Tidings of great joy! They are so good that they will not associate with Universalists. They will not associate with Unitarians; they will not associate with scientists; they will only associate with those who believe that God so loved the world that he made up his mind to damn the most of us. The Evangelical Alliance reiterates the absurdities of the Dark Ages--repeats the five points of Calvin--replenishes the fires of hell--certifies to the mistakes and miracles of the Bible--maligns the human race, and kneels to a god who accepted the agony of the innocent as an atonement for the guilty. XI. WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE? THEN they say to me: "What do you propose? You have torn this down, what do you propose to give us in place of it?" I have not torn the good down. I have only endeavored to trample out the ignorant, cruel fires of hell. I do not tear away the passage: "God will be merciful to the merciful." I do not destroy the promise; "If you will forgive others, God will forgive you." I would not for anything blot out the faintest star that shines in the horizon of human despair, nor in the sky of human hope; but I will do what I can to get that infinite shadow out of the heart of man. "What do you propose in place of this?" Well, in the first place, I propose good fellowship--good friends all around. No matter what we believe, shake hands and let it go. That is your opinion; this is mine: let us be friends. Science makes friends; religion, superstition, makes enemies. They say: Belief is important. I say: No, actions are important. Judge by deed, not by creed. Good fellowship--good friends--sincere men and women--mutual forbearance, born of mutual respect. We have had too many of these solemn people. Whenever I see an exceedingly solemn man, I know he is an exceedingly stupid man. No man of any humor ever founded a religion--never. Humor sees both sides. While reason is the holy light, humor carries the lantern, and the man with a keen sense of humor is preserved from the solemn stupidities of superstition. I like a man who has got good feeling for everybody; good fellowship. One man said to another: "Will you take a glass of wine?" "I do not drink." "Will you smoke a cigar?" "I do not smoke." "Maybe you will chew something?" "I do not chew." "Let us eat some hay." "I tell you I do not eat hay." "Well, then, good-by, for you are no company for man or beast."