Weekly Trinity journal., 1862-08-09

spcctul attention. A
seemed satisfied with ii
given from the preacher
exception, "uad thereby hangs tale"
It was on Friday evening, aud the minister
after an earnest czbortaton to ihe sinner to turn
a once from bis foiles was reciting a cjrcum-
stance which he said happened, some years ago.
1t Niagara Falls, when some one, near me, ut
tered. " how absurd how preposeroqs!' 1
turned my head to see who spoke, but nothing
tol3 whence the sound proceeded All around
NE seemed silent and satisfied listeners. Soon
afterwards the preacher spoke of the efficacy Of
rrayer, concluded his remarks on this head with
tha quotation, "the prayers Of the righteous
aunejh mucb.7
"Therc are none righteous, no not one" said
some one near, as if in reply to the arguments
Of the speaker Again scanned closely, the
features Of those sitting in my immediate vicin-
a., that might discover who it vas that thus
gave Indication Of incredulity or sheptc.sm.
Once more | was at fault No one Of my
aeiebbors even by scornful curl Of lip, smile Of
ncrcjplity, or disapproyng shake Of the head
attracted my attention. Here was a puzzle.
lystery, and determined to flthom it, But
how, or Therefore? Wen, would make Inquiry
after services about it, and doubtless some one
could tell where The interruption came from
was right-lhe very first man to whom spoke
a5ou, it knew. learncd from him lbat they
proceeded from a man by The name Of Harvey,
noted for his ,cccutrcitics, and dislik-d by many
on accQua. of bis determined opposition 10, and
contempt for. Tie Bible, and those religious sects
hat consider IL Gods word revealed 10 man.
iActc WIS a VuutFvv ,---.----.-- Ga,
new and strange character And as / never
allow such an Opportunity to pass unimproycd.
! sought, the next day, au introduction found
BIN to be q small man n statue, about five feet
six inches slight in frame, with hutchct
shaped face Of more than ordinary intelligence
His eyes were gray and undimmtd by age. for
he cannot be past his tlirtieth year, even if
study and thought or possibly some deep sorrow,
has drawn few lines across his massive brow.
broad and palpable as the bills of California, and
scattered a few gray hairs amongst Lis dark
brown locks. I acknowledge was rather pre-
possessed in his favor; there was something in
the depth OF his large gray eyes that seemed to
tell of great and generous soul beyond,
Entering into conversation with him I found
he possHsse ed a good education, and that beneath
his wooden shirt aud well worn coat there was a
hcmt and soul Of which au emperor might be
proud. lie talked upon varous subjects Moth
ing was forgotten from the excessive beat of the
last few days 10 the movements Of the two grand
armies near Richmond, | found him TO be an
uncOmproml>lug Union man, and bitter in Lis
d uuuciatjous oi the leaders in the rebellion
My curiosity was not satisfied had formed his
acquaintance lhAt | nj ght see, for myself what
manudr of man b" could he who has the tpmer.
ty To opniy aud tcarlesSly doubt the Bibles
ruth! But there sremrd to be- nothing strange
about the man. Ile had never broached The sub
jrc Of religion, and had spoken SO scnsibIy aud
with 5" much evidence of sincerity and goodness
If heart ON be- topics Of our conversations that
began think probably iuEdels were not ncces
saliy vicious or bad men after all rempm
oered 10 Oavc rpad Of a certain Tom PAYNE, who
bad some lll!e doubt as to the authputiciiv Of
tine Blble, and yet possessed some slight share Of
intelligence aud a few OF the sterling viltnr..
uut you may have heard Of him too. think he
lived about the time OF the Revolutionary war.
Determined to find out how a skeptic iloiId
laik, and what kind Of ideas be would advance.
" forced the fghliug,' or, In other words,
pusned my man iuto deep water by a direct
question. Mr.. llaryey,h said, " have b.pn
told that you are not willing to receive the Bibla
as of Divine origin His reply, as near AS
Iecolect IL, was Gs follows
You have been informed rightly. sir To mo
the story Of Robinson Crusoe or Lrmuel Gul
Hyer Is more easy Of belief They do not con
tam as many contradictions nor as wide discre.
mncleS as the Bible. Aud there is notbino ,bat
appears SO strange to me as the fact that men Of
"n Ihquilng mind, men appearing to possess
Ordinary reasoning powers. overlonkinp the
FhFng Inconsistencies. actual contradciions
'ad pr"crpts, aud uuph.losophicaf assertions con.
'anrd 'htrcln, are ready to believe il to be the
""rd oi God, aud written by inspiration. Even
'o' widest ictoh Of the modern uovrlst is more
reasonable more easy ol belief Nor is This
strange, Tor while one brain concocted the story
'i Sinbad, The Sailor many brains were em-
Llo3 ca 'h preparing the scores of wonderful and
nous t'IrS or tables, Of which the Bible is,
almost entirely composed. / sometimes bardlv
know whether TO smile al the evtrema tnIlg ~
nose VINO were silly enough to link sueb ipcop
eS'ehcies together, and expect mankind to re-
ON'e 'Hell as truths, or to irOWn at their base.
word of God - '"0
l1e Mormon has bis bible, the Mohammedan
iFD ~, 1"e PROTESTANT bas his, The Catholic has
HiS' ana have mine. Each one of these bibles
G'lrIS rom all ihe rest widely. aud vet The be-
!e't's 'n each patucuIar one tells us lbat his is
'Ae only true word oi God
Ia court Of Justice, where several witnesses
''s,Hy ~ airect opposition 10 each Other ain.
SC''eL inherently IA regard to The same lbing.
''uG' 'Ie evidence Of none is received
-AO'lus uP"" tAis broad legal priuciplr. reiec,
Is untrue, all written bibles. Nh Lo's iuJsot
pI5lne origin My Bible is grander. r,,'s nohinEs