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diff --git a/35539-h/35539-h.htm b/35539-h/35539-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..92baa98 --- /dev/null +++ b/35539-h/35539-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9572 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /><link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" /><meta name="DC.Creator" content="Lemuel K. Washburn" /><meta name="DC.Title" content="Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays" /><meta name="DC.Date" content="March 10, 2011" /><meta name="DC.Language" content="English" /><meta name="DC.Publisher" content="Project Gutenberg" /><meta name="DC.Identifier" content="http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/35539" /><meta name="DC.Rights" content="This text is in the public domain." /><title>The Project Gutenberg EBook of Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays by Lemuel K. Washburn</title><style type="text/css">/* +The Gnutenberg Press - default CSS2 stylesheet + +Any generated element will have a class "tei" and a class "tei-elem" +where elem is the element name in TEI. +The order of statements is important !!! +*/ + +.tei { margin: 0; padding: 0; + font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal } + +.block { display: block; } +.inline { display: inline; } +.floatleft { float: left; margin: 1em 2em 1em 0; } +.floatright { float: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 2em; } +.shaded { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + padding: 1em; background-color: #eee; } +.boxed { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + padding: 1em; border: 1px solid black; } + +body.tei { margin: 4ex 10%; text-align: justify } +div.tei { margin: 2em 0em } +p.tei { margin: 0em 0em 1em 0em; text-indent: 0em; } +blockquote.tei { margin: 2em 4em } + +div.tei-lg { margin: 1em 0em; } +div.tei-l { margin: 0em; text-align: left; } +div.tei-tb { text-align: center; } +div.tei-epigraph { margin: 0em 0em 1em 10em; } +div.tei-dateline { margin: 1ex 0em; text-align: right } +div.tei-salute { margin: 1ex 0em; } +div.tei-signed { margin: 1ex 0em; text-align: right } +div.tei-byline { margin: 1ex 0em; } + + /* calculate from size of body = 80% */ +div.tei-marginnote { margin: 0em 0em 0em -12%; width: 11%; float: left; } + +div.tei-sp { margin: 1em 0em 1em 2em } +div.tei-speaker { margin: 0em 0em 1em -2em; + font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0em } +div.tei-stage { margin: 1em 0em; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic } +span.tei-stage { font-weight: normal; font-style: italic } + +div.tei-eg { padding: 1em; + color: black; background-color: #eee } + +hr.doublepage { margin: 4em 0em; height: 5px; } +hr.page { margin: 4em 0em; height: 2px; } + +ul.tei-index { list-style-type: none } + +dl.tei { margin: 1em 0em } + +dt.tei-notelabel { font-weight: normal; text-align: right; + float: left; width: 3em } +dd.tei-notetext { margin: 0em 0em 1ex 4em } + +span.tei-pb { position: absolute; left: 1%; width: 8%; + font-style: normal; } + +span.code { font-family: monospace; font-size: 110%; } + +ul.tei-castlist { margin: 0em; list-style-type: none } +li.tei-castitem { margin: 0em; } +table.tei-castgroup { margin: 0em; } +ul.tei-castgroup { margin: 0em; list-style-type: none; + padding-right: 2em; border-right: solid black 2px; } +caption.tei-castgroup-head { caption-side: right; width: 50%; text-align: left; + vertical-align: middle; padding-left: 2em; } +*.tei-roledesc { font-style: italic } +*.tei-set { font-style: italic } + +table.rules { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.rules caption, +table.rules th, +table.rules td { border: 1px solid black; } + +table.tei { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.tei-list { width: 100% } + +th.tei-head-table { padding: 0.5ex 1em } + +th.tei-cell { padding: 0em 1em } +td.tei-cell { padding: 0em 1em } + +td.tei-item { padding: 0; font-weight: normal; + vertical-align: top; text-align: left; } +th.tei-label, +td.tei-label { width: 3em; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; + vertical-align: top; text-align: right; } + +th.tei-label-gloss, +td.tei-label-gloss { text-align: left } + +td.tei-item-gloss, +th.tei-headItem-gloss { padding-left: 4em; } + +img.tei-formula { vertical-align: middle; } + +</style></head><body class="tei"> + + + + + + + + +<div lang="en" class="tei tei-text" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em" xml:lang="en"> + <div class="tei tei-front" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"> + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div id="pgheader" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em">The Project Gutenberg EBook of Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays by Lemuel K. Washburn</p></div><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost + and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, + give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project + Gutenberg License <a href="#pglicense" class="tei tei-ref">included with this + eBook</a> or online at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a></p></div><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">Title: Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays + +Author: Lemuel K. Washburn + +Release Date: March 10, 2011 [Ebook #35539] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IS THE BIBLE WORTH READING AND OTHER ESSAYS*** +</pre></div> + </div> + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + + </div> + + <hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Is The Bible Worth Reading</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">And Other Essays</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.20em"><span style="font-size: 120%">By</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.44em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Lemuel K. Washburn</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">New York</p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Truth Seeker Company</p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">1911</p> + </div> + <hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Contents</span></h1> + <ul class="tei tei-index tei-index-toc"><li><a href="#toc1">Dedication</a></li><li><a href="#toc3">Is The Bible Worth Reading</a></li><li><a href="#toc5">Sacrifice</a></li><li><a href="#toc7">The Drama Of Life</a></li><li><a href="#toc9">Nature In June</a></li><li><a href="#toc11">The Infinite Purpose</a></li><li><a href="#toc13">Freethought Commands</a></li><li><a href="#toc15">A Rainbow Religion</a></li><li><a href="#toc17">A Cruel God</a></li><li><a href="#toc19">What Is Jesus</a></li><li><a href="#toc21">Deeds Better Than Professions</a></li><li><a href="#toc23">Give Us The Truth</a></li><li><a href="#toc25">The American Sunday</a></li><li><a href="#toc27">Lord And Master</a></li><li><a href="#toc29">Are Christians Intelligent Or +Honest</a></li><li><a href="#toc31">The Danger Of The Ballot</a></li><li><a href="#toc33">Who Carried The Cross</a></li><li><a href="#toc35">Modern Disciples Of Jesus</a></li><li><a href="#toc37">A Poor Excuse</a></li><li><a href="#toc39">Profession And Practice</a></li><li><a href="#toc41">Where Is Truth</a></li><li><a href="#toc43">What Does It Prove</a></li><li><a href="#toc45">Human Responsibility</a></li><li><a href="#toc47">Abolish Dirt</a></li><li><a href="#toc49">Religion And Morality</a></li><li><a href="#toc51">Jesus As A Model</a></li><li><a href="#toc53">Singing Lies</a></li><li><a href="#toc55">A Walk Through A Cemetery</a></li><li><a href="#toc57">Peace With God</a></li><li><a href="#toc59">Saving The Soul</a></li><li><a href="#toc61">The Search For Something To +Worship</a></li><li><a href="#toc63">Where Are They</a></li><li><a href="#toc65">Some Questions For Christians To +Answer</a></li><li><a href="#toc67">The Image Of God</a></li><li><a href="#toc69">Religion And Science</a></li><li><a href="#toc71">The Bible And The Child</a></li><li><a href="#toc73">When To Help The World</a></li><li><a href="#toc75">The Judgment Of God</a></li><li><a href="#toc77">Christianity And Freethought</a></li><li><a href="#toc79">The Brotherhood And Freedom +Of Man</a></li><li><a href="#toc81">Whatever Is Is Right</a></li><li><a href="#toc83">The Object Of Life</a></li><li><a href="#toc85">Man</a></li><li><a href="#toc87">The Dogma Of The Divine Man</a></li><li><a href="#toc89">The Rich Man's Gospel</a></li><li><a href="#toc91">Speak Well Of One Another</a></li><li><a href="#toc93">Disgraceful Partnerships</a></li><li><a href="#toc95">Science And Theology</a></li><li><a href="#toc97">Unequal Remuneration</a></li><li><a href="#toc99">The Old And The New</a></li><li><a href="#toc101">Guard The Ear</a></li><li><a href="#toc103">The Character Of God</a></li><li><a href="#toc105">Not Important</a></li><li><a href="#toc107">Oaths</a></li><li><a href="#toc109">Dead Words</a></li><li><a href="#toc111">Confession Of Sin</a></li><li><a href="#toc113">Death's Philanthropy</a></li><li><a href="#toc115">Our Attitude Towards Nature</a></li><li><a href="#toc117">Reverence For Motherhood</a></li><li><a href="#toc119">The God Of The Bible</a></li><li><a href="#toc121">The Measure Of Suffering</a></li><li><a href="#toc123">Nature</a></li><li><a href="#toc125">Creeds</a></li><li><a href="#toc127">Don't Try To Stop The Sun Shining</a></li><li><a href="#toc129">Follow Me</a></li><li><a href="#toc131">Can We Never Get Along Without +Servants?</a></li><li><a href="#toc133">A Heavenly Father</a></li><li><a href="#toc135">Worship Not Needed</a></li><li><a href="#toc137">Was Jesus A Good Man</a></li><li><a href="#toc139">How To Help Mankind</a></li><li><a href="#toc141">On The Cross</a></li><li><a href="#toc143">Equal Moral Standards</a></li><li><a href="#toc145">Authority</a></li><li><a href="#toc147">A Clean Sabbath</a></li><li><a href="#toc149">Human Integrity</a></li><li><a href="#toc151">Is It True</a></li><li><a href="#toc153">Keep The Children At Home</a></li><li><a href="#toc155">Teacher And Preacher</a></li><li><a href="#toc157">Fear Of Doubts</a></li><li><a href="#toc159">Bible-Backing</a></li><li><a href="#toc161">Beggars</a></li><li><a href="#toc163">Habits</a></li><li><a href="#toc165">Can Poverty Be Abolished</a></li><li><a href="#toc167">The Roman Catholic God</a></li><li><a href="#toc169">Human Cruelty</a></li><li><a href="#toc171">Infidelity</a></li><li><a href="#toc173">Atheism</a></li><li><a href="#toc175">Christian Happiness</a></li><li><a href="#toc177">What God Knows</a></li><li><a href="#toc179">The Meaning Of The Word God</a></li><li><a href="#toc181">What Has Jesus Done For The +World</a></li><li><a href="#toc183">The Agnostic's Position</a></li><li><a href="#toc185">Orthodoxy</a></li><li><a href="#toc187">Ideas Of Jesus</a></li><li><a href="#toc189">The Silence Of Jesus</a></li><li><a href="#toc191">Does The Church Save</a></li><li><a href="#toc193">Save The Republic</a></li><li><a href="#toc195">A Woman's Religion</a></li><li><a href="#toc197">The Sacrifice Of Jesus</a></li><li><a href="#toc199">Fashionable Hypocrisy</a></li><li><a href="#toc201">The Saturday Half-Holiday</a></li><li><a href="#toc203">The Motive For Preaching</a></li><li><a href="#toc205">The Christian's God</a></li><li><a href="#toc207">Indifference To Religion</a></li><li><a href="#toc209">Sunday Schools</a></li><li><a href="#toc211">Going To Church</a></li><li><a href="#toc213">Who Is The Greatest Living Man</a></li></ul> + </div> + + </div> +<div class="tei tei-body" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page001">[pg 001]</span><a name="Pg001" id="Pg001" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 60%; text-align: center"><img src="images/frontispiece.png" alt="Illustration." title="Lemuel K. Washburn" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">Lemuel K. Washburn</div></div> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page005">[pg 005]</span><a name="Pg005" id="Pg005" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc1" id="toc1"></a> +<a name="pdf2" id="pdf2"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Dedication</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The writer of this +book dedicates it to all +men and women of +common honesty and +common sense. +</p> + +</div> + + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page007">[pg 007]</span><a name="Pg007" id="Pg007" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc3" id="toc3"></a> +<a name="pdf4" id="pdf4"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Is The Bible Worth Reading</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +That depends. If a man is going to get his +living by standing in a Christian pulpit, I should +be obliged to answer, Yes! But if he is going to +follow any other calling, or work at any trade, I +should have to answer, No! There is absolutely +no information in the Bible that man can make +any use of as he goes through life. The Bible is +not a book of knowledge. It does not give instruction +in any of the sciences. It furnishes no +help to labor. It is useless as a political guide. +There is nothing in it that gives the mechanic any +hint, or affords the farmer any enlightenment in +his occupation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If man wishes to learn about the earth or the +heavens; about life or the animal kingdom, he has +no need to study the Bible. If he is desirous of +reading the best poetry or the most entertaining +literature he will not find it in the Bible. If he +wants to read to store his mind with facts, the +Bible is the last book for him to open, for never yet +was a volume written that contained fewer facts +than this book. If he is anxious to get some information +that will help him earn an honest living +he does not want to spend his time reading Genesis, +Exodus, Numbers, Kings, Psalms, or the Gospels. +If he wants to read just for the fun of reading +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page008">[pg 008]</span><a name="Pg008" id="Pg008" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to kill time, or to see how much nonsensical +writing there is in one book, let him read the Bible. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I have not said that there are not wise sayings in +the Bible, or a few dramatic incidents, but there +are just as wise sayings, and wiser ones, too, out +of the book, and there are dramas of human life +that surpass in interest anything contained in the +Old or New Testament. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No person can make a decent excuse for reading +the Bible more than once. To do such a thing +would be a foolish waste of time. But our stoutest +objection to reading this book is, not that it +contains nothing particularly good, but <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">that it +contains so much that is positively bad</span></em>. To read +this book is to get false ideas, absurd ideas, bad +ideas. The injury to the human mind that reads +the Bible as a reliable book is beyond repair. I +do not think that this book should be read by children, +by any human being less than twenty years +of age, and it would be better for mankind if not +a man or woman read a line of it until he or she +was fifty years old. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What I want to say is this, that there is nothing +in the Bible that is of the least consequence to the +people of the twentieth century. English literature +is richer a thousand fold than this so-called +sacred volume. We have books of more information +and of more inspiration than the Bible. As +the relic of a barbarous and superstitious people, +it should have a place in our libraries, but it is not +a work of any value to this age. I pity men who +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page009">[pg 009]</span><a name="Pg009" id="Pg009" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +stand in pulpits and call this book the word of God. +I wish they had brains enough to earn their living +without having to repeat this foolish falsehood. +The day will come when this book will be estimated +for what it a worth, and when that day comes, the +Bible will no longer be called the word of God, but +the work of ignorant, superstitious men. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The cross everywhere is a dagger in the heart +of liberty. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A miracle is not an explanation of what we cannot +comprehend. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The statue of liberty that will endure on this +continent is not the one made of granite or bronze, +but the one made of love of freedom. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Take away every achievement of the world and +leave man freedom, and the earth would again +bloom with every glory of attainment; but take +away liberty and everything useful and beautiful +would vanish. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page010">[pg 010]</span><a name="Pg010" id="Pg010" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc5" id="toc5"></a> +<a name="pdf6" id="pdf6"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Sacrifice</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The sacrifice of Jesus, so much boasted by the +Christian church, is nothing compared to the +sacrifice of a mother for her family. It is not to +be spoken of in the same light. A mother's sacrifice +is constant: momentary, hourly, daily, life-long. +It never ceases. It is a veritable providence; +a watchful care; a real giving of one life +for another, or for several others; a gift of love so +pure and holy, so single and complete, that it is +an offering in spirit and in substance. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This is to me the highest, purest, holiest act of +humanity. All others, when weighed with this +unselfish consecration to duty, seem small and insignificant. +There is, in a mother's life, no counting +of cost, no calculation of reward. It is enough +that a duty is to be done; that a service is to be +rendered; that a sacrifice is called for. The true +mother gives herself to the offices of love without +hope, expectation, or wish of recompense. A +mother's love for her children cannot be determined +by any earthly measure, by any material +standard. It outshines all glory, and is the last +gleam of light in the human heart. A mother's +love walks in a thousand Gethsemanes, endures a +thousand Calvaries, and has a thousand agonies +that the dying of Jesus upon a cross cannot symbolize. +This maternal sacrifice is the greater that +it is made cheerfully, without a murmur, and even +with joy. If it is not sought; it is never pushed +aside. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page011">[pg 011]</span><a name="Pg011" id="Pg011" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A mother's sacrifice for her family makes a +chapter of suffering, of patient toil and strife, of +heroic endurance and forbearance, that religion +is not yet high enough to appreciate; and this sublime +devotion is not in one home, but in <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">hundreds +of thousands in every land</span></em> everywhere on earth, +and it is real, true, heart-born, and the utmost of +renunciation that human life has revealed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The brief martyrdom of Jesus was not voluntary, +was not lasting in its pain or in its service to +mankind. His death was cruel, his suffering and +agony terrible to think of, but it was all soon over. +A few hours of torture make up the tragedy of the +cross. But the story of this crucifixion may be +fictitious, imaginary; most likely is such. Perhaps +no such man died such a death in any such way. +Then how vain and foolish to waste our sympathy +on a fanciful sufferer, an imaginary martyr, who +never existed outside of the brain of the writer of +the story, while there are actual, real beings living +who are making a greater sacrifice, doing a holier +duty, within our reach! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We need not go to a Bible to find those who deserve +our tears, or who have earned our admiration. +The bravest heart that ever author wrote +into being, fails to come up to the lofty height of +endurance, of a life inspired by love, of heroic sacrifice, +that can be found in hundreds of homes in our +land. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Far be it from my intention to paint less any +deed of mortal that has brightened the lot of man, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page012">[pg 012]</span><a name="Pg012" id="Pg012" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +or to throw discredit upon aught that is worthy of +human gratitude and praise. I yield most ready +sympathy and most willing admiration to every +noble soul that has lived or died to make earth +better and happier, but I do not believe that greatness, +goodness and love are all dead, and that our +whole duty is to stand and weep around a tomb. +I believe in living men and women, in living hearts +and souls, in living greatness and goodness and +love, and I tell you all that the earth never bore +more loving, more humane, tenderer, braver, or +truer hearts than beat today in the living breasts +of mankind. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +And I place above all that is brave and true, +great and good, in the past or present, the mothers +of our age.—What man cannot see that silent, +patient mother in her home, the victim of a multitude +of trials, crosses, annoyances, day after day +and week after week, meeting all, bearing all, with +a saint's look and manner; and what man, seeing +her there, at the side of the sick, worn out with +watching and waiting, and then at the bed of +death, faithful and true to the last, though wounded +in heart and spirit never faltering in the way of +duty, that would not say if there be one sacrifice +that is above, and greater than, all others, it is +that of a mother's love? +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page013">[pg 013]</span><a name="Pg013" id="Pg013" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc7" id="toc7"></a> +<a name="pdf8" id="pdf8"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Drama Of Life</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +With the passing of the season we are reminded +of the rapid flight of life. It seems but yesterday +that the first bluebird of spring lit on the bare +bough of the apple-tree in the orchard near by, +and the early robin sang his welcome notes in our +glad ears, and yet the bluebird and robin are seen +and heard no more, and the green promise of spring +has changed to the brown harvest of autumn, +which will soon be stored for winter's use. This +is the way every season comes and goes; a little +long in coming sometimes; but never long in going; +and every year grows shorter as we grow older, +and every year goes more quickly as we near the +border of old age. Life soon changes from a glad +look ahead to a sad glance behind. From baby +to boy, from boy to man, from man to tottering +age;—how swiftly the scenes change, and life comes +and life goes, and the door of death opens almost +before the door of birth closes. The cradle and the +grave touch, and the blithe youth that lends his +strength to feeble age finds himself ere long leaning +upon the arm of youth and strength. The circle +of years soon rolls round, and life is but a day of +toil and a night of dreams. As we look back upon +vanished time and see the happy scenes of childhood +mingled with the surroundings of later life, +days and months shrink to hours, and years seem +to be spanned by a sunrise and a sunset with a +little laughter and perhaps some tears between. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page014">[pg 014]</span><a name="Pg014" id="Pg014" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We who have travelled more than half way on the +road cannot look backward without a sigh, cannot +think backward without a pang. Many of us have +left the graves of father and mother behind, perhaps +the smaller graves of children, where some +of our heart lies buried too. The storms that beat +on us make life seem shorter; make the days go +faster, and the night draw nearer; and all of us +have already, or must sometime, bow our heads +to the blast. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One human being in the great world of man, and +in the greater world of Nature, plays but a small +part. Of but little account is a human life in the +vast, limitless universe. A man fills but a little +space while alive, and touches but a few hearts +when he dies. We are fortunate if we make during life, +one true, loyal friend who stands by us +while that life lasts. We reckon this, after all, the +grandest triumph of the human soul. It is not +difficult to gather dollars—quite a number, at +least,—nor to win a measure of fame, but to live, +to be, to act, in such way as to bind one true heart +to ours, is a victory which we may be proud of. +Some lives have larger circumferences than others, +radiate farther, influence more, but none can win +the rare tribute of perfect friendship from more than +one or two. Yes! man plays but a small part in +the great drama of life. He is on the stage but a +few short hours, and most men are but poor or indifferent +actors at best. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Who cares when a man dies? Not the sun, for it +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page015">[pg 015]</span><a name="Pg015" id="Pg015" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +shines just as gaily when he closes his eyes to its +golden light; not the birds, for they chatter and +sing over his coffin, and hop and sing on his grave; +not the brook, for it runs laughing on and never +stops its gambols and song; not any of the things +of earth, but man. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When man dies, a few say, Is he gone? and then +forget that he ever lived; a few go to help carry his +dead body to the grave, and then turn away to +join the business and pleasure of life, and forget +that they have buried a man; a few, some days after, +call at the house where he lived and drop a tear of +sympathy for the weeping widow and tearful children, +and then forget that the husband and father +is no more. But does no one care? Perhaps a +wife, who will carry his dead image in her heart as +long as it beats; perhaps a daughter, who will remember +him a year or two, or a little longer, who +will miss his happy greeting, his loving kiss, his +proud, kind look as he lifts the heart's dearest idol +to his knee; and this is all. And this is enough. +We care for only a few; and why should many care +for us? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Though life is short and not always heroic; and +though, when it ends, the world goes on just the +same, we love life and it is sweet while it lasts. +Though we travel quickly over the road, we enjoy +for the most part, the journey of life. We have +pain, it is true; we learn of sorrow and grief; we +feel the pang of parting and weep on the white +face of some loved one, and yet, we find happiness, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page016">[pg 016]</span><a name="Pg016" id="Pg016" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +we enjoy living, and we regret when the curtain is +rung down and our part is played and the lights +turned out. When we strike the balance between +pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow, happiness and +misery, most find that life is worth living. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A dogma will thrive in soil where the truth +could not get root. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The measure of liberty which man enjoys determines +the civilization of the age in which he +lives. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The person who can make a loaf of bread is more +to the world than the person who could perform +a miracle. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The indifference to Christianity may well alarm +the men who live on the credulity that gives it the +show of life, but to those who delight in actions of +sincerity, it affords the greatest encouragement, +for it promises to the world a day when intelligence +and integrity will be respected more than +ignorance and hypocrisy. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page017">[pg 017]</span><a name="Pg017" id="Pg017" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc9" id="toc9"></a> +<a name="pdf10" id="pdf10"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Nature In June</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We can hardly look anywhere in Nature without +having the conviction grow in the mind that +there are more or less superfluous things on this +spot of the universe where our lot is cast, however +it may be in Mars, Venus, Saturn, or any other of +the Greek-named planets or any heavenly constellations +with or without names. Just at this particular +season of the year, the presence of weeds in +the garden or on the farm raises a colossal doubt as +to the fact of any wisdom guiding the divine voice +when, in a majestic sweep of its omnipotent power +on the third day of the drama of creation, it called +into being the grass, the herb, the tree and whatsoever +bears leaf or blade or flower. To those who +have to pull the weeds out of the ground they are +a curse of the first magnitude, and how a creator, +who had common sense, could take pride in making +such vegetable abortions as weeds we cannot comprehend. +The most worthless things in Nature +are the most prolific. Chickweed will cover an +acre while clover is considering where it is best to +go into business, and every pesky, nasty little +weed will live and laugh when the queenly corn +droops its head in the sun, and the beet and turnip +cannot get nourishment enough to keep them +alive. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is just the same in the animal world. An immense +quantity of useless beings go about on two +and four legs or on none at all. The only excuse +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page018">[pg 018]</span><a name="Pg018" id="Pg018" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for the snake is that he was made to eat the toad; +for the toad, that he was made to eat insects; for +the insects—well, nobody has yet made a wholesome +excuse for their existence, anyway. It looks +as though one being in Nature was made simply +to kill another being, and the last-made being, +man, is the supreme killer of the whole lot. Take +the whole range of wild beasts, and find, if you can, +aught but malice in their creation, if they were +created. No plague ever destroyed hyenas and +jackals. No one ever found a sick rattlesnake or +an invalid hornet. The fittest survive? The fittest +for what? To worry man, to make life miserable. +Mosquitoes, wasps, fleas, reptiles and wild +beasts, poisonous vines and shrubs, noxious blossoms +whose perfume is the kiss of death, weeds +that push and crowd decent plants until they die +in utter despair—these are the sturdiest triumphs +of the creative art. We cannot help wishing that +the Lord-God had not rested on the seventh day, +but instead, had gone around and destroyed about +seven-eighths of what he had created. We might +then have had quite a decent world to live in. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man builds a home for her he loves, he plants +beside it all that will make it beautiful to the eyes +of his wife. He works and brings what is fair to +adorn it, and makes every room a casket to hold +the jewel of love. He looks at his home with +pride, and feels that it is <span class="tei tei-q">“the dearest spot on +earth,”</span> a refuge safe and secure. The cyclone +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page019">[pg 019]</span><a name="Pg019" id="Pg019" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +comes and in a moment all is swept away. Man +cannot trust the God of the winds. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is no more terrible calamity that afflicts +our globe at the present time than an earthquake. +It comes without warning, by day or night, when +man is at his place of business or when he is at +rest. There is no way of preventing it, no way of +preparing for it. It may wait a hundred, a thousand, +years before it works its deadly ruin. But +when it comes, havoc is left. An earthquake may +be good for the earth, but it is almighty discouraging +to the people that live on it. It may seek a +beneficent end, but it goes to work in a cruel manner +to accomplish it. Human life counts no more +than the life of rats when an earthquake gets +started. This infernal visitor does not seek a spot +where its malevolence can be wrecked upon the +rocks and hills. Oftener it goes to the thickly +populated city or town and topples over houses +and swallows up dwellings, with men, women and +children. Does God send the earthquake? If he +does, where is the evidence of his love for man? +If He does not, who does? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is pretty tough business to try to reconcile +Nature with the idea of God's watchful care over +man. If the winds did not turn to hurricanes; if +the sunshine did not make drought; if the rain never +became a flood; if the sea never grew angry and +sunk the ship; if the clouds always dissolved in +gentle rain or in dew; if there were no wild beasts; +no venomous snakes; no poisonous vines or flowers; +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page020">[pg 020]</span><a name="Pg020" id="Pg020" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +if there were only what is bright and fair and good +on earth and nothing that was dark and cold and +repulsive, we might believe that a heavenly father +had made the earth for a dwelling-place for man. +But as it is, we have to think as well of Nature as +possible and dodge her lightning, run from her +water-spouts, keep out of the way of cyclones and +shift for ourselves while here. What follows nobody +knows. It may be better for us beyond this +life; we hope it is no worse. And it may be only +sleep, sleep with no dreams and no awakening. +We should dislike to die on this side of the grave +with the fear that we should come out on the other +only to meet a hurricane in the teeth, or find an +earthquake had been put under us to give us a +shaking up the first thing on that <span class="tei tei-q">“shining shore,”</span> +or to be caught in a furious torrent that poured +down the sides of some heavenly mountain. Earth +is a pretty good place when the conditions are all +favorable, but if we are to have another life it +ought to be a better one or else we should be saved +the trouble of dying. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The feet of progress have always been shod by +doubt. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A true man will not join anything that in any way +abridges his freedom or robs him of his rights. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page021">[pg 021]</span><a name="Pg021" id="Pg021" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc11" id="toc11"></a> +<a name="pdf12" id="pdf12"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Infinite Purpose</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A Christian writer recently said:—<span class="tei tei-q">“The supreme +duty of humanity is to get into touch with the infinite +purpose.”</span> This may be so, but we want +first to understand just what the infinite purpose +is before we subscribe to it. When the infinite purpose +is bent on getting up an earthquake we +do not care to <span class="tei tei-q">“get into touch”</span> with it, not much. +When this purpose is forging an electric bolt to +shoot out of the clouds, we have no desire to <span class="tei tei-q">“get +into touch”</span> with any such thing. It makes a vast +difference what this purpose is bent upon, whether +or not we want to go into partnership with it. +Now, when the infinite purpose is at work on the +earth, turning dirt into flowers, or vegetables, or +trees, we should feel a joy in sharing its labor, but +when it is determined to burn and scorch everything +on the face of the ground with a heat that +knows no abatement, we should want to sell out +our interest in the concern at once. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is just as much nonsense connected with +the use of this phrase <span class="tei tei-q">“the infinite purpose”</span> as +there is with <span class="tei tei-q">“special Providence”</span> or <span class="tei tei-q">“Divine love,”</span> +or any other religious expression which expresses +nothing unless you are religious. Where this <span class="tei tei-q">“purpose”</span> +<span class="tei tei-q">“makes for righteousness,”</span> as Matthew Arnold +delighted to believe, we are willing to catch +on to it, but where it is going in the other direction +we prefer to go our own way. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This notion of uniting the finite with the infinite +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page022">[pg 022]</span><a name="Pg022" id="Pg022" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +purpose is all right, providing the latter does not +conflict with the former, but we have serious objection +to doing anything that will interfere with +the highest development of our humanity. The +purpose which is at work in the world does not +make for health any more than for disease. It +seems to carry a tubercle with as much satisfaction +as a ray of sunshine, and lends all its forces to +assist the highwayman with no more charge than +it makes to the law-abiding citizen. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It seems to us that it is necessary to divorce the +<span class="tei tei-q">“infinite purpose”</span> from a lot of intentions that do +not work for human interests, before it will be +desirable to assume intimate relations with this +purpose. We do not want to <span class="tei tei-q">“get into touch”</span> +with what is not going our way; that is, the way +of health, of prosperity, of happiness. We do not +deny that we need to give a higher direction to +human thought. We affirm this fact as positively +as our most Christian contemporary. But before +we advise mankind to harness its wagon to the infinite +purpose we want to be sure where it is going. +Man has to go to mill and market as well as to +meeting, and there is just as good a purpose manifested +in getting the most wholesome food for our +stomachs as there is in getting the safest creed for +our souls. We are loth to trust any religious purpose +as opposed to a human one. We believe in +man first, last, and all the time. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Now, let us admit that humanity needs a wiser +purpose to guide it, but let us also admit that it +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page023">[pg 023]</span><a name="Pg023" id="Pg023" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +can be found in a wiser human head and human +heart. If what is called the infinite purpose is +working for the highest end of human life, there +is no evidence of the fact. If there is anything +better than human energy back of a good human +thought that will help this world, we do not know +what it is. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man who accepts the faith of Calvin is miserable +in proportion to the extent he carries it out. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whatever tends to prolong the existence of ignorance +or to prevent the recognition of knowledge +is dangerous to the well-being of the human race. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A higher respect for man has been one of the chief +promoters of civilization. Advancement has always +been toward right and truth when the ranks +were imbued with a proper regard for human +hearts and human happiness. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page024">[pg 024]</span><a name="Pg024" id="Pg024" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc13" id="toc13"></a> +<a name="pdf14" id="pdf14"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Freethought Commands</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Say nothing about others that you would not +have others say about you. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Be severe toward yourself; be kind to your +fellow-man. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Do not give advice that you cannot follow. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Do not thank God for what man does. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Serve neither God nor Mammon, but humanity +alone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Do not try to be perfect as a "Father in heaven," +but try to be better than you yourself are. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Seek first to improve the earth, and heaven will +be of less consequence. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Let us not forget that men speak according to the +measure of their knowledge and light, and that a +superior enlightenment is a higher authority. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +History shows that there is nothing so easy to +enslave and nothing so hard to emancipate as ignorance, +hence it becomes the double enemy of +civilization. By its servility it is the prey of tyranny, +and by its credulity it is the foe of enlightenment. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page025">[pg 025]</span><a name="Pg025" id="Pg025" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc15" id="toc15"></a> +<a name="pdf16" id="pdf16"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Rainbow Religion</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is little doubt that the faith of the early +Christians was what might be classed under the +head of rainbow religion. We learn from the New +Testament that it was taught that those who +accepted the faith held by John and Jesus and +Paul were in some peculiar manner to be protected +from the common ills of life, and were to be especial +favorites of their <span class="tei tei-q">“Father in heaven.”</span> How sincerely +this faith was held we cannot now determine, +nor to what extent it was put into practice, but +that it possessed the mind in a considerable degree +there is no room whatever to doubt. But this is +not the question that we want settled, but rather +the value of this faith. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is pleasant and comforting to believe that one +is watched over by a superior power which at any +moment of peril or temptation is ready to stretch +forth its hand and rescue from danger and death, +and it is on account of the wonderful seductiveness +of this faith that it has lasted so long and has been +so hard to overcome. But what we are interested +in is, whether or not such a belief has any foundation +in fact or in human experience. When Jesus +bid his followers to cease giving thought to what +they should eat and drink and wear, telling them +that their <span class="tei tei-q">“heavenly Father”</span> fed the fowls of the +air, and that they were better than such fowls, thus +implying that their heavenly Father would take +proportionately better care of them, was there any +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page026">[pg 026]</span><a name="Pg026" id="Pg026" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +ground for any such teaching, and is there any +ground for this faith today? We claim that the +<span class="tei tei-q">“heavenly Father”</span> referred to by Jesus never fed +anything, neither fowl nor man; and that no human +being was ever taken care of by any superior power +or snatched by it from danger or death. Such a faith +is the veriest delusion, and it could lodge and take +root only in the childish mind. Jesus also taught +that the <span class="tei tei-q">“Father which is in heaven”</span> would <span class="tei tei-q">“give +good things to them that ask him.”</span> Is there any +ground for this rainbow religion? Is there any +evidence that there is a <span class="tei tei-q">“Father in heaven”</span> who +has good things to give to those who ask for them? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We presume that this faith led men to give up +work and to trust to begging for a living. But +the question is, which got the most good things,—those +who studied the laws of Nature and of life +and worked in harmony with them, or those who +prayed for good things? How is it to-day? What +good things can be had by praying? Who has any +good thing that he received by asking his <span class="tei tei-q">“Father +in heaven”</span> for it? The asking business has been +carried on for hundreds of years, and all that has +been asked of God has had to be given by man or +has not been given at all. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Has it ever been true that Christians had any +immunity from danger that others did not have, +or that they could live in defiance of the laws of +Nature? Jesus told his followers that in his name +they shall cast out devils, they shall take up serpents, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page027">[pg 027]</span><a name="Pg027" id="Pg027" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and if they drink any deadly thing it shall +not hurt them and they shall have the power to cure +the sick by laying their hands upon them. Have +men, who professed to follow Jesus, ever done the +things which he said they shall do? Is there any +man to-day who can do these things? Is there any +evidence that Christians are treated by any power +of the universe differently from what others are +treated? And is there any evidence that they +possess any gift that is not shared by others? As +far as we can see Christians are subject to the +same laws of Nature that all others must obey, +and they cannot either defy those laws or act +independently of them. If they fool with deadly +serpents they will get bitten and probably die—just +the same as would an infidel; if they drink +a cup of poison, they will suffer and perhaps die +just the same as an unbeliever; if they have any +sickness, they do not trust to the laying-on of +hands by a fellow-Christian, but send for a doctor +the same as a freethinker. The fact is, the world +has learned better than to put faith in these teachings +of Jesus. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Christian faith belonged to the childhood +of the race, and ought no longer to be preached +to man. No one attempts to put this faith into +practice, to carry into life the teachings of Jesus. +And why not? Simply because <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">it is known to be +false</span></em>. Christianity is a rainbow religion, a representation +of things for which there is no warrant +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page028">[pg 028]</span><a name="Pg028" id="Pg028" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in Nature; a picture painted in false colors; a view +of life copied from a diseased imagination; a falsehood +fed by priests upon which they live. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is not an intelligent man or woman living +to-day who has any faith in the rainbow religion +taught by Jesus; not an intelligent man or woman +who believes that a heavenly Father or a God will +provide food or drink or clothes for a human being; +nor an intelligent man or woman who has faith +that he or she can get good things by asking a +"Father in heaven" for them and not an intelligent +man or woman who cares or dares to put the +declaration of Jesus to the test; that those who +have faith in him can play with serpents without +danger, and drink deadly poison with no more +harm than attends quaffing a glass of water. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are then to conclude that Christianity is +held only by the ignorant. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is greater argument in one fact than in +all the creeds. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is easier to believe that a man is honest who +says the Bible is the word of God than to believe +that he is bright. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page029">[pg 029]</span><a name="Pg029" id="Pg029" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc17" id="toc17"></a> +<a name="pdf18" id="pdf18"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Cruel God</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There may be some other religion in the world +that sings of a God more cruel than the God of +Christianity, but we do not know of any. At any +rate, we believe it is safe to say that no religion of +a civilized people has a God who is more vindictive. +We have always wondered how men and women +could set such infernal ideas to music as we find +in Christian hymns. It is really too bad that +human beings are compelled to sing such lies as +we find in the pious song-books of the church. +The sentiments contained in them are not fit for +savages. It can only brutalize the heart to sing +of blood, and nothing but blood, no matter whose +blood it is. The <span class="tei tei-q">“precious blood of Jesus”</span> is just +as suggestive of cruelty as the blood on the executioner's +knife. Men become what they read, +what they think, what they sing, what they believe. +Religions have made men wicked, cruel, +hard, unkind. It is impossible to have faith in a +God of wrath and vindictiveness without in time +developing these qualities. Men grow into the +likeness of their belief. As a man believes, so is he, +to a certain extent. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The influence of cruel sentiments on the mind +is greater with the young than with adults. Some +hymns sung in Christian churches are positively +brutal in tone. Think of <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">human</span></em> beings singing +the following verse:— +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page030">[pg 030]</span><a name="Pg030" id="Pg030" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">But vengeance and damnation lie</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span style="font-size: 90%">On rebels who refuse His grace;</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span style="font-size: 90%">Who God's eternal Son despise,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The </span><em class="tei tei-emph" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">hottest hell shall be their place</span></em><span style="font-size: 90%">.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Christians seem to delight in pictures of hell. +God would hardly be God to them if he did not +damn somebody. In painting the divine idea +vengeance and damnation are laid on thick. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Here is the Christian notion of father and son:— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">How justice frowned and vengeance stood</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">To drive me down to endless pain!</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span style="font-size: 90%">But the great Son propos'd his blood,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">And </span><em class="tei tei-emph" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">heavenly wrath grew mild again</span></em><span style="font-size: 90%">.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Think of the religion based on such an idea of +God! And think on the terrible effect on men and +women which such religion must have! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The following description of the Christian God +was probably written by one of his adorers:— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Adore and tremble for our God</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">Is a consuming fire!</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">His jealous eyes with wrath inflame,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span style="font-size: 90%">And raise His vengeance higher.</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Almighty vengeance, how it burns,</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">How bright His fury glows!</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Vast magazines of plagues and storms</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span style="font-size: 90%">Lie treasured for His foes.</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Those heaps of wrath, by slow degrees,</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span style="font-size: 90%">Are force into a flame:</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">But kindled, Oh! how fierce they blaze!</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">And rend all nature's frame.</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">At His approach the mountains flee,</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">And seek a watery grave;</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The frighted sea makes haste away,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">And shrinks up every wave.</span></div> +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page031">[pg 031]</span><a name="Pg031" id="Pg031" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Through the wide air the weighty rocks</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">Are swift as hailstones hurled;</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span style="font-size: 90%">Who dares engage His fiery rage,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">That shakes the solid world?</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 1.80em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Thy hand shall on rebellious kings</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">A fiery tempest pour,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">While we, beneath Thy sheltering wings,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Thy </span><em class="tei tei-emph" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">just</span></em><span style="font-size: 90%"> revenge adore.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +And we are asked to love this God! We should +just as soon think of loving a tiger, a cyclone, a +deluge, a fiend. Love goes out to what is lovely. +We can love what is good, what is beautiful, what +is noble; a great-hearted man, a pitying woman +we cannot help loving, but if we should say that we +love such a God as is pictured in the words of that +hymn we should lie. Man cannot love hate, vengeance, +wrath—even in a God. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Christian church, down through the ages, +has been like the God it worshipped—full of hate, +malice and cruelty. The world has grown kind +and humane just in proportion as it has given up +worship of this divine monster. We judge gods +as we judge men, and we can respect and love only +what is worthy of respect and love from a human +point of view. If there is such a God as is painted +in Christian literature he deserves, not to be worshipped, +but to be shot. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Bible upon which Christianity is founded +does not say what Christianity is, what a Christian +is, nor what we must do in order to be a Christian. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page032">[pg 032]</span><a name="Pg032" id="Pg032" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc19" id="toc19"></a> +<a name="pdf20" id="pdf20"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">What Is Jesus</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Time was when Jesus was looked upon as +God, or the Son of God. No one had any doubt +of his divinity or divine character; or if he had, he +wisely deferred to the superstitious majority and +kept his mouth shut and so kept his head on his +shoulders. This idea that Jesus was God has been +steadily declining for several hundred years. Intelligence +has pretty much given it up, except +where it is paid a big salary for preaching it. +There is no rational defence that can be made of +the dogma of the divinity of Jesus. It is one of +many theological absurdities that was born when +gods were popular. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A large number believe that Jesus was a man and +nothing more; a good man, but still human. They +look upon him as a product of human nature. He +is allowed a human father and mother, although +the gospels, in which is found the story of his life, +hardly warrant so much earthly parentage. He +is regarded as a part of humanity, and his extraordinary +deeds merely as exaggerated performances of +heart and hand of man. The people that look upon +Jesus as a man have a superstitious reverence for +his humanity. He is called <span class="tei tei-q">“the one perfect man,”</span> +the <span class="tei tei-q">“pattern of the race,”</span> etc. Though a man, they +will have him every inch a man. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Yet others see nothing remarkable in the career +of Jesus; nothing which marks him for universal +emulation; nothing which compels praise and admiration. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page033">[pg 033]</span><a name="Pg033" id="Pg033" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +They think he was a sort of mild lunatic, +possessed of the idea that he was the Messiah +of his people, and that in endeavoring to further +his scheme he antagonized the existing authority +and met the just punishment of his ambition. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But it is neither as God nor as a man that Jesus +must be regarded, but as a myth. No such person +ever lived either as a human or divine existence. +He is simply a creature of fancy, the fruit of the +imagination. He is a character of the brain, the +creation of religious genius. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is no justifiable Christianity in this age. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A dogma is the hand of the dead on the throat +of the living. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The progress of the world depends upon freedom +of thought and freedom of utterance. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If you can forgive the man who wronged you, the +neighbor who slandered you and help the poor +about you, you need not be particular about making +any professions of righteousness. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page034">[pg 034]</span><a name="Pg034" id="Pg034" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc21" id="toc21"></a> +<a name="pdf22" id="pdf22"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Deeds Better Than Professions</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have tears of regret to shed over the wreck +of beauty and talent; but if we take no steps to +preserve beauty and talent from wreck, our compassion +is not to our honor but to our disgrace. +The feeling of pity which to-day expends itself in +solemn warning or solemn weeping for the poor +unfortunates of earth, must devise means to rescue +them from misery, or it is but a mockery and a +shame. One arm inspired with love of man will +do more than a thousand tender sentiments. +Sympathy must take the form of assistance, or it +is not sincere. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When we do not love man as we ought, we hate +ourselves. The way to get heaven for ourselves +is to give it to others. The way to be happy is to +make others happy. Selfishness kills every noble +feeling and defeats every good desire. We cannot +have peace when we give pain to others. Our +deeds reward us. What wrongs man is wrong +for man to do. We should live so as not to regret +the past nor fear the future. We set too great a +value upon earthly possessions, and spend our +lives in gaining what we cannot hold. We best +enjoy the things of earth when we give up wanting +them wholly for ourselves. The best part of our +happiness is having someone to share it. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page035">[pg 035]</span><a name="Pg035" id="Pg035" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc23" id="toc23"></a> +<a name="pdf24" id="pdf24"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Give Us The Truth</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If there is one tree that man needs to eat of, +it is the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good +and evil; and if any knowledge will keep him alive +and make him happy and perfect, it is just this +knowledge which God forbid him to acquire. We +are dying to-day from ignorance, not from knowledge,—dying +because we do not know the good +from the evil; and we are dooming ourselves and +future generations to premature death because we +do not eat more of the tree of knowledge. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">know</span></em> more is what we need. Let us look +into things and find out what the world means. If +this universe is only an illuminated deception, the +man who discovers the fact will be a public benefactor. +If things which exist around us are lying +to us,—if the stars that shine out through the deep +space above us are only fire-flies of the night, let +us know it. Knowledge will not hurt us so much +as ignorance and deception. If the flowers that +uncover their beauty for our delight have but a +phantom loveliness, and nought is real in the enchanting +world about us, then let us be told the +truth. The soul can bear it better than to be +deceived. We may be trusted with the knowledge +of good and evil and of right and wrong, ye God +of Genesis! and praise be to the first-created man +for breaking the command to remain in ignorance +and taking the first step toward solving the riddle +of life! +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page036">[pg 036]</span><a name="Pg036" id="Pg036" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We learn everything by living. The truth is +not revealed to us: we must discover it. It is +seen when we climb high enough to see it, or live +wise enough to feel it, or act true enough +to utter it. When we hear the truth, we hear only +the echo of the universe. The last thing that we +have to fear is the truth and the consequences of +knowing it. Let us not fear to speak it or to hear +it. And let us go with it whenever found. They +who are keeping the world from the knowledge +of good and evil, who are trying to discourage the +preaching of truth, are the enemies of mankind. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If man had no knowledge except what he has got +out of the Bible he would not know enough to +make a shoe. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The great work of man has ever been to rescue +the present from the past; to turn the mind from +what it has left behind to the opportunities and +duties which are around it. For this has genius +toiled down the ages, sung its song of love, carved +its dream of beauty and whispered to the world's +dull ear its bright message of hope. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page037">[pg 037]</span><a name="Pg037" id="Pg037" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc25" id="toc25"></a> +<a name="pdf26" id="pdf26"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The American Sunday</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Everybody has heard of what is called the +<span class="tei tei-q">“Christian sabbath,”</span> and nearly everybody has +a tolerably clear idea of what is meant by a <span class="tei tei-q">“continental +sabbath.”</span> A <span class="tei tei-q">“continental sabbath”</span> may +be described as a sort of week-day Sunday, that +is, as a religious holiday with more secular, than +pious, features. A Christian sabbath is so near +dead in this country as a religious fact that a +definition of it cannot be had from real life. We +find the ideal sabbath of the Christians in the +history of early New England. For two centuries +the people have been gradually outgrowing the +austere religion which made Sunday a day to be +dreaded all the week. The attempt has been frequently +made by a small puritan contingent, which +has survived all these years, to resuscitate this dead +sabbath and inflict it upon the world again. But +so far the effort has only met with deserved failure. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Resurrections have never been successful. When +the inhabitants of graves have come out of their +abodes it has been only to walk the streets for a +brief period, and then to return again to silence +and rest. The stories of ghosts, when true, are +always short. These visitants never stop long +or do anything that is of any worth to the world. +When the grave is once made over the dead it is +best to let it alone. There is nothing in cemeteries +to aid progress or civilization. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not need the revival of old customs or +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page038">[pg 038]</span><a name="Pg038" id="Pg038" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of old faiths. To endeavor to rehabilitate the sabbath +of our forefathers is as foolish as to try to +make people go back into log houses and cook +over a fire-place. Some persons can never realize +that the world grows; that what was a help to one +age becomes a hindrance to another; that time +corrects the mistakes of men and that respect and +reverence for our ancestors do not necessarily +require us to adopt their clothes or their habits. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Men and women are made fossils by their religion. +The people who are trying to-day to resurrect the +puritan sabbath are people who have got religion, +but not much of anything else. A man who allows +religion to dominate all his thoughts, all his efforts, +all his acts, usually is a nuisance, if nothing worse. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A day of rest once a week is a good thing in itself, +but it is a bad thing when controlled by religion. +We are in favor of Sunday as a day when man can +lay aside his business, his care, his tools, and enjoy +himself, but we want everybody to take their +hands off of it. Sunday is not a day for religion +alone. If certain people wish to go to church on +Sunday, let them go; but when these people, who +go to church on Sunday, wish to compel everyone +else to do the same, they need to be informed that +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">liberty on Sunday is just as much a human right as +liberty on Monday</span></span>. There are better things that +man has found than religion. Liberty is better, +truth is better, happiness is better. We would +like to see an American Sunday on this continent, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page039">[pg 039]</span><a name="Pg039" id="Pg039" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a Sunday in harmony with the principles upon +which our government was founded, a Sunday +which was not run by religion, a Sunday for man +and not for the church. Such a day would not be +a sabbath, but it would be a free day, a happy day. +The notion of Sunday as a holy day is too absurd, +too ridiculous to deserve respectful attention. No +man can have fifty-two holy days in a year. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The minister must take his pious grasp off of +the throat of Sunday. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A true man is not troubled by anything but his +own acts. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The true man walks the earth as the stars walk +the heavens, grandly obedient to those laws which +are implanted in his nature. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great many people are afraid of knowledge, +but we have seen hundreds of people that we thought +would be improved if they knew more, but we +have never seen one that we thought would be +better if he knew less. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page040">[pg 040]</span><a name="Pg040" id="Pg040" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc27" id="toc27"></a> +<a name="pdf28" id="pdf28"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Lord And Master</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Christian is fond of referring to Jesus as +his lord and master. We wonder why, for it is +evident that not a Christian of this century takes +Jesus for his lord and master. The fact is, that +there is nothing that a <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">man</span></em> objects to more strongly +than a master. Man wants to be independent. +He does not want anybody to be lord over him. +The struggle of the race for ages has been to get +rid of lords and masters, to be free from tyrants. +Religion is after all only dead politics. The church +makes sacred what the state casts off. What sense +is there in fighting for long centuries to liberate +the body, and voluntarily accepting slavery for +the mind? Jesus is the ghost of a dead king. But +why should the world prostrate itself before his +invisible throne when it refuses to acknowledge +by its obedience that he is fit to rule the kingdom +of conduct? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What hypocrites Christians are! What a farce +it is for men and women to call Jesus lord and master! +They do not obey his slightest command, +and they ignore his teachings as undeserving their +regard. There is not a precept, that the Christian +church teaches came from the lips of Jesus, that +Christians honor by practice, not one. Never did +a lord receive so little honest respect from his +vassals; never a master so little true obedience +from his servants. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Men and women are not sincere when they profess +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page041">[pg 041]</span><a name="Pg041" id="Pg041" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to accept Jesus as their lord and master. They +doubtless feel grateful to him for saving them from +the fires of hell hereafter, but they look upon him +as a mighty poor example for them to follow here. +As everybody knows, the church does not require +that its members shall practice the precepts given +by Jesus. If she did demand this of men and +women her membership would speedily be reduced +to zero. We do not regard a man as honest, or +worthy of respect, who calls Jesus his lord and master +and turns his back in contempt upon the precepts +he gave his disciples to practice. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +You cannot stuff your minds with the lives of +saints and grow good on the stuffing. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Some persons are remembered solely for their +virtues and others solely for their faults. This is +why we have a Jesus and a Judas. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page042">[pg 042]</span><a name="Pg042" id="Pg042" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc29" id="toc29"></a> +<a name="pdf30" id="pdf30"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Are Christians Intelligent Or +Honest</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Future generations will regard the men who +accept the Christian superstitions either as simple +or dishonest. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are forced to doubt the sanity or sincerity +of people who profess to believe in the doctrine of +the trinity, in a <span class="tei tei-q">“begotten Son of God,”</span> in miraculous +conception, in the resurrection of the body, in +the Bible as the word of God, in miracles, and in +heaven and hell. We ask ourselves:—Are men intelligent +who believe these things, or do they merely +profess to believe them, and are dishonest? We +cannot reconcile faith in the Christian superstitions +with mental soundness and good sense. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What is there in Nature to suggest any of the +Christian doctrines? Does not everything we +know, everything we have seen, everything we +have experienced, deny and disprove the Christian +superstitions? Why, then, do people accept +them? We find no one that acts as though Christianity +were true, no one who lives as though hell +were under his feet and liable at any moment to +pull him down to eternal damnation. We find +men spending all their energies in trying to get the +good things of earth, just as though they were told +to do so by God, instead of commanded not to lay +up treasures upon earth, etc. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is one of the serious problems of the age to +know how to deal with Christians. They are, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page043">[pg 043]</span><a name="Pg043" id="Pg043" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +as a rule, respectable and decent; they have good +manners generally, and they eat and drink, dress +and talk, live and die very much as other people, +and yet they profess a faith that is absurd and foolish +and that has no foundation in fact or philosophy. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We like to think well of our fellow-beings, and +we would like to think well of Christians, but we +cannot do so as long as they pretend to believe +what a person of intelligence, of good sense, cannot +believe. Are Christians honest? Perhaps they +think so, but have they ever really examined their +belief in the light of the knowledge of the twentieth +century? If they will do this, we do not see how +they can longer profess to be Christians, if they +are honest. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When men are hungry roast mutton is better than +the lamb that taketh away wrath. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If a man can look in the mirror of his own soul +without shame, he can look the whole world in the +face without a blush. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page044">[pg 044]</span><a name="Pg044" id="Pg044" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc31" id="toc31"></a> +<a name="pdf32" id="pdf32"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Danger Of The Ballot</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Men speak usually as though voters ranged themselves +on one side of a political question, or another, +according to their convictions or principles. We +wish this were so, then we should be nearer having +a pure ballot. But we cannot share this lofty +view. It does not seem to us that the average +voter is a man of either political convictions or +principles. Party service does not require intelligent, +independent action, and politics to-day +stands for party fealty more than for governmental +ethics. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The main question that is decided by an election +in our country is, which political party shall have +the privilege of dispensing the offices of Government? +There is a desire on the part of certain +persons to obtain office, for either personal or +party advantage, and this desire is oftentimes so +fierce that it will betray the honor of citizenship. +Where this is done, or attempted, lies the danger +of the ballot. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If men voted only as their political convictions +dictated, we should have a higher party morality +and purer officers, but we must face the facts even +though the duty is not an agreeable one. Politics +has degenerated to a dirty business and political +trickery and bribery secure victory where honor, +integrity and principle suffer defeat. The plain +truth is, we have a large class of voters who make +merchandise of their right of suffrage, and a set +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page045">[pg 045]</span><a name="Pg045" id="Pg045" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of demagogues whose business it is to bribe or coerce +voters for the advancement of selfish ends. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The honest, virtuous, intelligent, independent +vote is the noblest power of a freeman, but the +purchasable vote, the ignorant vote, the vicious +and servile vote, is the opportunity of the knave +and the scoundrel. The purity of the ballot is +the only safety of a Republic, and no greater danger +threatens this nation to-day than that which +arises from the corruption of the suffrage. A ballot +should be the honest declaration of our principles, +the expression of our own opinions, the +badge of our manhood; but when it is held in the +hand that has sold it for a price, or will deposit it +at the dictation of another, it is the prostitute of +greed and the hired assassin of the despot. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every man should select his own ballot and vote +to please himself, and any person that would interfere +with his right and duty to do this, should +be disfranchised forever. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The individual who does +not know enough to select his own ballot has no right +to vote in this country.</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There have been too many voters led to the +polls, and used as party troops. There are still +slaves on election day who are afraid of the crack +of the whip. There ought to be permitted in this +nation no political or religious disability on account +of the honest exercise of the right of suffrage. A +man should be protected from the politician and +the priest. When a man votes as he thinks, he +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page046">[pg 046]</span><a name="Pg046" id="Pg046" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +has discharged the highest duty of citizenship, +but when he votes through bribe or fear, he forfeits +the privilege of the ballot. The polls are more +sacred to man than the altar. Religion might die +and man could still have every blessing of earth, +but when liberty is killed, the noblest blessing of +earth has departed. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The petty salvation offered by Christianity is +not much sought after to-day, while the world is +bending its mighty energies in the direction of +knowledge as never before, and the glory of the +electric light, the song of the steam-whistle, the +music of the telegraph, the chorus of machinery +and the grand anthem of countless enterprises tell +of a bright and golden future time when man will +master the elements of Nature and guide his life +through its course of years in perfect safety and +security and step down at the end of it,—<span class="tei tei-q">“Like one +who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and +lies down to pleasant dreams.”</span> +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page047">[pg 047]</span><a name="Pg047" id="Pg047" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc33" id="toc33"></a> +<a name="pdf34" id="pdf34"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Who Carried The Cross</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Who carried the cross upon which Jesus was +crucified? Such a question ought to be easy to +answer, if the event ever occurred. There ought to +be no disagreement upon so simple a matter as this. +But there is disagreement, and quite a serious one +at that. Three of the gospels declare that Simon +carried the cross, while the fourth gospel says that +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Jesus</span></em> himself carried the cross upon which he was +crucified. Now, which is right? Is John right? +If so, then Matthew, Mark and Luke are wrong. +If Simon carried it, Jesus could not have done so; +and if Jesus carried it, then Simon did not. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +That there is such a discrepancy in the accounts +of this alleged event does not so much indicate +that one is right and the others wrong in regard +to the carrying of the cross as that none is right. +To our mind this disagreement of the gospels is an +indication that no such event as the carrying of +a cross upon which to crucify Jesus ever occurred. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Christians put forth the Bible as a work which +in some way came from God; as a book which is +reliable in its statements, and correct in its narrative +of events. Now, it is patent to everyone that +in the gospels there are two distinct accounts of +the carrying of the cross. How can Christians +reconcile this fact with their theory that God is the +author of the Bible? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It must be admitted by all that one mind could +not have written or inspired both of these stories, +and it must also be admitted that if one is true the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page048">[pg 048]</span><a name="Pg048" id="Pg048" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +other is false. What is the natural conclusion +that an unprejudiced mind would arrive at after +reading the account of the carrying of the cross for +the crucifixion of Jesus in the four gospels? Is it +not that no such cross was ever carried for any +such purpose? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are too many gospels, too many stories +of Jesus. It would have been better for Christianity +had all but one of these narratives been destroyed. +They contradict each other in so many +essential points as to make them totally unreliable +as records of facts. It is plain that <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">not one of the +writers of the four gospels knew of what he was +writing</span></em>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We must in honesty say that no one knows who +carried the cross on which Jesus was crucified, and +no one knows whether Jesus was crucified or not, +and no one knows whether any such person as +Jesus ever lived, to be crucified. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Civilization has come about by going to school +more than to church. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Nature is the volume from which all of our knowledge +has been translated. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page049">[pg 049]</span><a name="Pg049" id="Pg049" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc35" id="toc35"></a> +<a name="pdf36" id="pdf36"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Modern Disciples Of Jesus</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The modern disciples do not resemble very +closely the ancient disciples of Jesus. In fact +it is very hard to find a reason why Christian +preachers call themselves disciples of Jesus at +all. According to the narrative of the New Testament +Jesus was not in love with money and what +money will buy; he did not have a high appreciation +of the good things of the world; he did not +express any anxiety about his food or dress, nor +manifest any desire to have aesthetic surroundings. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +And if we can credit the story of the gospels, +Jesus charged his disciples to be and do pretty +much as he himself was and did. He said to them: +<span class="tei tei-q">“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, +cast out devils; ... Provide neither gold nor silver, +nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, +neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet +staves, for the workman is worthy of his meat.... +It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whether or not the ancient disciples heeded +these words of their master, and carried out his +instructions, we do not know, but there is abundant +evidence that his modern disciples do not +pay his commands the compliment of obedience. +If there is one item that the clergyman of to-day +looks after it is his salary. He deliberately disobeys +all of the injunctions of Jesus to his disciples, +and thinks he is doing his duty to do so. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This is the funny part of his discipleship to us. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page050">[pg 050]</span><a name="Pg050" id="Pg050" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +He does not consider the charge of Jesus worthy +of being heeded. When we point to the commands +of Jesus, and ask some Christian minister why he +does not obey them, he coolly informs us that it +would be the height of folly in this age to attempt +to do as Jesus commanded his first disciples. In +other words the Christian clergyman acts upon the +ground that the orders of Jesus to his apostles are +incompatible with personal dignity and decent +living, and that only a person utterly devoid of all +sense of fitness and social responsibility would +undertake to follow his directions. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We agree with the action of the modern disciple +of Jesus in regarding his commands as foolish and +unfit to be obeyed, but we want him to take an +honest stand before the world and say so like a +man. Now he is a hypocrite, when he assumes +a place in the Christian ranks but refuses to obey +the orders of his master. The modern disciple of +Jesus is more concerned about putting money in a +bank or investing it in real estate than he is about +<span class="tei tei-q">“laying up treasures in heaven.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If there is one person who believes thoroughly +in looking after himself and his in the world, and +getting all the good things out of it, it is the Christian +minister. He is well housed, well fed, well +dressed, and, as a rule, has a comfortable income. +How he must laugh when he reads the New Testament! +He probably regards Jesus as a chump to +tell men and women to take no thought for what +they shall eat and drink and wear, and not to lay +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page051">[pg 051]</span><a name="Pg051" id="Pg051" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +up a few dollars for a rainy day. He has to make +believe honor the poor, unsophisticated peasant +of Galilee, in order to get his fat living. He has +to fool the fools that support him in luxury, but +all the reverence he has for Jesus you could put +in your eye. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If it paid better to tell the truth and to take an +honest position in the world, we presume that most +ministers would quit playing the hypocrite, but +as long as Christianity pays its preachers more +than they can get from any other source, we may +expect them to profess to follow Jesus and then +do as they please. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every fact is backed up by the whole universe. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Christianity is a black spot on the page of civilization. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The church is a bank that is continually receiving +deposits but never pays a dividend. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page052">[pg 052]</span><a name="Pg052" id="Pg052" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc37" id="toc37"></a> +<a name="pdf38" id="pdf38"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Poor Excuse</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The excuse of the poor for not going to church +is a poor excuse. The woman who does not go +to church because she cannot dress well enough, +cannot have much respect for her master. Jesus +did not rail against the poor, but the rich. He +did not condemn Lazarus, but Dives. Christian +churches should be filled with rags, not silks; with +paupers, not bankers. No one can be too poor +to feel at home in the church of him who was too +poor to have a place to lay his head. A Christian +church is the church of poverty, and its minister +should welcome the tramp, the beggar, the rag-muffin, +and should give the cold shoulder to the +rich merchant, the well-dressed politician, the +prosperous citizen. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is a singular thing that while silks despise +rags, rags respect silks. The poor Christians +ought to glory in their poverty, ought to be proud +of their patches. They should have utter contempt +for good clothes, and go to the church of +Jesus with a feeling of pride that they honor him +by being poor, as he was. Velvet, satin and broad-cloth +are insults to him whose ragged royalty +they profess to reverence. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If the poor were not as big hypocrites as the +rich, they would drive the richly-dressed worshipers +out of the church dedicated to the poverty-stricken +Nazarene, who has been elected to the +office of savior. A person has not very much +Christianity when his religion is ashamed of his +old clothes. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page053">[pg 053]</span><a name="Pg053" id="Pg053" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc39" id="toc39"></a> +<a name="pdf40" id="pdf40"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Profession And Practice</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are a great many persons who are anxious +to pass for more than they are worth, to stand +for more than they represent. They always get +on the side of the majority, because that is considered +the safe side, the side that is most likely +to have the largest number of loaves and fishes. +These people are willing to pay the price of popularity; +willing to do anything that is regarded as +respectable, even to denying their own souls. The +easiest way to win favor is by professing the popular +faith, no matter what it is. A true man will +be true to his convictions, true to his principles; +but such a man may not receive applause, may +not make money, may not be allowed to enter the +door of society. In order to win the favor and +secure the good-will of the majority, it is necessary +to go with it, no matter where it is going. The +thoughtless, the weak and simple, follow the crowd. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Profession is demanded of him who would join +the ranks of the pious. Profession is required of +the man or woman who belongs to the church. +The performance of every duty, the practice of +every virtue, is not a sufficient recommendation +to popular favor. It is a fact that profession without +practice is accepted in preference to practice +without profession. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man who gives his life to man without +thought or care about God is considered a bad +man, while he who gives his life to God without +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page054">[pg 054]</span><a name="Pg054" id="Pg054" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +thought or care about man is regarded as holy +and saintly. Nobody can do God any good or +any harm, and all the worship that is offered him +is a waste of time. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man who stands up in public and asks +God in prayer to help the poor, to bless the suffering, +is looked upon as a good man, while he who +does not pray nor ask God to do anything, but +helps his needy brothers and sisters, is pronounced +wicked and sinful. Values have become strangely +mixed in the eyes of mankind. Religion is considered +as worth more than morality; worship +more than work; prayer more than performance +and profession more than practice. This is wrong, +false and foolish. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Profession is a mighty poor jewel, a cheap and +flashy substitute for the diamond of practice. It +is a confession of fraud; a mask for a face; a coward's +excuse; a hypocrite's wile. Honesty need +not profess to be honest. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When a minister says that God will help you, ask +him to put up the collateral. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The church spends thousands of dollars to save +a dogma, where it spends a cent to find a truth. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page055">[pg 055]</span><a name="Pg055" id="Pg055" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc41" id="toc41"></a> +<a name="pdf42" id="pdf42"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Where Is Truth</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Men have enthroned truth in some far-off kingdom, +away from the world, as though it were too +pure to live on earth. It has been made supernatural, +and only to be known by being revealed. +But truth is everywhere; its voice is heard in +everything. The very pebble at our feet holds its +image, and its light twinkles in the white splendor +of the distant star. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man has searched for truth in books, but has +not found it there. He has invented words to +conceal his disappointment, such as God, heaven, +providence, etc. Nature contains all the truth, +and so far as men have read Nature aright they +have learned what is true, but we cannot catch +and hold Nature in our philosophies. She breaks +through all the finely-woven theories we put about +her, and man, in his attempt to bind Nature with +his thoughts, binds only himself. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Men in all ages have tried to read the secret of +the universe. We have been told that God directs +it, that a divine mind planned it and keeps it in +motion. Why not let the universe explain itself? +Why not read it by its own light? Why not confess +our ignorance? God is a figure of speech, but +Nature is a reality. Let us trust what we know. +Nature is never capricious. Fire will always burn, +water will always drown, frost will always freeze. +Though we have confidence in Nature, let us acknowledge +that we do not yet comprehend the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page056">[pg 056]</span><a name="Pg056" id="Pg056" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +meaning of things. The old habit of inventing +words to hide our ignorance has been adopted by +science as well as by religion. Evolution does not +reduce the mystery of existence to a simple problem. +What we call truth is more than we have +yet found. The unknown is still provocative of +investigation, and the only prayer of the mind is, +more light. We must beware of accepting dogmas, +whether of science or religion. No statement is +the last word of truth. Doubt is the first step of +progress, and inquiry is the way to knowledge. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is nothing that stands more in the way of +human advancement than the authority of opinions. +Some dragon of assertion ever disputes our right +to the golden fleece of truth. If we ask for proof +of God's existence or man's immortality, we are +answered with a text, but a text is only the dead +opinion of a dead man. This age demands truth, +not the belief of a person who lived centuries ago. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Because superstition holds the contents of a +book sacred we are not to enslave reason to its +statements. We will not be bound by the opinions +of others, neither must we bind others to our opinions. +We must make freedom sacred, and cease +condemning men for disbelief or unbelief. The +bondage of faith is the slavery of the soul. It +makes man unjust, unwise and unkind. Allegiance +to a creed makes us ill use a man simply because +he does not believe as we do. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page057">[pg 057]</span><a name="Pg057" id="Pg057" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No church has all the truth, and no school either. +So-called religion merely shows where the search +after truth ended. But truth is the infinite reality, +and it will always be for man to find. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Christianity is like a slow clock—always being +moved ahead. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The day of the Bible is passed. Books have +taken its place. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Better be late to church Sunday morning than +late at home Saturday night. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man to-day has more and better ways of getting +a living than at any time in the history of the race. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page058">[pg 058]</span><a name="Pg058" id="Pg058" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc43" id="toc43"></a> +<a name="pdf44" id="pdf44"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">What Does It Prove</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Christians say that the resurrection of Jesus +proves his claim to be the Messiah. But what +proves the resurrection? Certainly not the contradictory +stories of the gospels. The story of the +resurrection of Jesus from the tomb merely proves +that somebody lied, that is all. A pretty Messiah +Jesus was! The Messiah of the Jews was to be a +king who should restore the lost splendor of the +house of David; who should overthrow the power +of the Romans and build up the Israelitish kingdom. +This king never came. Jesus was just +about as much a Jewish Messiah as Crispus Attucks +was a President of the United States. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No creed can be stretched to the size of +truth; no church can be made as large as man. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To correct in ourselves what we condemn +in others would remove most of the evils of life. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page059">[pg 059]</span><a name="Pg059" id="Pg059" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc45" id="toc45"></a> +<a name="pdf46" id="pdf46"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Human Responsibility</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is nothing that tends to perpetuate the +weakness of humanity more than religion. Men +have been taught for ages that they were dependent +upon God for all they have. This kind of teaching +must be corrected; it is false. Man is dependent +upon man. No God will help or hurt him. Be +he ever so good no God will praise him; be he ever +so bad no God will blame him. What he wants to +escape is his own condemnation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In order to develop an independent spirit in +man it is necessary to increase his responsibility. +Man must be taught to rely upon his own strength, +upon his own body and mind. He must learn his +relations to Nature and abide by the laws of his +being. He must know this: if he would have anything +he must deserve it. Human destiny follows +human conduct. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The old notion that man is responsible to God +cannot be proved. There are no facts that corroborate +that notion. Man is responsible to himself. +It is this truth that is calculated to elevate and +ennoble human life. Let human beings understand +that there is that within themselves that is +to be respected, and that they are responsible to +themselves for all they do, and they will be more +worthy of respect and live more worthy lives. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page060">[pg 060]</span><a name="Pg060" id="Pg060" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc47" id="toc47"></a> +<a name="pdf48" id="pdf48"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Abolish Dirt</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We should like to see one generation brought up +to hate dirt. Every child ought to be taught that +clean hands and face and clean clothes help to a +clean life. There are too many homes on this +earth that human beings live in that are dirty, in +which those three household gods—the broom, +the mop, and the dust-rag—have no place. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Children should be taught to drive dirt out of +the house as they would a mad dog. Dirt is the +food of disease. It is the enemy of health and +happiness. Abolish dirt. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If God exists, what objection can he have +to saying so? +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When we have nothing to give a beggar, +we can at least tell him so kindly. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page061">[pg 061]</span><a name="Pg061" id="Pg061" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc49" id="toc49"></a> +<a name="pdf50" id="pdf50"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Religion And Morality</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A religious man is not trusted to-day because +he is religious. Faith in vicarious atonement is +not accepted as a moral substitute for meeting one's +obligations. Worship of God is not equivalent +to helping your neighbor. The fact that a man +is religious may not be proof that he is a bad man, +but it is no evidence that he is a good man. The +most contemptible wretch that ever robbed the +widow or orphan could shine in a prayer-meeting, +where words are passed for virtues. The veriest +scoundrel can pay a pew tax and march up the +aisle of the church with sanctimonious countenance. +Religion is such a superficial affair that it carries +no moral recommendation. Without morality religion +could not borrow a dollar on its name, while +morality without religion can get all the accommodation +it asks for. The real virtues of a man do +not depend upon religion. Men have lived good +lives while believing in dozens of gods and without +faith in a single god. Morality is not the offspring +of theology. You cannot pick out a moral man +by hearing him pray. A great deal of religion is +worn to conceal moral defects. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We should watch the man who stands up in +public and says: I am moral. We should say to +him: It is not necessary for you to proclaim your +morality; your daily life will show how moral +you are. The world is becoming suspicious of +him who stands up in public and says: I am religious. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page062">[pg 062]</span><a name="Pg062" id="Pg062" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great many people seem to think if they profess +to love God it is not necessary for them to love man. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are not denying that a great many good +men and women are religious; that a great many +good men and women go to church and prayer-meeting. +We do not deny that a great many +moral men and women profess faith in total depravity, +in vicarious atonement, but we do not see +how their faith has anything to do with their morality. +There is no particular necessity for Christians +to be good. Their faith saves them, not their +conduct. Religion is not doing, it is believing, +or pretending to. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is a big opportunity to lie in religion. You +cannot tell when a person says he believes in God +whether he is telling the truth or not. It is mighty +easy to be religious. But the moral man has no +such chance. He is not judged by his professions, +but by his actions. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Religion makes hypocrisy easy, but morality +offers the hypocrite no show whatever. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Never forget the good deeds that others do to +you, nor remember those that you do to others. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page063">[pg 063]</span><a name="Pg063" id="Pg063" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc51" id="toc51"></a> +<a name="pdf52" id="pdf52"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Jesus As A Model</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is common to speak of Jesus as though he +touched the borders of every human experience, +and sounded the depths of every joy and every woe, +but there is no warrant for such statements. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He lived a very narrow life, and his brief career +cannot be stretched to cover the limits of our earthly +existence. He is held up for us to imitate, as +though he had left a pattern for every hour of our +lives, and a model for every day from the cradle +to the grave. This is simply nonsense. This +<span class="tei tei-q">“model”</span> business has been overworked. Jesus +had a great many crude, foolish ideas, and did a +great many deeds that are not worth repeating. +As a model of what is best in this age he is a wretched +failure. It is a mistake to look upon Jesus as a +fit person to lead our century to a higher life. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is nothing to live for in the past. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We must condemn christianity, not christians; +strike the church, but spare the heart. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page064">[pg 064]</span><a name="Pg064" id="Pg064" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc53" id="toc53"></a> +<a name="pdf54" id="pdf54"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Singing Lies</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Go into any Christian church and you will hear +the choir and the congregation singing lies. Is it +not time to stop it? Is music married irrevocably +to falsehood? Take up an ordinary hymn-book +and you will hardly find a sensible line in it. The +entire contents of the book is about God, heaven, +salvation, and other equally unknown quantities, +states and conditions. Why not sing sense? Why +not sing facts? Why not sing truth? Why not +sing the glories of Nature, of life, of man? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Music is a wonderful power, a wonderful educator +of the feelings and emotions. It is essential, +therefore, that music be inspired by what is true, +by what is good, by what is right. Truth should +be set to music and the lips taught to sing what +science has discovered, what art has done, what the +universe reveals, what the world is living for. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The common Christian music is a wail of despair, +a cry of sorrow, a shriek of fear. It is composed +of false conceptions of Nature, of humanity, of life. +It is a <span class="tei tei-q">“doleful sound.”</span> The triumph of faith +which it celebrates is not a full, round, complete +joy. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Church does not know the music of laughter, +the music of the heart. Its song seems always to +hover on the brink of fear. It is not the glad note +of natural freedom, but the uncertain joy of the +escaped convict. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The free song must come from the free heart, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page065">[pg 065]</span><a name="Pg065" id="Pg065" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +must denote the free thought. Let life that is +healthy, happy and human be set to music. Let us +sing as we live, as we think, as we feel. The music of +the hand, the mind, the heart, should be on the lips. +If we could only sing what sings through us, the +world would listen with rapture. We do not want +<span class="tei tei-q">“harmonious madness”</span> nor harmonious idiocy. +Pious music is stupid, false. It is inspired by the +sickness of the world. We need a stronger note, +a sturdier song. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lies enough have been sung. Let truth now +fill the air. Out of the great hope of the race let +new songs come. We are beginning to live for +life on earth, for happiness here, for love here, for +victory here. Let the hands and feet, the brains +and hearts of men and women move to the music +of truth. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is not a village where poverty does +not pinch the stomach or starve the mind, where +misery does not need charity and where wealth +could not bless. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Piety could do nothing better than imitate +morality. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page066">[pg 066]</span><a name="Pg066" id="Pg066" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc55" id="toc55"></a> +<a name="pdf56" id="pdf56"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Walk Through A Cemetery</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In walking through a country graveyard one sees +a prominent granite or marble monument here +and there, but more of the stones that mark the +resting-places of the dead are modest in appearance, +plain and humble. But there are some +graves that are unmarked by any outward token +of remembrance. Such graves may hold the dust +of as great and good men and women as those spots +above which has been raised the lofty shaft and +costly design. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Graveyards are just as deceptive as are the +homes of the living. A fine house is not proof of +the moral, the manly or womanly worth of its occupant. +Saints do not sleep beneath the gilded +roof any more than under a leaky thatch. So +also the wise, the good, the true, are not the ones +over whose ashes rises the chiseled stone. The +dead may deserve monuments that the living are +not able to buy. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A graveyard might be called a library of lies. Epitaphs +are to be read, and believed, if you can believe +them. We have found as big falsehoods in +cemeteries as in newspapers. <span class="tei tei-q">“Say nothing bad +of the dead”</span> is kindly counsel, but, say nothing of +the dead on a tombstone, is wiser. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have seen a towering stone covered with +words of praise over the ashes of a man, who, while +living, was simply a lover of money. We have +seen the sunken grave of a woman, with no marble +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page067">[pg 067]</span><a name="Pg067" id="Pg067" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to adorn it, who lived a heroic life of love and duty +beyond words to tell. If virtues bore monuments +one would rise over the neglected grave of that +saintly woman that would reach the clouds, and +that other grave would be stripped of its marble +and left to oblivion. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Though a cemetery is more or less a museum of +vanity and pride, there is at the bottom of the +costly display of granite and marble a tender feeling, +a commendable virtue. There may be as +much love and respect for those in unmarked +graves as for those who sleep in costly masonry or +beneath sculptured stone. In walking through a +graveyard, if our steps should go to the places +where no monument invited the eye, they would +be more likely to walk over the dust of those who +did life's duty well, than if they paused only before +the imposing shaft or read the marble tale of +virtue that never was told in deeds. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +God never helps those who need the help of +men and women. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No man ever knew Providence to interpose when +his neighbor's hens are scratching up his garden. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page068">[pg 068]</span><a name="Pg068" id="Pg068" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc57" id="toc57"></a> +<a name="pdf58" id="pdf58"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Peace With God</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A good, pious lady said to us not long ago: +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't you think that you ought to make your +peace with God?”</span> We have never had a bit of +trouble with God. We have got along with him +tip top. He has never shown that it was at all +necessary for us to make peace with him. We +have never quarrelled. If we are not at peace +with God, we did not know it. We have no wish +to have a row with anyone, and if God has the +idea that we are mad with him or want to injure +him in any way, we wish to disabuse his mind of +such a notion. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We wish to say that we have never had any +dealings with God, to our knowledge. If we have +seen him, we did not know it. If he has spoken +to us, we were not aware of the fact. If he has +been in our presence at any time, we were not conscious +of it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not know that we have ever wronged +God or that God has ever wronged us. We do not +say that some word or act of ours may not have +injured God. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All we can say is that we have no way of finding +out whether such is the fact or not. Of course, +we could not take the word of a priest or minister +on this point. We want God's own assurance +in the matter. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Up to this time God has made no complaint to +us that we have wronged him, or that we need to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page069">[pg 069]</span><a name="Pg069" id="Pg069" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +make our peace with him, and until we hear from +his own lips that we owe him an apology, we do +not intend to make one. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +God is just as good to us as though he was dead. +He does not cross our path, stand in our light, dog +our steps, or interfere with what we are doing. He +does not get in our way any more than if he lived +in the planet Jupiter. So we do not see that we +need to make our peace with him. We do not +comprehend how there can be any collision between +us. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Priests will pardon thieves but not philosophers. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Priest and God have formed some of the worst +combinations in history. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Too long has this world been at the feet of the +priest. Man is never in that position for his own +benefit, but for the benefit of the priest. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page070">[pg 070]</span><a name="Pg070" id="Pg070" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc59" id="toc59"></a> +<a name="pdf60" id="pdf60"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Saving The Soul</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man who can deliberately, and in cold blood, +as it were, try to save his soul, must be grossly +selfish. To do that which shall redound to one's +own advantage or profit, without care or consideration +of another, shows little humanity. The +finer feeling is that which looks after others rather +than one's self. It can only increase selfishness +to seek salvation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When a man gets the idea that his soul must be +saved, and goes to work to save it, the things that +he will do in order to insure its salvation tend to +lessen its value; and by the time he thinks his soul +is saved it is generally not worth saving. The +more willing we are to be lost, the more chance +there is that we will not be. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The cheapest method of saving one's soul is by +believing something. This requires but little effort +and no brains. Christianity is organized gullibility. +It tells people to believe what it teaches +and it will save their souls. It remains to be seen +whether Christianity fulfils its part of the contract. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It occurs to us that before we try to save our +soul we ought to know that we have a soul and that +it needs saving. We fail to see any necessity for +anxiety on account of our soul. We do not care +to go into the salvation business and let the priest +get all the dividends. Any person who can seriously +talk about <span class="tei tei-q">“saving his soul”</span> ought to have a +guardian. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page071">[pg 071]</span><a name="Pg071" id="Pg071" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc61" id="toc61"></a> +<a name="pdf62" id="pdf62"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Search For Something To +Worship</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What is there in the universe that deserves +worship? Is there anything? What is there +that men and women should kneel to, pray to +and adore? If there is anything that deserves +such worship from human beings, where is it? +Let us see if we can find any such thing. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We look at the earth and its inhabitants, and +while we see much which calls for admiration, we +find nothing to worship. The mountain impresses +us with its towering grandeur, the ocean with its +vast extent and terrible power, but we cannot get +on our knees to rocks, no matter how high they are +piled; nor pray to water, no matter how much there +is of it. The flower elicits our wondering delight, +but we cannot adore a rose, a sunflower or a daisy. +We own the marvelous beauty of the animal form, +but we cannot worship a horse, a tiger or a dog. +We hear the gladness and madness of melody which +comes from the throat of the bird, but sweet and +entrancing as it is, we cannot adore a skylark, a +nightingale or a thrush. We see man, the fairest +form that walks the earth, the most marvelous +piece of work that Nature reveals to our senses, but +we cannot worship our own image. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Beyond earth the eye looks, and cloud, black +or bright, is seen and the endless blue beyond the +cloud, but man cannot get on his knees to vapor +or pray to the sky. In the daytime the sun is seen, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page072">[pg 072]</span><a name="Pg072" id="Pg072" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and at night the moon and countless stars, but +man cannot worship a ball of fire nor a dying planet, +or adore a point of light. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We can find nothing on the earth or in the heavens +that we can worship. Is there something not on +the earth or in the heavens? If so, what is it and +where is it? What do men and women kneel to? +Nothing. What do men and women pray to? +Nothing. What do men and women worship? +Nothing. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Coals out of the ashes of love will never light the +fires of friendship. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The names of most men live on account of the +falsehoods told about them. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We should scorn the person who would be mean +enough to allow his fellow-being to be punished +for his deeds. Yet we have a religion in our +midst that is founded on this kind of meanness. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page073">[pg 073]</span><a name="Pg073" id="Pg073" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc63" id="toc63"></a> +<a name="pdf64" id="pdf64"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Where Are They</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where are the sons of gods that loved the +daughters of men? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where are the nymphs, the goddesses of the +winds and waters? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where are the gnomes that lived inside the earth? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where are the goblins that used to play tricks +on mortals? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where are the fairies that could blight or bless +the human heart? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where are the ghosts that haunted this globe? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where are the witches that flew in and out of +the homes of men? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where is the devil that once roamed over the +earth? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where are they? Gone with the ignorance +that believed in them. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No man was ever yet canonized for minding +his own business. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No man was ever yet sorry to find that he had +married a good cook. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page074">[pg 074]</span><a name="Pg074" id="Pg074" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc65" id="toc65"></a> +<a name="pdf66" id="pdf66"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Some Questions For Christians To +Answer</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +How do ministers know what pleases God? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What is <span class="tei tei-q">“inspiration of God?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When God <span class="tei tei-q">“inspired men of old,”</span> what did he +do to them? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What has God revealed to man that has ever +helped him get a living? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If we do not need to worship God six days in the +week why do we need to worship him on the seventh? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If there were no ministers and no priests, how +long would there be any churches? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If God will answer prayer, what is the necessity +of working? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If God weeps when the poor suffer, what does he +make it so cold for? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If rich men cannot enter the kingdom of God, +what business have rich men to be in Christian +churches? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If God is our <span class="tei tei-q">“father,”</span> does he take very good +care of his children? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If God sends what blesses us, who sends what +curses us? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If Christianity makes the world better, why is +there so much vice and crime? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If <span class="tei tei-q">“salvation is free,”</span> why is anybody lost? +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page075">[pg 075]</span><a name="Pg075" id="Pg075" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc67" id="toc67"></a> +<a name="pdf68" id="pdf68"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Image Of God</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We wonder if anyone knows what is meant by +the expression, <span class="tei tei-q">“the image of God.”</span> It is said in +the Bible that God <span class="tei tei-q">“created man in his own image.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If man makes anything in his image we know +how this thing looks, but when God creates something +in <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">his</span></em> image we are at a loss to comprehend +what is meant unless God has the likeness of man. +In ancient times there is no doubt but what the +assertion that God <span class="tei tei-q">“created man in his own image”</span> +was accepted literally, that the people looked upon +God as a big man. Later they came to look upon +man as a little god. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But we are dealing with the brain of the twentieth +century, with the common sense of a scientific +age, when it is no longer believed that God <span class="tei tei-q">“created”</span> +man at all. To-day the <span class="tei tei-q">“image of God”</span> is a +puzzle. If God <span class="tei tei-q">“created man in his own image,”</span> +in whose image did he create the elephant, the lion, +the bear, the ox, the goat, the snake, the beetle, +the bee, the fly, the gnat? These could not all +have been created in the divine image, unless the +divine image is a multitudinous likeness. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Is it not about time that a few literary murders +were committed, that some one went through our +literature and killed off a lot of nonsensical expressions +that, if they ever meant anything, are +meaningless today? If there was more honesty +in the pulpit a great many Bible expressions would +go out of fashion. One of the first that needs to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page076">[pg 076]</span><a name="Pg076" id="Pg076" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +die or be killed is this foolish expression, <span class="tei tei-q">“the +image of God.”</span> It may be religious, but it lacks +sense. It means nothing in this age. God is a +term that eludes definition. It is a survival of +an age of ignorance. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A man may be a fool and not know it, but he +cannot be a fool without others knowing it. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is a pious regard for certain men and women +who have in past ages been, as it were, the +world's salvation. We would honor these men +wherever piety offers her praise, but we would not, +like piety, forbid man the right to excel them. +We all know how much easier it is to be saved by +another than to save ourselves, but it cannot be +denied that there is a certain respect, a feeling of +admiration, a thrill of reverence for the man who +says: I am a free moral being and scorn to allow +another to suffer for my sins. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page077">[pg 077]</span><a name="Pg077" id="Pg077" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc69" id="toc69"></a> +<a name="pdf70" id="pdf70"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Religion And Science</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When religion attacks science it is like trying +to cut down the tree of truth with the hatchet of +falsehood. It is unfortunate for Christianity that +it was founded on the book of Genesis. A scientific +fact is higher authority today than a religious +fable. Science has found so many facts that contradict +the stories of Genesis that to accept these +stories as divine truth is to make falsehood the +word of God. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The one particular enemy of every religion is +science. With merciless labor her votaries have +dethroned one after another idol of man. Science +has no creed, no dogmas. Her search is for facts, +and on these she stands. If what is discovered by +lovers of truth is contrary to the tenets of religion, +such tenets must be abandoned, for what is scientifically +false cannot be religiously true. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Christian church is built upon a lot of divine +say-soes. Science has found that these say-soes +are not so. The only honest thing for Christians +to do is to give up the book of Genesis as a +reliable record. What men have said that God +has said is not necessarily sacred. Men may have +lied, and lies are not holy. Christianity has been +afraid of the divine name. What it has found in +the name of God it has blindly worshiped as the +word of God. This stupid action has been a +prolific source of mischief. Faith has carried on its +innocent back a thousand impositions through fear +to doubt. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page078">[pg 078]</span><a name="Pg078" id="Pg078" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Science has not found the name of God in the +earth or in the heavens. It has ignored the guide-board +which the priest of religion nailed to the +Bible, <span class="tei tei-q">“this book shows the way to truth,”</span> and has +studied the volume of Nature instead. Whatever +it has found has been told. What may be honestly +inferred from the facts of science is that all religions +are humbugs, and that Christianity is a fraud. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The only way to a better life is by living better. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The person who tells a lie does not know what he +will have to do next. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great many persons have the idea that the universe +would run off the track but for them. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Have a good time, make life cheerful and bright, +dance if you want to, sing if you can, play as long +as you live and leave the world with a smile. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page079">[pg 079]</span><a name="Pg079" id="Pg079" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc71" id="toc71"></a> +<a name="pdf72" id="pdf72"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Bible And The Child</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The longer we live the more are we convinced +that no adult person would accept the Bible as a +divine work if he had not been taught the dogma +of the Bible's divinity when a child. Let the +matured mind come to the perusal of the Bible +without the religious prejudice in favor of its divine +character, and it would reject the book as unworthy +the consideration of the intelligent, educated man. +Let the refined sense, which all education in art, +manners and social morals seeks to cultivate, begin +to read the Bible, without the religious prejudice +in favor of its sacred character, and before a +dozen pages had been read, it would close the volume +with disgust and hide it out of sight, or burn it as +soon as possible. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Bible's divinity rests upon the mental and +moral corruption of the young. Were children +not taught that this book was sacred, men and +women would look upon it as unholy. Do people +realize what harm they are doing to the mind of the +child when they teach it to accept the Bible as God's +word? They are telling the child that falsehood +is sacred; that ignorance is holy; that foul stories +are pure; that vile words are clean, in the mouth of +God. Fathers and mothers would not tell their +children what they, and what priests and ministers, +tell them God wrote or inspired man to write. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What is needed to-day is to tell the truth about +the Bible. Tell men and women that ignorant, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page080">[pg 080]</span><a name="Pg080" id="Pg080" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +uncultured, unrefined men wrote it hundreds of +years ago, and that it is unfit in its present shape +to put into the hands of a child that a mother wishes +to grow up honest, true and pure. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Liberals should not allow their children to touch +the Bible. They should keep it from them until +they are old enough to know that no book was ever +written by a God, and then, if they read the Bible, +they would see its true character. We must guard +the minds of our children from Christian influences. +We pity the child that is taught that the Bible is +the word of God, but we despise the man that +teaches this falsehood. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Most men would kill the truth if truth would +kill their religion. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The truths which God revealed have been overthrown +by the truths which man has discovered. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +People used to think that to mix religion with +business spoiled the religion, now they think it +spoils the business. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page081">[pg 081]</span><a name="Pg081" id="Pg081" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc73" id="toc73"></a> +<a name="pdf74" id="pdf74"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">When To Help The World</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Recently an old man, over eighty years of age, +lay on his death-bed. He could no longer keep +possession of the wealth he had accumulated. In +a few hours he must leave it to the world from +which he had taken it and kept it so many years. +He had not been a generous man. He had loved +money. He loved to get it and loved to keep it, +and if he could have carried his wealth with him, +whither he was going with that unknown guide, +Death, there is no doubt but that he would have +done so. He had given nothing to the world while +he lived and he would not have given anything +when he died, only that he was obliged to do so. +This is the only charity of a great many people. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When death comes, then the hand of avarice +must open. Nothing can be carried through the +grave. So the old man must at last release his +hold upon his gains. He must leave his loved dollars +to somebody. He had gathered them for +himself, not for others. He had thought only of +himself when he gathered them, and now, when he +was to part with them, he did not know what disposition +to make of them. The lawyer was present +at his bedside; the minister was also with him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The will had been drawn. He had bequeathed +certain sums to public charities and remembered +the church. Life was almost gone. He hesitated +yet to give up the control of his money to others. +The pen was placed in his dying fingers for him to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page082">[pg 082]</span><a name="Pg082" id="Pg082" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +affix his name to the will. But he had waited too +long. He died with the name unwritten, the pen +unused in his dead hand. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Not voluntarily did he part with a cent of his +fortune. His millions will now be divided by +the law. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Is there in the bare possession of money the +happiness that men desire, that men dream of, that +men <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">want</span></em>? Is a dollar the highest goal of human +effort, the crown of human endeavor? Is this dollar, +the insignia of fortune, the true sign of good +fortune? We believe not. The man who works +for this and nothing else, is the slave of avarice; as +hard, as cruel, as merciless a tyrant as ever cursed +the earth. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Let every man strive for independence. Let +man be rewarded well for his labor. Let every +hand keep busy, but let there be a desire higher +than money, a dream nobler than of gain, a want +above the possession of riches. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is a better charity than that unwilling gift +which death compels us to make; it is to help the +world while we live. There are two ways of doing +this: by giving back a part of what we take,—that +is one way and a good way—and by taking less +from others, that is another way and a better way. +The help that men need to-day is justice. Thousands +are poor that one may be rich. Thousands +toil that one may live in idleness. Thousands are +in want that one may live in luxury. Thousands +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page083">[pg 083]</span><a name="Pg083" id="Pg083" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +have not a dollar that one may have millions. This +is not right, not fair, not just. Men must take less +while they go through life. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is not enough that a man on his deathbed give +a college a million, a public library a million, a +public park a million. <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">He should have no millions +to give.</span></em> He should live a more just life and help +others by trying to get less for himself. The public +bequest is the popular atonement for large fortunes, +but such atonement does not efface the +sufferings of poverty and want they entail. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We say to the rich, do not wait until you die before +you try to help your fellow-men. Help them +while you are living. When a man has made money +he should make a noble use of it, or he wrongs himself +and the world. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Where the cross has been planted only superstitions +have grown. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Religion is no more the parent of morality than +an incubator is the mother of a chicken. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Unless some people change their habits before +they die, there will be a lot of dirty angels in the +next world, if there is any next world. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page084">[pg 084]</span><a name="Pg084" id="Pg084" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc75" id="toc75"></a> +<a name="pdf76" id="pdf76"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Judgment Of God</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We hear less of what is called the <span class="tei tei-q">“judgment of +God”</span> than formerly, but quite enough to show that +this foolish superstition still lingers in the human +mind. It used to be believed that God was on the +lookout for the bad boy who went fishing or skating +on his holy sabbath and that when he caught +him he immediately made use of him to prove his +loving-kindness and tender mercy by making him +get into the water where he could drown him. It +was never related that God took this boy by the +shoulder or even by the ear and led him back home +to his parents with the request that they take +better care of him in the future. This was not +God's way. There would be no judgment in this. +God must murder the poor boy who could see no +difference in the conduct of the birds and fishes on +Sunday from their conduct on Saturday, and have +him carried back to his father's arms and his mother's +heart a corpse, a cold, dead thing, no longer needing +love, kindness, and a parent's great, forgiving +charity. This was God's way. He delighted in +seeing a dead boy taken out of the frozen stream +and laid down in the presence of his poor, grief-crazed +mother. He thought this would make the +mother love him more and other boys keep his holy +sabbath. So when any misfortune befell on Sunday +a human being who was not on his way to God's +house, or engaged in other pious occupation, it was +believed to be a judgment of God and people took +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page085">[pg 085]</span><a name="Pg085" id="Pg085" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +care to avoid a similar punishment. This kind of +religious teaching does not enjoy the reputation +that it once did for the reason that it has become +discredited by human experience. All things considered +it is just as safe to go sailing or swimming, +fishing, or driving, on Sunday as on Monday and +men have learned that no penalty attaches to violation +of the fourth commandment. As people become +sensible they cease to be religious. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Prayer is begging from a pauper. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The egg of prayer never yet became a chicken. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Prayer is like a pump in an empty well, it makes +lots of noise, but brings no water. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great many people who worship Jesus would +not let him come in at the back door. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page086">[pg 086]</span><a name="Pg086" id="Pg086" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc77" id="toc77"></a> +<a name="pdf78" id="pdf78"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Christianity And Freethought</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Christianity is opposed to freedom, and consequently +freedom is opposed to Christianity. A +Christian cannot be a freethinker, and a freethinker +cannot be a Christian. When a man is required to +believe certain doctrines, he is not free to think. A +creed is to keep the mind from inquiry. Questions +lead to doubt, and doubt is the death of faith. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The church condemns freethought, because freethought +cannot be bound by its chain of dogma. +There is no place in the Christian church for the +exercise of liberty. If the mind finds a new truth +that contradicts the old dogma, the truth must be +strangled that the dogma may hold its power over +the thoughts and deeds of men. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To be a Christian is to surrender to the priest or +minister in the name of Christ. It is to be a monkey +on the end of an ecclesiastical string to get +pennies for his master. It is to crawl at the feet +of superstition. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To be a freethinker is to search for truth without +fear. Where there is love of freedom there is no +reverence for authority. There is no faith in God +as sacred as love of man. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There may be lots of Providence in the world, +but no man seems to know just where it can be +found. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page087">[pg 087]</span><a name="Pg087" id="Pg087" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc79" id="toc79"></a> +<a name="pdf80" id="pdf80"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Brotherhood And Freedom +Of Man</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +From the fall of Rome a new era marks the history +of man; a new soul was born out of human experience. +The idea which had been prophesied by the +philosophers of India, Egypt and Greece now appeared +in life, and what had been hoped for seemed +about to be realized. Born in an age of slaughter +and inhumanity the thought of the brotherhood of +man fell upon the world like a star out of the night's +sky. Though the power of this idea was not fully +comprehended by the people upon whom it blazed +forth, still the promise it contained was able to kindle +enthusiasm in the hearts of the few, who bequeathed +it to the world as the destiny of mankind. +Human life was inspired with a new purpose under +the power of this grand and noble sentiment. Although +it was not understood and the subject of +much misapprehension, the thought of uniting man +in one great endeavor grew and endowed nations +with a feeling that never before had moved their +hearts. Its advent gave the world a new ambition +and the mind was enlisted in the great cause of love +and fellowship of man. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was another sentiment not less true or +beautiful but more revolutionary, which about the +same time began to assume likeness in human +affairs, which must be considered of larger importance +in the new social movement, which, during +the first century of the so-called Christian era, commenced +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page088">[pg 088]</span><a name="Pg088" id="Pg088" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to be felt. The declaration of the sovereignty +of man was more prophetic of change in government +and society than the doctrine of the brotherhood +of man. No government taught that man +ought to judge for himself what is right, and no +church preached that man should love his neighbor +as himself. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Political and religious organizations then as now +were arrayed against individual rights. The state +and the church controlled the person. Man was +crucified between these two thieves. One robbed +him of his body, the other of his soul. Our history +assigns the origin of these two great principles—man's +right to judge for himself and his duty to +help his fellow-being—to Christianity. But one +was born before the beginning of the Christian era +and the other long after the Christian church was +established. One represents man as opposed to +authority; the other the soul resisting tradition. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is more or less talk about the freedom and +brotherhood of man, but they exist as ideas yet +more than as facts. It is true that man enjoys a +certain measure of liberty in many directions, but +the victory of freedom has not yet been won. So +too is there a kind of human sympathy in society, +but the broad and magnificent destiny which dwells +in the bosom of human brotherhood is more a dream +than a reality. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There has been too much time wasted in disputing +who was the human author of these great and sublime +conceptions, and too little expended in trying +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page089">[pg 089]</span><a name="Pg089" id="Pg089" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to plant them in human hearts and cultivate them +in human lives. It is unimportant who first stood +against the world of tyranny and demanded his +right of independence, or who first felt indignation +for the wrongs inflicted upon his race and pity for +the victims of cruelty, and pleaded for more humanity +towards man. The secret can never be wrested +from the silent past, and we can gain nothing by +fighting over graves. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The world seems nearer the full realization of human +freedom and brotherhood than ever before. +What is needed now to hasten the fruition of the +glad promise of a better destiny for the world is to +take authority from the priest and selfishness from +man. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Prayer is a hook that never caught any fish. It +is a gun that never brought down any game. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No man ever got an answer to prayer that he +could show to another person. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page090">[pg 090]</span><a name="Pg090" id="Pg090" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc81" id="toc81"></a> +<a name="pdf82" id="pdf82"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Whatever Is Is Right</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are a great many familiar sayings, that +are in the mouths of nearly everybody, which are +perfect nonsense, and one of these many sayings is +the one we have chosen for the subject of this article. +One would imagine that falsehood became sacred +by repetition, judging from the way that certain +untruths live in the literature and language of +mankind. Many a holy text is only holy by being +with what is true, as we pay respect to many a man +whom we know to be unworthy because he is related +to respectable people. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The saying that <span class="tei tei-q">“whatever is is right,”</span> is a +dogma of the philosophy of indifference. To anyone +who works for the right and suffers wrong, such a +dogma is impertinent. Is the deed that sinks a man +to the realm of brutes, and the deed that lifts him +to heights where virtue in her high estate dwells +alone, both right? The worst light for a human soul +is that light in which a bad act looks like a good one. +We cannot afford to trifle with things pure and true. +To succeed grandly in life we must side with what is +right. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is a class of people that hold a don't-care +philosophy. These people don't care what they +say or do; they don't care what takes place in the +world or what the world suffers or endures. The +tent in which they dwell is pitched above the plane +of human wants and sufferings. They look +from their serene abode upon the troubled elements +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page091">[pg 091]</span><a name="Pg091" id="Pg091" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +below, and, in contemplation of what is beneath +them, pronounce with pious gravity the highest +text of their system of philosophy: <span class="tei tei-q">“Whatever is is +right.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To those who have never seen the bitter tear +start under the infliction of injury; to those who +have never heard the sigh that disappointment and +deception have wrung from a breaking heart; to +those who have never witnessed the sufferings which +tyranny imposes upon its victims; to those who have +never felt the miseries which selfishness heaps upon +human beings, this doctrine may seem true; but to +those who have beheld the consequences of evil doing, +and felt the hard hand of injustice upon their +lives; to those who have been the victims of deception, +and realized the terrible fate of disappointment; +to those who have been trodden upon and +denied the rights of men; to those who have been the +slaves of the world's cruel masters, how false it is! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We cannot disguise the fact that there is wrong +in the world. It haunts every dwelling-place of +man. It follows man to his business, to his work. +It goes with him when he seeks his pleasure. It +does not leave him when he enters his home. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every harsh word is wrong, every unjust judgment +is wrong, every cruel act is wrong, every deception +is wrong, every wicked or impure thought +is wrong. Go where we will we shall meet the ugly +face of wrong. On the street its presence will bring +shame into the face; in our dealings with the world +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page092">[pg 092]</span><a name="Pg092" id="Pg092" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it will come before our eyes in all its hideous reality. +Even when alone we cannot keep this phantom +away. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Is it right that a human being should cause another +pain and anguish that will leave their marks on +the heart and brow for life? Is it right to make a +man suffer unjustly, to add to misfortune the weight +of cruelty? Is it right to deprive one of honor, of +fortune, of life? Is it right to bear false witness +against a brother-man, to abuse a neighbor, to slander +and malign a human soul? Is wrong right? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Go to the garret of the poor wretch where want +stares him in the face, where extortion robs his +family of every joy and every comfort, where the +day is made dark from no ray of human love coming +into the heart, and the night darker from the absence +of warmth and light. Go to the home rent +asunder by vice and see the broken promises once +so fair and bright, now blushing with shame; hear +curses from lips that once spoke in love; see the +skeletons of vows beautiful when breathed by the +lips of the holiest passion on earth, but now hideous +in their ruin. Go to the den of wickedness, to the +house of crime supported by lust and greed; look +upon the pictures of wretchedness and sorrow, of +sin and guilt painted by the hand of wrong; behold +the wrecked human lives that are floating on the sea +of existence, only drifting until some sudden wave +shall overwhelm them and sink them out of sight, +leaving behind a memory that man should contemplate +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page093">[pg 093]</span><a name="Pg093" id="Pg093" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +with pity and which kindness would blot +out forever. See the world in its vice, in its suffering, +in its misery, in its tears and its shame and let +your lips say, if they can, that <span class="tei tei-q">“Whatever is is right.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is necessary to distinguish between the virtue +and the vice of obedience. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I believe that if God dwelt above the earth in the +twelfth century of the Christian era, and witnessed +the cruelty of priests and heard the cries +of their poor victims when their bones were broken +upon the rack or their flesh was burning in the +wicked flames, and these priests should have lifted +up their voices to this God and given him the glory +of the awful sacrifice, he would have said to them: +You lie; I never commanded one of my children to +murder another. You are no ministers of mine, +and your victims, with their heresies, are a thousand +times holier in my sight than are you with +your pious dogmas and holy sacraments. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page094">[pg 094]</span><a name="Pg094" id="Pg094" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc83" id="toc83"></a> +<a name="pdf84" id="pdf84"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Object Of Life</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Men live for less than their advancement. The +object of life is not human improvement. Ambition +has not self-denial for a mark but self-gratification. +A thousand pander to one. Passion, instead of +principle, is the power that guides. We do not save +to help save the world, to aid progress and truth, +but to have means to satisfy selfish desires. The +highest consideration of mankind is self. Everything +is done for one. Humanity is a word of little +meaning. It is not often regarded as a great, living, +suffering being, which demands of every person his +or her best life. Man is not loved as the supreme +fact of Nature. When not a beast of burden, he is +too often a beast of pleasure. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As long as self is to be preferred to all, it matters +little what is employed to promote it. Self is alone +sacred to selfishness. General interest is sacrificed +to individual possession. Every man thinks the +world <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">his</span></em> first. It is regarded as magnanimous to +leave what you cannot take. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The world no longer permits the stronger to kill +the weaker, but it allows the wealthy to oppress the +poor. Money is holier than man. Human life is +less sacred than property. To save a dollar is regarded +as a more necessary virtue than to save a +human heart. Society cares more for fortune than +for truth. It is easier to win your way with hypocrisy +than with honesty. The world does not ask: +What are you worth morally? but, what are you +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page095">[pg 095]</span><a name="Pg095" id="Pg095" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +worth financially? Self-interest has made it the +object of life to injure our fellows. To get an advantage +over another is the victory man seeks. +One must fall that another may rise. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Those who are at the bottom support those who +are on top. The toilers are the foundation of +society. We need to be more careful of what is beneath +us than of what is above us. <span class="tei tei-q">“I write not +these things to shame you, but to warn you.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When you are falling, you cannot stop where you +wish to. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The power that conquers men to-day must be the +power of enlightened opinion. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Two dollars given to the son do not atone for +one stolen from the father. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page096">[pg 096]</span><a name="Pg096" id="Pg096" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc85" id="toc85"></a> +<a name="pdf86" id="pdf86"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Man</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Hebrew psalmist sings of man:—<span class="tei tei-q">“Thou +madest him a little lower than the angels.”</span> A +modern psalmist writing on this subject says:—<span class="tei tei-q">“Man +was made a little higher than the brutes.”</span> +Man is a rare animal; he is the only animal that can +make a fire, but he is more than a brute. We do +not know how much less than an angel he is, for we +do not know the dimensions of an angel. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What we do know is, that this strange, rare being, +called man, is capable of doing a good deed, but is +prone to do a bad one; that he has developed virtues +above the brute and vices below the brute; that he +is better in public than in private, and yet take him +all in all he might be worse. We have had the weakness +of human nature preached until we have almost +come to expect man to be immoral and vicious, and +are surprised if anyone asserts that man is strong +enough to resist temptation, and disappointed if he +does not come up, or down, to our expectations of +vileness and wickedness. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +While we have faith in man in the minority rather +than in the majority, still we are inclined to think +that most men are bad from circumstance more than +from choice. We trust to better conditions for +better men, and depend upon our best men to establish +such conditions. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is some criticism of virtue that vice offers +which is as pertinent as the censure of vice which +virtue indulges in. We admit that there are a great +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page097">[pg 097]</span><a name="Pg097" id="Pg097" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +many sinners that are preferable to some kinds of +saints, who are no more to blame for their sins than +their more fortunate fellow-beings are for their +saintliness. But we do not mean to say that every +good man is a villain in disguise, nor every rogue a +righteous man who has not been found out. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are men and women whose goodness is +looked upon as <span class="tei tei-q">“flat, stale, and unprofitable”</span> because +it is that kind that is good from favorable +circumstances, and not from the exercise of any +strength of their own, but such virtue is better than +vice. We cannot afford to lose any power that protects +the world from evil, and we rejoice in all the +favorable circumstances that guard human beings. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Men are educated into bad habits through the +constant assertion of human weakness, and the publicity +which is given to bad deeds. We can never +build man very high on the foundation of <span class="tei tei-q">“total +depravity.”</span> It is to be regretted that we think so +meanly of mankind. We must start with a better +assumption of human nature than that held by +Christianity. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We ought to emphasize man's strength and give +prominence to the good deeds of men. It is not +necessary to lie about human nature one way more +than another. Man has been painted worse than he +is. We do not ask to have him painted better than +he is. We want a true likeness. Man will make +the best picture without any fictitious coloring. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are aware that we have not yet outgrown our +animal inheritance, that we are still fettered to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page098">[pg 098]</span><a name="Pg098" id="Pg098" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +earthly things. Man can more easily deny his soul +than he can his stomach, but for all this there is +greatness in him. While man can fall to the lowest +depths from which he sprung, he can rise to the +height which is visible in his purest hours. What +we ought to do is to encourage, all we can, the conditions +most favorable to the development of the +noblest part of man. Every temptation to vice +should be driven from the public gaze. If man +must fall, let him fall out of sight. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +People who rely most on God rely least on +themselves. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The original sin was not in eating of the forbidden +fruit, but in planting the tree that bore the fruit. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The people who boast the loudest of carrying +their cross are never around when man cries for +help. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +An audience composed of the best-dressed people +in a town stands for "pure religion and undefiled" +to-day. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page099">[pg 099]</span><a name="Pg099" id="Pg099" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc87" id="toc87"></a> +<a name="pdf88" id="pdf88"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Dogma Of The Divine Man</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are growing indications all along the +Christian line that the dogma of the divinity of Jesus +is being abandoned. It is seen that such a dogma +involves confusion and misapprehension. When +the question, <span class="tei tei-q">“How can a God who is infinite exist +in a form that is finite?”</span> is pressed to an answer, no +satisfactory reply is forthcoming. There is apparent +absurdity in this doctrine. The general definition +of God, as put forth to-day by the Christian +Church, is irreconcilable with the dogma of the +divinity of Jesus. If Jesus was God he was not a +man; if he was a man, he was not God. To talk +about his divinity is to talk nonsense, if Joseph was +his father and Mary his mother. Man is not divine; +God is not human. The mixing up of these +two terms is done simply to impose upon the credulous +and superstitious. We cannot think that +any man of real good sense believes this Orthodox +dogma. It seems impossible for intelligence to so +contradict itself. The brain stoops that accepts +this dogma. For a man to confess his faith in Jesus +as divine is to admit that his hat is not full. The +evidence adduced to prove the divinity of Jesus +proves the divinity of Apollo, of Hercules, of Prometheus, +of hundreds of mythological heroes. Are +Christians prepared to admit this? If not, then +they are called upon to tell the world why not. +What is meant by divine? What kind of a man is +a divine man? Let us see. Divine means superhuman, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page100">[pg 100]</span><a name="Pg100" id="Pg100" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +supernatural, God-like; hence a divine +man is a superhuman man, a supernatural man, a +God-like man. Does anyone know what these +definitive terms mean? Does a person know what +he is talking about when he says a man is superhuman? +Can a man be more than man, more than +human, more than natural? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The dogma of a divine man is a dogma of deception. +It is a theological cobweb. It is spread +to catch flies. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The idea prevailed in the past that what could +not be understood must necessarily be profound, as +though muddy water was deep water. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Does anyone comprehend the dogma of the +Trinity? It is believed because it cannot be comprehended. +The tribute of faith has been paid to +occult nonsense long enough. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +How does anyone know what is superhuman? +What is human? The fact is, Jesus has had his +day. His reign is drawing to a close. He is being +seen for what he is,—a myth. Faith in him as a +God is dying. The belief that Jesus was divine is a +blot on the intelligence of this century. But the +blot is growing smaller. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lots of men who would not associate with infidels +for fear of contaminating their characters +are not yet out of jail. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page101">[pg 101]</span><a name="Pg101" id="Pg101" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc89" id="toc89"></a> +<a name="pdf90" id="pdf90"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Rich Man's Gospel</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The presence of numberless rich men in Christian +pews leads one to wonder if the gospel of Jesus has +been kicked out of the church. Such men do not, +and cannot, respect the person to whom every +church is dedicated. The gospel of Jesus is not the +gospel of the rich, but of the poor; not of the banker, +but of the beggar. It is impossible for the wealthy +man to be a Christian. If he had any faith in the +doctrines of Jesus he would <span class="tei tei-q">“sell what he has and +give to the poor.”</span> And not only this, but he would +be poor himself. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jesus never said a kind word of the rich. He +never uttered a word that contains any consolation +for the millionaire. He never gave any command +that encourages the <span class="tei tei-q">“laying up treasures upon earth.”</span> +What is a rich man in the Christian church for? +He has no business there, if he is an honest man. +He is living exactly opposite to the life Jesus commanded. +He is doing what Jesus told men not to +do. He refuses to do what Jesus said a man must +do in order to be his disciple. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Either the rich man who joins the church is a +hypocrite, or the minister, that receives such a man +into the church, is. There is a hypocrite somewhere. +You do not find that Jesus went into the +temple to flatter the money-changers; he went in +there to drive them out with a whip. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The rich man's gospel is not found in the New +Testament. That is sure. It may be preached +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page102">[pg 102]</span><a name="Pg102" id="Pg102" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +from a Christian pulpit by a so-called Christian +minister, but the man who preaches this gospel +denies his professed Lord and Master. Jesus did +not say, <span class="tei tei-q">“Lay up treasures upon earth.”</span> Take all +you can from the poor. Form trusts and combinations +to enrich yourselves. Worship Mammon. +There is a misunderstanding evidently on the part +of the rich man who joins the Christian church. +If he would read the New Testament he would +learn his mistake, and see that he was in the wrong +place. He does not seem to be aware what Jesus +preached. There is one thing certain, the Christian +church that receives into fellowship a millionaire, +has more reverence for the millionaire than for +Jesus. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The beating of humanity's heart cannot be felt +by placing the finger on the church's pulse. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What a queer thing is Christian salvation! +Believing in firemen will not save a burning house; +believing in doctors will not make one well, but +believing in a savior saves men. Fudge! +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page103">[pg 103]</span><a name="Pg103" id="Pg103" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc91" id="toc91"></a> +<a name="pdf92" id="pdf92"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Speak Well Of One Another</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is nothing that will make this world brighter +and happier than to speak well of one another. +We sometimes wonder how a mean story about a +fellow-mortal gets started, and how it is kept going. +Surely no base report ever had birth in a +kind intention, and no mouth ever repeated it with +the wish to make the world better. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Envy, malice and ill-will can make no decent defence +of themselves. Now, it costs no more to +say a good word of a brother or sister than to say a +bad one, and there is no obligation on the part of a +person to blacken human reputation. It is a mean +heart that cannot do justice to another. If we +must speak of our neighbors, let us speak kindly. +Let us refer to those things that are pleasant, and +discuss that in their characters that is worthy of +praise. It hurts us to say bad things of other people, +and it may hurt them. There is certainly +some part of everyone's life that can be commended. +What we know of others that is not +good, let us not refer to. Silence is never more +charitable than when it spares a human heart. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are many of our friends who are striving +to make a success in life. Nothing will aid them +more than to speak well of them. Everybody can +be generous with kind words, and yet they are worth +more than gold. They are the diamonds of speech, +which the poorest can wear. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Don't be afraid to speak well of men, to praise +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page104">[pg 104]</span><a name="Pg104" id="Pg104" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +good deeds. No one will think worse of you for +speaking kindly of others. It is not necessary that +we speak well only of those deeds that men sing in +words of song. There are scores of little every-day +acts, that give the perfume of self-denial, of sacrifice, +and that deserve praise. If we were to give +any advice to a man or woman, who wished to help +the world as they passed through it, it would be +this, Speak well of men and women. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A receipt for bringing up a child will not apply +to a whole family. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To build one house for man is better than to +build a dozen houses to God. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We often hear a man say that the world owes +him a living. So it does, if he earns it. But man +owes the world something. The debt is on both +sides, and it is only by giving what is due to others +that we get what is due to ourselves. We receive +assistance when we render it, and it is by a law +of our nature that the world turns from a man +who turns from the world. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page105">[pg 105]</span><a name="Pg105" id="Pg105" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc93" id="toc93"></a> +<a name="pdf94" id="pdf94"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Disgraceful Partnerships</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Six marriages out of ten are disgraceful partnerships. +The ones to question our assertion will be +the married men, and the very ones, too, responsible +for the disgrace. Marriage is a union where +the two partners should share alike the profits and +the losses. There should be no head of the firm in +the sense of making one subservient in any way to +the other. The wife has just the same right to +handle the money of the firm as the husband. The +family purse should not be carried in the husband's +pocket unless he is willing to pass it out whenever +his partner requests it, and no questions asked. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Most men treat their wives worse than servants. +If a wife asks for some money, the husband, in +most instances, wants to know what she is going to +do with it and how much she wants, instead of giving +her what is her right. Married men do not +recognize their wives as equal partners in the family +concern. They think they should have what they +want and their wives what they are pleased to give +them. How many homes have been broken up by +carrying out such a principle as this? More than +men will confess. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This state of things is not confined to the homes +of poverty. Not at all. It exists where there is +plenty. Many a proud woman is almost daily +humiliated by a man to whom she is obliged to go +for what money she needs. The pain that niggardly +husbands inflict upon sensitive wives is only +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page106">[pg 106]</span><a name="Pg106" id="Pg106" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +known by themselves. Many a woman has said: +<span class="tei tei-q">“I would rather go without the money than have so +much trouble to get it from my husband.”</span> What +must a woman have suffered to be forced to make +such a confession as that! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A marriage in which a woman is daily made to +feel her dependence upon a man, is attended with +the gravest moral perils. The only just rule is for +the husband to allow his wife a fair share of his +income, for her to do with as she pleases. Not +only marital harmony would be promoted by such +an arrangement as this, but love would burn longer +and purer on the family altar, private morality +would be conserved, and all the relations of life +elevated and dignified thereby. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The most beautiful thing is the beauty we see in +those we love. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The money that men waste would make them +rich, and the time they waste would make them +wise. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page107">[pg 107]</span><a name="Pg107" id="Pg107" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc95" id="toc95"></a> +<a name="pdf96" id="pdf96"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Science And Theology</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every day we are told of some wonderful discovery +of science. But what has theology discovered? +The scientist is searching for the truth; +the theologian is trying to save his idols. Of all +the great inventions and discoveries that go to +make human life easier, happier, more rich and +glorious, not one can be laid to the work of theology. +These triumphs all belong to science. Some day +the world will become wise enough to confess that +the priest is of no benefit to mankind. The investigator, +the student, the inventor, is the true philanthropist, +the real benefactor. He finds what is useful +to his race, what adds comfort and joy to existence. +Science is the hope of the world, the only +savior that humanity has had adown the ages or +will have as man lives on through the centuries. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Many a man who was too good to play cards +has broken a bank. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A dog can get rid of another dog that cannot get +rid of the flea on his back. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page108">[pg 108]</span><a name="Pg108" id="Pg108" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc97" id="toc97"></a> +<a name="pdf98" id="pdf98"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Unequal Remuneration</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great many small men draw large salaries, and a +great many large men draw small salaries. Of +course we measure men by their ability to do something +of value to their race. It is a sorry fact that +one person is paid ten thousand dollars a year for +playing base ball or riding a race-horse, and that +another person in unable to earn seven hundred and +fifty dollars for the same length of time by performing +some useful labor. A mechanic, who +actually adds to the wealth of the nation, who produces +something of value, is paid less than a jockey +or a base ball pitcher whose business (?) is chiefly +maintained for purposes of gambling. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But there are other phases of this question that +present equally disproportionate features. An +actor, who merely repeats the words of another, receives +one thousand dollars a night for his performance, +while a lecturer who imparts original +knowledge to his hearers, is paid twenty dollars and +his expenses for his thought and labor. A singer +is given five thousand dollars for appearing three +nights of a week upon the stage, and a reformer is +allowed what her audience will drop into the contribution +box. One explanation of this is: <span class="tei tei-q">“There +is only one Caruso.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is another explanation, and that is: People +will pay more to be entertained, to be pleased, than +to be instructed, to be enlightened or to be told what +is right and best. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page109">[pg 109]</span><a name="Pg109" id="Pg109" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is a sad fact that many are paid too little for +what they do. As a rule the actual laborers, the +real workers of the world, both male and female, +do not receive fair compensation for their work, +while thousands of people who merely hold an office +are paid far more than they are worth. Teachers, +writers and professors are all underpaid. The +highest work that man or woman is doing is the +work of education, training the human mind to +think truly, to act nobly, and yet a lawyer receives +more in a day than a teacher in a year. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The world that will pay one thousand dollars an +hour to hear the voice of Melba, will grumble at +paying ten cents an hour to a washerwoman. The +world that will give a person ten thousand dollars +a year for pitching base ball will object to raising +the wages of our mill operatives five per cent. +The world that will pay ten thousand dollars a year +for riding a horse, wants a woman to teach school +for fifty dollars a month. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We say, pay talent well and genius generously, +but pay well also the arm that toils; pay the needle, +the saw, the spade, the hoe, the mop. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every man who claims the right to <span class="tei tei-q">“life, liberty +and the pursuit of happiness,”</span> is bound to show +that he deserves this right. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page110">[pg 110]</span><a name="Pg110" id="Pg110" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc99" id="toc99"></a> +<a name="pdf100" id="pdf100"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Old And The New</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This is essentially an age of change. Things +which have been established for centuries are no +longer regarded as fixed. That which has been +looked upon as absolute is now respectfully held to +be uncertain. The foundations of old ideas are being +disturbed and man finds that he has built upon +sandy bottom. Much which in times past answered +the human soul, now affords no satisfaction. It is +plain that a revolution has commenced that will be +far reaching and important in its actions and reactions. +There is to be a general overhauling of +matters secular and religious, political and social +and a wholesale clearing out of old words and forms, +of outgrown habits and customs, may be expected. +The world of man is about to take account of stock +and to have a universal comparison of estimates +of values. Too long have we been subsisting upon +the say-soes of our ancestors and taking their eyes +and ears as infallible. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +For many years men have regarded all questions +of religion as settled, and that the whole duty of +this and future generations was to accept the conclusions +of the past upon all religious matters. +We do not understand how men ever came to regard +such conclusions as final or how they came to +expect the whole human race to receive them as the +utmost of human knowledge. We do not look upon +the questions of religion as settled, and the growing +doubts of the infallibility of the common religious +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page111">[pg 111]</span><a name="Pg111" id="Pg111" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +ideas demand that we reconsider these questions. +To do this we have not to go into any +theological discussion. No learned authorities are +to be consulted to establish or refute any line of +argument. No dictionary of terms is to be examined +to settle the meanings of words. We have +only to decide whether mankind had better facilities +for observing and studying the phenomena of +the universe in past times than we have to-day; +whether their eyes and ears were better than ours, +and their methods and opportunities for ascertaining +the truth of things higher than those of this age. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If men in the past had facilities inferior to ours +for observing the phenomena of the universe, it +would follow that their ideas of the universe would +be inferior. Now, if we have superior ideas of the +universe, ideas nearer the truth of things, why +should we be expected to surrender these and hold +ideas which are false? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It seems to us that the questions of religion may +be settled by deciding whether or not we are to believe +our own eyes and ears and trust our own +knowledge and experience. It is certain that if we +can trust our senses and our knowledge, the old +ideas of the universe, of the origin of earth, of life, +of man, and of good and evil and the whole catalogue +of religious things are incorrect; and if we +accept them we do so contrary to our reason and +understanding. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +With faith in the present, and in all that makes +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page112">[pg 112]</span><a name="Pg112" id="Pg112" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it peculiar,—its scientific tendencies,—and with the +belief that out of the doubt and uncertainty that +are now around us will come higher convictions +which will deepen and widen life's purpose and +make humanity a fairer word and a fairer reality, +we say: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Ring out the old, ring in the new;</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Ring out the false, ring in the true.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Hell is where cowards have sent heroes. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A man never fell down stairs that he did not +blame the stairs. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The cross people carry to-day is made of gold +or set with diamonds. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is nothing in this world of ours that will +work harder, fight harder, wait more patiently +and suffer longer than love, unless it be hate. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page113">[pg 113]</span><a name="Pg113" id="Pg113" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc101" id="toc101"></a> +<a name="pdf102" id="pdf102"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Guard The Ear</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Much of our character depends upon what we +hear. A person may be saved or lost by what reaches +him through the ear. The ear has no defense. +It is open to every sound. It cannot be deaf. It +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">must</span></em> hear. We cannot open it to one person or +shut it to another. It is filled with songs of deepest +thoughts or words of ugliest shape without +choosing either. It is at the mercy, and the soul +as well, of whatever is uttered. The ear is falsehood's, +as well as truth's, servant. It carries what +it hears, and is as faithful to the vilest as to the +purest speech. It is temptation's peculiar channel. +The eyes may be shut, the lips may be closed, but +the ear is always open. We may decide what we +will say, what we will see, but not what we shall +hear. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We perceive how important it is that none but +pure, true, brave and sincere words be spoken. If +a person never heard a bad word he would never +utter one. The character of everyone born into +the world is determined largely by the world. Men +do pretty much what they are taught to do. The +heart at birth is pure, and were it not taught impurity, +would remain so. We regard the ear as the +chief door of the assault against the human heart. +Guard the ear and you save the boy and girl. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page114">[pg 114]</span><a name="Pg114" id="Pg114" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc103" id="toc103"></a> +<a name="pdf104" id="pdf104"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Character Of God</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The character of God would stand vastly higher +in human estimation if he had visited the garden in +which he had placed the first human pair and picked +up the serpent and cast him over the garden wall +before he had a chance to tempt Eve, instead of +waiting until the mischief was done, and then +cursing the whole lot for what he might so easily +have prevented. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No man can be himself with fear always at his +heels. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Death can get into a house when everything +else can be kept out. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is plain enough that men and women care for +God. This is too apparent to be disputed, unless +men and women are hypocrites. What is not so +plain is that God cares for men and women. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page115">[pg 115]</span><a name="Pg115" id="Pg115" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc105" id="toc105"></a> +<a name="pdf106" id="pdf106"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Not Important</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A Christian contemporary says: <span class="tei tei-q">“No question is +so important to mankind as religion.”</span> We wonder +how a person could write that sentence without +writing after it, a la Artemus Ward, <span class="tei tei-q">“This is a goak.”</span> +Of course, a preacher is the author of it, or a person +who gets his living out of religion. Had the writer +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“No question is so important to ministers and +priests as religion,”</span> he would have told the truth; +but as it stands, it is a falsehood. We can mention +several questions of more importance to mankind +than religion. The question of something to eat +and the question of something to wear are of vastly +greater importance than that of religion. So, too, +is the question of education, or the question of +government, of more importance than religion. It +is first necessary for man to live, then to find a place +to live, then to find the things to sustain life, then to +live happily and well. All this is prior to any religious +consideration. We believe the church as an +organization would go to pieces but for clergymen +and those who are interested in keeping it alive in +order to get a living out of it. It would be nearer +the truth to say: No question is less important to +mankind than religion. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A man's reputation oftentimes depends upon the +success he has had in hiding his character. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page116">[pg 116]</span><a name="Pg116" id="Pg116" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc107" id="toc107"></a> +<a name="pdf108" id="pdf108"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Oaths</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The superstition prevails that unless man swears +to tell the truth he will tell a lie. This superstition +makes the sanctity of the oath. But is it a fact +that a person will, under oath, always tell <span class="tei tei-q">“the +truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”</span> +It is the general opinion that judicial swearing is +simply a judicial farce. We concur in the general +opinion. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +An oath is the liar's retreat. Behind it falsehood +puts on the robes of truth. The perjurer delights +in swearing, for the act invests him with the appearance +of honesty. An oath makes the tongue +of vice as pure as the lips of virtue. It gives a rogue +the weapon of the gentleman. It permits guilt to +wear the dress of innocence. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man who is willing to tell the truth feels that +his honesty is impeached when asked to take an +oath, while the knave, who is bound to lie, feels that +his knavery is protected by the God in whose +name he swears. No more senseless custom survives +in our age than the administration of the oath. We +do not believe that a judge or lawyer has one whit +more confidence in human testimony because it is +given in the divine name. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Is it not time to recognize this fact, that men can +tell the truth without the help of God, and that +those, who cannot do so, do not succeed any better +with his help? In other words, an oath is calculated +to pass a scoundrel for an honest man. While +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page117">[pg 117]</span><a name="Pg117" id="Pg117" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it does not insure truth-telling, it does serve to dignify +a falsehood. It is time that a lie was obliged +to stand on its own bottom, and not be passed for +what it is not, because it is told in the name of God. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +God's name is not considered good at the banks. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To depend upon God is like holding on to the +tail-end of nothing. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A man cannot be happy who believes in hell, +any more than he can sweeten his coffee with a +pickle. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The church wants us to believe that God will go +out of his way to strike a blasphemer and work a +week to save the soul of a murderer. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page118">[pg 118]</span><a name="Pg118" id="Pg118" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc109" id="toc109"></a> +<a name="pdf110" id="pdf110"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Dead Words</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is not one real, true, live word in the +Christian vocabulary of salvation. Eden, the +stage on which was performed the tragedy of original +sin, is a dead word; devil, the name of the scaly +gentleman who took the leading part in this tragedy +is a dead word; hell, the abode of all those who descended +from the original sinners, is a dead word; +Christ, the title of the man who offered to ransom +the human race and save men and women from hell, +is a dead word; atonement, the word that stands for +the expiation to be made by Christ, is a dead word. +These words that the Christian church uses in its +exhortations to mankind have no heart of truth in +them. They stand for no facts; they represent no +realities. Take away these dead words from the +Christian preacher, and you take away his powder, +shot and wads. Let the Christian be held to facts +and obliged to tell the truth, and his lips would be +dumb. There never was such a place as the Garden +of Eden; never such an individual as the devil. +There is no such place as hell. There never was a +Christ, and no atonement made, for there was no +necessity of any being made. If there was no such +thing as faith, Christianity could not make a convert +on the earth. If ministers were obliged to furnish +the proof of their statements, there would +be no preaching. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page119">[pg 119]</span><a name="Pg119" id="Pg119" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc111" id="toc111"></a> +<a name="pdf112" id="pdf112"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Confession Of Sin</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When the church teaches that <span class="tei tei-q">“confession is good +for the soul,”</span> it teaches false doctrine; it is only good +for the church. Men once confessed their sins, believing +that it was the evidence of the loftiest courage +to acknowledge that they had made fools of +themselves or that they were the veriest knaves. +But never was a greater mistake made. Confession +is itself a sin, a base betrayal of one's own +heart. It shows utter lack of shame. Our sins +should be sacred. We should let no eyes see them +but our own. To exhort one to confess one's sins +is to ask the sinner to become the slave of his confessor. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man has learned to keep still in respect to those +things that concern no one but himself. He has +found that where he has done wrong it is wiser to +hold his tongue than to speak. We are not likely +to confess what will harm us. This prudence is +utility in morals. A wanton confession of wrongdoing +shows a loss of self-respect, and a virtuous +confession is proof of mental weakness. No human +necessity requires self-degradation. To tell what +we have done is to pay a compliment to prurient +curiosity which it does not deserve. When we are +commanded to do such a thing, resistance is a +greater virtue than compliance. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The human conscience to-day says: <span class="tei tei-q">“Hands off.”</span> +It is impertinent to touch the soul against its will. +Secrecy is our right. No one can demand that we +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page120">[pg 120]</span><a name="Pg120" id="Pg120" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +expose our indiscretions. If the church asks if we +have sinned, we feel justified in answering: <span class="tei tei-q">“It is +none of your business.”</span> A man's sins are his own. +Our actions are private and subject only to voluntary +betrayal. We are at liberty to own our weakness +or our meanness and to tell whatever we have +done; but when another attempts to coerce a confession +from us, we refuse to submit to such unwarrantable +authority, and assert our right to be +custodians of our own deeds. The court which does +not require a man to criminate himself is higher than +the church which bids a man lay bare his soul. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is no ear pure enough to listen to the story +of the secret struggles of the human heart. The +doctrine of <span class="tei tei-q">“confession of sin,”</span> which has been +taught by the Christian church, is detrimental to +manhood and womanhood. It is a police arrangement +where the private conscience is under the eye +of the priest. There can be no independence where +the soul has surrendered to another. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To make crime easy is to make criminals. One +cannot rob the clothes-line if the clothes are in the +house. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page121">[pg 121]</span><a name="Pg121" id="Pg121" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc113" id="toc113"></a> +<a name="pdf114" id="pdf114"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Death's Philanthropy</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every now and then a man dies and the world +praises his name, and men die every day whose +names we never hear. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Why is the one lifted up above the other? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the case we have in mind it was because the +man, when he died, left several millions of dollars +to churches, to charities, and to public benefactions. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This age honors the accumulation of wealth. It +puts its stamp of honor upon the man who gathers +a large fortune into his hands. If this man at his +death bequeathes all of his fortune, or a large portion +of it, for what the world is pleased to call charitable +purposes, he is called a good man, and his +name is spoken with pride and praise. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Now, we believe in all the virtues that would +make a man wealthy, but not in the vices: and we +believe that a man may have all of these virtues +and not have much money when he becomes old, or +when he reaches the banks of the river of death. +We want to praise the man that the world does not +praise, the man who does not live or die for praise, +and who does not care for it. We do not think that +death's philanthropy is as grand and beautiful as +life's philanthropy. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man who lives to get money and to keep +money, that at the last, when he can no longer keep +it, he may bestow it where it will be a monument to +his name, is not half so noble as the man who lives +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page122">[pg 122]</span><a name="Pg122" id="Pg122" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in such a way that he makes life easier for his fellow-beings, +giving his little every week, here and there, +and letting his gift fall quietly and out of sight of +men. It is the truest philanthropy not to rob man, +not to take money from the world and hold it until +the stronger hand of death opens the strong hand +of greed. This is man's noblest way to live; to take +only what can be used for profit or pleasure. To +take more than this is to rob mankind. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What generosity is there in parting with money +only when death makes the fingers let go? Men +who carry their millions to the grave would carry +them beyond it, if they could. When only death +can conquer selfishness, its noblest bequest merits +but little praise. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is no vicarious suffering for the one who +has eaten too much. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The nation that proclaims the right of free +speech, but will not protect that right, has abandoned +its principles. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page123">[pg 123]</span><a name="Pg123" id="Pg123" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc115" id="toc115"></a> +<a name="pdf116" id="pdf116"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Our Attitude Towards Nature</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The idea that Nature is to be worshipped, either +as God, the unknown, or the incomprehensible, is +being seriously questioned. We wish first to know +what good such worship does. It cannot be of any +benefit to Nature. Is it of any benefit to man? +This is the only question to be answered. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Almost everybody is ready to say that man should +not worship the sun, the moon, the stars, or any +earthly thing; but a great many still think that +man should worship the mysterious something +of which everything is a manifestation. We have +outgrown the worship of objects. We look upon +the person who sees a God in any natural object as +an idolater; as one whose mental vision is unillumined +by any true idea of the universe. But there +is a demand that man shall worship God, or the unknown +force or power in Nature that is the source +of all things. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We admit the unknown quantity of the universe; +but we do not see the necessity of worshiping it. +We do not see any good in praying to it, or in singing +to it. Nature is all a mystery and all the mystery +there is, but why do we need to keep saying so +in prayer and praise when the silent fact is ever before +our eyes? We do not need to go down on our +knees to every mysterious thing, and stay there. +Let us freely and frankly confess that Nature is incomprehensible, +and then go about our business +like men, and try to learn what will help ourselves +and our fellow-beings. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page124">[pg 124]</span><a name="Pg124" id="Pg124" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc117" id="toc117"></a> +<a name="pdf118" id="pdf118"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Reverence For Motherhood</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +An author of some note, in an article published +in a Protestant journal, while admitting that +the <span class="tei tei-q">“holy Catholic church”</span> had been about as +unholy an institution as could well exist, claimed +that Romanism had its good points. Among +them he instanced <span class="tei tei-q">“its reverence for motherhood.”</span> +For proof of his assertion he pointed to the homage +paid to the image of Mary and her child by the +average Roman Catholic. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We admit the homage, but deny the reverence. +To begin with, where is the reverence for motherhood +among the Roman Catholic priests? Why, +these men have not respect enough for woman to +elevate her to the dignity and honor of motherhood. +These men are married to the church, to Christ +and not to women. Their sacred office would be +lowered by taking a wife. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The holy vows of these priests are not half as +holy as the marriage vow. A priest never had +half as pure a thought as is born in the heart of a +father. He never performed a rite half as consecrating +as dancing a laughing child on his knee. +These holy old bachelors have done all their +religion would allow them to dishonor motherhood. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The pretence that woman as woman, as mother, +as wife, as sister, or daughter, is particularly +respected by Roman Catholics is simply absurd. +To prove this we point to the homes of the Roman +Catholics. We confess that the Romish church encourages +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page125">[pg 125]</span><a name="Pg125" id="Pg125" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +motherhood, that Roman Catholics are +urged to help increase the church membership, but +we claim that nowhere is there less reverence of +woman as woman, as mother, as wife, as sister, as +daughter, than among the Roman Catholics. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Because a Catholic crosses himself before a +wooden Madonna, or a plaster-paris image of the +mother of Jesus, it is no proof of his reverence for +motherhood. Not a bit. The Catholic reverences +Mary as the mother of God; he pays her homage as +a divine person; worships her, not as a mother, +but as a superior being. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man that has reverence for motherhood is +the man who loves and tenderly cares for his own +mother and the mother of his children, but the +man who prostrates his mind before a carved +figure of the <span class="tei tei-q">“Virgin Mary”</span> and pounds his wife +and kicks his daughter into the street has reverence +for nothing. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Adam might have obeyed God, but he could not +resist Eve. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It looks easy to break off a bad habit that somebody +else has got. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page126">[pg 126]</span><a name="Pg126" id="Pg126" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc119" id="toc119"></a> +<a name="pdf120" id="pdf120"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The God Of The Bible</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The blind, foolish faith in the Bible is the cause +of intellectual dishonesty, moral hypocrisy, and +religious tergiversations without number. This +faith makes the twentieth century kneel to a +God that it would be ashamed to introduce among +civilized beings. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We would no sooner go to Moses to learn about +deity than we would go to Noah to learn how to +build a steamship. We do not believe in getting +divinity through a straw three thousand years long. +If we must have a God, let us have one that has had +the advantages of civilization. We might possibly +give this Lord God of the Bible a quarter of mutton, +as did Abel, or a peck of potatoes, as did Cain, if +we were convinced that he was living anywhere in +the universe, just to keep on the right side of him, +but we would not care to be on an out-of-the-way +road with him after dark unless we had a revolver +with us. We know of no more villainous character +in all literature; and for men and women, who +pretend to love what is pure and good, who pretend +to honor what is upright and just and who +pretend to revere what is noble and true, to worship +this God of Christianity, this God of Moses, +this God of the Bible, is a sad commentary on +human intelligence and human integrity. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We know that all theological discussions have +been wretchedly barren of results; we know that +theology has made no contribution to actual +knowledge; we know that no one knows anything +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page127">[pg 127]</span><a name="Pg127" id="Pg127" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +about any such being as God, and we also know +that every God worshipped to-day by men and +women is only an imaginary person or thing. No +one knows what God is or where he is, and yet ministers +speak about him just as though they had +been to his house and taken tea with him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Theology has received attention out of proportion +to its achievements. It has done the cackling +while science has laid the egg. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not like to hear men say: <span class="tei tei-q">“God did this”</span> +and <span class="tei tei-q">“God said this,”</span> when he has never opened his +lips to speak to man and never lifted his hand to +help him. We call such language dishonest, and +the time will come when the men who have made +such use of the divine name will be condemned +as impostors. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What this generation should do is to take the +Lord God of the Israelites, that lies dead on the +banks of time and bury him from human sight +forever. Not another human being born on this +earth should be allowed to read of his cruel deeds, +and if Christian ministers were honest, and had +the courage of their honesty, they would tell the +world that the being called God in the Bible was +no God, only an idol of a rude and barbarous age. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A theologian is a person who uses the word <span class="tei tei-q">“God”</span> +to hide his ignorance. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page128">[pg 128]</span><a name="Pg128" id="Pg128" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc121" id="toc121"></a> +<a name="pdf122" id="pdf122"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Measure Of Suffering</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The little boy who asked his mother <span class="tei tei-q">“if hell was +worse than the toothache?”</span> imagined that the +limits of suffering were reached in his agony. +Many of us have doubtless experienced pain that +we thought marked the utmost of endurance. In +the Christian dream of future punishment man is +represented as burning eternally. Fire probably +inflicts the intensest pain that the human body has +ever suffered. Hell is fitly represented by fire. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Suffering takes various shapes. Pain comes in a +thousand forms. But there is a limit to the endurance +of pain. Unconsciousness comes to the +relief of the mind when agony can no longer be borne. +Hell, such as has been taught by Christianity, is +not a logical conclusion. All suffering that we +know anything about ends itself. The victim is +released by exhaustion. Hell is impossible. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The finer suffering which is called remorse, which +follows wrong-doing, gradually wears out. Its lash +loses its sting. The sinner becomes callous to his +act or finds a balm for his regret in the lapse of +years. The finger of time erases the memory of +every wrong, and soothes with its touch every pang. +We can escape the fate of wrong-doing by doing +better. Reform opens the door of every hell invented +for man's punishment. The man who does +right, wherever he is, will have the reward of right-doing, +the fate of right-doing. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is this fact which makes the idea of endless pain +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page129">[pg 129]</span><a name="Pg129" id="Pg129" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for man's deeds done on earth illogical. Man can +turn around on the road of evil as well as on the road +of good, and hence he can change his fate whenever +he changes his life. The measure of human suffering +makes it impossible for man to endure pain forever. +He must either perish utterly as a sentient +being or be driven by his punishment to better +behavior. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No man ever yet tore down his altar and found +a God behind it. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Trying to find God is a good deal like looking +for money one has lost in a dream. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We could believe in God if he shortened the road +for the lame, led the blind or fed the starving. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are told that <span class="tei tei-q">“all things are possible with +God,”</span> and yet God cannot boil an egg in cold water. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page130">[pg 130]</span><a name="Pg130" id="Pg130" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc123" id="toc123"></a> +<a name="pdf124" id="pdf124"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Nature</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Some people are afraid of the word Nature. They +cross themselves when they hear it pronounced. It +has a sound like <span class="tei tei-q">“Old Nick”</span> in their ears. To these +pious souls the word Nature banishes God from the +universe. This is looked upon by many as the highest +offence of language. It has been the custom for +several centuries to abuse Nature, to call it bad +names, and associate it with depravity and everything +evil. Theology has condemned the word, and +the pulpit has touched it only with the tips of its +fingers. To speak of Nature as anything good is +regarded as throwing dirt in the eyes of God. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Nothing clings to the world like a superstition. +Start a fear in the human breast, and it will make +every heart quake before it can be driven out. Let +a bad habit become fixed, and it will be as hard to +dislodge it as it is to plant a good habit. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But men are getting over their fright somewhat. +The natural is found to be the true, not the false; +the right, not the wrong; the good, not the bad. +Nature has been slandered, lied about. It was once +thought necessary to assassinate this word in order +to preserve the Orthodox religion. The necessity +still remains, but orthodoxy is dying. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Nature is a large word. It means about all there +is. If there is a God, he is natural. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page131">[pg 131]</span><a name="Pg131" id="Pg131" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc125" id="toc125"></a> +<a name="pdf126" id="pdf126"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Creeds</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This is the age of revision. Churches are all +hurrying to catch up with the world. There is a +desire to square ideas with facts, and shape beliefs +with knowledge. Religion must suffer in this process. +Something will be lost, but only what is bad, +false and wrong. Creeds are out of date. They +are behind the times. They are the dead leaves +from the tree of knowledge, the dead branches on +the tree of life. The world's faith is in the living; +in the bud, the blossom, the promise of things—not +in the husk, the shell, in dead and useless things. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +New creeds are to take the place of old ones. +What people believe now, not what people believed +hundreds or thousands of years ago, must be put +into a profession of faith. For a man to profess +what his father and mother believed is to make +birth useless and existence valueless. We are to +live to add to life, not to repeat it. Is theology the +only thing that people put their trust in? A theological +creed has to be accepted with the eyes shut. +We want a creed of the heart, of the head, of the +senses, of the whole man. There is no theology +worth believing in. The creed of the church is a +gravestone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If we were to make a creed for the world of men +to accept we would make it out of human hearts. +We would go where a man had helped another; +where a woman had sat beside the sick and suffering; +where man had been crucified for being true; +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page132">[pg 132]</span><a name="Pg132" id="Pg132" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +where he had been burned for being honest; where +he had stood against the world protesting against +its wrongs and proclaiming the right, and where he +had fallen with a martyr's crown upon his forehead; +and we would write these into a creed, and have +men say: I believe in men and women who have +lived good lives, who have taken the unfortunate +by the hand and lifted up the fallen, who have pardoned +a woman's fault, who have shown their love +of truth by being true, and who have done right +even when they were wronged for so doing. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The grandest life is the grandest creed; and, if +man's faith was faith in what has made the world +better and brighter and happier, he would be better +off than by believing in a God that is cruel, unjust +and unkind, and in a heaven where the highest joy +is found in laughing at those who are in hell. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It has been discovered that the man who was +lost in thought was not a church member. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not say that another world is not worth +a single thought, but rather that this world is +worth all our thoughts, and needs them. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page133">[pg 133]</span><a name="Pg133" id="Pg133" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc127" id="toc127"></a> +<a name="pdf128" id="pdf128"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Don't Try To Stop The Sun Shining</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If there is one person on earth who is to be envied +it is the happy, cheerful man or woman who always +sees the bright side of life, the good side of a fellow-being, +and the warm, sunny side of what belongs +to earth. If there is a person to be pitied, it is the +sour, gloomy man or woman, who sees only the +dark side of life, the bad side of a fellow-being, and +the cold, cloudy side of what belongs to earth. +Everything bright, beautiful, fair, sweet, and good +grows in the sunshine. We would not have a +flower without the sun. Cheerfulness is to the human +heart what the sunbeam is to the earth—the +source of gladness. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We ought to cultivate happiness. We ought to +have the home filled with what is beautiful. We +ought to let the sun shine into our lives. People +who are sour and moody look upon the smiling, +happy person as foolish, and wonder what there is +in life that one can find to enjoy. They want to +tear the flower to pieces, stop the bird singing, +trample upon the joy of the child, and hush the +laugh of mirth. If you cannot enjoy life, don't try +to prevent others from doing so. Don't throw a +shadow on the human heart. Don't try to stop +the sun shining. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Laying up treasures in heaven never kept a +man out of the poor-house. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page134">[pg 134]</span><a name="Pg134" id="Pg134" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc129" id="toc129"></a> +<a name="pdf130" id="pdf130"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Follow Me</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jesus said: <span class="tei tei-q">“Follow me.”</span> But we decline; we +had rather not. We do not wish to follow a person +until we know where he is going. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If by following Jesus is meant living as he lived, +doing as he did, believing as he believed, teaching +as he taught and dying as he died, we are not in it. +We shall have to say: Thank you, we guess not. +We prefer to go some other way. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not see any necessity of following anybody +very far, if at all. This following business is +played out. Those who profess to follow Jesus +don't do it in the daytime. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But we can go a little farther and say that we +do not think Jesus was a man that a self-respecting +person would like to follow. He does not inspire +us with any particular admiration. The man who +could let his lips forget to speak kindly of his mother +cannot have our admiration. The man who +came not to bring peace, but a sword, to the world +cannot have our admiration. The man who said: +<span class="tei tei-q">“believe and be saved, believe not and be damned,”</span> +cannot have our admiration. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If we follow anybody, it is going to be a person +that commands our respect, whose greatness and +goodness compel our admiration, and who did not +try to win men by tricks. We regard Jesus, as he +is painted in the four gospels, as a character below +the ideal of this age, a character that, to imitate, +would dwarf the noblest man. If Jesus were alive +it would be his duty to-day to follow others, rather +than to command others to follow him. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page135">[pg 135]</span><a name="Pg135" id="Pg135" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc131" id="toc131"></a> +<a name="pdf132" id="pdf132"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Can We Never Get Along Without +Servants?</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We recently overheard a remark which made us +query if we cannot get along without servants? +A lady was commenting on the character of the +<span class="tei tei-q">“help,”</span> which one was obliged to employ to-day, +and expressed the opinion that, if our public schools +continued to fill the heads of children with the notion +that one person was as good as another, it +would not be long before it would be impossible to +get help at all. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There seems to be an idea abroad in this land as +well as in others, that a certain class of people are +for the purpose of producing servants for another +class of people, and that this servant-producing +class has no right to give their children an education +that is calculated to elevate them above the +position of their parents. We are not in sympathy +with this idea. If there is one person on this +earth that is of less account than another it is +the person who is helpless, who is dependent upon +others for everything that makes life possible or +endurable. We must confess that there are too +many people in this country who are of this kind, +who must have someone to do for them what they +ought to do for themselves. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Why should one person be expected to wait upon +another? Why should a man or woman look upon +a fellow-being as fit only to be a servant? Is one +born to serve and the other to be waited upon? +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page136">[pg 136]</span><a name="Pg136" id="Pg136" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Such notions have no right on our democratic soil. +In this country there must be no caste, no division +of society into classes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We rejoice that such a criticism of the character +of the <span class="tei tei-q">“help”</span> employed in the houses of the rich as +we overheard, is true, for it reveals a condition of +things that may lead to what is much needed to-day, +viz.: a simpler mode of living on the part of a +great many of our American people. Is it necessary +to live in such a way that a dozen or more servants +are required in a home to keep it in order? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We believe the community in which all are independent +and none are servants is the ideal one. +Why should not this be the ambition of the race, +to live in a manner that will leave others their independence +and encourage in them the desire for a +home? Our children all ought to be taught to +work, and be made to work, and not be brought up +with the notion that they have the right to expect +others to wait upon them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not wish to imply that one individual +should not consider it his or her duty to help another +or to work for another. What we desire to +convey is this, that if people did more of their own +work, and waited upon their own wants more, they +would not only be doing what is best for themselves, +but also what is best for the community in general. +For men or women to be dependent upon servants +and almost helpless without them, is not a +condition to be proud of, but to be ashamed of. +The man who cannot harness or drive his horse; the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page137">[pg 137]</span><a name="Pg137" id="Pg137" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +woman who cannot buy and cook a dinner for her +family, has not been properly educated. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The home in which there are the fewest servants +is the happiest home. The father that brings up +his sons to work, to know how to earn a living; the +mother who teaches her daughters to cook, to sew, +to do housework, is doing them good, not harm. +There are too many know-nothings and do-nothings +in the world. It is honorable to be useful in this +world, and it ought to be dishonorable to be useless. +Let us work for the day when we can get +along without servants; when life shall be so simple +that each family can do its own work. The servant +system is but little different from the slave +system, and it ought to be abolished. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The money man gives to get him into heaven +is what he ought to use to improve the earth. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Unitarian walks with a cane, the Congregationalist, +Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist +go with crutches, the Episcopalian has to be +pushed about in an invalid's chair, while the Roman +Catholic crawls on his hands and knees and +is led around with a ring in his nose by a priest. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page138">[pg 138]</span><a name="Pg138" id="Pg138" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc133" id="toc133"></a> +<a name="pdf134" id="pdf134"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Heavenly Father</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It may pay some persons to talk about a heavenly +father who cares for his earthly children, but we +prefer to get money in a more honorable business. +Honor bright, now, gentlemen of the pulpit, did +you ever see anything that convinced you that +there is a power in the universe outside of the human +body, that cared a snap for men, that showed any +more love for a child than for a crocodile? Tell +the truth, and let us see how far apart we are on +this question. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have no objection to being taken care of by a +heavenly father, or by any person or power that is +wiser and kinder than man. But we do not want +to put our trust in such a being or power and then, +just when we needed most the help and counted on +it, find that we had been deceived. We admit the +good that is in Nature, the beautiful, the attractive, +but we cannot put faith in the God of earthquakes. +When we listen to a bird's full-throated song, and +surrender ourselves in delicious rapture to the spell +of its wondrous melody, we are ready to acknowledge +that a benignant power gave life to this sweet +little charmer, that can start such a flood of joy in +the human heart, but when in strolling among the +meadow's blossoms we are confronted with the repulsive +head and ominous attitude of the rattlesnake, +we ask: Who made you? We admire Nature +in some forms, but detest it in others. We +pick the rose with a blessing on its perfect beauty +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page139">[pg 139]</span><a name="Pg139" id="Pg139" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and perfumed breath, but we shun the white flower +of the dogwood—the poisonous hypocrite. When +the sky is fair and blue, and a smile is on the face +of heaven, we feel that only kindness and love sit +enthroned above us, but when the blue changes to +black and the smile to a frown, which grows deeper +and darker until the whole heavens threaten destruction +to earth; when the heedless lightning, with +brutal stroke, fells at our feet a form we love, we +wonder where the kindness and love have gone that +we saw only a few hours before. Nature does not +keep one mood long. She has made things fair and +things foul; she blesses, but she curses also; she wins +us with some temptation of beauty, and then punishes +us for yielding; she puts in our heart an angel +of love, but she puts there, too, a devil of hate; she +caresses us one minute and kicks us the next; she +licks our hand, and then without warning she bites +us. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is more power to-day in a drop of ink than +in a ton of powder. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A man may have respect for old age and not like +to find gray hairs in his butter. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page140">[pg 140]</span><a name="Pg140" id="Pg140" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc135" id="toc135"></a> +<a name="pdf136" id="pdf136"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Worship Not Needed</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The world will never throb with new life until +the spell of worship is broken. Nothing holds mankind +down so much as veneration for its idols. +Shake off the lethargy that worship has brought +upon the soul. Live like men, and you need not +worship gods. When we live true to the soul we +cease to ask for anything. Worship is denial of +self. Let us have no disputes about divinity. Let +God take care of himself. The light of the stars +proves their existence. The universe needs no counsel +of defence. That which is evident need not be +explained. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The great question for us to answer is not what +God wants, but what men need. Let us live to ourselves. +Worship is interruption. Let our life satisfy. +Worship is apology. If we are doing our best, +what need to excuse our work? What good does it +do to praise God? That is the true love which +obeys, not that which adores. We want willing +hands, not lifted ones. Worship is superfluous. It +adds nothing to the soul. It increases our cares, +not our virtues. The test of everything is, does it +help man? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We challenge the church to prove its claim to +man's support. It throws a shadow upon the earth +instead of letting more light upon it. The priest is +in man's way. Worship is a compliment to the +deity that he does not need, and a burden upon man +which he is not able to bear. Nature does not worship. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page141">[pg 141]</span><a name="Pg141" id="Pg141" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +She grows. Worship is opposition to reform. +It palsies the world's thought. It means stagnation. +It is difficult to get advocated what will correct +society, because mankind spends so much time +in the church that it has no time to spend in the +theatre of improvement. Worship is hypocrisy's +disguise. What a train of splendid deceit marches +up the aisles of the church! What a mask is worship, +but the world can see through it. When falsehood +kneels in praise of truth; when extortion and +cruelty call God father; when meanness and vice +are the disciples of Jesus, and when crime and sin +say, <span class="tei tei-q">“Thy will be done,”</span> the name of religion is a +blush on the forehead of the world. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We would not dethrone the world's heroes. The +more human beings we can get the world to honor +and respect the better humanity will be, but when +a man or woman has been for ages almost worshipped +by the world; when time, with its forgiving +hand, has erased deed after deed until naught else +is left of the man or woman but a holy memory, an +unreal soul, whose virtues are as ghostly as shadows +cast by the moon, it behooves us to look with unprejudiced +mind at this phantom of existence and +to see with naked eye this object of adoration, for +one may be certain that beneath the idol's robes +will be found a human form and with it all the +peculiarities of human nature. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page142">[pg 142]</span><a name="Pg142" id="Pg142" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc137" id="toc137"></a> +<a name="pdf138" id="pdf138"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Was Jesus A Good Man</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We denied in the presence of a Christian, who +wished to have a religious talk with us, that Jesus +was divine. This denial was somewhat anticipated, +we imagine, as the gentleman who challenged our +views was knowing to the fact that we did not pay +pew rent anywhere. But he thought to secure assent +from us by saying, <span class="tei tei-q">“You will have to admit +that Jesus was a good man.”</span> What constitutes a +good man? A good man is a man who is kind, loving, +merciful, reasonable, and just. Would a just +man pay the laborer who had worked but one hour +as much as he paid him who had toiled all day? +Would a reasonable man curse a fig tree because +it did not have fruit on it out of season? Would a +loving man say: He that hateth not father and +mother is not worthy of me? Would a merciful +man send those who did not agree with him into +everlasting fire? Would a kind-hearted man +bring a sword rather than peace on earth? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The truth is, we do not know <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">what</span></em> kind of a man +Jesus was. Good men have been killed by bad +ones, and bad men killed by good ones. If Jesus +was killed because he was a blasphemer the chances +are that he was better than those who put him +to death, but if he was killed because he sought +to overturn the government and secure the throne +for himself, he may have been a very bad man. +But by the gospel-record we hold that Jesus was +not a man for this age to honor or imitate. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page143">[pg 143]</span><a name="Pg143" id="Pg143" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc139" id="toc139"></a> +<a name="pdf140" id="pdf140"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">How To Help Mankind</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are various ways of helping the world, and +all are to be commended. Perhaps the way that +costs the least, and consequently helps the least, +is the giving of good advice. This, we believe, is +about the poorest thing that can be given to man. +It is a gratuity on the giver's part which is never +received quite as it is bestowed. But it is usually +born of good intentions, and so we have to be thankful +for it, even if we do not use it. To those who +are inclined, however, to render assistance to their +fellow-beings, we would say: Give good advice last, +or, at any rate, give something with it. There is +no use telling a poor man where there is a good +restaurant when he has no money in his purse. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Another way of helping the world is the material +way—giving something that will relieve its wants, +pay its debts, or add to its independence. The +sympathy that takes the shape of dollars and cents +always reaches the heart. The rarest virtue in this +world of ours is generosity, and the rarest man is he +who gives to the world asking for no dividends but +in the happiness of his fellow-creatures. Money, +when wisely bestowed, comes about as near the +shape of an angel as any earthly thing can assume. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But there are other ways of assisting the world, +and while we admit all the good that can be done +with money, men and women need to-day to be +helped with truth, helped with justice. Mankind +are suffering from falsehoods, from wrongs as well +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page144">[pg 144]</span><a name="Pg144" id="Pg144" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +as from ignorance, from want and poverty. Those +who are unjust to their fellows should help them by +dealing justly by them. Those who are keeping +the world in darkness should help it by telling the +truth. Truth and justice are every man's right, +and every man's due. You can help the world by +being just to it, by using your fellow-beings honestly, +squarely, justly. You can help it by telling +the truth and by concealing nothing that is true. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man needs an education in unselfishness. He +must learn to work for himself without working +against others. The advantage which a man gains +to-day is too often at the disadvantage of his brother +or sister. It is a poor victory which inflicts suffering. +The true measure of man's success is the joy +his life confers upon the world. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man who wants to be an angel is never in a +hurry to begin. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man who gets on his knees has not learned +the right use of his legs. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ignorance is all that saves some people: if they +knew more they would do worse. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page145">[pg 145]</span><a name="Pg145" id="Pg145" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc141" id="toc141"></a> +<a name="pdf142" id="pdf142"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">On The Cross</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Christianity teaches that Jesus was divine. To +admit that he was not divine is to give up Christianity. +In the light of this teaching let us look at +Jesus on the cross. After a brief, but rather peaceful +career, Jesus is arrested, tried and convicted as a +blasphemer, and sentenced to be put to death. It +is said that he died on a cross. How did he die? +It is said by Christians <span class="tei tei-q">“like a God.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There have been brave deaths on the gallows and +at the stake. Men have died sublimely whom +society has condemned as criminals. In our day +there has been as lofty heroism evinced in the face +of the most terrible of deaths as ever martyr of old +manifested when dying for his faith. We know +that men have walked into the arms of an ignominious +death without a tremor, and with magnificent +courage shining in their faces. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Brave dying proves less than brave living. The +sacrifice of a lifetime shows the courage that commands +our deepest admiration. Some mother, +some sister, or daughter who has offered herself for +years upon the hidden altar of duty has performed +a deed beside which a moment's suffering is as +naught. But the average mind fails to discern heroism, +except where the suffering is apparent. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We will admit for the moment that Jesus died +upon the cross. We will allow all the pain and agony +of such a cruel and terrible death. We will +let every picture of his suffering that has drawn tears +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page146">[pg 146]</span><a name="Pg146" id="Pg146" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +from the eyes of women be accepted as true. We +would not rob the manner of his death of a single +pang. It was merciless, pitiless, devilish. Crucifixion +is the essence of cruelty, the refinement of torture, +the invention of brutality. We acknowledge +all the horrors of the cross. We do not wonder that +a man should shrink from being nailed to its arms, +but we do wonder that a God should. We are not +surprised that human weakness should cry out of its +breaking heart for sympathy and help, but we cannot +understand why divine strength should ask for +pity or aid. If Jesus was God he should have died +in divine silence. The record of the last hours of +Jesus shows that he died disappointed. The cross +proves that Jesus was human. When he cried out: +"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me," a +keener anguish pierced his heart than when the cruel +iron was driven through his flesh. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The dogma of the divinity of Jesus should have +died on the cross, when the man of Nazareth gave up +the ghost. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man who does no thinking before he acts +does twice as much afterwards. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Adam may not have been so perfect after the +<span class="tei tei-q">“fall,”</span> but he was not so big a fool. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page147">[pg 147]</span><a name="Pg147" id="Pg147" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc143" id="toc143"></a> +<a name="pdf144" id="pdf144"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Equal Moral Standards</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Why are girls brought up with more care as to +their personal habits than boys? And why do women +have fewer vices than men? It is an undeniable +fact that what is looked upon with indifference +in a man would be regarded with disgust, if not horror, +in a woman. Boys do things that would not +be tolerated in girls. Why are there two standards +of behavior? Why is one sex held to stricter moral +account than the other? Why is a man allowed +to do what is condemned in a woman? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The average daughter is better behaved, has +better personal habits, than the average son. The +average mother has fewer vices than the average +father. The average woman is less vicious than the +average man. Whose fault is it that this is so? It +is somebody's. Whose is it? It is time to find out. +Have men fixed the standard for women, and women +for men? It is approximately true that either +sex is what the other demands of it. Women are +too indulgent towards the other sex. We believe +it lies with them more than with men to elevate the +moral standard of the world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A father would not take his daughter to places +where he takes his son, would not condone in her +habits which he overlooks, if not encourages, in his +boy. Picture a father going to a saloon with his +daughter, and there treating her to a <span class="tei tei-q">“Tom and +Jerry,”</span> or a <span class="tei tei-q">“beer,”</span> and then calling for cigars for +two, and sitting there smoking together for half an +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page148">[pg 148]</span><a name="Pg148" id="Pg148" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +hour or so! A man will do this with his boy but not +with his girl. Why not? If it is right and harmless +for one, why not for the other? Is it true or +not that what is right for men is wrong for women? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We ought to have only one moral standard. The +sexes should be held to like behavior. Men can +have just as good habits as women. We do not believe +in forgiving in one what we condemn in another, +in allowing a young man to do with impunity what +we will not tolerate in a young woman. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If we are to have one standard of morals, which +shall it be? Shall it be the highest or lowest? +Shall it be the standard for man or for woman? +Shall we permit women to do as men do, or shall we +insist that men shall be equally pure in personal +habits with women? The divided standard of conduct +which now exists should be done away with. +Let us demand equal behavior of the sexes, and +let that behavior be fashioned after the highest +moral demand of society. We do not wish to educate +boys to be girls, but we can educate boys to +have as good habits as girls have, which would be a +great gain to the world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We must hold women largely responsible for the +vices of men. There is not a vicious habit which a +man would not lay at the feet of woman did she demand +it. Not a man would tolerate in a woman +what a woman tolerates in a man. Let us have one +moral standard for men and women, for both sexes, +and mete out to each the same punishment for violation +of its restrictions. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page149">[pg 149]</span><a name="Pg149" id="Pg149" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc145" id="toc145"></a> +<a name="pdf146" id="pdf146"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Authority</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The man that does what his reason says is right +is the man that should be honored by men. There +can be no higher authority for doing a thing than +that it is right. It is not whether a thing has ever +been done before, but, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Is it right</span></em>? If there is no +precedent, then it is a duty to establish one. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +How many accept the opinions of others because +they fear to question their authority! This regard +for what other people think and say is well enough +only when it does not destroy independence of +thought and speech in ourselves. Another's opinion +is not to be respected when it is a fetter to our +freedom. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We need not rehearse the evils which the world +has borne on account of its fear to do right <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">alone</span></em>. +Man must have someone to share the danger, to +share the blame, but a dozen cowards are not worth +so much as one brave man, and right is no <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">more</span></em> +right because ten say it instead of one. A thousand +felt what Luther said; a thousand believed +what Parker did. The best man in us is often the +one that does not speak. The truest belief of the +heart is the one never confessed. Man seldom +comes to the surface. He rarely has a call to be +himself, but to be somebody that will please the +world. Man is obliged to make himself into a +theological likeness; into a political representation. +It will be centuries before men can assert themselves +fearlessly without injury. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page150">[pg 150]</span><a name="Pg150" id="Pg150" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is no easy matter for a man to set himself +against popular opinion and maintain his position. +Every power is brought to bear upon him that +falsehood can invent and malice employ. A person +who refuses to acknowledge the authority of the +hour asserts a higher. When a man slaps the world +in the face he should have truth on his side and +courage to meet the stake and the cross. The +majority never forgives him who denies its judgment. +The individual that challenges the majority +must prove his right of defiance. When a man +is greater or better than men he must pay the penalty. +The world cannot yet forgive anyone for excelling +it. Authority when it debases man should +be disputed; when it denies man his rights should +be rejected. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is plain to be seen, without illustration or example, +that man's authority is not found in his own +mind. He has no history that reaches beyond custom. +Man begins with man so far as facts prove. +Society rests upon hearsay and religion upon tradition. +A claim has only to be made upon ignorance +to be granted. This good-natured world of +ours would believe anything, or make-believe believe +it, to save its soul. It takes either a very +shrewd man or a moderately mean one to dodge +every duty of life and remain respectable. It is +dangerous to go outside the beaten path, not only +on account of the persecution of the present but on +account of the folly of the future. The world can +easily twist an action into a law or a man into a God +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page151">[pg 151]</span><a name="Pg151" id="Pg151" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +if profit hang on the end of its deed. The authority +of half man's actions to-day depends upon some +accident or fraud of the past. Man wants a little +of the fabulous yet in his meat and drink. He +loves to think that Jesus is present when he drinks +his wine and eats his bit of bread, although it is a +mystery. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Popular opinion is the authority of most words +and actions. We speak to men as to children—to +please them. We tell them some parable or fairy +story instead of telling them their faults honestly +and trying to make them better. Most men begin +by bowing to public opinion and end by carrying +it on their backs. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The authority of the world may be disputed without +any of the stars being thrown out of their course +or any of the processes of life being disturbed. The +notion that all has been discovered that is essential +to the welfare of man is a mistaken one. The other +notion that the preservation of whatever is elevating +and refining depends upon the religious opinions +of mankind, is equally delusive. The authority of +the Bible, of Jesus, of the church, has been quoted +until the world is prepared for a better. We might +lose the Bible and not lose our place in the ranks of +civilization. Jesus might be forgotten and man +would still strive for a higher life. The church +might perish in a night and not a single particle of +goodness be lost. If we speak honest words, do +honest work and live honest lives, we need not ask +for God's help or the help of anybody. We do not +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page152">[pg 152]</span><a name="Pg152" id="Pg152" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +give to immorality the hours we redeem from superstition. +We give to manhood and womanhood +every hour which we make natural and free. It is +not necessary for a man to go to church in order to +be righteous. The world found assistance before +Jesus was born. There has always been saints outside +of a convent. We need no book holy that good +counsel shall be valuable. The highest authority +is the highest human enlightenment. It needs no +priest back of opinion to give it force. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Why does a man enter the Christian ministry? +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The reason that revelation is always made to the +simple is that the wise could not be imposed upon. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is no sadder grief than that which lies at +the bottom of a life that has been wrecked through +deception. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +An organization that requires the suppression of +facts and the discouragement of knowledge in +order to maintain its supremacy, is the relic of a +tyranny which our free age and our free thought +are in duty bound to remove from the earth. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page153">[pg 153]</span><a name="Pg153" id="Pg153" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc147" id="toc147"></a> +<a name="pdf148" id="pdf148"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Clean Sabbath</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In a discussion with a lady, recently, upon the +Sunday question, after the various pros and cons +had been set up and bowled down, she exclaimed: +<span class="tei tei-q">“For mercy's sake, don't say any more against the +sabbath. Why, if it were not for Sunday, most +people would never wash themselves nor change +their clothes.”</span> Sunday, then, is to be established +for the sake of cleanliness. The command for keeping +the sabbath should therefore read: Six days +shalt thou labor and do all thy work, and on the +seventh day wash thyself and change thy clothes. +If people will not keep clean without a divine command, +we are in favor of cleanliness. We do not +know of any better use to put God's name to. Sunday +is certainly the cleanest day of the week. If +people will make themselves clean and neat only +for God's sake, we are willing to endure a little superstition +for the blessing of cleanliness. But is +there any ground for the assertion of the lady? As +everyone knows, religion has produced the filthiest +specimens of humanity that ever offended the +senses of man. Dirt, and not cleanliness, was +deemed next to godliness by the saints of old. The +filthier a human being became, the holier he grew. +It was regarded in the middle ages, that is, in the +ages when everything was sacrificed to religion, as +almost a sin to keep clean. It was waste of time to +care for the body. It was taught that it was holier +to worship than to wash. Nor did these dirty old +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page154">[pg 154]</span><a name="Pg154" id="Pg154" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +saints of old go nasty entirely on their own authority. +They were nasty for Christ's sake. They +went unclean because Jesus had encouraged nastiness. +He believed more in clean hearts than in +clean hands. He taught his disciples that <span class="tei tei-q">“to eat +with unwashed hands defileth not a man.”</span> Dirty +Christians are still plenty, but civilization prevails +over superstition and the reign of dirt is doomed. +The follower of Jesus quotes his master to defend +his filthy condition in vain to-day. The gospel of +decency has been preached, and what is manly and +womanly is honored more than what is godly and +pious. Clean infidelity is preferable in good society +to nasty piety. There may be honor in rags, but +there is none in dirt. Soap and water cost less than +religion, but are worth a thousand times as much to +the world. If Romanism required its devotees to +take a bath instead of going to mass, it would confer +a greater boon upon the world. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No man gets estimated for exactly what he is, +and it is lucky he doesn't. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great many men and women are remembered +for what somebody has said about them. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page155">[pg 155]</span><a name="Pg155" id="Pg155" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc149" id="toc149"></a> +<a name="pdf150" id="pdf150"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Human Integrity</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is hard for a man to be a man. It is easier to +be almost anything else. We do not find the reason +for what we do in ourselves, but seek it in someone +else, or somewhere else. Manhood is not our +standard of action. Human integrity is generally +looked upon as an eccentricity. We almost despise +a person who is more upright than the conventional +man. Throughout society there runs a stream of +circumstance upon which lives float like chips. +The man who turns against this stream, and seeks +to stem it, is looked upon as a madman or a fool. +Everybody admits that the world is hardly going +right, but everybody goes with it. The current of +human life can be turned into a larger channel by a +larger man. Mind follows mind. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not demand the truth; we do not insist +upon the right; we are satisfied with less than integrity. +It is not in a spirit of carping that we say +this, but because it is true. Let us glance at the +world as it lies before us. Theories pass for facts, +faith for evidence. We assert without knowledge; +we are positive without proof. Man is condemned +for not believing, although living a pure and noble +life; he is praised for believing, although living a +selfish and cruel life. Men are not judged by human +nature, but by opinions which are uppermost in +public esteem. Men and women are bad according +to the standard of one age; good according to +that of another. Theologies, which may be wrong, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page156">[pg 156]</span><a name="Pg156" id="Pg156" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +condemn men who may be right. Justice is never +man's precedent. The world quotes Moses, David, +Paul, Jesus, to defend its conduct or prove its guilt. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Authority is another's opinion. Law is what +has been done and sanctioned by mankind. The +decision of one court binds another. One text is +quoted to prove another. A man's act is made a +rule of life. We say, to defend ourselves: <span class="tei tei-q">“He did +it.”</span> The world's power of attorney is in its own +handwriting. Our appeal is to some one else. We +get our politics from our fathers, our religion from +our mothers. The church is preaching what others +believed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The mind still leans. Only a few could stand +without a support. The props of the world keep it +from falling. Men are not upright of their own +strength. No man's action is the patent of manhood. +The world does not ask, <span class="tei tei-q">“What virtues are +yours?”</span> but, <span class="tei tei-q">“What creed do you accept?”</span> A +dozen agree and call some one else a doubter, a +Freethinker, an Infidel, an Atheist. To be able to +stand alone is to be blamed by those who cannot do +so. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man must learn this, that he has no greater +strength than his own; that he has no higher +duty than to obey the behest of his own nature. +When we forsake the world's follies and shams we +shall find something better. We are never abandoned +until we have been abandoned by ourselves. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page157">[pg 157]</span><a name="Pg157" id="Pg157" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When we refuse to do our duty we must still expect +Nature to do hers. The sun and moon do not +stand still at man's command. It is greater to +keep one's integrity than it is to gain the whole +world. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is harder to live when those we love are dead. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The trouble with divine revelation is that we do +not know who did the business. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A person has not much excuse for living who can +make no better use of life than passing it in a +nunnery. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Men talk of alleviating the aching hearts and +souls of the world, but if they would relieve the +aching backs and arms of men and women by being +kinder to those who toil, there would be fewer +suffering hearts for their sympathy's consolation. +It sounds vulgar, perhaps, to speak of backaching, +but the pains of work are among the saddest facts +of human life. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page158">[pg 158]</span><a name="Pg158" id="Pg158" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc151" id="toc151"></a> +<a name="pdf152" id="pdf152"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Is It True</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is a lot of sentiment going around the world +strangely at variance with human action. No one +lives as he professes to believe, as he says he thinks. +Men declare a thing to be true but act as though +they wished it false. It is frequently stated that: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Honor and shame from no condition rise,</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Act well your part, there all the honor lies.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Who believes it? Did Pope when he wrote it? +Does a person that reads it? I doubt it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It ought to be true, perhaps, that men should be +respected, honored, and praised just as much for +carrying a hod well as for writing a poem or acting +Hamlet well, but it is not so regarded. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A man as a man may be just as worthy, just as +honorable, just as much deserving the respect of +his fellows who uses a pick and shovel on the highway, +but it is a fact that the common laborer as +such is not respected nor honored as much as the +man who pays him for his labor. All the honor +may lie in doing well whatever he has to do, but it is +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">what a man does</span></em>, not how he does it, that receives +the honor of the world, just the same. Probably +thousands of women are acting well their part as +washerwomen in Boston at this time, but are they +honored as Sarah Bernhardt is for acting Cleopatra? +Would wealthy women pay ten dollars to see a woman +scrub a floor, even if she could scrub better +than any woman who ever scrubbed before? We +guess not. There is the point. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page159">[pg 159]</span><a name="Pg159" id="Pg159" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is no such epitaph as this on the marble of +the world: He acted well his part as a coal-heaver. +It is true that Lincoln is pointed to as having been +a rail-splitter when a young man, but had he never +been anything else he would not have had a monument +an inch above the ground. It is not Garfield +the tow-boy, but Garfield the statesman, the +President, that is honored. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is a fact that merit is not always appreciated, +but it is equally a fact that no merit is seen in the +common occupations of life. A person might wear +his fingers to bones in what is regarded as menial +employment, and all his giant labor would not call +forth a single word of praise. A dollar or two a day +is all the reward the world gives for manual labor. +No one sees heroism in farm work, in kitchen work. +No one contributes money to erect a statue to the +hod-carrier. Work is not honored. The man or +woman who is obliged to work in order to live is regarded +with pity or contempt by those who live upon +the labor of others. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is not true that all the honor lies in doing well +whatever we have to do. Such a saying is as false +as to say <span class="tei tei-q">“Ask, and you shall receive.”</span> Honor is +not given gratuitously. It has to be earned. But +it is a fact that we do not honor all labor, all virtue, +equally. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page160">[pg 160]</span><a name="Pg160" id="Pg160" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc153" id="toc153"></a> +<a name="pdf154" id="pdf154"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Keep The Children At Home</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fathers and mothers want to see their children +grow up into good, moral, respectable men and women. +How to insure this desirable result is a serious +problem. It is seen that the school is not +sufficient to insure character, nor does the church +exert sufficient influence to guide the feet in right +paths. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have the deepest faith in what the school is +doing and trying to do, and would help it in every +way to promote the instruction in those branches +of knowledge which are deemed essential to a sound +and useful education, but we cannot fail to see that +the school, however much it may assist the child in +the formation of good habits, is not of itself competent +to build up character. The school cannot +take the place of the home, nor can the teacher do +the work of the parent. We believe that the best +way to have good boys and girls, and therefore good +men and women, is to have good homes for them to +live in. If parents gave more attention to making +their homes attractive to their children, they would +not be so apt to seek amusement in other places. +The more a child is kept at home, the more certain +it will be to escape the evils of life. A good home +is the first and most powerful factor in forming the +character of children. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is too much thought given by parents generally +to the church and too little to the home. +They shirk their duty and their responsibility, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page161">[pg 161]</span><a name="Pg161" id="Pg161" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +pray God to look after what they neglect. With +the father at work and the mother at mass, the +children will be in the street. Those parents who +put the home above the church are throwing around +their children the best influences that earth affords. +When children are left to the care of God they too +often fall into the hands of the policeman. Let the +path between the home and the school be well worn, +but never mind if the grass grows in the road that +leads to the church. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The child will usually love home if home is made +lovely. If parents wish to drive their children into +temptation, let them shut the sunshine of joy out +of the house, forbid the playing of games, burn up +the pack of cards that is found in one of the boy's +rooms, call a ball-room the <span class="tei tei-q">“devil's headquarters,”</span> +and pronounce a malediction upon all youthful +sports. It is easy enough to drive a boy or girl out +into the dark. Put out the lights at home. Those +parents who know the evil influences of the world +will make their homes bright and beautiful and +then keep their children there as long as they can. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The doctrine of salvation by faith is a libel on +justice and has done more to undermine the virtue +of the world than vice itself. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page162">[pg 162]</span><a name="Pg162" id="Pg162" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc155" id="toc155"></a> +<a name="pdf156" id="pdf156"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Teacher And Preacher</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is one great change which we hope to see +brought about in the near future, because we think +it ought to be brought about as a matter of justice. +It is this: the elevation of teachers above preachers. +Civilization, and all that this word stands for today, +depends more upon the school than upon the +church. It is the teacher and not the preacher that +trains the growing minds of our children, that +builds the structure of character for future men and +women, and gives to the young the sacred touch +that keeps them in right paths. The world does +not half appreciate the work done by the school +teacher, while it exaggerates out of all proportion +to its worth, the work done by the preacher. The +church may fall, but if the school stands, liberty +will remain; the paths of knowledge will be free; the +brow of civilization will still shine white against the +skies of life, and the glorious cup of learning be +pressed to the thirsting mouth of youth; but should +the school fall, though the church might stand, all +this would be reversed;—liberty would be driven +from the earth, the highways of knowledge would +be closed, civilization would fade into the night of +the "dark ages," and the thirsting lips of life be fed +with Bible scraps and the logic of dead creeds. The +teacher is the mighty power in this republic, the +truest friend of our nation's institutions, the one +person above all others that this country should +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page163">[pg 163]</span><a name="Pg163" id="Pg163" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +honor and reward. One teacher is worth a thousand +priests; one school, a thousand churches. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The person whose duty it is to direct the education +of the young holds the sceptre of a nation's +destiny, and the school teacher occupies the most +important station to which one can be elected. We +fear that the profession of teaching is not rightly +prized by the American people, and we are sure it is +not justly rewarded. No class in the land are paid +so poorly, according to the service they perform, as +our school teachers, while no class should be paid so +well. Far more valuable to our government is the +teacher than the preacher, and yet the salary of the +latter exceeds the former in every city and town in +the land. This should be changed. Preaching a +superstition is no benefit but an injury to a people, +while training the mind to read, to think, to gather +knowledge is the highest service which one can +perform. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have the greatest respect for the men and +women who have prepared themselves for the high +office of teacher, and we would see them rewarded +for their labor as it deserves. The hope of a country +is in the right education of its people, and the +way to secure such education is to encourage the +teacher by showing a just appreciation of his or her +labors. So we say, put the school above the church, +the teacher above the preacher. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page164">[pg 164]</span><a name="Pg164" id="Pg164" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc157" id="toc157"></a> +<a name="pdf158" id="pdf158"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Fear Of Doubts</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We cannot help thinking that Goethe showed +lack of courage when he said: <span class="tei tei-q">“I will listen to any +one's convictions, but pray keep your doubts to +yourself, I have plenty of my own!”</span> It seems to us +that only a coward is afraid of doubts. If our convictions +are false is it not better to know it and correct +them? Doubt is the way to truth. It is the +attitude of the mind that wants to know things just +as they are. They who are unwilling to be deceived +are the ones to doubt, to inquire. Let us hear all +the doubts of the world, for they are knocks at the +door of knowledge. To accept without question is +to be the willing dupe of imposition. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The doubter is the safe man; the man who can be +depended upon. He does not build upon a foundation +of guesswork, and the structure he erects will +stand. Let us not fear doubt, but rather fear to +have falsehood passed for truth. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is no authority that can be quoted against +a man but the authority of some other man. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Nine times out of ten the man who declares that +God is tender to the sparrow that falls is not the +man to buy a winter's coal for a poor widow. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page165">[pg 165]</span><a name="Pg165" id="Pg165" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc159" id="toc159"></a> +<a name="pdf160" id="pdf160"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Bible-Backing</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is less backing one's thoughts with the +Bible than formerly. The world is getting weaned +from this book. The idea is gaining ground that, +if anything is true, it can support itself. When a +man leans on God he is so much less a man. Mental +uprightness disdains the Bible's support. Honest +thought can defend itself without appealing to +divine authority. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Once a man hardly dared speak unless he quoted +from the Scriptures a line or verse that ran parallel +with his speech. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To-day men say what they think, without caring +whether Moses, or David, or John, agree with them +or not. We have reached a healthy independence. +We have commenced to trust our convictions. Such +a stage of intellectual development is not favorable +to the divinity of one's thoughts. The report of one +mind is no more divine than that of another, and no +more to be trusted, only as it is more accurate. +There is a higher standard than the word of God +for this age—that is, the word of truth. Whosoever +speaks truth can face the world alone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When a man needs to go to the Bible to sustain +his argument he has a weak argument. When a +dogma does not commend itself to human intelligence +it is useless to declare it infallible. It will +die, even though it be professed a thousand years. +It can be accepted only by ignorance and avowed +only by hypocrisy. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page166">[pg 166]</span><a name="Pg166" id="Pg166" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Any man who will quote a Bible-text to defend +his opinion in the sense that such text proves his +opinion true, proves himself a dolt. A Bible-text +is only a human opinion, and as humanity surpasses +it in the evolution of experience, it loses its authority +and force. We have learned that human reason +does not need to be backed by the Bible, and we +have learned also that the Bible <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">does</span></em> need to be +backed by human reason, or it has no value. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The heart that can deride misfortune confesses +its own deformity. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When we are satisfied with the present we do +not think of the future. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The more mystery is encouraged, the more +deceit can impose upon the human mind. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If wisdom and diamonds grew on the same tree +we could soon tell how much men loved wisdom. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page167">[pg 167]</span><a name="Pg167" id="Pg167" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc161" id="toc161"></a> +<a name="pdf162" id="pdf162"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Beggars</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have come to look upon the poor beggar as a +nuisance; upon the man who comes to our doors for +food or clothes as one who has no claim upon our +charity. The common beggar is, as a rule, a worthless +character, but let us be fair to him. He asks +for but little; seldom for more than a bite, or for a +few pennies. The poor beggar has only himself to +enforce his appeal, and often he is an injury to his +own cause. A dirty, ragged, vice-stained wreck of +humanity is a poor argument to offer for sympathy +or help. The man who begs in the name of man, +and with that name rubbed in the dirt besides, gets +little for his asking. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not like any beggars, but we need to understand +that it is not the man in rags, who asks for a +piece of bread or meat, that is the only beggar in the +world. There is another and more dangerous beggar +that we open our doors to, and treat with politeness +and respect, and whose appeals we honor; +it is the well-dressed beggar who asks for the money +which the arm of labor has coined from its strength, +who takes not pennies where he can get dollars, and +who enforces his appeal with the name of God; it +is the ecclesiastical beggar, whose hand is stretched +out to take the earnings of toil, or the profits of +trade; whose hand would as soon take little from +poverty as plenty from affluence. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The rich beggar is a worse enemy to society and +to the nation than the poor beggar. It is the priest, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page168">[pg 168]</span><a name="Pg168" id="Pg168" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and not the tramp, whose begging we need to scorn. +The man who asks for food in the name of hunger, +for help in the name of want, makes, at least, an +honest appeal to our generosity, but the man who +begs in the name of God is an impostor. The +tramp's appeal is the truth—the priest's is a lie. +God never yet commissioned a human being to beg +for him, and the person who uses the divine name +to enforce his demand is little better than a thief. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the paths of our life may be seen the footprints +of our ancestors. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If you are poor, be thankful that you have the +power of bettering your circumstances by bettering +yourself; if you are rich, do not forget that you +have the means of doing good, a luxury that is too +seldom indulged. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Men need nothing so much to-day as self-reliance; +courage to stand up manfully for the right, all alone, +without prop or pay, daring everything for an idea, +counting not the cost, but seeing only the grand +result which would follow its triumph and working +for that with single purpose and courageous fidelity. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page169">[pg 169]</span><a name="Pg169" id="Pg169" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc163" id="toc163"></a> +<a name="pdf164" id="pdf164"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Habits</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Habit makes the man, but man makes the habit. +It is here where we want to get in a word. A habit +seems a little thing in itself, but it is the most terrible +tyrant that rules the world. And it <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">does</span></em> rule it, +say what we will. Now, it is essential in this life +of ours to start right if we are going to come out +right. And the best thing to start with is a good +habit. It is just as easy when a young man is forming +his habits to form good ones as bad ones. Good +habits are not expensive. A virtue does not cost a +quarter as much to support as does a vice. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We sometimes wonder how it is that a being with +brains, with intelligence, with reason, could ever +become a slave to habit. It does not seem possible +that a MAN cannot order his conduct. But +we must recognize facts. Men are victims of +habits. They do not perceive that they are bound +until they try to be free, and then the strong power +of habit asserts itself. How does this terrible +despot conquer the mind, the will, the man? What +is this invisible force that drives the strongest and +the brightest with a whip of iron? It is only an act +repeated again and again, but it has become a second +nature, a part of the man, and it has conquered +by the power of reinforcement by repetition. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The only way to be superior to bad habits is never +to acquire them. Do not do the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">first</span></em> bad act. Stop +before you begin to go wrong. The time when a +man is saved is when he is young. The time to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page170">[pg 170]</span><a name="Pg170" id="Pg170" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +plant or sow is in the Spring. The harvest depends +upon the seed. We cannot pick figs from thistles. +A bad habit will end in a bad life. Watch the feet +of the boy and the man's will not need watching. +We must begin with the young, and see that right +habits are acquired in early life. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is only a foot from a good habit to a bad one, +but it is a mile back again. We may lose in an hour +all we have made in a year. We can undo in a day +what we have done in a lifetime. A habit is a +plant of which an act is the seed. It will bear fruit +if it be a good act, but ashes if it be a bad act. It +is the first step that starts the race. To start right +is the best way to go right and to end right. Never +let a bad habit fasten to your life. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It takes the shingles from the widow's cottage +to put paint on the house of God. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Many persons who claim that they are <span class="tei tei-q">“clothed +with righteousness”</span> do not seem to have got +very good fits. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page171">[pg 171]</span><a name="Pg171" id="Pg171" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc165" id="toc165"></a> +<a name="pdf166" id="pdf166"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Can Poverty Be Abolished</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Is poverty a malady of the individual or of society? +To answer this question is to determine +how to treat the disease. If the individual is alone +responsible for being poor, then he alone is to apply +the remedy; but if society is to blame for poverty, +then must society take the steps to effect a cure. +Poverty is an evil. A human being who is starved +physically is starved mentally and morally. Civilization +begins when man has risen above want. +Man is only a brute when all of his energies are absorbed +in the effort to get bread. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the present state of society we have dependence +and independence; a few have escaped from +the burdens of toil, but the many are still slaves +to physical wants. But the few enjoy their independence +at the expense of those beneath them, and +oftentimes by inflicting wrong and injustice upon +their fellows. Such a condition ought not to be +allowed. Prosperity is the accumulated efforts of +mankind. No man has created all the benefits he +enjoys; no one has sowed all that he reaps. The +rich man to-day is rich because he has, by advantageous +circumstances, obtained possession of more +than his share of the world's wealth, or because he +has inherited what others have obtained in the same +way, or because by thrift and economy and good +luck he has succeeded in getting money and keeping +it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But what makes the poor man? Not one thing, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page172">[pg 172]</span><a name="Pg172" id="Pg172" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +or one condition. He is the victim sometimes of +his own follies, vices or laziness, although he is often +not to be blamed for his poverty. There are individual +cases where doubtless destitution is the child +of misfortune, but the general poverty of the world, +and of this country in particular, cannot be charged +to any such account. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In our land there is a balance every year to the +credit of wealth, but is it not true that this balance +finds its way to the pockets already filled, rather +than to those that are empty? <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">What diverts the products +of labor from the hands of labor?</span></em> Find out +that, and then we will begin to give labor its due. +There is enough produced every year to make every +person in the land better off at the end of the year. +Why are so few richer, and so many poorer, or, at +least, no better off? There is one thing sure,—labor, +thrift, economy, virtue and good habits are to +be commended and encouraged, while idleness, vice, +profligacy and bad habits are to be condemned and +discouraged. We do not look to any external +change in society for a remedy for poverty, but +rather to an internal change in man. It is not social +revolution that will help the world, but humanity—the +willingness to do what is right. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It rains on the just and the unjust,”</span> but rarely +just enough on either. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page173">[pg 173]</span><a name="Pg173" id="Pg173" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc167" id="toc167"></a> +<a name="pdf168" id="pdf168"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Roman Catholic God</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Cicero said that <span class="tei tei-q">“men, having exhausted all the +mad extravagancies they are capable of, have yet +never entertained the idea of eating the God whom +they adore.”</span> The extravagance which was beyond +the contemplation of the Pagan mind, is an every +day affair with a large part of the Christian world. +The Roman Catholic eats his God every week, and +Catholics have been guilty of this religious cannibalism +for centuries. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the celebration of the eucharist, which is a +service commemorative of the death of Jesus, bread +and wine are used in Protestant churches as emblems +of the body and blood of the crucified one. +But in Roman Catholic churches the real presence +of Jesus is seen in the <span class="tei tei-q">“host,”</span> which, in itself, is a +little wafer of baked flour and water, but when consecrated +by the priest and offered as a sacrifice, +during mass, becomes the actual body of God. +According to Roman Catholic doctrine, dough is +changed to Deity by the mumbling of a few Latin +words over it by a priest. When the priest swallows +the consecrated wafer he really swallows this +God he adores. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is an absurdity which the doctrine of +transubstantiation is accountable for, which cannot +be paralleled among all the religions of heathenism. +Not only does this doctrine make it possible for one +God to be eaten by one priest, but for thousands of +gods to be thus devoured. The Roman Catholic +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page174">[pg 174]</span><a name="Pg174" id="Pg174" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +religion teaches that God is manufactured out of +flour and water by a pastry cook. Every time a +wafer is turned into a <span class="tei tei-q">“host,”</span> a God is made. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Were there a tribe in Asia or Africa guilty of such +ridiculous practices as are witnessed in the Roman +Catholic church, missionaries would be sent out to +them. It seems to us, that if people know no better +than to believe that when the priest swallows a +little lump of bread he is actually swallowing the +body of a person who lived eighteen hundred years +ago, whom they look upon as God, they are not intelligent +enough to be ranked in the army of progress +and civilization. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No one is to blame for what no one knows. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is singular that people want to live another +life when it is so hard to live this. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A church that sets up a religious faith as more +essential than purity, than kindness, charity or +goodness, is a dangerous institution. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page175">[pg 175]</span><a name="Pg175" id="Pg175" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc169" id="toc169"></a> +<a name="pdf170" id="pdf170"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Human Cruelty</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The mosquito inflicts his sting upon the place +whence he draws his life. Not unlike this venomed +insect is the person who, through malice, wounds +the feelings of a human being. There seems to be +in certain organizations the poison of hatred, and +woe betide those on whom it falls. The heart that +can take delight in saying cruel things, in raising +unkind doubts or starting unpleasant thoughts, +ought never to have had a human face to hide behind. +Such an individual ought to crawl in its native +shape that it might be crushed under the heel +of scorn. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The only way to treat a human viper is to keep +away from it, ignore its presence, and to shut the +ears to its venomed hiss. We know of no more +cruel occupation than wounding human hearts and +human feelings. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great many men believe in providence until +they get caught in a railroad accident. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Treasures well used on earth will help the world +more than treasures laid up in heaven. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page176">[pg 176]</span><a name="Pg176" id="Pg176" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc171" id="toc171"></a> +<a name="pdf172" id="pdf172"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Infidelity</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When the minister wants to frighten his congregation +he draws a picture of infidelity. The infidel +has been used for years to scare weak-minded persons +into accepting Christianity. Outwardly the +infidel is painted like a man, but the world is warned +not to trust to appearances, for the infidel is not +what he looks to be; he is <span class="tei tei-q">“a fiend in human shape;”</span> +he is <span class="tei tei-q">“a moral monster,”</span> and a mirror in which +everything bad and vicious can see its face. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not wonder that a minister paints the infidel +in black. He has hurt the minister's business, +and so must suffer for what he has done. But we +do wonder that so large a part of the world is frightened +at the word <span class="tei tei-q">“infidelity.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is a fact that an infidel would never be known +if he himself did not disclose his character. To +conceal his infidelity he has only to keep still, to +hide behind silence. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Infidelity is nothing more or less than intellectual +fidelity, and an infidel is a man too honest to disguise +his real thoughts and convictions. Had the +infidel not been honest he would still be in the +church, a hypocrite, to be sure, but this could not +affect his religious status at all. Intellectual and +moral uprightness is the distinguishing characteristic +of modern infidelity. The modern infidel trusts +his brain and his heart; he accepts as true what appeals +to his reason, and makes known his convictions +as though to conceal them were a vice or a crime. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page177">[pg 177]</span><a name="Pg177" id="Pg177" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The infidel gains nothing by avowing his convictions; +on the contrary, he is condemned for making +them known. The Christian presumes upon +the right to damn infidels here and to teach that +God will damn them hereafter. It is in the face of +a fate, in many instances cruel, that a man acknowledges +that his honest thoughts, his honest +convictions place him in antagonism to the popular +faith, and yet he is denounced, rather than praised, +for his brave action. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Infidelity is the proof of an honest man. Hypocrisy +cannot hide in its shadow. Every man in +the Christian church may be a hypocrite, a knave, +a pretender professing its faith, while laughing inwardly +at its foolish superstitions, but every man +who espouses infidelity must reveal his true character, +must show exactly what he is. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A dishonest or hypocritical infidel is an impossibility. +There is nothing to be gained, but much to be +lost, by confessing one's disbelief of the Christian +dogmas. It is the man who prizes self-respect above +the world's approval who takes the fate of infidelity—be +it what it may. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Don't put too much faith in the man who wants +to know the distance to the nearest church before +he has written his name in the hotel register. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page178">[pg 178]</span><a name="Pg178" id="Pg178" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc173" id="toc173"></a> +<a name="pdf174" id="pdf174"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Atheism</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What is called atheism is not a light, flippant +assertion, but a calm, thoughtful conclusion. It is +a conviction which human experience and human +reflection have generated. Atheism is not the irresponsible +opinion of moral debauchery; it is the +outcome of an intelligent consideration of Nature +and life. The atheist has been honest with himself +and with the world. He has made a careful +survey of the universe, as far as he is able, and has +canvassed the facts of life which have come within +the range of his observation, and he has candidly +declared the result of his study and freely related +the reasons for his conclusions. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Atheism is the universe as science finds it and as +interpreted by human understanding. It is an +attempt to state the simple truth, to give a fair +likeness of things, to photograph facts. Atheism +is denial of nothing true, of nothing good, of nothing +that can be proved. We see no good reason for +abusing the atheist. His opinions don't make him +a bad citizen or a bad man. He is as moral as his +Christian neighbor, and is as ready to help a fellow-being. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In countries where atheism is a crime, hypocrisy +is more honored than integrity. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great many who expect to hear the angels sing +always get near the stage at a comic opera. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page179">[pg 179]</span><a name="Pg179" id="Pg179" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc175" id="toc175"></a> +<a name="pdf176" id="pdf176"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Christian Happiness</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Christians are constantly telling <span class="tei tei-q">“how happy +their religion makes them,”</span> how happy they feel +<span class="tei tei-q">“since they found Jesus.”</span> We will take them at +their word and believe that they are just as happy +as they say they are. What has their religion done +for them, what has Jesus done for them, that they +should be so happy? They will answer that they +have been saved, that their souls have been rescued +from destruction. Without going into the question +whether they need to be saved or whether their +souls are in any danger of destruction, let us +see what kind of happiness the Christian enjoys. +The great song of Christians is: <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">My</span></em> soul is saved. +The Christian is happy on his own account alone; +he rejoices in his own good fortune; he is pleased to +think that he is out of it. The Christian's happiness +is a purely selfish feeling. In his exultation +is no thought of another's condition, of another's +lot. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If some are saved, others are lost, for all do not +accept the Christian faith, all do not find Jesus. +The Christian can be happy while others are +miserable; he can rejoice while knowing that others +are in peril; he can exult over his own salvation +while seeing others going to destruction. This is a +fiendish happiness, a devilish joy. For one to be +happy while knowing that a brother or sister is lost +shows a hard, selfish, cruel heart. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Think of the Christian mother being happy for +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page180">[pg 180]</span><a name="Pg180" id="Pg180" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +having been rescued from her burning home in +whose fatal flames her children all perished! Think +of the Christian father filled with joy at his escape +from the sinking ship in which his wife and babe +sailed to the port of death! Think of a Christian +man or woman exulting over their good fortune in +not having a disease which took away those who +were nearest and dearest! Such joy, such happiness, +as this is not human, it is brutish. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Christian is welcome to all the happiness +his heartless religion affords him. I want none of +it. Such a religion would drive me mad. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The loving heart is happiest in the joy of those it +loves; it is happy in seeing others happy, but there +could be no joy for it to be saved while those it +loved were lost. Christianity is a heartless religion, +a cruel faith, a selfish scheme, and it is for those who +care more about being saved than saving others. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The highest freedom is the freedom to say +what we believe to be right. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was a childless woman who said: The happiest +woman is she whose bosom pillows the sweet head +of a child. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page181">[pg 181]</span><a name="Pg181" id="Pg181" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc177" id="toc177"></a> +<a name="pdf178" id="pdf178"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">What God Knows</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We see in Christian papers a great deal about +what God knows. How does any one know what +God knows? It has been the habit, where man +lacked any particular knowledge, of saying, <span class="tei tei-q">“God +knows.”</span> But what is the good of God knowing +anything if he keeps his knowledge to himself? If +he will not tell what he knows, how is man improved +or benefited by all the wisdom in the divine +cranium? What is known by the inhabitants of +Venus does the inhabitants of earth no good. But +let us come down to facts. Is there any proof that +God knows anything? Let men own up, and not +try to deceive themselves or others any longer. +What God knows nobody else knows. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is no evidence that God knows what man +does not, and it is bare assumption only to ascribe +knowledge to deity. It is first necessary for man to +know that there is a God, before endowing him with +mental wealth or attributes. The Christian practice +of saying that <span class="tei tei-q">“God loves man,”</span> and that <span class="tei tei-q">“God +cares for man”</span> has no basis of facts to stand upon, +and it is only pious conceit that indulges in such +statements. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is nothing in the universe but the universe +itself; nothing in the universe that reveals a God. +The earth does not, the sun does not, the moon does +not, and not a planet or star reveals the existence of +a God. All these reveal their own existence; so of a +flower, of a tree, of a man. It is only divinity that +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page182">[pg 182]</span><a name="Pg182" id="Pg182" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +can reveal the existence of divinity. Who has seen +or heard this divinity? No one. Men have said, +or men have made other men say, that they have +seen God, heard God, and talked with God. But +they lied. No human eye ever saw the divine form +or features; no human ear ever heard the divine +voice; no human being ever had any knowledge of a +divine being. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is a waste of words to talk about God and what +he knows and what he does. No man knows that +God does anything, that God knows anything, or +that there is a God. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Blessings on the man who first dared to doubt. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The improvement in ways of travel and methods +of labor has altered our reverence. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every kiss of love imprinted by a mother's lips +on the face of her babe gives the lie to the Christian +doctrine of total depravity, and every gift which +the heart of pity lays in the hand of misfortune +brands this doctrine as false and a libel on our +human nature. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page183">[pg 183]</span><a name="Pg183" id="Pg183" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc179" id="toc179"></a> +<a name="pdf180" id="pdf180"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Meaning Of The Word God</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I do not deny that the word <span class="tei tei-q">“God”</span> has today a +moral and religious meaning which is derived from +his supposed beneficence, but this idea is not the one +that I find at the bottom of the Christian faith. I +object very seriously to the attempt, which is being +made by certain interested parties, to represent the +God of Christianity better than he is. This word +loses its terror when we realize that it stands for an +unknown quantity. It is the attempt to account +for what we cannot understand; the effort to explain +the universe. The word <span class="tei tei-q">“God”</span> is a definition +of human ignorance. It represents what we do +not know. This word does not stand for a person, an +object, or a thing. It is an idea that we can have no +idea of, a thought of what one cannot think. People +who use the word <span class="tei tei-q">“God”</span> do not know what they +are talking about. The word fits nothing that has +yet been discovered. Theology is the science of +what no one knows anything about. It does not +belong to the family of knowledge. When the +hands of theology are laid on a man's head his brains +are consecrated to do nothing. Every time a +minister is made, a man is lost. Nothing disgraces +American civilization more than the theology +preached in Christian churches. It is worse than +childish; it is old-womanish. The dark ages cast +their shadows across the bright skies of the twentieth +century, and the relics of that benighted time, +the priests, are still walking the streets, like ghosts +of bad deeds. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page184">[pg 184]</span><a name="Pg184" id="Pg184" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every theology ends in a creed. A creed is the +night-cap of religion. It is a sign that the intellect +is asleep. When faith is in, sense is out. A man +with a creed has bought the coffin for his mind. The +rest of his life will be a funeral service for the dead. +A creed is the grave of thought. When a person +subscribes to certain articles of belief, he has no further +use for his brains. It does not require any +mental exercise to believe. Belief does not signify +any process of intellectual assimilation or digestion. +When a man joins a church, he makes his last will +and testament. When reason abdicates in favor +of credulity, crime becomes a saint, and folly a +martyr. Too much faith makes a Pocasset tragedy. +The foolishness of trying to make God intelligible to +human understanding is shown in the creeds of +Christendom. The dogma of the trinity ought +not to pass to any further generation. It is not the +<span class="tei tei-q">“likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, +or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the +water under the earth.”</span> +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page185">[pg 185]</span><a name="Pg185" id="Pg185" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc181" id="toc181"></a> +<a name="pdf182" id="pdf182"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">What Has Jesus Done For The +World</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great deal is said about <span class="tei tei-q">“what Jesus has done +for the world.”</span> We wish some of those people who +repeat this statement would take ten or fifteen minutes +and tell us just what Jesus <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">has</span></em> done for the +world. It would puzzle the most ardent admirer +of the Galilean reformer to point out anything that +Jesus ever did to help man in this life. There is too +much of this thoughtless, senseless praise of Jesus. +Not a Christian on this earth but what owes a thousand +times more to his father and mother than he +owes to Jesus, but who ever heard one acknowledge +it? We could name hundreds of men who have +lightened the labor of the world by their inventions. +Did Jesus do anything of the kind? We can name +hundreds of men who have made the homes of mankind +brighter and more enjoyable by their genius +and toil. Did Jesus do anything of the kind? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The imaginary service which this imaginary person +did is of no consequence to the poor, to the +workers, to the starvers. What the poor man wants +is not a Savior for another world, but a helper for +this world, and the person who lessens the poverty +and misery of earth is worth a thousand times +more to humanity than Jesus. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are told that Jesus died for man. Well! +What of it? Socrates died for man. Bruno died +for man. Emmet died for man. John Brown died +for the black man. Every day somebody is dying +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page186">[pg 186]</span><a name="Pg186" id="Pg186" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for man. Why emphasize the death of Jesus more +than the death of another? The fact that Jesus +died does not help you or me. He could have +helped us far more by living, if he had lived wisely +and well. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The great fact in regard to Jesus is this: He does +not touch this age; its aspirations, its interests, its +reforms, its work, its spirit. We are living contrary +to Jesus, contrary to all he taught and did. +He is left behind, outgrown, and, consequently, +whatever he did is of no value to this age. His +star is set. He has had his day. Instead of trying +to bring about a kingdom of poverty, a millennium +of idleness, the world is striving for a kingdom +of plenty and a good time for everybody. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Everything connected with Jesus has been exaggerated. +The man himself has been exaggerated, +his words have been exaggerated, his performances +have been exaggerated, and his importance has been +exaggerated. He has been given a character that +he is not entitled to, and his teachings have been +clothed with a value which they do not possess. +Jesus has been passed for more than he is worth. +Let his name no longer bear the stamp of divinity. +Let his deeds no longer be called miracles. The +real Jesus of fact would be a very ordinary man. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page187">[pg 187]</span><a name="Pg187" id="Pg187" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc183" id="toc183"></a> +<a name="pdf184" id="pdf184"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Agnostic's Position</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Some avowed Liberal writers are engaged in abusing +the Agnostic. One looks upon him as a +fool, while another considers him a hypocrite. One +pities him for his ignorance, the other abuses him +for confessing it. I side with the Agnostic. I sit +down with the ignorant. I take my place in the +class of <span class="tei tei-q">“I-don't-know.”</span> The difference between +people is this: Some don't know, and some don't +know that they don't know, and the rest won't admit +that they don't know. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It seems to me that the Agnostic's position is an +honest one. He is asked the question; Is there a +future life for man? What shall he answer? If he +does not know whether there is not, why should he +not say so? To say: I believe there is, is not an +answer to the question. He must say, I know, or, +I do not know. On this question are we not all +Agnostics? +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The foolish and cruel notion that a wife is to obey +her husband has sent more women to the grave +than to the courts for a divorce. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page188">[pg 188]</span><a name="Pg188" id="Pg188" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc185" id="toc185"></a> +<a name="pdf186" id="pdf186"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Orthodoxy</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is as much perfumery in petroleum as there +is righteousness in orthodoxy. Its dead theology +and make-believe piety have no value only to the +priest. Orthodoxy survives only by right of possession. +Turn it out of the churches and it would +never re-enter them. The church to-day is a hospital +for sick dogmas. Every Christian doctrine is +a cripple; not one can walk or stand alone. Orthodoxy +has put a false valuation on things. It calls +a man good who goes to church, offers a prayer in +public and accepts the Bible as the word of God; it +calls a man bad who stays at home and enjoys himself +with his family on Sunday, who eats without +asking God to bless his food, and who does not expect +to go to heaven on the vicarious railroad. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The thirty-nine articles of orthodoxy are only +the ashes of the mind. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Honesty is never seen sitting astride the fence. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A handsome bonnet covers a multitude of sins. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page189">[pg 189]</span><a name="Pg189" id="Pg189" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc187" id="toc187"></a> +<a name="pdf188" id="pdf188"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Ideas Of Jesus</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is a vast difference between knowledge of +the Bible and knowledge. A person may know all +there is in the Bible, and not know but little. In +fact, so much of the Bible is either pure fiction or +doubtful history that one is not sure when he has +got hold of what is reliable. Probably no person +whose name appears in the Bible is less a historical +figure than Jesus. As we see him in either gospel +he is more the product of the artist than the +work of the biographer. He is less a human being +than the character of a drama. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Had Jesus been pictured as a man, who was born +as men are born, who worked as men worked, who +lived and died as men live and die, then there +would be less divergence in the views entertained +respecting him. To-day, the Jesus of Galilee is +looked upon as either a God or a tramp; a divine +Savior or an impostor; the perfect man or a lunatic. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The reason of this is that the gospels are found, +as it were, photographs of all those characters +labelled Jesus. A person with no fixed idea of what +Jesus was, whether human or divine, whether a +Christ or a madman, would be unable, after reading +the gospels to come to any intelligent conclusion +as to what he was. He certainly could not accept +the statements of the authors and regard Jesus +as a man. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We fail to understand how anyone can read the +New Testament story of Jesus and not regard him +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page190">[pg 190]</span><a name="Pg190" id="Pg190" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +as a myth. No being ever lived on earth and performed +the miracles recorded in the gospels. That +is just as sure as the light of the stars. Miracles +are not evidence of divinity, but of falsehood. +Where we read that a man was raised from the dead +we know that somebody has written what is not +true. How human beings, who are possessed of +ordinary intelligence, can accept the accounts of +miraculous events in the four gospels as records of +actual facts surpasses our comprehension. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Those persons who see in the words of Jesus evidence +of <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">his</span></em> divine character, see in such words, +when in the mouth of any other person, proof of +insanity. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are contradictory ideas of Jesus contained +in the gospels. He is spoken of as a man, as a +Christ, as a son of God, and as God himself. Now, +he could not have been all these. Which was he? +Was he God? Was he the son of God? Was he +the Christ or King of the Jews? Was he the son of +Mary and Joseph? Was he a man? Or was he +neither? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Our opinion is that Jesus is a myth, that no such +being as is painted in the New Testament ever lived. +This seems to be the only rational idea of Jesus. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page191">[pg 191]</span><a name="Pg191" id="Pg191" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc189" id="toc189"></a> +<a name="pdf190" id="pdf190"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Silence Of Jesus</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A Christian minister not long ago spoke upon +the subject: <span class="tei tei-q">“When the Bible is Silent.”</span> He said +a great many silly things about his subject, but not +one sensible one. This preacher wishes us to believe +that when the Bible is silent it is because we +cannot hear. He said the silence of Jesus before +Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod, shows that Jesus knew +they would not have understood his words if he had +answered them. He further said that Jesus <span class="tei tei-q">“treated +each with whom he came in contact according to the +spirit that was in him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Is it not more likely that Jesus knew he could not +impose upon these men as he could upon his ignorant, +superstitious followers, and hence dared not +speak? Is not his silence a confession of his weakness? +Had he been able to answer Caiaphas, Pilate +and Herod, think you he would not have done +so? Of course he would. It is a little singular that +the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">most momentous questions ever put to Jesus were +not answered by him</span></em>. The very things the people +wished to know he did not reveal. Why not? Why, +because he <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">could</span></em> not. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Should we to-day pronounce a man wise and good +who professed to possess knowledge that would benefit, +if not save, the world, but who refused to impart +that knowledge? We reckon not. We should +either denounce him as the foe of man or else as a +charlatan. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When Jesus was taken before the high priest, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page192">[pg 192]</span><a name="Pg192" id="Pg192" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Caiaphas, and was asked about the charges against +him, he <span class="tei tei-q">“held his peace.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When he was asked by Pilate. <span class="tei tei-q">“What is truth?”</span> +Jesus was silent; and when Pilate again asked, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Whence art thou?”</span> Jesus <span class="tei tei-q">“gave him no answer.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When Herod <span class="tei tei-q">“questioned with him in many +words,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“he answered him nothing.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What are we to infer from this silence? What +the minister wishes us to infer, or that Jesus saw +that he was unable to maintain his claim and so +sought refuge in silence? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The silence of Jesus condemns him. He was in +duty bound to prove that he was the Christ, the +Son of God, as he claimed to be, or else have impostor +written on his forehead. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The world will some day grow large enough not +to be fooled by a minister. When it does, Jesus will +take his place where he belongs,—in the graveyard +of the gods. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page193">[pg 193]</span><a name="Pg193" id="Pg193" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc191" id="toc191"></a> +<a name="pdf192" id="pdf192"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Does The Church Save</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The church pretends to save man from a hell +hereafter, but does it do so? How are we to know +whether it does or not? We cannot take its word +for it. We want the proof. We do not want to pay +for work unless the work is done. We do not want +to believe in order to be saved, unless we are sure +that the church can deliver the salvation it takes +pay for. The world has taken the promise to save +long enough. It has not seen a single soul that has +been saved, nor does it know for a fact that a single +soul has been saved. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Is it not time that the church showed that it can +do what it claims to do? We want salvation demonstrated. +Let the church produce a specimen of +its work; let it exhibit a soul that it has saved, or +let it publish the affidavit, duly subscribed and +affirmed, of a soul that has escaped the fate of hell +through the efficacy of faith in Jesus. Anything +less than this is deception, is imposition, is false +pretense. Either this should be done by the church +or else it should go out of the salvation-business +altogether. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is astonishing how long the priest has carried +on his trade. Here is a man who claims to deal in +the affairs of another world for which he demands +pay in this world, but he does not show that he +carries out his part of the agreement. Men have +been paying the priest for thousands of years, for +doing what it is impossible to prove has been, or +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page194">[pg 194]</span><a name="Pg194" id="Pg194" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +can be, done. Can anything more stupid than this +be imagined? The business of saving man's soul +is a cheat, a fraud. Every priest and minister who +preaches that man can be saved from hell hereafter +by believing in Jesus, or anybody else, is preaching +what they know nothing about, and they are doing +it for the money in it. The church is cheating man, +defrauding him, practicing upon his ignorance, his +superstition, his fear. Religion, as far as it relates +to any other life than this, has no foundation. Its +God no one knows anything about; its heaven and +hell no one has ever seen, nor does anyone know +where they are; its whole business is run on fictitious +capital. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The only thing that the church has saved so far +is itself. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Freethought Precepts +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The strong should be gentle to the weak.</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The rich should not oppress the poor.</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The prosperous should be generous to the unfortunate.</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The self-reliant should give a hand to the helpless.</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The educated should pity the ignorant.</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The virtuous should not be cruel to the vicious.</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The beautiful should be kind to the plain.</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page195">[pg 195]</span><a name="Pg195" id="Pg195" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc193" id="toc193"></a> +<a name="pdf194" id="pdf194"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Save The Republic</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Which shall it be, Christianity or the Republic? +It is apparent that the Christian church under a +purely secular government, where justice is granted +to all and where favors are allowed to none, cannot +long survive. The Christian church in this country +to-day is the worst foe of our free republic that +exists within its borders. If the state survives it is +plain to us that the church must perish, and the +church can only flourish on the ruins of free institutions. +We may have Christianity with a certain +form of human government in America, but if the +principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence +and the rights implied in the national constitution +are to survive, then we cannot have Christianity +in this land. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The next conflict in our nation is to be between +secularism and ecclesiasticism, between men who +love liberty and priests who uphold tyranny, between +the lovers of our republic and the foes of secular +institutions. This conflict is nearer than the +public imagines; in fact, it is already going on, and +the growth of sentiment in the next generation in +favor of human freedom and human rights will determine +whether secularism will be upheld in our +nation, or whether the reign of ecclesiasticism is to +be dethroned. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The work of the Christian church throughout the +land is to prevent the spread of secular principles and +to hinder the further secularization of the government. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page196">[pg 196]</span><a name="Pg196" id="Pg196" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +This is the only hope of saving Christianity. +If the state will not continue to exempt church property +from taxation, to uphold the Christian sabbath, +to prescribe prayers and Bible-reading in the +public schools, to enforce the oath in courts of justice, +and to otherwise lend its aid and support to the +Christian religion, there is no chance of this religion +resisting the spread of science and the arguments of +rationalism. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every victory won by Christianity is a nail in the +coffin of this republic. Our government at the present +time is a travesty of free institutions. Where +does the freethinker have equal rights with the +Christian, equal freedom, equal justice? He is +obliged to take a Christian oath or have his word +discredited in court; he is taxed to help support +Christian chaplains in the state prisons, in the legislatures, +and in the army and navy; he is made by +law to pay the taxes on church property which is +no benefit to him; he has to send his children to +schools where religious services are conducted that +to him are false and foolish, and in many other ways +help maintain a religion that he considers more injurious +than beneficial to the world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The church in this country is not working for the +good of the nation; it is working to save itself. +What they, who love our free land, should do, is to +make the government secular in every part, and +compel Christianity to take its grasp off of the nation's +life. We must destroy Christianity if we +would save the republic. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page197">[pg 197]</span><a name="Pg197" id="Pg197" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc195" id="toc195"></a> +<a name="pdf196" id="pdf196"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Woman's Religion</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Christian church of to-day is the church of +women. Woman is certainly the better-half of Christianity. +She is the minister's right bower. The +Christian soldier is an Amazon. The first at the +prayer-meeting, at the donation party, at the missionary +convention, at the Sunday service, at the +altar, at the Sunday school is woman, and the last +is woman, too. Without its female members, adherents +and workers the Christian church would be +an abandoned wreck within a week. It is true +that men give money to the church, but they do it +generally to please the women or at their solicitation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Christian religion is a female religion. It is +emotional piety. There is nothing robust, independent +about it, nothing that appeals to strength, +intellect, reason. It is a vine, not an oak. Even +its chief idol was fashioned for female worship. +The songs of Christianity were written for women +to sing, rather than men. The God of Christianity +is a father, its savior is a young man, and its angels +are all of the masculine gender. The Christian +heaven is a he-kingdom, as far as its administration +is concerned—a sort of celestial harem—for +certainly ten women go there to one man, if the +membership of the church determines the election +of candidates to heavenly bliss. The two favorite +hymns at the prayer-meeting, the two that are +sung with most feeling, are <span class="tei tei-q">“Jesus, lover of my soul,”</span> +and <span class="tei tei-q">“Nearer, my God, to thee.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page198">[pg 198]</span><a name="Pg198" id="Pg198" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Religion was invented to catch women. The +priest is the spider and woman the fly. Upon the +altar of every faith woman has been the sacrifice. +Religion claims its female victims in this age just +as surely as when the Hindoo widow was sent to +join her dead husband on wings of flame. Woman +to-day is not killed to appease a God, but she is still +made a fool of by the priest. The spirit of the offering +is the same, the form, only, is different. The +foundation of every Christian church is woman; +the salary-raiser of every Christian minister is woman. +Woman is the keystone in every arch of +Christian endeavor that spans the earth. She is +"the bright, particular star" of the church's hope. +Men are not so easily caught by the Christian +scheme of salvation as women. They want to see +some return for their money on earth. It is the +woman who is caught in the religious toils; it is the +woman who is the slave of God, the victim of +priest and minister. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The declaration that will kindle enthusiasm +in the human breast most quickly is that a new +way has been discovered to get rich. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page199">[pg 199]</span><a name="Pg199" id="Pg199" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc197" id="toc197"></a> +<a name="pdf198" id="pdf198"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Sacrifice Of Jesus</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A great deal has been written, preached and said +about the great sacrifice which Jesus made for the +world. We deny that he made any such sacrifice +as is claimed for him by the Christian church. In +fact, we cannot see, find or learn from any record of +the New Testament that he made any sacrifice at +all. This whole idea about the sacrifice of Jesus +depends upon a theological assumption. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jesus had no earthly honor, position or estate to +sacrifice, even had he been disposed to offer such +for the good of mankind. Not only is there no evidence +of any tangible renunciation possible by +Jesus, but there is no proof and no sign that Jesus +possessed even the spirit of sacrifice. We challenge +the Christian admirer of Jesus to point to a +single act of this hero that can honestly be called a +sacrifice. We know of no such act. We have +studied the gospels to find such an act, and we have +studied them in vain. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When a mother sees her boy pinned to the timbers +of a wrecked car where the scalding steam must +escape into his face and destroy his life, and to save +her boy, voluntarily stands where this steam, with +its hot breath, will take her life instead of her boy's, +this mother makes a sacrifice that is apparent, real. +Such an act is sublime, grand, beyond heroism. +Such an act wipes the Christian slander of total depravity +from human nature. Such an act makes +us almost worship the heart great enough to perform +it. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page200">[pg 200]</span><a name="Pg200" id="Pg200" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jesus did no such things as this. He braved no +danger for another. He did not walk in the path +of peril to save the life of friend or fellow. On the +contrary, he seemed bent on a selfish mission, inspired +by a purely personal ambition. He did not +say: This world is suffering from oppression; I will +lay down my life to make it free. He did not seek +to destroy the throne and the sceptre that bear so +heavily on the poor and weak; but he sought a +throne and a sceptre for himself that <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">he</span></em> might rule +the world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jesus sacrifice himself for the world! No! He +demanded that the world sacrifice itself to exalt +him! A poorer specimen of self-sacrifice could hardly +be found in all the historical out-of-the-way +places that we know anything about. Jesus had +nothing to give up, nothing to renounce, nothing +but his life to offer to the world, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">and this, even when +it was taken, did the world no good</span></em>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The only incident in the whole career of Jesus +which has been construed as a sacrifice was his crucifixion, +but this was not voluntary on the part of +the victim. <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Jesus, in dying, made no sacrifice.</span></em> He +surrendered his life at the command of a political +power; he did not offer it for the world's advancement. +Jesus was the sport of circumstances, the +victim of a cruel fate. He played for high stakes +and lost. He was an adventurer, and suffered the +penalty of failure. Taking the account of his +career in the gospels as true, it is totally barren of +any lofty, sublime action for the good of the human +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page201">[pg 201]</span><a name="Pg201" id="Pg201" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +race. He did not throw his efforts into the public +strife to elevate the condition of the majority, but +he loaded himself on the shoulders of his followers +to ride into divine greatness. Like hundreds of +others, he threw the dice of political chance and +was beaten. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In following the gospel steps of the deluded Nazarene +we are not sure which are his and which are +not, but take all the stories as true which his +devoted disciples have told about him, they +do not reveal a mind consecrated to any lofty purpose. +He was working to establish the <span class="tei tei-q">“kingdom +of heaven,”</span> but nobody knows what that is. He +talked about his <span class="tei tei-q">“father in heaven,”</span> but nobody +knows who he is. He had no practical ideas, he +did no practical work. History would have written +this man's name among the unfortunate victims of +political revolutions, if it had preserved it at all, +which is doubtful, but Jesus was made by priestcraft +to play a leading part in a theological drama, +and religion has immortalized his name. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But it is a false part that Jesus has played. No +such character has any reason for existing. The +necessity for any human offering to God does not +exist. The idea of an atoning sacrifice is a relic of at +barbarous faith. It is time to take Christianity off +the stage. It is an insult to the twentieth century. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The silly, sickly superstition of the sacrifice of +Jesus should be left to die. It sprang from falsehood +and has no basis in fact, in reason or in truth. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page202">[pg 202]</span><a name="Pg202" id="Pg202" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc199" id="toc199"></a> +<a name="pdf200" id="pdf200"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Fashionable Hypocrisy</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is nothing more inconsistent than for the +rich to praise Jesus. There is dishonesty in every +word that the wealthy speak in approbation of the +poverty-preacher of Galilee. Jesus was poor, almost +a beggar. He had no house, no home. But +more than this, he did not see the good of such +things. He did not tell his disciples to work and +try to improve their earthly condition. There is no +sound, sensible advice for a man to follow, who has +to live and support his family, to be found in the so-called +teachings of Jesus. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is simply hypocrisy for a man who is rich or +well-to-do, and who is living to add to his wealth or +to increase his comforts, to pretend to honor Jesus. +The truth is, Jesus did not do anything that deserves +the honor of those who are trying to fill the +earth with flowers of happiness, who are laboring to +make brighter the homes they live in, and who are +sowing the seeds of plenty and joy. Jesus did not +do what this age regards as best for man, and he did +not teach the philosophy which the wisest men to-day +apply to human life. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Now, was Jesus right or wrong? That is the +question. It is pure nonsense for the people of this +country to claim to respect Jesus. We cannot +respect a person who does what we think is foolish, +or we cannot do so and have any self-respect. We +are right or think we are, and Jesus was wrong; or +else Jesus was right. Which is it? +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page203">[pg 203]</span><a name="Pg203" id="Pg203" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The whole world, Christian and unbeliever alike, +is living contrary to the precept and example of the +New Testament preacher. Is every person on earth +doing what he believes to be wrong; doing what he +believes to be injurious to himself; doing what he +considers will end in disaster and misery; doing +what he feels will bring suffering and sorrow upon +humanity? Not a bit of it. Every man is doing +what he believes to be right when he is working to +get out of poverty and degradation; when he is trying +to better his condition in society; when he is +improving his home and giving his family more +blessings, more enjoyments. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We unhesitatingly declare that Jesus was wrong. +It is impossible to make poverty popular. There +is not an argument in its favor. Poverty has not a +single blessing. It is a curse, pure and simple, everywhere +and for everybody. It is not to be praised; +it is to be condemned and got rid of. It is the father +of vice and the mother of suffering. It sheds more +tears than grief. It cuts more throats than crime. +It breaks more hearts than cruelty. It is the one +great giant evil of earth. It is the foe that every +Knight of Labor is sworn to battle. Every heart +that loves another is pledged to drive poverty off +the earth. This monster devours more children +than disease, and tortures the aged more than pain. +Want is a flood, a drought, a famine, a pestilence. +It is a prison, a work-house, a convict's cell. It is +the hell of the twentieth century. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page204">[pg 204]</span><a name="Pg204" id="Pg204" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Can we praise Jesus and be honest? No! Jesus +and his gospel of poverty are not in harmony with +the work, the love, the desire of this age, and for any +one who is living above want, on the walls of whose +home is the sunshine of peace and comfort, to pretend +to honor Jesus or to follow his teaching is to +be guilty of hypocrisy! +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When religion comes in at the door common +sense goes out at the window. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The churches erected in the name of God +will ere long be tombstones to his memory. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Churches do not stand for moral influence. +Not a Christian minister preaches salvation by +good behavior. What a poor business Roman +Catholicism would do among men if it advertised +to save only those who were temperate, upright, +intelligent and moral. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page205">[pg 205]</span><a name="Pg205" id="Pg205" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc201" id="toc201"></a> +<a name="pdf202" id="pdf202"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Saturday Half-Holiday</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is pretty certain that the laborer is hereafter +to have more time for himself. That fact is already +settled, and the demand will be conceded +sooner or later. Eat, work and sleep is the ancient +trinity of slavery. The modern life demands +leisure; the opportunity for enjoyment and self-improvement. +How it is best to be secured is a +question about which there is a variety of opinions. +One of the plans to give the workingman more time +for himself is that of the Saturday half-holiday. +We see no particular advantage in this over the +eight-hour-for-a-day's-work plan. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It seems to us that if laborers worked eight hours +a day and had Sunday for a holiday instead of a holy +day, all their requirements would be better answered +than in any other way. We do not need a day +nor an hour when either work or play would be a +crime, and before any other portion of the week is +set apart for a holiday, let Sunday be made free to +enjoyment and recreation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is the eternal bugbear of religion to oppose +this scheme, but that is all. The minister, who +under free trade on Sunday would be obliged to +close up his business, is in favor of a Sabbath law +of protection for sermons and prayers, but why +should a few clergymen who have six holidays in +the week and only one work-day, be favored +against millions of toilers, who work six days in the +week and are liable to be arrested if they do not go +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page206">[pg 206]</span><a name="Pg206" id="Pg206" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to church on the seventh day? Not a Saturday +half-holiday but a Sunday whole-holiday is the +first rational step towards justice to the working-man. +There is very little in the average Sunday +service that is instructive and nothing that is entertaining, +and it is based upon the erroneous notion +that man owes something that he knows nothing +about, a debt of worship one day in seven. Man's +brain should be emancipated from the superstition +that there is a God in the universe that requires +him to sacrifice his own good to divine vanity. +Work is holier than worship, and to play is better +for man than to pray. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man wants leisure to enjoy himself, not to worship +God. He can have it when he becomes sensible +enough to demand it. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page207">[pg 207]</span><a name="Pg207" id="Pg207" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc203" id="toc203"></a> +<a name="pdf204" id="pdf204"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Motive For Preaching</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Why does a man enter the Christian ministry? +Why do men preach the Christian faith? There is +some reason for doing so. What is it? We have +been told that the men who adopt the profession of +preaching for a living make a sacrifice of personal +advantage by doing so; that these men, had they +entered any other profession, could not only more +readily achieve greatness, but could also make more +money. We do not believe it. As a rule, we believe +that the men who are getting a living to-day +as ministers, earn more money and enjoy more +fame, than they could get in any other business or +calling. Ministers are not martyrs. That idea +needs to be given up. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is another idea that people have entertained +too long, and that is, that all the young men +who graduate from a divinity school are intellectual +giants. Brains are not the capital of the pulpit. +We gladly acknowledge the exception to what we +have stated as a rule, and are not only willing, but +anxious, to testify to the occasional brilliant +preacher. We are speaking of the overwhelming +majority and not of the conspicuous few. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Most men go into the ministry because they think +they can get a living more easily by preaching than +by doing anything else. The pulpit is founded not +on spiritual sands, but on an earthly rock. It is +the salary that makes it attractive. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Now, let us look at the facts in the case. The +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page208">[pg 208]</span><a name="Pg208" id="Pg208" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +work of the minister is less than the work of the average +laborer, and the pay of the preacher is more +than the pay of the average mechanic or working-man. +Here is the key to the pulpit for a lot of +young men. A young man who has a taste for +reading and loafing, and no genius for work, sees a +chance to employ what talent he possesses by studying +theology, and we venture to say that nine out +of ten of the candidates for the ministry enter the +profession from purely business, or, if you will, mercenary +motives. The Lord does not pick out +preachers. They pick themselves out. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is just as much striving for the loaves and +fishes among ministers as among other men; and +the religious society that pays the largest salary is +the vineyard that has the most applications for the +job. We do not say that preachers are worse +than other professional characters, but that they +are human. They preach for money, and where +the highest salary is there will the ministers be most +anxious to go. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not wish to cut anybody's wings, but when +we read that certain new-fledged preachers are about +to <span class="tei tei-q">“work for the Lord,”</span> and that they have <span class="tei tei-q">“entered +upon God's chosen profession through their +love of saving souls,”</span> we want to correct the statements. +They are going to work for themselves the +best they know how, having entered upon their +duties, not so much because they love their fellow-men, +as because they love the good things of this +world. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page209">[pg 209]</span><a name="Pg209" id="Pg209" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The truth is this, the motive for preaching to-day +is the pay, and the religion of the pulpit is to say +nothing that will cause a panic in the pews. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man's history is below his life, his destiny +above it. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All that secularists ask is that their thoughts +be met fairly and honestly, and that the world +accept what will lead it in the highest and surest +way. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If a person can join the salvation army corps +and still be respected by his fellow-beings, he +ought to be at liberty to enlist in the ranks of +reason and common sense and not forfeit respect. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +God has done nothing for men and women +except to scare them out of their wits. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page210">[pg 210]</span><a name="Pg210" id="Pg210" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc205" id="toc205"></a> +<a name="pdf206" id="pdf206"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Christian's God</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man is like the God he worships, and history +shows that the Christian church has been as cruel +as its God. A Christian minister damns just as +his God does. He sends every free soul to hell just +as his God does. He demands obedience just as +his God does. The tyranny of heaven is repeated +on earth and every tyrant quotes God for his authority. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Think of the Christian superstition demanding +recognition and acceptance! It seems almost incredible +that a man can be found in this age to +preach such glaring inconsistencies and absurdities, +such a ridiculous faith, such injustice and cruelty, +as the Christian religion stands for. We can +hardly believe our own ears when we go inside of a +Christian church. We cannot understand how +this terrible superstition has obtained possession of +the mind, nor how human beings can be so blinded +and apparently stultified! Were there on this +earth a judge who should pronounce sentence upon +a person on account of his religious belief, mankind +would brand the name of that judge with the +deepest obloquy. He would be stripped of his robe +of office and disgraced forever in the eyes of every +true man and woman on the globe. His deed would +be a black spot on the page of history and his memory +a burden to the world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Put this judge on the throne of the universe and +you have the Christian's God. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page211">[pg 211]</span><a name="Pg211" id="Pg211" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc207" id="toc207"></a> +<a name="pdf208" id="pdf208"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Indifference To Religion</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The pulpit complains that people are indifferent +to religion. Why shouldn't they be? It is about +time they were indifferent to it. Our wonder is, +that the people tolerate a single priest or church +on earth. Of what benefit is religion to mankind? +Come now, ye that uphold religion, tell us what it +does to make the world better, nobler, truer? Why +should man worship God? Why should he build +thousands of costly churches all over the earth, and +pay priests and ministers large salaries to preach +and pray in these churches? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If the churches were the humblest buildings in +the land; if the ministers and priests were paid no +more than carpenters or spinners, if there were any +agreement between what religion <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">professes to be</span></em> and +what it <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">is as matter of fact</span></em>, then less could be said in +the way of condemnation of religion. But think +you that men who live in hovels can respect men +who preach in palaces as followers of the man of +Nazareth? The thing is too ridiculous. The +world is beginning to see how it has been humbugged, +and it is becoming indifferent. It may in +time become indignant. There will then be occasion +for ministers to be alarmed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But just now the people have reached a condition +of utter indifference respecting religion. They +don't care for it. They don't care to build it up or +tear it down. They don't care whether it is good +or bad. They don't care anything about it. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page212">[pg 212]</span><a name="Pg212" id="Pg212" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Some regret this state of things; we rejoice in it. It +shows that the people are thinking, and when the +people think long enough they will find what is +true and right. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If the government can carry a letter across +the continent for two cents, why cannot it send +a telegraphic message correspondingly cheap? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If the government can build and manage a +navy, why cannot it build and operate a railroad? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If the government can run the treasury +department, why cannot it run the banks? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If the government can maintain an army of +soldiers in idleness, why cannot it support an +army of laborers at some useful occupation? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If the government can serve at less cost +than private corporations, why does it not do so? +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page213">[pg 213]</span><a name="Pg213" id="Pg213" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc209" id="toc209"></a> +<a name="pdf210" id="pdf210"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Sunday Schools</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Of all the stupid things we meet with, Sunday +school lessons are the stupidest. There seems to +be only one way to account for this, and that is that +stupid persons are connected with Sunday schools +and can comprehend only stupid things. It seems +to us as though a bright boy or girl at the age of +twelve years ought to be able to overthrow every +argument employed in a Sunday school to bolster +up the Christian superstition. The lessons taught +in them are adapted to undeveloped brains, and +the literature one gets from their libraries is of that +variety that is calculated to discourage any robust +independence of mind. We believe that any religious +or theological instruction is a positive injury +to the young; that it is utterly wrong to instill into +the immature mind ideas of God, of a future life, of +heaven and hell, of angels and devils. All that we +know about God is what we don't know. The +same may be said of other branches of religion. +How much better it would be to teach something +useful, something of importance, something real, +true! Parents owe it to their children to save them +from being taught the false and foolish dogmas of +Christianity. False education is the bane of humanity, +and the falsehood that is learned in Sunday +schools poisons and deforms the life of man as long +as he lives. Fear of God—the most terrible spectre +that ever haunted the human soul—is a product of +the Sunday school. The victims of this fear can be +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page214">[pg 214]</span><a name="Pg214" id="Pg214" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +counted to-day by millions. This one fact ought to +be sufficient to condemn this nursery of superstition +and evil. There is no earthly reason to fear +God, and other reasons should have no weight. +The black shadow of fear which darkens the whole +earth is the result of faith in God. The catechisms +used in the Sunday schools are mostly filled +with pious trash. The questions and answers they +contain are written out of ignorance, written, too, +in most cases, for the purpose of making the intellect +the slave of the priest and minister. There +is no mystery so shallow as a theological mystery, +because it is founded on deception. The only +mysteries that the human mind can contemplate +with real wonder are the sublime mysteries of Nature, +the mysteries of life and death, of sand and +star, of flower and feeling. Before these great, +overwhelming mysteries, that everywhere surround +us, the petty ideas of Gods and devils, of +saviors and mediators, of heaven and hell, are trivial +and cheap. We condemn Sunday schools, because +they do not teach what is real, what is true, +what is necessary to a noble human life on earth; +because they inculcate superstitions, and elevate +the belief of religious dogmas above scientific and +useful knowledge; because they put God above man, +heaven hereafter above the home here, and the performance +of religious duties above the life of honesty, +purity and love. Sunday schools are the +poorest schools on the face of the earth, and there +is only one excuse for their existence, and that is to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page215">[pg 215]</span><a name="Pg215" id="Pg215" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +perpetuate the church, to keep alive the superstitions +upon which it was built and upon which +the clergy depend for a living. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Our duty to the god of christianity is to bury +him. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Nothing from nothing and nothing remains, +Nothing from nothing and nothing is the same. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If the factory pays taxes and the church does +not, it follows that the church will some day own +the factory. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When christian ministers stand up in their +pulpits and say <span class="tei tei-q">“Let us pray,”</span> if they would +sometimes vary the invitation and say: Let us +laugh, they would do their congregations more +good. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page216">[pg 216]</span><a name="Pg216" id="Pg216" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc211" id="toc211"></a> +<a name="pdf212" id="pdf212"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Going To Church</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every little while some minister wakes up to the +fact that a large proportion of the people of our +cities do not go to church, and he blames the people +for this state of affairs. Nobody blames men and +women if they keep away from the theatre, from +the library, from the art gallery, from the public +park; in fact, it is generally admitted that people +can exercise their own judgment in visiting these +places and not be liable to censure on the part of +anybody. Not so, however, when they keep away +from the church. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Why does a man go to the theatre? Obviously +because he is pleased by the performance he witnesses +there. Why does a man not go to a church? +Obviously because he is <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">not</span></em> pleased with the performance +he witnesses <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">there</span></em>. The notion that +men and women are to go to a place where they do +not like to go, where they derive no pleasure but as a +matter of duty is about all the argument for church-going +that can be advanced to-day. We admit +that man should do his duty, no matter how disagreeable +it may be. We cannot shirk our responsibilities +on the ground that they are irksome or unpleasant. +But <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">is</span></em> it man's duty to go to church? +That is the question. If it is, then he should go. +Who is to decide the matter? Of course priests +and ministers will say that everybody ought to go +to church. But what for? Is it a man's duty to +go to <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">every</span></em> church, or only to some particular +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page217">[pg 217]</span><a name="Pg217" id="Pg217" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +church? We are told that we shall be better for +going to church. To which church? The Roman +Catholic would not admit that a man would be +better for going to a Methodist church, and the +Methodist would not advise a person to go to a Roman +Catholic church to improve his mental or moral +condition. Who shall decide the matter <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">where</span></em> we +shall go to church? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In going to the theatre, we do not always go to +the same place, nor to hear the same play, nor to +witness the same actors; nor do we always visit the +same gallery or park when we desire to see paintings +or statuary, or to enjoy the flowers and general +beauties of Nature. Why should men <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">join</span></em> one +church and go to it all their lives? Why should +men hear only <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">one</span></em> kind of religion preached? Why +should men listen all their lives to the preaching of +one set of dogmas? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Supposing a man were to go once or twice a week +for fifty years to see one tragedy or comedy played, +would he be a better judge of the drama than if he +had seen during that time a hundred tragedies and +comedies? The man who goes all his life to one +church is made a denominational or sectarian bigot. +Is the object of churches to make bigots? That is +about all they have made up to date. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We hold that it is not man's duty to <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">go</span></em> to any +church, to <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">belong</span></em> to any church, or to <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">support</span></em> any +church. <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">There are no religious duties.</span></em> Man is under +no obligation whatever to worship God. +Churches must be placed upon the same ground as +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page218">[pg 218]</span><a name="Pg218" id="Pg218" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +other places of instruction and amusement, and if +they cannot be supported by legitimate patronage +then must they be given up. If a man goes to +church to hear a minister, let him pay for it like a +man, but if he is not pleased with what he hears he +need not go again. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The notion that there is anything of greater +value to be had in the church than elsewhere cannot +be defended. This idea does not fool people of +any sense. The pulpit has no divine message for +the world, but generally talks about what no one +knows anything about. Intelligent people who do +not go to church have come to the conclusion that +they can derive more pleasure from other sources. +That is about the reason why they do not go to +church. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We cannot go ahead without leaving something +behind. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The convent is opposed to all that is sacred +in human nature. +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page219">[pg 219]</span><a name="Pg219" id="Pg219" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc213" id="toc213"></a> +<a name="pdf214" id="pdf214"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Who Is The Greatest Living Man</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Written November 19, 1893. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +My answer is <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Robert G. Ingersoll</span></span>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One gets the conviction of this man's superiority +by simply being in his presence. The outer +man makes the impression of greatness upon the +mind. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is not the silent assertion of a splendid form +however, that persuades us. A large body serves +to accent and emphasize a large mind, but heroic +physical proportions are not essential to greatness. +The king of men to-day is not he who, like Saul, +<span class="tei tei-q">“from his shoulders and upward is higher than any +of his people.”</span> Dr. Watts truly said: <span class="tei tei-q">“The mind's +the standard of the man.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But we cannot think of Robert G. Ingersoll with +a diminutive physical equipment. His ample form +radiates the man. But it is the royalty of his intellect +that makes him great. It is in the kingdom +of mind that he is master. Every mental tool fits +his hand. He has wit, learning, imagination, eloquence, +philosophy, and that rare quality, sense. +He is a great lawyer, a great orator, a great poet, +and a great man. He is too large for conventionalities, +too large to respect what smaller minds have +declared right, what weaker minds have made holy. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The intellectual grandeur of the man is no less +apparent than his moral fearlessness. He is greatest +where most men are little—in the face of a +powerful and domineering superstition. He knows +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page220">[pg 220]</span><a name="Pg220" id="Pg220" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that the highest manhood makes the trappings of +religion but the playthings of feeble minds. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His love of liberty is only equalled by his passion +for truth, and he listens to the timid whisper of +doubt with the chivalrous attention that others +give to confident faith. He strips things of their +clothes, of fashions, of falsehood, of pretension, and +demands that they stand for what they are and no +more. He has the sincerity of greatness and his +mind wears the white robe of spotless integrity. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Above all living men he possesses the power of +utterance. He has the highest literary instinct, +and never marries a mean word to a noble thought. +He uses language as Phidias used marble. He is +the literary artist of the age, and knows all the +colors in the brain. He can make words laugh and +weep. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This man has a large heart. He is filled with +human sympathy. He does not care for gods, but +he pities men. The springs of feeling feed the +mighty rivers of thought that cross the continent +of his mind. There is about him the warmth, the +kindness of summer—Nature's season of forgiveness. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He has the highest philosophy—that of cheerfulness. +The clouds never cover all his sky. He +is the apostle of good humor, and preaches the gospel +of sunshine to dry the tears of the world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He is true to himself, loyal to his head and his +heart, and upon his brow shines the jewel of +self-respect. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page221">[pg 221]</span><a name="Pg221" id="Pg221" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Robert G. Ingersoll has the greatness of genius. +It is useless to try to account for an intellectual +giant. Dowered by Nature, parents are of small +account. We cannot find the secret of his marvelous +power by digging in a graveyard. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Man is what he is, because his origin was +what it was. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +God cannot be put into the national Constitution +without putting liberty out of it. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We do not want holy books, but true ones; +not sacred writings, but sensible writings. +</p> + +</div> + +</div> +<hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-back" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div id="pgfooter" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IS THE BIBLE WORTH READING AND OTHER ESSAYS*** +</pre><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader215" id="rightpageheader215"></a><a name="pgtoc216" id="pgtoc216"></a><a name="pdf217" id="pdf217"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Credits</span></h1><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr><th class="tei tei-label tei-label-gloss">March 10, 2011 </th></tr><tr><td class="tei tei-item tei-item-gloss"><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><span class="tei tei-respStmt"> + <span class="tei tei-name"> + Produced by Adam Buchbinder, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain + material from the Google Print project.) + </span> + </span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader218" id="rightpageheader218"></a><a name="pgtoc219" id="pgtoc219"></a><a name="pdf220" id="pdf220"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h1><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This file should be named + 35539-h.html or + 35539-h.zip.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This and all associated files of various formats will be found + in: + + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/5/5/3/35539/" class="block tei tei-xref" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span><span style="font-size: 90%">/dirs/3/5/5/3/35539/</span></a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old + editions will be renamed.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Creating the works from public domain print editions means that + no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the + Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United + States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. + Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this + license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + to protect the Project Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. 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