Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-06-08
SUNDAY, JUNE s. 1879.
COLONEL INEGRSOLL AT HIS
BROTHERS GRAVE.

Col. Robert G, IngersOll is a man
of acknowledged ability and rare
genius. He is a man Of generous
impulses, and, so far as we know, of
pure personal life. 1t appears
strange that one of such superior
intellectual powers should be an
ayowed Atheist. A few days ago a
cherished brother died, and Col.
Ingersol delivered a short grafton
over his remains, remarkable for its
beauty of language. 1t was a pa
thetic tribute to the virtues of the
deceased, but ignored the existence
of God, revealed religion, future
responsibility and the Immortality
of the soul. 1t appears incredible
that a man shonld believe that this
world, with all its wonders of
mechanism, harmony and adaptation
to the comforts and ne
cessities of its inhabitants, could
be the result of mere acct
dent. In all ages Of the world of
which we have any knowledge, men
everywhere have in some way wor-
shipped a supreme power. Where
they have not recognized the exist
ence of the God of the Scriptures,
they have made gods of their own,
AID in their superstition endowed
them with supernatural powers.
There is something in the human
mind that we can not suppress or
blot out, which leads US to look for
a future existence beyond the grave.
Philosophers and scientists have
tried to solve the mysteries of crea-
ton, all to little purpose. Their
research leads them to a limitless
expanse, beyond which, to human
vision, all is impenetrable darkness
and confusion. Aside from a con-
frmation of the truth of revelation
investigation has not made one gem
Grafton wiser than its predecessor.
1t is here that re
yealed religion comes in
to light up the dark future and
give hope and comfort to the faith
full worshipers of the Christian s
God, through the exercise of a
rational faith. Theirs is a religion
of charity, brotherhood, benevo,
lence and philanthropy. 1t is based
On revelation, and to say the least
that can be said, revelation has as
solid a foundation as secular his
tory. Cotempory history recog>
nizes the appearance of Christ, and
since his appearance all intelligent
men who know anything at all Of
ancient and modern history must
admit that great changes have
taken place, and that the condition
of the human race has much i'm
proved. Christianity has proven
to be an absolutely neces-
sary condition to the highest
and best type of civiliza-
ton, which appears to US to be the
very strongest evidence of ChriSt's
divinity. For centuries the most
learned scholars, including NUNS
Der of infdel historians, have as
sailed the truth of the Scriptures,
and yet it is fact that more per-
sons in this enlightened age believe
in the truth of revelation than in
any former age.
Scofers point to the infamous
crimes which have stained the an
nails of the past in the name of re-
ligion, as an evidence that it is a
myth and without any real founda-
ton. But this will hardly shake
the faith OF one who knows that re-
ligion has been the source of so
much happiness to the living and
consolation to the dying for
ages past, and who knows further
that it is the superstructure upon
which modern society is based.
Without it no form of oath would
he binding. and society would be