The Alaska citizen., 1915-09-06
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DIFFICULTIES OF DOUBT.

And some believed the things which were spoken and some believed not. Acts 2S:24.
 one day a gentleman came to Dr. Torrey. the evangelist. and said: Il am 66 years of age. l have no one 10 whom to leave my money. and l cannot take 1t with me. I am alone in tho world would give every penny that I possess if l could be- lieve GF you do This is not an uncommon attitude among a large number of men who feel alone in the world with a goodly proportion of this worlds goods and with i much doubt for the soul. Faith seems to be difficult for such. They shrink from il for it seems to i'm pose impossible tasks There is an other side to be considered, how ever. Doubt is by no means easy. l. imposes tasks which burden both heart and mind with grievous em, harrassments.
 The common method by those who possess faith. in dealing with it, is to endeayOr to show it's reasonable ness, and the ease with which it can be borne. But consider a side which may be somewhat new. the "Diffculties of Doubt" There are great hardships and grave, encoun- tered by him who parts company with faith Direct your attention to the things which one in consisten- cy. must believe in order not to believe.
 A cursory examination of this very red universe reveals wonderful harmony and adaptation to definite ends Things are well suited to distinct and ascertanable purposes. Nature does not play us tricks, but rather order and regularity await us on every side Law rules risidly in all realms.
 Christianity has no problems in solving the universe. Her faith is in an Intelligence that has given a first cause for the situation. On the other hand, the man who re jects Christian theism finds himself in no end of trouble He does not know where to look for an eXplana- ton of intellieent order, If he falls back on the eternal existence of force and matter he is still in trou- ble for this does not explain mathe matics Regularity does not come by chance but by reason. A great scientist spoke with reason when he said; The undevout astronomer is mad
 Then follows a line of historical difficulties Twenty centuries ago, away off in Palestine, far removed from the centers of the intellectua! life of that period a movement started which has grown until it now covers the globe In the pro cess of time it witnesses the over throw of all the faiths amid the classic nations. It thriyes along the Tiber and passes over the Roman Empire. The temples to Diana and love give place to it's teachings Crossing all seas it made it's way into all countries under all skies Today it stands in mighty propor- tions of power and influence world wide The facts of Christian history are unassailable.
 In the progress of this historic movement certain other great insti- tutions have been established. One of these is the Lords day Another is the organized church. Another still is the sacrament of the Lords Supper. After a long history these institutions are firmly rooted in the minds and hearts of millions What is the explanation of these things? What adequate reason is given for their existence?
 What success would men today have in denying the existence and llIlutICt Ol NitOI St " dollHo toA tuN the beginning of the Constitution of the United States? If the record in the New Testament is trustwor- thy, there is in it sufficient eXplana- tion for the Lords Day as it re- cords the day of Christs resurrec- tion The church may have taken on definite form and teaching as the embodiment of the doctrine of it's founder. The sacrament, known as the Holy Communion has ample raasCn for it's existence, if Calvary is fact and the tomb of Joseph is empty. Let a wholesale denial be launched against the Holy Scrip lures and how is the Lords Day, the church and the Lords supper to be accounted for? As well say that the Constitution was built on deception and fraud. As we'll say that George Washington was a myth and superstition. If such things are fraud they have wonderful virility and worth.
 Then there arises the pedagogical difficulties Where is the man to-
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