The Delta independent., 1889-10-01
nEEcHER AND lNoERsoLL
The Great Preachers Opinion of
the work nnno hU tho A%baIe%

The Great Preachers Opinion Of
the Work Done by the Atheist.
Mr.. Beecher has gone - his rest.
The way was long tor him and often
very rough. but he trod his path with
buoyant step and far-looking eyes.
Great, natural, faulty, beloved, he has
gone now; but his words remain. Per-
haps Colonel Ingersoll and those who
were with him will long remember the
following selected incident:
Colonel Ingersoll was thrown one
day into the society of Henry Ward
Beecher. There were four or five gen.
tlemen present, all of whom were
prominent in the world of brains. A
variety of topics were discussed with
decided brilliancy, but no allusion was
made to religion. The distinguished
infidel was Of course too polite to intro
duce the subject himself, but one of
the party finally. desiring to see II tilt
between Bob and Beecher, made, a
playful remark about Colonel Inger-
soils idiosyncrasy, as he termed it.
The Colonel at once defended his views
in his usual apt rhetoric; in fact, he
waxed eloquent. He was replied to by
several gentlemen in very effective
repartee. Contrary to the expectations
of all, Mr.. Beecher remained an ab-
acted listener and said not word.
Inc gentleman who introduced the top
ic with the hope that Mr.. Beecher
would answer Colonel Ingersoll at last
remarked, ''Mr. Beechcr, have you
nothing to say on this. subject?"
The old man slowly lifted himself
from his attitude and replied, Moth
ing; in fact, if you will excuse me for
changing the conversation, will say
that while you gentlemen were talking,
my mind was bent on q most deplora-
BILE spectacle which 1 witnessed to-
day."
What was it?'' at once inquired
Colonel Ingersoll, who. notwithstand-
ing his peculiar views Of tho here
after, is noted for his kindness Of
heart.
"Why," said Mr.. Beecher, "as was
walking down town to-day l saw poor
blind man, with crutches, slowly and
carefully picking his way through
cesspool OF mud in the endeavor to
cross the street. He had just reached
The middle OF the filth when big,
burly rufiian, himself all despatched,
rushed up to him, jorked the crutches
from under the un fortunate man and
left him sprawling and helpless in the
pool of liquid dirt which had almost
ingulfed him"
what u brute he WASH said the
Colonel.
What brute he wasr' they all
echoed.
Yes" said the old man, rising from
his chair and brushing back his long.
white hair, while his eyes glittered
with his old-time fire, as he bent them
on Ingersoll -"Yes, Colonel lngersoll,
and you are the man. The human
soul is lame, but Christianity gives it
crutches to enable it to pass tho high
way of life. 1t is your teachi ng that
knocks these tcrutches from under it
and leaves it helpless, rudderless
wreck in the sloughs Of despond. If
robbing the human soul OF its only
support on this carth-religion-be
your profession, why, ply it TO your
hearts content. 1t requires an archi-
tcct to erect a building; an incendiary
may reduce it to ashes"
The old man sat down and silence
brooded over tho scene. Colonel In
gcrsoll found that he had a master in
his own power of illustration and said
nothing. Tho company took their hats
and parted,-Canadian Advance.