The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-26
WHLDO MUCH GOOD.
So Says Rev Mr. Hutchinson of Howe
~Lay Sermons"

Lay 0SImOnSa
AT the North Topeka Baptist church
Sunday evening, the pastor, Rev. W. B.
Hutchinson, preached on the Howe Lay
Sermons recently published in the State
Journal Before beginning his remarks
he read the 53rd psalm containing this
passage, THE fool has said in his heart
there is no Cod Mr.. Hutchinson said:
have no feeling against Mr.. Howe.
/ said I was going to read the sermons
and have read them very carefully.
It has enabled me to say much that
will be very instructive and think that
as a minister am willing to learn from
any one. Mr.. Howe has said a great
many excellent things, but I wish to
point out his mistakes, misrepresenta-
tiOnS and contradictions. As to whether
he is sincere or not don't think that is
a very important question; the import
ant question is whether he is true or
not and whether what he told is the
truth. In one sermon he criticised Rev.
Mr.. Sheldon, in another the ministers,
and in one the Christian religion. Mr..
Sheldon is able to take care of himself.
I am not here to defend all the minis
ters; as far as I am able l will behave
myself. My purpose is not to uphold
ministers but to uphold Jesus Christ
In these lay sermons the orthodox
churches seemed to be Mr.. Howe's spe-
cial aversion. He had not much to say
against the Unitarian and Universalist
churches and not much fault to lind
with the Roman Catholic church.
evOlutionist and still believe in the
Christian religion. Now Darwin himself,
the father of the theory of evolution, in
the last chapter of his Origin of
Species" twice declares his belief in a
God Mr.. Howe also makes the state
ment that no intelligent man of modern
times believes in religion. AS represen-
tative men of this century take w. E.
Gladstone and Abraham Lincoln. Mr..
Gladstone was man of scholarly at
tainments, a statesman of worldwide
reputation, and yet a Christian, a COM
municant of the Established church.
Abraham Lincoln was not, 1 believe, a
member of any church, but was firm
believer in God and in prayer. Here we
have two examples proving the false
ness of Mr. HoWe'S statement and many
others can be cited. Daniel Webster
was also mentioned as a great man
who did not believe in the Christian re-
Igion Let those who question his
Christian belief read his epitaph written
by himself and they can no longer doubt
his belief in God.
Mr.. Howe says he could write code
of morals in a thousand words that
would be better than the Bible. He has
already written far more than a thou4
sand and yet has not said very much
This reminds me of an anecdote heard
about Col. Ingersoll. He was giving a
lecture one evening denouncing the
christian religion and in connection
with his subject declared he could write
a book as good as the Bible. An old
lady in the rear of the hall stood up
and squeaked cut You'd better do it,
there's money III it" That would be our
advice to Mr.. uowe-he'd better do it,
there is money in it. Mr.. Howe also
gays THE world was not made for man,
man came by chance. I suppose he
thinks we are all like Topsy and just
| crowd
AS to there being no autograph man
uscript of the Bible Mr. Howe is right,
there is none. Neither are there auto
graph manuscripts of Virgil and HON.
er's writings and Cicero's orations, yet
| who doubts that they lived. He says
| that the world would be better off with
| out Christianity and gives as an exam
I PIE the Roman empire under Marcus
| Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius was a just,
! upright, honest man, and "his writings
are preserved to this day" But under
/ the rule of his son and later emperors
| the empire fairly rotted away. 1t could
not stand, for it had not Christianity
| for a basis. If I thought as Mr.. Howe
! does that the Christian religion was a
! drawback to civilization I would start
! tomorrow for Central Africa where the
! Christian religion is not known and
/ there enjoy the advantages derived
! from it's lack. But Mr.. Howe won't go.
| He'll stay right on in Atchison just as
| long as the people will let him. I think
| the Howe sermons will do great deal
| IF good. They will agitate the question
| and cause people to think. I know l
| myself was never SO glad of my belief,
/ nor was my faith ever stronger than
| after reading these lay sermons.