The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-30
SUNDAY. JULY 90. 1890.
THE CHURCH FEARS NOT THE
TRUTH.


We print elsewhere a communication
from n correspondent introduced as ioi-
lows: '1n your editorial ON fhgersoiism
on July Gd / understand you TO mean
that Colonel Ingors5n's doctrine. whether
true or not. should Doe condemned. De-
cause you think it would have "a bad
effect. And that the Bibles Doctrine
whether true or not. should he commend
Ell. because you think the effect IS good
and mat 70 is comforting and consohns
20 believer"
me inference Of our correspondent Us
wholly gramtous. There SIS nothing
Whatever I'm the article 90 which he re-
fers 10 warrant any such conclusion we
believe that the religion of the Bible is
the true religion. We believe that inc
teachings OF Colonei 1ngerson were false.
ana the whole purpose of our article was
20 contrast the two and 10 show that
millions continue To believe ln the teach-
ings OF the Bible ana 60 be comfortcd and
neiped thereby in spite OF the attacks
which colonel lngcrson and other tcach-
trs OF his school have made upon DO We
repcl the Implication of our coirespoh-
dent that The Times believes in sup-
pressing truth IL we have Taught any-
thing during our journalistic hfe lt has
neen tnat the great aim 81 every man
an this world should Doe Co search dill
gently Tor the truth. and havinf ioand l'
10 proclaim 81. 20 stick 90 it ami DIE oy
H. we have taught This mot simply ln
connection with religions matters, but
win reference TO things of secular con-
Germ. For example. we have urged uiHe
and again I'm connection with The Ques-
tton of trusts that 10 was the duty or
public teachers 90 ascertain the exact
truth about AN such combine and rec
eardless of popular prejudice against
them 90 present the truth as 80 is, io
turn on the light ana see the good'
good there be. as wei as the crh, If crl
there be. iu trade alliances.
Again. I'm connection with The Whusitt
controversy m the Baptist church. and
the briggs controversy iu The freaoyie-
rian church. The Times insisted that
win regard 90 au religious matters. with
regard 60 the facts oc history ANA the
teachings Of the Bible. 30 was the duty
Of religious teachers 90 tnn The search
light Of honest Investigation iuto the
Scriptures and into history that the
whole truth should bc la.1 bare. and we
insisted moreover. that no preacher OF
the Gospel was 90 lc condemned but
rather commended. Tor proe'aiming The
truth when ho bad discovered TO-
We believe m freedom of religious
thought We believe Chat mans re
ngous creed s. "a thins of hs own per-
sonal concern. and that au The powers
OF government have nothing whatever
20 DO herewith. That great light IS
guaranteed 10 every American citizen un-
der the constitution. 30 was Thomas
Jenerson's greatest boast that he was
.ne author OF tho statute Of religious
liberty In Virginia. in discussing lugcr-
soil and lngersoilism. we refralned from
any semblauco OF condemnation OF Colo
mel Ingersou for IFS lack OF religious
creed, and we even went SO far a. 90 say
that MS friends had commended Tor MN
that no was a martyr 90 agnosticism We
dld not even quarrel with him for his at
tacAs on the Bible and the religion OF
tho Bible. That was a matter 20 De set
iiod by him with his own conscience.
we say 50 in an reverence and IN spite
or our faith in an inspired Bible. that
u the religion OF the bible cannot stand
the test. n II cannot stand up and chal-
lcnge Investigation. II Il cannot withstand
the on laughts. even Of brilliant men Ike
Robert g. Ingersoll. II Il cannot prevail
against the combined assaults Of the
worio. the fesh and tho devil, then fall
Il must. and 1t deserves to fall Bible
religion is everything. or 81 Is nothing.
Il is divine, or It Is fraudulent. II Is
God given, or It IL miserable protence
and sham.
But II has %ithstood the assaults OF
It's enemies. For ages IL has been attack
Cd by the hosts Of Satan. and the courts
OF its sanctuaries have run red with the
blood OF It's martyrs. Pagan. inhdel,
><aosae ana even unreDentant pSlcy-