The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
WHAT is A CHRISTIANP
Argument That Chrtstianity Consists In
Believing Rather Than Doing Discussed.

To THE EDITOR OF TH. SuN-Sr: The reason
Jesus insisted upon faith In Him As the only
dltlon ofisalvaton was because that alone would
secure the promised Holy Spirit, without whom
no man Is a Christian.
The world will never know how much II has lost
and suffered because men In all ages have insisted
upon substituting their own good works for faith
in Christ. In consequence Of which nearly all the
called great reforms of the past have been
prompted BY the spirit Of error. which 10 always
the actuatng power In the world. Jesus said that
the Comforter whom the Father would send In
His name is the Spirit Of Truth. whom the world
capnot receive.
II men would only believe In Jesus Christ and
stop dirty works the Spirit Of Truth would lead
US as a nation and as individuals out OF our sins
into the liberty OF the children OF God. I'VE are
the children of God by faith In Christ Jesus"
NEW YORK. Aug. 10. F. N. PALMArrIl.
To THE Ep1roR OF THE suN-str. Mr. Virgins
argues that Christianity consists In believing rather
than doing.
The teachings OF Christ, however. show plainly
that man can truly believe without making q
consistent effort to act up 10 the belief Surely
Mr.. Virgins would not assert that tho nero ira :
dltional acceptance OF the facts OF Bible history
Ia the open sesame to heaven,
Though not Catholic, the religion for me 10
that preached aud lived BY the late Cardinal Man
ming OF London What life this would be II We
all tried TO come UP 10 his ideals The idea ia con-
woman
the Pharisees.
Only recently heard OF q scrupulously religious
man who discharged q girl from his employ be-
cause he learned that she had spent Sunday at
Coney Island In business this man 10 as notorious
for employing child labor In his unhealthy factory
for his mean and 'underhand methods and long
hours Of overtime wrung from his once star, a.
he 70 famous on Sunday for his regular church
attendance and pious professions In church clrcles
The girl whom he held to be UNITED for place
Of trust because OF her mode OF spending one Sun
day has supported a semi blind mother, and the
cheerfulness and self sacrince with which she has
given up all her evenings after . hard days work
70 keep the mother company has been the wonder
and admiration OF the neiehborhood. VIII profes-
sion or act be more acceptable 10 God In this case.
BROOKLYN. Aug. ia DOGMA.
To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-yir. Whether
Christianity consists In being and doinr" or In
believing" appears TO me to be mostly matter
OF opinion as TO what belief" really means Rlrht
belief inspires right conduct II the average
Christian believed In his heart what he professes
with his lips. as firmly as he believes that nre will
burn his conduct and his belief would no doubt
be In perfect harmony.
The belief" TO which Jesus Christ refer Ia the
texts quoted by Mr.. Virgins in his letter of Aur IB
cannot be that OF the ordinary orthodox ch,,rch :
eoir- Christian or clergyman, for In Marx xv
l7-is We read And these signs shall follow then
that believe, they shall take up serpent.
and II they drink any deadly thing, II shsli NOT
hun them" These<Are things which the said Or
binary orthodox Christian Is mAnifcstly not able
to do. C. J. DucAssv
NEW YORK, Aug. ia
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-str. VIVA, Anal, NJ
Goodwin Smith give US In place OF the
which his papers In THE SUN indirectly. II no, Al.
rectly. tend 10 destroyt Thou shalt not hin I.
Thou shalt not steal" Thou shalt not oomm,,
adultery" &C., will have lost their chAraote,,s,ie
guilt as soon as the old traditional suporns ,pysi
measure Of the morality Of human actions shAI nav.
persisted
Destroy the supernatural. and what slemb,c 4.
left to test and prove tho morality Of human Action,
Now we know why theft Ia theft, murder murder
adultery adultery. because We possess q super
natural test or touchstone which catches thu trus
or false ring Of every human action But in ths
new order OF things Of which Mr.. Goldvin Smith
Is. a. least suggestively protaeonist what rirht
shall be left 10 man, nation or Church 10 use the
words THIEF. slAnderer, adulterer, seducer, muir
derer!
In other words, when the supernatural shs,l
have become myth. what shan then be the test
or tombstone 70 prove that this 10 rood. thai
wicked; this praiseworthy, that punishable: This
man noble. that man an infamous sooundrelf
The permanence OF society. OF government, And
civilization demands An answer. MO a
CoHoKs, Aug. 10