Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1876 — The Cry of “Infidel” and “Atheist.” [ARTICLE]

The Cry of “Infidel” and “Atheist.”

The principal weapons in the combat are worth examining. They are very easily examined. You may pick them up on any of the battle-fields of science; but on that field they were used with more effect than on almost any other. These weapons are twoepitbeta: “Infidel” and‘‘Atheist,” The battle-fields of science are thickly strewn with these. They have been used against almost every matt who has ever done any thing for his fellow-men. The list of those who have been denounced as infidel and atheist includes almost all great men of science—general scholars, inventors, philanthropists. The deepest Christian life, the most noble Christian character have not availed to shield combatants. Christians like Isaac Newton and Pascal and John Lock and John Milton, and even Howard and Feuelon, have had these weapons hurled against them. Of all proofs of the existence of a God, those of Descartes have been wrought most thoroughly into the minds of modern men ; and yet the Protestant theologians of Holland sought to bring him to torture and to death by the charge of atheism. These can hardly bo classed with civilised, weapons. I hey are burning arrows. They sot fire to great masses of popular prejudices ; smoke rises to obscure the real questions; fire bursts forth at times to destroy tho Attacked party. They are poisoned weapons. They go to the hearts of loving women, they alienate dear children. They injure the rimn after life is ended, for they leave poisoned wounds in the hearts of those who loved him best —fears of his eternal happiness—druid of Divine displeasured Of o'iursey in these days those weapons* though often effective in disturbing good men, and senring good Women, are somewhat blunted. Indeed, they notunfreqnently injure assailants more •Jbwn assailed ; so it whs not in the days of Galileo. These weapons were then in all their sharpness and venom'. —President White, in Popular Science ftlonthly,