St. Landry democrat., 1886-10-23
1ngerSOlI'S Consolation.


The San Francisco Post publishes the
comment and letter that follows this:
1t is not long since lady of this city
was suddenly overwhelmed by great
atfilction, which, coming like thunder
bolt upon her, for a time threatened her
life. Her son, and only child, had gone
on short business journey, expecting
soon to return. Sudden and fatal i'll
ness overlook him, and brief telegram
announced the dreadful tidings to his
heart broken mother. The terrors of
the creed in which she had been brought
up, and according to which, as she we'll
knew, there was no hope of future hap
piness for the unconverted young man,
added greatly to her agonizing grief
over his death, until her friends feared
that her reason, if not her life would be
destroyed. A lady friend who had
sought to console her, informed Col.
lngersoll and begged him to write
something which might at least relieve
in measure the terrible apprehension
as to the fate of her son, under which
she was suffering. Tie following is his
letter, which was in good measure
effective:
'MY DEAR MADAM-Mrs. c. has told
me the sad story of your almost infinite
sorrow. | am not foolish enough TO
suppose that can say or do anything to
lessen your great grief, your anguish
for his loss; but maybe | can say some
thing to drive from your poor heart the
fiend OF fear-fear for him. If there is
a God, let us believe he is good and if
he is good, the good have nothing to
fear. | have been told that your son
was kind and generous; that he was
filled with charity and sympathy. Now,
we know that in this world like begets |
like, kindness produces kindness, and
all good bears the fruit of joy. Belief is
nothing, deeds are everything; and if !
your son was kind he will naturally find |
kindness wherever he may be.
''lou would not intiict an endless !
pain upon your worst enemy. Is God
worse than you? You could not bear
to see viper suffer forever. Is ii posi-
BILE that God will doom kind and gen
erous boy to everlasting pain Moth
ing can be more monstrously absurd
and cruel. The truth is no human be-
ing knows anything of what is beyond
the grave. If NOTHING is known, then, it
Is not honest for anyone to pretend that
he does know. If nothing is known,
then we can only hope for the good If
there be a God, your boy is no more in
lAiS po"Cl liidH HC NdS uSlVIS HIS
death--no more than you are at this
Why should we fear God
more after death than before? Does
the feeling of God towards his children
change the moment they die? While
we are alive they say God loves as,
when will He cease to love us? True
owe never changes. beg of you to
throw away all fear. If God exists
your heart is the best revelation Of
Him, and your heart could never send
your boy to endless pain. After all, no
,ne knows. The ministers know moth
ng. All the churches in the world
know no more upon this subject than
he ants on the ant hills. Creeds are
yood for nothing except to break the
hearts of the loving. Let US have cour-
lge. Uuder the seven hued arch of hope
ct the dead sleep. do not pretend to
NOW, but [ do know that others do not
NOW. wish | could say something
hat would put star in your night of
.rief-a little flower in your lonely .
'atIl-and if an unbeliever has such
vish, surely an infinitely good being
as never made soul to be the food of !
ain through countless years. 7
"Sincerely yours, l
"R. G. INGERsOLL.'