The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 11 (of 12): Dresden Edition—MiscellanyIngersoll, Robert Green
Religion
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 11 (of 12): Dresden Edition—Miscellany
Ingersoll, Robert Green
Free thought
Date and Manner of Composing the Old Testament--Other Books not now in
Existence, and Disagreements about the Canon--Composite Character of
certain Books--Various Versions--Why was God's message given to the Jews
alone?--The Story of the Creation, of the Flood, of the Tower, and
of Lot's wife--Moses and Aaron and the Plagues of Egypt--Laws of
Slavery--Instructions by Jehovah Calculated to excite Astonishment and
Mirth--Sacrifices and the Scapegoat--Passages showing that the Laws of
Moses were made after the Jews had left the Desert--Jehovah's dealings
with his People--The Sabbath Law--Prodigies--Joshua's Miracle--Damned
Ignorance and Infamy--Jephthah's Sacrifice--Incredible Stories--The
Woman of Endor and the Temptation of David--Elijah and Elisha--Loss of
the Pentateuch from Moses to Josiah--The Jews before and after being
Abandoned by Jehovah--Wealth of Solomon and other Marvels.
ADDRESS ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
ON the 22d of October, 1883, a vast number of citizens met at Lincoln
Hall, Washington, D. C., to give expression to their views concerning
the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, in which it is
held that the Civil Rights Act is unconstitutional.
Col. Robert G. Ingersoll was one of the speakers.
The Hon. Frederick Douglass introduced him as follows:
Abou Ben Adhem--(may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold;
And to the presence in the room he said,
"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head,
And, with a look made all of sweet accord,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" asked Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow-men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again, with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest;
And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
I have the honor to introduce Robert G. Ingersoll.
MR. INGERSOLL'S SPEECH.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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