The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-16

and courage Of conviction; my only argument, a
statement OF facts; and, after all, how resistless
is the potency of a fact, The sole purposes OF
inquiry in every court OF justice in Christentom
is, and ever has been TO invoke facts the world
is weary Of theories it longs for facts it is sur
feited with dogmas, arguments and platitudcs and
cries out for facts.
The great difficulty in presenting any new
phase OF religion to the world is the peoples in
herited religious beliefs, the opinions OF their
fathers. No one thinks it strange that we should
discard our fathers thoughts respecting dress,
habtation or form OF government; yet the idea
seems to be almost universal that fliial duty de.
mands that the child shall think religiously, think
OF God, only as his fathers thought. And yet we
know indeed that our fathers questioned the be-
liefs Of our fathers and made us happier by 1t;
that their fathers questioned the beliefs OF their
own fathers and made the world brighter by IL;
No one can know better than how very dit,
hcult it is for one to forsake the traditions OF
his fathers. | speak from experience, for my
ancestors were Scotch-lrish Calvinists with
much OF the assertive impctuosity Of the Irish,
with some Of the solemn piety, and all the
logged stubbornness of the Scotch; in that
faith | was born and educated, and have yet the
profoundest respect for the learning, high charac
ter sublime faith, and sincere, though awiully
solemn piety Of the great Presbyterian church;
in infancy received its baptism for more than
a quarter Of century was in its communion
and so tenacious do the teachings of youth abide
with the man that it was years after had beer
rescued from the cold clutch OF death, by Chris
tian Science, before | could give up the early
lessons learned of God, life, death, hell and
heaven.
MOTHERS SUBLIME FAITH.
My mothers sublime and beautiful faith in the
measureless goodness OF God ] have not surren
dered shall. Its simple memory is an abd
ing benediction, teweled with Joy and luminous
with love. My own experience awakens the pro
foundest sympathy for the man or woman whc
struggles with sense of present duty in conf ct
with adhesion to long. g.oherished ancestral opin
ion. However, reflection satisfied me, anc
doubtless will satisfy you, that every advance II
religion, as in liberty and morality, for cen
turies, is the result of the children battling the
beliefs of their ancestors. II John Calvin hat
not questioned the beliefs Of his fathers, there
would have been no Presbyterian church; IL Mar
tin Luther had not raised his mighty voice
against the beliefs and practices of his fathers
the world would never have reioiced in the lgh
and glory OF the Reformation; if the Wesleys hac
not forsaken the tenets Of their fathers, the sub
lime devotion and heroic sacrifice Of the Method
ist circuit rider would never have gladdened
purified and sanctfed the humble homes of Eng
land and America. God be praised, say l. fol
the moral courage, the intellectual integrity, tha
places duty before sentiment. The history of tn,
Christian era is replete with demonstration thai
rebellion against the religious beliefs of tn,
fathers, not less than ''the blood of the martyrs
| is "the seed of the church."
do not undervalue the effect of our ancestors
thought upon the civilization ard Christianzatior
of the world: but clearly its worth rests in tn,
| patent fact of the indestructblity and rcstles
progression Of good, and the further fact OF tn,
! good in the experience and knowledge Of eacl
generation furnishing vantage ground to its sue
Cessor for something better. We are stupid, in
deed il we are not wiser than our fathers; W,
| have the accumuative knowledge of years tina
| they did not have. OF all the countless dcat
| at the beginning Of this century, not one, If h
should revisit the scenes of earth, could ever
understand the simplest nomenclature of tn,
great discoveries of the practicaity of eloctrcit!
and steam that have girdled the earth with light
brought the distant places near and made
conversational Convocaton OF the nations a
speedy and practical was the assemblage of
presbytery or diocesan convention in their day.
God be praised for the moral courage, the in
tellectual integrity, that enables men and womel
| to discharge the duties of today in the light o
! today, rather than by the mere pride Of ances
| tral opinion; for the important question is no
what was our fathers conception Of the mission
| OF Jesus, but what, in fact, that mission
and what duty does it impose upon us.
THE "PRINCIPLE OF LIFE"
| | cannot explain Christian Science TO you il
| an evenings interview, in many times tn
| limit of lecture; and my opinion of the legti
mate length Of lecture is quite in keeping witt
] the great Dr. Robert j. Breckinridge's who
| how long he thought a sermon should be, prompt
ly replied: Thirty minutes, with a leaning t.
| the side Of mercy"
| In the limited time at my command, can, q
| best, in the simplest form of expression. tell yo,
| but little part of what this wonderful rcvcla
| tion OF truth has done, and is capable of doing
for a sin-burdened world; "Prnciple of Life
| upon which Christian Science depends, with tn
| hope that you may be induced to make such in
vestigations as will enable you to determine TO
yourselves, after careful and faithful research
all the avenues of truth, whether Christian Sci
ence brings to you Dead Sea fruits that turn I,
ashes with a touch, or rather a beautiful anC