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THE BULLETIN
Fix this textVol. 3.—No. 119—New Series.
Fix this textSATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1885.
Fix this textPrio#—6d.
Fix this textThe Bulletin
Fix this textSATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1835.
Fix this textThe Eighth Champion.
Fix this textUp to Wednesday, the 13th August, 1885, we
Fix this textthought Sir James Martin, the Chief Justice
Fix this textof New South Wales, a sound lawyer
Fix this textspecially skilled in dealing with conflicting
Fix this textevidence. So far as the elucidation of
Fix this textBritish and colonial law—to the unravelling
Fix this textof whose tangled threads he has devoted far
Fix this textmore than ordinary abilities—is concerned,
Fix this textour opinion of Sir James’ acumen has under-
Fix this textgone no change. Butin an evil hour for him
Fix this textself and his reputation he threw his gaunt!
Fix this textinto the very centre of the “ Christian contr
Fix this textversy” arena, and followed it with wh
Fix this textmight be called bumptious alacrity. It w
Fix this texton the night preceding the date we hav
Fix this textmentioned that he presided at a lectu
Fix this textgiven at the Sydney Protestant Ha
Fix this textby the Rev. Dr. Kinross. The discour
Fix this textwas on the evidences of Christianity, an
Fix this textparadoxical as it may appear, Sir Jame
Fix this textMartin’s introductory address went
Fix this textshow not so much that those evidences wer
Fix this textincontrovertible as that they were unneces
Fix this textsary. If faith, not reason, Is to be our guid
Fix this textin the most momentous of all questions, ho
Fix this textabsurd to multiply testimony which musi)
Fix this textbe tested by reason, not faith ? Suppose, fo
Fix this textinstance, a Christian missionary endeavou
Fix this texting to convert a Mohammedan. The latte
Fix this textwould tell of Mahomet, his life, and h
Fix this textmiracles. Should the missionary observe
Fix this text“But these statements are demonstrabl
Fix this textuntrue—are contrary to universal experi
Fix this textence. Your reason can show how un worth
Fix this textthey are of credence,” what would the fo -
Fix this textlower of Mahomet answer ? The Chief Jus
Fix this texttice puts the reply in his mouth: “ True, you
Fix this textunassisted or perverted reason cannot gras
Fix this textthem, but it is precisely on that account yo
Fix this textshould believe them. It is faith, not argu
Fix this text' ment, that should guide us in these sublim
Fix this textmatters. How can a poor worm, with cir
Fix this textcumscribed intelligence like yours, presum
Fix this textto say that the Prophet never went through
Fix this textseven heavens and never saw an ange
Fix this textwhose eyes were so wide apart that it woulc
Fix this texttake a camel three days to cover the dis
Fix this texttance between them ? I believe it, and, i
Fix this textyou say it is impossible, it but makes my be
Fix this textlief the stronger. You have never been
Fix this textheaven, and, therefore, your opinion on th
Fix this textmatter is worthless.” What answer would
Fix this texttho missionary give to this ? Sir James ha
Fix this textdeprived him of any.
Fix this text♦ * ♦
Fix this textIn modern Europe no man knew so much
Fix this textconcerning the evidences of Christianity as
Fix this textGibbon. He disbelieved them. Our Chief
Fix this textJustice would probably say to him: “You
Fix this textshould not reason on these matters, you
Fix this textcannot grasp them.” And should the author
Fix this textof the “ Decline and Fall” vouchsafe a reply
Fix this textit would possibly be to ask, “ Why, then, col-
Fix this textlect the evidence at all ?” It is remarkable
Fix this textthat the Chairman failed to see the pit in
Fix this textwhich he placed himself by the line of ar-
Fix this textment he espoused. While protesting
Fix this textagainst the application of reason, he
Fix this textbrings forward reasons to prove Christ’s
Fix this textDivinity and the doctrine of the Tri-
Fix this textnity. While protesting against argu-
Fix this textgumeut he argues. Some of his statements
Fix this textare so unique in their ingenuousness as to
Fix this textrender it doubtful how they should be
Fix this textreceived—witn laughter or tears. He has
Fix this textlittle difficulty in believing in the Trinity
Fix this textthe Incarnation, or the Resurrection. He
Fix this textWould have Jess it the number of Persons
Fix this texthad been four or six. And why is his faitn
Fix this text& o robust ? Let him speak for himself :—
Fix this textWe know from the concurring testimony of
Fix this texttbc many contemporaries of Jesus that all these
Fix this textthings, having been verified as they have told us,
Fix this textby miracles, which they themselves witnessed,
Fix this textwere believed by their contemporaries!”
Fix this textWe wonder how James, Bishop of Mel-
Fix this textbourne, will feel when he reads this contri-
Fix this textbution to controversial theology—this clear-
Fix this texting up of obscure points. 1
Fix this text“In the year 325,” Sir Jambs goes on, “the first
Fix this textCEoumenlcal Council met at Nicoea. ... On
Fix this textthat occasion the doctrine of the Trinity, as now
Fix this textunderstood, was, by an overwhelming majority,
Fix this textestablished. Those who are of opinion that this
Fix this textdoctrine is opposed to reason, may be reminded
Fix this texthow many other things are equally beyond the
Fix this textscope of their intelligence. Who of us can grasp
Fix this textthe idea of a world formed out of nothing ? ”
Fix this textWho, indeed! Certainly no one who has
Fix this textthe most elementary knowledge of chemis-
Fix this texttry. Theologians agree in saying that even
Fix this textthe Creator could not do things intrinsically
Fix this textimpossible—could not, for instance, put a
Fix this textchord in a circle greater than
Fix this textnor make too parallel lines meet. But Sir
Fix this textJames thinks He could. To the class of
Fix this textthings intrinsically impossible belongs
Fix this textthe making of something out of nothing,
Fix this textor the resolution of something into
Fix this textnothing. Either is just as absurd as
Fix this textthe endeavour to construct a square
Fix this textwith five right angles or five sides. But the
Fix this textChief Justice thinks that, with a little trou-
Fix this textble, both might be managed. Men who
Fix this textspend their lives in the laboratory smile at
Fix this textthe idea of creation. To the physicist the
Fix this texteternity of matter is as much an axiom as
Fix this textthe statement that the whole is greater than
Fix this texta part is to the mathematician. But Sir
Fix this textJ ames Martin is of a different opinion. How
Fix this textpleasant the world might be to-day if all
Fix this textpossessed this simple faith 1
Fix this textAt the Council of Nice, a.d. 325, we are
Fix this texttold that “the doctrine of the Trinity as
Fix this textnow understood was, by an overwhelming
Fix this textmajority, established.” It is only fair that
Fix this textthe public should know a little of this coun-
Fix this textcil. We shall tell them. It consisted of 318
Fix this textBishops, the greater part of whom could not
Fix this textread. They wrangled for weeks, and then
Fix this textput it to the vote what books should be Con-
Fix this textsidered the Word of Gon. From about fifty
Fix this textgospels they chose the four which have come
Fix this textdown to us as canonical. Men who certainly
Fix this textknew as much as Sir Jambs Martin about
Fix this textthe composition and proceedings of the
Fix this textCouncil of Nice do not share his admiration
Fix this textfor it. Lecount, for instance, says .—
Fix this text“ Did each of the 318 Bishops have a copy of each
Fix this textof the fifty gospels? . . . Or had they to wait
Fix this textfor each other and read by turns? These ques-
Fix this texttlons are best solved by Sa linus, one of their
Fix this textnumber, who says, excepting two, they were
Fix this text‘illiterate, simple creatures.’ ... If they de-
Fix this textcided, as assemblies usually do, it was done by
Fix this textvote; if, as Pappus says, the whole of the books
Fix this textwere put under the table, and the right ones
Fix this textjumped on the table, It was a piece of roguery. At
Fix this textany rate, they ought to have transmitted all the
Fix this textbooks down to posterity, that each man
Fix this textjudge for himself. Now, it the 316 illiterate,
Fix this textsimple Bishops had noted these [Peter’s] in the
Fix this textroom of Paul’s works, whereabouts might we not
Fix this texthave been now, instead of where we are ? ”
Fix this textBut, according to our Chief Justice, the
Fix this textGreat Architect of the Universe, one word
Fix this textfrom whom would have settled the dispute
Fix this textfor ever, allowed the question as to whether
Fix this textHe was composed of one, two, or three
Fix this textDivine Persons, to be put to the vote of 318
Fix this textignorant men 1500 years ago. Nay, more;
Fix this textallowed the happiness or misery of His
Fix this textcreatures in two worlds to depend on their
Fix this textbelief or rejection of the views entertained
Fix this textby a majority of the 318 “ simple and illiter-
Fix this textate” ones!
Fix this text* * *
Fix this textThe most prominent feature in this singu-
Fix this textlar address is the pains taken to show that
Fix this textbelief should become sincere in proportion
Fix this textas the thing to be believed becomes incom-
Fix this textprehensible. When the latter is demon-
Fix this textstrably absurd, it is then that belief should
Fix this textbe soundest. If you can prove that matter
Fix this textcould not have come out of nothing, the
Fix this textgreater the reason to believe that it could.
Fix this textIf, instead of carrying a resolution that the
Fix this textDeity consisted of three persons, the Nicene
Fix this textBishops had voted that the earth was flat of
Fix this textthat the sun and stars moved round it, it
Fix this textwould be impious to question their decision*
Fix this textTrue, it might be shown that they were
Fix this textwrong, and entirely ignorant on the subject
Fix this textThe greater reason for agreeing with them,'
Fix this textIt would be illogical to challenge theif
Fix this textopinions on the Cosmos of which they at
Fix this textleast knew something, while unhesitatingly
Fix this textaccepting their opinions of the Deity, of
Fix this textwhom they certainly knew nothing. But it
Fix this textis on the subject of “miracles” that Sir
Fix this textJames Martin is at his very best. It is here
Fix this texthe is simply delightful. His belief in mystery
Fix this textis founded on the miracles witnessed in
Fix this textPalestine 2000 years ago. Had he been born
Fix this textin Turkey, he would have believed in the
Fix this textdivinity of Mahomet, at whose bidding “ the
Fix this textmoon left its place in the heavens, came
Fix this textdown and did obeisance to him.” The testl t
Fix this textmony for this erratic conduct on the part of
Fix this textthe moon is precisely similar to that con-
Fix this textnected with the raising of Lazarus. Men
Fix this textwitnessed it and were prepared to die fof
Fix this texttheir belief in its truth. If it be said that
Fix this textthe whole world would have witnessed the
Fix this textmoon’s arrival or departure, and every
Fix this textwriter of the time would have mentioned it,
Fix this textthis but confirms the fact. Thousands of
Fix this textRoman officials and soldiers were in Judea
Fix this textwhen mid-day darkness covered the earth
Fix this textat the Crucifixion, In India, China, Italy,
Fix this textGreece, and Egypt were men recording the
Fix this textoccurrence of natural phenomena, but not
Fix this textone mentions the darkness. How these
Fix this textstupendous occurrences could happen daily,
Fix this textnever attract notice, and fail in winning
Fix this textconverts, we shall leave Sir James Martin
Fix this textto explain. We would recommend to him a
Fix this textcareful study of Hume’s famous essay on
Fix this textthis important subject.
Fix this text* ♦ *
Fix this textThe speaker told of a Roman Qoverndi*
Fix this textwho, “not more than 80 years after the Cru-
Fix this textcifixion,” wrote a letter saying, among other
Fix this textthings, that “ many years before that time
Fix this textChristians had become numerous, and be-
Fix this textlieved in the divinity of Christ.” We quite
Fix this textbelieve this. But it is the most singular de-
Fix this textfence of Christianity we remember to have
Fix this textmet. Why, in our own day thousands be-
Fix this textlieved that—even while he was still alive—
Fix this textthe horse-thief, Joe Smith, held communis
Fix this textcation with God. Hundreds of thousands
Fix this textbelieve it still. Voluminous and incontro-
Fix this textvertible evidence is at hand to show that
Fix this textMormonism is a stupid and not over-clean
Fix this textsuperstition. But thousands of sincere men
Fix this textand women would seal their faith in it with
Fix this texttheir blooo. If you attempt to reason with
Fix this textthem, they would justly say, with the Chief
Fix this textJustice: “ We would remind you how many
Fix this textother things are equally beyond the scope of
Fix this textmere human intelligence. Who can grasp
Fix this textthe idea of a world formed out of nothing?’
Fix this textWe are told that “under Christianity art
Fix this textand science have advanced; freedom and
Fix this textequality have been established.” This will
Fix this textbe news to the Tyndalls and Drapers of
Fix this textsociety. Up to this we have heard no
Fix this textretractation of the “ Belfast Address.” But
Fix this texteven Sir James will admit that the manner
Fix this textin which science was fostered from the
Fix this textfourth to the seventeenth century was not
Fix this textHIS HONOR MR. JUSTICE FAUCETT.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239700142
(1880). The bulletin Retrieved April 5, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239700142
The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880. Web. 5 April 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239700142>
1880, The bulletin John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 5 April 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239700142
{{Citation
|
| title=The bulletin.
| year=1880
| section=105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm.
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| issue=Vol. 3 No. 119 (22 Aug 1885)
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239700142
| id=nla.obj-239700142
| access-date=5 April 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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