head Of what ne calls
the church militant. and which Is said TO
ents Of . Presbyterian church who have
branched on into an independent organiza-
ton A. the address was not given In a
church. but In a theater. and had nothing
whatever to do distinctiyely with church
work. the preacher seems 10 have been Ac-
tuated by a desire TO create . sensation.
There was no more reason. 90 far - the
church was concerned. why Col. Ingersoli
should occupy the pulpit than \ prohibit
tionist or Salvation Army leader or single
taxer. or any other representative CT plans
for the amelioration OF the condition Of the
human race. Many of the members OF the
church objected so strenuously fc what
they properly regarded as an unbecoming
incident that the services were held for
the occasion In the theater instead OF the
church.
There are good, sound reasons for dis
approving the surrender OF religious edI-
fee to exposition Of the doctrines held by
Ingersoii. He is very able man. and his
teaching. % far rs 1t goes. Is beyond cavil.
but his work stops on the threshold OF the
church. His ideal OF man is complete as
TO his humanity. but Ingersoll as a teacher
has no more part In shaping the destiny
Of the soul than has the maker OF a harp
In producing music. Man is to Ingersoll
beautiful and delieately constructed piece
Of mechanism. which should. pleasantly
and without friction. each part working
easily to a common end. work out the fab
ric of life. He knows nothing of the as
pirattons Of man beyond the present: he
regards no purpose beyond the rounding
out Of the present life. Apart from this.
Col. Inge-soil Is capable OF great good and
his words are always so full Of suggestion
that he In never otherwise than interest
ing. and his wonderful command Of Ian
guage enthralis his audience.
In his address he was careful not to
wound the sensibilities of his hearers. and
there was an entire absence OF that satire
which he has so often applied to the
Among other things. pertinent to this day
OF the week. he expressed some novel
views on churches and Sunday schools.
lie declared that In this country the prop
crty dedicated to church purposes was
worth at least si.oco. 900 900. and that the
cost Of employing persons whose business
1t is 10 seek the aid of the supernatural.
and to maintain the property" together
with interest. amounted to 100000 a
week. For this vast amount of money he
thought the returns were remarkably
small The good accomplished does not
appear to be great. there Is no great
diminution In crime and the decrease OF
immortality ana poverty were hardly per-
ceptible. He said there were In many
small towns four or Ave churches at least
founded upon immateriai differences, and
that arguments on all sides OF these differ
ences had been presented countless mill
ions of times. II seemed 10 him IL would
be far better for the people of such q town
to have only one church. In which should
be a library open every day of the week.
address them on Sundays take for a series
OF sermons the genius of the Greeks. the
wondrous metaphysics. myths and rellg-
ions OF India and Egypt. and lessons upon
the great thinkers. poets. orators. invent
ors and captains of industry. In the Sun
IA h.
made acquainted with the facts OF nature.
botany. geology and astronomy: that they
he made familiar with the greatest of
poems. gems of literature and stories of
the heroic. the selt-denying and the gen.
erous.
The value OF these suggestions is chiefly
in connection with Sunday schools where
children could he led up to a knowledge
and appreciation OF wonderful Creator
or dominating force beyond anything we
know OF: and of the real beauty OF the
teachings OF Jesus Christ. by travelling
outside of the routine which becomes so
wea-isome to children and makes them
| dread. instead OF looking forward 10, the
exercises OF the Sabbath. No seotarianisrn
need stand In the way Of this innovation.
because once the ehsld's attention Is Sc
cured. the task Of the teacher becomes
easier.
ncctr,nsl teaching. which the churches
would be unwilling to surrender. IL not es-
sential in Sunday schools: what Is needed
Is to lead children 70 a better understand
| ms Of the wonders and mysteries which
/ surround them. and 50 10 lead them TO tina,
point when the relation OF higher power
| 20 the every day incidents OF life becomes
clear 10 their immature minds The beau.
| ties presented by a study Of botany and
| the wonders OF the heavens as presen,e,,
by an Acquaintance with speculative as
| tronomy. should Dc ready means hy which
a pious teacher could prepare the mind for
the ultimate oeiec; for which Sunday
schools were established 1t Is no oeYcSr-
ton that the suggestion comeS from niger
| soa, because he has shown that wsthou;
any ether aids than his own knowledge q.
| human nature and his power TO interest,
he can al all times on the largest avail
able auditorium. when churches arr lief,
| empty half the time Il Is the manner
| more than the matter which attracts: and
| < Is ne usore than this we suggest to those