The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-16
THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER.
To Test the Effects on the Greatest
Living lnfidel.
AN INVITATION TO BOB lNGERSOLl.
Asked to Preach in the Puipi, of tho Mill
tsnt Church ut Adrian. nich.--Text
Of the Letter.

Chicago. January Is. - Thousands Of
prayers we're said for Colonel Roher, O.
iIgersoil a little while ago. DR.. John
! Rusk Of the Militant church wishes to
know how efficacious the prayers have
| been. To bring the matter to test, the
clergyman has sent the following letter TO
the author OF 'The Mistakes OF Moses."
Colonel Robert G.. lngersoll, Adrian, Mich:
Dear sir. The Militant church. which
is organized for the purpose Of lettering
the condition OF mankind, regardless of
creed OF lack Of It. desires to extend to
you an invitation TO preach FOR US sorne
SUNDAY oTnirs IN the near future on the
eSn.r-t OF your views as to what the
Chr church should do. and how
The motto Of cur mems club IS Act Ia
nus worla, theorize IN ths next" Some
~ our most earnest workers hold your
views, Others are deyout Christians. All
Work together, however, think TO them
changed.
Ne have volunteer orchestra OF twen-
ty-nve Pieces. a legal committee com
pose~ o. 1f"r thirty OF the leading law
Frfs 81 chicago, who are each pledged to
lif one cas- week free Of charge for
Shs poor, Or 70 take up the prosecution OF
lax city Officials Or law breakers.
oar committee OF physicians hunt up
the POOR and care for the sick; delegates
VISIT the police stations ana cure drunk
ards by practical methods. The health
committee ~ iadies fights the saloon by
trying to provide Tor the workingInon a
better club house, not by bitter inTec-
tlVes.
Knowing your views and honest work
for humanity ana feeling the fact that |
am ii Christian ana you are not should
nJt pe9ent Us from working together
Tor mo upiItu. Of huuarity, ard leaving
II 70 indlviflala 10 judge for themselves
what is true, | earnestly invite you TO
give VS. the ability OF your assistance for
one sunday III building up a movement
great enough 20 embrace ali humanity,
frurn tine highest to the lowest
Ever sii ce Lr l,usk mailed this invita-
fulfilnent of the thousands nt prayers
That he might he turned to the vocation
~ tn church. Speaking Of the matter,
Or Rusk SAID
DO not see that the Invitation Is at all
astonishing. IL may not he remembered
generally that Colonel Ingersoli az one
time visited a modern institutional church,
90 which are doing grand work for hu-
uonily today. lie was Interested greatly
IN what ne SAW, EXPRESSED his entire sym
pafhY Wlth the work bong done and his
admiratiou Of the possibilities Of such
church aulNiiy. In fact he sai1 he should
Ike 10 JON that kind of a church himself.
So "hy Is 50 at all strange 10 think that
he may be glad 10 speak from the pulpit
OF the MiLtuut church, whose creed Is the
pood Of humanity? ! firmly believe that
IL there Ind been an institutional church
when lug"tSoll was BOY he would have
entered into It's work heart and soul aud
that Dee would have been Americas great.
est divine and the greatest enemy OF Or
rUai2ed Christianity. AZ u IT, he has
made people think, the churches have
been cola and l.fclesa. In fact, they make
a4.ra u. % lie ff.e Tar coll