The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-28
CAPTAIN A. p. MAHAN.

] claim the right TO speak of religion, as
during more than 80 years of my life it
has been my support, my guide and my
reliance in times of trouble
while say that in the way of ex-
perience can speak as an expert, / do
not want TO go into a discussion of re.
ligion in general. will and must, in
fact, confine myself to my own expert
ence. By experience do not mean what
so generally is spoken of as religious
experience, sudden revelations or spir-
itual disclosures which cause revolutions
in the lives of men. By my experience
mean my daily life and of the effect
upon me that love of and faith in God
has bad. / have not succeeded in all
things. None can do that. But my err
rors were not those of intent, and suf.
fered for them, while when l succeeded
in my effort the peace and Joy l knew
was the greatest reward man could
have.
81 do not expect that my words will
be understood by all. Man, as is said in
the Bible, speaks in many tongues, and
my words may mean different things to
different persons. But if to single per-
son in this church who is struggling to
find belief in God they bring aid or
comfort they will not have been given
in vain. To such l want to give such
testimony as TO the comfort of religion
as am able. | can say that my life has
not been one smooth career to which
sorrow has been unknown. 1t has been
full of its troubles, and at times it seem.
ed as though they would overcome me.
But in whatever land, under whatever
circumstances l have lived, my faith in
God, growing stronger as the years pass
ed, has strengthened and held me up.
"To me that growing faith is one of
the most satisfying proofs of the truth
of religion. Our laws require that to
establish the truth of a statement in
open court the evidence of at least two
witnesses is necessary. AS TO the truth
of religion l can bring only my own
evidence, but can say that / find in
myself two witnesses which have salts
fed the requirements of reason.
lone of these witnesses is the inter-
nal consciousness of the existence of
years ago, and since then it has been
growing steadily and strongly, until
now it fills my entire mind and leaves
no room for doubt. This is one witness
The other is the confederation Of ex.
ternal circumstance. From the first |
found that to follow Gods laws and to
fulfill his commands brought peace, a
contentment, an internal satisfaction
which could be given by nothing else
So here are the two witnesses required
by the law of the land. Ihave question.
ed them and their answers are clear and
convincing. They leave nothing which
/ can doubt.
when I say that I do not doubt, 1
mean it. do not mean that l under
stand. There are many things which /
believe and am satisfied to be true, but
which cannot understand. The great
goodness of God is one Of these. 1t is in
finite and is not for us to question. But
we can believe in it, and so doing we
can find in 1t the greatest happiness pos
sible to mortal man.
I'm my acknowledgment of the truth
of Gods teachings must say that they
have been all In all to me- Whatever I
may be, whatever good may have
done, whatever reputation I may have
acquired or whatever intellect may
possess is due to that God whose teach.
ings l have tried to follow.
''In spite of my years hope that my
life is not soon to end, and whatever
that is creditable may yet accomplish
will be due to my belief in the infinite
goodness and mercy of that God in
whom / trust. New York World. !.