Evening star., 1925-07-21
Doubt Is Provoked
on Literal Time
of Creation.
Defense Attorney
Tries to .ShO,U Up
Fool Ideas.'' y


| on earth competes with the Christian n
religion
Il would not say competitive, but
the religious unbelievers.
"Unbelievers of WHAT
I'm the Christian religion"
Another objection from the attorney
general as Darrow continued his ex-
animation brought the response from
the defense attorney that he had a
right to cross examine a hostile wit
ness
rs there any way by which a wit
ness can make an affidavit that the
attorney is hostile?" asked Mr.. Bryan,
referring to the manner of procedure
in Tennessee by which an attorney
is required to make affidavit that he
was surprised by the testimony of
the witness and with the discovery
, that he was hostile.
Discuss COnfucianism
A discussion Of Confucianism fol
lowed.
do you know it is more ancient
than the Christian religion?'
Il am not willing to take the
opinion OF people who are trying to
find excuses for rejecting the Chris
tian religion when they attempt to
give dates and hours and minutes
and they will have to get together
and be more exact than they have
yet been able, to compel me to accept
Just exactly what they say as if il
were absolutely true"
"I have all the information / want
to live by and to die by, the wit.
| ness said in response to one ques
ton.
Questions and answers came fast
as the examination continued. Both
grew short as the questioner sat
hunched forward on the corner OF
the table. the witness swaying a
palmetto leaf fan.
And that is all YOU are interested
| in?"
II am not looking for any more
religion
/ You don't care how old the earth
| is and how long the animals have
been here"
Is Not Interested
Il am not so much Interested IN
that"
The witness here eluded his ques
| tloner and explained the differences
| between Confucianism and Buddhism
| comparing each with Christianity
/ Buddhism, he termed an agnostic re
| ligion.
The course. then. was shifted to a
| questioning Of the story OF the tower
OF Babel. Rebuke. not fear. inspired
the action of God in causing confusion
among the builders. the witness said
He refused an attempt TO tell how
! old the earth might be, although he
| said II could possibly come as near as
the scientists do
AS both interrogations and replies
! became faster and shorter. the attor
! ney general was brought forward
! again TO ask the purpose of the exam
| ination. The purpose is to cast ridi
| cule on everybody who believes in the
! Bible, and ! am perfectly willing that
the world shall know that these gen.
! tlemen nave no other purpose than
! ridiculing every person who believes
| in the Bible" declared Bryan.
barrow Retort Sharp.
! We have the purpose of preventing
| bigots and ignoramuses from control
| ing the education of the United States
! and you know it, That is ALL. fired
| back Darrow.
The two faced each other on the
platform. The witness asserted. II am
| simply trying TO protect the word OF
| God against the greatest atheist, or
agnostic. in the United States. 1 want
| the papers to know that | am not
I al r.
| him and let him do his worst. l want
! the world to know that agnosticism is
/ trying to force agnosticism on our
| colleges and on our schools and the
people of Tennessee will not permit il
to be done
A general argument seemed i'm
minent
The reason / am arguing is not
! for the benefit of the Supreme Court
I
| saying that i was afraid to meet
them and let them question me. and
I want the Christian world to know
that any atheist, agnostic or unbe-
| lever can question me any time as
| to my belief in God. and / will answer
him" Bryan said as he resumed his
| seat.
Darrow Takes Exception.
| Exception was taken by Darrow tc
| the conduct of the witness. and an
other argument came over the ad
missibility of the testimony, followed
| by another declaration by Bryan tha,
the only reason he had been ques.
| toned was "to give this agnostic ar
| opportunity to criticize a believer II
the word of God"
A stirring address by Malone was
| inspired by this remark. He eX-
pressed resentment at the reflection
upon. the belief or unbelief of any
member of the counsel for either side
| in a manner that brought applause
from the spectators.
"I am as good a Christian as
I Bryan" Malone said. and as an at
| torney / would ask the same ques-
| tions."
The examination continued with
the question:
| "Mr. Bryan. do you believe that ths
| first woman was Eve?"
Yes"
do you believe she was literally
| made out of Adams rib
II do"
Did you discover where Cain got
his wife?''
| No, sir; l leave the agnostics II
| hunt for her
| Where she came from you do no,
| know. All right. Does the state
ment. the morning and the evening
|! were the first day and the morning