The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-09-18
AN AGNOSTIC GUESS. "
DIR. HOTEY SPEAKS ON A VERY
TIMELY TOPIC.

| WIN the Foundation StOnes-Sohe
| Personal "Reminiscences of the Late
Col, Robert G. IDgersoll No Substi-
tutc for the Christian Religion.
IAN Agnostic Guess" or Rationalism
and Revolution was the topic of dis
| course preached recently at the Old
South Church, Newburyport, Mass,
by DR.. Hovey, one o. the noted former
pastors of the old Second Congrega-
tlonal church, Fair Haven, and who has
large circle of New Haven friends.
The text was Job 1T, "Canst thou by
searching find out God? Canst thou
find out the Almighty unto perfec-
tion?"
The reverend gentleman said:
That radical question was put to Job
by one of his friends, and the fair infer
enee from it is that man cannot, by
searching, find out God. And that like
wise the conclusion Of the modern ag-
nostic. What remains, then, is such
knowledge of the Supreme Being as He
may choose to give by revelation, or
else what we may style IAN agnostic
guess" Before offering what Is to be said
as to this alternative. permit me to in
troduce few remarks as to the recent
removal from our nation of a man
of rare talents and wide influence,
whose admirers surnamed the great
agnostic."
During the summer Of 1869, while
pastor of a Presbyterian congregation
In the city of Peoria, I delivered a ser
mon on Atheism One Of my fellow
citizens afterwards held two hours
debate with me on the subject. He
finally lost his temper and spoke so vim
dctively as to cause me to eXclaim,
Then you do believe in God and hate
Him" NO was the reply, the whole
heavens are empty" AS you have
already anticipated the antagonist was
Col. Robert G, Ingersoll. Gradually he
seemed to drift toward agnosticism,
and finally delivered a lecture on the
subject, the title of which was. why l |
am an Agnostic" Among his noted
sayings was what he affirmed concern |
Ing life, that it was a peak between |
two barren eternities; of death he did |
not know whether it was a wall or a |
door: and of the Supreme Being, that |
God is guess
Meanwhile this man, who said so
many bitter things against the Bible,
the church. the ministry and Chris
tianity, said many noble things about |
home. marriage friendship, patriotism, |
loyalty and other delightful themes
that belong to faith rather than unbe-
lief Yet he was destructive, instead |
of constructive and avowedly So He |
sacrificed political success for his cause. |
He had brilliancy, homie, intens-
ty of freezing, true oratory, and UNI
doubted courage Of his own convic-
tons These qualities naturally made
for him many friends. Never was fall
len foe more kindly spoken of than
1ngersoll has been by Moody, Talmadge, |
and others who fought him vigorously |
when he was alive.
The offspring of Christian parents,
his father and grandfather ministers
of the gospel, there We're times when he
reverted, for a moment at least, to
'the faith once delivered to the saints"
He did so at his fathers funeral. Rev.
Mr. Stevens, pastor of the First Con-
gregational church al Peoria, officiated
on the occasion. and he told me that,
while riding with Col Ingersoll the
latter exclaimed, Now my father is
supremely happy. He has met with
Issah, John and Paul, and is to share
their company forever He appeared
TO forget all his infidelity that day
l hesitate to relate an incident that
had a lasting influence on my own
career because in such
marked contrast with the usual course
of i,,,a lo MI, ar |
was perhaps a year after the debate to
which we have already referred, and
at a time when I was giving a series
of evening discourses on evolution and
kindred topics which drew such crowds
as to natter the pride of a novice. Col.
Ingersoll heard one of these sermons,
and then took me aside and said these
very sensible words: Your people
have built up system Of religion with
whose foundation stones you are fool
ing. MY advice to you is to quit. You
are hired to preach Christ and Him
orucified; and you had better stick to
your calling OF course there was
strain in his counsel; but he
was in earnest and his advice has
often REQUIRED to mind when young
ministers of my acquaintance have been
fooling with the foundation stones"
It Is dangerous And If the Christian
'eligion is true, it's ministers cannot do
better than to preach Christ and Him
'rucified."
And, on the other hand, if the Chris
ian religion is not true, what then?
the light of the glory of God
n the face of Jesus Christ, and pagan
would remain. Sweep all
Bibles away; silence every church
veil; hush the voice of praise, of prayer
If pious counsel Of eXutation over
spiritual victories, of faith, of Christian
lope and Christian charity The Sab
oath would go, of course, and all that
,acrad dav stands for. and likewise |