The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-15
the Ground OF Certainty Regarding
Miracles.

To THE FDIron or The SUN-Sir: Your
correspopdent, -Presbuteros, in yesterdays
Sun makes the statement that The IN
csrnation. like the Resurrection and the
Ascension Of Christ. was a miracle, ana u
cannot be explained In a scientific way with
out n denial OF the fact l understand
him to mean by this that you cannot explain
any OF these alleged supernatural facts SCI
entifcally without denying them to be mira
cles.
Permit me. then. to observe that what
will follow II we explain anything sclen'ihcaiiy
does not in tho least affect the validity Of such
an explain alton. and thst no one will be de-
terred from attempting a scientific eIplane-
ton Of IN allies miracle by being told That
~ he succeeds the miracle Will disappear
or course IL IL open to any one to say
xt<b to regard this thing as a miracle. and
will therefore pay no attention to any attempt
| at scientific explanation OF it SO far as
can see. that Ia the position OF 'Presou-
teros-
nut there IL more to he said. VIII Pres
buteros- kindly explain how he can acquire
a certainty. and also what kind OF certainty
he can scquire, Of the truth OF mirare
| A child acquires from Its mother Q certainty
| that santa Claus performs the miracle OF
| descending all the ohimneys--except those OF
the very poor-in thousan ds OF towns and
posting presents by ohildren's ped,ldes
scau,red and what Kind Of a certainty Il y.
The. moral authority OF the mother ana , t1e
ready accsptsace by ne chic 81 ,he need
! less 10 ray il wholly of an emotional and
mssina,ive Kind sun Ip 70 SsT's ~ cone sse.
@ ss1Sr es .se rnysn real crTtsinty
The mother. however. cornnm ncstes not
only the, orthodox legend OF SAINT. .Isus 70
am far IRON Wishing TO speak with irrever-
ener-th. story Of the Resurrection, Again;
what nature is that certainty Is II not 81
9. emot,onal 81 the ,,o Srr'n.Sy ~. .naSond
s so nroots she has made a simple statement
which the child has accepted. relying ON
the mother's word. tnd. ehdl.sr nsr FriiTs
ihs st We ais 20 hi. OF her Inc, cinaion How
| did the mother acquire her belief IN the al
.seS An IsTi e. r dsn. in the same way as
H'So%' ~isS To- ask -Presbutsros in all
earnss'nees whether he considers this KIND
as alleged snperna,ursl facts are oo.r,r r,s !.
IL not, will h tell us whsl Wind OF certainty .
as:rssl. and = 70 nj of sour.~ and
that IL the certainty arising from ae'nons,r a,
ton. OF eyidenos, which only falls ssof bo .,
could postuisie ihis Kind % certsin,y: eecaIs y
l &c, s'E . sarS s .sp sio saass aud
| therefore To scientific explanation o. -,
ieas, 60 az attempt a, such s,p'anaso.a s.a
M ,essrd 10 the miracles he mentions. =
Ny question, then. soioo Wiz
emf possosse. in regard 20 the mirscie''
and How did he acquire ~
| n rh,alld HE 90 put tn a prouso thAt your
| oo,te.coadsnt shall not say ihsi lao has q
moral osr,aln,, si,hes, .te'.,n,ns .sls
! s.1r ,ssus The child Who b~liesss 10 hania
| C.u. InIshs b. s.la 10 have . moral o-r,slnt,
ssslns that faith "a . psrsnl hat certain
i n,os.I rharssi~f hat maSifss,l, " Wa
| " an .,Ampls Of moral asft@iats ti,sn psoi,ls
a.s h. msfsIi1 asftsIh ~ ii.iISs ihsl are
hot 90