The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-07-31
SERMON ON INGERSOLL.
Rev. Dr. Gilbert Speaks of Famous Az
 nostic. 8

Rev. Dr. Gilbert Speaks of Famous Az
 nostic.
 "Ingersollism and Christianity" was the subject of Rev. Dr. Levi Gilbert's sermon at the Trinity Methodist Epis- copal church last evening, The text was from Timothy II, 4:1-4. Dr. Gil- bert dwelt at length on the ideas and sayings of the noted man who recently died and who, during the course of his life, gave many eloquent addresses on the subject of "Agnosticism The church was crowded, all eager to hear the views of their pastor on the life of the much talked-of infidel.
 Dr. Gilbert said he expressed his views from a. standpoint taken by the whole of Christianity and was very strong in his opinion that Ingersolls preaching and publications did more harm than good, in that, no matter where he was advertised to speak, large crowds always assembled, and many who believed in no particular faith went away with the impression that "Ingersoll was just about right I guess"
 The preacher said MT. Ingersol's talks before people were not sermons and were not especially intended for se- rious matters, but that they were for a source of entertainment The people, he said, paid their twenty-five or fifty cents for the purpose of being enter tained and they certainly were enter tained, but in way demoralizing to many.
 The preacher said that Ingersoll drew on his own imagination greal deal and that he was not student of the sub- ject which he professed to be master of
 He said that many of the works of Ingersoll and in fact many of his ideas that he put before the people were say ings and thoughts of generations ago, and that as long as the world lasts will be handed down from one to another, just as Christianity is born in a Chris tian and is passed along from one to an- other as soon almost as the power of speech is acquired.
 In speaking of the theory held by the agnostic, he said, that 1t was believed in by only those having shallow and un- steady minds. T have no doubt" he
 
 what he thought and I have not a doubt that he was very learned and elo- quent man, perhaps the best of his kind, but his attempts to question Christian ity and to pick the Bible to pieces were futile and in most cases fell with a thud, although some say his speeches were intensely interesting"
 Why did he not dispute the fact that Columbus discovered America; or the work of the ancient physicians or make fun of these?' Ingersoll once said that miracles and fate were things which were not govern ed by any power and that they just happened as things will outside of the ordinary once in while. The preacher said that all these were governed by the will of God and that accordingly peo. pie were driven to the acceptation of Christ and to believe in Providence. | pr. Gilbert said that Tngersoll many | times spoke truths about parts of the 1 Bible, but they were robed in such | a character that they were wholly un- Hell is the fruit of q bad life and heaven the fruit of a good | fife and nobody can get around the fact |
  It IS the natural law of events that is | looked up to by nearly everybody and | ] man with the capacity of Ingersoll, l who absolutely ignored the respect for | the Bible, could not gain much favor | among cultured or learned audience. MT. Ingersoll hadgreat ability and his satire and fun were recognized by all, | put they were all wasted when he tried @ be funny when picking the Bible to pieces. The satire and wit both were ost in these attempts except perhaps lmong a few who would believe and side with any one who may seem to be title captivating in their address"
 ''The great infidel," Dr. Gilbert said, was dogmatic in his denials of living iod and would not listen to any re- pectable argument on the subject. h.