The evening times., 1899-02-06
NGERS0EL THINKS THE
APOSTLES WERE GOOD
AND PAYS RESPECTS TO SATAN
Looks Upon the Devil as Modest
1ndividuai-Sincere Admiration
for Mary MagdaIene.

Aos i'.e%ss
New York, Feb. Cool Robert G. Inger-
soil wrestled with the devil for an hour
and half last evening in the Academy Of
Music. A big assemblage attended the en-
counter and applauded every bout. "The
Devil is the title of Colonel IngersoIl's $
latest lecture. which is reply to the cler-
gy's answers to his lecture on "Supersti-
tion'
In Superstition" he contended that the
devil is the keystone of the arch of the
whole Christian structure, and that to take
him away is to destroy the whole struct-
ure. Part of the pulpit has retorted that
the devil of the Scriptures stands simply
for the personification of evil Colonel In
gersoli will not accept that view.
IF the devil should die would God make
another" was his opening last evening.
Then he went on:
THE questions are. first. whether the
devil does really exist; second. whether the
Scriptures teach the existence OF the devil
and of unclean spirits, and. third, whether
this belief in devils is a necessary part of
orthodox Christianity.
He told of the devils of the ancient peo-
Piles of the Hindoos. Persians, Egyptians,
vi cchor jews, anu i1eOy anu dCtA6A
ed they were all made by the people, and
in them we find the prejudices of their
makers. The Europeans always represent
their devils as black. while the Africans
believed they were white The Atlas Of
Christianity he who holds it on his shoGl-
ders, is no other than the devil.
Those who believe the Scriptures are
compelled TO say that this devil was Gre
ated by God and that God knew when he
fad it1ct yxha ba yVplrid hn-EneNx
that he would be a successful rival; that
| by reason OF this devil countless millions
of human beings would suffer eternal tor
ment Why did he create him? Admit
that God is infinitely wise, has he imagi-
nation enough 10 frame an excuse for the
| creation of the devil?''
Speaking OF the devil in the form of a
serpent entering the Garden of Eden, Colo
| mel Ingersoll said:
The devil is the father OF mOdesty."
Again he said:
ITO me Mary Magdalene is the most
| beautiful character in the New Testament.
She is the one true disciple. In the dark
ness of the crucifixion she fingered near.
She was the first at the sepulchre. And
yet when she met the risen Christ he said.
| Touch me not
IF the Gospels teach the existence OF
| God of Christ, they teach the existence
! of the devil If the devil does not exist
| the New Testament may be inspired. but il
! is not true. do not blame the authors
/ of the Gospels. They lived in supersti-
/ tious age.
The Rev. DIR. Parkhurst denounces the
! Apostles as worthless cravens l do not
! agree with him. ! think they were good
/ men. / do not believe any one of them
| ever tried to reform Jerusalem on the
| Parkhurst plan.
"All the fathers of the church believed
! in devils. When they were not begging
| they were fighting devils Under the
scheme of salvation the devil was ne
| cessity. Somebody had to father the mis-
! takes of God.
How did the devil. who was at one time
an angel OF light come 10 sin? He was
| in good society, in the company of God
and cherubm and seraphim and there
| were no saloons. Yet he waged war
| against God and induced about one third
! of the angels TO volunteer under his re-
! bellicus banner. Why was God so un-
! popular?
Why did God deliberately SOW the seeds
! CT discord in heaven? Why does he allow
! these devils TO enjoy themselves? Does
he want his children misled and corrupt
| ed so he can have the pleasure of damn
| ing their souls?
| Some of the preachers who have answer
ed me say l am fighting a man of straw
| Who is this man of straw? In every or
| thodox pulpit stands this man of straw
| with a club called creed in his upraised
| hand. This man of straw put the plaster
OF silence on the lips of Professor Briggs
closed the mouth of Professor Smith. took
! Father McGlynn by the collar. forced him
| TO his knees and made him ask forgive
ness for having been abused