The daily gazette., 1881-05-24

with what we can never unfold, has
been . part OF our nature In all ages
Chilhood is amused by riddles, and old
are by mysteries. In both cases, after
guessing again aud again, we are obliged
10 apiye It up" In this, however, they
differ-the solution of riddles is within
the scope Of the human faculties, not SO
Of mysteries.
81 have unintentlonally run on in this
course OF observation, not to dissuade
Won from the interest you seem to take
In your new doctrines; for ifthey occupy
and amuse you, they are so far, at least
useful; and do not fear they will lead
your generous spirit into any neglect OF
higher duties, or to any intolerance Of
others; IJor are my remarks pointed par
ticularly at your mode of faith. l re-
peat that / have all my life avoided all
knotty and disputed points of religion.
l argue with nobody about the trinity or
the unity ofthe Godhead; the mysteries
OF free knowledge and free will; or the
profound doctrine Of atonement by the
death OF Christ. read nothing about
them-I affirm or deny nothing-I know
nothing. l profess not to understand
them; and know that much wiser and
stronger men have come to no under
standing about them, after centuries OF
learned and intolerant disputation, in
which rivers Of blood as we'll as of ink,
have flowed In support of this savage and
unchristisn warfare. l mix not in such
strife, but am conten. to discharge, as
we'll as can, the duties which Provi-
dence has assigned me, according to the
clear and undisputed light he has given
me.
consider religion to have nothing to
do with the conflict Of theologians, and
the questions of the schools; they are,to
my mind, the proofs Of the weakness, The
pride, and the vindictive intolerance OF
the human heart, when infiamed by
strong passions. Although have been
q constant and very general reader Tor
more than forty years, ! have never Pc
rused one page Of any writer upon any
controverted question Of religion, not
even q sermo This is literally true, e,and
am sure have escaped world OF per-
plexity by this course, and lost nothing
worth having.
Joseph Hopkinson was born in Phila-
delphia in December, ITO. He was the
son of Francis Hopkinson, one OF the
signers Of the Declaration OF lndepend-
ence. He received his education at the
University Of Pennsylvania, and shortly
after graduating, began the study OF law.
He settled in Philadelphia, where his
professional reputation grew with great
rapidity.
He was leading counsel in many Of
the most important trials IN the United
States. The extraordinary ability shown
in these led to his being engaged by
Judge Chase on the impeachment OF the
latter before the Senate Of the United
States, in which he acquitted himself
with great honor.
He was for several years representa-
tive in Congress, where he occupied 9
place among the foremost for talent and
skill as debater, at a time when that
body embraced an unusual number oil
highly gifted men.
In 1928, President Adams conferred
upon him the appointment OF Judge OF
the United States for the.Eastern Dis
trict of Pennsylvania, an office which he
filed with honor ana distinction, until
his death in 1912. He was one of the
Vice Presidents of the American Philos'
optical Society, and President OF the
Academy Of Fine Arts. OF the last
named institution, he may be considered
ss the founder.-Supp. Encyclopedia
americana.