LIFE’S PURPOSE

Evening Star, Issue 22619, 10 April 1937, Page 22

LIFE’S PURPOSE

TOMMY BURNS'S EXPERIENCE HAS " FOUND THE LIVING GOD " Tommy Burns, one of the most famous boxers in the history of the ring, who is now in Americai believes, in his own words, that he has “ found the living God.” When he battered his way to fame and fortune, Tommy thought he had found the real purpose in life. He continued to think thus, even after his defeat by Jack Johnson in one of the freatest fights in boxing annals. Later, ommy thought that as a business man he had found both happiness and aim. He started a haberdashery store, then a saloon, at. Newcastle-on-Tyne. But Tommy was ambitious. He went to New York and opened a luxury saloon on Broadway. Still, he was not satisfied. He felt that he was not getting all out -of life that he ought to get. Then he discovered the reason. Life’s real purpose, he found, was in religion. As Tommy, whose new home is in Vancouver, said the other day : “ I have a message for the people of the universe. I have found it in the power of the living God. This power is something like a radio wave. It is unseen, but it is wonderful and beautiful.”

There, was no denying Tommy’s honesty and sincerity as he spoke these words.

“ Don’t get me wrong,” he added. " I don’t want people to thinik me a preacher or a parson. Far from it. .1 received this power only by being honest with myself. I did not have to go to church. Nor did I need to get down on my knees to ask forgiveness of sin. I recognise in this God power the same power that was used thousands of years before Christ died, that same power that Christ himself used before he died. Anyone can have the key to this power if they are only honest with themselves; if they are clean both in mind and thought. Three sins only exist in this world—unhappiness, sickness, and poverty—but for the man who uses this God power there is always happiness, health, and wealth.” Tommy grinned a little self-con-sciously. ‘‘ Believe me, boy, lam in earnest. I have gone through the mill—know what it’s all about. I was not punch drunk when I won the world’s championship. And I don’t get punch-drunk now being honest with my .self. I have found a real purpose in life at last. It will be my pleasure to show any person the way to this wonderful God power.”