Infidelity.
“Infidelity is honest. When it reaches the confines of reason, it says: I know no further.
“Infidelity does not palm its guess upon the ignorant as a demonstration. Infidelity proves nothing by slander—establishes nothing by abuse.
“Infidelity has nothing to hide. It has no ‘holy of holies,’ except the abode of truth. It has no curtain that the hand of investigation has not the right to draw aside. It lives in the cloudless light, in the very noon of human eyes.
“Infidelity has no bible to be blasphemed. It does not cringe before an angry god.
“Infidelity says to every man: Investigate for yourself. There is no punishment for unbelief.
“Infidelity asks for no protection from legislatures. It wants no man fined because he contradicts its doctrines.
“Infidelity relies simply upon evidence—not evidence of the dead, but of the living.
“Infidelity has no infallible pope. It relies only on infallible fact. It has no priest except the interpreter of nature. The universe is its church. Its bible is everything that is true. It implores every man to verify every word for himself, and it implores him to say if he does not believe it, that he does not.
“Infidelity does not fear contradiction. It is not afraid of being laughed at. It invites the scrutiny of all doubters, of all unbelievers. It does not rely upon awe, but upon reason. It says to the whole world: It is dangerous not to think. It is dangerous not to be honest. It is dangerous not to investigate. It is dangerous not to follow where reason leads.
“Infidelity requires every man to judge for himself. Infidelity preserves the manhood of man.” (Ingersoll’s “Interviews,” p. 165.)
Por.—Why, man, what’s the matter? Don’t tear your hair.
Sir Hugh.—I have been beaten in a discussion, overwhelmed and humiliated.
Por.—Why didn’t you call your adversary a fool?