Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-24
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FRY breaches ON SkEPTICISM.
Subject of n Sermon Delivered AT the
First Methodist Church.

Subject of n sermon Delivered at the
First Methodist Church.
"Skepticism, Its Ruinous Effects" was
the subject of Rev. c. P. Fry's sermon last
evening at the Fifth Avenue Methodist
church. it being the third of a series of
sermon lectures delivered by him under the
auspices of the Epworth league of the
church. Rev. Fry said in part:
There have always been those who were
unstable in their thinking. There has
never been a doctrine so insane as not to
have its believers, who are just as ready to
change their opinion when some equally
foolish ism is presented. We have in this
city every sort of belief and unbelief and
each has it's followers. Many people are as
ready to change their creed as their gar
ments. They are never able to give an in
telligent reason for the hope that is within
them. They swallow the latest cranky
morsel that is offered them. If an insane
man were to come to town today and an
nounce himself as the Messiah, he would
have a herd of followers. Those who have
not thought out well the system of belief
they accept, or have no vital religious ex-
perience which anchors them to the eternal
verities of Gods word, are they who take
UP quickly with every new charlatan that
sets up his tent in their neighborhood.
instability Of thought and character is
the basis of much infidelity. The unanchored
boat drifts, the unsettled mind floats about
on every drifting tide OF thought or feeling.
One of the characteristics of our youth is
instability. Youth has a thousand charms,
but one of it's jewel virtues is not stability
of thought. Hence young men are peculiarly
open to the temptations to drift away from
religious moorings. Their very youthful
enthusiasm tugs hard at any anchor which
would hold them securely. ! do not mean
that all youth lose their faith in the funda-
mentals of Christian faith, but that ques-
lions come which lead the sincere young
man to dig deeply about the foundations OF
fundamentals. If spared from drifting he
becomes more securely anchored in the
eternal virtues OF God.
~ wish to name some OF the causes for
drifting into skepticism and then to abject
infdelity. One of them is superficial in
vestigation, which Is a fruitful cause OF
skepticism. 1t is the little learning that
makes one mad. When one hears for the
first time of a question concerning the
truth of a long accepted doctrine the ten
dency of immature judgment is to decide
that that doctrine must be false. The youth
who for the first time reads some infidel
book and who never takes time to read an
answer to that very book, goes about declar-
ing his doubts. when the truth is he has
never read even one small book on Chris
tian evidences. He may have read Paine's
age OF Reason but he has never read
'Watson's Apology which is a complete
answer to all Paine's sophistries, and which
has been regarded by all fair minds as a
thorough refutation OF all infdel theories OF
the Paine type. Many a callow youth has
heard some one infdel lecture and, dazzled
by the rhetoric, was blinded so as not to
see the utter folly of the logic, II logic there
be at all. Many a youths doubts have no
deeper foundation than a sarcasm or sa-
crilegious witticism. There is many a youth
who, for the lack of sufficient study, or
from unfortunate association concludes
from this superficial investigation and OBJ
servation that the bible is untrue.
Another cause OF youthful skepticism is
youthful self-confdence. That very element
which makes the victory In every battle al
most sure, This begets enthusiasm and to
the enthusiast almost anything is possible.
youth is victorious, not so much from
its skill as from Its Astounding enthusiasm,
begotten of an equal self-conhdence, But
this self confidence. which is the ~fruitage OF
egotism. leads to some fatal errors. Youth
full pride, which necessarily must be ac-
companied with experience, is sure TO lead
TO many a fatal mistake.
There is a certain class Of youth who