New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-05
A REPLY TO COLONEL INGERSOLL.
THE REV DR. NJ X. scHERMERHoRN SPEAKS OF
HIS THANKSGIVING DAY ADDRESS.

THE REV DR. NJ. X sCHERMERHoRN SPEAKS OF
HIS THANKSGIVING DAY ADDRESS.
Tho Rev. Or. NJ. X schermerhorn. Of Boston.
nreached Yesterday morning for the Rev. DR. r.
Heber Newton in All Souls Episcopal Church.
Madison-ave. and Sixty-sixth-st, and In the
course Of his remarks replied briefly to Colonel
Robert c. Ingersolls Thanksgiving Day lecture.
Dr. Schermerhorn declared that Colonel lngersolls
address was made up OF rhetorical csptrap. logi-
cal bombast and irreverent ridculs." lie said fur
Their:
First. as an example OF what have called rhe-
torical claptrap take the following; Inc people
OF Chicago erected magnificent peace arches over
their streets in preparation for day OF thanks
giving TO God, but violent rain DESTROYED them
all. which as ii committee going 10 express
thanks to some prominent parsonage; tnat person.
as they enter Ms gates snop tfn
the only legitimate figure to use for such an Illus
gasea TOU nf De Sea 40 Waking in 'front.' OF tho
hose" which is being used for neediIl ana - ~,
all intelligent ministers vi e, ~, ,raf law ara
claimed that al opeGahons ol nd that Who
soever either careessy or dehantiy interieres Win
these operations must not only suier me 'qnSs-
maker for that discipline OF his common sense anu
higher wisdom which SuSn Nil 'P hs orerruIed
Ultimately TO produce "An things work together
FOR GOOD 70 the truly wise, therefore. the wise
man sees no paradox in the Christian command.
I'm everything give thanks TINS l. me POSITION;
chrisanity not only also of an the positive re
gions OF the world Mr.. Ingersolls refusal 10 rec,
ognize and reply TO II Is my grounl iol 'n"' nS
an utterly irrelevant hgure a. the one nave Tiisn,
second as an example of logical oomnast' cite
one sentence: president Mckinley asked rs 10
give thanks to 'nc Jod ' tbe ' vow Ever This is
most cupable confusing ana conioundine OF mr.
physical suNerngs with lofty ethical aims ana re-
suits Goethe long ago an5wered all such fG sbon
materialisms when he e,claimed or me i-lsnon
amity can iniurc an immortal soul Bodily dis
eases like earthquakes and all other pnys. .a d,
essential physical law and physical law Is o man
kinds schoolmSSfer 10 secure eaT eyerisstng ethical
res,llts TO SO confuse and confound the pnFslrai
and the ethical experiences Of mankind az IN me
lecture is. | again affirm. not argument put ios""'
Third as an example of rreveren rdIcuc cite
this closing appeal to the puSle question II Won
could make the world @y,r again wo" sl, gpu TSo
make better cod hia and ir from h iucretns tho
father of soothing atheists downward, mas nosn
the test question of all ss West and Strongest
only an animated atom in this vast uhiVerseDdn,,
rT III were God would make better
Universe The absurdty as wei as seems
ever ready TO applaud and to accept E as m mnon
swerable argument MAY DC en snywr 70 W draw
pSf hat mcrosc )pica insect called the flea mill
ions and myrads were bey nossed
and with deafening applause the following Iesoin
ton: o suffer privations and prosecutions such az
are no longer oerabe. he Il hereby resolvea ln ~
ar do,hrone man and ourselves take In charge no
Of the universe With this pa al NJ
~, lind lei me in conclusion: proponnd 10 NJ.
IN n,li ord ~ ali such as he that grand series or
questions PrOpounied ont a., o. follow lie
'o ,.U-pn is his that darkeneth counsel nv %or's
.,,homt knowledge? Grid up now their IONS IKE k p
49,, Tor | will demand OF thee; ana ansWrr unpn
ne where vast thou when laid the tounna,i,oas
~ the earth? Declare. If thou hast b xnow
w, u" or Who hath stretched the line upon ~ here
mon are the foundations thereof tas',ou orning
stars sang together End all the sons 9f Ga with
,he "a Almighty instruct Him? He that reproVe'h
God lot him answer u ,, ..o,o,,dirg might
Wou IN th@ case Of Job Then Job answered nc
TIA "a and said Behold. am vile; what snair !,
nn,b I have uttered that undrrstoon
moi things too wonderful for me wmicn Snpm
~ ~ ~ hut now mine eve seeth Ihee "ner'.,
fore abhor myself and repent in dust ana as"eS'