The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-03
JEFFERsoN's RELIGION.
Views or the Author OF the Declaration OF
Life Beyond tho Grave.

Views OF the Author OF the Declaration on
life Beyond the Grave.
There Is probably no one converssnt with
III history OF Thomas Jefferson bat who has
heard of the various charges brought against
his religious doctrines The following docu-
ments throwing light upon the subject, have
never appeared in print bat once, and then
very few people had an opportunity to read
them. They consist OF letter written by
VIM. Candy, an eminent member of the
Friends Society, to Thomas Jefferson, and
bis reply thereto, and will be read with in
terest as revealing the religious thoughts and
feelings of one VINO hiss occupied the Presi-
Dental chair:
Mr. CANBY's LETTER.
EIGHTH MoHTH, 30 1913.
ESTEEMED FRIEND THOMAS JEFFERsoN.-I
have for years felt at times affection for thee,
with wish for thy salvation, TO wit: Thy
attainment while on the stage of time (in the
natural body Of suitable proportion of di-
vine life, for otherwise we know little more
than the life of nature, and therein are in
danger of becoming inferior to beasts that
perish in the offer of divine lie made to
every rational being
But have long had better-hopes of thee,
and have thought, particularly in our little
quiet meeting of yesterday. that thou hsdst
been faithful in heart in few things and
wish thou mayest become ruler over more,
and enter into the Joy of our Lord and into
His seat. And it occurs, Ia order thereto,
that We should become Christians; Tor
he who hath not the spirit OF
Christ is none OF His, and knowl-
edge is strongly insisted, 1 think,
By divers OF the Apostles who had particu-
larly seen and were ye.witnesses OF His
majesty. particularly in the mount and of
others who had not that view, which, how
ever. was sfficient to perfect them, and was
to be taken away, that they might be more
efectuslly turned TO that spirit which lead
eth unto all truth-Those power alone is able
TO reduce the spirit of nature into suitable
silence and subsection. WV. CANBY.
Mr.. JEFFERsoN's REPLY.
SIR have duly received your favor of
August %, and am sensible OF the kind in.
tentions from which it flows, and truly for
them-the more so as they could only be
the result OF favorable estimation of my
public course. During long life as much
devoted to duty as faithful discharge of
the trust confided to me would permit, no
object has occupied more Of my coRsidera-
ton than our relation with the beings
around u.s. our duties 10 them and our fu-
TUE prospects. After hearing and reading
everything which probably can be suggested
concerning them 1 have formed the best
judgment | could as to the course they pre-
scribe, and in the due observance OF that
course have no recoliections which give me
any rem0rse. A subsequent preacher of your
religious society, Richard Mott, in discourse
of much JUNCTION and pathos, is said to have
exclaimed aloud 10 his congregation that he
did not believe there was Quaker Presby-
terisn, Methodist or Baptist in Heaven.
Having paused to give his audience time to
STARE and wonder, he said that in Heaven
God knew no distinctions but considered slI
good men as His children and brethren of
the same family
/ believe, with the Quaker preacher, that
those who steadily observe those moral pre-
cepts in which all religions concur Will new.
er be questioned at the gates of heaven as to
the dogmas IN which they differ-that on
entering there all these are left behind Us.
The Arlstideses and Catos, Penns and Tillot-
sons, Presby terians and Bapusts, will find
themselves united in all principles which
are ia concert with the reason of the supreme
mind. With ali the systems of morality,
ancient and modern, which have come ia
der my observation none appear to me so
pure as that of Jesus. Hs who follows this
steadily need not, think, be uneasy, al
though he can not comprehend the myster-
les and subtletiss erected in His doctrines by
those who. calling themselves His special
followers and favorites, would make Him
come into the world to lay snares fer all un-
derstandings but theirs.
The metaphysical heads unsurping the
Judgment seat of God denouncing as His
enemies all who can not perceive this geo.
metrical logic of Euclid in the demonstra-
ton of Anthanasius that three are in one and
enc in three, and yet that three are not one
nor the one three. In all essential points,
you and are of the same religion, and am
too old to 90 into inquiries and charges as to
the unessential Repeating, therefore, my
thsnkfIlness for the kind concern you have
been so good as 20 express. I salute you with
frien dship and brotherly love.
THos. JEFFERSON.
Monticello, Sept L. 1918.