The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-21

lever i'm the possibility OF miracles
can make ont a strong case. me
more our knowledge or In other
words. our science increases. the less
room is there left for the miraculous
and here. therefore. We find the true
source of the alleged conflict be-
tween science and religion.
Now man as being Is an exception
TO everything in nature. In his physl'
cal frame he is as much mechanism
as are the other animals. Bat as
being man is essentially supernatural,
with nothing equal TO. or correspond
inG to- him in this world of nature.
Mans ability to create mechanisms
is unlimited and illimitable. whether
IL be watch a monograph. or any
thing else which he cares TO make.
lie may be seen erecting poles for "A
telegraph. or for the more marvellous
telephone line. or. lastly. for talking
across oceans by means OF the mys-
terious ether which pervades all space.
The truth is that man Is at little
included within the limitations OF ami
nal life as an archangel would be II
he visited this earth. Man Is already
equipped with an archangels powers,
as he would prove IL only ne had the
time TO do so, instead OF merely the
few and ever hampered years OF his
earthly existence.
In man religion holds the very first
place and always has done SO. 1t
bears all the signs not only OF an in
nate instinct but OF the strongest or
instincts. Religion comes To the front
H.. III A
sane persons who would rather die
than deny their religion.
Universally accompanying religion
is the significant human characteristic
OF prayer. A conscious personal ap-
peal is the soul of prayer, and the
more devout a man feels. the stronger
is his intent to put up his prayer to a
supernatural personality. Outwardly
he may seem TO be addressing an
immage of wood or OF stonef but back
of everything inanimate he is speak
iny TO an invisible, but always per-
sonal, being.
We are thus brought finally TO the
solution OF our logical mind OF John
Stuart Mill led him to say that II once
we admit that God Is personal God,
miracles become as possible as any
thing else can be-
This being so, we may ask, WAS
there ever a time in history when
miracles became necessary for the
accomplishment OF the divine purpose
as regards man in this world?'
One has TO live, as | did In my
youth, in the land where Jesus began
to preach his gospel, to appreciate
fully - miracles had first to attest
his mission His people, from the low
est 10 the highest, were possessed
with the most natural anticipations
Of what ind of Christ or eMssiah
King he must be who was coming, ac-
cording to their sacred scriptures.
But when he came at last as car
penter OF Nazareth, belonging. there
fore. 70 the poorest trade In the coun-
try. IL was simply contrary to human
nature that many others besides his
fishermen should be attracted TO such
4 Messiah King Somethin~ a great
deal more than what was first visible
about him was needed to cause men
TO consider him at all Greater super
natur,, powers and works than those
OF any other preceding prophet Jesus
did not fail to manifest, and to these
also he appealed as confrmatory OF
his claims
Miracles are impossible" cries
Renan. ", would agree with him in
this statement II he had added the
word, now God would not be the
Judge OF all the earth IL He permitted
oracle In our times.
A real miracle occurring In our pres
ent world would have an entirely diff
lerent meaning and effect from what
1t would have had in New Testament
times. Then II might have been
ascribed TO the most diverse origins
But II a man who had been dead and
buried long enough for decomposition
n begin should at the word Of com
mand rise and come forth from his
tomb now, he would constitute scien-
tifc demonstration of the existence OF
another world That would be the
end OF it, A truly scientific demon
stration Is ipso facto obligatory on all
TO accept. There would be an end OF
free will Men could not be praised
or blamed for admitting what they
could not help admitting But to al
eternity no one can claim that God
either coi.pels or hires human be
ing TO be good