Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-05-19

two sessions day, OF two hours each,
is being pulled orr Gas Oig Used to
say at Mt. Hope. in this State, and
the discussion began last Sunday
Each speaker has been allowed thirty
minutes at Il stretch hut jus. how he
can get beyond "six.hll" in that time
does not appear. According to the
rules governing similar contests, the
bout should have closed ON the fiji
teo.lth round Yesterday, but no matter
how 1t terminates. nobody expects, for
IA moment, that the subjects at var
lance will be any nearer settled than
when they began, religious leanings
being SO marked and there are so many
way Of supporting most any belief.
The story told by the late Robert
RawSon, well known to most our peo-
pie, preacher at times of different
cre"dS, finally "evoluting," as he
called 1t, into liberal ways that amount
cd almost to unbeiief, illustrates the
way in which difficult points are some
times met. Mr.. Rawson, while in the
orthodox fold, generally at the close OF
his sermons invited his audience to
ask questions, not only upon the sub
ject OF discourse, but any point in the
Revealed Word that WAS not clear to
the interrogation. One day, one of the
oldest pillars of the church, arose at
this invitation, and propounded a
query for which be was wholly unpre.
pared, being Of an occult nature out
side the usual range of the clerical
battery. Mr.. r. says that the ever.
ready device of singing hymn was
interposed for delay, while he vainly
sought some form of reply. But i,
came not. At the close OF the hymn 9
prayer followed, and still he was crop
ing in darkness. Finally bright idea
flashed upon him, and he turned to
the brother, saying: 81 am glad you
have asked that question. 1t is one
OF unusual Importance, and l dread tG
enter upon an explanation in the lin
tied time that remains for this meet
ing. l will answer it at our mex,
meeting, one week from to-day. Tht
congregation is dismissed"
This device afforded ample time fol
constipation, but the more tho rev
erend gentleman pondered upon thu
point the more inexplicable it became
and up to the time he entered hf
pulpit, the succeeding Sunday, he hat
not made up any definite plan of &C
ton. While the congregation wa
singing the FIRST hymn, he declared
driven to desperation, he formulated
plan of escape from tho dilemma
whereupon he carefully and deliber
ately read the passage Of Scripture OF
which the question was based. Thel
he said, in substance: IL am no
surprised that our brother should hav
his doubts on the meaning that shoul
be placed on this language OF Hol
Writ. 1t puzzed me until delved 70
many months-yes, years-into III
subject, when I finally determined T.
seek the original tongue from whic
our Scriptures are translated. VIVA
was my surprise and delight to fin
that mistake had been made in nc
using q proper equivalent in our owl
language for the original text. 1 the
uttered . few words, at haphazart
which sounded like Greek, Latin o
Sanskrit. and defined a meaning upo
which l could predicate an acceptabl
precept for moral guidance, closing m
sermon in exhortation to live up (
} the injunction it gave.
"At the close of the days exercise
the aged pilgrim tottered across tn
room, grasped my hand and exclaimed
Bless you. brother; you have re
moved the only stumbling block tha
has obstructed my pathway for man
, years. My blessing be with you, an
may your life be long continued
shed the blessed light of truth upo
the narrow path of righteousness.'"
"Now," asked the narrator. "did
not do rightf Had I not as niue
right to reconcile ancient writings I
common sense as the translators
Could I afford to acknowledge defes
!, while fighting the good battle for
dying world. that may be held i
!, righteousness by faith whose cast
the lifeline may be occasionally 20 b.
: yond reasonf"
Who cap say nayS