The colored American., 1900-06-02


persons of ordinary intelligence and ia
formation would be familiar with the
life and character Of the late Col. Rob
srt G. Engersoll. 1t is strange that
honest men Will sometimes resora TO
iniudioious methods in their endeavor
to promote an otherwise Iaudable and
worthy object. A visiting gentleman to
our city recently related 30 his hearers
apparently little personal history or
himself. Our informant quotes the
reverend gentleman as say ing that he
once met the late Mr.. IngsrsOiI In open
debate and that Mr. IngersOll on meet
inE him decided he could not stand be
fore such q store house of facts (win) as
he (the reverend geatIemaa had packed
away for him. And furthed it ap-
pears that this man Is using such argu-
ment In collecting money for some OBJ
isct 40 one seemsts know. Persons whe
have seen and head Mr.. LngeEs )ll are
fu ly aware Of the utter lack of veracity
Contained In suoh statement. 1t is un'
true sRd no one of common intelligence
will for q moment tolerate such stu
pend0I lies. IF any one wants to know
wba5 Mr. IngersOIIs real position was,
what be really said himself and not
what some person who never took the
pains to inform himself says he said we
would refer such persons to his master
ful address es which can be had at many
of the book stores ard most Of the
News Stands, and read for Themselves
The intelleotual pigmy above referred
TO reminds one OF the doleful bYayIng
of . dIsheveltd q jsckass hopeiessly tied
to q sinking ship doomed TO the ineVIta
BILE condition where all such must at
last bs consigned.
Under the caption OF a New Re.
formation" appearing Monday morn
Ing May %, n one Of the local dailies,
is contained food for thought calcuIat
ed to shed large light on tho problems
of life and destiny. One idea which
has doubtless dominated in the intel
Ieetual realEA OF the ADglo'Saxon is
that the source O& his great growth Is
the brain. That great race has learned
as all races must learn that every refer
nation Of whatever character or kind
is germinated and developed by the
genius Of mans brain. That all ereeds,
all cults, ali d0gsnas, all books, no mat
ter how sacred men may held them to
be are the product Of mans oTigination.
And sensible people are coming TO un'
derstand this. JUST as men used TO
mEqu uote and put words in ME-. IngeE
soils mouth and then attempt to
answer him, falling to answer his argu'
meats they would often resort to call
ing names as If names were arguments.
IL was not the Mr.. Ingersoll, bue the
d gm attic and Inconsistent religion that
was on trial. Truth Is always safe. All
that Christ really taught is safe. But
his real meaning has been distorted
ann changed so that we haId1y think
he would know his Owa words If he
were to again appear. The fact is,
"a question is always new until ie Is
answeTed. Mr. IDgersolPs arguments
have never been answered and In the
nature OF things we feel safe 10 the
statement that they never will And
any person who will study both sides
and carefully compare, will inevitably
reach similar conclusions as all gone
before Mr.. Ingexsoll was not au inf
del and any one whU says so certainly
exhibits small information. He was an
Rgnostio. The term &gpostic comes
from two Greek words which mean
there are some things man does not
know. And we should like to ask Is
not this about the true condition OF
things? Man knows more In this age
than perhaps at any othsE pertod IN
the history Of the world, and yet there
are still Ia the dim distance other AID
may be larger victories awaiting the ap-
prORch and mental grasp OF Nan's
brain.
A. any rate we think ID fsE more
profitable for all concerned that per-
sone posing as leaders should at least