The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-27
.Rebuke for Devils
Apologist.'
REV. A. z. CONRAD
Throws Hot Shot Into the
Camp of Infidelity.

night on 1.-THE devils apologist and
faiths foundations" 1t was a. denun-
citation of Col. Robert G. Ingersoll and
his lecture on Superstition" The text
of DR.. Conrads sermon was Ephesians
", Is: Having the understanding
darkened being alienated from the life
of God through the ignorance that is
in them, because of the blindness of
their heart" He said in part:
Voluntary defense involves sym
pathy. Whatever is defended is there
by Endorsed. The advocate is commit
ted to what he supports. An apologist
is an advocate. The devils apologist
is his advocate. Apology is defense
and Endorsement.
Inc devils apologist must be in
sympathy with his client. Now let us
see where this leads us. The champion
apologist has spoken once more in
Worcester What is logically involved?
Words stand for ideas, concepts. The
term devil, repeatedly employed in the
blele, stands for an idea or ideas. 1t
is not question of personality or i'm
personality. Nor is it a question of de-
rivation or specific definition or theo-
logical controversy. The word is a
faet. 1t is employed to convey an idea.
What does the term signify to the
average mind? What is understood
when the name is used?. First let us
say that whatever differences there
may pc as to name representing a per-
son, there is a general consensus of
opinion as to qualities and Characters
tics signifled by the word. A certain
line of thought is produced by the term.
whether you think Of the term rep
resenting a person, an influence, an
occult force of evil or an evil principle
1t is all the same In general result and
erect. For the sake Of convenience We,
VIII use personal pronounms to de-
slgnate this something, somewhat,
called devil. In every place the term
STANDS for all that is thought of as evil
and injurious 1t comprehends vicious
antagonism of virtue. He is the foe
to happiness, he is the producing cause
OF sin; he is the tempter and destroyer
OF souls; he has a genius for destruc-
Iion' His presence pollutes, corrupts,
uegrades. The name is associated with
all crime and every unholiness.
In common thought the devil is op-
posed to law and righteousness. He an
tagonizes every noble sentiment, he
suppresses every spiritual emotion he
is the father of lies; he is the impel-
ing force to evil doing and thinking
and feeling; he is the ground and oc-
caslon of human misery; he is the de-
stroyer of happiness here and of the
! hope of heaven hereafter; he represents
the hideous and the depraved. We are
not speaking of the traditional theolog-
| zeal view, or the conceptions OF Chris
| tians, but of the idea, the underlying
| thought when this word is used, in the
| common mind everywhere. Whatever
is in its very essence evil, sin produc-
ing, destructive, damnatory, loath-
| some, this either personal;xed or i'm
personal as an influence, is called devil.
What shall We say or think of a man
| Who at the conclusion of life has no
! higher calling than 20 act ms the apollo
g1st or the advocate for such a client ?
The denial of personality does not in
the slightest degree absolve from the
charge of advocacy and apology when
every sort of sophistry is resorted to in
an effort to honor that which to every
right minded person merits only UNI
qualified execration. Is ii not piti-
full that extraordinary natural
talents should be employed in eXcusing,
condoning, generating, and applaud
ing all that in the noblest minds de-
| serves condemnation?
Do not understand me as questioning
an anoIoorIJ fo,. +I,a ,la,riI 70 ~, $3.50 -.
| +bara is no Low ~, 80 e+a+,,t y ~
nrobibjtino II A. affact,,n ad,,o,a't ~ i
s,,nnossd 70 he nraft,- fo,ojiio', Ter,
what he champions. We are not dis
posed to question the ability of the dew
lis advocate or his qualifications on
the ground of thorough and intimate
| acquaintance. We readily concede both.
friendsI,i Th Gt.i.ti1l 70
tileI lp me Cltlstian processes 70
"a ho oS t ii,a Iileiiuaii Iot
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te1,iai ed 10 ~ III, ~ Tie ite
t,i.t ~ M - ~ ~
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- rS on Lie sIouttu
iesu 10 ~ 'tli
iit e5 ITIi, Asa!H VIC eo4ISeue " lhe atCll-
IItIueI the Ilsnt 10 IoiIa an alllance
IN tlie p9Met u mn u S "n'GH
Iliahes Lor 9eeeIieIdcy anu uealh' Il lie
"ISnes 10 40 So
oetWeeh IiilS dpoIoSlst anu MS clleh'
mere are at least ~ points OF agree
I5deIlt eAplatlal9ry OF the alililation
riIsl' 10 H1lieu u ,Iou' Inc ueNll as
aepl SSellleu III SIoG W1To anu as de-
hHeu 70 seHeIal thought mates Goa
So uoes ms dpoloslst'
AiioIher point OIL reIiatkaoie agree
tor.ir+ - 49, - -. ~ PN'
osIsl , - ma poth are especially en-
rase0 over the plan OF salVanon. Boil
mo9i y, HaNe Cilr1 - slorh Oh ms love
gnu IN, ms poMe[' Botl sheer at the ldea
Vi 'ne ete5ildt anu ever present spirit
- sgco 4!'l DOM Oh reilarkapie agree
al NE peeWeen me ueNil anu nus apollo
s IN rs natreo 0L TeIlglon. rms is true OF
an rellg fi put 9speGiaily the CHRIS
rlGn of ioi Al rellsion Is TO thf
he ,iei'N VI e'''ii iii0eouS' iepuisiVe' TERRI
A third point of agreement is hatred