Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1916-03-16
His Belief As
90 Di0ine
cts


In which was embodied the thought
that cases of disease, railroad wrecks,
fires and other occu-ances of similar
nature were not acts of God but were
within the province of man, for the
race is able to reduce disease, wrecks
and fires by proper forethought ami
care. Safety first is saving many
lives. Peter Richards of Lodi takes
exception to the doctrine of the Kansas
editor and in an article to this paper
says:
To the Editor: Please allow me to call
attention to a recent editorial which
appeared in the The Baraboo News,
and to take exception to it on many
counts. In the first place | will say
that the list of human troubles men
toned therein are each and every one
of them "acts of God, and have been
used 10y Him from time immemolial as
punishment for sins committed by re-
bellious people. How many times do
we read of the threat on Gods part to
send the sword, the famine and the pes
thence upon his people. the children of
Israel, and not only them but upon all
who disobey Him, unless they turn from
wickedness andy do the things that are
lawful and right to the saving of their
souls. Not all the science that has yet
been dug by all the doctors of the earth
can prevent their being used for all
time to come for the very same lur-
pose. God always has used them or
this purpose and no doubt always will
30. | call them stlll ''the acts of God"
Ishave not seen the story of the
young man you refer to whose death
could have been prevented and do
not believe it could have prevented if
God saw fit to call him at any particu-
lar time He can call by one means or
another at any time he sees fit and no
man can prevent it. There is an old say
ing to the effect that"Man proposes but
God disposes'', and there is nothing
truer in all our human calculations.
Who knows just what is entirely
unnecessary better than God himself?
Can we know that the death of any
one at any time ''is certainly unneces-
sary''? Can we see the future of ones
life?lDoswe know certainly that a man
or woman whom we believe to be of tt e
highest character today will remain o
for any length of time or for all time?
time? We do certainly know that men
and women are falling into sinful ways
every day, and that repentance
and turning to God for help
are necessary every day. Who
can say such thing in the presence of
Almighty God The death of this or
that person was entirely unnecessary
an act on your part unjust and un fair.
| do not see any reason for it," but he
who sees the future can say, II do, and
for the good of the person himself /
called him away. Had he lived q short
time longer he would have fallen into
sin and lost his soul thereby. Is it not
better that he should go now than wait
for alater time and 60 down to hell?
Who is the man that can preach any
such doctrines as that in the first part
of the above excerpt? Would he call
God in question? In effect that is just
what he doessdo. And does he set him
self or does anyone set him up guide
to the heavenly city where he was
hoping to go after Death? God saw and
knew just how it was with that young
man and in mercy called him to him
self before he had fallen into deadly
ain and thus saved soul that might
otherwise have been lost.
For my part prefer to remain under
the sway of Almighty God than trust to
the wisdom of man for my personal
safety, for know that he knows just
what is right and if try to do what 7
know to be right it will be we'll with
me or any one else mo does the same.
Peter Richards.
Lodi, Wisconsin.
Editors note-We have given space
to the above but do not care to continue
the discussion in this paper. In case any
one desires to answer Mr.. Richards he
may be reached at Lodi There are 80
many beliefs it would be impossible to
give space to the communication