ATHEIST

Saturday, November 18, 2006

When Bishop Phillips Brooks, author of “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” was recovering from illness and not seeing any visitors, Robert G. Ingersoll, the anti-Christian propagandist, called to see him. He was admitted by the bishop at once. “I appreciate this very much,” said Ingersoll, “especially when you aren’t permitting your close friends in to see you.”

“Oh,” replied the bishop, “I’m confident of seeing my friends in the next world, but this may be my last chance of seeing you.”