Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-11-30
What Are We Coming To?

With such eminent devines as DR..
Algernon S. Crspsey, rector of st. An
drews church, of Rochester, N. Y, re-
canting the doctrinal tenets of his own
and all other religious beliefs, and
others less eminent following in his
wake, i: really seems as if the very
bulwarks of Christianity had been
carried, at points at least, by a trusted,
and hitherto honored vicegerent of the
Most High, and the explanation he
makes, that the Scriptures declare one
thing and mean another, like Mrs
Parsons suggestion of trial marriage,
would, we think, open q wider door to
baser motive than any possibility OF
ennoblement of human life. The worst
result OF such publicity is that the
seeds of distrust are scattered broad
cast, by the press, generally without q
word of comment, which carries with
it implied assent or endorsement.
After all our philosophy, after the
rapid progress OF scientific discovery
we must admit that life is a mystery.
How little we understand, how utterly
the mind fails to grasp the least con.
ception of the wonderful process by
which Nature reveals in results her oc.
cult laws. Take, for instance, that won.
derful power by which man projects
thought thousands of miles, without
even wire for a conductor; that cyl.
Under of wax or disc of metal that is
able to gather. record and reproduce
all vibrations OF sound that re. embody
articulate speech or combine the exac /
notes OF blended harmony Of a full
band-how can it be explaineds The
mind of man staggers at the attempt
to comprehend the hidden forces that
are placed 80 fully under his control and
respond so wonderfully to his com.
mand.
Presumptuous man Indignantly de-
MES the bare imputation of supersti.
ton, yet how many eminent people &C.
knowledge, by act or precept, that there
is an impending force that is at times
overpowering, and probably unknown
to themselves, constantly at work
and when glimpse OF it is manifest
is characterized as "second nature!'
II is said that Thurlow Weed ridi.
culed superstition, while covetly carry.
ing a buckeye in his pocket, either to
keep off witches or cure rheumatism
Whether DR.. Crapsey is right or wrong
in judging the Infinite by finite powers
OF observation, he ehould be able real
ize, il bis teachings are not wholly at
fault, that nothing is impossible with
Omnipotence who created all things
and placed them in such rhythmic or.
der, still at times suapends a power
that keeps planets in their orbits, or
causes Mother Earth to swallow up
land and sea.
Is it wise to insist upon looking be-
yond the closed door, IL it the part
Of puny human effort to attempt turn.
ing to q closed chapter in the Book OF
Mysteries while We are unable to com.
prehend many that have coniounded
the human intellect by the revelations
of q single page! Is il not we'll to
judge of the effect OF the Christ.life on
civilization. to accept il for the good
it does and for the influence it is
known to have in betterment OF human
incentive, than to remove the anchor
of hope that has held so many souls
in haven OF Yestf
Let US continually bear in mind
that
God moves in mysterious way
His wonders to perform"