The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-14
Moody and IngersOu.

The controversy which various people
have been carrying on through the me-
dunn OF newspapers, on the comparative
merits of Moody and Ingersoll, may rot
be in particularly good taste, considering
the recent death of both men, but j Is
only just TO state that it was started by
the Moody people. 1t is interesting to note,
however, the ready and vigorous defence
which has been put forth against the at
lacks which some would-be religious per-
sons have made on the memory D. the
dead agnostic One OF the things which
used to be alleged against him during his
lifetime was that he was destroyer, Lot
a builder: that he took away the faith of
those who heard him and gave them moth
ing in return. The number OF persons
whose faith he destroyed was probably ex-
tremely small: il may even be said That
there were not any, for people who were
adherents of any form of religion did not
usually 20 to hear him, or read his books.
1t is perfectly evident, however from the
indignant protests which have been made
against attacks upon him since his death,
that he was not mere iconoc!ast. for no
such character could have aroused ieei-
ing of loyalty and trust so warm and
earnest, among thousands who did not
know him personally.
1t is significant, too, that those who
defend Moody and attack Ingersoil base
their arguments upon matters Of creed
and upon what they consider the in
iuence" of both men, while there may
be found in the replies expressions OF
warm personal regard and admiration for
Ingersoil the man, as well as yigoiols
defence of the principles which he en-
bodied-fearless honesty in matters OF
belief and upright and generous actions
in everyday life. From the educated and
the ignorant, the logical and the illogical.
come letters telling Of the influence which
these teachings have had, and not lntre-
quently of actions of the great agnostic
which proved his faithfulness TO his onn
ideals. One of them recently appeared in
a Boston paper, and the writer of the let
ter in which the story was told said that
it had not before been in print.
Two widows who had money to invest
bought, on Colonel ingersoll's recommen-
dation. shares in mine somewhere in
the West, in which he also was Interested.
The mine turned out a failure, the shares
became worthless, and the women los.
nearly all the money they had, which
amounted to a considerable sum. Ingersoll
was told of the fact, and he Immediately
wrote checks for the amount each of them
put into the business, with interest from
the time they had drawn the money from
the bank. These he presented to the
women, and from that day 10 this the
story has remained unknown except TO
the small circle OF persons who hap
pened to hear of it at the time. AS be-
came generally known at the time of his
death. Ingersoll was not a rich man, owing
mainly to his habit of doing little things
like this. There are hundreds of such
stories afioat, illustrating his keen, sensi-
tive, almost quixotic sense of justice. Com
pared with the sharp practices which many
Christians consider unavoidable, and even
they were an object lesson
which appealed foreibly to the minds of
MANY.