The times., 1899-12-09

At mas often been remarked, by observers
q human affairs, that one thing usually
leads 10 another, and this truth has re-
ceiVed a fresh illustration within the last
few days. In view OF the recent agita-
ZION over the Roberts case, the ever-ready
and always remarkable Dr. Talmage saw
Il 20 preach sermon on the subject: this
sermon inspired sundTy reflections in the
mind OF q gentleman who read il and an
alyzed il by the ordinary processes of logic;
and these reflections are embodied in q
letter 70 a local newspaper, over the sig
nature g. n. Bailey. Mr. Bailey reasons,
by series Of steps which are as obvious
ss the multiplication table, that. supposing
Dr. Tslmage's position to be sound, that
reverend gentleman is confronted with a
most distressing problem. He says:
T. Polygsmy is abhoTraut thing, and Rob
eTts should be hung.
d. lsimsge's sermon published last Mon
csE wss The most eloquent srraigument OF p0lyg-
amy the country has ever seen.
g. Dr. Taimage has charmed the people in
.ssrs gone by with the thought that the good Will
meet their loved ones on the other shore.
= Hence. in the next world, the elect viii
know the bliss Of family reunions.
IS. This Is a blessed thought for the pure in
heart who travel through this vale Of tears
q. II this Is true, the programme on earth
ls neecssariiy different from that Of heaven.
-. Roberts Is said to have three wives, two
700 many for earth. ST one time.
. DR. Tamsge vii cross the divide, having
lived ln q consecutive manner with four earthly
wives
"g. THIS IS lawful, and 1t is civilization on
earth.
10 But tlere must be reunions in heaven.
I'll DR.. Tsimage may have the same trouble
IN the ncxt world that Roberts has in this"
What the next step in this chain Of de-
dgction may be il is q little difficult 10 say.
II DIT. Talmage can be brought to reflect
seriously on The question presented for his
solution, iJ may give him a broader human
sympathy with Mr.. Roberts, or it may drive
him insane. There seems to be nothing
that he can do in the matter, from prac-
teal point Of view He cannot unmarry
himself nor can he refuse supBort 10
earthly wives who are dead. I, Is barely
possible that he may admit having made
slight mistake il his calculations. but
yhat iH he light OF his past career. is q
liftie more unlikely than the other two
things
II there is one subject Oh which Dr.
Talmage has always been especially fluent
even more 50 than on his travels in the
Holy Land. it is the conditions which viii
obtain in heaven. He could not have known
more about it Il he had been a special cor
respondent Of yellow journal. commits
stoned 70 write feature story" about the
New Jerusalem. He has described the eli
mate, topography. politics, social customs
Language amusemeDts, and architecture OF
heaven 80 exhaustirely that one could al
most find ones way about IL the light from
his minute descriptions. He has described
The way il which the city IS laid out how
The saints are given homes according TO
their occupations-some in Apostle SQUARE
some ia Missionary Street, some in Mar
Iyrs' Row: and how the heavenly musie clans.
sitting az long and well-laden tables, pause
now and then IN their feasting TO wipe
their mouths and give z melodious blast
on . sublimated horn. to express their utter
content and Joy. This may seem irreverent
70 the devout reader, but it IS what Dr..
TaImage says. He has apparently pictured
heaven as a glorined realization Of the kind
Of city in which ne would like 10 live on
earth, with the people sorted out according
10 their different degrees Of piety, and all
the gliding real gold, and good things to
eat scattered about promiscuously.
L seems a little strange that In all this
information there IS no description of Dr
Talmage's own home. where be viii sit.
surrounded by those who have shared his
LOT on earth, and present exactly the same
tsblesu nov presented by Mr.. Roberts.
Following out this argument 20 its concIu-
sion. we find that other Inhabitants Of the
heavenly city win be found signing bulky
petitions 70 have DR.. Talmage consigned to
outer darkness. And that would be sad, but
interesting.