The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-10
JAr G0ULD'S RELIGION.
Will His Riches Exclude Him from Seat in
Heaven?-Is lie an Agnosiic?

&ecisi the Indianapolis Journs
NEW YORK, June 9.-The reported Illness OF
Jay Gould has been the weeks topic for gossip
in Wall street. where business is dull that
there is plenty Of time to talk. A story told
there with much positiveness that jay Gould
had not only made special study Of ere biblical
parable Of the camel and the needles eye, but
had consulted with his pastor. the Rev. John r.
Paxton. on the subject Of q rich mans chance Of
getting into the kingdom of heaven. 1t was told
with circumstantiality that caused general
belief that Paxton bad. 10 consequence of
Gould's anxiety, preached sermon setting
forth that the Bible teaching was not that
Cresus was inadmissihle to Paradise. lOt
course, such tale faded slowly out when in
vestigatei with view to writing it truthfully.
A visit to DIR. Paxton, in whose Forty-second-
street Presbyterian Church the Gould family
occupy a pew, yielded prompt denial of the
whole story.
at 10 true that Mr.. Gould and I have had
many casual social meetings said Paxton,
land our conversation has been some extent
on religious subjects, but surely he never con-
suited me as to his wealth shutting him out Of
heaven. That is preposterous."
rs Mr.. Gould Christian your correspond
emit inquired.
1T is not for me to either form or express
definite opinion as TO any individuals Chris
tiauitv" was the repy "Mr Gould il not
mem Der Of any church. and therefore is not an
avowed Christian He 10 quiet, reticent gen.
tleman, who would be apt TO keep his religious
experiences largely TO himself. In any event.
His wife is Presbyterian and good one con-
triou,ing Of her money and time freely to church
and philanthropic objects"
The sermon preached by DR.. Paxton was gen.
eral IN its nature. and its doctrine WAS that q
rich man could get into heaven as easily as
poor man If he used his riches properly. But
Gould was listener to this discourse which did
not seem 70 apply more particularly to his case
than to that OF Russell Sage. j. ID. Rockefeller
tie Standard Oil chief, or to any other Of the
score of very wealthy men in that congreea-
ton.
Col. Robert G. Ingersoll said: jay Gould
could no more 60 to heaven, il the Bible be true
than could the devil himself, and he knows il.
Moreover, jay Gould never talked with Paxton
or anybody else on the subject. except by way
OF diversion. because hs is total uneelisver in
orthodox Christianity. know this for posi-
tive fact, because have more than once had
conversation with him on the subject. Natural
ly. as am conspicuous pagan. people arc quick
to speak to me on religious subjects. sometimes
they are jocular, sometimes they tacitly assent
TO my unbslief without really agreeing with me.
and sometimes they assai me fercely; but Mr..
Gould 10 what call . reasonable unbeliever.
Just as there are millions of professed Christians
who have absolute views of their own. and do
not know why they are Christians at all, so
there are unbelevers who have not brought
themselves to that profession by Any course Of
reasoning. But Mr.. Gould is q calm, deliberate,
agnostic-that Is TO say. a man who has thought
the whole thing over, and has come TO the con-
clusion that he knows much as any body else
about . future state, and that IL just nothing at
all. Mr. Gould 10 student. He devotes more
time than people imagine TO reading, and that
on subjects entirely disconnected with finance.
Christianity received for many years his careful
researching attention. and the result Of IL all 10
that he stands to-day an aguostic.