The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-24

al be wrong. do not know. This I do
Know. that the evidence you offer as
warrant for the creeds you hold does not
Sometimes We wonder-nOrbans With
n shade OF impatience-why any man
should doubt the beautiful and consoling
faith which affirms the Fatherhood OF
God. the endless life of the human soul.
and the final triumph OF Righteousness
and peace In the universe. II may be we
nave been taught 10 regard the agnostic
as one who desires TO Danish God from
his world destroy the radiant hopes OF
men; silence hymn and prayer one who
would blot ont the stars Of hope and
leave above the desert waste OF earthly
sorrow and empty heaven.
If we ever speak or think OF the I'M
believer In this mood IL Is well TO remem-
Der that beyond question no sane man
ever deliberately chooses the path OF ag-
nosticism No man can possibly say,
Behold. doubt Is glorious: will love e.
Denial OF God, Of immortality is beauti-
full ! Will preach it az glad tidngs 70
IL that men and women. wise and good.
perplexed and burdened by the mysteries
OF the universe and the sorrows OF life
have been compelled to say to all the
affirmations of the Christian creed-'I do
not know; | cannot say believe
IF We seek in the spirit of candor and
charity for the reasons Of this unwilling
agnosiicsm. our quest IL not difficult.
Above and before all other reasons Is
the seeming contradiction between the
teachings o. religion and the hard facts
OF human life. a good God, and a bad
world Mercy IN the heavens. and
misery on earth. PITY In the clouds. and
poverty among men. Being In the
universe who cares for man. and the
awful tragedies that sweep thousands 10
destruction. Here IL the unsoived prob
lem Of the ages the great unmoved
sphinx OF theology and religion from
whose cruel lips come only answers of
death.
I'm the summer Of 1896 the civilized
world was startled bv the manifold
rniseries OF the st. Louis cyclone. Death
PLAYING wantonly with Its victims. And
now we add to the accommodating record
OF disaster the calamity that has befallen
Galveston What marvel that men lose
hone and heart and faith
DO not misunderstood mel speak
from the standpoint OF a believer in God
In immortality. In the final triumph OF
righteousness and peace in all realms Of
being. I believe In what John Fiske
has well termed the Everlasting Reality
OF Religion. But ] cannot ind II IN my
heart to condemn honest doubt or say of
unbelief: This Is sin
THE only light thar falls full and clear
upon the dark problem Of evil comes
from the heart of our liberal faith From
that fun orbed gospel that announces the
unity Of God. md the unity of life;
which teaches that all that we call good
and all that we call evil IL part % the
unfolding purpose of the Infinite Father;
that death--whether by fire or flood by
disease accideut-is but transition to
higher realms OF life. to nobler opportun-
IL az last for all the smile Of God. the
peace Of heaven Not from Dante. not
from Milton. but from Tennyson. the
poet OF liberalism. the modern man
fashions hts creed.
BEHOLD We knew not anything:
I can hut trust that good shall fall
Al iast~fnr off-Bt last. TO all
Aud every winter change 70 spring.