The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-02-23
THOUSANDS HEARD DEBar.
WOMEN sHRIEKED AS THEoRIsT
DENTED JESUS EVER LIVED.
COMPLICATED Heaven to Send Retribu-
ton on Heretic's Head. Stirred
Nv Attack on Christianity.

Nv ALJtCh OA
BFRLIN.-Berlin has been the
n ,oone of one of the most remarkable
theological discussions since the days
~ Martin Luther. 1t was provoked
nv prof Arthur Drews of Karlsruhe,
who caused a public sensation by
Mastering the billboards of the town
with posters propounding the start
ling question, Did Jesus Christ Ever
4 Liye?'
He addressed a huge concourse of
3 rnonIe at the Geological Garden in
defense of his theory, and the follow
\ inc night he appeared in the same
forum in order, Luther-like, to de-
\ fond his theses against all corners.
A score of the most eminent theo-
n logians of the country responded to
y tbn invitation. The debate was car
& rpd on with ferver and passion be-
q forp an audience Of over 1000 per-
a sons. who were held spellbound until
o'clock the next morning. The last
hour was employed by Drews in a
4 final retort to his critics.
His Onslaughts Ruthless.
His onslaughts on the most cher
ished tenets of christian doctrine
! were so graphic and ruthless that
MANY women in the audience were
4 overcome with emotion, and had to
be carried from the hall shrieking
+ historically. An intensely dramatic
n scene was presented by one woman,
4 who stood on a chair and held her
n arms outstretched in the attitude of
supDlication to heaven to send down
Y retribution upon the head of the
Karlsruhe hereto.
N Prof Drews appeared in Berlin I'M
y der the auspices of the League of
4 Monists, whose position, as their
name denotes, is akin to those who
B express their creed in the formula,
There is no God but God; for hear,
10 Israel, the Lord thy God is the one
\ God"
Drews laid down his theories after
1.-THE classic manner of old-time uni
yersity disputations. The gist of his
position was in a large measure like
1.-THE mythical theory of David Strauss,
(which created a sensation SO years
&ago. Strauss held that there was
STerly a historic Christ, but that a
AFast mass of miracle and supernat-
Mural wonders had been woven like
#swreaths around the head of Jesus.
HDrews goes further. He alleges that
sthere never was such a person as
Jesus of Nazareth.
Tremendous Interest Aroused.
"a Baron Won Soden, who is profess
.Sor Of theology at the University of
sBerIin and pastor Of the Jerusalem
srhurch in Berlin, led the theological
onslaught on Drews. He maintained
that even if it were firmly proved
sfhat no such person as Jesus ever
existed that would hardly injure the
heart and core of the christian re-
Spigion Prof Soden declared that it
was beyond doubt that neither heath
en, Jewish nor christian writers of
the apostolic age had ever once ques-
Fioned the reality of the historic per-
Son of Jesus. 1t was impossible that
Fheir message could have been re-
CONSTRUCTED around a myth of re-
Eeeming and dying Son of God.
Other speakers attempted to ridi-
Guile Drews out of court by quoting
semi-satirical works which had been
written bearing such titles as His
toric Doubts About Napoleon" about
Martin Luther and about Frederick
Fhe Great.
The discussions have aroused a ire
fnendous interest drought Germany.