Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-11-02
THE MEANING OF DOUBT.
Third Address in Series on "Agnosticism'
at First Congregational Church.


at First Congregational Church.
BY Rev. B. J. H. Shaw.
That which is most distinctive of
the modern world is its freedom. The
life of man has been set free from the
control Of powers which prevented
progress The Immediate result of
this emancipation was an abuse Of
liberty. There was reaction from
deSDotiSmS to the other extreme of
1awlcssncss. Men were suspicious Of
ANYTHING that looked like domination
md preferred a life untrammeled by
my kind of control Hence. the first
experience of freedom led to a loose
and hayward life, impatient of all
restriction.
Political anarchy follows The
tyranny of kings. Atheism is the re-
action from religious superstition.
Religious indifference the result of
the discovery Of fallibility in super
natural claims.
Men denied the right Of others to
determine what they should think
and believe, they cast off the strong
arm which held them and directed
their actions and were let loose with
all their powers in world which
seemed to put no restraint upon them.
What shall he do with himself and
his pOWcrs?. He must use them OF
course. that follows as natural
consequence Of his freedom. But how
shall he use them? In what directions:
TO what extent? And for what
purpose:
1t was natural that he should first
give full play to his physical and in
tCllCctual powers, that he should dis
cover and possess the material world.
This world was nearest to him: its at
fractions were numerous and powerful,
the passion for acquiring its wealth
became strong and absorbing. He
makes his mind the servant of this
passion and learns the secrets OF
success. There is SO much to do in
this world. AS he has been.led to doubt
tie existence of another he deems it
wisdom to make the best of this. He
becomes absorbed in it as if there
were no other. And yet there are in
terruptiOnS to q complete absorption
in material world. There are events
which make men aware of other than
secular affairs, they call off that
intense attention, bid him turn his
thoughts in another direction. anC
tOllSluCI UCllldllIlS llOD l1ldUcIIdl. Il lit
evil and WickednesS of the world break
in upon his secular pursuits, spoil anC
rob him OF the fruits Of hard toll. He
must give some attention to the mora
side Of the world and do something tC
improve its condition. II must make
laws to control it. bUilG institutions
to eradicate it or it viii Oyerrun anC
destroy the world Of industry anC
commerce.
Then. there are other events con
stantly happening which impress mer
with the fact that the materia
interests Of life are not all. that he
has something more than a body t
feed and cIOthe, higher task thar
the accumulation Of wealth. How
ever busy he may be, however secular
he may have become he cannot ignore
the facts Of suffering and death
These experiences have some effect
upon him, he has human heart anC
feels them, they trouble him and give
rise at times to serious thoughts ani
when alone he cannot help bordering
over their mystery.
You see we have not escaped from
the problem Of religion though We
may have got rid of spiritual despOt
ism. These dark facts which the
church has attempted to explain are
still with us and make a part of every
life. f we will not believe the wore
of the church to be a revelation from
heaven there is still the necessity fol
Il revelation. The mysteries of life
abide with us and there are occasion!
when they press heavily upon us
When the most painful experience
GiriynnSS
the home, when the darling child O.
beloved wife Siclen or die, then
great, unSpeakable sorrow fills tn,
heart for which neither SeculariSm O
agnoSticiSm has one word of comfort
SO long as we remain human we mus
feel the pressure Of these problems
they have to be dealt with and H.
solution can be the right one whicl