The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-01-11
MLL ARP
Talks of tho Old and the New Year.
atlanta Constitution.

This is the beginning of new year
and We have made a very long journey.
Old travellers say that when man gets
lost in the wilderness be gees round and
round in trying to 60 ahead and he finds
himself following his own tracks in
circle. I don't know whether this is 30
or not, but do know that to day We are
right exactly where We were year ago
and yet we have travelled round and
round and nearly 100000 of miles at
the rate of 1000 miles minute. Astron.
omers tell US that we are right exactly
where we were year ago. This is
mighty curious to me-who is doing it
This world has been going on this grand
round for thousands of years, maybe
million of years, and is still at il. What
is it for, want to know? Why don't it
stop and resti What did it ever start
for? If this earth was made for US, why
does it have to 20 round and round
forever and forever? If it has to 60
round the sun, why wouldn't a circle do
as we'll as an eclipse-why 60 at all ?
Couldn't the universe be still aud every
planet be independently Why does the
earth have to turn a summersault every
day and whirl us round at the rate of
thousand miles an hous2 Who is doing
all this aud what is it done for and when
is the whole business to come to an end
or focus or transformation J. confess
my ignorance and feel as humble as q
dog when I contemplate the wonders and
mysteries of creation. I don't under
stand how The corn grows, nor the flowers
bloom, nor the birds hatch their young
and yet I realize that everything has been
made for our good, our comfort, our
pleasure. was popping corn last night
for little grandchild and know that In
the grand design of Providence, this little
corn was created just to please the chill
dren and nothing else. I know that cot
ton grows to cloth the millions in sum-
lner, and the sheep were created to give
us wool in winter and the cattle to give
tis milk and butter and shoes. Even our
complaints and ailments are provided for
in natures remedies, for We have quinine,
end calomel, and caster oil, and opium,
end turpentine, aud mineral springs and
the best are the cheapest. All the best
things are the cheapest-the air and
water and fire, the bread and meat and
vegetables, and the fruits of the earth
and the material for clothing. The evi-
Gences of design and care and love are
all around Us everywhere and in every
thing, and cannot understand how
thoughtful man can be an agnostic or an
inidel. want to thank somebody every
morning for preserving me through the
night, for / know that sleep is near akin
to death and cannot keep my own heart
beating. There is some great being
behind me and will trust Him because
he has been good to me and sustained
me all my life. The best religion is to
trust in the Lord and do good. This
religion beats all that the heresy hunters
ate contending for and is comprehended
by the simple and the unlearned. 1
knew of an Irish sailor who was placed
on the witness stand in an mportant case
in court. He was rough looking tar
aid wholly unacquainted with laws and
courts. His presence was surprise to
the lawyer on the other side and he
sought to rule him out upon the ground
that he was an infdel or had no religion.
So he asked him what church he belong
ed to. The poor fellow turned to the
judge and said: "Your honor, l have no
church in particular. When I was q
little BARN was sent to sea and all my
life l have been on the great wathers
where there was nai.her church ner a
staple" The lawyer was exultant and
said: "Then, sir, suppose you have no
religion. Do you believe iu the exist
euse of supreme being and in future
state of rewards and punishmentS?"
Patrick looked at him and then at the
judge and then at the lawyer again, with
eorne embarrassment, and said nothing.
"Answer the question:" said the judge.
"May it plsse your honor" said he, II
have liv:d upon the wather for forty
years, and had to trust the Lord in sun.
shine and 10 sthorm aud have no'church
and no religion to sphake of but" and
he stopped and looked thoughlfully and
reverently to the ceiling. "But what"
said the lawyer, with cynical sneer
upon his face. "But i believe 10 God,
the Father Almighty, and in Jesus
Chsist, His only Son, who came into the
world to save sinners-of whom, you and
aye couple" said Patrick, and he said
it slowly and with solemn truthful en-
phssis. The lawyer subsidized and the
Judge sad: "Give him the book and
swear him; be is competent witness"
The new year has come and now let US
all renew the faith of our fathers aud
cherish it and stand by it. rhe world is
sprinkled with iu6delity in high places
aud our young men are consoling them
selves with doubts. What an amount of
conceit and arrogance it must take for
young man to set aside the faith and the
teachipgs of all the great men ofthe cen.
turies, from Luther down to Gladstone,
and set up his own and Ingersoll's as
standard. If was ever so skepticsl |
wouldn't make sport of religion or of
preachers. I would treat bath with the
profoundest respect, for whether the
Bible is true or not, its teachings have
been and are now the strongest bulwark
of our government and the safeguard
of our children There is wide differ.
ence between young mans self-conceit