THE BIBLE AND MR NIEDERER.

Southland Times, Issue 20013, 29 October 1926, Page 9

THE BIBLE AND MR NIEDERER.

To the Editor. Sir, —I hffve read Mr Niederer’s letter in your issue of last Friday, and I have looked up and read all the passages of Scripture he refers to. There are some passages in the Bible that are not intended to be read in public and these include some of those he refers to. I am a firm believer in the Bible and have been for 45 years, and every time I read a portion of it I usually get something from it to cheer and help me. I have found Christianity to be a real thing and I can say with confidence, and I am sure I could get dozens in Invercargill today to back me up, when I say that I have found that there is joy. peace and happiness to be obtained through believing in Christ. Could Mr Niederer say the same about, evolution ? I am sure he could not. It is one of Satan’s delusions to lead people away from the truth, and when the time comes for him to lay his head upon a dying pillow what will he have to comfort him then? Absolutely nothing. I knew a man, now gone to his rest, who though he was almost totally blind before he passed away, was so happy that he sang and clapped his hands for very joy- Did ever Mr Niederer see an evolutionist almost blind, and on the brink of eternity, so happy as that? I stood by the death bed of my late father and what do you think gave him comfort and satisfaction in his last moments? Certainly not evolution nor Darwinism, but the Bible, which he asked me to read to him. There is one remarkable thing about the Bible in that it is different from any other book and that is that it does not matter how often you read it. Speaking for myself I can always get something from it to help and cheer. I will now quote a remark from the late Dr Tai madge: ‘1 will go down the. aisle of any church in Christendom and I will find men there who were once profligate, profane and unclean of speech, but by the power of this religion they have become amiable, loving and useful, so complete has been the change that everybody has noticed it.” If there is nothing in Christianity, as Mr Niederer would have us believe, what brought about the -change in these people’s lives? If there is to such place as Hell, as Mr Niederer would have us believe, then everybody would get to Heaven—murderers, thieves, swearers, drunkards, etc., but that cannot be, because God is holy, and nothing unholy can enter Heaven. There are a few chapters in the Bible that I would recommend Mr Niederer to read at his leisure. Psalm XXIIL, John HI., verses 3 to 7, “Ye must be born again.” Also John XIV. and XVTL In closing please allow me to quote one fine of Gipsy Smith’s song “Wonderful Jesus,” ‘Tie hath implanted a song in my heart.”—l am, etc., LEWIS MATHIESON. Invercargill.