San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-08

day Light an article on prayer in which
1 attempted to convince reasonable
people, by logical arguments, that
prayer is unscientific, worthless and
foolish. While my arguments were
stated plainly, giving my opponents,
who might wish to enter the lists,
chance to re-state and refute them.N
one did it, but several persons wrote
articles on the subject that not only did
not meet any of my arguments but
which did not for the most part con-
tain any arguments at all. l do not
expect to convince my critics of any
thing for as Thomas Paine said:
ITO argue with a man who has re-
nounced his reason is like administer
ing medicine to the dead" One critic
made statement to fad out on ac-
count of his lack of argument to the
effect that man who did not believe
in prayer was public enemy. My
critic certainly does not have a very
high opinion of the mental abilities of
his readers or he would not make such
absurd statements. Which is of the
most avail to helping people accomplish
anything, prayer or work. Who will
keeps it free from weeds or the man
who prays? Our own scholars, scien-
lists, ETC., produced by prayers or
work? Who does the most for liberty,
the pslam singing, praying, parson or
the man with the sword. 1t is well
here to recall that the infidels Paine,
Washington, Franklin, Jefferson and
others helped to form a nation of free
men while the eminently pious john
Wesly helped to hire Hessians, who
were sent over here to shoot the adj
vocates of liberty. Here infidels were
public benefactors, while recognized
piety said Fear God and honor the
King" Whether an infidel is a pub
lie enemy, or a public benefactor has
nothing to do with whether prayer is
useful or useless.
Christians believe in God who is all
good, all powerful and all wise. If He
be all good he will hate injustice of
any kind. If He be all wise He will
know all things, hence will know any
injustice and, being all powerful, He
will be able to make the needed cor
rection. What sense is there in a
poor, weak, ignorant man advising God
what to do. 1t is more ridiculous than
it would be for South African negro
to advise Edison how he ought to
handle electricity! An all wise God
certainly has a plan and purpose in
making worlds, but it is silly to think
that he will change his plans because
some poor worm of the dust" falls on
his face and offers free advise. /
do not believe nor can comprehend
that intelligence can exist outside of
brain 1 therefore do not believe in
God of any kind. A God with a brain
could not be all powerful, and God
without a brain could not be all wise.
How would it do for those people who
believe in a prayer hearing and prayer
answering God to put to a test?
We can easily learn from some OF
the physicians in the city where there
are sufferers from cancer and con-
sumption. How would it do for the
believers in prayer to pray for those
poor people and thus show that prayer
sis powerful to save"
The patients at the hospitals might
be divided into two classes; One
class to be treated to daily doses of
prayer, Cor oftener, If they can stand
it, the other to get the usual medical
treatment. This would show whether
1.-The arts of man" or ''the power of
God" produced the best results. Our
pious prayer offering people might try
the effect of prayer on the inmates of
the insane asylum.
The christian may try to evade these
tests by saying that God does not will
to do it. How do they know that he
wills to do anything else that they
pray for. If he does will to do a
thing will prayers have any influence
on him? If he does not will to do a
thing can he be made to change his
mind by few atmospheric disturban-
ces called prayers?
The Christian may try TO e. ade these
for prayers as follows: James VIA Us
any among you sick? Let him call
for the elders of the church; and let
them pray over him, amounting him
with oil in the name of the Lord; and
the prayer of faith shall save him that
is sick and the Lord shall raise him
up" Mark XVI II and IS "And these
signs shall follow them that believe.
IN my name shall they cast out devils.
the shall la hands on the sick and
they shall lay hands on the sick and
If We have faith and doubt not, we
shall say unto this mountain be thou
removed, etc, and it shall be done and
all things whatsoever We shall ask in
prayer, believing, We shall receive.
Now the Christians should not hide
the candle of their faith under the
bushel Of doubt. These promises ac-
cording to their faith came from God
Let some one who truly and honestly
believes in prayer try his or her hand
of faith and cause stones to move.
Let the elders be sent for when sick
ness comes. As God makes every
thing according to the Christian be-
lief it is more logical to pray, to get
cured than to try to thwart Gods viii
by employing a doctor.
Just think for moment what would
happen if people were to have their
prayers answered. One wants one
thing and another one wants another.
The chaos would be a thousand times
greater than the chaos that the Chris
tians say would follow the death of
God. Then too think what fix God
would be in if he had to answer pray