Bishop Whipple says, “I once met a thoughtful scholar who told me that for
years he had read every book which assailed the religion of Jesus Christ.
He said he would have been an infidel if it had not been for three things:
“ ‘First, I am a man. I am going somewhere. I am to-night a day nearer the
grave than last night. I have read all that they can tell me. There is not
one solitary ray of light upon the darkness. They shall not take away the
only guide and leave me stone blind.
“ ‘Secondly, I had a mother. I saw her go down into the dark valley where
I am going, and she leaned upon an unseen arm as calmly as a child goes to
sleep upon the breast of a mother. I know that was not a dream.
“ ‘Thirdly, I have three motherless daughters. They have no protector but
myself. I would rather kill them than leave them in this sinful world if
you could blot out from it all the teachings of the Gospel.’ ”