Pebbles gathered by the wayside

Front matter

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Preface

These little Pebbles were gathered personally by the writer, and so far she has quoted nothing from any other authors ; but if she should deem it proper to quote extracts from other works, she will not credit them to herself, but give the works and names of the writers from whom she will think proper to borrow.

To those whose term of subscription will soon expire I would say, I should be glad to retain you on my list, but many thanks for your past favors. If this little work should prove a success, remember that you were the foundations upon which it stood.

Those who wish to renew their subscription can do so by putting a card in the postoffice, addressed to Mrs. Mary Wood, Author of " Pebbles Gathered by the Wayside."

Those who wish to preserve the copies and have them bound, can have an opportunity to get them done very cheaply at the end of the year, as I will call, personally, and take their orders.

ROBERT INGERSOLL'S GHOSTS DO NOT REPRESENT THE BIBLE.

I have just finished reading what Robt. G. Ingersoll is pleased to call the "Ghosts," and while they may represent some people's religion, yet they have no right to claim to be even a ghost of mine. Not one of the speciments that he holds up to view has any claim whatever to the Bible. Indeed, some of them do not indorse the Bible as much as he does himself; for while he condemns the Bible, he continually draws from its truths.

He fires his big gun at the clergy, just as though the clergy were the Bible; and what seems to be the most ridiculous part is that he loads his gun with Bible ammunition. He addresses himself to the church, and then goes on to define what the church is; and when he gets his definition complete, it represents the church of God about as much as an almanac represents the Bible, or as a traitor represents a loyal man.

Now, it seems to me that it would be only fair and just for Robt. G. Ingersoll, (who, by the way, prides himself on being an honorable man,) when he makes war on the Bible, to acknowledge frankly what it does teach, instead of laying to its charge what bigotry, selfishness and ignorance have construed its teachings into; for the very class of men, or so-called Christians, that he holds up to view, (as he himself has acknowledged,") did not dare to read the Bible, and the very few who did read it were usually men who used it to make capital out of it, just as he is making capital out of his lectures against it. They were Christians only in name. They had the power to hold the Bible, and keep it from the people, well knowing that just as soon as the people became Bible readers that their power was at an end; hence the cause of their malignity against those who persisted in reading the Scriptures. They held the power that they possessed over the people far too valuable to give it up so lightly. They knew very well that the Bible made every man a tree moral agent, to do just as he chose. It simply points out the way to destruction and the way to happiness; it compels no man to walk therein; ami they knew that if the people found this out that they could claim no mote tithes nor homage from them; hence they put to death the few who would break through the bonds of ignorance and tyranny, hoping thereby to keep the rest blind and in their power.

And Robert Ingersoll ought to know that those grand and noble men and women who died so gloriously for the truth were Christians, and not infidels. They were put to death for reading and practicing the Bible doctrines • and I should like to know who ever heard of an infidel being put to death for reading the Bible, or in fact for not reading it. It is true that the Crusaders put the infidels to death who had invaded the Holy Land ; but though it was done in the name of Jesus, it was only for conquest, and not through any desire on their part to serve the meek and lowly Saviour, who said "if a man take thy coat, give him thy cloak also."

Infidelity I look upon as a want of belief in God, and not in man's creeds. No man was ever put to death because he did not believe in or love God. That would be the height of absurdity, for the very men who took part in these cruelties were enemies of the Bible, and caused it to be burned, and destroyed those who read and preached the Word of God. They had creeds of their own that they wished to set up, to extort money from the people, and it was their policy to keep the people in ignorance of the truths taught in the Bible. Some of them pretended to use the Bible, and construed its teachings, or parts of it, to serve their own purposes, just as infidels do. They will oppose it and quote from it at the same time.

Now Ingersoll says that everything has progressed except the Bible, and yet I defy him, with all his eloquence, or any other man living, to produce a book that will equal it either in style, depth, or grandeur of conception.

The Bible has portrayed man exactly as he is, from infancy to old age, and while the story of the Brahma's creation of man, which Ingersoll tells so eloquently, might be more to his liking, yet he must acknowledge that the Bible account of Adam and Eve, is a great deal more like the Adams and Eves of the present day. We cannot fail to see how plain the Bible shows up our humanity. Instead of the Bible degrading us, it beautifies and ennobles. Mark the difference ! The infidel levels us with the brute ; the Bible creates us in the image of God, and puts a soul in the earthly tenement. The infidel closes our existence with the few fleeting years of this life ; the Bible gives us an immortality that lives forever. The infidel would blast the sweet hope that love has as she kisses the cold lips of death; the Bible lends faith to love and bids her look beyond this vale of tears over the cold stream of death, into a beautiful land where neither sin or sorrow, or death can ever enter, where the dear ones shall meet again never more to part, The infidel bids man worship nature, with all her deformity and impurity ; the Bible bids man worship God, who is pure and holy.

The teachings of the Bible are plain and satisfying to the heart; it teaches love to God and man, and I would like to ask you what can bebetter than love? Love will work no evil to his neighbor, for if you love God you will surely love your fellow man ; and furthermore if you love God you will surely keep his commandments, for they are all made for your own good, and not simply to show His power over us. JO very sensible man ought to be able to see that there is not a command in the Bible that was not made for man's own benefit.