Mr. Leslie asserted that if an alleged fact had these four marks, it could not be false. Of course, multitudes of true facts have not these four marks, but if an alleged fact does possess these four marks, it will be seen that it must be true, and that it possesses these four marks because of its outstanding importance.
The four marks are as follows:-
1. That the matter of fact be such as may be judged by men's outward senses.
2. That there should be sufficient number of witnesses to put the matter of fact beyond the possibility of collusion or fraud.
3. That public memorials be kept up in celebration of it, not taking the form of monuments or buildings, but involving outward actions to be performed.
4. That such memorials and such actions be instituted and do commence from the time that the matter of fact occurred.
The reader should pause at this point and consider carefully the full import of these four marks, as they stand in relation to each other. It is the four marks in their entirety that carry conviction. Drop one mark out and there is no certain proof. But an event, which is
1. Public,
2. Well-attested.
3. Memorialized up to this present time by outward observance,
4. Memorialized from the time of the event,
cannot possibly be false. Note carefully the memorial is not to take the form of a monument or building or anything of that nature, but it must take the form of outward observance, involving actions to be performed.