"Nothing would give me greater
pleasure," said the gallant Governor, "than to hear from you some day
as a believer." "Sir," I replied, "I would not have you entertain
any such hope, for it will never be realised. My Freethought is
not a hobby, but a conviction. You must remember that I have been
a Christian, that I know all that can be said in defence of your creed,
and that I am well acquainted with all your best writers. I am a
Freethinker in spite of this; I might say _because_ of it. And can
you suppose that my imprisonment will induce me to regard Christianity
with a more friendly eye? On the contrary, it confirms my belief
that your creed, to which you are personally so superior, is a curse,
and carries the spirit of persecution in its heart of hearts."
Colonel Milman smiled sadly. He began to see that the sceptical
disease in me was beyond the reach of physic.
CHAPTER. XIII.
PARSON PLAFORD.
The Gospel of Holloway Gaol, with which Judge North essayed my
conversion, produced the opposite effect. Parson Plaford, the
prison chaplain, was admirably adapted by nature to preach it.
I have already referred to his gruff voice. He generally taxed
it in his sermon, and I frequently heard his thunderous accents
in the depths of my cell, when he was preaching to the other half
of the establishment. His personal appearance harmonised with his
voice.
Pages:
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214