W. S. (William Shuler) Harris
is the event that ever changed thine eyes to see so great a truth. Oh,
that all the world might thus drink from the fountain of knowledge!"
"When will the time ever come that the Bible will be rid of its errors?"
impatiently broke in Mr. World.
"In that happy day when the mists of superstition shall vanish before
the true light of personal liberty and free thinking," came the answer
from the bright-robed angel who was none else than a minion of the
Devil in disguise.
"How could such a glorious work best be accomplished?" asked Mr. World
whose interest now was more intensely aroused.
"Only by Christians who ought to appoint a committee from their own
number,--persons like our friend Miss Church-Member. This committee
could decide, by a majority vote, what parts of the Bible to expunge.
Then the church and the world would have a Bible reasonably free from
errors. Our present Bible has so many objectionable parts which, of
course, could not have been inspired, and any person who has the courage
to correct it will be doing the world an incalculable service."
"Amen and amen!" enthusiastically spoke Mr. World. "The Bible is
certainly a great book, but it would be vastly improved if once rid
of its interpolations and errors of translation. Any preacher who would
use in his pulpit such an abridged Bible would have my profoundest
respect, and I hereby pledge half my fortune to the first minister who
will do himself the honor of taking such a step."
"That will have its desired effect," smilingly commented Miss
Church-Member, "for there are some gentlemen of the cloth who would
quickly sacrifice any conviction for such a sum of money."
"And here," added the angel of light, "I hold in my hand a crown of
fame set with the gems of honor. I hereby engage to place a crown like
this on the head of each minister who will, in preaching and teaching,
abridge the Bible and ridicule its weaknesses. Of course he must not
cast reflection upon the real Word of God. He must only denounce and
destroy the errors that have crept into it."
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