It is almost, if not quite, impossible for a man to rise entirely above the ideas, views, doctrines and re- ligions of his tribe or country. No one expects to find philosophers in Central Africa, or scientists among the Fejees. No one expects to find philoso- phers or scientists in any country where the church has absolute control. If there is an infinitely good and wise God, of course he will take into consideration the surround- ings of every human being. He understands the philosophy of environment, and of heredity. He knows exactly the influence of the mother, of all associates, of all associations. He will also take into consideration the amount, quality and form of each brain, and whether the brain was healthy or diseased. He will take into consideration the strength of the passions, the weakness of the judgment. He will know exactly the force of all temptation--what was resisted. He will take an account of every effort made in the right direction, and will understand all the winds and waves and quicksands and shores and shallows in, upon and around the sea of every life. My own opinion is, that if such a being exists, and all these things are taken into consideration, we will 355 be absolutely amazed to see how small the difference is between the "good" and the "bad." Certainly there is no such difference as would justify a being of infinite wisdom and benevolence in rewarding one with eternal joy and punishing the other with eternal pain. _Question_. What are the principal reasons that have satisfied you that the Bible is not an inspired book? _Answer_. The great evils that have afflicted this world are: _First_. Human slavery--where men have bought and sold their fellow-men--sold babes from mothers, and have practiced) every conceivable cruelty upon the helpless. _Second_. Polygamy--an institution that destroys the home, that treats woman as a simple chattel, that does away with the sanctity of marriage, and with all that is sacred in love. _Third_. Wars of conquest and extermination-- by which nations have been made the food of the sword. _Fourth_. The idea entertained by each nation that all other nations are destitute of rights--in other 356 words, patriotism founded upon egotism, prejudice, and love of plunder. _Fifth_. Religious persecution. _Sixth_. The divine right of kings--an idea that rests upon the inequality of human rights, and insists that people should be governed without their con- sent; that the right of one man to govern another comes from God, and not from the consent of the governed. This is caste--one of the most odious forms of slavery. _Seventh_. A belief in malicious supernatural be- ings--devils, witches, and wizards. _Eighth_. A belief in an infinite being who or- dered, commanded, established and approved all these evils.