THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, MARCH 29, 1900.
for him to afford, and in the pos- to our parents, or raise ourselves there must have been a “Cyrenius,
session of which his more wealthy to that of parents to our children, governor of Syria” while Herod
The Modern Heaven.
neighbor would not give even a In either case, either the children was ‘‘king of Judea,” and Dean
RY CHARLES KENT TENN EY.
passing thought. The student loves or the parents would be disap- Farrar says this supposition has
his books, but the jockey sees only pointed, and disappointment is not “ never been refuted,” all of which
Heaven is said by the higher supreme happiness in the winning the perfection of happiness, the i- as convincing as Mark Twain’s
criticism to be the perfection of all of the race. The colored man, in bliss of bliss or glory of glories.
r« atoning over the grave of Adam
happiness, the climax of all bliss, his religious exercises, ih filled with Notwithstanding, these rainbow —he knew it was the grave of
the great crowning glory of the transports of joy from the top of pictures of the hereafter, so vividly Adam, “because no one could ever
universe. This abiding place is his head to the soles of his feet, dealt in by our eloquent friends, prove that it was not.” The only
the home of God, who rules there, while his less demonstrative white are mere fancies, without shadow history we have of the Roman Em
as well as everywhere, with the ob Christian neighbor smiles at his or substance, there may be, and is, pire in th e days of Caesar Augustus
ject of shaping all things for the outward demonstrations, and the a heaven here on earth, and which informs us that after the death of
betterment of the human race and “wicked” Infidel looks on with every one of us can make unto King Herod, B. C. 4, Quirinius was
its ultimate admission into this mingled feelings of pity and mirth, himself. Few cf us are happy in made governor of Syria.
crowning glory spot, if it will but The boy with his bag of marbles, the same things, and all have their
The fixers of the Sunday school
follow the simple paths of duty and or the girl with her new doll, con special objects of joy. It is in the lessons assume that the enrolling
right.
templates their possession with as knowledge of doing right, accord was done at one time and the tax
This word picture, with the deep feelings of joy and content ing to our means and understand ing at another, making the one
golden settings sometimes thrown ment as the statesman the adoption ing, that we reach this perfection, precede the other about nine years,
about it by the gifted, silver- of his pet measure, or the general and any deviation from this simple but this does not agree with Gren-
tongued, pulpit orator, is very the defeat of an enemy. The suc duty wounds our conscience and fel and Hunt or with any other
beautiful to contemplate, and the cess of the statesman or general, brings us misery. We are certain authority; and a theologian ends
reunion of families and the meet however, does not bring joy to the of our duty, however, and the re an article on this subject by say
ing of dearly beloved friends in this opposer. Can there be such a wards for doing it. Let us not ing: “The time of Christ’s birth is
happy, joyous abode, as painted by thing as the aggregation of all neglect it for the uncertainty of a still a subject of acute contro
him, cannot help but animate the happiness, bliss and glory? Can visionary glory of glories. The In versy.” No other event in the life
listener with a desire for such an there be such a thing as the par fidel heaven is a living reality, and of Jesus is more certain than the
abiding place. Who is there among ticipation by the vanquished in the brings peace, contentment and joy time oi his birth; hence the ten
us who will not bow his head in joys of the victor? Can the deep to ourselves and homes. The other dency of liberal theologians to rely
silent contemplation of such a pic love of the young mother for het- is without substance and but the on the “ living Christ” instead of
ture, as painted by the voice of the child be understood and appreci idle fancy of a vivid imagination. the “Historic Jesus.”
gifted orator, and 6igh for such a ated by the crabbed old maid or Which is preferable, the present
retreat? But now that the voice bachelor, who hate children? Hap reality or the higher criticism’s For the Torch of Reason.
of the eloquent speaker has died piness and its enjoyment is a mat dream?
M inisters and A gnostics
away and no longer thrills us with ter of individual feeling,and affects
Madison, Wis., March 16, 1900.
Criticised and Defined.
emotion, let us more critically ex no two alike. It would, indeed, be
amine the picture and analyze its a I strange mixture if all things
For the Torch of Reason.
BY C. S. SPARKS.
details without the halo of the which make men happy, according
The H istoric Jesus.
magnetic voice, but in the cool, to their wishes and desires, could
A man in the ministry must
quiet realms of thought and reason. be mixed together in one comtnon
BY CHARLES CLARK MILLARD.
practice hypocrisy and must over
There are few of the present gen lot. Such a production the higher
look a great deal of hypocrisy in
eration who believe in the hell of criticism calls the glory of glories,
From A. D. 62, and for 150 years others. He must at all times be
the Bible; there are also few who and this mixture is to be forever afterwards, a census of the Roman unnatural, and most of the desires
believe in its heaven. The higher fed to those who enter this heaven. Empire was taken every fourteen of his nature must be satisfied clan
criticism has long since abolished Happiness only brings joy by con years. It is also well known that destinely or not at all.
the former, and but few congrega trast. It is but transitory, and a census was taken in A. D. 6-7,
A man associating with hypo
tions are now held over its fiery cannot be permanent. If it were, when Cyrenius (or Quirinius) was crites naturally becomes one him
abyss. The same criticism has also we would lose interest, as it would governor of Syria, and at the time self. A man who publicly denies
abolished the city of jasper walls, become tiresome and we would of this census (enrolling or taxing) himself of the joys and pleasures of
precious stones and golden streets, long for a change. We love our Jesus was born at Bethlehem. this world is liable to indulge in
with its white throne, harps and baby, but would be wretched if it (Luke’s Gospel, chap. 2.) But in excesses in private or in the com-
angels, and given us in its place were to remain such. Our joy and Matthew’s Gospel this event is said pany of those situated like himself,
perfection of perfection, bliss of happiness is in its growth and de to have occurred “in the days of
A minister must steel himself
bliss, glory of glories.
velopment. A permanent con Herod the king,” and great have against investigating higher criti-
Air castles, to the vivid imagina dition of any kind is irksome, and been the tribulations of theologians cisms, and must entirely ignore the
tion, are easy of construction, but will in time yield the reverse of on account of this disagreement.
great discoveries of science. If he
most difficult to maintain. The happiness. The new heaven has
Dionysius Exiguus, when he does not, he either resigns his “call’’
old, orthodox heaven, at least, has too much sameness to satisfy the fixed the beginning of our era, or becomes a hypocrite within him-
the authority of the Bible to sup human craving for constant change. “ reconciled” the matter by suppos- self and to his better nature anp
port it; the modern one, nothing
The reunion of families and the ing that Christ was born about judgment, and must struggle
but individual imagination. It meeting of old friends is perhaps a half way between B. C. 5 or 6, ac- against self-antagonism during his
has not even the substance of the very pretty picture, until we look cording to Matthew, and A. D. ministerial career. I speak of the
beautiful sunset, which, for the behind it and see its utter folly. 6-7, according to Luke, and so it intelligent ministers.
time being, thrills and animates us Our parents have been dead many would have remained without ques-
A minister is one of a social cir-
with joy, and is, for the moment, years, and were mentally and phy tion “unto this day” had it not cle of hypocrites or pious ignoram-
at least, a reality—not an empty sically infirm at death. Are we been for the “higher criticism.” uses who depend upon charity.
dream.
to meet them again in the condition Now Grenfel and Hunt have
Agnostics are a benefit to society,
In the analysis of the modern in which they left us? The very recently discovered that there was and are charitable and give alms.
heaven, let us inquire what can be thought makes us shudder. Or a census takeu in A. D. 20, and
Ministers say that it is more
the perfection of all happiness, the are we to meet them as we met; think they can prove that a census blessed to give thaD to receive.
climax of all bliss, the glory bf all them, and they us, in our child- was taken in B. C. 9-10, and this They have learned to nearly think
glories? To each individual there hood? This is, perhaps, to all, the they claim as the date of the birth so because they do the receiving.
are many and varied things which happiest recollection. But in the of Jesus. Thus we have four dabs
Agnostics say, Do the best you
make us happy, and in different meantime we have changed and for the birth of Jesus, two of them can and try to make others happy,
degrees, depending upon our frame have our own children. We cannot inspired and all equally reliable— be they Christian or Agnostic.
of mind at the time. The poor at the game time be children to our B. C. 9-10, B. C. 5, A. D. 0 and
Ministers are parasites, depend
man contemplates with great joy parents and parents to our chil- , --------------
A. D. 6-7. Christians
— ........... Pay their ing upon the labor of others for
the possession of some article which dren. Either we must lower our- , money _ and take their choice.
support.
Agnostics are self-sup-
has taken years of lime and toil selves to the condition of children' Theologians have supposed that I porting.
For the Torch of Reason.