The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-03-09
Grand River Answers Center.

We will say in reply to our Center
correspondent that the idea of human
or even animal sacrifice to please God
has long been out of mind of christian
men. Jesus was crucified not to please
God but rather to please certain of the
Jews who demanded of PLATE his cruci-
fixtion. They as a rule do not believe
in him but think he is yet to come.
Josephus, their great historian, said:
There lived good man named Jesus
and he went about doing good Jesus
differed from all who claimed to be the
savior in that he was and did what he
claimed. He did nothing for the good
of himself alone or left anything to his
heirs. When he was crucified he
prayed for their forgiveness, and we
have no doubt they are all forgiven for
his life and prayer is not failure. We
have read most of lngersol's writings,
including his Liberty of Man, Woman
and Child, also the history of Rome,
Plutarch's Lives, but fail to find any
thing near so good as the sermon on the
mount. The history of ancient Greece
and Rome is not as we'll authenticated
as the history of Jesus. He did many
miracles and rose from the grave.
Roman soldiers were placed about the
tomb, and it was death for them to
sleep when on guard. Yet he came
forth as he said he would. Even Inger-
sol believed in a life beyond the tomb
as is shown in his remarks at the grave
of child and of his brother. You can
feel his longing for Immortality in
these. The first and last sentences Of
the Declaration of independence make
an appeal to God. And it was mostly
| tbo Of Toffo II
infidel, but we see they are mistaken.
We do not agree with the statement
that England is, the only nation that
claims to be christian. All of the coun-
tries make this claim or are called so,
as we'll as North and South America.
They all have more or less war, but it
is not the fault of Jesus, but rather of
their misdirected zeal as was shown by
the crusades. England learned some
thing when she lost this country and all
her colonies are now better governed
than before. The world is better be-
cause our country rules here yet we go
to war, which we deeply deplore and is
not christian. Jesus said, they that
employ the sword would perish by it.
All the old nations rose and fell that
way. Turkey is doing the same. When
even the so-called infdels speak of
Jesus and his love they grow eloquent,
See what Roussian, who was called the
great French infidel said, "The Majesty
Of the Scriptures strikes me with aston
ishment, and the sanctity of the gospel
addresses itself to my heart. Look at
the volumes of the philosophers with
all their pomp, how contemplate do
J they appear in comparison with this
Is it possible that book at once SO
simple and sublime, can be the work OF
man. Can he who is the subject of it's
history be himself mere man. Was
his the tone of an enthusiast or of al
ambitious secretary. What sweetness
what purity in his manners; what al
effecting gracefulness in his instruc
tions; what sublimity in his maxims
what profound wisdom in his discourses
what presence of mind; what sagacity
and propriety in his answers. How
great the command over his passions
Where is the man, where the philoso
pher who could SO live, suffer and di,
without weakness and without ostenta
: ton. But from whom of all his country
men could Jesus have derived tina
sublime and pure morality of which b
only has given us, both the precept an
example. In the midst of the mos
licentious fanaticism the voice of tn
sublimest wisdom was heard; and tn
simplicity of the most heroic virtu
crowned one of the humblest of all th
multitude, but Jesus in the midst {
excruc ating torture, prayed for hi
merciless tormentors. The JEWS
authors were incapable of the dictio
and strangers to the morality containe
in the gospel, the marks of who's
truths are so striking, so perfectly il
imitable, that the inventor would be
more astonishing man than the her
No intidel could write this and ther
are very few of them, when they WIN
claim to be read of Jesus and his low
study his life and character, they loos
all their skepticism. The best criticis
of the bible, my brother, is to furnish l
a better one. When anything comes u
to trouble you, stop and ask yourse
what would you think Jesus would d
n You will get the correct answer. SUI
\ pose you see good old mother nearin
the sunset of her life, who has burie
\ all her relatives. All her hopes al
with the arms she trusts will sa,
her treasured jewels. She hopes
go to them in the glory worl
Would you, my brother, if you could an
4 knew her hopes would never be rea
lied, would you take away this hol
that you know had supported b,
through many sorrow. o! know yc
I would not, but let her depart with I'll
great hope beaming on her face. WI
try to take away that which we new.
can replace? We can give nothing
d return, let us not take away their on
4 hope.
b In1S61, the French Academy of Seient
4 promulgated eighty-one scientific pri
ciples, all of which were contrary
\ the bible. Not one Of these are held
h be true by scientific men not even
France. Our so-called science chang
4 but the work of Jesusgoes right on 10
n ingly down the ages the same yesterda
4 today and forever, bringing joy, cons
\ lation and hope to all over this gre
\ world of ours. 1t is growing and y
\ shall grow when we are lowly laid. Go
\ Immortality and Duty are the three i
spring trumpet calls to men. Thcs
calls are uttered with terrible earnes
r. ness. We are going to our long hon