Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-05-12
GrOundless and IneXcusable.

In recent issue we uttered criticism OF
not unusual foible of the human mind. the
disposition to make prompt claim OF Prov
dental Interference, whenever exceptional
events occur and happen to be in accord with
the views of the one making the claim.
1t is quite an interesting study to note the
readiness with which narrow minds give
credit to the Supreme Being for everything
that goes their acay; and along Herewith to
note the cool assurance with which they get
out of the difficulty when things do not go
their way. 1t is direct Divine interposi-
ton SO long as God works things out their
way, but when they find themselves on the
losing side, then they give ulterance to the
unctious phrase: 1.-THE ways Of God are mys
terous ard past finding out" In other
words, the inordinatc conccit of some minds
leads them to believe that their cause is SO
Just that the good Lord goes out of his way
to manifest HIS endorsement of their judg-
ment, but should some unoward happening
occur they have not the moral courage to be
logical and acknowledge their own finite
pow ere, but saddle The whole thing on Prov
dence again, saying: "Of course we are right
and of course Providence means right, only
we do not clearly understand the situation"
Now we do not particularly complain at
being told by the Carroll Record, that we are
mentally and morally bankrupt; we do not
believe It ourselves, nor do we think the
writer in the Carroll Record sincerely believes
it; it was a singing remark and helped out
of difficult situation, trick not unusual
enough to attract attention, but when the
writer assumes to charge US definitely with
atheism, we demur. We believe in the
Christians God; we do not praise Him when
and because he does things oar way, moi
apologize for Him when He does not We
endcavor to accept Him as He was "frOm the
beginning" and when inexplicabe thing;
happen we confess our own Ignorance, and
do not feel hurt because He sees proper tt
decide matters without taking our views in
to consideration.
We do not ask or expect the writer in the
Carroll Record to accept our views concern
ing the alleged lnterpostion of Providence
in the Russo japanese, war; he probably
would prefer not, if he could We do re
quire however that he make the amende hon
ora6le, by confessing that desire to say some
singing thing, rather than purpose to b.
fair and to discuss the point at issue, led hin
to lay the groundless and inexcusable charge
of atheism. The article in question did no
warrant the inference and no intelligen
reader could fail to see IN it protest agains
the tendency to require that laws good
from the beginning, shall be broken and TIT
original plan modified TO meet seemingly ex
ceptional conditions. The grand mechan
ism of Gods universe does not "slip a cog
occasionally; His originally adopted Consti
tuition of Moral and Natural Laws has NJ
added amendments; the system is not
patchwork; He does not have to arbitraril.
set aside His own laws in order to hav
things work out right; nor docs He care o
expect to be patted on the back by eve'.
sophomore who thinks he sees where som
natural law has been set aside as a speca
mark Of favor to his friends.
If the Carroll Record cares to be fair, it wi
recall its unwarranted charge of atheism; 70
care to stand better than that with its bi
reading constituency.