The Topeka state journal., 1897-03-09

professor finds a truth inconsistent with
the creed he may keep it a secret or he
may get out. Every professor breaLhes
the air of insincerity of mental dishon-
esty. Theology is the only dishonest
science. 1t is the only one that exc
crates reason All the theolOgists in the
Roman Catholic church have denounced
reason as the light that leads to perCii-
ton. All Protestant theologists have
denounced reason They are afraid
man may find something inconsistent
with the Bible. They have denied it
was the natural religion. 1 don't say
the priest and minister do not belive
they are honest, but I say they were ed
ucated in dishonest school.
Where is the evidence that there is
any heaven or hell or that a miracle
ever was performed2 Theology is en-
tirely Independent of everything. That
is the reason it WithStandS reason The
theologianS depend on assertions. It is
impossible to establish a miracle with
out another, and so on that other, and
so on world without end. Man can not
believe because he wishes to. Belief is
not the slave of the will, 1t depends up
on the evidence.
I do not want to destroy preaching.
I do not want TO take the bread away
from the preachers, but I say they
should not be owls, inha biting crunlb-
ling ruins, nor croaking ravens Good
honest men 1 want them to be, hard
hitterS, leaders toward the ever sacred
light.
/ ask you tonight, what valuable fact
ever has been proclaimed by the preach
erS? The church insists that it has
made men sacred and just. Did it ac-
complish this through the inQuiSitiOn?
OF what science has the church been
the champion? Don't answer it by say
ing l am a bad man. Think They tell
US the church has been and is the
friend of education. I deny it No or
thodox church ever was or ever will be
in favor of education. A Catholic is in
favor of education enough to make a
Catholic out of a savage; a Protestant
of education enough to make Protes-
tant out of a Catholic. The church de-
MES the eternal the inevitable sequence
of events.
Every good orthodox minister asserts
what he does not know. They make
hypocrisy respectable Unconsciously
they ensiave the intellect of man. Sup
erstitfOn is the serpent that crawls and
Kisses in every Eden. 1t is a beggar.
Superstition sheds blood; science sheds
light. I want the ministers to become
the shedders of light and the finders of
facts.
1t is impossible to conceive of the
creation or a creator. No man, and no
body of men, can answer the question
of the whence and the where Beyond
death we can not see. All our exper-
fences are of this life and of this world.
We are satisfied that the supernatural
does not exist. We hope for happiness
here and We dream of a happpiness
hereafter.
So 1 say let US be honest If there is
another world it won't hurt us because
we have been honest here. The nurS-
cry should not be an asylum for false
hood. Nothing should be taught as
true that can not be established. Child
rem should be taught to express their
doubts.
Every school should be a mental gy-
mnasium- Each mind has the right to
lift all curtains, explore all recesses, all
depths, all heights. The only authority
is nature. Facts are the tryants of the
ignorant. Intelligence is the only light.
To develop the brain is to civiliZe the
world.
All should be taught there is no evil
dence of the existence of the superna-
tural, and all should be taught that use
fulness is the bud and flower and fruit
of true religion.
Let US wait and work; let us cultivate
cheerfulness; let us hope the future will
bring peace and joy to all the children
of men