The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-23
PREACHED on ATHEISM.
Rev. Arthur J. Smiths Sermon to
UnbeIievers.

There was an unusually large congre-
cation at the First Presbyterian Church
last night. The increased attendance
doubtless was due largely to the fact that
many were drawn 10 hear what the pas
tor, Rev. Arthur J. Smith, had to say
about atheism 1t was the first in a series
o. sermons TO unbeIievers. Next Sunday
night he will take agnosticism for his
theme.
Rev. Mr. Smiths text was from the
TENTH Psalm and the fourth verse, The
fool hath said 10 his heart there is no
Cod"
Because Of the presence of the word
fool in the text Mr.. Smith said, SONS
might expect HIM to ridicule atheism or
be sarcastic He said that was not his
intention. Although the enemies of re-
ligion win resort to ridicule and sarcasm,
ne said he thought il beneath a Christian
to do It. He desired 10 be helpful. Men
have honest difficulties and he hoped he
might be able to lead some man out Of
them. He answered the question, what
is atheism? He said the word comes from
the Greek word atheoIes, meaning there l.
no God. This term was applied to Socra-
ties because he refused 10 conform 90 the
popular religion of the day 1t was ap
piled even TO Christians by the heathen's
world because they refused to believe in
and worship the heather gods. Cicero de
fined an atheist al lone who in theory de-
MED the existence of God and in practice
refused to worship any," Il was opposed
10 thelsm. 1t never would nave beeh
thought of IL it had not been
for theism. Traces Of atheism can
be found in literature as far back
as Job, but back of even of JOB man De-
lieved in and worshiDped the one God
The causes Of atheism were then discuss
ed. but not at great length. Maternalism,
wickedness and pride We're among the
many things that lead tot.
MIR. Smith then spoke Of the things that
atheism led to. No God, no law. no gos-
pei, no hope, man departs this life in the
blaekness of midnight despair. He then
gave these reasons why he was not an ath-
eist First, because of the proofs found
in the universe of the existence of a God.
The universe is ma terial-we see it, We
know it. 1t Is limited, and therefore not
self-existent. This points to Maker.
There must have been a cause that was
outside of itself that brought it into ex-
istence, to have produced such wonderful
er. Some say blind forces or power of
matter are the cause of creation. If this
be true, why, Mr.. Smith asked, do not
these blind forces build steamships, rail
roads, bridges and churches? This would
not be as difficult as to create a universe.
Nature has never created anything, There
is no cause in nature Ii is only motion.
This points to a mover. Nature moves in
obedience to certain laws. This points TO
a law giver Biologists tell us that for
ages the earth was mass of inorganic
matter. Into this mass life came. This
points to Life Giver.
Mr.. Smiths second reason for not being
an ATHEIST was because of the proof he
found in design seen in the universe. There
IS born order and beauty all about us. The
arrangement of things has all been work.
ed out by an intelligent mind. This points
to a designer, an architect. The regular
ity which the earth travels in its orbit
the sap flows in the tree and the blood
courses through our veins could not have
been the work of chance IL points to an
intelligent power. Lord Bacon said: 81
would rather believe all the fables in the
Talmud and the Alcoran than that the
universal frame was without mind"
He gave as his last reason for not being
an ATHEIST man. Man has Intelligence. He
can reason, think. An unintelligent
reasonless blind force could not have made
him. This points to an intelligent power
Man has feelings. He can hate and love-
A feelingless power could not have made
him and given what ii did not possess
itself. This points to a power that loves
Man has personality. A power without
a personality could not have made him.
This points TO a power that has personal
ity. II points to God.
Admit that God Is the creator said Mr.
Smith, mover leaver and life-giver, and
all will be plain. Mans ignorance of
God does not prove there is no God
Mans denial of the existence of Gcd
does not prove that there is no God. Man
and God are opposites, but they both
match perfectly. God made man for him
self. Man has almost an intuition con-
scienceness of the eXstance of q God In
all heather lands men have the spirit of
worship. There are longings and desires of
the human soul that God alone can satisfy
If man really wants TO know whether
there is a God he can by humbng him
self before God and earnestly and honest
ty seek ng. There are in all lands men in
all ranks of Afe who have a personal
knowledge. The atheis. denies this. but
his denial does not Prove that Is not So
He can know for himself if he honestly
desires to.