The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-07-19
rHE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY.
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1881.
What has it Done for You?

Having concluded one of his infdel
lectures ia a village in the north-of Eu-
gland, noted skeplic challenged those
pre ,ent to q discussion. Who should
avcept the challenge hut an old, bent
woman, in most antiquated attire, who
went up to the lecture and said:
"Slr, | have a question to put to
you.
swell, my good woman, what is it7"
"Ten years ago she said, ~ was
left widow, with eight children utterly
unprovided for, and nothing to call my
own but this Bible. By its direction,
and looking to God for strength bave
been enabled to feed myself and family.
am now tottering to the grave: but |
am perfectly happy, becanse ] look for
ward 20 life of immortality with Jesus
in heaven. That's what my religion
has done for tbe. What has your way
Of thinking done for YOU p
"WeI. my gnod lady," rejoined the
lecturer, 81 don't want to disturb your
comfort; but"
"Oh. that's not the qles,ion!" inter
posed the woman keep to the point.
sir. What has your way of thinking
done for you 2"
the infidel endeavored to shirk the
matter again; the feeling Of the meeting
gave vent to uproarous applause, anal
the skeptic hal TO go away ,iisconftted
by an old woman.
Let US change the picture. The moth
er Of Hume, the inf lei philosopher. was
once professor of Christianity. Daz
zled by the genius of her son, she apos.
tatized from her early faith, and folio wed
him into the maze Of skeplicism. Yeois
passed, and she drew near the gate Of
death, and from her dying bed wrote 10
him the following pathetic letter:
"MY DEAR Sow My heslth haa failed
I. me- am in deep decline I canno
long survive. Ny philosophy affods mt
M comfort in my distress am lei
without the hopes and consultations o
, religion. and Dy mind is sinking into
. state of desES,.. You can afford m
) some substitute for the loss of the hope
of religion. pray you hasten hom
to console me, or at least write to N
the consultations that philosophy afford
n at the dying hour"
Such are the straits into which inf
deity leads its votaries To them deaf
is at hest bnt leap in the dark, an
they shrink with fear lest it be a lea
!. i,fn ssfha hIo onHpaao ~ fnrouc
: and ever" Said the learned and courte
. ilidel Voltaire:
"In man there is more wretchednes
than all animals put together. He love
: life, and yet he knows that he must di'
II be enj"ys transient good he suffer
evils, and is at last devoured by worm
This knowledge is his fatal prerogative
other animals have it not The bulk {
mankind are nothing more than crow
of wretches equal. criminal and unfo
tunste, and the globe contains carcasst
rather than men. l tremble at the r.
view Of this dreadful picture to find th'
1t contains complaint against Prov
dence itself, and l wish had never bee
born
This is the best that infiielity can d
for man. Listen now to the words OF
dying Christian. Sad the godly HoIl.
burton:
II shall shortly get a very difIerel
sight of God from what I have ev'
had, and shall be meet to praise him 70
ever. What wonder that enjoy sue
composure under all my bodily pain
and in view of death itstlA What
mercy that, having the use of my re
son. can decisre his goodness to n
soul! bless his name, have four
him. and die rejoicing in him. Bless'
be God that ever vas born. Tile 4
mory