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

This is the beginnine Of new year
and we have made very long journey.
Old travellers say that when man gets
lost in the wilderness he goes round AMI
round in trying to 60 ahead and he finds
himself following his own tracks in
circle. / don't know whether this is 30
or not, but do know that to day we are
right exactly where we were q year ago
and yet we have travelled round and
round and nearly 100000 of miles at
the rate of 900 miles minute. Astron.
omers tell us that we are right exactly
where we were q 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 it. 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 80 round and round
forever aud forever? If it has to 60
round the Gun, why wouldn't circle do
as we'll as an eclipse-why 80 at all :?
Couldn't the universe be still and every
planet be independent Why does the
earth have to turn summersault every
day and whirl us round at the rate of
thousand miles au hous? 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 confess
my Ignorance and feel as humble as
dog when | contemplate the wonders and
mysteries of creation. l dou'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. I vas 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. | know that cot
ton grows to cloth the millions in sum-
mer, aud the sheep were created to give
lis wool in winter and the cattle to give
us milk and butter and shoes. Even our
complaints and ailments are provided for
in natures remedies, for We have quinine,
snd calomel, and caster oil, and opium,
and turpentiue, and mineral springs and
the best are the cheapest. All the best
things are the chespest-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
dences of design and care and love are
all around US everywhere and in every
thing, aud I cannot understand how a
thoughtful man can be An agnostic or an
in6de. l want to thank somebody every
morning for preserving me through the
hight. for l know that sleep is near akin
to death and cannot keep my own heart
beating. There is some great being
behind me and l will trust Him because
be has been good to me and sustained
me all my life. The best religion is to
trust in the Lord and co good. This
religion beats all that the heresy hunters
aee contending for and is comprehended
by the simple and the unlearned. l
knew of an Irish sailor who was placed
on the witness stand in an important case
in court. He was g rough looking tar
ard wholly unacquainted with laws and
courts His presence was surprise to
the lawyer on the other side AMI he
sought to rule him out upon the ground
that he wa5 an iufdel 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 | was
little BARN was sent to sea and all my
life l have been on the great wathers
where there was naither church nor q
stsple." The lawyer WAS exultant and
said: "Then, sir, suppose you have no
religion. Do you believe iu the exist
euoe of supreme being and in future
state of rewards and punishmeuts?" ?"
Patrick looked at him and then at the
Judge and then at The lawyer again, with
sotae embarrassment, and said nothing.
"Answer the question:" said the judge.
MAY it plsse your honor" said he, 81
haze liz d upon the .ather for forty
years, and had to trust the Lord in sun.
shine and in stDorm and have no church
aud no religion 70 sphak- of but" and
he stopped and looked thonghtfuily sud
revereutly to the ceiling. But what"
said the lawyer, with cynical sneer
upon his face. "Rut I believe in God,
the Father Almighty, aud in Jesus
hrist, His only Son, who came into tie
world to save sinners-oi whom, you and
1 are couple" said Patrick, end he said
it slowly and with solemn truthful en-
phasis. The lawyer subsided and the
Judge sad: "Give him the book and
swear him he is q competent witness"
The new year has come and now let us
all renew the faith of our fathers and
cherish i. and stand by it. rhe world is
sprlnk!ed with iufdelity in high places
and our young men are cnnsoIing them
selves with doubts. What al amount of
conceit and arrogance it must take for
young man to set aside the faith and the
teachings of ajl the great men Of be cen
turies, from Luther down to Gladstone,
and set up i.iS o"n and lngersplI's IS
standard. If was ever 50 skepticai l
wouldn't make sport Of religion or Of
preachers I would trea' b ith with the
proiuundcst respect, for whether the
Bible is true or not, its teachings haze
been and are now the strongest bui~aik
of our government and lhe safeguard
of our Children There is wide differ