Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-02-17
A Theological Dilemma
Continued.
Wau1ay Thompson Contributes
Another Article.

RlVh vi OCah IVY LA&NACs
the Webster World, so that 1T
swears "by the great horn spoon !"
that If any MAJ NEEDLE with his
pet dogmas, he will make his
bones crack"
i have too much respect for the
community, and for myself, also,
to indulge IN disrespeetfnl or M.
gentlemanly language, and ! pre-
sumo if | show due discretion, |
should humbly apologize to Mr..
Webster World aud IN future keep
my mouth shat" But the foolish
fly will keep buzzing around the
candle, so | venture to ask my
respected ''friend of humanity" a
few questions that / think human
lty is interested in having answered.
Do you believe the Copernian
theory of he solar system, or was
il true that the sun did stand still
for Joshua ?
Do you expect to be rewarded for
having implicit faith in the account
that Ahaziah was two years older
than his father, Jehoram ?
A presiding elder said in church
here, eff the bib.e read Jonah
swallowed a whale, j should be-
lieve it." How is it with you ?
If you we're preaching, would
you generally select your text from
The Song of Solomon, aud if not,
not
If these questions are candidly
answered, | will tell you why | ask
them.
Rev. Prof. A. H. Soyce of Ok
ford, the most eminent Assyriolo-
gist and Psychologist of Great
Britain, an orthodox divine, says
all accounts OF the Creation, Fall
OF Man, Deluge, ETC., are mythical.
The best scholars and liberal, en-
lightened dlyines of today admit
it. Are we afraid to admit facts !?
To those having the courage to
do so, ! would refer them to the
subjects Of Cosmogcny, Babylonia,
and Deluge ia the Britannica, also
the work Of Andrew ID. White, X
president of Cornell and minister
to Spain, entitled "a History OF
the Warfare of Science with The
ology."
1t is claimed one wrongs his
fellow man who takes from him 4
source OF happiness. Men claim TO
enjoy the indulgence of the appe
title fordssnk, but the pfohibitionist
does notltkink it wrong to deprive
them of the pleasure
IL is right to earnestly contend
for Que faith, but se should be
willing aud eready to give G reason
for 1T. The. orthodoxy of yesterday
is the iieTssysof today. The wise
man encourages Investigation, but
the ignoCant and supers.itions ara
governed by fear, and are easily
imposed upon.
Theology has always teen crying
This is Holy ground ; come Aot
'near, lest ye perish.
A practical. rational religion
oonrts investigation, because it as
only the stroager fer it bat the
mystery Of Gadliness9 tor often
faSors the dark. Has he wse is
endeayoring to pass u spurious
coin tho right to demand the gen
nlne en- exchange ?
Whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things sre honest, what
soever things are pare, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things
are Of good report, think an these
things, and the God Of Peace will
no nth Won " .s.w ha hovs~a
ous to defy the World, bnt II aoy
enc thinks they have a faith of
superior excellence they are not
afraid to publish it.
haze asked some questions, aud
z ! have the right to expect candid
answers, not ridicule, nnlcss that
" the OILY weapon.
= --Mr. wsutay Thompson.