The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-07-25

Address ell business and correspondence to
MEYERS TUCKER, PuBL1sHERs.
DENISON IOWA, July 70, 1899.
Robert G. Ingersoll. the great orator
is dead. In our mind he always linked
with that other great American, the
''plumed Knight" James G.. Blaine.
We speak of the many sided Franklin,
but lngersoll had almost as many pha-
ses. He was politician, but not self
seeking, he was lawyer outranked by
none, he was philanthropist giving so
freely that he died poor man despite
the great income, which his magniH-
cent intellect enabled him to earn, he
was an agnostic-an here is the cause
that has made his beautiful sayings,
his rich and perfect thought closed
book to so many of our people.
We know of no divine who has ut
tered more gems of tender thought,
who has in his speech or writing set
higher ideal for mankind than has Mr..
Ingersoll. Universal love was the key
note of all he said or wrote. The idea
of human misery was ever abhorrent to
him. He taught that to inflict pain is
wrong, that the abuse of power is
wrong, that the oppression of the weak
is wrong, and that the only right is
found in kindness, in love, and self
sacrifice for others.
It was only in the matter of faith
that he differed from the best of Chris
tians and many who decried his name
and fame might have taken vast profit
from the lesson of his life. We do not
mean to say that Ingersoll was right,
but we do believe that he was honest.
1t was not without regret that he laid
down his ambitions as a leader among
the people on the altar of his lack of
faith. 1t was not without sorrow that
he heard his name execrated by myriads
Of people whose respect and esteem he
would have gladly won. In many ways
he was as much of martyr to his lack
of faith as many of the Christian mar
tyrs were to their belief in Christ. MIR.
Ingersoll taught that the only road to
happiness was in an honest upright life,
that in this life one finds full compen-
sation for the good one does and afull
measure of punishment for the evil
deeds. He opposed the doctrines Of
Christianity and his legal training
make him take advantage and even un-
fair advantage as it seemed to most, of
all the weak points in the Christian
creed.
To weak minds it must be confessed
that the doctrines Of Ingersoll are dan
gerous, disquieting and productive of
no good thing; to the stronger mind
able to discern the wheat from the
chat, his teaching cannot but have a
broadening and humanizing effect. We
believe Ingersoll had great influence in
making the church more liberal, that
there has been advancement in this line
is undeniable and part of the public
opinion which has led to this is un-
doubtedly due to Ingersoll's influence.
Ingersoll has been a great power, but
his influence for good would have been
a thousand times greater had he worked
within and not without the church,
The great mind is now at rest, what
ever secrets there may be beyond the
grave are now revealed to him. We
believe that e'er now he has seen the
glorious radiance of the Masters face
and that could he come once again to
the scenes of his earthly labors, his
burning eloquence would be million
times more fervid in the praise of God
and his goodness than it ever was in the
support of morality and justice and
human sympathy. We believe the God
of mercy and tenderness and love has
spoken with his soul and that the pun
ishment Of Ingersoll will be in his
eternal regret that he ever raised his
voice in derision of His ineffable good
ness. Ingersoll's was a noble spirit, he
strove earnestly for what he thought
was right, and his battle was not
. against the God that Is, but against the
God humanized and given the attri-
butes of hatred and revenge through
the agency of man.
Gould Ingersoll come back his cry
would be There is God, l have seen
him with my souls eyes, and 1 know
that my Redeemer liveth. From out
the forms and superstitions and the
errors of religions the eternal truth
shines brightly, there is God, a crea-
tor of all things, His name is love, and
whatever pertaineth not to Love per-
taineth not to God.''.
Sarah Barnwell Elliott has won an
envied place in the minds of readers
who love simple, direct, and beautiful
fiction. She has written nothing more
winning, for humor and pathos, than
s'FOrtune'S Vassals.n the cOmplata