The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-04-22
LUTHER BURBANK AND
GERALD CHAPMAN
By F. F. CORLISS.


For us who are living they are i'm
portant object lessons taken from life
and not from fiction and deserve our
study and consideration. Of what the
world calls good and evil, the lives of
these men expressed the extremes.
In their lives they had but one trait
or opinion in common-that has been
made apparent. They both fearlessly
took the great adventure with unbe-
lief in life hereafter.
Mr.. Burbank was frankly con-
fessed infdel. Chapman's life of God
less acts needs no vocal expression.
He died as he lived in defiance of the
will of God and the rights of his
fellowmen.
Figurativley, Mr.. Burbank uncon-
sciously walked hand-in-hand with
his Maker all his life, doing His bid
ding by following natures laws, with
out which his work would have
availed nothing.
He certainly had the religion of
humanity, because he gave long
life of useful service for the benefit
of us all.
He never tried to patent or monopo-
lie his ideas for a selfish profit, but
gave all that he might benefit others.
Chapman, the criminal and outlaw,
was possessed of bright mind, but
its energies were all misdirected and
destructive. He died friendless and
penniless and scorned. But had he
lived and died rich? How does it
profit man to gain money at the cost
of ones self-respect and the respect
of his fellowmen?
GAS a man thinketh in his heart so
is he"-so he acts.
But mans thinking is often guided
by unseen forces, like heredity, asso-
citation, suggestion, environment and
the nature of his vocation.
Had Mr.. Burbank spent as much
time and earnest study of the chem
istry of life, as found in animals and
man, instead of devoting himself
wholly to changing the channel of
life in plants, he might have formed a
different conclusion about God and an
after-life.
Nearly all our great scientists and
those who have lived close to nature
and have had to use her forces and
follow her laws have found a design
in the creation of all things, conse-
quently there must somewhere be a
Designer. We live in a world of eff
fects and for every effect there is a
cause.
Nothing in nature has ever hap
pened by accident or chance.
Instinct in animals and instinct and
intuition in man are as much Divine
effects as our physical structure. They
have been given US for use and show
us purpose and design.
Now, it is very difficult for the
analytical mind to believe that the
Creator of man should endow him
with instincts and aspirations for a
life hereafter just to fool and de-
ceive him.
Belief in some kind of future life
and in a Supreme Intelligence are in
grained in the hearts and minds of
men of all nations and all races, even
the most ignorant.
These two men are prominent ex-
ceptions which help to prove the rule.
And were it not so, not true, human
life and property in this or any
country would be an insecure posses
sion.
To the victor would go the spoils;
might would make right and he would
take, who can.
On account of his we'll known fame
Mr.. Burbank was much and severely
criticised for giving wide publicity tc
his skeptical opinions. The writer had
the pleasure of meeting him many
years ago in Santa Rosa and later
hear him expound the wizardry of
his work to group of tourists.
His achievements gave him a right
to some conceit, but he impressed me
as one who delighted in feeling above
and apart from the common herd in
his beliefs and opinions. | think he
took pride in being odd and eccentric
The life of one was constructive
helpful and righteous; the life of the
other was destructive, baneful and
wicked, but they both had one trait
In common. They both died as skep-
tics.
What a terrible feeling of hopeless
despair one must suffer in facing the
unknown believing that as the flame
of a candle is snuffed so is the life of
man made extinct
We know that the Alternative
mind expands it's wisdom and power
by charging the life and progressive
growth of mind in man. That only
through and in man can the Creator
express His highest, noblest attri-
butes. Why then, after gaining ex.