"Look here! There is no God, and what's more I'll come along to your Mission this afternoon and prove it!”
This challenge was rattled off by the second Officer, and was addressed to his visitor, the Lady Missionary from the Sailors' Rest nearby, who had just completed a round of calls on the ship's company.
The challenger was quite a scholarly fellow; keen for any discussion, and perhaps not a little proud of being a fluent speaker and a member of a Debating Society, and —as his words showed—an atheist. Quietly accepting the challenge, an appointment was made for that afternoon, and his Chief who happened to be present, gallantly offered to act as umpire, and "see fair play for the lady.”
It was not without some inward qualms and misgivings that the Missionary wended her way back to the "Rest," for she recognized that she had no mean antagonist to face, but a man evidently well versed in his subject, and probably used to debate, and ready to meet with expert argument all that she could bring forward to prove the greatest fact in the universe that
"God Is!”
Moreover she feared that in mere verbal debate she might find herself no match for such a skilled opponent, and that the cause she had at heart might suffer loss if she were beaten.
However, she knew of the one place where true wisdom and courage is to be found, and there, like King Hezekiah of old, she humbly spread the matter before the Most High, and claimed His help. Thus when at the appointed time she found her opponent and the umpire awaiting her in the General Room of the "Rest," it was in no strength of her own that she sat down at the table opposite them, and opened fire with the question, "So you don't believe there is a God?" "No, I don't," was the instant and eager reply, "and I am here to prove it!" Very calmly back the quiet assertion, "Well, I do, so before we begin to have our discussion, I'm going to pray to Him.”
The prayer ended, she looked across at the atheist and nodded assent for him to open his case. But something had happened to the vainglorious dueler; he appeared as one struck dumb!
A minute passed, a minute of deadly, intense silence, then another, and another, and still in the embarrassing silence no word escaped from those mute lips. What was wrong with this fine fellow who was never at a loss for words? It was evident that the fluent speaker could not speak.
"Come on!" urged the Chief, losing patience and giving his junior a dig in the ribs. "Say something!" The umpire was of course exceeding his duties, he was there not to incite but to decide, though the smile with which he regarded his silent friend suggested that he thoroughly enjoyed the situation.
But every incentive was in vain. The One who closed the lion's mouth in Daniel's den, had now closed this lion's mouth, and no urging could open it.
"Do speak up!" again came the pressing urge. "You've got plenty to say aboard anyway." But no reply came from the sealed mouth, and silence again reigned supreme.
At last the umpire, arising, shook hands with the victor, and announced the verdict, "You've won!”
"No," she corrected, "God has won." True words indeed with which to conclude such a well-nigh miraculous happening!
But ere the loser stepped out through the door, with sailor-like honesty and frankness, he shook hands with his opponent, as he left this parting message to gladden her heart, "One thing be sure of," said he, "I shall never say again 'There is no God' although I don't believe in Him as you do!”
Who can tell where such a beginning as that may end?