Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1899 — PROGRESSIVE THOUGHTS. [ARTICLE]

PROGRESSIVE THOUGHTS.

BY DIOGENES.

Wanted. —Some other man* brain to do some thinking for me. I would like in the first place to know what faith is? Whether it is the product of the intellect, the sensibilities or the will, or of all three together? Whether it is merely a belief or a force implying heroism, endurance, service? How are we going to measure it» quantity or value, or determine definitely that one man has more of it than another? We say that faith comes first and good works follow from it. But what kind of good works? Singing, praying, shonting, being happy; or energetic actions, hard study, deep meditation, unremitting service to the cause of humanity? Do not good works produce faith quite as frequently, as faith good works, and are they not its promoters and safeguard? Do not the good works come mostly from the character which is the frnit of faith and is not that character the result of a long list of good works? t t. Whether we accept the doctrine of expansion or not, it will be interesting to watch the effects of this policy upon the future alignment of our political parties. In a recent speech, Mr. Frederick Harrison of England, said that Imperialism had broken up the Literal party. We know what has been the effect upon onr political parties of opposing any war, however nnjnst or foolish, or any increase of the national boundaries or supposed glory. The Federal party could not survive its opposition to the war of 1812, or the Whigs theirs’ to the Mexican war. It took the democrats twenty yearejto get over the results of their httithde toward the civil war. Fortunately for them both parties tumbled over each other in their anxiety to be on the r ght side in the Cuban war and to get all the glory possible for futnre campaigns. If the poUcy of expansion is not accepted without a long and determined conflict then the two present parties may break in two and onr foreign policy will become the bone of contention between our very wise and very patriotic politicians. Possibly, then, the tariff and the currency questions will be settled in a non-political way and according to good sound business judgment, to which the American people will say amen. ft

While listening to a strange preacher the other day, he said that we were not to trust onr reason in religious matters. Bat why not? What then are we to trust? Can we accept any religion that does not commend it self to onr reason? If we do so are we not as foolish as any heathen or as Barn a urn’s people, who liked to be hnmbngged? Is any religion divine or human | which is not reasonable? Are the Christian religion and miracles and that greatest of all miracles, toe character of Christ unreasonable? or, are they the highest reason? Why do we preach sermons attempting to justify the ways of God to men if we are not to use our reason? Is one man’s theology of the head or reason and another’s of the heart or emotions? What is a theology of the heart? Did you ever see one? Was there any coherence or good judgement about it? If so, what put it there, if not the reason, or why do yo« judge it if you must not trust yoor reason ? Moreover, how are we to judge ourselves as the apostle tolls us if not by our reason? How are we to judge tbe angels, yea, Godk Himself, and all His dealings onr race in whioh wisdom is to bah, justified of her children if oorrea* son is not trustworthy? It teems to me, we are never to act without E^S^judlrf: religions matters.