The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-04-07
UNFAIR TO PROVIDENCE.


societies. and even legislatures. when
adopting resolutions concerning the
death Of a member or somebody whose
memory is 70 be hOnored, always begin
By "vhereasring that the Almighty,
In his wisdom, has removed the de-
ceased? Is God choking people 70
death with bad colds. killing them
with rheumatism, la grippe, consump-
ton. smallpox and other diseases? II
so, is Il at all religious or sensible
10 call in a doctor 10 prevent the Al.
mighty's will being accomplished? Is
just and loving God killing men with
whisky. or poison. OF through vices
and sins7
Does be run a train over one. a
street car over another, and a fright
ened horse over another? Does he let
the baby take the Group. and then
keep the doctor from curing II, that
keep the doctor from curing IL. that
he may work out an all wise provi-
dence7 when an assassin kills or a
murderer slays. are we TO hang the
bloody handed criminal and then take
comfort in the thought that the vic
tim was removed" by an all wise
providence.
Where do people get such ideas?
Surely not from the Bible. for that
good book teaches no such nonsense; /;
certainly not from history. for his
tory gives a sufficient explanation Of
every act performed and why.
Certainly not from science. for sci
ence tells us how death is superinduc-
ed. Certainly not from reason, for
reason can not accept such a theory
Il is just a common error; a deep
rooted superstition; a long cherished,
foolish delusion. II has no foundation
in fact In revelation or in reason II
is unfair TO providence. unjust to the
Bible and cruel 10 the conscience and
faith OF the bereaved. says the Reg
lister.
God does not kill, Neither by the
flashing lightning. the whirling wind
the roaring water or the relentless
storm. God does not kill with poison
pestilence. plague. famine or flame
God does not kill with disease or dis
order, with heart-ache. or headache
with vice or with venom. God does
not kill anybody. anywhere OF at any
time
The doctrine that God takes away
child TO punish or afiiict a parent
takes away a husband to humble the
wife. or the wife to humble the hus
band that God comes into a family
like a bosom OF destruction, to XII
and afiilct and sadden; that God eyer
draws tear or forces a sigh; that Goo
bankrupts or burdens any one. good
or bad-the doctrine Of providentia
afiilction and distress and sorrow-
this unloving, goddess and pitilesi
doctrine. has its place in the thought
fof today only because II has had the
sanction Of hoary ages. Not because
II is true. or reasonable, or good, oi
acceptable. OF helpful OF hopeful. Not
because the Bible. or philosophy, ol
history or science would have us be
lieve g. But simply because we have
been taught It and have not had the
courage TO deny it.
! God pltles and helps. and guides and
leads, and teaches, and hopes for us
but does not destroy us, or hunt us
or hinder us. The theologian may
have to teach us opposite thought tc
harmonlze his system of so-callet
truth, but we know better; and in al
justice and fairness let us quit excus
ing providence OF inspiring crime ant
promoting disease and encouraging
death II a friend or brother dies
let us look 10 God for pity and hell
In our bereavement Let us not &C
cuse him OF killing the loved one
OF removing from our midst our dear
brother" We know how the deal
brother was removed, and If II wa
done by a train we are ready 10 su'
the railroad for helping providence
TO remove him. II friend is killel
we bow in submission to the wisdom
of providence and go cunning for tn
man who killed him. We do not be
lieve in such irreconcilable. unfair
providence. and In all fairness TO ou
children, and our neighbors. and on
fellow men, and 10 the Christianit
which we cherish, let us quit thi
foolishness.
o. warnino Ordaf