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some of “ the freest spirits ” in Germany. Certain of those men met together 
for the purpose of discussing and proclaiming the choicest theories 
of the freest school of thought, and the witness recording the circum- 
stance says, that one person rose, and after declaring several new views 
and theories, proclaimed distinctly his disbelief in the existence of a God. 
The writer goes on to say : — “ I found at that time that his remark was ill 
placed, for though I entirely agree with what he said, still our education as 
yet is so imperfect, that we are not prepared to receive this statement in the 
naked form. The result was what I expected. A shudder, followed by a 
complete silence, passed over the whole assembly ; and this occurred in an 
assembly of the freest spirits of Germany. At last the thought, which I 
felt sure was in the minds of a large number of those present found vent in 
the speech of an honest Swabian, who rose up and with a trembling, but 
distinct voice said, — ‘Gentlemen, I cannot help expressing a thought that 
comes into my mind, whatever may be said of it. I have the greatest desire 
for freedom of thought, but still I cannot help declaring my firm belief that 
there is a God.’ At these words a thrill passed through the whole 
assembly, a clattering of glasses followed, a shouting and uprising, and 
the whole assembly seemed as if they had found a friend whom they had 
lost.” I think that this is a strong testimony, especially when we find it 
given by an unbeliever. (Cheers.) 
The Eev. C. M. Davies, D.D. — I should like to have some one 
like Mr. Row with me on the platforms, where I find the atheists and 
secularists carrying everything before them ; for now the weakest possible 
theists and critics seem to be put forward as so many ninepins for Mr. 
Bradlaugh and his colleagues to knock down. 
Mr. Row, — In replying to the discussion which has taken place, I may 
say that a very few observations are necessary, for the criticism upon my 
paper seems to have been confined to one point only. As to the subject of 
the dice, I treated that as a matter of common sense ; and I am sure of 
this, that if I were to produce a dozen dice, and every time I threw them 
they turned up aces, there could be but one opinion upon the subject. 
As an example, I know an instance in which a person had two Turkish 
bonds— one for £500, the other for £100— who actually, at one drawing, 
drew both . A broker told me that it was the most remarkable circumstance 
that had ever come under his notice. But if the owner of the bonds had 
gone on buying and drawing in the same way, you would have said that 
there was some cheating at work. Viewing the question as a practical fact, 
I am perfectly sure there is not a person who does not apprehend the nature 
of the argument which I used to exhibit the impossibility of these unusual 
concurrences in nature, which must take place if these theories are correct. A 
number of such concurrences is like the chances I have referred to, and 
they must intersect one another in certain points in numbers numberless 
to render these things possible. I have put it fairly in the point about 
the oxen ; here it is an actual necessity, that events should intersect at the 
right time and place ; and, supposing the herd had to encounter, not a set of 
