The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-03
A DOVE RETURNS TO THE ARK.

"Ben Hur" and Some of the Ideas OBJ
tanned from the Book.
DEAR HOWARD FRIENDs-Perhaps few
il any have missed me from the Page, as
my visits are few and far between. but l
am one among the many who would rath-
er read than to write.
1t is so much more difficult to prepare
the food than to eat what some one else
has prepared, but 1 do not admire or es-
TEEN any one who seeks to live off other
peoples labor, il they are capable of per-
forming anything for themselves, 30 with
the one talent 1 try to do ali
l can, hoping for an improvement
in the future. l lately read a book
entitled, ben Hurr, or The Tale of
Christ" written by Gen. Lew Wallace.
He was asked by Col. Bob Ingersoll why
he knew that Jesus Christ is the son of
God, and certainly there was too much
contained in the question to be answered
right then and there, and that furnished
the occasion for him to write the book. 1
will give in brief the particular points |
understand him to teach, and if / am
wrong it is an easy thing for some one to
correct me:
The first thing is, that there is an
Almighty Being that guides and controls
the destinies of men and angels. He
proves this by relating the history of our
Savior coming into the world. The pecu-
liar circumstances under which he should
lie born, and that uncommon star that ap-
peared at the time OF his birth, and how
the wise men were led to the very place.
These men were part. ii not all Of them,
astrologers, and knew the movements OF
the heavenly bodies. They. as we'll rs the
Jews, were looking for a new king The
former expected q redeemer and savior of
the world, but it seems that the
greater part of the Jews only looked
for temporal or worldly king that should
restore to them their government which
was under the Romans at that time. The
spiritual kingdom was as total darkness
to most of them which led them to the
conclusion that Christ was an impostor.
The writer teaches that all the prophecies
were fulfilled concerning the Savior, and
that in due season he came. You that
doubt the divinity OF Christ, read Ben
Hur," and you that do not read il. for it
is a royal feast to the believers. Not that
1 prize any book above the bible but there
are so many people who won't take an in-
tersst in reading this book of books. The
writer seems to be familiar with the Holy
Lands aud also the manners
and customs of the people. One other
point that is worthy Of comment is that of
true and false love, showing the purity
and sincerity OF one, and the deep-seated
deceit and falsity of the other, which l
understand the first to mean the humble
and true believer in Christ. which will be
blessed in the end the other the I'M
believer and prosecutor OF the Nazarene
and his followers. which hath no promise
of any good. This is but brief mention
of the book. hope no injustice has been
done, for il is not right to misconstrue the
meaning of another's language.
am glad our executive committee has
decided where it will hold the reunion.
expect to be among the number if posi-
BILE. Thanks to those who gave me q
welcome and send q cordial welcome to
all. WHITE DOVE"
Petersburg. Ind, April "a.