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About Torch of reason. (Silverton, Oregon) 1896-1903 | View Entire Issue (July 20, 1899)
TH E TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, JULY 20, 1899. man’s highest standard and best' ---------- guide. The following is from a lecture I believe that the well-being of by B. F. I nderwood, one of a man, and not the glorv of God, course given under the auspices of should be the object of our efforts, the Montreal Liberal Club: I believe that intellectual, moral The reverend gentleman in criti- and physical culture, not piety, is cising mv lecturesin this city, says: the prime condition of m an’s well “Agnosticism declares that w’e do being. not know and cannot know. Ag- I believe that the means of thia nostics who doubt everything can condition consists in observation,1 have no creed, noconvictions. Why experience and reflection, and not does Mr. L nderwood assume to in a pretended book revelation or in teach when he admits that he does special inspiration. noxt know anything; when he has I believe that the untrammeled no belief, but only doubts and tells exercise of human reason is not what he does not believe.” only an inalienable right, but a duty. In reply to this criticism I have 1 hold that beliefs are neither to say that an Agnostic is one who moral nor immoral in themselves, does not profess to know what is but that right beliefs in time show’ the ultimate nature of being. We their good influence on character can study phenomena, physical and and conduct, and wrong beliefs re mental, for they belong to the cal sult injuriously; that, therefore, we culable order; what may lie be- have every influence to seek truth yond or under phenomena as the and avoid error without condemn- ultimate basis of all activity, we do ing those who have not the truth, not know. I believe doubt is the beginning One may call the ultimate “mat- of wisdom; that without doubt a ter,” another may call it “mind.” man never investigates; without in But these words are only symbols— vestigation he never learns any- one representing the external order thing, and will live and die in ig- Underwoods Belief. Ih e -x | Liberal MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ S j/ as revealed in consciousness, the norance; that doubt leads to in - AfZ other representing the subjective quiry, inquiry to knowledge, wis- order as experienced in feeling and dom, confidence, and happiness. *A* thought. ; J believe that we have a right to MZ These two classes of phenomena j expect unity in things only that may ay have a common unitary basis,' can be demonstrated; that in things .....................................................1 indeed I believe they have; but adm itting of doubt there should be what this ultimate of being is the free diversity, and in all things Agnostic does not profess to know ., charity. This position he holds in common I believe in that faith which is with the world’s greatest thinkers conviction based upon evidence. of past and of modern times. I believe that morality is the It does not follow’ that because science of human relations. one is unwilling to profess know I believe that the principle of ledge in regard to that which is in self-sacrifice admired in Je&us accessible, in regard to what no should be glorified in humanity, body knows anything about, th at ■ wherever men havedied for country one is without knowledge in in re re- o r ra c e , o r m a d e 8acritices for the gard to what is accessible, or is good of others. Xmr without beliefs respecting the un I believe that the world is worthy known but ascertainable, or even our best effort; that “one world at CA^ in regard to what is not ascertain- ---------- ¡a tim e” is all we can attend to; able or verifiable, but is conceive- that, if there be a continuance of t, and may or may not he true, life beyond the grave, the best way Knowledge means certitude; be- to fit ourselves for such a life is to nets differ in the degrees of pro- attend to the interests of this life. \ | / '•ability which they carry with I believe that the performance of them from great uncertainty to a the duties of life is better than any ’ point next to demonstration. theological preparation for death. * One may know but little and be- I believe that reliance on our- w a great deal. This is true of j selves and the inviolableness of law oiany of the majority of preachers, is better than reliance on prayer. n ignorance this world I I believe that evil is non-adjust- iave generally found about in pro- ment, and can be continually les- ortion to their assumption of sened. ledge respecting God and an- I believe that at birth none are . sinners, but that effects of e x p e ri-i^ F gnostics may, and do know as ences of ancestors are inherited by . T * as those who profess know- all, and exist at birth in the form W ‘‘•'-Ige which they do not profess. of constitutional tendencies or apt For the benefit of my theological itudes. 1 ’ and those whose mental and I believe that the good tendencies ,gIoue condition he represents, I can be strengthened and augment- dftom .a te .? n Part belief, not ed, and the had ones diminished a ically, hut as conclusions to by education. V 1Crh A .haVeb€en led by years of I believe th at the moral sense va ion and reflection: called conscience has been acquired ^Hieve the enlightened human the race, and that its decisions ■‘■on, and not any one book, is' ,_ 7,. , . I- - - - »- - — **• MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ MZ U/ U niversity T H E ONLY SCHOOL OF TH E KIND. F ree from S u p erstitio n o tF I C td V N O i l * S 6 C t£ iri< X il Pupils are Given E very O p p o rtu n ity to Learn W ith o u t B eing H am pered by S u p ersti tio n s and Dogmas. JK MZ ’ MZ MZ \l/ MZ \l/ MZ ^A> of (Concluded on 6th page.) L o c a tio n H e a lth f u l I S o c ie ty G ood. E x p e n s e s M o d e ra te A Splendid C orps of T eachers and Good FaciL ities for Teaching. . F or inform ation, address J. E. H O SM ER , Ph. D., B. S. D., P R E S ID E N T , SILVERTON.