T. McD, IN EXPLANATION.

Freethought Review, Volume II, Issue 21, 1 June 1885, Page 6

T. McD, IN EXPLANATION.

(to the editor of the freethought review.) Sir,- —I notice in your issue of the ist instant a communication from Mr. Whitely King, in which he states that he is not a defender of Christianity, but, on the contrary, is of the attacking party, and continues on to say, he holds very strongly that it is mean and contemptible warfare to use the faults of individuals against the system. Again, “We may attack the creeds not the preachers. That is all I wish to impress upon T. McD.” Mr, Whitely King seems to be far off his mark, and to have formed an opinion on a wrong foundation, viz., that I am a Freethinker — which I am not. I have not attacked creeds, but have related things about certain preachers who were more like “ wolves in sheep’s clothing ” than ministers of Christ, who taught and advised, more to further their own designs than the work of their loudly acknowledged master. Had these reputed servants of his taken their lesson from the Sermon on the Mount, and its teachings, it had not. in my opinion, mattered who or what attacked them. I agree with Mr Whitely King that it is contemptible to attack the individual instead of the system ; but being, as I humbly hope, a Christian, or endeavouring to be one, I have no wish to attack true Christian religion ; I hate all shams, but the persons who seem to live to pervert it, twist and screw it to suit their own views. I do not run down the system, but the faults of certain of its preachers. A clergyman, no matter of what religion, ought to be an honest man, he is then one of “ the noblest works of God.” A dishonest clergyman, no matter what his creed, is one of the grandest works of someone else, and ought to be shewn up. Had I wished to attack the system through the faults of its preachers, which I allow would have been unfair, I could have recorded many things that have happened in this country that it is wiser to let be, less cause be given to blaspheme. I am, &c., T. McD,