CYRUS HALL McCORMICK 



church, and became in name what he already 

 was by nature and inheritance a Christian 

 of the Presbyterian faith. 



After he left home his letters to the members 

 of his family are strewn with scraps of religious 

 reflection. In 1845, for instance, he writes, 

 "Business is not inconsistent with Christianity; 

 but the latter ought to be a help to the former, 

 giving a confidence and resignation, after using 

 all proper means; and yet I have sometimes felt 

 that I came so far short of the right feeling, so 

 worldly-minded, that I could wish myself out 

 of the world." On another occasion, when he 

 was struggling with manufacturers who had 

 broken their contracts, he wrote, "If it were not 

 for the fact that Providence has seemed to assist 

 me in our business, it has at times seemed that I 

 would almost sink under the weight of respon- 

 sibility hanging upon me; but I believe the Lord 

 will help us out." And after his first visit to 

 New York City, he summed up his impressions 

 of the metropolis in the following sentence, "It 

 is a desirable place and people, with regular and 

 good Presbyterian preaching." 



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