The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-10
Mr.. EiIer's Criticism.

To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
In your issue OF last Friday l note re-
marks of John c. EiIer relative to the Pear
son-Spahr controversy, in which Mr.. Eiler
inclines to literal Interpretation of Scrip
ture and an orthodox" faith in the mira
cles therein recorded. He quotes Mr.. Spahr
as saying: THE miracles He Christi per-
formed were for the people Of the day, but
His curse of the Jews and His command
for the endurance of His church were for
the people in the ages to come" To this
statement Mr.. Eiler disagrees, and, as an
argument in support of his disagreement
quotes the last chapter of Mark recording
the last words of Jesus, as follows: And
He said unto them, go We into all the world
and preach the gospel to every living crea-
ture. And these signs shall follow them
that believe; in my name shall they cast
out devils; they shall speak with new
tongues; they shall take up serpents, and
If they drink any deadly thing ii shall not
hurt them; they shall lay hands on the
sick and they shall recover" If these the
last, instructions of Jesus were repealed
Mr.. Filler would like 10 know when, where
and by whom.
Without the least wish to be dogmatic-
believing that TO err is human, to forgive
divine"-and fully realizing that scriptural
controversies, from lack of historical prem
lses, have been and must continue to be
matters of diverse opinion, l yet hail with
the age to come-now here-sees the world
emerged from a sea of blood and diabolicaI
spirit which history records as growing out
of differences in theologic belief III Mr.
Eiler would get out OF the rut of orthodoxy
and view this subject through the telescope
of modern, higher criticism the matter
might appear clear 10 him. Go we into all
the world and preach the gospel" What
is the gospel? Answer, the gospel is good
news, glad tidings, something 10 make the
human race better in this world and the
world to come. Its essential features are
love, charity, peace, mercy. unselfshness,
wisdom (which means the highest educa-
tion and its accompanying civilization and
every virtue calculated to elevate the race
give il knowledge and happiness and more
abundant life. What is & to preach the
gospel? To spread abroad all these prnci-
pies above enumerated. with the personal
manifestation of a spirit OF self-sacriicing
duty, with patience and magnanimity TO
our mistaken enemies the North did to
the Southern people in the late civil war
and as the most enlightened nations now
do in the treatment of their enemies or as
Uncle Sam appeals to the heart of the
heather Chinee' when he insists on main
tanning the open door. To lift up the
ignorant instructing them in educational
matters, arts, commerce, inventions, treat
ing them as brother and showing a sincere
desire for their welfare.
Now. as 10 the signs Cor mira cles) that
should follow those who believed in this
gospel I'm my name shall they cast out
devils" Christ was the great exemplar of
SelI-SdcTlQCe lot the SpOu OF others. His
gospel is replete with the highest wisdom
and the wisdom of a later age compared
with the black ignorance and superstition
which existed at the time. He was upon
earth and had wrought seeming mira Giles
I'm the lire of the things mentioned. This
gospel has performed wonders in the way
of Graduating evil casting out devils). The
wisdom that mankind has acquired under
this code of ethics has enabled those who
believed (that is, those whose faith is bright
enough u cause them 10 acquire all the
wisdom or knowledge possible 10 acquire)
TO speak a new tongue-a tongue charged
the olden time. This knowledge inter-
preted in the light of modern facts covers
much ground-a knowledge of nature and
her laws OF arts. sciences, inventions etc
Now this modern knowledge comes with its
antidotes TO snake poison and other poisons
comes with its wonderful chemical agents
and mechanical instruments and appliances
in the treatment OF the sick, among which
| might mention anesthetics electricity
present status Of medical knowledge with
that which formerly prevailed a wonderful
If not miraculous, change has taken place
a change which by the modern enlightened
method would cause many patients 10 live
whereas under the old practice they would
most assuredly have died.
IL such Interpretation as the above is not
true one Of this passage of Scripture, and
Mr. Eiler insists that the passage has refer
cree 10 real, literal, legerdemain sort of
miracles 20 be performed by those who
established fact that any such miracle ever
occurred? BYRON WORK.
Angola. Ind, June T.