Life of Ahmad — Page 740
BISHOP OF LAHORE AND ISLAM as 740 with which the Muhammadan community are looking forward to the encounter. ' In reply his Lordship wrote from Harvington, Simla, on June 12th, 1900: 'Dear Sir,—I have received a printed letter, signed by yourself and a number of other gentlemen, asking me to appoint a time and place for a public discussion with Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, on certain tenets of Christianity and Islam. I am sorry that I cannot accept the proposal which you make, and this cheifly for the following reasons: 1. I decline to meet Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in any such friendly relationship as the discussion which you propose would involve. 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? 2. You refer in your letter to my own desire in all controversy to conduct it with entire courtesy and with respect for the feelings of those with whom in matters of belief I am compelled to differ. I can honestly say that it always has been my sincere wish to conform to