Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 111
THE RENAISSANCE OF ISLAM 111 terested in the truth, he should come forward and announce that he was prepared to hold a public discussion with Mus- lims on the topic whether Jesus or Muhammad was the greater Prophet in respect of knowledge, personal example and spiritual influence. A large number of Muslims also addressed a letter to Bishop Lefroy inviting him to agree to a public discussion on five questions affecting the truth of Christianity and Islam with Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, over a period of five days. They set out the regulations for the conduct of the meeting and appealed to the Rt Rev gentleman, in the name of Jesus, not to fail to provide an opportunity for the seekers after truth to come to a decision on the proposed questions after listening to the discussion. The well-known English daily, The Pioneer, published from Allahabad, said in the course of its observations on the letter: 'The letter has a great many signatures, of which the first few names will be ~ufficient to indicate the widespread interest and expectation with which the Mohammedan com- munity are looking forward to the encounter. ' On 12June 1900, the Bishop sent a reply to the letter from Simla in which he put forward a number of reasons or excuses why he could not comply with the request submitted to him in the letter. One of these was: The Mirza Sahib, in venturing to call himself the Messiah, assumes, with no shadow of authority, that name by which we Christians are called and which we regard with profoundest reverence, and offers in my opinion a most grievous insult and dishonour to Him Whom I worship as my Lord and Master. How then can I possibly consent to meet him in a friendly way? A reasoned and courteous rejoinder was sent, on behalf of the signatories to the original letter, to the Bishop on 10 July 1900. In the course of it the writer pointed out: Your lordship has declined to meet Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in any friendly relationship for his having assumed a name which the Christians honour and worship as their Lord and Master. Had it