The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
EDIsON's FAITH IN GOD.
Finds No Creator I'm Nature, but
Plenty of N~ind-Praye err an Insult.

Boston Globe.
After nineteen and more centuries of be-
lief in religion through the evidence OF
miracles and moral ~utterances has science
at last demonstrated beyond doubt the ex-
istenee OF a God! This Is the ihteresnng
ments of Thomas A Edison a few days
since in his laboratory in Llewey lien Park,
New Jersey. He said: Chemistry undoubt-
eddy proves the existence of a supreme in
telligence. No one can study that science
and zee the wonderful way in which certain
most delicate machine ever devised, and not
come to the inevitable conclusion that there
is a big engineer who is running this uni
verse.
why, after years of watching the process
ees of nature. j no more doubt the existence
than I do the existence OF myself, Take. for
example, the substance water, that forms
the crystal known as Ice. Now, there are
tails and every one Of them, save that of
Zee, sinks in water. Ice, 1 say, doesn't. And
Il Is rather lucky for ms mortals. for II It
Simply because II ice sank to the bottom
of the rivers. lakes and oceans as fast as it
froze these places would soon be frozen up
and there would be no water left. That is
only one example out OF thousands that to
me prove beyond the possibility of a doubt
that some vast intelligence is governing this
and the other planets"
What else does nature tell you about the
supreme intelligence?'
Nothing more said Edison. shaking his
person may come along by and by and
discover other attributes nature teaches
search has revealed. Indeed the scientist
of the future may make nature tell US as
much about this Intelligence as the Bible
processes to reveal"
Would you not call this intelligence the
creator?" was asked.
NO" said he quizzically; now you are
leaving science and getting into the meshes
OF logic. Nature doesn't spell creator for
me; though 1t does spell mind"
do you believe this supreme intelligence
hears and answers prayer?"
No. sir" said the inventor with empha-
sis. It's, an INSULT TO the wisdom of the
engineer TO ask him to do this or that as
though you knew better how to run things
than he does. He Is big enough TO need no
advice from us little babies.
Besides" continued he warmly, Flaw,
absolute law. holds everything in its grip
like a wise. Just as certain combinations
OF chemicals harmonize, and others when
brought into contact result in an explosion.
30 If we obey the laws that rule the world
We viii be happy. and IL we don't we are
liable TO get hurt" said Edison, smiling
grimly.
The world is run Just like a great rail-
road-only better. Here the system of rules
is so perfect that the president can go off
on a vacation whenever he feels like IL and
all trains will run along as smoothly as
ever. Do you suppose the intelligence in
charge of the universe. with it's billions of
flying planets, has time or inclination TO be
at the beck and call OF every Tom, Die
and Harry that happens TO stub his toe
against one or the eternal laws and wants
the law altered to suit his selfish convent
ence2 No. siri'
Do you believe in a future life?' was
asked.
II don't know anything about this life.
10 say nothing of the life hereafter. What
are we here for2 who knows? L don't"
said the inventor, turning suddenly around
and peering into my face with a look OF
sympathy and sadness. Are you happy?
Well. most people are not. Many are sick;
nearly all are miserable from some trouble
or other. II / could solve the riddle of this
life / might have some ideas about the next.
O / don't KNOW he said. meditatively, half
closing his eyes and leaning on a bench in
the laboratory. Il know something about
eclence-soout steam and iron and cleo
tricfty-but this matter of destiny: why we
came here and where We are going to Is be-
yond my ken"