Life of Ahmad — Page 756
BISHOP OF LAHORE AND ISLAM as 756 which he had himself provoked. His Lordship some time back, set before himself the task of proving to Muhammadan audience that Christ was the true Messiah and the challenge was taken up by Mirza Ahmad of Qadian to whose claims of Messiahship we referred sometime ago in these columns. Now, Mirza Ahmad may, for aught we know, be a rank impostor, or he may really believe himself to be what he claims to be. In either case we do not see why the Bishop should decline to argue with him. His Lordship speaks of Mirza Sahib as offering "a grievous insult and dishonour to Christ by venturing to call himself the Messiah. " The Jews of two thousand years ago crucified Christ for the self-same reason. They felt insulted by his venturing to call himself the Messiah. What is even more strange is the Bishop’s pointing to the fact of Mirza Ahmad’s claims "being treated with ridicule and contempt by an overwhelming majority" of Punjab Muhammadans, as conclusive proof of the falsity of those claims. When Pilate asked assembled Jews as to whom they would like to be liberated on the day of the passover Christ or Barabbas?—they unanimously voted for the impenitent thief. Did that prove that Christ’s claims to Messiahship were unfounded? We are not among the followers of Mirza Ahmad and have no intention of upholding his claims in