Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-01-30
q Chinaman Answers Ingersou.

Cninaman, to I1gersol's attack on the Bible:
In reoent article In the North american
Reuiew, Robert Ingeisoll arraigns the Bible
On tls ground that 1t is very common,
a!ain beck, and it need;d more ineplrst on
to write any Of tho plays of Shakespeare
an il dld to wr ts oil the books OF 'e
Bible, fEcn Genesis to Revelation. He
clsimed that az history the Bible is fall
ure. and thst Gibbons Rome or Mscau 81 g
Eoglaud are infinit ,ly ts superior. In fact,
Mr.. Iugersol would have us believe that
tbe fouuteinhesd of knowledge is concealed
unCer bis het. I am free to confess that
t1sre ere, as he suggetts, many repesltiops
in the Bible, but these repst tions ere but
the result Of tie Oriental style of wit ng.
ard the very man whom he, 10 his great
wisdom, have declared to be superior TO any
OF the Inspired writer's, have bowed, and
that, too, vita no mock humility, before t;is
grea eat Of all books and have learned ftom
lt. Shakespeare was evidently familiar
with al its contert'. Macaua az read and
re- ,rend 1t with great profit" and tbs great
est minds that the world has ever known
are men who have looked on 1t as store.
house OF knowledge. 1t is always sign Of
WI gar and uneducated mind; 1t is 1e mark
Of want of Information on the part OF any
mGu who derides the Bible and claims that
{ oooiaiss nothing of Importance. Were
he Bibie taken out OF literature. the libra
ries Of to-dey would be Ct but small COM
pass.
presume that Mr.. Ingersoll could easily
write the frat few books ot the Bible. but 10
steed OF condemniDg the whole book, sup
pose that he or some of bls gifted admirers
write for US something that will equal the
Book OF Job, lival the Palms OF David or
that will surpgs5 ths Proverbs OF Solomon.
When tnis Is done, perhaps we will be con-
tent TO follow this blind leader of the blind,
this inconsistent man who breaches temper
anca ore day ard sends whisky ss precious
gift 10 his friend the next. This Ball OF
the Woods," whose timorous soul oompes
him TO so through life declaring that there
Ia no Cod, much as q school.boy goes
through graveyard at night and whistles
to keep up his courage. 1. is singular fact
that all the best zen the world has known,
that the best educated men that have walk
ed the earth, and the men who have swayed
tho desti1ies Of nations, that have been hon.
ored by their f5llowmen, that have left us
uueulitd and undying memories, are men
that have reed the Bible and have profted
bv lie oonuEe's.
Ga .he contrary, the ignorant, the vicious,
RE uDeGDcated. the man who dies and Ia
foIgostep, ons whom the world can get along
beeo without, the anarchist, the socialist, the
communist, the cff.scouripg Of soclety, ere
the Coen who deny the Bible and seek wis
dom in the Police Gazette or hunt FOR infor.
nation In the dime novel. Singular, isn't
l.? I, for cne. sincerely hope that MIR. In-
sersoll will try his hand on some new
proverbs that will be wiser than Solomon's.
and give ns O grander poem than Jobs.
II tat es an artist 10 make picture but any fool
may daub it with paint and deface 1t, and yot
the picture that has been painted in the Bible
snd dsubsd az since the time Of Julian, when
tho discooration has dried it fell to the ground
sid tho picture shone as clear a5 ever await
with il 5tlo hope tho production of any human bs'
ing that c, ,nuot comfort the mourner, raise the
fallen, q, point TO Immortality as docs the
writers OF the Billie.
The commander -in-chief of sn army does not
hocd the guns nor tho rattle OF muskets-ne
Watches the effect of shot and shetland so tae
Chinese, being practical people, cara not for the
wit, the elequence Of Ingersoll-they look only
for the rcsu is OF his tesching No other religion,
no system of belief or unbslief can point to the
monuments OF human charity, al can Christianity.
No other religion MSS given to the world hospi-
tails the founding Ssylums and the libraries that
dot this fair earth. Wherever there Is charity
there is Christianity. Wherever there is help
for the downfal!er there the Bible is known.
Wherever the orphan and this widow is cared for
Christ is preached. Wherever the naked are
othed and the hungary fed, His doctrines pro.
vail In all lands, in sll time whatsoever has been
done to better the condition of mankind has been
| demo in His name