A Confession of Faith 



Every robust human life is a life of faith. Not faith in what 

 other men have said or thought or dreamed of Life or Death or 

 Fate, not faith that some one afar off or long ago held a key to 

 the riddle of existence which it is not ours likewise to make or 

 hold. Let us rather say: Faith that there is something in the 

 universe that transcends humanity; something of which the life 

 of man is part but not the whole; something which so far as 

 may be it is well for man to know, for such knowledge brings 

 peace and helpfulness. 



For several years I gave a series of personal talks 

 to the boys in Encina Hall on the conduct of life. con f erences 

 These intimate conversations, first suggested by 

 Albert Coyle, a senior student, since in the Red Cross 

 service and later publicist for the Irish Republic, 

 were much appreciated by the boys, and, I am told, 

 of permanent help to many. 



In 1913 I wrote at the request of the editor of The 

 Quad, the Junior Year Book, "A Confession of 

 Faith." This read as follows: 



I am interested in a great many matters of good living and of 

 good government. I do not believe in waste, either of men or 

 money or health, and so I have used whatever influence I have 

 in behalf of peace, in behalf of national economy and national 

 conservation, and in behalf of clean and wholesome living 

 among men. No man can accomplish much that is worth while 

 if he burns his candle at both ends. And he must not burn it 

 too long at either end if he expects it to last through the game 

 of life. 



And now, when my candle is fading a little, I am trying to 

 use its light for those things which seem to me best worth while. 

 Of those that come near me three stand out as all-important. 

 These are clean living, sound education, and fair play between 

 men and between nations. No one man can accomplish very much 

 in the world. All that is worth while is the work of thousands, each 

 generation entering into the efforts of the others. And no one can 

 do anything worth while unless he does his best. And to do his best 

 he must save all his strength. Every vile habit, great or small, 



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