What about Snakes in an Atheists Grave...?

A Helpful and Concise Answer Edited By Dr. Terry W. Preslar

Copyright (C) 2012. Terry W . Preslar All rights reserved. Terry W . Preslar PO Box 388 Mineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858

...when thou comest, bring with thee...the books, but especially the parchments. (2 Tim. 4:13) Psalms 107:2 S S Romans 12:1-2
P.O. Box 388 Mineral Springs, N.C. 28108 1(704)843-3858
E-Mail: preslar12@ windstream.net

What About Snakes In An Atheists Grave...?

A Tract for Infidels - A Strange and Weird Story
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. (Eccl.10:8) This story was taken from an old tract and from the photos on the cover it must have been published long ago; but it has been reported upon by several preachers, who have been to this location recently, and declare it to be true. The Editor TWP

The Introduction
Last September, while engaged in a Defenders Conference in Idaho, a gentleman by the name of Mr. C.M. Crew came to me with one of the strangest stories I had ever heard, about an atheist in Ohio who was said to have been very bold, blatant and outspoken against God and the Bible; a man who had defied the Supreme Being by saying: If there is a GOD my grave will be infested with snakes. Said, Mr. Crew, At the funeral it was necessary to remove a snake from the grave before the casket could be lowered. The sexton told me he had killed four big snakes at one time: never saw a snake at any other grave. I saw several holes in the ground at this grave. Mr. Crew said that he would ask a gentleman in Alliance, Ohio, to write me more details. On September 20th I received further word from Alliance together with a picture of the bronze monument of the atheist, Chester Bedell, who died in 1908 at the age of 82. This letter said: Mr.Bedell said while living there was no God and never did believe in One. He did not hesitate to speak of these things. Occasionally he attended the Presbyterian Church in his home town of North Benton, Ohio, and the members said it threw such a coldness over the people as soon as he entered, it almost broke up the meeting. He built the monument years before his death. His statue is of bronze and in his uplifted right hand is a scroll with this inscription, UNIVERSAL MENTAL LIBERTY. Under his left foot is a scroll representing the Holy Bible with the inscription SUPERSTITION. Before his death he made this remark, if there be a God or any truth in the Bible let my body be inhabited with snakes. Since his burial the family lot has been full of snake holes around the curbing. The snakes can be seen any day you visit the grave yard. Last year twenty of us went out on the 30th of October and saw three snakes. The neighbors there say the more they kill the thicker they seem to be. Who would not be interested in a story like this? I was. I wrote immediately to Rev. L. P. Lehman of Franklin, Pennsylvania, not for from North Benton, Ohio. Mr. Lehman motored to the cemetery and wrote me that the whole circumstance was weird but evidently true. Late last month (April) I had an opportunity to make an observation of my own. While engaged in a Defenders Conference in Youngstown, Ohio, I was taken by automobile first to Berlin Center and then to North Benton. As we came to Berlin Center, I asked an old man if he could tell me where the Bedell grave was. Sure, everybody around here knows where Chet Bedell was buried, said the old timer. So many miles south, then turn to the right, then left about a mile, then to the right, then turn to the right again just before getting into North Benton. You cant miss it, big bronze monument in the grave-yard. Looking for snakes? grinned the native. Later another man told us, Well, if Bedell did ask for snakes, he sure got em. By this time I was in a state of real expectancy. We turned to the right and sure enough, there was the monument, the upraised scroll, the other scroll under his left foot, the stern bronze countenance, the tomb stones all about, the caretaker at work nearby. We parked our car, and approached the grave, camera in hand. Was it a hoax? or was it true? Mr. E. E. Flowers, my companion, was first to see a snake. Oh look there, he shouted. Yes, there it was. We walked around the grave and counted one, two, three, four, five, six. Mr. Flowers killed one. I -1-

photographed one. We took other pictures. The sexton told us he had killed four that morning and has killed as high as twenty in a single day. Finally he said, I dont know, maybe the Lord did have something to do with it. We saw the angry looking holes around the curbing. The snakes are garter and black snakes. I was told by a neighbor that Bedell was in twenty-one lawsuits during his life and that he owned approximately twenty-five hundred acres of land in the community when he died. We were told that he once wrote a book and that his daughter, now a woman 75 years old, residing in Berlin Center, might have one. We called on her to inquire, and her answer was, No, I wouldnt have any of the old devils literature in the house. What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. Mark. 8:36. This is the story. I am not explaining it. I am only relating it as it has come to me. The pictures were taken the day we visited the monument. By Gerald B. Winrod in The Defender And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)

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Bible Texts Statement for All What Is... Papers

All Quotations from the English Bible are from the Authorized Version, the AV 1611 (the 1769 edition is the most printed and distributed edition in the USA), the King James Version, KJV, KJB. All references to Greek words are from the Textus Receptus, the Greek that underlies the AV 1611. All references to Hebrew words are from the Masoratic Text that underlies the AV 1611. It is believed, by this author, that these sources are the only trustworthy sources for the Biblical text. In most cases where Greek and Hebrew references are offered, Strongs numbers are used from the numbering system used in the Strongs Concordance which is a standard reference tool for Bible students who read the English Bible. Other sources of reference are noted by inline attribute and in most cases no other bibliography is needed.

Copyright Notice
The Editor/Author (Dr. Terry W. Preslar) of this position paper disclaims originality. Other men have labored, I have but entered into their labors. The results of the study of Gods Word by learned and spiritual servants, in every division of the church and in many lands, has netted a bounty of wonder in the matter of Bible study. The Editor has only proposed to himself the modest task of summarizing, arranging and condensing this mass of material into a convenient form and making the application to the practical Christian life of the believer. It is hoped that God will use the work of His servant in this matter. This labor is directed to the thirsty believer who has a desire to know the truth of Scripture on these subjects in the What Is... series of position papers. No part of this publication (in the printed form or the electronic form) may be reproduced in any form, by Photostat, microfilm, xerography, or any other means, which are now known, or to be invented, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, for any commercial use without the written permission of the copyright owner. Permission is granted for the use of this material in Bible study (personal or group) if Copyright credit is rendered and no charge is made for this publication. Terry W. Preslar - PO Box 388 - Mineral Springs, NC 28108-0388 - USA

Statement of Fair Use

Other quotations are made through the Fair Use exception to the copyright laws where these apply and both noted and attributed as best can be. The copyright doctrine of fair use is a concept of the common law; its limits are nowhere spelled out exactly. Essentially it implies that an author may quote from another authors work to illustrate or buttress his own points. He should transcribe the quotation accurately and give credit to its source. Fair use is use that is fair simply that. Dr. Terry W. Preslar PO Box 388 Mineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858
E-M ail: preslar12@ windstream.net

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Psalms 107:2 S S Romans 12:1-2

E-Mail: preslar12@windstream.net