He was a good man, and a wise man. He was one of the most eloquent clergymen ever born in this country, and as sincere a friend of individual man and of the race in general as ever lived. He was an enthusiast and an optimist--admirable combination. He was born in 1810, and died in 1884. His biography has been written by Octavius B. Frothingham. Channing saw the world through generous, charitable eyes. He was an ardent admirer of Charles Fourier, and appreciated the philosophy and social law-giving of that gigantic intellect. The quotation we print above is an index to his whole character, just as one flower tells the story of the beautiful garden in which it grew. Channing, unlike many sayers of fine things, was personally as fine as the things he said. He was worthy even of his own best thoughts, and that can be said for few fine thinkers. Admire him. Read some of his sermons and other writings if you have the chance. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD--PARABLE OF THE BLIND KITTENS The notion that small things, the petty details of life, such as money getting, marriage questions, etc., are uppermost in the modern human brain is entirely false. If an editor asks: "Is marriage a failure?" he receives just so many answers, and then the interest dies out. If he asks: "Should a wife have pin money?" or "What is the easiest way for a woman to earn a living?" he ceases to receive answers after a short time. But to questions concerning the immortality of the soul, the existence of God, and man's destiny here and hereafter, the answers are endless. Letters on such matters have been received here by thousands. Every day the mail brings new and intelligent contributions to the questions that have kept men praying, thinking, fighting and hoping through the centuries: "IS THERE A GOD, AND WILL MY SOUL LIVE FOREVER?" ---- Very interesting are the expressions of faith which fill a majority of the letters. Interesting also are the letters of doubters atheists, agnostics and the many intoxicated with a very little knowledge, who have decided to substitute their own wisdom and doubt for the belief of the ages--the belief in God and in personal immortality. Many think science has discovered that we could get on very well without a God. But science has done just the contrary. And here, if you please, we shall build up a sort of parable: ---- A Man had a box full of motherless blind kittens. He was very kind to them. He put their box on wheels and moved it about to keep it in the sun. He gave them milk at regular intervals. With loving kindness he drove away the dog which growled and scared the little kittens into spitting and back raising. The kittens trusted the Man, loved him and felt that they needed him. That was the age of faith. One day a dog got a kitten and tore it to pieces. The kitten had disobeyed orders and laws. It had crawled away from the box.