"INDEX," "WHOEVER HE 18."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7106, 26 August 1884, Page 3

"INDEX," "WHOEVER HE 18."

TO THB XDIXOS. Six,—The writer orer "Index" is his paragraph on Mr. Selby, in yenrissos af today, represents himself as in an uninformed condition as to Mr. Selby; fen referring to him, ha says " whoever he is. Why, Mr. Selby is the Freethcnght lecturer whs da*' bated with Mr. John Buehanan, and hia identity is better known to the geaaral public than even that of "Index," " whoever he is." "Index," "whoever he is," professes to gaess what the Bishop of Freethinkers. "Index," "whoever 'be is," does not want to hear any mora about " Moses' Mistakes." This feeling at "Index," "whoever he is," a very common one. When we make mistakes, or endorse them, as the Christian oom- . inanity does those of Meses, wo da not like being reminded of them. :"Indax," - " whoever he is," affects to twit " the Efeaathought gentlemen," Mr. Selby'a committee I suppose he means, with the sTnaHnewe of the balance for the Hospital from the SelbyBuchanan debate; but "Index," "whoever he is," forgets there were two parties to the debate—the Christian Evidenoe Society and Mr. Selby—and had that society brought as large a following to the debate as Mr. Selby did, there would have been several pouadJ to gift away instead of the paltry 3s Sd. In fact had it not been for the shillings paid at the door by Mr. Selby's followers, the com-' mittee would have been unable to pay the rent and other expenses of the debate. Let me tell "Index," "whoever he is," that the Christians are as much responsible for the pecuniary success of the debate as the Freethinkers, and that they shamefully their responsibility. The lea "Index;" "whaever he is," says about the debate the better. The Christiana put forward an incompetent champion, and, what was worse, abandoned him to drag through the two weary nights without that sympathy and encouragement which, being supported by numbers of his own side wonld have given him. I was very sorry for the deserted condition in which I saw Mr. Buchanan, and were I in his plaoa I should never again enter into another soak contest so unsupported by friends.—l am, fto., A. CucruLL, August 23.