truth--who are not easily scared, but who can "screw their courage to
the sticking point" and follow to the end truth's leading. The multitude
is ever joined to its idols; let them alone. I speak to the discerning
few.

There is an important difference between a lecturer and an ordained
preacher. The latter can command a hearing in the name of God, or in
the name of the Bible. He does not have to satisfy his hearers about
the reasonableness of what he preaches. He is God's mouthpiece, and no
one may disagree with him. He can also invoke the authority of the
church and of the Christian world to enforce acceptance of his
teaching. The only way I may command your respect is to be reasonable.
You will not listen to me for God's sake, nor for the Bible's sake,
nor yet for the love of heaven, or the fear of hell. My only
protection is to be rational--to be truthful. In other words, the
preacher can afford to ignore common sense in the name of Revelation.
But if I depart from it in the least, or am caught once playing fast
and loose with the facts, I will irretrievably lose my standing.

[Illustration: In Use Upon Heathen Altars Centuries Before
Christianity.] Our answer to the question, Is Jesus a Myth? must
depend more or less upon original research, as there is very little
written on the subject. The majority of writers assume that a person
answering to the description of Jesus lived some two thousand years
ago. Even the few who entertain doubts on the subject, seem to hold
that while there is a large mythical element in the Jesus story,
nevertheless there is a historical nucleus round which has clustered
the elaborate legend of the Christ. In all probability, they argue,
there was a man called Jesus, who said many helpful things, and led an
exemplary life, and all the miracles and wonders represent the