Year: 1879

Ingersoll.


Editor Register:


1t is to be regretted that the tender
tribute of Robert IngersOll to his dead
brother has been seized upon as text
for a sermon by your correspondent
Beyond" That correspondent, in Sat
urday mornings paper, said; "a sad
commentary on his doctrine, or rather
his uubelief, is the speech of Robert In
gersoll at the funeral of his brother. We
will let him speak for himself: Life is a
narrow vale between the cold and bar
rem peaks of two eternities. We strive
in vain to look beyond the heights We
cry aloud and the only answer is the
cchOOi our wailing cry. From the voice
less lips of the unreplying dead there
comes no word. .


With this the writer compares some
quotations from various books OF the
Bible.


desire first to call the readers atten-
ton to the unfairness Ito use a mild
term) OF the quotation from IngersOll.
BY reference TO the Grafton from which
the words are taken, it will be found
that a sentence has been cut right in
two, and that these are the succeeding
words:


"But in the night OF death hope sees
star and listening love can hear the
rustic of wing. lie who sleeps here,
when dying mistaking the approach of
death for the return OF health, whisper
ed with his latest breath: Il am better
now Let us believe, in spite of doubts
and dogmas, Of fears and tears, that
these dear words are true OF all the
countless dead. y


Now, venture to assert that Ingersol
would not treat an adversary that un-
graciously for the sake of an apparent
point against him.


But | desire TO call attention also to
another part of the Grafton, that part
which is a description of the character
Of the dead man. That this tribute is
but Just, is admitted by all who knew
Ebon Ingersoll. 1t is proven by the
depth of affection felt for him by his
family, and by the respect in which he
was held 10y the good and great with
whom he came in contact.


This brave and tender man in every
storm of life was oak and rock, but in
the sunshine he was vine and flower.
He was the friend of all heroic souls.
lie climbed the heights, and left all SUI
perstitions far below while on his fore
head fell the golden dawning Of the
crander day. He loved the beautiful
and was with color, form and music
touched to tears. He sided with the
weak, and with a willing hand gave
aims. With loyal heart and with the
purest hands he faithfully discharged
all public trusts. lie was a worshipper
OF liberty; friend tothe oppressed. A
thoueand times have heard him quote
these words: For Justice, all places q
temple; and all season, summer" He
believed that happiness was the only
good reason, the only torch, Justice re.
ligion, and love the only priest. He
added to the sum OF human JOY, and
were every one for whom he did some
kind and loving service To bring 8
blossom TO his grave he would sleep To-
night beneath a wilderness of flowers.


The thought | wish to draw from this
is, that character is of more importance
than belief and that the man who is
Just because II Is wrong TO be unjust
who is merciful for the love OF mercy
who is noble and pure because nobility
and purity are-better than baseness anC
sin, is infinitely superior TO that man
who shuns evil only because it leads L
hell, and who does the right that h,
may Get to heaven. Surely the religion
/ that teaches man TO live is better than
/ the religion that teaches a man to wal
for life; and that man who lives in the
present, who seeks happiness at tn,
shrine of virtue, is better, a truer, {
wiser, a more Godlike man than tha
one who thinks himself probatione
working for a reward or to escape pun
| ishment.


1t was said of Ebon Ingersoll, al,