Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-18
..X RAYS" CRITICISED.
A orrespondc Points Out weak
Spots in His

A Correspondent Points ont "e"N
Spots in His Argument.
OMAHA. April 13.-To the Editor OF The
Bee: The Bee has recently treated Its read
ers to a discussion OF the question: py n
Rays and others, whether the act OF suicide
Is sinful and wicked or under certain CIR
cumstances justifable. Colonel 1ngersoll. as
a matter of course, receives some attention
from YOUR correspondents. | understand
Ingersoll's position to be this: That he does
not uphold the doctrine OF suicide except
in some extreme cases, such, Tor instance, as
where the individual Is in great agony with
no hope or prospects OF relief, and mas De
came a burden to himself, to his frienus ana
to the community. Ingersoll Is desplsed by
some people simply because he opposes the
doctrines of orthodox Christianity, but we
should remember that sincerity may be found
even in unbelief of the popular forms OF re
ligIons. X Rays assures Mr.. Strouse that
Ingersoll's doctrines contain very little
truth, but much untruth," that "he is totally
ignorant OF the art of reasoning and logic
and for proof OF this assertion he tells MI
Strouse to read "Lamberts notes on lnger-
SOIL" II | am not mistaken, the late Car
dinal Manning, a few years ago, criticised
Ingersolls doctrines somewhat severely, and
Ingersoll replied In an article OF consider
able length, which appeared in the North
American Review. The statement made by
X Rays in reference to Lambert's book con-
NeNS ltc lutd iIht ~ hAAibN - " 49,
more able critic than the late Cardinal Man
ming. When discussing moral subjects we
should ever bear In mind that truth Is the
great object to be attained, ana- that truth
spoken by what Is called an inidel is Just as
sacred as IL spoken by the most devout Chris
tan that ever lived. x Rays says he is "a
Christian philanthropist, and Is opposed to
suicide, whether the victims be sane or in
sane" The word Christian In this connec-
ton is very indefinite; 1t does not define the
-..aat,, 81 ,ha ,,prI That rp1iuinn pallnI
Christianity exists In so many different forms
and consists of so many different sects and
parties that 1t will require a divine revela-
ton or an inspired prophet to determine
which of the many existing forms OF faith is
the true one.
What is known as Protestant Christianity
is not only divided and subdivided but is
literally broken into fragments by conten-
lions and strife within its own ranks. Hence
the anxious inquirer Is left in perpleXity and
doubt as to what to accept as truth or reject
as heresy.
X Rays observes, "But my scientific critic
(meaning Mr.. Strouse) does not claim
the honor of being a Christian" VIII X
Rays seriously contend that Christianity In
any or all of its various forms has an hon
orable record?
The aacred pages of history inform lis that
where strong and powerful II was always
intolerant and treated with undue severity,
frequently extreme cruelty, those who
doubted or disputed the truth of the doctrines
1t taught. The modern Jew is frequently
treated with contempt by some orthodox
Christians because they claim that his an
cestors killed this second person OF the Holy
Trinity. But when the pious Christian points
the finger OF scorn at the Jew and chides
him with being a Christ-killer he only be-
trays his own ignorance, as every well in
formed person knows that at the time OF
the cruc!hxiou of Christ the Jews did not
exist as a nation. They merely occupied a
province of the Roman empire. which was
presided over by PLATE. a Roman governor.
Consequently they could not be held re
sponsible for the death of Christ.
If Jesus Christ was a divine person He
knew from the first all the pain and suf-
fering he would have to endure; yet when
the fatal moment arrived We find Him ex-
claiming in the anguish of His soul, My
God. my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?''
Surely the above exclamation Is not the ex-
preston of a God; 1t is the despairing cry
OF a human being who fully expected that
God would rescue him from his tormentors
but failed to do so.
The doctrine of the trinity is a mystery
that cannot be compreheEded by the human
mind, The doctrine of the immaculate con
ception Is opposed to reason. observation and
experience, and the doctrine of the atone
ment is so abhorrent to the feelings that
reason and humanity rebel against IL. II
God Is omnipotent and benevolent He can
and Will save the human race without the
shedding OF Innocent blood. r., S. c.