The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1906-05-02
GOD AND THE EARTHQUAKE.

GOD AND lht EARlHQUAkt.
All this talk about GOD having any
thing to do with that earthquake, the
dcliverance of some and the annihila-
ton Of others, appeals to none but
strict sectarians Sectarians from
time immemorial have been and till
kingdom come will be extremely mar
row. Their very existence religiously
depends on their narrowness, and the
first law OF nature is self preservation.
The assumption OF a great eastern
minister that GOD sent this calamity
to bind closer the ties Of brotherhood
is as ridiculous as the assumption that
GOD interposed In behalf Of Mormon
elders. Neither science nor religion
can offer rational explanation as to
why such calamities come Just when
they do, why certain sections and peo-
pie suffer and Others escape, and
speculation as rule takes the trend
of the desire Of the person max ing the
explanation.
None KNOW the why nor the
wherefore Of this material existence,
and IL seems impossible that any NOR.
tai man Is able to interpret the la W
of that existence. We are here with
out our consent, In an environ
ment that was not our choosing and
over which we have but the slightest
"a f1l N igtn If
some three-scorc and ten years on a
globe the origin and final destination
of which we can have no certain
knowledge, and then we lay down
our lives-for what? No man has re-
turned TO tell--and II he did most
sectarians and most graceless atheists
would call him liar II his story did
not tally with what we in our arrogant
pride and dense ignorance have chos-
en- to believe.
The thinking mau knows that in
this life only good is worth the while,
and TO the good, the noble and the
true this world is ever beautiful. Sin
brings its recompense,' IL brings II
here, and only those who have SHINE d
and know the real difference between
good and bad can know how terrible
is that recompense. AS to the why
and wherefore of such cataStrophes as
that at San Francisco, as TO the fu-
ture, when In this life we shall be
known no more, the deponent saith no
further than that the power or force
that formed this world and its people
so mysteriously, which gives and takes
away as il chooses without our under
standing, is certain to dispose Of us
no less mysteriously aud in accord
with any plan that has been or may
yet be perfected.
The writer has no fear Of a future
hell for any man and does not ask q
heaven. He who opens his soul to the
glory there is for any life devoid OF
seltiShneSS has heaven here that ne
power can take from him, and just as
certainly does that other individual
whose soul is cramped with sin anC
NlOllS NlOIuk navy iIo ilNli' iliS il'u'
en- or he'll in either case may not al
ways be patent To the casual observer
but we believe either is there accord
ing to the merit.
The writer hopes never to disturb
the belief of any individual as to Tn,
Inability Of any religion or creed
Any religion that makes Of any MAJ
or woman the best man or woman
that person can be is certainly tn
true religion for him or her, How
ever, 10 him who has doubts, the as
surance may be offered that 1
attempt to believe that which doe
not and can not appeal to his reason
must be false for him. For instance
any attempt to make reasonable a
explanation involving Deity's han
in that San Francisco earthquake
folly which none need hesitate t
throw aside if 1t does not appeal I
them.