The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-04-06

But 1 couldn't stand that, and I told
him very frankly that didn't be-
lieve the story, and If it was true,
thought Abraham was Crazy He
had me there you know, continued
the Deacon, gOod-naturedly, 'Ebut
then I never was good for anything
| in discussion. I wish you'd 60 to
see him; you'd bring him to terms .
I acknowledged the Deacon s
compliment externally, and inter
nally his courteous reproof, and the
very next evening I called to see
Mr.. Leacock. He was at tea when
I went in. I have q habit, when
waiting for a friend, of studying
his books or his pictures; for ]
think they always tell something Of
him. I was surprised to find in
Mr.. Leacock's little library so large
a religious element, though all Of it
heterodox. There was a complete
edition Of Theodore Parker's works,
Channing's works, a volume or two
Of Robertson, one of Furness, the
English translation Of Strauss Life
of Christ, Remains Jesus, and half a
dozen more similar books, inter
mingled with volumes Of history,
biography, science, travels, and the
New American Cyclopedia. The
Radical and the Atlantic Monthly
were on the table.
Our conversation, when he came
up, was rather desuItory. Mrs. Lea
cock went off early to put the chill
dren to bed. If she did so to give
me chance for private converse
tion, it was quite unnecessary. Mr..
L. evidently was ready for a theo-
logical debate; but it takes two to
discuss, and I refused to accept his
challenge. I aimed only to draw
him out; began by asking him what
he thought of Theodore Parker,
what of Robertson, what of Froth-
ingham, who had an article in the
current number Of the Radical. I
heard everything, answered nothing,
listened as to a new revelation, put
in a hesitating objection now and
then, just to prevent the converse
ton from tagging, and came away
at half past nine, with a volume of
Theodore Parker's Sermons, which
I borrowed. I aimed at nothing
but to understand the man; I be-
ieve I succeeded
In the volume I borrowed I found
a remarkably powerful sermon on
prayer. I read some extracts from
it to my wife the next Sunday and
she pronounced them excellent till
1 told the authors name. It is true
he inveighed against the orthodox
| philosophy of prayer; he denied
that God could really be Influenced
or His plans changed. But on the
duty of prayer he vehemently in
sisted. 'Mere philanthropy and
humanity" he said, "are not reli-
gion. There must also be piety.-
The soul must live in the Divine
presence; must inhale the spirit of
! God; must utter its contrition, its
weakness, its wants, it's thankgiv-
ings to its Heavenly Father"
Two weeks later I returned the
book. / asked Mr.. Leacock to read
that sermon and tell me what he
thought of it.
"Read itY' said he. "Why could
almost speak it, It's one ofmy ia
vorite sermons. It's grand, sir
grandr'
@Then you believe it?' said I.
"With all my heart. Who car
believe that the Great Infinite First
Cause can be influenced and Hi.
plans changed by the teasing o
every one of his insignificant little
creatures?'
"But the rest of the sermon
said. "Do you believe that? IT,
only last Sunday that our pastor
preached against what he called hu
manitarianism. He said that it wa
living without God; that there wa
very little difference between ignor
! ing God and denying His existence
and that the humanitarians practi
cally ignored Him; that they be
lieved only in men"
N'It is not true said he, some
what bitterly. "You can see 70
yourself that it is not true. Theo
Parker believes in prayer as mucl
: as your parson. I don't believ
but that he prayed as much
"And do YOU agree with himF'
| said, with affected surprise.
l Agree with himr' said he, 30
4 course / do. There can be no tru
: religion without prayer, without p
E ETY., without gratitude to God, witt
out faith in Him. Your churc
2 has not the monopoly of faith i
+ God, by any means, that it assume
n to have"
a "And you really believe in pray
: erp' said 1.
p "Believe in prayer? Why,
b course I do. Do you take me f'
a a heathenT' replied he, with SON
It irritation.
n "And every night you kneel dow
Z and commend yourselfto God Il