Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-03-09

chronized points. though thousands of
miles apart? Yet these everyday illus
trations, with which all are more or less
familiar, point to a similar condition In the
spiritual world. The spirit of man reaches
out longingly toward God. and not In vain.
The prayer OF man saScends from a heart
and lips attuned by faith.
MIR. Edison does not hesitate to put for
ward views which conflict with the COM
bined wisdom OF the greatest minds of the
centuries. lie says there are two worlds.
the world of matter and the world If mind.
.And in almost the same breath he lays
down the principles taught by the great
teachers, Christ, Confucius, and Buddha.
Has me ever read an epitome of any OF
their principles? We take the liberty OF
doubling it, otherwise he would have seen
that the first and last clearly pointed to
a future state while the teachings of Con-
fucius are largely confined to the teach
ing of moralit.es. He believes IN a great
moral law, yet from his viewpoint, the
effects of this do not transcend the brief
| space of mans life on earth. Ii this We're
true, it would be Il law which would de-
feat his own intention. Religions,
he says, are nothing but formali-
ties and side issues. How does he
h%arlnonize this conclusion with the
teachings of Christ and Buddha, who
teach a future state? He says. further.
that Christ was Il wonderful teacher who
saw far and straight into the heart OF the
great laws which govern human life. He
not only did this: but He gave to His
followers the promise OF eternal life.
which Mr.. Edison seems to have over
looked. He things the church should take
the Irrational view OF things laying aside
the spiritual. 1t is true that the church,
es are now hampered by a multitude of
side issues, but the church that Is truly
spiritual is on a totally different plane.
which Mr.. Edison does not understand
and consequently cannot discuss. He even
doubts whether Jesus laid claim to actual
divinity, whereas we have His own words.
attested from many sources, that He was
the Divine Son of God. He says, II am
not in the least convinced that He laid
claim to any power to perform miracles"
yet there are many miracles which He in
disputably did perform. and concerning
which He said to His immediate disciples,
that after His ascension, greater works
than these will We do" He says that our
cleeds and scriptures nave been infiltrated
with fables. misrepresentation and mis-
statements. This is the same claim that
was made by Mr.. 1ngersoll and other in
fidels, but which UP to the present time.
has been repudiated not only by the
church, but by the whole body of believers
throughout the world. He says, II have
tried to get as far as possible to the bot
tom of all the subjects 1 nave studied. L,
nave not reached my conclusions through
the study OF contradictions. 1 have
reached them through the study of ard
facts" If he will recite a single fact
which has enabled him to reach his con-
| illusions, he should state that fact. Dyna-
mos, ammeters and volunteers are not the
appliances with which to measure spirit
ual heights and depths. He calls for proof
of theologists. If he called for proofs of
the saving power of Gods grace in the
human heart and it's transforming infu-
ence in mans life. he could nave them by
the thousands. He has undertaken to
prove a negative, which is the most diff
ficult thing In logic. and in this case SIM
ply impossible. He has set up his own
mechanical and scientific brain. wholly
unacquainted, as it is. with the true ma.
ture Of religion, in opposition to the re-
l.gious cOncensus of the ages. 1t Is a
singular spectacle.
Mr.. Edison predicts great discoveries in
the near acknowledgements which will up
set the present trend of human thought.
This has a familiar sound. Ingersoll made
a similar prediction, but his influence has
already been forgotten and his prediction
came to naught. He asserted that the
country was agnostic to the core. The re-
pud'ation came quickly. when practically
every prominent person in the country,
president, supreme court, congress-, judges,
governors and educators, all came ont
over their own signatures. confirming
thelr belief In God, in the Divinity of
Jesus Christ and the saving power of His
Ieachlngs to mankind. Further, both in
!he natural and spiritual world, there
IS no intense effort or longing that is
wholly unsatisfied. Sir Oliver Lodge. one
OF the ablest scientists of our day. has
SAID That the desire for continued existence,
Is inherent in man and that this desire is
u logical proof that 1t was not planted
there In vain. He has added that one who
mas not this desire, and whose spiritual
nature is apparently incapable OF being
q~ulckened, is abnormal. Even the ancient,
Stoics. who took life and death as matters
OF course, trusted their future IA unknown
hands.
Mr.. Edison is a good citizen and a moral
ana model American: but in discussing
spiritual things. he has erred. less thro,,.S
intention than from lack Of experience. II,
ne would give the same intense study to
the spiritual side of life. for a few months.
which ne has devoted all these years to
material science. he would doubtless think
and write differently. He would then see
now the wondrous power Of the holy spirit,
transforms and g~lorifies human lives and.
how daily communion with the great in,
Visible One, who made and rules the world;
Is q very real thing to all who seek tot
know Him and the most precious OF all,
reaiities 20 those who are striving to serve
Him and do His will.
succinctly stated. Mr.. Edison's creed is.
that OF the pure mater1aiist. who recoo.,
nizes a supreme being whom he does not
know and can not understand. Man Is a.
machine governed by unalterable laws. the
worship of an individual deity is all,
| wrong: there Is no soul in the human In