Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-09
n. RENAN's PIriLOSOPHY
The nelier OF the Great French Writer,


From his souvenirs d'Enfance ct de Jeunesse. -
My philosophy, according to which the
world in its aggregate is full of divine
breath, does not admit the existence of
individual will in the government of the
universe. individual providence, Ms it
was formerly understood, has never been
proved by well established fact. But
for that l would certainly bow with graft
tudc before II concourse of circumstances
III which mind less swayed by general
reasoning than my own would see traces
of the special protection of beneficent
gods. ..... My own conclusion is mere
ly that the unconscious effort toward the
good and the true that exist in the uni
verse throws cast of the dice though
each Of us. Everything happens, prize $
IN the lottery like the rest. We may upset
the providcntial design of which we are
the object, but can hardly effect anything
toward Its success. Quid huJcs gu0d
non occcpisH. OF all Christian dogmas
the truest is the dogma ofgrucc. Ny ex-
perience OF life has been singularly gem
tie, and | do not think that there have
been i'll the measure of consciousness
which orr planet admits of many beings
napier than l.,..... My pence of mind
10 PciI'tt. '-...l nave never suffered
much. and, were ! 80 disposed, might feel
Justified III believing that nature has pro-
vided pads to preserve me from over
rough shocks. Once, on the occasion of
my sisters death, nature literally chloro-
formed me, and thus prevented my wit
Messing sight which might have deeply
wounded my senses and impaired the ul-
terror serenity of my mind. Thus, with
E,tn 7
thank. 1 feel deeply thankful. | have so
thoroughly enjoyed this life that i really
have no right to claim compensation on
the other side of the grave. 1t is from
another standpoint that ! quarrel with
death. She is leveller (egalitaire) to
degree that irritates me. She is demo.
crat who lays a mine of dynamite under
our feet. She ought to wait, at least, to
let us choose our own time and consult
our convenience.
am Ill the habit several times year
OF receiving an anonymous letter contain
ing these words always in the same hand
writing: "St pOurtant IL n uvan ,ul
EMERY yet if there were IL hell y Sure
ly the pious person vino writes me this is
anxious for my souls health, and am
obliged to him. But hell is sripposition
very inconsistent with what We know Of
divine goodness. Moreover if there be
one l can conscientiously affirm that
have not deserved if A s,ooII onount -
purqatorv would norhons he foi, ana T
would run the chances If thot no ro,o
disc would come next md Mons souls
hope. would obtain indulgences r. sbort-
en- my STAY IN purpatorv The infn;to
goodness Tint I have oxnnr;erc.,d In lii
world INSPIRES me with q conv;o,;or tI'at
at least an canal GOODNESS roryodo. atar
nity, and in that / mt nv trust ',.,
And now only ast of }bo nooa ,,or;.
who has SO often puided co1nsel,e1 and
comfortel me but nm cosv n,,J srJin, J
death at NV appointed lime hn !, far or
near. The stole contcnIeJ tLot n la,,,,,,
life was possible within tbe sto,nocli ~
Phalariss bull. That ia snv;no loo ,nnol
The only acceptable death ia n nobic
death. which ia NOT n nathoI,a;o.l 900;
dent but valued and d,.termineJ and ha-
fore the Eternal. death in action ia ,ho
most desirable of all. Lut there nro nthnr
ends not less llu,trious. If over have
occasionally desired to be n Senator if ia
because | Imagine that beforo vcrv lon~
that Office will afford those holdinG il fine
opportunities of beiug sbot m. Leoten tn
dcath-modes of disease. after ALI greatly
to be preferred to a long illness that
DESTROYS Won by a GLOW and niecamoai
process. r'''''e
Gods will be donei sbo,I horco-
forth not have much to ,a,rn and nan
pretty clearly discern what onornt af ,ha
truth can be prasped by the human y, mimI ;n
in the present stage of its deyelonment
But what would he a source nf dospint;nr
To me would he IN hnvn ~ oo II thron1,h u'ion ina
of those neriods of s2Gtonrat; sm oie
which a man who has hnj strenath and nj