Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-03
Was Thaddeus Stevens a skeptic.

The following incidents will showthat
the claim of Thadeus Stevens as a skep-
tic is of very doubtful propriety. In the
year 1929 the Pennsylvania Bible So
ciety, through her auxiliaries, resolved
to explore and supply the destitute fam
lilies of the State with copies of the
Holy Scriptures. Mr.. Stevens at that
time resided in Gettysburg. Meeting a
student n day in the street, he said
to him: ''Young man, are you a stu
dent?' eyes, sir" "Well, what are
you going to do during vacation?" 'I
don't know; perhaps will visit York,
my old home" Would you like to have
a job whereby you could earn some-
thing?" Eyes, certainly" Swell, I
have a job for YOU" "What is it?"
''Why, the Bible Society has resolved
to have this county visited and have all
the destitute families supplied with BIZ
bles, and I have promised to have M
township explored and supplied, and if
you will undertake it I will furnish you
a horse and pay you a dollar a day."
"Well," l replied, Il will" So in a
day or two I got Stevens horse and
borrowed a pair of saddle-bags and
started out on my mission. When [
was about to start Stevens gave me five
dollars as q donation to begin with. 1
explored the township west of the col
lege and Stevens footed the bill.
Some months previous to Mr.. Stevens
death it was reported that he was very
sick, likely to die. Rev. I. H. Terrence,
being in Washington City, took occa-
sion to call at the residence of Mr..
Stevens on a Sunday afternoon. The
housekeeper informed him that MI.
Stevens could not be seen, but, sending
his card with a request to see Mr..
Stevens if agreeable, he heard the voice
of the old Commoner distinctly say:
'Admit him; tell him to come up.i'
On entering the room, after passing the
courtesies Of the day and remarking
that it had been announced that Mr..
Stevens was dead, he replied: eyes;
and I have no doubt but some people
would be very glad if it were true; but
l yet live" Nj. Terrence then re-
marked: cit is no idle curiosity that
has led me- to make this call. I desire
to communicate with you on the SUBJ
ject of religion. Anything you may say
will be considered strictly confidential,
if you desire it," to which he replied:
II have nothing to conceal on that SUBJ
ject." l then asked him: ''Should
this sickness result in your decease,
what shall we say about your belief in
the Bible?" He raised himself up in
bed, drew his mantle around HIM, adj
justed his cap. and said: 1.-THE Bible?
Take that away and there is nothing
left" I then said: "tWhat about the
atonementP' To which he replied: II
don't know what effect the death of a
man eighteen hundred years ago could
have on me to-day" To which 1 re-
piled: "Nor do | understand the mys-
terry of redemption. But suppose it
could be made out that redemption
He answered.: II should be compelled
to believe it" Il propose, Mr.
Stevens, to give you the opin-
ion of a friend of yours, a
member of your profession, a lawyer
who, 1 think you will admit, was well
circumstanced to understand the facts
in the case" 'To whom do you refer?"
said MI. Stevens. I replied: "St.
Paul" "Ah," said he, s'that's very
ingenious. What does ne say?" I re-
fcrred him to the tenth chapter of He
brews and tenth verse: '.By the which
will we are sanctified through the Offer
ing of the body of Jesus Christ once
for ALL" "This proves that the atone
ment is Gods plan for saving the world.
Whether we accept it or reject it, it is
for us to determine" MI. Stevens re-
piled that if he were to say that he was
n Cb,.;ction no uou1d oonciIa,. hin,colf
an arrogant hypocrite, but remarked
with a great deal of feeling, subdued
tone and softened eye: ''My old Bap-
fist mother had it, and I believe irmy
mother" The interview was continued
at considerable length as to what con-
stituted a genuine Christian life and
faith. Mr.. Terrence placed his finger
on the marble stand by the bedside and
said: ''This is a sensation which we
call cold, which is the absence CT heat.
This is proven through the medium of
the senses and may be considered a
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