In 1870, the Methodists were having their annual conference in Indiana. The presiding Bishop was asking a group for an interpretation of current events, when the president of the college where the conference was held volunteered his input: “I think we are living in a very exciting age. I believe we are coming into a time when we will see wonderful inventions. I believe we will fly through the air like birds!” Bishop Wright, visibly disturbed by this scientifically based comment proclaimed, “This is heresy, this is blasphemy; I read in my Bible that flight is reserved for the angels. We will not have such talk here in my area.” And then he returned home to his two young sons, Orville and Wilbur.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
Thanks to Jay Raines Illustration Exchange