"Dr. Deems showed at length how the Son of God, the Christ of the Bible--_not the Christ of the lecture platform caricatures_--is operating to overcome all these works." I take it for granted that he refers to what he supposes I have said about Christ, and, for fear that he may not have read it, I give it here: "And let me say here, once for all, that for the man Christ I have infinite respect. Let me say, once for all, that the place where man has died for man, is holy ground. And let me say, once for all, that to that great and serene man I gladly pay, the tribute of my admiration and my tears. He was a reformer in his day. He was an infidel in his time. He was regarded as a blasphemer, and his life was destroyed by hypocrites, who have, in all ages, done what they could to trample freedom and manhood out of the human mind. Had I lived at that time I would have been his friend, and should he come again he will not find a better friend than I will be. That is for the man. For the theological creation I have a different feeling." I have not answered each one who has attacked by name. Neither have I mentioned those who have agreed with me. But I do take this occasion to thank all, irrespective of their creeds, who have manfully advocated the right of free speech, and who have upheld the _Telegram_ in the course it has taken. I thank all who have said a kind word for me, and I also feel quite grateful to those who have failed to say unkind words. Epithets are not arguments. To abuse is not to convince. Anger is stupid and malice illogical. And, after all that has appeared by way of reply, I still insist that orthodox Christianity did not come with "tidings of great joy," but with a message of eternal grief. Robert G. Ingersoll. New York, February 5, 1892. SUICIDE OF JUDGE NORMILE. *A reply to the Western Watchman, published in the St. Louis Globe Democrat, Sept. 1, 1892. _Question_. Have you read an article in the _Western Watchman_, entitled "Suicide of Judge Normile"? If so, what is your opinion of it? _Answer._ I have read the article, and I think the spirit in which it is written is in exact accord with the creed, with the belief, that prompted it. In this article the writer speaks not only of Judge Normile, but of Henry D'Arcy, and begins by saying that a Catholic community had been shocked, but that as a matter of fact the Catholics had no right "to feel special concern in the life or death of either," for the reason, "that both had ceased to be Catholics, and had lived as infidels and scoffers." According to the Catholic creed all infidels and scoffers are on the direct road to eternal pain; and yet, if the _Watchman_ is to be believed, Catholics have no right to have special concern for the fate of such people, even after their death.