The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-18

speare. and. permit me TO add, the New
York Tribune But he got more than the
than language out of Shakespeare, and he
got more than words, ldioms and compo-
sitions out Of the New Work Tribune He
continued to read the English Bible. He
chose the Bible as the only book TO be
constantly with him in the army and he
read it almost daily. L can him now
with his bed made on the ground, with
bayonet stuck In the ground beside the
head of his bed and with candle inserted
in the hilt of the bayonet, lying down read
ing the Bible as the last thing before go
ing TO sleep. He committed much of IL to
memory. He did more than merely read
the book; he studied 1t. He came 10 thor
oughly believe in il as a revelation of sound
principles for civil government and spir-
itual consolation, containing the best and
only infallible rules for nations and for in
dividuals He said little about the subject
OF religion and did not encourage CONVEX
sation upon the subject-not because of in
difference, but because he disliked 10 hear
thoughtless and reckless talk upon that
subject. He very seldom attended religious
services, largely because there were cere-
monies and exercises connected Herewith
that seemed 10 him TO be mere show. in
Impressed by a sermon which he heard
preached by Bishop Thomas Bowman
twelve or fifteen years ago.
OUTBURSTS REGRETTED.
His intense feelings and impulses threw
him. at times, into violent expressions con-
corning matters and men, and the impress
sion was created largely that he with
out religious views of any kind. This was
a wrong impression. He deeply regretted
the seemingly violent expressions and the
impression they had created. His fatal
sickness had existed for about six years
and gradually afforded him increasing
quietude and hours at home and to with
draw himself more and more from bust
Of
increasing hours for study, his disabil
lty was felt in the form of weakness but
not much pain. For at least the last three
years he knew that he had been seized by
fatal malady. During this period he de-
voted much of his time TO studying and
settling his view concerning the Divine
Being and His relation to the Divine will.
lie became thoroughly settled in faith In
Almighty God, as revealed in the Bible.
one thing remarka bic was, that he reached
his conclusions solely by studying the book,
without the aid of commentaries or minis
terial counsel. He felt that he could not
make himself understood 10 a denomina-
tional minister and that he himself could
not understand be aided by counsels
winch We're affected by UNCONVENTIONAL
prejudice. These facts gave to his express
sions a personality and msde them unusu-
ally interesting. He did not settle the
question whether Jesus Christ was the
natural or the supernatural son of Mary.
He dlu not seem to be deeply interested in
the question of the Trinity He did be-
Iieve. however, that the Man of Nazareth
NdS llltQ WIFI a divine SDlflt ana with
miraculous power; that He did what the
New Testament records concerning Him;
that He really lived. labored. suffered. died
and rose from the dead 10 promote on
earth a system of living. of conduct and
education to better the condition of man.
klnd IN accordance with the will of God
lie believed that Jesus Christ was the best
example and the best friend that man ever
had, who lived as a man on the earth
Having reached this point in his belief he
could wait no longer and ask no more:
"A
ana such friend got hold of every cord
or General Knefiers heart and stretched
them 10 tension. He believed in a here
after Tor the soul and expected to reach it
and liked to call it heaven. In the personal
application of his conclusions upon this
subject he had a hard struggle, but he
made the struggle by repentance. acknowl-
edgment and confession.
VISITED BY A PREACHER
Nearly two years ago Leander w. Mum
hall, ID. d., who for many years has been
an evangelist, who had been a soldier and
lastly adjutant of the Seventy-ninth Regi-
ment, commanded by General Knefer Wis
| tied his old commander and found him con-
fined to his room. General Knefier had a.
deep affection for Munhall, which was full
| ly reciprocated. They talked about this
| life and the next and the preparation in
| that visit the two old comrades KneIt by
| the sick bed in devotion and worship of the
great Goa. They separated with the ex-
pressed promise that they would meet
again in a better land The widow and the
| family are witnesses to his humble con-
| fession ard worship of the Great Master
| as L have given. To friend, at the very
| last of his conscious moments. ne expressed
| his religious faith and his peace of mind.
| He was prepared. patiently waited and
| lOnged 10 be relieved from the body of suf-
| fering. Among the last conscious words
| he used were the words of the twenty-thir,i
| Psalm, joining with his wife, beginning:
| The Lord is my Shepherd which he had
many times before recited. He died with
| out a struggle.
| II should not have gone into details con-
| corning this matter so much as have done
| but for the fact that General Knefier was
| misunderstood and the matters L present
| are not generally known.
| ''He was my friend for more tnan thirty
| eight years. and l must do all l can to
| set him right that the influence of his
| life and character may be felt to the full.
1t was not his request that | should say
| what I have. yet feel that have his full
| consent to make public these facts and
| that 1t is my duty TO do So"