232 WHAT IS LIFE ? 



field. In its centre erect a little mound of earth not 

 larger than a mole-hill. Erect an open ring fence 100 

 yards away from the little mass of earth, so that it is 

 the centre of the ring. Let all the priests of all 

 denominations come, and outside that ring let them 

 exercise their faith the issue is not a mean one on it 

 the Christian belief hangs or falls. Let them bring all 

 their apparatus their altars, their incense, their holy 

 water, their candles, their prayer books and their 

 Bibles, their vestments and their relics ; let them bring 

 every spiritual power within their reach, and attempt 

 to move that mound of earth a fraction of distance, 

 that is, by faith but hands off and the victory of 

 Christianity is gained. In a sceptical age, when every 

 conceivable question is being sifted by intelligent minds, 

 how vastly important it is that the priests should 

 accept this challenge, and thus remove the pregnant 

 doubts of earnest thinkers and prove both miracles and 

 their faith. If the religious teachers of mankind have 

 not faith, how deplorable is the condition of the 

 religious world ! For out of their own mouths they 

 stand condemned. The members of the religious 

 world, that is, the Christian section, claim to be " the 

 salt of the earth : but if the salt have lost its savour, 

 wherewith shall it be salted ? it is thenceforth good 

 for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot 

 of men." 1 If the priests dare not accept such a test, 

 then they are blind guides, " and if the blind guide 



1 " Christians believe themselves to be the aristocracy of heaven 

 upon earth ; they are admitted to the spiritual court, while millions 

 of men in foreign lands have never been presented. They bow their 

 knees and say that they are miserable sinners, and their hearts rankle 

 with abominable pride. Poor infatuated fools ! Their servility is 



