Bible Influence.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 September 1913, Page 3

Bible Influence.

Final reply to Mr Horace W. Milner.

TO THE EDITOU

Sir—,Mr Milner's flight in his last letter, his " final word," into realms of astrology, was so sudden and so prolonged as almost to take my breath away. This attempt on his part to prove the truth of the Bible and of his former contentions by signs of the Zodiac,

stamps him as a teacher who

• must also be able *to " cast " a ' horoscope or " read " a palm. Truly a valuable member of any community.

This attempt on Mr Milner's part to bolster up his theology with his astrology; this attempt to turn the " Lovely Stars, the for-get-me-nots of the angels," into " Signs " to support the dogma of a Creed ; this attempt to associate even our glorious Southern Cross with the bloodstained Cross of Calvary will, I am sure, meet with the reprobation it deserves at the hands of those of your readers who associate with Stars all that is beautiful and true.

It is hard to believe that Mr Milner intended us to take him seriously, but speaking of the Southern Cross, this is what he says ; " The Southern Cross being under this constellation (Centaurus) tells of His death on Calvary," But why in the name of all that's reasonable does Mr Milner stop here ? There are two others crosses in Argo, and adjacent to the.Southern Cross, one on either side: may not these have been specially arranged by the divine architect at creations dawn to signify the death of " two thieves with him " ?

A little further still, as there are four bright stars in each Cross, and three crosses, three fours are twelve, and we have the Twelve apostles. In short there is no end to the results one may obtain by a proper shuffle of the cards or " Stars," I should say, under such a " System."

Speaking, of the sign Virgo M r Milner says : " The first sign is Virgo (It's the sixth really, but that doesn't matter much) which in the Zodiac is pictured as a woman with a branch in her hand (Mr Milner is referring to the " Zodiacs in the Temples of Denderah and Esnah in Egypt"), the Hebrew and Arabic name's mean a Virgin ; the name of the brightest star in the sign means " a Branch." (The Star M r Milner refers to is " Spica," which means really " an ear of corn," but such a meaning would'nt quite fit in with the prophecy he quotes : " I will raise unto David a righteous branch," hence evidently the change). Mr Milner proceeds — " Thus this sign in outline agrees with Scripture prophecy, which says " Behold a Virgin shall bear a Son." Might I ask which " Virgin," which " Son " ? Dean Milman mentions in his History of Christianity that the first Jesuit missionaries who went to China were appalled at finding in the mythology of that country a counter-part of the story of the Virgin. In Persia, Zoroaster, the founder of the Perso-Iranian National religion, was miraculously conceived. "In Egypt Borus, who had the epithet of Saviour^ was born of the Virgin Isis etc."

Mr Milner, in order evidently to again verify the truth of Biblical prophecy, speaking of another constellation says : "The third constellation is Bootes which means "he cometh." Really, this is beautiful. Bootes is from the Greek, and means " an ox-driver," but of course that wouldn't fit in with the next prophecy which Mr Milner quotes : " He cometh " to judge the world in righteousness." A bullockdriver judging the world would be slightly incongruous.

Again-Mr Milner speaking of another constellation, says : " The fourth sign is Sagittarius, the Archer; the name means the " the Conqueror." It comes from the Latin " Sagitta."an "arrow," and simply means an " Archer," whether conquered or unconquered, but again this meaning would not fit in with the apocalyptic vision, to which Mr Milner refers, of the " Man on the white horse that went forth conquering and to " conquer," hence the change. And this is how Mr Milner establishes the " tremendous truths " which the Stars teach, this is how he harmonises their message with " the written word of God as we have it to-day." In the last paragraph of Mr Milner's letter he says;." Knowing the worth of this Book I am always prepared to defend it." May I ask Mr Milner not of course expecting an _ answer through your columns, Sir —Is he '• always prepared to defend " those parts of it which represent his God as commanding his victorious generals to put the inhabitants of doomed cities to the

edge of the sword, including the women and children and even the sucknlg babes at the breast, and innocent dumb animals, too, Every thing that breaths " ? Sometimes an exception was made when the maidens were reserved for even a worse fate ! In the light of the atrocities, at the mention of which even strong men turn pale, laid to-day at the door of the Bulgarians, a Biblereading people, may I ask if it is possible that " Bible influence" percolating . through the ages, could have anything to do with such appalling results. Finally, Sir, while thanking you for your impartiality and patient forbearance through this long discussion, allow me to say that I take the risk of rejecting, absolutely, Mr Milner's teachings, both from God's works and God's Word, believing with the despised Bob Ingersoll, that "If God made us he won't destroy us ; infinite wisdom never made a poor investment, and upon every work of the Creator, not excluding " an insignificant fantical bigot in a corner," a final dividend will be paid." CLAUDE HOPPER.

This correspondence is now closed —Ed. Advertiser.]