Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-02-10
es to treat the unknown as if it were
knnxn-this Is the farmers faith


The Merchant, the ip-OWner, the
Railroad Company; These men of
commerce cannot prove before hand
and no one can prove to them that
there shall be no floods, no fires, no
shipwrecks, no panics, no riots, no
embellishments. and no treachery. That
their ventures" (it is significant that
they are called ''ventures that these
will all succeed is as yet an unknown
thing. But for good reasons these
men treat the unknown thing as true,
and so the commerce of the world
goes on. This is commercial faith.
The Politician, the Legislator, the
men of State, cannot prove and none
can prove to them that the greatest
good to the greatest number will re-
suit from all, or any of their meas
ures. They are obliged to act, if they
act at all. in view of the stronger rea-
sons, and treat the unknown thing as
true. Now when politicians really do
seek to act in view Of the stronger
and better reasons-this is their faith.
They cannot be sure that what they
hope to secure or achieve. will actually
come to pass, but if for good reasons
the measures they adopt seem likely
to bring it, their treating the unknown
thing as true is stateman' faith.
Indeed there is no getting on in
the world without faith. In getting
married, who can prove that all will
be as desired, as hoped ? Yet if for
good reasons the unknown good is
treated as true, the faith is rational.
In entering a profession no man knoovs
before hand that it is the best place
and work for him. Yet, if be treats
it as being SO, for good reasons, his
faith is good. There is nothing better
he can do.
In giving medicine, in taking a
journey, in locating home, in choos-
ing a school, in almost everything we
do, there is an element of the un-
known, the Notwithstanding to
be desired on one hand or to be feared
on the other, and usually both. And
the only rational thing, is to treat the
unknown good as fact and the I'M
known evil as fact, and plan to
secure the one and avoid the other.
And a0herever fer good reasons the
improved or unknown is treated as
truth, as fact; this is faith.
Thus it will be seen that there is a
great deal that is properly called faith
that is not religious faith. 1t is faith
because it is the choice for good rea-
sons, to treat the unknown as if it
were known. But suppose the reasons
were poor? In that case it would not
be faith, but credulity. or superstition
or folly. And here we see the exact
difference between faith, and these
other things. Faith has good reasons
for treating the unknown as if it were
known. Those things have not
In ordinary life-to treat the IN
proved as if it were oroved-for weak
or stupid reasons, S called folly or
foolishness, and other like names. Or
it is called rashness or recklessness, or
credulity, according to circumstances.
In matters of religion, to treat, for
shallow, inadequate reasons, the I'M
proved as if it were proved, is super
stition.
This is the difference: Faith accepts
the unknown as known, for good rea-
sons; Superstition accepts the unknown
as known for bad reasons-reasons
that are insufficient, weak, valueless.
We have often heard the expression
"a SAVING FAITH"
and there is meaning in it, but in
truth, all faith is saving, in its own
line and realm-the farmers faith
saves him from idleness and poverty
the merchants faith saves him from
boarding and from inaction, and from
Encouragement and many ills the
statesman's faith saves him and the
people too from stagnation and decay,
and SO in every case, Moreover all
faith is uirtuous and good, so far as it
goes. For all faith is choice in view
of good reasons. There is the act of
will, the exercise of judgment, and
the choice is made in accordance with
the decision Of the judgment. And
such action; whether it be blowing or
sailing, or travelling, or preaching that
comes of it, is right action, and virtu-
Gus, so far as it goes. You may call
it faith in God, or faith in nature, or
faith in other men, or faith in princi-
pies, or faith in duty, or faith in
yourself, according as the unknown
thing relates to. and depends upon