Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-02-18
CAN AGNOSTICS
become ELKS

Beng! inc answer was, l am an Ag
nostic. The Exalted Ruler immcdi
= atcly ordered the proposition returnc,
to the proposer, together with tn,
proposition fee.
Subsequently a number of tn,
members of that lodge in consultation
became involved in a controversy rel
alive to the equity of the action of tho
Exalted Ruler, and the editor of the
ElksAntler was asked by letter to an
sWer the question which is the can
ton of this article.
/ The action of the Exalted Ruler il
, the case before referred to is not in
VOWED in the discussion of the cues
! ton. 1t is purely a local matter and
should not be reviewed in the columns
Of fraternal paper, but the main
proposition involved is one of national
! interest and can therefore be treated
III manner not limited by local con-
sideratons
The question is purely an academic
| one, resolving itself into an ANALYSIS
OF the definition of the term agnostic
The common acceptation of those who
have never INDUCED in such an analy-
sis, is that the terms agnostic and ath.
eist are Synonymous. This is not bas-
ed upon actual facts. An atheist is
one who denies the existence of n su-
preme being, asserting an argumenta-
tive opinion at variance with the very
idea of aSnosticism In order that az
Mysticism may be understood, the fol-
lowing from eminent writer's given in
the Standard Dictionary may be of
value as illustrating the subject:
Most of my colleagues Tin the
Metaphysical Society were 'ists,-and
|, the man without Il rag of LABEL
took thought and invented what | con
ceived to be the appropriate title of
Agnostic'. 1t came into my head as
suggestively antithetic to the "gnos-
tic of church history, who protested
to know so much about the very things
of which was ignorant. -Huxley's
Essays Upon Some Controyerted CUES
tons.
The agnostics call God unknow-
able, but that He is unfathomable is
all they prove and often all that they
mean. Joseph Cook, Biology.
Agnosticism contemplated on its
side is progressed exposi. +,
ton of the limits of human knowledge
and thought, maintaining the impossi
bility of knowledge of the Infinite, in
opposition to the theory of restrict
cd but true knowledge Of the First
Cause as infinite and absolute. S. I'll. (
Relig. Enckca
ol-The theory that God is I'M
known or unknoWable.n
This theory has a positive form. !
maintaining either 'the, finite mind can |
not know the Infinite and Absolute Be |
ng, or that God, being absolute, can |
lot come into relation to finite beings.
md therefore cannot reveal himself to
nan; and negative form, maintain
ng that man does not know God, and
Tod has hbt revealed himself To man
this last opposed to dogmatic the
sm
AS more satisfactory than these
lble eNpositions and defenses we see
Agnostics working its proper effects
nd forming character McCosh, Con-
licts OF the Age.
IN loose usage, the view that all
beings or eXls fences, all
plfltual Feilties, etc, are unknoWablc, /
T 1t least incomplehensible.
The genuine and sincere agnosti-
ism Is the meeknCss of those content
Win the unfoldings of real life. III.
1. Alden, God in His World intro.
1T Will be seen from these eXpana-
ions that there is not a denial in ag-
osticism of the existence of a SUI
RENE Being, though probably the cam
ldate who signed the application for
membership III answer to the question,
sea the term, / am an agnostic, as
he equivalent of i am an atheist and
ould therefore be properly rejected
Lad he been really an agnostic, he
ould have answered atfrmatively that l
e did believe in the existence of a
upreme Being, though he doubted the | |
of revelation, without
himself for membership I
| this Order
THE Order of Elks has for all time
cid that the peculiar beliefs of indi-
duals applying for membership are
OF susceptible of criticism, provided
lelr applications affirm their belief in
le existence of supreme being, and
an agnostic, that is one who states
lat he believes in the existence of
ipreme being, though not knowing
hat that supp eme being is, can un-
join this Order. However,
&c distinction between agnosticism
I'd atheism must be clear to the
inds of the applicants AS well as to
ose who are passing judgment upon =
e proposition for admission to the -
aternity.
In the opinion of the writer,
ans bcliCt other than bis acceptance
a supreme being is matter for his
diyidnal conscience and does not con- [
IN Lis neighbor in the slightest de
&c. 1t is the liberal spirit of Ellidom
hich endears it to its members and
~ attempt to narrow its broad Amer
an value is almost a blow at the Vi -
existence of the Order itself.