The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-13
JUDGE EWING on
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
Ills Brilliant Lecture Was Listened
to by An Immense Audience
in Infantry Hall.

| MY nlSslOn is 10 talk TO those VINO
are not satisfied; who deem Il within
the range OF human possibility that
there is a light In reserve that may
| gid with a subimer splendor and
| crown With sweeter and tendereI
love mans appreciation OF the infinite
! Fatherhoud of God and His ways Ia
man" no all such | wish simply and
earnestly. to talk: not TO preach 90 you
! sermon-I am not a preacher; not 10
soothe you into brief dream OF con-
| tent by flowers of speech ann a
stranger To the pleasing, but ephem-
eral, devices OF the orator; simply
want 10 talk To you as man TO man, as
friend To friend. as brother TO brother.
my only art will be the simplicity and
courage OF conviction: my only argu-
ment, statement OF facts; and after
all, how resstless is the potency of a
factl The sole purpose of inquiry In
every court OF justice i'm Christendom
Is. and ever has been, TO invoke facts;
the world Is weary OF theories, IL longs
for facts: II is suTfeted with dogmas,
arguments and platitudes and cries
out for facts.
BELIEFS OF OUR FATHERS.
The great religious difficulty in pre-
senting any new phase OF religion TO
the world is the peoples inherited re-
fathers. No one thinks IL strange that
We should discard our fathers thought
respecting dress, habitation or form OF
government; yet the idea seems To bs
almost universal that filal duty de-
mands that the child shall think re-
ligiously. mink OF God. only as his
fathers thought. And yet we know in
deed that our fathers questioned the
beliefs OF their fathers and made us
happier by IT.: that their fathers ques-
TONED the beliefs OF their own fathers
and made the world brighter by H.
No one can know better than l how
very difficult IL is for one TO forsake the
traditions OF his fathers. | speak from
experience. for my ancestors We're
Scotch-lrish Calvinists. with much OF
the assertive impetuosity of the Irish:
with some OF the solemn piety, and all
the dogged stubbornness Of the Scotch:
In that faith | was born and educated.
ana have yet the profoundest respect
for the learning, high character. sub
lime faith, and sincere. though awfully
solemn piety OF the great Presbyterian
Church; in infancy | received It's bap-
tism; for more than "A quarter of GEN.
tury was in it's communion. and so
do the teachings OF
youth abide with the man that it was
years after had been rescued from the
cold clutch OF death by Christian Sci
ence, before | could give up the early
lessons learned OF God, life. death hell
and Heaven. My mothers sublime
and beautiful faith i'm the measureiess
goodness OF God / have not surren-
dered. nor shall; it's simple memory
Is an abiding benediction, je,Hch y
with JOY and luminous with love. NJ
own experience awakens the profound
est sympathy for the man or woman
who struggles with a sense of present
duty i'm conflict with adhesion 10 long
cherished ance stral opinion. HoweV-
sr. reflection satisfied me. and doubtless
viii satisfy you that evefy advance i'm
religion, as In liberty and morality. for
centuries, is tine result IF tn children
battling the beliefs of their ancestors.
" John Calvin had no; questioned the |
Dc hefs of his fathers tn ers would have /
,et n no Presbyterian Church. ~ Martin /
Luther had not raised mis- mighty voice 4
'galnst the beliefs aGl rastlnns Of his 1
ethtrs, the world would raver have /
cjoiced in the light AMI glory If the I
toiCl nation: If The Weslays had not
orsaken the tenets OF their fathers,
he SUI lime devotion and heroic sacii-
ice f the Methodist circuit rider
Would never have gladdened, y iriiied.
me sa1ctified the humble homes nf |
england and America. g )d be prais ,d
ay for the moral cou axe. the in
enoctual integrity that places day
''fore sentiment. The history OF the
'hnstian Era is replete with demon !
trGtlon that rebellion against the re-
igious beliefs OF the fathers. not less
han the blood of the martyrs" is the
eed Of the church"
] do not undervalue the effect OF our
ncestors thought upon the civilization
nd Chrstianizaton Of the world: but
learly its worth rests i'm the patent
act of the indestructibility and resist
ass progression OF good. and the fur
her fact OF the good I'm the experience
nd knowledge OF each generation fur
ishing vantage ground to it's success
r for something better. We are stupid
ldeed II we are not wiser nan our
lthers; We have the accumulated
nowledge of years that they did not
ave. or all the countless dead at the
eginnng OF this century. not one. If
@ should revisit the scenes OF earth
ould understand even the simplest
omenclature of the great discoveries
| the practically of elec; rcity and
team that have girdled the earth with
ght. brought the distant places near.
nd make conversational Convocation |
the nations as speedy and practical |
= was the assemblage OF prosbytery |
+ diocesan convention i'm their day.
God be praised for the moral courage.
le intellectual integrity, thar enables |
len and women TO scharge the duties
today in the light OF today. rather
IAN by the mere pride OF ancestral
Dinion; for the important question is
~ what was our fathers concept OF
le mission of Jesus. but what. I'm fact.
as that mission, and what duty does
impose upon us.
HOW TO UNDERSTAND CHRIS
TIAN SCIENCE.
! cannot explain Christian Science To
)u i'm an evenings interview. or i'm
any times the limit OF lecture: and
" opinion Of the legitimate length OF
lecture Is quite in eeping with the
-eat Or. Robert J. Breckinridgc' s.. who.
hen asked I'm class by a theological
udent how long he thought q sermon
lould be, promptly replied: Thirty
inutes. with a leaning % the side of
ercy."
In the limited time at my command.
IN. at best An The simplest form OF
ipress on, tell YOU but little part OF
hat this wonderful revelation Of
ruth has done ana is capable ~ do
g. for n sin -burdenad world. give YOU
me suggestion OF the Infinite "Prin-
pie OF Life upon which christ an
'ionce depends. with the hone that
,u may be induced To make such in
HHaa..H Hs.saa a.aHT