Bible Influence.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 June 1913, Page 3

Bible Influence.

Reply to Mr Horace W. Milner.

*—( TO THE KDITOK. Sir,—Mr Milner's letter in your issue of 28th ulto. begins thus : — • " This is the third time I have had to correct Mr Hopper's glaringly false statements. He asserts "f .that I made not the slightest reference to his question of a debate, and on this untrue assertion ■Eg! he assumes me to be unprepared." Mr Editor, when I felt the force of this terrible indict- - |pnt, a thrice detected Ananias S<~ T i the piljjory of an opponents r' wrath, like Peter of old-1 went out and.wept bitterly. Figuratively, of course, and, Sir, I must be careful or a fourth " glaringly false statement " may be laid to my charge. May I ask the careful attention of your readers while I try to extricate myself from the pillory, and endeavour to show that a man need not necessarily be a liar, although he be not a Christian? I assert again, fearlessly, and with Mr Milner's letter of 30th April before me toe orroborate the assertion, that on the debate proposed by me, 'That the pf esent prosperity of God's Own Country can be more directly attributed to the Bible than to inventions of Cold Storage and the Cream Separating Machine,' he made not the slightest reference by way of accepting my challenge. Your files will prove it, Sir. Instead, he harks back to my letter of 19th of February and says —"I shall be quite prepared to challenge him to debate publicly upon the point at issue, namely, as to whether the reading of the Bible has the general effect of "stifling legitimate ambition, retarding studies, and inspiring most deadly fears." That point was never at issue between us, Sir, and the interpolation of the word " general " before " effect" is to say the least questionable tactics, on the part of Mr Milner, who in his last letter enjoined upon me the necessity of. being" Biblical for once and prove all things, hold- • ing fast to that which is good." I <* append an exact quotation from my letter referred to —" I cannot speak of a certainty of how the - Bible <in that School affected others. I know how it affected " me," and it wasn't for good. ; , It had the effect of stifling legiti- - mate ambition, of retarding "me" in my studies, and of inspiring j the most deadly fears." Your readers will notice that I was careful to refer to a personal not a " general effect." I have thus disposed of one of my '' glaringly false statements,"the other two, if I can discover them, in a future issue. Meantime, it must be obvious to even a casual observer, from the tone and temper of Mr Milner's letters the " influence " for good the Bible exerts in inspiring respect for a controversial opponent. I am, etc, CLAUD HOPPER. Mokai, 6-6-13.