Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-01-12


most widely read and best educate
scientists and professional men of thi
! country.
Why does the preacher not do jus
tice to this class of people? True
they are skepttcs, but they are nc
terrified at the name even whe
sneeringly applied by a minister c
the gospel.
Knowing that to advance to tn
new, one must in the nature of thing
leave behind the old, thoy prefer t
change their minds and advanc
rather than to preserve a sanctifie
mental inertia. They have faith il
truth even when it upsets old dogmal
however venerable, and they know
too, that the only real skeptic is "h,
who fears lest truth be bad" An,
the fine irony OF the whole thing i
seen in this, that in this very TRAD
against infidels," he lauded to tn
skies and borrowed thunder from mel
who were called "infdels" by tn
preachers OF their time. Take Sil
Isaac Newton, as just one example
He must know that the ministers O
England and Europe fought tn,
theory OF the law of gravitation, al
most to man, on the grounds that i.
was contrary to the holy scriptures
and "atheistical." But now. forsooth
it is triumph of Christian civiliza
tion, to demonstrate its truth.
The one pleasing thing about th.
lecture was the oratory. Every man
delights in the work of artists and thi,
man was certainly . good speaker.
Nowhere was his skill better showr
than in bis peroration, when III
crowned his effort with an eulogy on
I" The Book" built up in opposition K
those whom he thought wished tC
destroy it. But even here he wa.
lighting q man OF straw, which hs
himself had set up. No person, un
less he be insane, wishes to destroy
ths Bible. The liberal believes the
Bible TO be . collection of books o.
immense value, and he would be frs,
to protest against its destruction. He
believes that it has good, but he as
serts that it has also within its page.
error and gives countenance to bad
customs which the world has out
grown. He perhaps may feel rather
strongly that the science it contain.
is the science of the ancient Jews
which they borrowed from nation.
roundabout, and that it is the heieh,
OF folly to try to twist modern
science to fit ancient guess work. He
calls spade = spade.
The preacher and his class asser,
tbat"!he Bible is all true and good and
be is not fool enough to try aud
reconcile the Bible to science" The
consequences to tho unbeliever must
be etefnal hell, and il, perchance
comes one whose reason will not al
low him to believe, he is advised tc
send his reason to hell 10 order tha,
bis soul may 60 to heaven.
Now, the Bible itself contains nc
text teaching its own infallibility, and
it is not the book but q theory about
the book that the liberal thinker pro
tests against. Infallibility and in
spiration are two different things, and
he does not believe that inspiration i,
limited to q few men, in single race
in one corner Of the earth, thousand.
of years ago, but that it has always
been and everywhere, aud that when
ever any man writes from the depth
OF his soul, or from his knowledge o.
nature, that which is beautiful ant
true, he is adding not alone 10 ths
Bible of the Jews but to the scriptures
OF mankind. He believes q larger ant
sweeter thing, not Q smaller. He hal
a larger charity and Q fuller happiness
since he can call all men brothers who
are not hypocrites and gladly accort
to them the liberty be asks for him
self without warning them of thei
danger Of hell.fire, or boycotting then
in business. And miserable dogmal
cannot prevent him feeling that ths
All Father will tenderly care for every
misguided child OF Earth, and some
time teach him better instead o.
damning him in eternal hell.
For him is left the happiness OF The
pursuit of truth unshackled from sup
erstitious fear and the joy OF generou
service to his fellow men, not to carr
his way to heaven but for the sake o
the doing, and be can but smile at th'
humor of the thing when . self.con
stituted teacher of morality, with con
sumate egotism, points the finge
and cries out: "Sinner," skeptic,
fool" But as dear old Uncle Ebel
would say, when some folks cal
you fool, it's pretty good sign yol
ain't."
What is more contemplate than h
be annoyed by . sneak thief, VIII
watches bis opportunity and appro
PIRATES books, periodicals.. magazines
exchanges aud pencilsi have NOR
respect for house burglar aud safe
cracker, than the fellow who viii
sneak in your "den" during your ab
sence and purloiu these articles. Som
of these fellows pose IS respectabl
people. They are too mean ant
stingy to patronize the news stand
They are down town the first thing i