Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24
Study in Doubt, as sketched by
Tennyson," Subject Of Address.
DELIVERED BY DR.. BRUSH LAST NIGHT
Entertained at First Nj. e. Church I'm.
der the Auspices and for the Ben.
eft of the Ladies' Aid
- Society.
From Wednesdays Daily.

"A Study in Doubt as Sketched by
Tennyson," was the subject of very
entertaining lecture delivered by DR..
F. E. Brush, pastor of the First M. E.
church, last evening. The lecture was
given under the auspices and for the
benefit of the Ladies' Aid society of
the church, and, notwithstanding the
very unfavocable condition of the
weather, the attendance was sufficient
to remunerate the society protitably.
The lecture was postponed one week
ago last night on account of rain.
DR.. Brush in his study of doubt fol-
lowed 4 line of thought, which, prop
erl absorbed will enliven and elevate
the moral senses of mankind. The
truths, so beautifully told, held his au-
dience perfectly enraptured. They
drank in every word that was said and
all were made to realize in a manner
never before appreciated, the true.
greatness of Tennyson, the poet. "Ten-
nyson," DR.. Brush said, was one of the
greatest men of his race. He was a
man who lived his philosophy"
DR.. Brush began his lecture by say
ing that the optimiist after viewing all
the intelligence in the world and the adj
vancement that has been made by the
church and kindred societies would
say that the world is growing better,
while on the other hand, the pessimist
who would view the question from the
point of view that education, etc, is
being used for the furtherance of crime
would say that it is the most accursed
age in history.
But when the Industrious Christian
hnhn1lc ,I,, ~
towards higher Christian ideas he is
dawn is shining. On the other hand,
when he sees how the Jesus of Naza-
reth has been crucitied and realizes the
evil that is abroad in the land, the de-
spondent Christian mourns it as the
most unspiritual century the world
has ever known.
"Our age" DR.. Brush said, sis one
OF man phases. Some of the condi-
tions of life are expressed in the most
impressive. manner in lines of poetry,
the true poet embracing therein the
sentiment of the people of his time.
Tennyson he referred to as the poet
of the century and perhaps its best
interpreter. Doubts that are familiar
to most men are perfectly clear to him
and are SO expressed in his verses. DR..
Brush then quoted at some length
from the above author, reciting his
poem, Despair" He said it might be
termed suggestive story. Those who
have read it will remember the theme
as that of an attempted suicide by q
husband and wife because of despond-
ency. The woman succeeded in end
ing her life, but the man was rescued.
They ait one time were hopeful and
looked to God for his blessings. Their
faith was gone and they blamed God.
The wrecking of faith thru needless.
sorrow is useless martyrdom. They
never had the true faith. Certain dog:
matte teachings are often taken for.
the true faith. Our brethren, the
Presbyterians, have always chung to.
the old Calvinistic doctrine but they
do not believe it. To me hell is as
scientific word as evolution. The.
former means dumping ground for
the evil spirits of the universe.
81 feel like uttering a warning
against any unchristian writer, no
matter how scientific he may be. Sci
entists have acknowledged they can't
explain their own world without
bringing the spiritual into it. They
know of nothing that could make any
of the miracles referred to in the BIZ
BILE. Don't be too hasty in accepting
the so-called scientific teachings, which
would lead you away from God. The
trend is towards God, personal and
positive"