Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-22
CRITICISM Of
BIBLE IS UNJUST
FRED S. GOODMAN in SUNDAY AID.
DRESS DECLARED BOOK HAS
W'THsTooD ASSAULTS.
TEACHES HIGHER IDEALS
international Secretary Of Bible study
In Y. M. c. A. Points Out
Great Things Taught In
Gods Work. 80.
TEACHES HIGHER IDEALS

Inc bible is no amateur soldier. IT
IL victor Of many conflicts asserted
FRED 5. Goodman of New York City,
international secretary Of the bible
study department of the Y. M. C. A.,
In his address to men of Ottumwa at
the First Methodist church Sunday
afternoon. The Bible Under Fire.
was the subject OF Mr.. Goodman's adj
dress. The topic was a strong one
and the large audience listened closely
to the words Of the speaker who is
one of the best posted men on the
bible in the country today
In opening his address, Mr.. Good.
man told of the story when Wash
ington went to Cambridge to take
charge of the revolutionary army.
The first question he asked of the
soldiers of the early skirmishes was
Did the militia stand fire. When
answered IN the affirmative, washing
ton said Then our. liberties are safe"
Inc story served as an introduction
TO the talk, Mr.. Goodman declaring that
like Washington's soldiers the bible
had stood many assaults at the hands
OF skeptfcs. 1t has borne misuse by
Its protested followers declared the
speaker. 1T has come through an.
ordeal of Misrepresentation, through
many people who were thought to be
its defenders.
Bible 10 Widely Read.
Mr.. Goodman said in part: zone is
reminded of the Latin motto OF the
French Evangelical church which Is a
picture of an anvil surrounded by.
battered hammers the Latin motto
translated reads; The hammers are
battered but the anvil remains: why
has the bible such power to persist
against great odds?
First, 1t has more than human
vitality It is truly a human book but
1t Is the more than human which
counts. 1t was never SO widely used
as today and never so many copies
sold as last year. In 1908, $4,000 900
bibles or parts were published in 535
different languages. Secondly, it
courageously faces facts Of human life
as no other book does. 1t alone
adequately accounts for human condi-
tons and presents hope that when
sins are put away, tears will cease.
Third. 1t is a faithful record OF human
experience in the wandering of the
races from God and the search of
God for the lost race. Fourth. the
bible suggests way to meet human
natures, deepest wants, wants never
met by any other book. Not, only the
bible but experience shows that one
shall not live by bread alone. There
is very hearty desire for freedom, poll
teal freedom, intellectual freedom,
freedom Of conscience, and man may
have all Of these and then be free
from the slavery of sin.
Aspiration for Better Life.
Another elemental want is the as
piration for better life. The bible sets
forth the highest ideal of character.
The world has failed to realize the
highest ideal. Men are slowest to
recognize want for right relation with
God himself. In no other book the
world has ever seen. does man get the
picture of God as this book furnishes.
Here he comes as loving father
looking for the welfare of his children.
Sooner or later the human heart be-
comes homesick for the fathers house
and this book gives us life in the
homestead and how to get there
In closing the speaker told of the