The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-24

the mists and clouds of doubt and dark
ness as long as love kisses the lips of
death"
Continuing Rev. Mr.. Albritton sale:
How different the language of Paul
Il am now ready to be offered, and
the time of my departure is at hand;
l have fought a good fight; / have FIN
ished the course; l have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up a crown
of righteousness
Tell me which of the two yields the
better influence over man, Paul, the
believer in Christ, sure. of eternal life
through Him, or Ingersoll, hating,
doubling and eXclaiming over the open
grave, If there be God, if there be
future!'
What good can come from the life
of Ingersoll? / would not say he mas
not done good. No truer mourners weep
over their dead than Ingersolls wife
and family. No one held a warmer place
in the hearts of his friends than he,
but did he do them good? Is there any
thing bright in his teachings? Will any
one bless his memory for hopes in
spired, for a heart warmed in antici-
patton of meeting loved ones gone be-
fore and living forever in brighter
sphere?
'1ngersoll never offered anything
whatever to build a structure over the
ruins that he tried to make. He tried
to tear down, but never to build up. He
took the laughter out of the mouth of
the poor saint and gave him only the
ashes of despair.
There are many who wonder why
Ingersoll was the infidel he was. We
do not pretend to give positively a rea-
son, but it is said his father was more
than ordinarily LIBERAL doubtless he
oftentimes made light of the orthodox
views in the presence of his son, and if
| .,N1 1.NI
ligion of Jesus, of the doctrines of the
Bible, what may be expected of his
children? ! have heard the wish eX-
pressed that IngerSoll should have gone
down gradually into death with his
mental faculties clear. | think this
amounts to but little. He had carica-
tured religion and made light of sacred
things to such an extent that he hardly
would have relented if the Death Angel
had come and said to him days before:
Set thy house in order, for thou shalt
die and not live
THE question is raised again: Was
Ingersoll really sincere in his views?'
think little of this. He was success
upon the platform: he was popular as a
lecturer; he carried his audience by
storm. and if he had grave doubts in
the beginning, those doubts were swept
away. And as was said of one in olden
time: 1T was given to him to believe a
lie
"IngersolIs influence will not last.
True. it has had a wider sweep and
has carried away more people because
of the many beautiful things connected
with his character but to the thinking
man it is plain his arguments were SUI
perfical: he lacked depth of thought;
he dwelt only upon the surface; he
drew largely from Voltaire and others
like him. He was simply a flashing
phosphorescent light that endured for a
moment and was gone. We would not
reVile him. We would say nothing I'M
Just about him We regret that a man
of his capabilities should fail to see the
light that shines so brightly to-day,
But the God of justice and mercy will
care for His own and will mete out
vengeance where vengeance belongs
and will vindicate His cause at all
hazards.
More than 1900 years have passed
since Paul lived. His influence is
broader to-day and more sweeping than
ever before. Who will know that In
gersoll ever lived when 1,S00 years have
passed by? Paul, the Christian; Inger-
soil the infidel-which?"