The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-06

Rev. Alfred w. Martins Sunday Lee
ture TO FPeethinkers.

ture TO FPeethinkers.
Rev. Alfred w. Martin lectured last
evening before the Society for Universal
Religion, In Its new quarters In the c..
A r, hall. corner Second avenue and
James street. His subject was Some
Lessons From the Dreyfus Drama" He
began by briefly justifyng a Sunday dis
cussion Of the theme on the ground that
behind the drama was the infinite man
ager Providence, or Destiny, as the
ancients called It. and Furthermore. that
great moral lessons were to be drawn
from the drama.
Mr.. Martin then divided the drama
into five acts. showing how each ended
at decisive point in the development OF
the plot, eliminating in the most shock
Ing travesty Of justice In modern times.
This tragic result" said the speaker.
ought not to be allowed to evaporate
In universal Indignation. but rather to
bring home TO US some permanent and
needed instruction"
are at least five important lessons to be
drawn from this drama, where honor
rooted in dishonor stood First, that race
prejudice. the fundamental cause of all
the trouble, can be cured only by an In
crease of personal contact and inter-
course. The more men OF varying ma
tionalities travel and meet each other.
the more they discover-whatever their
race. color or creed-that they are all
made of the same clay. all susceptible to
the same temptations and the same inf
mite possibilities. Second, that there Is
moral progress, despite all that suggests
the contrary. For In this universal out
burst of indignation and sympathy We
have a proof OF moral progress. Sym
pathy Is a. measure of moral worth, and
this recent widespread expression OF II
shows that we are living broader and
fuller life than our forefathers. Third,
that to every man and nation there
comes the critical moment TO choose. in
the strife of truth with faisehood.' the
good or the evil side: and then, alas. the
choice goes by forever-as Lowell taught
In his immortal patriotic poem. Fourth,
that there is a higher court TO which
Dreyfus and Socrates and Savonarola and
Jesus appealed. and which acquitted every
one of them.
"Justice-loving humanity has already
reversed the decision Of the judges at
Rennes. Just as ii long ago reversed the
decision of PLATE. OF the Athenians. and
of the in9uisitors. Today we pay. no.
mage to them all az benefactors ~ the
race. saviors of mankind.
Fifth. that when blunder has been
made by a nation or a court, or an m
dtvidual. the best and most honorable
thing TO do is 10 begin at once TO set
IL right, and the first step is manly con-
fession Of the blunder. Our duties as
citizens judges are no less chtvalrfc
than our duties as gentlemen. and a man
is never SO much a gentleman as when
he says 1 have done wrong; | am 20
blame Expediency may dictate a diff
ferent policy. but the stern logic of JUS
uce' Win It's L''4io"1io''' AZ ava -
filled a last So was IL at Rennes. The
evil motive Of the judges led TO the ex-
posture of the sorry tactics with which
they tried TO cover up their blunder and
this in turn. led to their condemnation
by the whole civilized world
The sancttty and the sovereignty OF
justice have been brought home TO us
In this dra MA with most realistic vivid
ness and intensity. and a blessed reveal
ton Il Is It's well for US to be re-
minded OF the supremacy and binding
force Of justice. 20 know that the uni
verse is on the side of justice, securing
it's triumph however much belated 1t may
seem As the Hindoo Bible so grardy
says Justice is so dear Ia the heart Of
Nature that Il AT the last day a single
atom of injustice were found the uni
verse would shrivel like a serpents skin
10 cast IL of forever.
Mr. Martin Will speak next Sunday ev-
entng Modern Idolatry' at 7:S0 o'clock.
in the O.. A r. hall.