The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-12
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THE RELIGIOUS IDEA.

coln of Garfield, of Grant, Of Chinese Gordon,
of Count Bismarck. They may not be church
members, may not have studied or committed
themselves to any theological system; but
even while ignoring the systems and theolo-
gies of their time, the great men Of the world
have led lives showing an earnest belief,
amounting to the motive power Of their
careers, that life is not worth living unless led
with constant reference to its divine author,
and of an existence beyond the grave. This
principle is older than the ten great religions.
It extends back of Christianity, of Judaism,
of Buddhism, Of Mahometism. The venera-
ton and cherishing of these great lights Of
history is religious and saving element in
itself.
There is little that is new in the field of
morals or ideals. The prime motive has
always been much the same. It has
transcribed the narrow limits of individual
vanity and ambition in every age and has
always been perfecting itself. This motive
has been theistc rather than atheistic. The
leaders have been believers. The great acts
of men which have made them the gods Of
fable and the heroes Of history have been
sacrifcal and inspirational. They were cast
in the religious mold Of their times. In the
light Of this universal thesm, which has so
often deifed the individual, and is the
perpetual salvation and sanctifcation of the
race, how trivial are the creeds and doctrines
of the sectarians. Religion is faculty in
man, and cannot be suppressed. That emf
cent father in the church, ST. Augustine,
tian religion existed among the ancients, and
existed from the planting Of the human race
until Christ came in the flesh, at which
time the true religion, which already
existed, began to be called Christianity"
The natural conscience, the moral code, is
inherent and native to the race In all ages
the great in thought and action have been
consecrated to this sentiment when at their
best. To it and with it they have assimi-
lated whatever Of positive OF Of mythical and
historical belonged to their time.
Of creeds, systems and schemes, the COM
mon feeling and sentiment is that each must
judge for himself 1t is, after ALL not of such
moment that Lincoln and Grant did or did
not belong to this or that church or system.
Their lives and conduct the voice of the ma
tiOns, attest that they laid hold of the eternal
yerities and were in daily communion with
that which is excellent and eternal. 1t mat
ters not so much whether they used the form
and vehicle of their time as that they were
lifted up and drew all men after them.
SOME men are given to expression. They
fall in with the systems of thought, religious
or otherwise, Of their times, and have the adj
vantage of putting themselves on record and
in sympathy with the creeds of their times.
Such an one was Garfield, who early allied
himself with the Christian faith as expressed
in the simple articles of the Disciples, and
throughout great career was enabled honestly
TO find in these simple forms and expressions
the faith and hope without which life is void
and meaningless. So, also, with Count Bis
mark who whatever his faults may be, has
never acted blindly, thoughtlessly, or reck-
lessly; man unselfsh, his motives of the
highest order, and who has not been blame
less because inactive but has been to the
front, and worked out successfully one Of
the most difficult political problems of the
time.
Speaking in the Reichstag of the North
German Confederation, March l, 1870, he said:
eff were to sum up in a few words the
impression this debate on capital punish
mentl has left with me, | would say if any
one does not hold the belief, which | confess
with all my heart, that death is only transi-
Jon from this life to another, and that we
,ave the right to whisper even to the worst
Of criminals on his way to the grave the com
Portable assurance, death closes life. the work
upon which he Is engaged must yield such
unsatisfactory results that / am unable to i'm
agine his feelings. But how can he who
holds that death is rest--the dreamless sleep
for which Hamlet longed-how can he desire
that the criminal shall be compelled to con
tinue the phosphoresence of his brain for
little longer In the narrow limits of prison
cell, robbed of everything that gives life a
value"
And acain, in the excitement of the French
war and the exultation of the early victories,
be said, at Ferrieres
"If were not Christian I would not serve
the King another hour. If l did not obey my
God and put my trust in Him. my respect for
earthly rulers would be but small If l did
not believe in divine government of the world
which had predestined the German nation to
be something great and good, would abandon
the trade of diplomacy at once or, rather.
should have never undertaken it. 1t is my
constant belief in n Efo of.nn loo.L -