Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-10-04
Unfaithful Chrlstia Ms.

been an intidel.
Unfaithrut Christians,
Others were tripped up to skepti-
cism from being grievously wronged
by some man who professed to be a
Christian. They had a partner in
class scoundrel, though a professed
Christian. Many years ago they lost
all faith by what happened in an oil
company which was formed amid the
petroleum excitement. The company
owned no land, or If they did there
was no sign of oil produced; but the
president of the company was Pres
byterian elder, and the treasurer was
an Episcopalian vestryman, and one
director was a Methodist class leader
and the other directors prominent
members of Baptist and Congregation
al churches. Circulars were gotten out
telling what fabulous prospects opened
before this company. Innocent men
and women who had little money
to invest, and that little their all, said,
Il do not know anything about this
company, but so many good men are
at the head of 1t that it must be ex-
cellent, and taking stock in it must
be almost as good as joining the
church" So they bought the stock
and perhaps received one dividend SO
as to keep them still. but after a
while they found that the company
had recognized and had a different
president and different treasurer and
different directors. Other engagements
or i'll health had caused the former Of
ficers of the company, with many re-
grets, TO resign. And all that the
subscribers of that stock had to show
for their investment was beautifully
Crnamented certificate. Sometimes
that man, looking over his old papers,
comes across that certificate. and il
is so suggestive that he VOWS he wants
none of the religion that the president
and trustees and directors of that oil
company professed.
Some Reasons for Existing.
Remember, skepticism always has
some reason, good or bad. for existing.
Goethes irreligion started when the
news came to Germany of the earth
quake at Lisbon, Nov. /, l775. That
10000 people should have persisted in
that earthquake and in the after ris-
ing of the Tagus river so stirred his
sympathies that he threw up his be-
lief in the goodness IF God.
Others have gone into skepticisms
from natural persistence in askins
the reason why. They have been fear
fully stabbed of the fatal interroga-
ton point. There are so many things
they cannot get explained. They can
not understand the Trinity or how Goo
can be sovereign and yet man a free
agent. Neither can /. They say, Il
don't understand why good God
should let sin come into the world.
Neither do |. You say, why was that
child started in life with such disad-
vantages, while others have all physi-
cal and mental equipment" | cannot
tell. They go out Of church on Easter
morning and say, That doctrine of
the resurrection COMPOUNDED me-" So
it is to me mystery beyond unravel-
ment. | understand all the processes
by which men get into the dark. |
know them all. | have travelled with
burning feet that blistered way. The
first word that children learn to utter
is generally papa or mamma. l think
the first word | ever uttered was
Why" | know what it is to have a
hundred midnights pour their DARK
ness into one hour.
Awakening Tender Memories.
If | address such men and women
today, throw out no scott implead
them by the memory of the good old
days when at their mothers knee they
said, Nov | lay me down to sleep
and by those days and nights of scar
let fever in which she watched you
giving you the medicine in just the
right time and turning your pillow
when it was hot and with hands that
many years ago turned to dust soothed
away your pain and with voice that