John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[451] completely wiped out the memory of the charges that had been brought against him. This, together with the fact that his successor, although a comparatively unknown man, gave the country a clean and therefore popular administration, brought about a great change in the newspaper discussions of the period.

It will be recalled that Dana was in early life inclined to the ministry, but gradually drifted away from the orthodox Congregational Church, and greatly shocked his father by turning towards the Unitarians, with whose belief he was more in sympathy, not only because their fundamental ideas seemed more liberal and reasonable, but because many of his college associates and best friends in New England were connected with that body. After removing to New York he became interested in the philosophy and speculations of Swedenborg, and for years attended the Swedenborgian Church. Later it is manifest that he left behind every form of belief based upon dogma, and inclined more and more to that Goethean indifference which he had mentioned in his youth. He had no patience with bigotry, intolerance, or pharisaism, but allowed every one perfect liberty in matters of faith.

Although out of its chronological order, it may be well to relate here an incident bearing on this subject which took place early in the last year of his life. A friend who enjoyed his confidence and was accustomed to discuss all sorts of questions with him, said one evening: “Mr. Dana, you have sounded the depths of philosophy and of human wisdom; you have read the Bible, the Koran, and all the sacred books of the ancients; you have conversed with the pope and the great men of the earth-tell me, is there anywhere any evidence which would be received in a court of justice that there is a life after death?” With a look of intense concentration of thought, but without a moment's hesitation, he replied: “Not a scintilla. It is all based on ”