The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-10
William Wirt's Faith.

why tneD, answer, les.
William Wirt's Faith.
Hon. Lambert Tree. of Washington, having
come into possession of letter written by
William Writ fifty years ago, furnishes copy
for publication in the Times as follows:
BALTIMORE, MARCH 23d, 1895.
owe you several letters, my dear friend,
but you are kind and can allow for my situa-
ton. I have had such winter as I have
never had before, having ceased to argue, with
broken heart and exhausted strength, when
at every step felt far better disposed to lie
down in the grave. 1t was not in such a
frame that l could address you. Even now 1
am unable to write, for the Heavens are hung
with mourning and the earth with darkness
The charm of life is gone look at my be-
loved wife, and my still remaining circle of
lovely children and my heart reproaches me
with ingratltude to heaven. ] have been too
blessed, and am still far too blessed, for my just
deserts. The selection of the victim is too strik
ing not to be understood There is better world,
Of which l have thought too little. To that
world she has gone, and thither my affections
have followed her. This was heavens design.
see and feel it as distinctly as if an nigel had
revealed it-as if my angel daughter had been
permitted to reveal it. Indeed, often mag
inc that can see her reckoning me to the
happy world to which she has gone. She was
e9y companion-my office companion, my
librarian, my clerk. My papers now bear her
endorsement. She pursued her studies in my
Office, by my side; sat with me, walked with
-ie, was my inexpressibly sweet companion
lever left me but to go and sit with her dear
We knew all her intelligence, all the quickness
and power of her perceptions, all her seraphic
love. She was all love; loyed all Gods crea-
lion, even the animals, and trees, and plarts.
She loved her God and SAVIOR with an angels
love, and died like saint. Voltaire and
Bolingbroke, and the materialists of French
and England and the whole earth, would
never be able 10 persuade me that such spirit
was the result of material organization.
Oh my dear friend, there is a future world
Would to God you could believe with me that
the Bible is true, the revealing will. of God,
and offers to us the only terms of salvation.
Human reason may revolt at it, and what is
,oor human reason? unable to explain how
blade OF grass grows. Surrounded every
", ment with realities which it admits to be
inexpl;cable mysteries; and yet presuming to
Measure and prom ounce upon the counsels OF
bmniscieuce, and rejecting the Christian re-
lgion b, cause il is q mystery. Can anything
re more mysterious than the union of soul and
body, unless It be The still greater mystery
which some profess to believe that matter can
ye so organized as to produce the amazing in
tellectual + suits which we witness in man
iii believing our own existence we believe a
nystery as great AS any that the Christian re-
igion presents, for there are no degrees in
nystely. Pass the sphere Of reason, and all is
mystery OF equal gree; all the works of the
Almighty are mysterious to our poor limited
acuties.
What series of magnificent mysteries does
astronomy present! Philosophers resolve the
notions of the planets into gravitation, and
what is gravitation? Let reason answer this
question. 1t cannot do it. She finds herself
involved in a world of mysteries, and yet she
rejects the Christian religion because it is
mystery. Is not God himself mystery? or,
if the solar system is believed to be uncreated
and eternal, is not that mystery? Would /
have man renounce his reason? No. / ask
only that he will confide it to it's sphere, and
not pronounce the ocean without bottom
because he cannot touch it with an inch line.
Believe me, my dear friend, this subject re-
quires more solemn reconsideration. l have
read Voltaire, Bolingbroke, Gibbon, Hume,
have puzzled but never convinced me. In my
younger days / was struck with their novelty,
vlvacity, wit, ingenuity and power of ridicule
but there was always lurking belief in my
heart that it was all false and hollow, however
plausible the exterior. Within a year or two
have been reading Horne's Introduction to
the Study of the Scriptures, where all their
arguments are arrayed. and according to my
Judgment, most triumphantly refuted. Will
you read that book? Will you read it care
fully? Will you read the letters of Olynthus
Gregory? 1 want your society in heaven.
have loved you on earth more dearly than any
other man, and l would love to enjoy you
forever in Heaven. If human virtue alone
could carry you there you would be certain Of
it. But, my dear friend, there must be spirit.
ual change Would to God you could be per
suaded OF this You will think me mad
This subject, fear, is distasteful to you-You
will say that you have thought enough oft
that you have made up your mind, and must
take your chances. l hope you will not say
50. lam no raying enthusiast. abhor hys-
terical and maniacal screams as much as you
can do. True religion is calm, serene, sublime
There is nothing sour or ascetic about it. II
is "a sweetener Of the spirit, and the parent o.
all that is kind, and pure, and benevolent in
affections Il is not gloomy, but cheerful ano
social To walk with God and to commune
with Him in His works, and through HiE
spirit, what can he more exalting, ennobling
What SO well calculated to fill the heart will
love to our fellow creaiure--with the most ex
banded philanthropy? Do not reject TIN
Christian religion because its mysteries con
found your reason.
/ Forced, a. you are, to b lieve 50 many othe
{n5 zteriss, WI you net before that thiss