The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-09

Since the death OF Colonel ROBERT lns
gersoll last week, there has been a
great deal of discussion concerning the
quality OF his religion. and whether he
was in reality an inhdel or an agnostic,
which is virtually distinction without
much difference. An ngnostic processes
ignorance and denies we have knowl-
edge. neither denying or affirming
personal Diety, future life, &C. An In
fidel is one who does not believe in the
prevailing religious faith or Divine orI-
gin or authority of Christianity.
Many quote an article entitled my
Religion" which was read by friend
Of the late Ingersoll at his obsequles,
and others quote his famous eloquent
delivery over the bier Of his brother
twenty years ago.
AS an incident of the discussions go
ing on. Martins Ferry friend requests
the Intelligencer to quote the former
article, read at the funeral to show that
he had a religion. For his benefit and
others who make similar requests. We
make the quotation as follows:
To love Justice, to long for the right, to
have mercy. to pity the suffering, to as
sist the weak, to forget wrongs and re-
member benefits; to love the truth, to be
sincere, to utter honest words, 10 love
liberty and wage relentless war against
slavery in all Its forms, to love wife and
child and friend, to make happy home,
to love the beautiful In art, In nature; to
cultivate the mind to be familiar with
F44irbfNs fhOtYubfg TINT RRniIlE has RwUFeHHs
ed, the noble deeds OF all the world; to
cultivate courage and cheertulness, TO
make others happy 10 NIL the life with n
splendor OF generous acts. the warmth OF
prejudice, TO receive new truths with
giadness: to cultivate hope, to see the
calm beyond the storm and dawn beyond
the night. TO do the best that can be done
and then be resigned-this Is the religion
OF reason, the creed OF science. This sat
isfes the brain and heart.
This was Ingersoll's idea of religion.
1t was a good life rule to fOllow-a re-
llgIon "of the brain and heart" but not
a religion of the soul. and could not be
to one who believed not in the hereafter
and the Immortality OF the soul. Others
make the same point with reference to
the grafton over the brothers bier, but
they mIsquote him when they contend
that 1t indicated belief in any sort of
Immortality. 1t clearly did not To
him death was eternal silence, as OBJ
served in the following which are the
two concluding paragraphs Of the ORR
ginal.
He has not passed on lIfe's highway the
stone that marks the highest point but,
being weary for q moment, he lay down
by the wayside, and. using his burden, for
q pillow, fell into that dreamless sleep
that kisses down his eyelids still While
vet in love with life and rRptured with the
world, he passed to silence and pathetic
Yet, after all, 1t may be best. just in the
hhppiest, sunniest hour Of all the voyage,
while eager winds are kissing every san,
10 dash against the unseen rock, ana in
mn Instant hear the pillows roar above
sunken ship. For whether In mid sea OF
'monE the breakers OF the farther shore'
wreck at last must mark the end OF each
NIL all And every life, no matter II us
every hour Is rich with love ana every
moment jewelled with JOY. VIII, AT It's
close, become a tragedy as SAD anu ueeP
and dark as can be woven Oh the warp
and wool OF mystery and death,
This, we presume, satisfies our IN
curing friend. We may speak OF the
good qualities, moral. Intellectual and
domestic, but 1t was only an earthly re-
ligion of the mind and heart"