The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-22
Postmaster Thoughts.

We may believe IN religion, or we
may not as it suits our fancy, but it
must be admitted that religion, and it
alone, has made the world so pleasant
to live in. We may think of the here
after, of eternity, in doubling Thomas
fashion but we never can gainsay the
fact that Christianity has ennobled and
frightened the lives of us all at some
time, in some perceptible manner In
our heart of hearts we all know full
well that no matter what our present
condition is, or our past has been, we
owe debt of gratitude to the prompt
ings of Christianity for some bright
GASES in our barren life.
*
The writer does not claim to be a
Christian in the true construction he
puts on that word. If he was he would
not be in prison this glad Easter Sun
day. But regardless of what any of us
ARE or OUGHT to be, we cannot fOrbear
melting out the just praise due to the
thoroughly sincere Christians we have
come in contact with individually. The
question then naturally presents itself:
Why can we not improve our condi-
tions, our aspirations in life, by follow.
ing in their footsteps?
~
Many of us are continually on the
hon n.,$ hoi
and such, or like so and so. Excuses
are like troubles: if we look for them
we are bound to find them. / have
often heard men say that all Christians
were set of scoundrels and hypocrites
just because some particular person
who claimed fellowship with Christ
had done them wrong. There is no
doubt but that some people are in re-
ligion for revenue only. That should
not condemn the entire religious body
Suppose for an instant that there was
higher grade of beings on earth.
What would be their opinion of man.
kind in general were it based on the
meaner examples of the genus homo
found in our state prisons? It GER
tainly would not be very flattering
Yet that is the exact manner in which
many of us judge religion today.
*
The renowned Henry Ward Beecher
once had private debate on religious
topics with the noted Col. Bob Ingersoll.
At the close of their argument he re-
lated parable to the Colonel. Said he
"Colonel if you were standing on a
street corner and saw some rOughs
) knock the supporting crutches from
cripples as they passed along what
would be your first thought?"
: IL would not stop to think, l would
have such scoundres driven away and
properly punished, replied Ingersoll.
"Well Colonel" said the eminent di-
vine, "that is exactly what you are at
tempting to do by your teachings.
Religion is as much of a necessity to
the people of the world as is the crutch
to cripple. Yet you would take away
that support from them
~
What has proven to the world to be
as good, noble and true as has religion is
worthy of the respect and support of
every one of us, in prison or out. 1t is
not necessary to be demonstrative; nor
, does religion imply the need of carry
, ing about an elongated face of satur-
nine stiffness. Just be yourself as you
; know you OUGHT to be.
Xxx
We do not require very strong glass
to pick out the successful men in life
Nor does it take much to discover that
more than nine-tenths of these are men
who were not ashamed to follow in
after life the Christian training first
nurtured in them by loving mother.
On the other hand, take look on the
wrecks strewn along the shores of vice,
in prisons and insane hospitals. Who
are they-what are they? Most of
them are those who "knew too much
to be losing time thinking about re-
ligion." And now paradoxical retri-
button has reached them. They HAVE
to lose the time now thinking about
} what religion, common sense, or what
ever you wish to call it MIGHT have
; done for them.