Life of Ahmad — Page 754
BISHOP OF LAHORE AND ISLAM as 754 about thirty thousand 173 "in different parts of the world," and his friends and disciples are anxious that he should hold an elaborate and learned argument on the respective truth of Christianity and Islam with the Bishop of Lahore, whose lectures at that place have convinced the Muhammadans that he is "unrivalled in religious learning in this country. His vast and practical knowledge, his acquaintance with Arabic, Persian and Urdu and his amiable and polished manners" are also enumerated as further reasons why he should be asked to enter into a controversy with this champion of Islam. The challenge throughout is worded in conciliatory terms and an evidently keen desire, for a formal and set controversy in fair terms to both parties on the "comparative merits and excellences of Christianity and Islam" (not Islam and Christianity) and the challengers who are great in numbers and hail from all parts of India, hope by adjuring the Bishop in the name of Jesus Christ to gain his consent to a controversy. We are of opinion that the Bishop would do well to accept the challenge. To assume a superiority that cannot stoop to controversy would be a mistake, as the challengers would be entitled from their point of view to say that 173 The number now amounts to about a million.