The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-12-04
Bob IngcrsoIl Gives Thanks.

Thanksgiving day sermon. The Chris
fian church is set apart Tor the worship
Of a supreme being and preaching the
doctrines of Jesus Christ; Thanksgi
day is set apart by the nation as a day
on which all our citizens, from the
humbiest t" the most exalted. are called
upon to return thanks to the Ruler OF
Nations for His goodness and mercy,
and that day is scarcely less sacred to
the christian than the church. From
n pulpit in Chicago, Il few years ago,
Bob Ingersoil ridiculed the idea of the
existence of a Supreme Ruler, made
sport OF the Bible. jeered at Christ, re-
yiIcd Christian ministers, advocated d.
vorce-ln fact, preached the gospel OF
darkness and despair from Luciier to
1ngersUll. From the stage of the Pabst
theatre. Milwaukee, Oh last Thanks
giving day, this same "ChrysostOm OF
Agnosticism" AMI Prince of Blasphem-
ers delivered what he had the sacra-
ligious brazenness to cali Il Thanks
giving Sermon
lIC 81 tlici'giit Va al INtltNN Il IN a
Supreme ruler Who is at all acquainted
with the history Of Bob Ingersoll ma
turally is, to whom vas lie returning
thanks? Not the God Of the Christian,
not the Kuer OF the Universe. Only
Bob Insersoil knows, and we suspect
that he must have been thankful to the
Old Nick and the manager Of the Pabst
theatre that he was able to lure 1000
Christian people within range of . his
usual mOduiated, and unimpassloned
voice." and outrage their mot sacred
feelings.
Assuming that the picture drawn Of
our ancestors was correct. for sake OF
argument, his hearers must indeed have
been thankful that bv the process of
evolution the human race had become
less hairy, even to baidheadedness, and
that delicate and shapely finger and
toe nails now grow where claws used TO
he; but, as the orator proceeded, they
must have gradually become possessed
of the norrid suspicion that even TO
this day some men are ''fond of, and.
consequently, are subject to occasional
attacks Of the Snakes"
1t is not, however, with the speaker .
picture OF our remoteHt proGenltors, and
the long road from "eava.ery to sci
ence'' that we are most concerned, and
we will dismiss that part Of the ser
mon" Nth the conviction that Inger-
soil, like his ancestors, must be the
sport of dreams" and ''deyis." What
we object to most is his answer to the
question put hy himself, Whom should
We thank ," IN answer 10 which he
said:
Christianity has controlled Christ cndum
for over 100 years. Should thank the
church for the blessings Of to-day? Well.
What has the church dOneI And want you
he fair and understand. What good has
.!,e church done? Has il taught man to cul-
tiyatc the earth to build houses. to weave
cloth. TO cure disease to build ships to navi-
gate the seas. to build railroads, to conquer
pain. to lcngthcn life. Now. let Us be honest.
What has the church done" Did Christ or
any OF his apostles add TO the sum of uni
scrsni knowledge? Did they say word
favor Of any science or art? Did they teach
their fellow men how To cure sickness, how
"a save thousands from famine. misery, rIg
Did they explain anything: Did they teach
the gospel of sclf-reliaucc, honest effort:
can any farmer scientist find in the New
Testament or the Oid Testament one useful
fact? Is there anything in The Bible that can
help the pcologi>t. the astronomer, the, hIoIo-
list the inventor. the farmer, the lnanufac-
iurcr or any useful thing?
To all OF which questions lie gave a
negative answer, in the face of i'm par
Iial history. and III the lace of our every
day experience. In spite OF the fact
fact that wherever Christianity flour
i-hes there tiourishes the peaceful arts,
as never before, there material pro-
gress is greatest; IN spite OF the fact that
to-day, Yesterday and as far back as the
dawn Of the Christian era the Christian
churches are and ever have been the
patrons OF learning, leading gently to-
ward the light those who but for 1t
would still be crawling and stumbling
10y the way: whose dcvotees have
ever taught man 10 conquer pain, have
ever been the minstering angels TO the
sick and the helpless, teaching res
ignation, Whispering hope ard robbing
death of lis terrors; lave faced
every danger for the sake of humanity
shis apostle Of Agnosticiem las the
insolrnce to ask what good has the
church done - DO they ever think
who ask this question. hat condition
man would be in to-day if the Christian
church had never been established
Even Bob IngersoIl should shudder al
the thought. Every advantage he has
civilization, and that most precious OF
all gifts = Christian mother, and wheu
he turns with the venom OF 4 reptile
upon the church he gives back poison
for the life giving milk OF the mother
who bore him. As for what the farmer
or scientist can find in the Bible to all
them in their purely WORLDLY pursuits
ii may be that there Is not much know
ledge of lh&t character within lis pages
There are some good prec.pIs taught il
ii, however. one of which We wouiu
recommend Mr.. lngcrsoIl To observe
which reads: Thou shalt not bear falls,
Witness against :hy nei-hlor.'
Apart from the cvi, influences of sucl
TRADE AGAINST Christianity, which ar,
great. the delivery OF such Il di>cours,
on Thanksgiving day was an insult I,
The head of the nation. who asked tia
all our citizens give thanks to i >urrem,
euler, 10. deny His existence aud scot
AT those Who believe IN the meek an,
low!y NazareHe.
Beer drinkers, "a Il ruIe, are 4 cool