The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-01
INGERSOLL AGAIN.


10 the Editor: In scanning the pages
Of the September Cosmopolitan" in the
columns of Men, Women and Events, "
we find an article ON Colonel Ingersoll,
written, we suppose by its Editor John
Brisben Walker, which for downright
intidelity is only equalled by his lament
cd chief whom he SO optimistically de-
tends. We quote:
THE doctrine of love which Ingersoll
taught is really Christianity of the high
est type''-shades of the evangelists.
What a divergence from your inspired
philosophy, and what travesty on the
hope you set before us? Go through it, !"
he says, Zine by line" referring to
Ingersolfs last poem, "and we find but
one word that is not in harmony with
Christianity, thas strange ideas of har-
monyl. THAT is doubt of - hereafter.
After all no man knows"
|. Well, really, how an editor of a high
class journal, published under the
blazing light of a nineteenth century
Christian civilization should risk his
future life ON the fiimsy guess work of
a doubt-thereby dissipating all conf
dence in Gods yeracity, is sadly marvel
GUS.
Common sense as well as direct in
SEPARATION teaches the Christian now, rs
it did the primitive Christians, of glo-
,riotIs memory, an absolute knowledge Of
cur acceptance-one of the most mo-
mcntous, highly cherished virtues of our
existence.
The author of all truth-all knowledge
-all power-teaches us, his earthly
children, through, and by, direct trans
mission from His spirit to ours that we
are His accepted disciples-tha He mas
gone to prepare Il place for us-that in
His appointed time He viii come for us
and take Us to the regions of perpetual
lliliss, where we may bask iii the sun
shine of His presence forever; and yet
in the face OF these incontroyertible
facts, sealed by the dying testimony Of
so many thousands, do you, Mr.. Walker,
affirm with your unfortunate chief that
mo man knows, IF so what do we
know?-if we can't believe God through
the handwriting of His spirit, how can
we believe in the affirmation of any
of His creations ninspired? If the
Christian has to so wading down
through the valley and shadow of death
leaning on the staff of doubt, we pity
his estate before the Great Tribunal
Imply a doubt. friend Walker, and you
at once demolish the foundation upon
which our fabric rests. Without faith,
our basal characteristic, it is impossible
to please God. or receive His benedic-
ton. Yes, friend Walker, we know
know absolutely, or all knowledge is
a fraud, cheat, dclusion and u
snare.
If your highly intellectual nature had
been as fully permeated with the love
of God as it has been with the seduc-
tive poison and polished sophistry OF the
gifted and unfortunate genius you en-
dorse, then you would have unquestioned
evidence whereby you could confidently
affirm with the apostle Il know in
whom ! have believed or sing with
the sainted Whittier,
II know not where His islands lift their
fronded palms i'll air,
/ only know / cannot drift beyond
His love and care"
Embracing this mistaken faith you
will be free indeed-the only freedom
worth it's title deeds-thus when heav-
ems mystic veil is drawn, at once will
burst upon your unraptured vision, the
glories of a sumlighted paradise.
JNO. d. THORNE.
Littleton, y. c., Sept. "a, 1899.