The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-11-01
PALMER ON
THE BIBLE
In Eloquent Address DR.. Ray Pal
mer Spoke OF Its Value for His.
tory. Ethics and Literature.
STUDENTS NEED THE BIBLE
Test Of Religion Is Its "Power to
Make Bad Men Good" P0ss.
essed Alone by the Chris.
tian Religion.
STUDENTS NEED THE BIBLE

4
Of the weather to go 10 Fishers opera
house on Sunday afternoon were priv
ilcgcd 10 listen TO discourse Of the
highest order. Many regarded 1t as
the best Of The series OF excellent
sermons delivered by Dr Ray Palmer
during his stay IN Astoria. II was
truly an intellectual and spiritual
feast Dr Palmer's theme was "The
Bible" and was drawn from Matt.
xxIv:35: Heaven and earth shall
pass away, but my words shall not
pass away" DR.. Palmer treated the
subject under three divisions:
First. He spoke OF the bible itself.
Second OF the evidences of it's In
splratlon.
Third. or It's indestructibility.
Under the first division the speaker
rehcarsed with great power and well
chosen words the value OF the bible
nS history. Az book of ethics and
as book OF the sublimest works OF
literature. II was written by inspired
men from various walks Of life, such
as fishermen. kings, priests, lawglv-
ers. prophets, poets, historians and
theologlans. He said II was invalu-
able as text book, and that no stu
dent of history could be complete In
his study without n thorough view OF
the bible. because II was the cradle OF
history. DIR. Palmer said that the
bible had inspired the worlds greatest
artists. and furnished themes for their
paintings and statues, instancing
Raphael and Michael Angelo, The
bible also had inspired many OF the
worlds greatest writer's and was quo
ted or incorporated In much of the
DtsN INtihAults ihi5 NdS hiuotiatSh
by the many gems taken from the
bible by Shakespeare. the worlds
greatest dramatist, also by the DEATH
bed scene OF Sir Walter Scott, the
worlds greatest historical novelist and
one of the worlds great poets, who
said when dying: There is but one
book and that is the bible"
The Bible Needed in Schools.
DR.. Palmer said that the bible was
leeded In all our public schools and
colleges as text book In history, |
literature and ethics. and that we
,ught not to allow the devil or any
,ody else to keep II out OF our schools.
lie would not teach sectarianism In |
he public schools, but the morals of
he bible were needed as well as its
historical value and literary worth.
Under the second division DR.. Pal
ner compared the evidences of the
Inspiration OF the bible with the evil
lences OF the inspiration of the Koran, |
he Vedas and other great religions |
These all claimed to have come dl-
ectly from the greatest God of the
Universe while the bible claimed that
t was written by men inspired by
Tod. The mere claim Of its divine
rlgin, which II held in common with
ther sacred books, was not sufficient
o satisfy the skeptical inquirer.
A Challenge Test.
The final test to which he challenged
" other religions to meet Christianity
vas "the power which the bible had TO
make bad men good" In this chal-
ange, he included Mormonism, Confuc
lnism. Mohemmedanlsm and all 9TH
RS. He cited the condition of Nor
1ons and their practices as evidence
L lHelT ldhuIt W AltGl AhiS Sot'
,r. Palmrr rllimed that the heathen
arkness of the lands where the Koran
nd the V-das were taught and obeyed
! sufficient proof Of the falsity of
heir claim to divine authorship,
Under the third division DIR. Palmer
howed the indestructibility of the
ible by the fulfillment of the prophe-
les concerning Egypt. That at one
me 1t was the center of the world In
over and learning, but now insigniti-
ant except for It's ruins. The bible
,retold that It would be one Of the
ast of the nations of the earth,
through thousands of years the bible
nd stood firm, although Kingdoms
nd arisen and decayed.
To outlast Gibraltar.
The speaker said the time might
,me when even Gibraltar might be
ashed away by the sea. but even
en Gods word would stand more
I'M than ever,
DIR. Palmer closed with two touch
g scenes from his own life. one
hon n littta hov he stood at his