The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-31

dained to eternal life for the gloriication
or Gods mercy, while others were by God
glortfcation Of his justice. In other words.
that men were sent TO an eternal hell for
no other reason than that God had passed
ton. The books from which ne received
his ideas OF Christianity were the works
or John Calvin Fox'S Book OF Martyrs
and the sermons of such men as Jonathan
Edwards. And let me quote from the last
named.
hell much as one holds a spider or some
loathsome insect over the fire abhors you
and is dreadfully provoked. You are
ten thousand times more abominable in his
pent is in ours. You hang by a
slender thread with the flame of divine
wrath flashing about you. If you cry
to God for pity he Will be so far from pity
ing you in your doleful case that he will
only. tread you underfoot. He will
crush out your blood and make IL fly. and
IL shall be Sprinkled on his garments. Who
would not revolt against such a conception
or Our Heavenly Father?'
Colonel Ingerson made the mistake of
taking this grim-visaged monster, this fury
OF theological misconception for the en-
bodiment Of the Christian faith. He should
have been more careful in his discrimina-
tons. He should have applied himself TO
study what Christianity really was. Had
he in true humility of heart tried to learn
of Christ, he would have had better concep-
ton of Him and His glorious gospel. The
next mistake of Mr.. Ingersoll was that he
never became a careful and candid student
OF the Bible. No man Is competent TO be
critic unless he is careful in his investiga-
tfons and candid in his judgments. Mr.. In
gersoll was neither. One need but follow
was not close student of the Bible He
was not deep thinker on religious SUBJ
Iects. He did not add one new thought or
bring one new argument against the Bible
and Christianity that had not already been
presented by such men as Valtaire, Hume
and Paine. He dealt wholly in second hand
furniture.
quence, the sparkle Of his wit and his pleas
Ing manners he gave II polish that made
cule and buffoonery and a 1owery eloquence
were the weapons of his warfare. He made
the mistake Of trying to laugh out of court
the book that has been the foundation Of
been the hope Of humanity in all ages, the
book, and the only book, that brightens the
Swallowed pathway of death and sheds there
the light of life.' But the laughter is hushed
and the light shines on.
Colonel Ingersoll made the mistake of
ropbing people of their faith and giving
nothing in return. II is an awful thing
TO scuttle the lifeboat of hope. when there
Is is, not another ship or sail in all the worlds
wide horizon. And this is what Mr.. Inger-
soil did or tried to do. With all his word
picturfng, with all his garlands of elo-
quence; with all his sparkling wit, he has
painted no brighter life, he has planted no
flower of hope, he has lighted no candle to
shine into the cherries gloom Of the grave.
The deep, dark shadows where his loved
ones wept without hope was pitiful in the
extreme. Infidelity is stricken dumb at the
grave.
Mr.. Ingersoll's life was mistake and
stupendouS failure. In his opposition to
Christianity, what did he accomplish? A
few years of popularity that soon waned.
People soon grew tired of his buffoonery.
His wit lost its sparkle and even his fiowery
eloquence lost its drawing power. Once TO
announce his name in this city meant
damned house. The last time he visited our
city he had scarce respectable hearing.
He hoped to destroy the churches and over
throw Christianity To what extent has he
succeeded in doing this? The church has
grown more during the decades OF his pop
ularity and preaching than ever before. In
1870 there were in the United States over
1900 churches. In 1890 there were over
1900 churches. or gain of about 10000
In twenty years. That means fourteen
churches a day for twenty years. The
growth in membership in these churches
has been equally great. Never in all hu-
man history had Christianity such a hold
upon the masses as to-day. No. Mr.. Inger-
soil has not succeeded in overthrowing the
masses. IT was strange and striking CO.
incident that on the very day of the an
nouncement of Mr.. Ingersolrs death there
should be gathered in our city some 5000
young people under the banner of the cross
singing with an enthusiasm that rent the
air.