Blue-grass blade (Lexington, Ky.). (Lexington, Kentucky ...€¦ · case and as Christianity is now...
1
THE FOROE OF FAOTS AND FIGURES By dimming Severance Nothing has greater force in car- t ¬ illg conviction to rational minds limn facts and figures for these arc things that demonstrate truths and defy refutation When you havo a fact that can bo shown and demon- strated ¬ you have tho best of an ar ¬ gument with any opponent and can knock him out in ono round if ho will face it As Freethinkers wo havo tho facts and figures to show that Christianity is not only tho biggest fake and hum- bug ¬ in tho world but tho greatest failure when the realization of prom ¬ ises and predictions arc taken into consideration Christianity has always claimed to bu a divinely inspired religion with qualties superior to all others and a dead certainty of some day being tho ono andonly religion on this earth Claiming to havo conic direct from God the Creator and Controller T of the Universe it declared he could and would insure such a condition and so this boast and predictive af ¬ IIrmation was made At the name of Jcsas every knee shall bow of things in heaven and things on earth a and things under tho earth and ev¬ ery tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Christianity has entered the 20th century of its existence and by look ¬ lug backward wo can sec what it has done and by computing results we can see how near this prediction is to being verified It has claimed much promised more and accom ¬ plished little Instead of being tho one and supreme religion after all this lapse of time it is not even first in point of numbers among other re- ligions ¬ for Buddhism exceeds it by many millions and a now religion founded by Mahomet tho Arabian camel driver nearly 000 years after Christianity started lies 170 million devotees whoso knees refuse to bow to the name of Jesus and whose tongues if they speak his name utter it in derision and contempt With all the exaggerations that Christians make regarding their numbers their highest claim leaves them numerically less than onofifth of the population of the earth If thus is the best they could do with Gods help in over 1900 years they must if honest and candid admit that Mahomet has revealed greater powor to do things than God and Jesus to ¬ gether for comparatively he has done a greater work in the 1300 years just passed than Jesus tho lead ¬ er mid Savior of all mankind and JehovahIs this fact alone sufficient to knock all divine claims out of Christ- ianity f To a reasonable man it must b for where there is nothing to show that an omnipotent God is boosting Christianity thero is noth ¬ ing to base belief on that he is If that hellfire and damnation religion had gone ahead and converted the whole world as it expected to and said it should then it would have had a fact that no opponent could have failed to be influenced by and everybody being Christians there would have been no opponents This is a very plain presentation of the case and as Christianity is now dy ¬ ing of dry rot and its power is wan ¬ ing every day that comes and goes if it ever had a chance to influence the whole world that time is past and gone When this religion attained its greatest power and had the most converts it was using fire and sword force and violence to mako converts and the moment it ceased to use such means for that purpose that moment it began to wane and weaken to droop and die- Christianity lies never been the same force in the world since it ceased to bo a militant power and it never will bo again for talk alone is not sufficient to make people accept it When they had to or go to pris ¬ on and have their properly confiscat- ed it was easy to catch em for Christs sake and tho glory of God When tho Inquisition was in force and all its implements of torturo were being used to make Christians that Bible prophecies might bo fulfilled it was a bold man indeed who would re fuse to accept this religion of love and mercyand that was the time when every ono in Christian lands to be or was a Christian professed had to migrate as did the Moors when driven out of Spain Toleration was never a feature of Christianity when it had unrestrained power but with fire and force it failed completely to accomplish its intentions and I now throw this fact into the face of every Christian that exists to show that what it fail- ed ¬ p to do in the past it cannot possi ¬ bly do in tho future There is no more show for converting the world to Christ than there is for seeing all men think alike or look alike and the rotten stuff put forth in his namo will be more and more rejected as the world rolls on Facts and figures t a I provo this statement for as eminent a Christian hs Ilev Charles Hussoll of Brooklyn Tabernacle admits thoro are double tho number of heathen in the world today than thero were 100 years ago and wo do not have to go out of your own socalled Christian country to find by government fig- ures ¬ that only a little over onethird of our people are professed Christ ¬ inns and church members and such a poor showing ten years ago is what caused Christian influence to have noses in tho census of 1010 That fact has been thrown at them so many times it caused a sure spot and it irritates our Christian friends much to hear of it It certainly is a fact that speaks wry loudly and facts not in their favor are offensive things to be suppressed if possible Hnssell and see what he is compelled Russell and see what he is compellel to admit though why he said it when the policy of Christians is to blow hind and claim everything is not clear If we lookout upon the heathen world however sympathetic we may- be in respect to foreign missionary work doing all in our power to mako known to the heathen tho grace of God and the Great Redeemer w- are nevertheless compelled to admit that there is absolutely no hope of our ewer causing every knee to bow und every tongue to confess Christ in heathen lands oven as we have long ago given up hope of accom- plishing ¬ suchwork in civilized landsThis is plain talk and right to the point and in spito of his religion is evidence ofa streak of horse sense and candor not to be found very of- ten ¬ in a Christian preacher Time Methodists who keep boasting of building a church every day shouldchew up and digest or reflect on this true statement by comrade Russell of tho universal brotherhood that Christ wanted to establish with the Jew God as the basic idea to workon No men and brethren fellow cit- izens ¬ saints and sinners there is mighty little consolation in facts and figures for Christianity for they plainly show the doom which awaits it which in the process of time will be just what nil religious systems experiencedeathand oblivion- It is now dying as indisputable evidence shows but wo cannot expect a quick death for such never comes to superstition in any form but the very fact it is in decline and surely passing away is a source of joy and gladness to all rational human be- ings ¬ who know its true history and what a curse it has ever been to humanityTo Charles Russell and other mourners I extend my condol- ence ¬ for their mental sufferings for sympathy is one of my strong char- acteristics ¬ but at tho same time I am very glad that is occurring which causes them to weep and waiL So Let her go Gallagher and tho sooner the better Los Angeles Calif A FIRST OAUSE What Caused It to Cause a Universe 6000 Years and Not 60000000 Years Ago Otto Wettstein in Freethinkers Magazine There is no First Cause there never was a First Cause Within an eternal selfexistent universe evo luting processes are eternal It never beganit can never end A single parties of matter cannot be rented neither can it be annihilated Consequently the universe being com- posed ¬ of eternal existing particles is eternal And each particle represent in energy and force being energy and force has ever been active toj perpetuate the evolutionary processes of finite forums beings and bodies but these by virtue of their own potencies being destined to final destruction and disintegration tend in infinite varia- tion ¬ and transformation to perpetuate the process forever All attempts to solve the riddle of cosmic existence by postulating a First Cause or God existing prior und exterior of the universe must and will ever remain efforts of childish reasoning and a lamentable failure It explains nothing It simply divests the visible everything of and invests in invisible nothing with pote- ncies ¬ Ir power to cause all phenom- ena ¬ Hut ifter this cunning coup detnt the identical mysteries which first prompted such a solution still staro us in tho face even in augment ¬ ed degreeA Cause or God im- plies ¬ an infinite something which however wo know absolutely nothing possessing attributes and powers superior to those existing in nature and amply sufficient to cause to spring into existence miraculously from pro existim nothing an infinite universe- A First Cause or God must possess within itself transcendent qualities of selfexistence and all the 1 necessary attributes to exist uncaused mid eternal as n First Cause and without again necessitating in turn another cause to cause it It implies that such II First Cause or God prior to tho imaginary II beginning was not a cause but eternally inactive latent nonproduc- tive deadan absolute condition of negation or nothing That such First Causo during all the Infinite cycle of ages preceding such beginning did not produce a single effect It implies that after being eternally dead or inactive and cause of abso- lutely ¬ nothing during all tho ages of beginninglcss time it did suddenly and miraculously so stupendously change its nature as to create a uni- verse ¬ And lust though not least it pre ¬ seats to thinking men and women tho following grotesque proposition The universe exists consequently a God or First Causo must have pre- ceded ¬ it This First Cause is eter¬ cal never was created and never needed a Creator It ofcourse is eternal and as such existed from all time Six thousand years ago ac ¬ cording to Biblo chronology this First Causo caused the universe No other cause or thing existed with or beside it prior to that time During all the ages of bee nmiingless time it did not cause a solitary thing not a world sun moon star or even a single atom Eternal darkness reigned su- preme ¬ and infinite vacum was mon- opolized ¬ solely by this First Cause This is a correct representation of things existing during the eternity prior to 0000 years ago when the uni- verse ¬ according to the Christian my ¬ thology began I But now the question arises what caused the First Cause after an eternity of nonactivity to create the universe Hero certainly is a magnifi- cent ¬ and imposing effect if true The Theists God or First Cause certainly didnt cause it for what these would not do or cause to be done during the vast eterity pre- ceding this imaginary creation they ofcourse would never do This First Causo is supposed to be omniscient omnipresent and unchangeable con ¬ sequently what this First Cause could or would not do during 9999 999999999999999 continued ad in finitumyears preceding the begin ¬ ning it of course would never do What then caused the universe or caused tho H First Cause or God to create dt after an eternity of non existence There is no effect without a cause But for an eternity all ex- isting ¬ causes had not produced a uni- verse ¬ whntin the name of reason then WAS THE CAUSE which cans ¬ ed the First Cause to create the universe when it did But I need g- ao furthera cause being needed to cause the First Cause to cause or to precede the First Cause of the Theist If we keep on in our crucial test of First Causes we will no doubt need another First Cause inch another and another ad infin- itum Thus we see that all argument predicating a First Cause a God a Creation or a Begin ¬ ting apes not explain but infinitely mystifies existing problems and that the only rational assumption is the eternal existence of all matter which assessing within itself all tho neces ¬ any attributes of selfexistence and selfformation not creation needs no Creator or First Cause to create or manipulate it Existing today absolutely proves that in its elementary form it has al ¬ ways existed and so will always exist urthermore assuming harmony and order today and evolving worlds suns systems trees flowers and men proves it has ever evolved such forms and that consequently there never was a first world sun tree or man but all such phenomena aro but repeti- tions ¬ of similar phenomena having evolved forever Because it is plain that any partic ¬ ular first world sun or system would again imply an eternity of time pre ¬ ceiling the formation of such first phenomena but which if true would absolutely havo prevented such first world sun or system at any time It is either eternal standstill or eternal etivityboth cannot be true Which then I ask is time most rea- sonable ¬ that n First Cause of which we know absolutely nothing can exist uncaused and then from nothing create an infinite universe or that tho latter which today exists in august splendor selfevidentand real is selfexistent and eternal Is ita fact that curates generally visit Christian homes when the hus- band ¬ is at work Time clergy aro notorious for their partiality to tho fair sex and purr around tho ladies like black tomcats J MAN OF HIGH IDEALS So you dont care to oncourngo that young poet with his otheroal Ideas Interrogated tho olgar sales manI dont caro a continental about hit ethereal ideas growled time grocery man as long as they dont cost mo anythingDid over cost you anything I should say sot Tho other day ho came In and raising his right hand struck a dramatic attitude and said I love everything thats good Then with his left hand ho helped himself to the candled citron and tho 60 cent almonds I dont doubt that ho likes things that are good but blamed If hes going to make this a supply station When He Needed Company Brother Philander said the Os borne Farmers village deacon our minister has worked hard and seems discouraged Isnt there some way we can shqw our appreciation of his worth and cheer him uI 11reo plied old Philander we might try at- tending the midweek prayer meeting That is his loneliest hour Took Precautions- I want to hire a canoe Accustomed to rowing one I sup ¬ poseNever was in one Can you swim Not a Well strokeI vance Ive been left In the lurch by enough suicidesI A Vivid Portrayal Why my dear expostulated Mr Ponsonby I wasnt drunk last night I was merely Imitating a drunk man to fool you Well sniffed Mrs Ponsonby all I have to say is if that was an imi ¬ tation you are wasting your talents in the grocery business Youd draw 100 a week in vaudeville Education The HostWhat piece will you have Miss Tootsie Miss Tootsie Please carve me the left square tangent east to 76 segment above the loin diagonal to fat paral ¬ lel to Oh I beg pardon I learned the cuts In cooking schoolPuck No Indeed- I heard a man worth 1000000 wish he had some small change Pshaw A man doesnt have to be worth 1000000 to wish that MORE SLEEP WANTED The DeaconParson I wish you could make your sermons a little longerThe Preacher pleased Why so The DeaconWell It seems like 1 hardly get to sleep before its time to get up It Wasnt Real Last night I had A juicy steak But sad to say Wan soon awake How He Did It How asked the young lady as she looked with admiration at the rugged nonagenarian have you man aged to live so long and preserve your health so well By rigorously declining to practise what my friends have preached he candidly replied Slightly Mixed What was the lesson at school this afternoon Tommy asked the fond parentHad a reading on the destruction of Tyre responded the youngster Hm Automobile accident I sup- pose Partly So My good woman does the system of visualization seem to take with your children at school Not all of em mum The doctor said wld Mamie and Tommy it has took tine but lilllys aint took a bit TooFaced You say he is twofaced I say he Is toofaced his wife has him so well trained that he novel opens his face except to say metoo A Queer Sort What sort of fellow is Lathers He puts the accent on the first syl lable of the word hotel Its Style That singer has a velvet voice I suppose that accounts for the pile she gets from it It1 r IC DO YOU rfdnyn come round Of coitmn they do Ill Just be bound Theyve como to you And made you crosi As everything And loft no heart In you to sing Nor any wish To labor more Bo tired and sad And sick and sore We nil have days Of sober brown When we are blue And frown and frown And grumble too And fume and fret Thats how wo al- Ways act and yet Although theres some Excuse for such- I dont see how It helps us much I PERCY KNEW Algy The beauty of this play Per cYlsPercyOh that second one from tho end there Ill bet Great Shrinkage The last years bathing suit will shrink And shrink both day and night Until at last It shrinks so much The bather shrinks from sight All the Same What is the trouble with your hus band of late Mrs Green asked the corner grocer He acts queerly- In what way queried Mrs Green In surpriseWhy came in here tho other day and asked for a pound of Rocky feller butter Never heard of such a thingOh thats all right John couldnt think of petroleum butter Things Will Take a Turn It was the kind of banquet we some ¬ times read about Tho tables fairly groaned under their load of good things But the hungry guests quickly rel- ieved them of their burden After dinner speeches were next in orderThen it was the guests who groaned The Lure LadyI want to put In this adver tisement for a cook It will go In three lines wont it Clerk after counting No madam Well have to charge you for four lines but you can put in four more words if you wish Lady suddenly inspired Say Policeman stationed opposite cor ner TitBits Blasted Hopes Mr Stubb Maria do you remember that millinery store that had such a great display of fall hats Well there has been a fire down there and everything is reduced Mrs Stubb Gracious what a chance for bargains And everything is reduced John Mr StubbYes reduced to ashes EVIDENTLY SOMETHING ELSE Bleeker I hear he died of appendi cltlsBoxterOh it couldnt havo been that why that was what they oper ated on him for Thats So The bell Is like a man All up And down the world he beats It lie gathers honey ull his life Some other fellow eats It The Oracle Explains Student of Politics And what be reely this hero coalition they do be tarklng about Oldest Living Local Authority Well Its like this Some parties says this an some says that an tother But what I says there no knowlns nor no telllns nnmark my words I haint far wrong Puck UIII n iitc NOT THE SAME Mother queried tho pretty daugh ter did father have his salary in- creased when ho married you 7 No deer answered the mother How much was ho getting Only ten dollars a week But I suppose ho had a lot of money saved up didnt bo Not a dollar he spent his money as fast as ho earned It Did you get along comfortably Yes and wo were very happy Well motoher you know dear George hasnt been able to save a cent but See here young lady if that pov ertystricken dude dares show his face around here again Ill get your fa 1 ther to kick him into the middle of next week Tricky Sandy While passing by an old fashioned inn the tourists were attracted by an ancient bagpiper who was tooting atrocious sounds through an instru ment that was both dilapidated and squeakyGreat Jericho Sandy exclaimed one in desperation Why dont you have your bagpipes repaired And the old man ceased playing and looked up in astonishment Havers mon ye dlnna understand If ma bag poples wor in good tune the Inn mon wlnna give ma two shillings to move on Too Much of a Good Thing Our gas meter said the alleged funny man who was trying to mako light of his bill for illumination re minds me of a centipede Whats the answer queried the innocent bystander- It has so many unnecessary feet you know replied the other After being out 13 seconds the jury returned a verdict of justifiable homi ride and the Innocent bystander was discharged from custody The Spendthrift TjarksSee where some astronomer says Halleys comet may charge the earths atmosphere and well never have any more rain BjenksBy George Give me that item to take hom- eTjarksInterested eh BjenksI should say so I am going to show it to my wife every time she nags me about saving up for a rainy day WHAT NEVER WELL HARDLY EVER LovelornOh Myrtilla you dont really and truly mean that youll never never see me or speak to me againMyrtlllaYes sir I do and when you call tomorrow evening Ill tell you why Skeptical Little Coy Blue said the modern kid Its now up to you to show Me if you really are Little Boy Blue And have any horn to blow Another Hero Hes a champion is he He doesnt look it Champion of what You dont keep abreast of the times Hes the champion clgarroot smoker lights one with the stump of another rolls them himself as he goes along and smokes sixty without letI ting any of em go out- Danger Be like the early bird my son ad vised the fond parent and you will catch the worm But the uptodate youngster shrugged his shoulders No earlybird business for me he responded forcibly I might catch the hookworm Perplexing Case Professor after calling on blank and waiting for him to reciteSeemst- o me Blank you ought to be able to answer my question with all the prompting youre getting back there Blank Well professor theres such a difference of opinion around me thatTho Gargoyle A Suspicion What la a political rainbow chaserThere are various kinds replied Senator Sorghum although I suspect that most of them are more or less In- fluenced ¬ by the legend that every rainbow has a pot of gold at tho end of it Gentle Persuasion McCorkle Is it right to speak of a man as of tho male persuasion 71 McCrackle It Is If the subject is unmarried McCorkle What has that to do with it- McCrackleWhy If he la married his wife persuades him 1 1j
Transcript of Blue-grass blade (Lexington, Ky.). (Lexington, Kentucky ...€¦ · case and as Christianity is now...
THE FOROE OF FAOTS ANDFIGURES
By dimming Severance
Nothing has greater force in car-
t
¬
illg conviction to rational mindslimn facts and figures for these arcthings that demonstrate truths anddefy refutation When you havo afact that can bo shown and demon-
strated¬
you have tho best of an ar¬
gument with any opponent and canknock him out in ono round if ho willface it
As Freethinkers wo havo tho factsand figures to show that Christianityis not only tho biggest fake and hum-
bug¬
in tho world but tho greatestfailure when the realization of prom ¬
ises and predictions arc taken intoconsideration
Christianity has always claimed tobu a divinely inspired religion withqualties superior to all others anda dead certainty of some day beingtho ono andonly religion on thisearth Claiming to havo conic directfrom God the Creator and Controller
T of the Universe it declared he couldand would insure such a conditionand so this boast and predictive af¬
IIrmation was made At the name
of Jcsas every knee shall bow ofthings in heaven and things on earth
aand things under tho earth and ev¬
ery tongue shall confess that JesusChrist is Lord to the glory of God
the FatherChristianity has entered the 20th
century of its existence and by look ¬
lug backward wo can sec what it has
done and by computing results we
can see how near this prediction isto being verified It has claimed
much promised more and accom ¬
plished little Instead of being tho
one and supreme religion after allthis lapse of time it is not even first
in point of numbers among other re-
ligions
¬
for Buddhism exceeds it by
many millions and a now religion
founded by Mahomet tho Arabiancamel driver nearly 000 years afterChristianity started lies 170 million
devotees whoso knees refuse to bow
to the name of Jesus and whose
tongues if they speak his name utterit in derision and contempt
With all the exaggerations thatChristians make regarding theirnumbers their highest claim leaves
them numerically less than onofifthof the population of the earth Ifthus is the best they could do withGods help in over 1900 years theymust if honest and candid admit thatMahomet has revealed greater powor
to do things than God and Jesus to ¬
gether for comparatively he hasdone a greater work in the 1300
years just passed than Jesus tho lead ¬
er mid Savior of all mankind and
JehovahIs this fact alone sufficient to
knock all divine claims out of Christ-
ianity f To a reasonable man it must
b for where there is nothing to
show that an omnipotent God is
boosting Christianity thero is noth¬
ing to base belief on that he is Ifthat hellfire and damnation religion
had gone ahead and converted thewhole world as it expected to and
said it should then it would have
had a fact that no opponent could
have failed to be influenced by and
everybody being Christians therewould have been no opponents This
is a very plain presentation of the
case and as Christianity is now dy ¬
ing of dry rot and its power is wan ¬
ing every day that comes and goes
if it ever had a chance to influence
the whole world that time is past and
gone When this religion attainedits greatest power and had the most
converts it was using fire and sword
force and violence to mako converts
and the moment it ceased to use such
means for that purpose that moment
it began to wane and weaken to
droop and die-
Christianity lies never been the
same force in the world since itceased to bo a militant power and itnever will bo again for talk alone is
not sufficient to make people accept
it When they had to or go to pris ¬
on and have their properly confiscat-
ed it was easy to catch em forChrists sake and tho glory of God
When tho Inquisition was in force
and all its implements of torturo were
being used to make Christians thatBible prophecies might bo fulfilled itwas a bold man indeed who would refuse to accept this religion of love
and mercyand that was the time
when every ono in Christian landsto be orwas a Christian professed
had to migrate as did the Moors
when driven out of SpainToleration was never a feature of
Christianity when it had unrestrainedpower but with fire and force itfailed completely to accomplish its
intentions and I now throw this
fact into the face of every Christian
that exists to show that what it fail-
ed
¬
p to do in the past it cannot possi ¬
bly do in tho future There is no
more show for converting the world
to Christ than there is for seeing all
men think alike or look alike and
the rotten stuff put forth in his namo
will be more and more rejected as
the world rolls on Facts and figurest
a
I
provo this statement for as eminenta Christian hs Ilev Charles Hussollof Brooklyn Tabernacle admits thoroare double tho number of heathen inthe world today than thero were 100years ago and wo do not have to goout of your own socalled Christiancountry to find by government fig-
ures¬
that only a little over onethirdof our people are professed Christ ¬
inns and church members and sucha poor showing ten years ago is whatcaused Christian influence to havenoses in tho census of 1010 Thatfact has been thrown at them so manytimes it caused a sure spot and itirritates our Christian friends muchto hear of it It certainly is a factthat speaks wry loudly and factsnot in their favor are offensive thingsto be suppressed if possible
Hnssell and see what he is compelledRussell and see what he is compellelto admit though why he said it whenthe policy of Christians is to blowhind and claim everything is notclear
If we lookout upon the heathenworld however sympathetic we may-
be in respect to foreign missionarywork doing all in our power to makoknown to the heathen tho grace ofGod and the Great Redeemer w-
are nevertheless compelled to admitthat there is absolutely no hope ofour ewer causing every knee to bowund every tongue to confess Christin heathen lands oven as we havelong ago given up hope of accom-
plishing¬
suchwork in civilized
landsThisis plain talk and right to the
point and in spito of his religion isevidence ofa streak of horse senseand candor not to be found very of-
ten
¬
in a Christian preacherTime Methodists who keep boasting
of building a church every dayshouldchew up and digest or reflecton this true statement by comradeRussell of tho universal brotherhoodthat Christ wanted to establish withthe Jew God as the basic idea to
workonNo men and brethren fellow cit-
izens
¬
saints and sinners there ismighty little consolation in facts andfigures for Christianity for theyplainly show the doom which awaitsit which in the process of time willbe just what nil religious systemsexperiencedeathand oblivion-
It is now dying as indisputableevidence shows but wo cannot expect
a quick death for such never comesto superstition in any form but thevery fact it is in decline and surelypassing away is a source of joy andgladness to all rational human be-
ings
¬
who know its true history andwhat a curse it has ever been to
humanityToCharles Russell and
other mourners I extend my condol-
ence
¬
for their mental sufferings forsympathy is one of my strong char-
acteristics
¬
but at tho same time Iam very glad that is occurring which
causes them to weep and waiLSo Let her go Gallagher and
tho sooner the betterLos Angeles Calif
A FIRST OAUSE
What Caused It to Cause a Universe6000 Years and Not 60000000
Years Ago
Otto Wettstein in FreethinkersMagazine
There is no First Cause therenever was a First Cause Withinan eternal selfexistent universe evo
luting processes are eternal
It never beganit can never end
A single parties of matter cannot be
rented neither can it be annihilatedConsequently the universe being com-
posed
¬
of eternal existing particles is
eternal And each particle represent
in energy and force being energy
and force has ever been active tojperpetuate the evolutionary processes
of finite forums beings and bodies butthese by virtue of their own potencies
being destined to final destruction anddisintegration tend in infinite varia-
tion
¬
and transformation to perpetuatethe process forever
All attempts to solve the riddle of
cosmic existence by postulating a
First Cause or God existing
prior und exterior of the universe
must and will ever remain efforts of
childish reasoning and a lamentable
failure It explains nothing It simply
divests the visible everything of and
invests in invisible nothing with pote-
ncies
¬
Ir power to cause all phenom-
ena
¬
Hut ifter this cunning coup
detnt the identical mysteries which
first prompted such a solution stillstaro us in tho face even in augment ¬
eddegreeACause or God im-
plies
¬
an infinite something which
however wo know absolutely nothing
possessing attributes and powers
superior to those existing in natureand amply sufficient to cause to springinto existence miraculously from proexistim nothing an infinite universe-
A First Cause or God must
possess within itself transcendentqualities of selfexistence and all the
1
necessary attributes to exist uncausedmid eternal as n First Cause andwithout again necessitating in turnanother cause to cause it
It implies that such II First Cause
or God prior to tho imaginaryII beginning was not a cause buteternally inactive latent nonproduc-tive deadan absolute condition ofnegation or nothing
That such First Causo during allthe Infinite cycle of ages precedingsuch beginning did not produce asingle effect
It implies that after being eternallydead or inactive and cause of abso-
lutely¬
nothing during all tho ages ofbeginninglcss time it did suddenlyand miraculously so stupendouslychange its nature as to create a uni-
verse¬
And lust though not least it pre ¬
seats to thinking men and women thofollowing grotesque proposition Theuniverse exists consequently a Godor First Causo must have pre-
ceded
¬
it This First Cause is eter¬
cal never was created and neverneeded a Creator It ofcourse iseternal and as such existed from alltime Six thousand years ago ac¬
cording to Biblo chronology thisFirst Causo caused the universe
No other cause or thing existed withor beside it prior to that time Duringall the ages of beenmiingless time itdid not cause a solitary thing not aworld sun moon star or even a singleatom Eternal darkness reigned su-
preme
¬
and infinite vacum was mon-
opolized¬
solely by this First CauseThis is a correct representation of
things existing during the eternityprior to 0000 years ago when the uni-
verse
¬
according to the Christian my ¬
thology began I
But now the question arises whatcaused the First Cause after aneternity of nonactivity to create theuniverse Hero certainly is a magnifi-
cent
¬
and imposing effect if trueThe Theists God or FirstCause certainly didnt cause it forwhat these would not do or cause tobe done during the vast eterity pre-ceding this imaginary creation they
ofcourse would never do This FirstCauso is supposed to be omniscientomnipresent and unchangeable con ¬
sequently what this First Causecould or would not do during 9999999999999999999 continued ad infinitumyears preceding the begin ¬
ning it of course would never doWhat then caused the universe or
caused tho H First Cause or Godto create dt after an eternity of nonexistence There is no effect withouta cause But for an eternity all ex-
isting¬
causes had not produced a uni-
verse
¬
whntin the name of reasonthen WAS THE CAUSE which cans ¬
ed the First Cause to create theuniverse when it did But I need g-
ao furthera cause being needed tocause the First Cause to cause orto precede the First Cause of theTheist If we keep on in our crucialtest of First Causes we will nodoubt need another First Causeinch another and another ad infin-
itum
Thus we see that all argumentpredicating a First Cause a
God a Creation or a Begin ¬
ting apes not explain but infinitelymystifies existing problems and thatthe only rational assumption is the
eternal existence of all matter whichassessing within itself all tho neces ¬
any attributes of selfexistence andselfformation not creation needsno Creator or First Cause tocreate or manipulate it
Existing today absolutely proves
that in its elementary form it has al ¬
ways existed and so will always exist
urthermore assuming harmony and
order today and evolving worldssuns systems trees flowers and menproves it has ever evolved such formsand that consequently there neverwas a first world sun tree or manbut all such phenomena aro but repeti-
tions
¬
of similar phenomena havingevolved forever
Because it is plain that any partic¬
ular first world sun or system wouldagain imply an eternity of time pre ¬
ceiling the formation of such firstphenomena but which if true wouldabsolutely havo prevented such firstworld sun or system at any time Itis either eternal standstill or eternaletivityboth cannot be trueWhich then I ask is time most rea-
sonable
¬
that n First Cause ofwhich we know absolutely nothing
can exist uncaused and then fromnothing create an infinite universe orthat tho latter which today exists inaugust splendor selfevidentand real
is selfexistent and eternal
Is ita fact that curates generally
visit Christian homes when the hus-
band
¬
is at work
Time clergy aro notorious for theirpartiality to tho fair sex and purraround tho ladies like black tomcats
J
MAN OF HIGH IDEALS
So you dont care to oncourngothat young poet with his otheroalIdeas Interrogated tho olgar sales
manI dont caro a continental about hitethereal ideas growled time groceryman as long as they dont cost mo
anythingDidover cost you anything
I should say sot Tho other dayho came In and raising his righthand struck a dramatic attitude andsaid I love everything thats goodThen with his left hand ho helpedhimself to the candled citron and tho60 cent almonds I dont doubt thatho likes things that are good butblamed If hes going to make this asupply station
When He Needed CompanyBrother Philander said the Os
borne Farmers village deacon ourminister has worked hard and seemsdiscouraged Isnt there some waywe can shqw our appreciation of hisworth and cheer him uI 11reoplied old Philander we might try at-
tending the midweek prayer meetingThat is his loneliest hour
Took Precautions-I want to hire a canoeAccustomed to rowing one I sup ¬
poseNeverwas in one
Can you swimNot aWell strokeIvance Ive been left In the lurch by
enough suicidesIA Vivid Portrayal
Why my dear expostulated MrPonsonby I wasnt drunk last nightI was merely Imitating a drunk manto fool you
Well sniffed Mrs Ponsonby allI have to say is if that was an imi¬
tation you are wasting your talentsin the grocery business Youd draw
100 a week in vaudeville
EducationThe HostWhat piece will you
have Miss TootsieMiss Tootsie Please carve me the
left square tangent east to 76 segmentabove the loin diagonal to fat paral ¬
lel to Oh I beg pardon I learnedthe cuts In cooking schoolPuck
No Indeed-I heard a man worth 1000000
wish he had some small changePshaw A man doesnt have to be
worth 1000000 to wish that
MORE SLEEP WANTED
The DeaconParson I wish youcould make your sermons a littlelongerThe
Preacher pleased Why soThe DeaconWell It seems like 1
hardly get to sleep before its time toget up
It Wasnt RealLast night I had
A juicy steakBut sad to say
Wan soon awake
How He Did ItHow asked the young lady as
she looked with admiration at therugged nonagenarian have you managed to live so long and preserve yourhealth so well
By rigorously declining to practisewhat my friends have preached hecandidly replied
Slightly MixedWhat was the lesson at school this
afternoon Tommy asked the fondparentHad
a reading on the destructionof Tyre responded the youngster
Hm Automobile accident I sup-pose
Partly SoMy good woman does the system
of visualization seem to take withyour children at school
Not all of em mum The doctorsaid wld Mamie and Tommy it hastook tine but lilllys aint took a bit
TooFacedYou say he is twofacedI say he Is toofaced his wife has
him so well trained that he novelopens his face except to say metoo
A Queer SortWhat sort of fellow is LathersHe puts the accent on the first syl
lable of the word hotel
Its StyleThat singer has a velvet voiceI suppose that accounts for the
pile she gets from it
It1 r IC
DO YOU
rfdnyn come roundOf coitmn they do
Ill Just be boundTheyve como to you
And made you crosiAs everything
And loft no heart
In you to singNor any wish
To labor moreBo tired and sad
And sick and sore
We nil have daysOf sober brown
When we are blueAnd frown and frown
And grumble tooAnd fume and fret
Thats how wo al-
Ways act and yet
Although theres someExcuse for such-
I dont see howIt helps us much I
PERCY KNEW
Algy The beauty of this play Per
cYlsPercyOh that second one fromtho end there Ill bet
Great ShrinkageThe last years bathing suit will shrink
And shrink both day and nightUntil at last It shrinks so much
The bather shrinks from sight
All the SameWhat is the trouble with your hus
band of late Mrs Green asked thecorner grocer He acts queerly-
In what way queried Mrs GreenIn
surpriseWhycame in here tho other
day and asked for a pound of Rockyfeller butter Never heard of such a
thingOhthats all right John couldnt
think of petroleum butter
Things Will Take a TurnIt was the kind of banquet we some ¬
times read aboutTho tables fairly groaned under
their load of good thingsBut the hungry guests quickly rel-
ieved them of their burdenAfter dinner speeches were next in
orderThenit was the guests who
groaned
The LureLadyI want to put In this adver
tisement for a cook It will go Inthree lines wont it
Clerk after counting No madamWell have to charge you for fourlines but you can put in four morewords if you wish
Lady suddenly inspired SayPoliceman stationed opposite cor
ner TitBits
Blasted HopesMr Stubb Maria do you remember
that millinery store that had such agreat display of fall hats Wellthere has been a fire down there andeverything is reduced
Mrs Stubb Gracious what achance for bargains And everythingis reduced John
Mr StubbYes reduced to ashes
EVIDENTLY SOMETHING ELSE
Bleeker I hear he died of appendi
cltlsBoxterOh it couldnt havo beenthat why that was what they operated on him for
Thats SoThe bell Is like a man All up
And down the world he beats Itlie gathers honey ull his life
Some other fellow eats It
The Oracle ExplainsStudent of Politics And what be
reely this hero coalition they do betarklng about
Oldest Living Local AuthorityWell Its like this Some parties saysthis an some says that an totherBut what I says there no knowlns norno telllns nnmark my words I
haint far wrong Puck
UIII n iitc
NOT THE SAME
Mother queried tho pretty daughter did father have his salary in-
creased when ho married you 7
No deer answered the motherHow much was ho gettingOnly ten dollars a weekBut I suppose ho had a lot of
money saved up didnt boNot a dollar he spent his money
as fast as ho earned ItDid you get along comfortablyYes and wo were very happyWell motoher you know dear
George hasnt been able to save acent but
See here young lady if that povertystricken dude dares show his facearound here again Ill get your fa 1
ther to kick him into the middle ofnext week
Tricky SandyWhile passing by an old fashioned
inn the tourists were attracted by anancient bagpiper who was tootingatrocious sounds through an instrument that was both dilapidated andsqueakyGreat
Jericho Sandy exclaimedone in desperation Why dont youhave your bagpipes repaired
And the old man ceased playing andlooked up in astonishment Haversmon ye dlnna understand If ma bagpoples wor in good tune the Inn monwlnna give ma two shillings to moveon
Too Much of a Good ThingOur gas meter said the alleged
funny man who was trying to makolight of his bill for illumination reminds me of a centipede
Whats the answer queried theinnocent bystander-
It has so many unnecessary feetyou know replied the other
After being out 13 seconds the juryreturned a verdict of justifiable homiride and the Innocent bystander wasdischarged from custody
The SpendthriftTjarksSee where some astronomer
says Halleys comet may charge theearths atmosphere and well neverhave any more rain
BjenksBy George Give me thatitem to take hom-
eTjarksInterested ehBjenksI should say so I am going
to show it to my wife every time shenags me about saving up for a rainyday
WHAT NEVER WELL HARDLYEVER
LovelornOh Myrtilla you dontreally and truly mean that youllnever never see me or speak to me
againMyrtlllaYes sir I do and whenyou call tomorrow evening Ill tell youwhy
SkepticalLittle Coy Blue said the modern kid
Its now up to you to showMe if you really are Little Boy Blue
And have any horn to blow
Another HeroHes a champion is he He doesnt
look it Champion of whatYou dont keep abreast of the
times Hes the champion clgarrootsmoker lights one with the stump ofanother rolls them himself as he goesalong and smokes sixty without letIting any of em go out-
DangerBe like the early bird my son ad
vised the fond parent and you willcatch the worm
But the uptodate youngstershrugged his shoulders
No earlybird business for me heresponded forcibly I might catchthe hookworm
Perplexing CaseProfessor after calling on blank
and waiting for him to reciteSeemst-o me Blank you ought to be ableto answer my question with all theprompting youre getting back there
Blank Well professor theressuch a difference of opinion aroundme thatTho Gargoyle
A SuspicionWhat la a political rainbow
chaserThere are various kinds repliedSenator Sorghum although I suspectthat most of them are more or less In-
fluenced¬
by the legend that everyrainbow has a pot of gold at tho endof it
Gentle PersuasionMcCorkle Is it right to speak of a
man as of tho male persuasion 71
McCrackle It Is If the subject isunmarried
McCorkle What has that to dowith it-
McCrackleWhy If he la marriedhis wife persuades him
1 1j
