The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-11
FROM THE PEOPLE
WAS PAUL THE FOUNDER OF
CHRISTIANITY.

Seattle, wash. Dec Q, 1900.
Not having had the pleasure Of listen
Ing to Mr.. Pratt's address before the
Society OF Universal Religion. there can
be no pretense OF intelligent criticism on
my part. l simply rise to remark on be-
half OF my sex. that whoever was the
founder of the cult now known as Chris
tianity. II decidedly was NOT Saul OF
Tarsus. The prominence Of woman In
the Gospels Is a complete refntation of
his claim to be so considered That in
teliectually able, but dogmstic and wo-
man-hating little man would never have
concocted a dramatic myth in which wo-
men hold the front of the stage in near
ly every scene
A second proof. to one who studies the
Gospels and Epistles OF Paul from a lit
erary standpoint, is the radical difference
both in thought and style between the
recorded sayings OF Jesus and the writ
ings OF PAM.
The former, in language as simple as
the prayer of child infolds as in amber
philosophy 80 profound and far-reach-
ing that its fun scope has even vet 10 ~,
realized. They throb with the hot pulsA
of Travelling humanity: they breath a
spirit OF tolerance wide enough to en-
brace all mankind of whatever race or
creed.
The latter outline a working plan for
a powerful hierarchy. Did Paul. think
you, evolve out Of the depths OF his
consciousness the Jesus who said. 60
and sin no more" suffer little children
to come unto me7'
Paul. by his own account OF himself
was an energetic prosecutor Of the new
sect before he became It's most powerful
propaganda II The Gospels were not
exiant In some form unigl more than a
hundred years later. and were then only
a conspiracy 20 create an ideal charac-
ter what was the cult for which Stephen
Was martyred and 10 which Paul later
dedicated all his great p1wersg hut per-
hapS in calling Paul the founder ~ Chris
tIanity Mr.. Pratt, means Shat BY the
strength OF his personality he imposed
his version Of Il upon the Western world
In such a sense Mr.. Pratt Is correct.
Paul was the walking delegate Gf Chris
tianity. From city 10 city he went. or
Qsniksng gne new society with its signs
and passwords. It's esoteric and esoferis
degrees. It's initiates ana laymen.
Probably In every place he used the
existing lodges Of the handicraftsmen as
his starting point, All the secrets Of
craftsmanship were then. a. for ages ar
ter. the exclusive properly Of secret
guilds. In the Gentle world. an work
men were slaves or freedmen; and Il wAs
among these people. superior IN morality
and intelligence 20 their masters and al
ready organized for mutual protection,
that early Christianity found the ma
j0rity 81 its recruits Jesus had studi-
0usly avoided All appearance ot political
agitation The system OF Paul Inevitably
fostered Il. II was as asitatOrs. and not
as ssriaries, that the Christians were
persecuted by an enlightened and humane
ruler like Augustus. But such persecution
furnished the most powerful of argu-
ments against itself Every pftch-smeared
martyr burning IN the streets OF luxury
rotted Rome was deathless torch light
ing the way 10 liberty. 1t was for free
dom that they died, though they dreamed
| Il was for faith.
But there arose one in his way as great
as Paul. Quick To perceive both the
| strength and the weakness Of Pauls or
| ganization, Constantine seized upon IL
! and made II his own. Jesus had said 10