T H E TORCH OF REASON, SILV E R T O N , OREGON, T H U R SD A Y , JU N E 3, 1897
allv » avoided or slurred over bv fh«-
clergy. S o from doubting the “ tall
The
Future
of
Orthodox
of m an ” in the garden of Eden, it
Theology.
is but a step to doubt the in­
carnate atonem ent, tor if there
outcome of scientific knowledge.
were no fall of man then there is no
Says the Tribune: “ The startling
need of an incarnate atonem ent.
discoveries
science during the
For these and various other
last fifty years have filtrated down
gradually from the investigators reasons millions of trades union
into the colleges and high school.», wage-earners in this country and
where they are taught to or read Europe are not taking a lively in ­
They
by the rising gem-ration of young terest in church m atters.
men, and by them spread and dis­ leave the church to their wives.
sem inated among m ultitudes of This is peculiarly true in large
young men, while the same dis­ cities, but in the rural com m unities
coveries have reached the great the old orthodox doctrine is be­
mass of organized wageworkers lieved, except here ami there, wh»*ie
through the discussions in their some young, educated m an of in­
lodges and in tlje colum ns of the fluence has prom ulgated the Darwin
papers and m agazines which they evolution doctrine and the re m a rk ­
patronize.
They are informed able discoveries of science and ap ­
th at the Jewish belief as to the age plied the m ethods of tic- n ig h ercrit-
of the earth is whollv incorrect, icism to explaining the sacred
and th a t instead of being about scriptures.
5,800 years old, it has been untold
In view of these facts, what are
thousands of years, if not eons, as men like the Rev. Dixon to do? It
the testim ony of the rocks shows, is impossible to stifle these new
and th a t m an has lived on the ideas of science. The church can ­
earth m any thousands of years be­ not and the State will not prevent
fore Adam . They have been affect­ their prom ulgation in books and
ed by the D arw inian ideas of evo­ m agazines. It is no longer pos­
lution and developm ent.
They sible to re a ra generation in religious
have come to believe th a t m an was ignorance
of the teachings of
not created “ a little lower th an th e ' science.
The revelations of as­
angels,’’ and has been g radually tronom y, chem istry, geology, biol­
degenerating, but th at he began at ogy, medicine, surgery, and other
the bottom of the scale and has sciences have opened up avenues of
g rad u ally risen to his present thought which cannot be closed
m ental development.
They have or ignored. The churches m ust
found that, some races have risen adapt their creeds to the tru th s
more rapidly than others; that disclosed by science, which will give
some, like the Chinese, and Afri­ them an opportunity to preach
cans, and Indian tribes, have ad ­ more about C hrist’s beautiful in ­
DEALER IN
vanced to a certain point and re­ culcations of honesty, right, m oral­
m ained statio n ary , while others, ity, and charity, and our du ty to Chem icals, Drugs, M edicine, Toilet A rticles,
like the Europeans, have made our fellow-men, and to urge men to
and Soaps, S tationary, P aten t Medicines,
enorm ous advancem ent.
do unto others as they wish to have
I CONTINUED FROM FIFTH PAGE )
J . K. H a m m o n d
D R U G G IS T
Perfum ery
P aints
and Oils, Combs and Brushes, Etc.
Because of the widespread pro­
m ulgation of those scientific views
the organized wageworkers have
also lost the faith they once had in
the so-called Mosaic account of the
origin of man and his fall on ac­
count of Adam and Eve’s eating of
the tree of good and evil.
The!
higher criticism has told them th a t
Moses did not write this account,
but th a t it is an an cien t C haldean
belief, accepted by the Israelites
when they came in contact with
the Chaldeans.
“ Being therefore in doubt about
th e origin of the hum an race, they
have come to disbelieve in the ex­
istence of a hel 1 prepared for the
punishm ent and to rtu re of the h u ­
m an race because of Adam and
Eve, whose existence is in dispute,
com m itting a sin 5,800 years ago,
when there were savage races on
the earth perhaps 100,000 years
ago. They are all the more d isin ­
clined to believe in this alleged
place of eternal to rtu re for faults
th at they are not responsible for
because they don’t hear it but rare­
ly preached in the city pulpits any
more. They find th at this old
hades doctrine is now rjuite g<*ner-
done to themselves, w ithout fear of
eternal hellfire. Science has left
plenty of room for the churches to
do a m ighty work for h um anity and
leading reformed lives.”
B.
SILVERTON, OREGON.
C u s ite r & D a v e n p o r t
From Good A u th o rity.
- dealers in -
I’he following from the exchange
editor of one of the most im p o rtan t
national newspapers, speaks for
itself: The T orch of R eason is a
good thing. It is am ong the first
I read of the 1200 exchanges th a t
come to my desk every week.” This
with the rem ainder of a very nice
letter shows th at our work is not
entirely unappreciated.
The universe is full of music,
only our ears are often out of tune.
A p ercha
Corner Hain and W ater Streets
SILVERTON, ORE.
JO H N H IC K S
If I m ight control the literatu re
of the household, I would g u a ra n ­
tee the well-being of church and
slate.— F rancis Bacon.
“ I he man who always agrees
with you may he a pleasant com­
panion, but if you want sound ad- < ; U|)
S,
vice, you must go to some one
else.”
SAMUEL AMES
Hicks & Ames.
DEALERS IN
H
nware, Stoves,
A G R IC U L T U R A L
IM P L E M E N T S
Fishing Tackle, Cutlery, Sporting Goods, Etc., Etc.
SILVERTON, OREGON.