THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
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HESPERIAN STUDENT,
VUI1I.I8IIKD MONTHLY MY THE
HESPERIAN STUDENT PUBLISH
ING ASSOCIATION
OV THE
NEBRASKA UNIVEKSITY.
Editoh-in-chiek, G. E. IIowaiid.
Associate, - - Fannie Metoai.f.
LooAii, .... Amos. E. Gantt.
W. II. Needham, Business Manager.
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YOUNG PERSONS AND SCEPTICISM.
Bo not alarmed. Wo do not intend to
write an orthodox homily, nor an argu
ment or tirade against infidelity. It is
our object to call the attention of young
men and women, who arc inclined to athe
istical views, to a few important facts
which ought not to be neglected in form
ing a correct opinion on so very impor
tant a matter. Wo shall take tho liberty
to ask a few questions to which each one
ought to give fair and unequivocal an
swers. There b a numerous class of young
sceptics, however, for which we have such
utter contempt, that we do not intend to
waste a single syllable upon them. We
will content ourselves with a description
of a representative" of this class.
He is generally boastful, conceited and
ignorant, lie Is at heart a braggart, a
bully and a coward. Being entirely lack
ing in manly principle, and entirely iuca
pablo of manly, independent thought,
like all weak-minded persons, ho is con
stantly trying to convince the world that
ho is richly endowed with theso vory
powers. So, what docs he do ? Why he
goes to bullying tho Almighty. He boldly
announces that God is a myth. Ho learn
cdly declares tho Bible to be false in toto,
when ho has never read a dozen chapters,
no swears by Tom Paine, when very like
ly ho knows no moro of Tom Paine than
ho docs of Hermes Trlsmcgistus. Ho ar
gues (disputes) incessantly, on tho same
principle as Goldsmith's 'village school
master." And ho docs all this to estab
lish a reputation for manhood, thought,
intellectuality! But ho is a miserable
coward. No sooner docs God show his pow
er in some dread manifestation than he
collapses like a perforated gas bag.
When ho feels His awful tread in tho
earthquake's shock.hcarsllis voice hi tho
hurricane, and tho billowy ocean tempest,
driving his vessel upon tho death-dcallng
breakers, or when Pestilence stalks at
noonday through the crowded city, smit
ing down high and low, prince and slave
or when any sudden dangor portends
death does this bravo man stand Arm and
say:' "What signifies; thero is no hero
after no God ?" No, not ho. Ho is tho
first to fling himself in tho dirt, and howl,
and beg, and bellow, like a booby, for tho
mercy of his Creator whoso cxtstenco ho
hits Ignored. God hates a coward wo
verily bollevo; and If such a passion can
exist In the breast of Deity, with what In
cfl'ablo loathing and contempt must He
look down upon itch a cowardly wretch I
My friend, In your normal condition, you
were what good old Hepsibah Stobblns
peace to her ashes would havo denomi
nated " a pure and undcillcd hass." But
you havo attempted a metamorphosis.
You thought, cunningly, to conceal the
degrading tokens of your consanguinity
and descent, like a relative of yours that
one, Esop, tells about, by adroitly slip
ping a lion's skin over your carcass. My
dear sir, you have made an egregious
mistake. You havo clapped on a mule's
pelt, Instead of tho royal covering of tho
king of beasts, and, in your mongrel con
ditlon, your original stupidity and ugli
ness arc ten fold more hideous and dis
gusting. No, sir. We havo nothing to
say to you. You are too stupid to com
prehend our suggestions, and too mulish
to bo convinced if you could. Wo pass
on you.
But, young comrades, among students
and in the learned professions, you who
aro either doubting the merits of Christi
anity, or aro already declaring yourselves
infidels, you who aro earnestly and hon
estly, (at least as you suppose), thinking
and searching for tho truth to you we
have somewhat to say.
Aro you quite sure that you aro not
doubting or discarding tho Bible because
tliis or taut successful lawyer, or this or
that eminent professor has done so?
You could accept the Bible if this or
that point were made plainer, or this or
that doctrine were only in accordance
with reason? Are you satisfied that you
have thoroughly studied the Bible and tho
evidences of its authenticity, until you
are positively sure that that tho point you
complain of is not made plain, and the
doctrine at which you stumble is not ron
dered perfectly reasonable by tho Bible
itself?
You aro beginning to say, " I believe
thus and so" about some vital point; you
say, " My theory Is thus, about tho great
problems of Being, Existence, Creation."
Have you thorougnly verified your theory
by Induction and deduction, by invest iga
tion and thought until you aro sure it will
"hold water"? or is it a sort of chimed
cal idea that you havo seized upon, which
you hardly know whether to trust or not?
Aro you aware thai in your speculations
your theorizing you aro wandering In
to tho uncertain field of philosophy ? Do
you remember how futile has been the ef
fort of philosophy for over twenty centu
rles to solve tho mysteries which Inspira
tion professes to make plain ?
Let us together take a brief review of
its history to refreshen our minds. We
commence with tho earliest of tho Greek
thinkers and glance rapidly along the
line of earnest searchers for truth to tho
end of tho Socratlc movement.
Here wo observe somo man of mighty
intellect, versed in all tho learning of his
day, start forth transcendont among his
couutrymen, determined to devote his
life to an arduous but god-llkc labor. Ho
is sincere, honest, unselfish, large-souled
and dcoply in earnest. What is his task ?
To solve tho problems of Being, Exis
tonco, Croation. Ho legs for light. Tho
divinity within him yearns to speak to
tho divinity without. Ho hits upon a
theory at length which ho believes to bo a
solution of his problem. He argues him.
self into the belief that ho has reached
tho goal that his work Is ended. Ho
passes from the scene of action, and In
Ills place another great thinker, equally
sincere, just as earnest, with tho same
learning, and in addition thereto versed
In tho philosophy of his predecessor
with the same unquenchable longing in
his soul for light. What docs ho do ? Ho
proves the theory of the first to bo false
and lnconslstent,and then ofibrs one of his
own, which he thinks will dispel all doubt
and uncertainty forever. But his wisdom
Is shewn to be folly by his successor, and
so on to the end.
As wo contemplate the earnest, life-long
struggles of these men for truth tho an
guish and labor of their souls to bring
forth solutions to their self-imposed prob
lems, wo experience a feeling of admira
tion, mingled with pity, almost painful.
And tho immortal Three, who yet claim
the wonder and admiration of the world
Pagan and Christian which they rul
ed for centurh's, Sochates, Pi,ato, Ahis
totj.e, did thoy discover the bright Hob
perides where grew the golden apples
they so much coveted? Though they
reached tho ultimate of human thought,
beyond which no mortal will probably
over step, thoy utterly failed to gain the
wished far prize. Scarcely had the ashes
of Ahistotlk become cold than up rose
Pyiikiio, tho Skeptic, and proved that tho
whole philosophy of tho Socratlsts and
the method, upon which so much stress
was laid, was fidse and uncertain ? Such
Is tho history of philosophy, a hopelesB,
profitless wandering in pursuit of an iynis
fatuus which has ever led tho poor wand
erer into moro impassable morassca and
thicker and more thorny brambles, leav
ing him at last lost and bewildered, hope
lessly remote from his destination. Tho
philosopher finds himself in an inextri
cable maze more tortuous in its windings
than tho Cretan labyrinth, well nigh
fatal to tho career of tho redoubtable
Theseus. But alas where Is the maid,
Aiuadne, with her golden thread to lead
him to the gracious light? Are you will
ing to risk yourself and your eternal des
tiny in this same labyrinth in idle search
for that which now is generally acknowl
edged to bo beyond the ken of the human
Intellect In tho region of tho unknow
able? ,,
Now turn agali'i to the Cross. Here is
an explanation of " tho great mystery In
which we live and of which we form a
part," as Tyniuij, says, purporting to
come from the lips of tho great First Prln
ciple, tho Ahka himself. Tho Gospel is
the beautiful Guide, extending to you In
splrallon, Revelation, the golden thread
which shall lead you from the meshes of
thewob in which you aro entangled out to
tho "perfect day!" Think of all thai
Christianity has accomplished, all she
promises to achieve.
Does It not become you, therefore, to
reflect long and well before you scorn
this beneficent Guide as an Impostor?
Should you not bo very careful, very de
liberate, very certain you aro right before
you rudnly rend tho golden cord as a dan
gerous lure?
Wo turn with sadness to you, comrades,
who havo boldly inscribed on tho top of
your banner "THERE IS NO GOD,"
nml on tho bottom, "THERE IS NO
HEREAFTER." Pardon us if our words
show a bias. Tho words of tin.
1 T)l.!.,l ..! 11 . .
x DiuMuoi uuiuiuuuuy ring in our ears as
wo think of your theory "ThoooJ lmth
said in his heart, there is no God." I8 n
a satisfactory conviction to you, asamnn
to reflect that you, all of you, your Ego
shall lie down in tho dust on a pcrfeot
equality with tho ox? that you both will
furnish ono common dish for tho worm?
Do you over dare to lift tho vail and
gazo upon your ( ?) future destiny ? Your
straining eye gazes Into murky, pitchy
night, In which no faint glimmering star
sends forth a trembling ray of hopo to
pierce tho impenetrable blackness, and
shed consolation upon your heart. Your
destiny is hopo ess I Ah! havo you ever
thought what a world of anguish ami ills
pair is concealed in that little word hope,
less! Let mo recall to your memory tho
oldest of primeval myths, and comparo it
with your belief.
Pandoha, tho first woman that ever llv
ed, according to Hesiod, received from
Jui'iTEiia beautiful box. When she op.
ened It, there escaped therefrom, one by
one, all tho evils, miseries, and calamities
of human life. Pandoka closed tho box
just in time to retain hopo which lay tit
the very bottom.
Behold I even here tho first struggles of
the primitive mind produces a couccp
tion more endurable, at least, thanyearst
Even here through fogs and mists of sup
crstltion and ignorance, shimmers a glad
ray of hope! Ah I blessed hopcl which
" like a cordial, Innocent though strong,
At oncu Inspirits and serenes."
If we must rest our eternal destiny upon
a belief, let us search out the most beauti
ful myth of tho ancients, clothe it with till
the taste, culture, and refinement of tho
nineteenth century, and foster it. Let us
have something to make life endurable at
least. Wo would not restrict thought.
Let honest thought, free, unprejudiced in
vestigation bo carried to tho ultimate. If
the Bible can not stand such a test, let It
fall. But tho silliest thing wo know of is
for a youth, without adequate knowledge
or investigation, to declare himself a scop
tic. Wo shall try ourselves by tho samo
regimen wo lay down for you, which may
be summed up in these seven regulations:
1. Ever remember that jour eternal
welfare may depend on your decision.
2. Be sure you havo reached your best
maturity of mind before you form your
opinion.
3. Lot your investigation bo honest, ua
projediced, and adequate.
4. Bo candid. When you read tho
works of a great sceptic, doubter, or infi
del, read also an author of equal rank on
the evidences of Christianity.
5. Let your final summary and conclu
sion bo careful and deliberate.
0. When you arrive at your conclusion
bo perfectly sure you aro right. Do not
simply think you aro suro.
7. Fnally, givo yourself a thorough In
trospoction and see whether you can de
tect any evldonco of tho bullylsm, and
cowardice wo havo mentioned. Then get
a double mental reflector and scrutinize
you back carefully, and if you find any
patches of "mule pelt," for shame's sake
snut your eyes and sommersault blindly
back into tho good old orthodox cradlo
from which you doubtless sprung, then
open your eyes, clean out tho dust, find
take an intelligent start.
THE SOCIETY CRITIC.
Wo havo reference to tho average oritio,
as ho is scon in our own literary societies.
Ho is an officer elected to criticise tho
literary performances of eaoh mooting..