The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-02-16
More Bible Discussion.

Editor Vinita Chieftain: Now that
Mr.. John Ratcliff has come out and
set his seal on himself people have
taken his measure. In comparison
with his prototypes, Voltaire. Tom
Paine and Bob Ingersoll he has made
a sorry showing Each of these men
in their day pointed out the same dis
crepencies in the Bible as they saw
them, and registered their objections,
and predicted the speedy downfall Of
the Christian religion. But to the con-
trary there never was time when
Christianity was stronger than today
The Bible tells us that in the begin
ming God created all things Who can
disprove that? 1t tells us that the i'm
aginations Of the heart of man has been
prone to do evil Isn't that conceded? :?
It tells us that mankind has forgotten
God in all ages of the world and has
been punished for it? Who will deny
that? The Bible is faithful history
recording the truth in all instances
regardless of who it hits. quite the re-
verse as man has written the Bible
tells us there was a food and as proof
every mountain on earth is covered
with sea shells. God has never told
man what he could find out for him
self, nor has he done for man what
man could do for himself The Bible
notified the world that there would
Iise false teachers, and vain persons
who would deceive the very elect If
! it were possible In fact as has been
said before no condition in life has
lever been or will be that has not been
covered by the teachings of the Scrip
lures. Every criticism ever offered BY
man or devils has been answered thou
sands Of times by as wise, capable and
hontest men as have lived. The an
swer to any Biblical criticism is in
easy reach of any one who desires to
have it.
| Now let us see who and what Mr.
IRatcliff IS, and what he has done for
mankind. How many uplifts has he to
his credit in behalf Of mankind? Where
are the young men and women you
have taught by precept and example
t TO make better men and women?
/ Where are the old people that you have
icheered and benefited through their
declining years? What are you doing
to make the weird better? I frankly
iadmit that / never heard Of you until
your vain vaporing infdelity showed
lup in a paper of this city which poses
las a religious daily And which a
large per cent of the Christian people
will seriously object visiting their
families if It persists in furnishing
that class Of reading matter AS a
matter Of fact | doubt your ability to
discuss even intelligently the breeding
Iof rottenness. l have not yet heard
iof you as authority on poultry, farm
ling or as a success in any line of bus
mess, while as a Bible critic | con,
slider you more than two centuries be
hind the day in which you exist. Yes
il say exist, for you are out of hinge
with the Christian world. You have
neither compass nor rudder, simply
ldrifting to where you have no idea
Yes, sir, the Bible has given youI
measure and placing you Is as easy
as falling off small log. However
you have benefited me, have re
viewed many portions of the Bible, ole
and new, and have looked up world
wide views of men who are admitted
as authority and still stand pat on thu
gospel plan of salvation.
CAPT. G. S. WHITE.