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diff --git a/38104-h/38104-h.htm b/38104-h/38104-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be44d3f --- /dev/null +++ b/38104-h/38104-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4871 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> + +<!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"> + <head> + <title> + English Secularism, by George Jacob Holyoake + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of English Secularism, by George Jacob Holyoake + +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 included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: English Secularism + A Confession Of Belief + +Author: George Jacob Holyoake + +Release Date: November 22, 2011 [EBook #38104] +Last Updated: January 25, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENGLISH SECULARISM *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + ENGLISH SECULARISM + </h1> + <h2> + A CONFESSION OF BELIEF + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By George Jacob Holyoake + </h2> + <h4> + 1896 + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + AUTHOR'S PREFACE. + </h2> + <p> + THE OPEN COURT, in which the series of articles constituting this work + originally appeared, has given account of many forms of faith, + supplementary or confirmatory of its own, and sometimes of forms of + opinions dissimilar where there appeared to be instruction in them. It + will be an advantage to the reader should its editor state objections, or + make comments, as he may deem necessary and useful. English Secularism is + as little known in America as American and Canadian Secularisation is + understood in Great Britain. The new form of free thought known as English + Secularism does not include either Theism or Atheism. Whether Monism, + which I can conceive as a nobler and scientific form of Theism, might be a + logical addition to the theory of Secularism, as set forth in the + following pages, the editor of The Open Court may be able to show. If this + be so, every open-minded reader will better see the truth by comparison. + Contrast is the incandescent light of argument. + </p> + <h5> + George Jacob Holyoake.<br /> Eastern Lodge,<br /> Brighton, England, + February, 1896. + </h5> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> OPEN + THOUGHT THE FIRST STEP TO INTELLIGENCE <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> + CHAPTER II. </a> THE QUESTION STATED <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> THE FIRST STAGE OF + FREE THOUGHT: ITS NATURE AND LIMITATION <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> THE SECOND STAGE OF + FREE THOUGHT: ENTERPRISE <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. + </a> CONQUESTS OF INVESTIGATION <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> STATIONARINESS OF + CRITICISM <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> THIRD + STAGE OF FREE THOUGHT—SECULARISM <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0008"> + CHAPTER VIII. </a> THREE PRINCIPLES VINDICATED <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> HOW SECULARISM AROSE + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> HOW + SECULARISM WAS DIFFUSED <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. + </a> SECULAR INSTRUCTION DISTINCT FROM SECULARISM <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> THE + DISTINCTIVENESS MADE FURTHER EVIDENT <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0013"> + CHAPTER XIII. </a> SELF-DEFENSIVE FOR THE PEOPLE <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> REJECTED TENETS + REPLACED BY BETTER <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> MORALITY + INDEPENDENT OF THEOLOGY <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. + </a> ETHICAL CERTITUDE <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0017"> + CHAPTER XVII. </a> THE ETHICAL METHOD OF CONTROVERSY <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. </a> ITS + DISCRIMINATION <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX. </a> APART + FROM CHRISTIANISM <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX. </a> SECULARISM + CREATES A NEW RESPONSIBILITY <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER + XXI. </a> THROUGH OPPOSITION TO RECOGNITION <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII. </a> SELF-EXTENDING + PRINCIPLES <br /><br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> SECULARIST CEREMONIES. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> ON MARRIAGE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> NAMING CHILDREN. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0027"> OVER THE DEAD. </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. + </h2> + <p> + AMONG the representative freethinkers of the world Mr. George J. Holyoake + takes a most prominent position. He is a leader of leaders, he is the + brain of the Secularist party in England, he is a hero and a martyr of + their cause. + </p> + <p> + Judged as a man, Mr. Holyoake is of sterling character; he was not afraid + of prison, nor of unpopularity and ostracism, nor of persecution of any + kind. If he ever feared anything, it was being not true to himself and + committing himself to something that was not right. He was an agitator all + his life, and as an agitator he was—whether or not we agree with his + views—an ideal man. He is the originator of the Secularist movement + that was started in England; he invented the name Secularism, and he was + the backbone of the Secularist propaganda ever since it began. Mr. + Holyoake left his mark in the history of thought, and the influence which + he exercised will for good or evil remain an indelible heirloom of the + future. + </p> + <p> + Secularism is not the cause which The Open Court Publishing Co. upholds, + but it is a movement which on account of its importance ought not to be + overlooked. Whatever our religious views may be, we must reckon with the + conditions that exist, and Secularism is powerful enough to deserve + general attention. + </p> + <p> + What is Secularism? + </p> + <p> + Secularism espouses the cause of the world versus theology; of the secular + and temporal versus the sacred and ecclesiastical. Secularism claims that + religion ought never to be anything but a private affair; it denies the + right of any kind of church to be associated with the public life of a + nation, and proposes to supersede the official influence which religious + institutions still exercise in both hemispheres. + </p> + <p> + Rather than abolish religion or paralyse its influence, The Open Court + Publishing Co. would advocate on the one hand to let the religious spirit + pervade the whole body politic, together with all public institutions, and + also the private life of every single individual; and on the other hand to + carry all secular interests into the church, which would make the church + subservient to the real needs of mankind. + </p> + <p> + Thus we publish Mr. Holyoake's Confession of Faith, which is y an + exposition of Secularism, not because we are Secularists, which we are + not, but because we believe that Mr. Holyoake is entitled to a hearing. + Mr. Holyoake is a man of unusually great common sense, of keen reasoning + faculty, and of indubitable sincerity. What he says he means, and what he + believes he lives up to, what he recognises to be right he will do, even + though the whole world would stand up against him. In a word, he is a man + who according to our conception of religion proves by his love of truth + that, however he himself may disclaim it, he is actually a deeply + religious man. His religious earnestness is rare, and our churches would + be a good deal better off if all the pulpits were filled with men of his + stamp. + </p> + <p> + We publish Mr. Holyoake's Confession of Faith not for Secularists only, + but also and especially for the benefit of religious people, of his + adversaries, of his antagonists; for they ought to know him and understand + him; they ought to appreciate his motives for dissenting from church + views; and ought to learn why so many earnest and honest people are + leaving the church and will have nothing to do with church institutions. + </p> + <p> + Why is it that Christianity is losing its bold on mankind? Is it because + the Christian doctrines have become antiquated, and does the church no + longer adapt herself to the requirements of the present age? Is it that + the representative Christian thinkers are lacking in intellectuality and + moral strength? Or is it that the world at large has outgrown religion and + refuses to be guided by the spiritual counsel of popes and pastors? + </p> + <p> + Whatever the reason may be, the fact itself cannot be doubted, and the + question is only, What will become of religion in the future? Will the + future of mankind be irreligious (as for instance Mr. Lecky and M. Guyau + prophesy); or will religion regain its former importance and become again + the leading power in life, dominating both public and private affairs? + </p> + <p> + The first condition of a reconciliation between religion and the masses of + mankind would be for religious men patiently to listen to the complaints + that are made by the adversaries of Christianity, and to understand the + position which honest and sensible freethinkers, such as Mr. Holyoake, + take. Religious leaders are too little acquainted with the world at large; + they avoid their antagonists like outcasts, and rarely, if ever, try to + comprehend their arguments. In the same way, freethinkers as a rule + despise clergymen as hypocrites who for the sake of a living sell their + souls and preach doctrines which they cannot honestly believe. In order to + arrive at a mutual understanding, it would be necessary first of all that + both parties should discontinue ostracising one another and become + mutually acquainted. They should lay aside for a while the weapons with + which they are wont to combat one another in the public press and in tract + literature; they should cease scolding and ridiculing one another and + simply present their own case in terse terms. + </p> + <p> + This Mr. Holyoake has done. His Confession of Faith is as concise as any + book of the kind can be; and he, being the originator of Secularism and + its standard-bearer, is the man who speaks with authority. + </p> + <p> + For the sake of religion, therefore, and for promoting the mutual + understanding of men of a different turn of mind, we present his book to + the public and recommend its careful perusal especially to the clergy, who + will learn from this book some of the most important reasons why + Christianity has become unacceptable to a large class of truth-loving men, + who alone for the sake of truth find it best to stay out of the church. + </p> + <p> + The preface of a book is as a rule not deemed the right place to criticise + an author, but such is the frankness and impartiality of Mr. Holyoake that + he has kindly permitted the manager of The Open Court Publishing Co. to + criticise his book freely and to state the disagreements that might obtain + between publishers and author in the very preface of the book. There is no + need of making an extensive use of this permission, as a few remarks will + be sufficient to render clear the difference between Secularism and the + views of The Open Court Publishing Co., which we briefly characterise as + "the Religion of Science." + </p> + <p> + Secularism divides life into what is secular and what is religious, and + would consign all matters of religion to the sphere of private interests. + The Religion of Science would not divide life into a secular and a + religious part, but would have both the secular and the religious united. + It would carry religion into all secular affairs so as to sanctify and + transfigure them; and for this purpose it would make religion practical, + so as to be suited to the various needs of life; it would make religion + scientifically sound, so as to be in agreement with the best and most + scientific thought of the age; it would reform church doctrines and raise + them from their dogmatic arbitrariness upon the higher plain of objective + truth. + </p> + <p> + In emphasising our differences we should, however, not fail to recognise + the one main point of agreement, which is our belief in science. Mr. + Holyoake would settle all questions of doubt by the usual method of + scientific investigation. But there is a difference even here, which is a + different conception of science. While science to Mr. Holyoake is secular, + we insist on the holiness and religious significance of science. If there + is any revelation of God, it is truth; and what is science but truth + ascertained? Therefore we would advise all preachers and all those to + whose charge souls of men are committed, to take off their shoes when + science speaks to them, for science is the voice of God. + </p> + <p> + The statement is sometimes made by those who belittle science in the vain + hope of exalting religion, that the science of yesterday has been upset by + the science of to-day, and that the science of today may again be upset by + the science of to-morrow. Nothing can be more untrue. + </p> + <p> + Of course, science must not be identified with the opinion of scientists. + Science is the systematic statement of facts, and not the theories which + are tentatively proposed to fill out the gaps of our knowledge. What has + once been proved to be a fact has never been overthrown, and the actual + stock of science has grown slowly but surely. The discovery of new facts + or the proposition of a new and reliable hypothesis has often shown the + old facts of science in a new light, but it has never upset or disproved + them. There are fashions in the opinions of scientists, but science itself + is above fashion, above change, above human opinion. Science partakes of + that stern immutability, it is endowed with that eternality and that + omnipresent universality which have since olden times been regarded as the + main attribute of Godhood. + </p> + <p> + There appears in all religions, at a certain stage of the religious + development, a party of dogmatists. They are people who, in their zeal, + insist on the exclusiveness of their own religion, as if truth were a + commodity which, if possessed by one, cannot be possessed by anybody else. + They know little of the spirit that quickens, but believe blindly in the + letter of the dogma. It is not faith in their opinion that saves, but the + blindness of faith. They interpret Christ's words and declare that he who + has another interpretation must be condemned. + </p> + <p> + The dogmatic phase in the development of religion is as natural as boyhood + in a human life and as immaturity in the growth of fruit; it is natural + and necessary, but it is a phase only which will pass as inevitably by as + boyhood changes into manhood, and as the prescientific stage in the + evolution of civilisation gives way to a better and deeper knowledge of + nature. + </p> + <p> + The dogmatist is in the habit of identifying his dogmatism with religion; + and that is the reason why his definitions of religion and morality will + unfailingly come in conflict with the common sense of the people. The + dogmatist makes religion exclusive. In the attempt of exalting religion he + relegates it to supernatural spheres, thus excluding it from the world and + creating a contrast between the sacred and the profane, between the divine + and the secular, between religion and life. Thus it happens that religion + becomes something beyond, something extraneous, something foreign to man's + sphere of being. And yet religion has developed for the sake of + sanctifying the daily walks of man, of making the secular sacred, of + filling life with meaning and consecrating even the most trivial duties of + existence. + </p> + <p> + Secularism is the reaction against dogmatism, but secularism still accepts + the views of the dogmatist on religion; for it is upon the dogmatist's + valuations and definitions that the secularist rejects religion as + worthless. + </p> + <p> + * * * + </p> + <p> + The religious movement, of which The Open Court Publishing Co. is an + exponent, represents one further step in the evolution of religious + aspirations. As alchemy develops into chemistry, and astrology into + astronomy, as blind faith changes into seeing face to face, as belief + changes into knowledge, so the religion of miracles, the religion of a + salvation by magic, the religion of the dogmatist, ripens into the + religion of pure and ascertainable truth. The old dogmas, which in their + literal acceptance appear as nonsensical errors, are now recognised as + allegories which symbolise deeper truths, and the old ideals are preserved + not with less, but with more, significance than before. + </p> + <p> + God is not smaller but greater since we know more about Him, as to what He + is and what He is not, just as the universe is not smaller but larger + since Copernicus and Kepler opened our eyes and showed us what the + relation of our earth in the solar system is and what it is not. + </p> + <p> + Secularism is one of the signs of the times. It represents the unbelief in + a religious alchemy; but its antagonism to the religion of dogmatism does + not bode destruction but advance. It represents the transition to a purer + conception of religion. It has not the power to abolish the church, but + only indicates the need of its reformation. + </p> + <p> + It is this reformation of religion and of religious institutions which is + the sole aim of all the publications of The Open Court Publishing Co., and + we see in Secularism one of those agencies that are at work preparing the + way for a higher and nobler comprehension of the truth. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Holyoake's aspirations, in our opinion, go beyond the aims which he + himself points out, and thus his Confession of Faith, although nominally + purely secular, will finally, even by churchmen, be recognised in its + religious importance. It will help to purify the confession of faith of + the dogmatist. + </p> + <p> + In offering Mr. Holyoake's best and maturest thoughts to the public, we + hope that both the secularists and the believers in religion will by and + by learn to understand that Secularism as much as dogmatism is a phase—both + are natural and necessary phases—in the religious evolution of + mankind. There is no use in scolding either the dogmatist or the + secularist, or in denouncing the one on account of his credulity and + superstition, and the other on account of his dissent; but there is a use + in—nay, there is need of—understanding the aspirations of + both. + </p> + <p> + There is a need of mutual exchange of thought on the basis of mutual + esteem and good-will. Above all, there is a need of opening the church + doors to the secularist. + </p> + <p> + The church, if it has any right of existence at all, is for the world, and + not for believers alone. Church members can learn from the secularist many + things which many believers seem to have forgotten, and, on the other + hand, they can teach the unbeliever what he has overlooked in his sincere + attempts at finding the truth, May Mr. Holyoake's confession of faith be + received in the spirit in which the author wrote it, which is a candid + love of truth, and also in the spirit in which the publishers undertook + its publication, with the irenic endeavor of letting every honest + aspiration be rightly understood and rightly valued. + </p> + <p> + Paul Carus, Manager of The Open Court Publishing Co. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. OPEN THOUGHT THE FIRST STEP TO INTELLIGENCE + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "It is not prudent to be in the right too soon, nor to be in + the right against everybody else. And yet it sometimes + happens that after a certain lapse of time, greater or + lesser, you will find that one of those truths which you had + kept to yourself as premature, but which has got abroad in + spite of your teeth, has become the most commonplace thing + imaginable." + + —Alphonse Karr. +</pre> + <p> + ONE purpose of these chapters is to explain how unfounded are the + objections of many excellent Christians to Secular instruction in State, + public, or board schools. The Secular is distinct from theology, which it + neither ignores, assails, nor denies. Things Secular are as separate from + the Church as land from the ocean. And what nobody seems to discern is + that things Secular are in themselves quite distinct from Secularism. The + Secular is a mode of instruction; Secularism is a code of conduct. + Secularism does conflict with theology; Secularist teaching would, but + Secular instruction does not. + </p> + <p> + Persuaded as I am that lack of consideration for the convictions of the + reader creates an impediment in the way of his agreement with the writer, + and even disinclines him to examine what is put before him; yet some of + these pages may be open to this objection. If so, it is owing to want of + thought or want of art in statement, and is no part of the intention of + the author. + </p> + <p> + He would have diffidence in expressing, as he does in these pages, his + dissent from the opinions of many Christian advocates—for whose + character and convictions he has great respect, and for some even + affection—did he not perceive that few have any diffidence or + reservation (save in one or two exalted instances)* in maintaining their + views and dissenting from his. + </p> + <p> + Open thought, which in this chapter is brought under the reader's notice + is sometimes called "self-thought," or "free thought," or "original + thought"—the opposite of conventional second-hand thought—which + is all that the custom-ridden mass of mankind is addicted to. + </p> + <p> + Open thought has three stages: + </p> + <p> + The first stage is that in which the right to think independently is + insisted on; and the free action of opinion—so formed—is + maintained. Conscious power thus acquired satisfies the pride of some; + others limit its exercise from prudence. Interests, which would be + jeopardised by applying independent thought to received opinion, keep more + persons silent, and thus many never pass from this stage. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Of whom the greatest is Mr. Gladstone. +</pre> + <p> + The second stage is that in which the right of self-thought is applied to + the criticism of theology, with a view to clear the way for life according + to reason. This is not the work of a day or year, but is so prolonged that + clearing the way becomes as it were a profession, and is at length pursued + as an end instead of a means. Disputation becomes a passion and the higher + state of life, of which criticism is the necessary precursor, is lost + sight of, and many remain at this stage when it is reached and go no + further. + </p> + <p> + The third stage is that where ethical motives of conduct apart from + Christianity are vindicated for the guidance of those who are indifferent + about theology, or who reject it altogether. Supplying to such persons + Secular reasons for duty is Secularism, the range of which is illimitable. + It begins where free thought usually ends, and constitutes a new form of + constructive thought, the principles and policy of which are quite + different from those acted upon in the preceding stages. Controversy + concerns itself with what is; Secularism with what ought to be. + </p> + <p> + It is pertinent here to say that Christianity does not permit eclecticism—that + is, it does not tolerate others selecting portions of Christian Scriptures + possessing the mark of intrinsic truth, to which many could cheerfully + conform in their lives. This rule compels all who cannot accept the entire + Scriptures to deal with its teachings as they find them expressed, and for + which Christianity makes itself responsible. + </p> + <p> + All the while it is quite evident that Christians do permit eclecticism + among themselves. The great Congress of the Free Churches, recently held + in Nottingham, representing the personal and vital form of Christianity, + had a humanness and tolerance un manifested by Christianity before, + showing that humanity is stronger than historical integrity. If any one, + therefore, should draw up, as might be done, a theory of Christianity + solely from such doctrines as are represented in the elliptical preaching, + practice, and social life of Christians of to-day, a very different + estimate of the Christian system would have to be given from that with + which the author deals in the subsequent chapters. In them Christianity is + represented as Free-thought has found it, and as it exists in the + Scriptures, in the law, in the pulpit, and in the school, which constitute + its total force in the respects in which it represses and discourages + independent thought. Science, truth, and criticism have engrafted + themselves on historic Christianity. It has now new articles of belief. + When it avows them it will win larger concurrence and respect than it can + now command. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. THE QUESTION STATED + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Look forward—not backward; Look up—not down; Look around; + Lend a hand."* + + —Edward Everett Hale, D. D. +</pre> + <p> + Where a monarchy is master, inquiry is apt to be a disturbing element; and + though exercised in the interest of the commonwealth it is none the less + resented. Where the priest is master inquiry is sharply prohibited. The + priest represents a spiritual monarchy in which the tenets of belief are + fixed, assumed to be infallible, and to be prescribed by deity. Thus the + priest regards inquiry as proceeding from an impertinent distrust, to + which he is not reconciled on being assured that it is undertaken in the + interest of truth. Thus the king denounces inquiry as sedition, and the + priest as sin. In the end the inquirer finds himself an alien in State and + Church, and laws are made against his life, his liberty, property, and + veracity.** + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Dr. Hale did not popularise these energetic maxims of + earnestness in the connexion in which they are here used; + but their wisdom is of general application. + + **When martyrdoms and imprisonments ceased, disabling laws + remained which imposed the Christian oath on all who + appealed to the courts, and any who had the pride of + veracity and declined to to swear, were denied protection + for property, or credence of their word. +</pre> + <p> + Thus from the time when monarch and priest first set up their pretensions + in the world, the inquiring mind has had small encouragement. When + Protestantism came it merely conceded inquiry <i>under direction</i>, and + only so far as it tended to confirm its own anti-papal tenets. But when + inquiry claimed to be independent, unfettered, uncontrolled,—in fact + to be <i>free</i> inquiry,—then Papist, Lutheran, and Dissenter, + alike regarded it as dangerous, and stigmatised it by every term + calculated to deter or dissuade people from it. + </p> + <p> + But though this combined defamation of inquiry set many against it, it did + not intimidate men entirely. There arose independent thinkers who held + that unfettered investigation was the discoverer of truth and dangerous to + error only, and that the freer it was the more effective it must be. + </p> + <p> + Still timorous-minded persons remained suspicious of <i>free</i> thought. + At its best they found it involved conflict with false opinion, and + conflict, to those without aspiration or conscience, is disquieting; and + where impartial investigation interfered with personal interests it was + opposed. No one could enter on the search for truth without finding his + path obstructed by theological errors and interdictions. Having taken the + side of truth, all who were loyal to it, were bound like Bunyan's + </p> + <p> + Pilgrim to withstand the Apollyons who opposed it, and a combat began + which lasted for centuries, and is not yet ended. But though theology was + always in power, men of courage at length established the right of free + inquiry, and established also a free press for the publication of the + results arrived at. These rights were so indispensable for progress and + were so long resisted, that generations fought for them as ends in + themselves. Thus there grew up, as in military affairs, a class whose + profession was destruction, and free thinkers came to be regarded as + negationists. When I came into the field the combat was raging. Richard + Carlile had not long been liberated from successive imprisonments of more + than nine years duration in all. Charles Southwell was in Bristol gaol. + Before his sentence had half expired I was in Gloucester gaol. George + Adams was there; Mrs. Harriet Adams was committed for trial from + Cheltenham. Matilda Roalfe, Thomas Finlay, Thomas Paterson, and others + were incarcerated in Scotland. Robert Buchanan and Lloyd Jones, two social + missionaries—colleagues of my own—only escaped imprisonment by + swearing they believed what they did not believe,—an act I refused + to imitate, and no mean inconvenience has resulted to me from it. I took + part in the vindication of the free publicity of opinion until it was + practically conceded. At the time when I was arrested in 1842, the + Cheltenham magistrates who were angered at defiant remarks I made, had the + power (and used it) of committing me to the Quarter Sessions as a "felon," + where the same justices could resent, by penalties, what I had said to + them. On representations I made to Parliament—through my friend John + Arthur Roebuck and others—Sir James Graham caused a Bill to be + passed which removed trials for opinion to the Assizes. I was the first + person tried under this act. Thus for the first time heresy was ensured a + dispassionate trial and was no longer subject to the jurisdiction of local + prejudice and personal magisterial resentment. + </p> + <p> + When overt acts of outrage were no longer possible against the adherents + of free thought, Christians, some from fairness, and others from + necessity, began to reason with them and asked: "Now you have established + your claim to be heard. What have you to say?" The reply I proposed was: + "Secularism—a form of opinion relating to the duty of this life + which substituted the piety of useful men for the usefulness of piety." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. THE FIRST STAGE OF FREE THOUGHT: ITS NATURE AND LIMITATION + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "He who cannot reason is defenceless; he who fears to reason + has a coward mind; he who will not reason is willing to be + deceived and will deceive all who listen to him." + + —Maxim of Free Thought. +</pre> + <p> + FREE THOUGHT is founded upon reason. It is the exercise of reason, without + which free thought is free foolishness. Free thought being the precursor + of Secularism, it is necessary first to describe its principles and their + limitation. Free thought means independent self-thinking. Some say all + thought is free since a man can think what he pleases and no one can + prevent him, which is not true. Unfortunately thinking can be prevented by + subtle spiritual intimidation, in earlier and even in later life. + </p> + <p> + When a police agent found young Mazzini in the fields of Genoa, apparently + meditating, his father's attention was called to the youth. His father was + told that the Austrian Government did not permit thinking. The Inquisition + intimidated nations from thinking. The priests by preventing instruction + and prohibiting books, limited thinking. Archbishop Whately shows that no + one can reason without words, and since speech can be, and is, disallowed + and made penal, the highway of thought can be closed. No one can think to + any purpose without inquiry concerning his subject, and inquiry can be + made impossible. It is of little use that any one thinks who cannot verify + his ideas by comparison with those of his compeers. To prevent this is to + discourage thought. In fact thousands are prevented thinking by denying + them the means and the facilities of thinking. + </p> + <p> + Free thought means fearless thought. It is not deterred by legal + penalties, nor by spiritual consequences. Dissent from the Bible does not + alarm the true investigator, who takes truth for authority not authority + for truth. The thinker who is really free, is independent; he is under no + dread; he yields to no menace; he is not dismayed by law, nor custom, nor + pulpits, nor society—whose opinion appals so many. He who has the + manly passion of free thought, has no fear of anything, save the fear of + error. + </p> + <p> + Fearlessness is the essential condition of effective thought. If Satan + sits at the top of the Bible with perdition open underneath it, into which + its readers will be pushed who may doubt what they find in its pages, the + right of private judgment is a snare. A man is a fool who inquires at this + risk. He had better accept at once the superstition of the first priest he + meets. It is not conceivable how a Christian can be a <i>free</i> thinker. + </p> + <p> + He who is afraid to know both sides of a question cannot think upon it. + Christians do not, as a rule, want to know what can be said against their + views, and they keep out of libraries all books which would inform others. + Thus such Christians cannot think freely, and are against others doing it. + Doubt comes of thinking; the Christian commonly regards doubt as sin. How + can he be a free thinker who thinks thinking is a sin? + </p> + <p> + Free thought implies three things as conditions of truth: + </p> + <p> + 1. Free inquiry, which is the pathway to truth. + </p> + <p> + 2. Free publicity to the ideas acquired, in order to learn whether they + are useful—which is the encouragement of truth. + </p> + <p> + 3. The free discussion of convictions without which it is not possible to + know whether they are true or false, which is the verification of truth. + </p> + <p> + A man is not a man unless he is a thinker; he is a fool having no ideas of + his own. If he happens to live among men who do think, he browses like an + animal on their ideas. He is a sort of kept man being supported by the + thoughts of others. He is what in England is called a pauper, who subsists + upon "outdoor relief," allowed him by men of intellect. + </p> + <p> + Without the right of publicity, individual thought, however praiseworthy + and however perfect, would be barren to the community. Algernon Sidney + said: "The best legacy I can leave my children is free speech and the + example of using it." + </p> + <p> + The clergy of every denomination are unfriendly to its use. The soldiers + of the cross do not fight adversaries in the open. Mr. Gladstone alone + among eminent men of piety has insisted upon the duty of the Church to + prove its claims in discussion. In his Introduction to his address at the + Liverpool College (1872 or 1873) he said: "I wish to place on record my + conviction that belief cannot now be defended by reticence any more than + by railing, or by any privileges or assumption." Since the day of Milton + there has been no greater authority on the religious wisdom of debate. + </p> + <p> + Thought, even theological, is often useless, ill-informed, foolish, + mischievous, or even wicked; and he alone who submits it to free criticism + gives guarantees that he means well, and is self-convinced. By criticism + alone comes exposure, correction, or confirmation. The right of criticism + is the sole protection of the community against error of custom, + ignorance, prejudice, or incompetence. It is not until a proposition has + been generally accepted after open and fair examination, that it can be + considered as established and can safely be made a ground of action or + belief.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * See Formation of Opinions, by Samuel Bailey. +</pre> + <p> + These are the implementary rights of thought. They are what grammar is to + the writer, which teaches him how to express himself, but not what to say. + These rights are as the rules of navigation to the mariner. They teach him + how to steer a ship but do not instruct him where to steer to. + </p> + <p> + The full exercise of these rights of mental freedom is what training in + the principles of jurisprudence is to the pleader, but it does not provide + him with a brief. It is conceivable that a man may come to be a master of + independent thinking and never put his powers to use; just as a man may + know every rule of grammar and yet never write a book. In the same way a + man may pass an examination in the art of navigation and never take + command of a vessel; or he may qualify for a Barrister, be called to the + Bar and never plead in any court. We know from experience that many + persons join in the combat for the right of intellectual freedom for its + own sake, without intending or caring to use the right when won. Some are + generous enough to claim and contend for these rights from the belief that + they may be useful to others. This is the first stage of free thought, + and, as has been said, many never pass beyond it. + </p> + <p> + Independent thinking is concerned primarily with removing obstacles to its + own action, and in contests for liberty of speech by tongue and pen. The + free mind fights mainly for its own freedom. It may begin in curiosity and + may end in intellectual pride—unless conscience takes care of it. + Its nature is iconoclastic and it may exist without ideas of + reconstruction. + </p> + <p> + Though a man goes no further, he is a better man than he who never went as + far. He has acquired a new power, and is sure of his own mind. Just as one + who has learned to fence, or to shoot, has a confidence in encountering an + adversary, which is seldom felt by one who never had a sword in hand, or + practised at a target. The sea is an element of recreation to one who has + learned to swim; it is an element of death to one ignorant of the art. + Besides, the thinker has attained a courage and confidence unknown to the + man of orthodox mind. Since God (we are assured) is the God of truth, the + honest searcher after truth has God on his side, and has no dread of the + King of Perdition—the terror of all Christian people—since the + business of Satan is with those who are content with false ideas; not with + those who seek the true. If it be a duty to seek the truth and to live the + truth, honest discussion, which discerns it, identifies it, clears it, and + establishes it, is a form of worship of real honor to God and of true + service to man. If the clergyman's speech on behalf of God is rendered + exact by criticism, the criticism is a tribute, and no mean tribute to + heaven. Thus the free exercise of the rights of thought involve no risk + hereafter. + </p> + <p> + Moreover, so far as a man thinks he gains. Thought implies enterprise and + exertion of mind, and the result is wealth of understanding, to be + acquired in no other way. This intellectual property like other property, + has its rights and duties. The thinker's right is to be left in + undisturbed possession of what he has earned; and his duty is to share his + discoveries of truth with mankind, to whom he owes his opportunities of + acquiring it. + </p> + <p> + Free expression involves consideration for others, on principle. Democracy + without personal deference becomes a nuisance; so free speech without + courtesy is repulsive, as free publicity would be, if not mainly limited + to reasoned truth. Otherwise every blatant impulse would have the same + right of utterance as verified ideas. Even truth can only claim priority + of utterance, when its utility is manifest. As the number and length of + hairs on a man's head is less important to know, than the number and + quality of the ideas in his brain. + </p> + <p> + True free thought requires special qualities to insure itself acceptance. + It must be owned that the thinker is a disturber. He is a truth-hunter, + and there is no telling what he will find. Truth is an exile which has + been kept out of her kingdom, and Error is a usurper in possession of it; + and the moment Truth comes into her right, Error has to give up its + occupancy of her territory; and as everybody consciously, or unconsciously + harbors some of the emissaries of the usurper, they do not like owning the + fact, and they dispute the warrant of truth to search their premises, + though to be relieved of such deceitful and costly inmates would be an + advantage to them. + </p> + <p> + An inalienable attribute of free thought, which no theology possesses, is + absolute toleration of all ideas put forward in the interests of public + truth, and submitted to public discussion. The true free thinker is in + favor of the free action of all opinion which injures no one else, and of + putting the best construction he can on the acts of others, not only + because he has thereby less to tolerate, but from perceiving that he who + lacks tolerance towards the ideas of others has no claim for the tolerance + of his own. The defender of toleration must himself be tolerant. + Condemning the coercion of ideas, he is pledged to combat error only by + reason. Vindictiveness towards the erring is not only inconsistency, it is + persecution. Thus free thought is not only self-defence against error but, + by the toleration it imposes, is itself security for respectfulness in + controversy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. THE SECOND STAGE OF FREE THOUGHT: ENTERPRISE + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Better wild ideas than no ideas at all." + + —Professor Nichol at Horsham. +</pre> + <p> + THE emancipation of the understanding from intimidation and penal + restraint soon incited thinkers of enterprise to put their new powers to + use. Theology being especially a forbidden subject and the greatest + repressive force, inquiry into its pretensions first attracted critical + attention. + </p> + <p> + In every century forlorn hopes of truth had set out to storm one or other + of the ramparts of theology. Forces had been marshalled by great leaders + and battle often given in the open field; and unforeseen victories are + recorded, in the annals of the wars of infantine rationalism, against the + full-grown powers of superstition and darkness. In every age valiant + thinkers, scholars, philosophers, and critics, even priests in defiance of + power, ecclesiastical and civil, have, at their own peril, explored the + regions of forbidden truth. + </p> + <p> + In Great Britain it was the courage of insurgent thinkers among the + working class—whom no imprisonment could intimidate—who caused + the right of free speech and free publicity to be finally conceded. Thus + rulers came round to the conclusion of Caballero, that "tolerance is as + necessary in ideas as in social relations." + </p> + <p> + As soon as opinion was known to be emancipated, men began to think who + never thought before. The thinker no longer had to obtain a "Ticket of + Leave" from the Churches before he could inquire; he was free to + investigate where he would and what he would. Power is, as a rule, never + imparted nor acquired in vain, and honest men felt they owed it to those + who had won freedom for them, that they should extend it. Thus it came to + pass that independence was an inspiration to action in men of intrepid + minds. Professor Tyndall in the last words he wrote for publication said, + "I choose the nobler part of Emerson when, after various disenchantments, + he exclaims, 'I covet truth!'" On printing these words the <i>Westminster + Gazette</i> added: "The gladness of true heroism visits the heart of him + who is really competent to say this." The energies of intellectual + intrepidity had doubtless been devoted to science and social progress; but + as philosophers have found, down to Huxley's day, all exploration was + impossible in that direction. Murchison, Brewster, Buckland, and other + pioneers of science were intimidated. Lyell held back his book, on the + Antiquity of Man, twenty years. Tyndall, Huxley, and Spencer were waiting + to be heard. As Huxley has justly said: "there was no Thoroughfare into + the Kingdom of Nature—By Order—Moses." Hence, to examine + theology, to discover whether its authority was absolute, became a + necessity. It was soon seen that there was ground for scepticism. The + priests resented criticism by representing the sceptic of their + pretensions, as being sceptical of everything, whereas they were only + sceptics of clerical infallibility. They indeed did aver that branches of + human knowledge, received as well established, were really open to + question, in order to show that if men could not be confident of things of + which they had experience, how could the Churches be confident of things + of which no man had experience—and which contradicted experience? So + far from disbelieving everything, scepticism went everywhere in search of + truth and certainty. Since the Church could not be absolutely certain of + the truth of its tenets, its duty was to be tolerant. But being intolerant + it became as Julian Hibbert put it—"well-understood self-defence" to + assail it. The Church fought for power, the thinker fought for truth. Free + thought among the people may be likened to a good ship manned by + adventurous mariners, who, cruising about in the ocean of theology came + upon sirens, as other mariners had done before—dangerous to be + followed by navigators bound to ports of progress. Many were thereby + decoyed to their own destruction. The sirens of the Churches sang alluring + songs whose refrains were: + </p> + <p> + 1. The Bible the guide of God. + </p> + <p> + 2. The origin of the universe disclosed. + </p> + <p> + 3. The care of Providence assured. + </p> + <p> + 4. Deliverance from peril by prayer dependable. + </p> + <p> + 5. Original sin effaceable by grace. + </p> + <p> + 6. Perdition avoidable by faith in crucifixion. + </p> + <p> + 7. Future life revealed. + </p> + <p> + These propositions were subjects of resonant hymns, sermons, and tracts, + and were not, and are not, disowned, but still defended in discussion by + orthodox and clerical advocates. Save salvation by the blood of Christ (a + painful idea to entertain), the other ideas might well fascinate the + uninquiring. They had enchanted many believers, but the explorers of whom + we speak had acquired the questioning spirit, and had learned prudently to + look at both sides of familiar subjects and soon discovered that the + fair-seeming propositions which had formerly imposed on their imagination + were unsound, unsightly, and unsafe. The Syracusans of old kept a school + in which slaves were taught the ways of bondage. Christianity has kept + such a school in which subjection of the understanding was inculcated, and + the pupils, now free to investigate, resolved to see whether such things + were true. + </p> + <p> + Then began the reign of refutation of theological error, by some from + indignation at having been imposed upon, by others from zeal that + misconception should end; by more from enthusiasm for facts; by the bolder + sort from resentment at the intimidation and cruelty with which inquiry + had been suppressed so long; and by not a few from the love of disputation + which has for some the delight men have for chess or cricket, or other + pursuit which has conflict and conquest in it. + </p> + <p> + Self-determined thought is a condition of the progress of nations. Where + would science be but for open thought, the nursing mother of enterprise, + of discovery, of invention, of new conditions of human betterment? + </p> + <p> + A modern Hindu writer* tells us that: "The Hindu is sorely handicapped by + customs which are prescribed by his religious books. Hedged in by minute + rules and restrictions the various classes forming the Hindu community + have had but little room for expansion and progress. The result has been + stagnation. Caste has prevented the Hindus from sinking, but it has also + preventing them from rising." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Pramatha Nath Bose. +</pre> + <p> + The old miracle-bubbles which the Jews blew into the air of wonder two + thousand years ago, delight churches still in their childhood. The sea of + theology would have been stagnant centuries ago, had not insurgent + thinkers, at the peril of their lives, created commotion in it. Morals + would have been poisoned on the shores of theology had not free thought + purified the waters by putting the salt of reason into that sea, + freshening it year by year. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. CONQUESTS OF INVESTIGATION + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "The secret of Genius is to suffer no fiction to live." + + —Goethe. +</pre> + <p> + THEOLOGIANS had so choked the human mind with a dense undergrowth of + dogmas that it was like cutting through an African forest, such as Stanley + encountered, to find the paths of truth. + </p> + <p> + On that path, when found, many things unforeseen before, became plain. The + siren songs of orthodoxy were discovered to have strange discords of sense + in them. + </p> + <p> + 1. The Guide of God seemed to be very human—not authentic, not + consistent—containing things not readable nor explainable in the + family; pagan fictions, such as the Incarnation reluctantly believable as + the device of a moral deity. Men of genius and of noble ethical sympathy + do however deem it defensible. In any human book the paternal exaction of + such suffering as fell to Christ, would be regarded with alarm and + repugnance. Wonder was felt that Scripture, purporting to contain the will + of deity, should not be expressed so unmistakably that ignorance could not + misunderstand it, nor perversity misconstrue it. The gods know how to + write. + </p> + <p> + 2. The origin of all things has excited and disappointed the curiosity of + the greatest exploring minds of every age. That the secret of the universe + is undisclosed, is manifest from the different and differing conjectures + concerning it. The origin of the universe remains unknowable. What awe + fills or rather takes possession of the mind which comprehends this! Why + existence exists is the cardinal wonder. + </p> + <p> + 3. Pleasant and free from anxiety, life would be were it true, that + Providence is a present help in the day of need. Alas, to the poor it is + evident that Providence does not interfere, either to befriend the good in + their distress, or arrest the bad in the act of crime. + </p> + <p> + 4. The power of prayer has been the hope of the helpless and the oppressed + in every age. Every man wishes it was true that help could be had that + way. Then every just man could protect himself at will against his + adversaries. But experience shows that all entreaty is futile to induce + Providence to change its universal habit of non-intervention. Prayer + beguiles the poor but provides no dinner. Mr. Spurgeon said at the + Tabernacle that prayer filled his meal barrel when empty. I asked that he + should publish the recipe in the interests of the hungry. But he made no + reply. + </p> + <p> + 5. There is reason to think that original sin is not anything more than + original ignorance. The belief in natural depravity discourages all + efforts of progress. The primal imperfection of human nature is only + effaceable by knowledge and persistent endeavor. Even in things lawful to + do, excess is sin, judged by human standards. There may be error without + depravity. + </p> + <p> + 6. Eternal perdition for conscientious belief, whether erroneous or not, + is humanly incredible. The devisors of this doctrine must have been + unaware that belief is an affair of ignorance, prejudice, custom, + education, or evidence. The liability of the human race to eternal + punishment is the foundation on which all Christianity (except + Unitarianism) rests. This awful belief, if acted upon with the sincerity + that Christianity declares it should be, would terminate all enjoyment, + and all enterprise would cease in the world. None would ever marry. No + persons, with any humanity in their hearts would take upon themselves the + awful responsibility of increasing the number of the damned. The registrar + of births would be the most fiendish clerk conceivable. He would be + practically the secretary of hell. + </p> + <p> + The theory that all the world was lost through a curious and enterprising + lady, eating an apricot or an apple, and that three thousand or more years + after, mankind had to be redeemed by the murder of an innocent Jew, is of + a nature to make men afraid to believe in a deity accused of contriving so + dreadful a scheme. + </p> + <p> + Though this reasoning will seem to many an argument against the existence + of God whereas it is merely against the attributes of deity, as ascribed + to him by Christianity. If God be not moral, in the human sense of the + term, he may as well be not moral at all. It is only he whose principles + of justice, men can understand, that men can trust. Prof. T. H. Huxley, + conspicuous for his clearness of view and dispassionateness of judgment, + was of this opinion, and said: "The suggestion arises, if God is the cause + of all things he is responsible for evil as well as for good, and it + appears utterly irreconcilable with our notions of justice that he should + punish another for that which he has in fact done himself." The poet + concurs with the philosopher when he exclaims: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "The loving worm within its clod, + Were diviner than a loveless God Amid his worlds."* + + * Browning. +</pre> + <p> + Christianity indeed speaks of the <i>love</i> of God in sending his son to + die for the security of others. But not less is the heart of the + intelligent and humane believer torn with fear, as he thinks what must be + the character of that God who could only be thus appeased. The example of + self-sacrifice is noble—but is it noble in any one who deliberately + creates the necessity for it? The better side of Christianity seems + overshadowed by the worse. + </p> + <p> + 7. Future life is uncertain, being unprovable and seemingly improbable, + judging from the dependence of life on material conditions. Christians + themselves do not seem confident of another existence. If they were <i>sure</i> + of it, who of them would linger here when those they love and honor have + gone before? Ere we reach the middle of our days, the joy of every heart + lies in some tomb. If the Christian actually believed that the future was + real, would he hang black plumes over the hearse, and speak of death as + darkness? No! the cemeteries would be hung with joyful lights, the grave + would be the gate of Paradise. Every one would find justifiable excuse for + leaving this for the happier world. All tenets which are contradicted by + reason had better not be. + </p> + <p> + Many preachers now disown, in controversy, these doctrines, but until they + carry the professions of the platform into the statute book, the rubric, + and the pulpit, such doctrines remain operative, and the Churches remain + answerable for them. Nonconformists do not protest against a State Church + on account of its doctrines herein enumerated. When the doctrines which + conflict with reason and humanity are disowned by authority, + ecclesiastical and legal, in all denominations, the duty of controverting + them as impediments to progress will cease. + </p> + <p> + It may be said in reply to what is here set forth as tenets of Christian + Scripture, that the writer follows the letter and not the spirit of the + word. Yes, that is what he does. He is well aware of the new practice of + seeking refuge in the "spirit," of "expanding" the letter and taking a + "new range of view." He however holds that to drop the "letter" is to drop + the doctrine. To "expand" the "letter" is to change it. New "range of + view" is the term under which desertion of the text is disguised. But "new + range" means new thought, which in this insidious way is put forward to + supersede the old. The frank way is to say so, and admit that the "letter" + is obsolete—is gone, is disproved, and that new views which are + truer constitute the new letter of progress. The best thing to do with the + "dead hand" is to bury it. To try to expand dissolution is but galvanising + the corpse and tying the dead to the living. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. STATIONARINESS OF CRITICISM + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Zeal without knowledge is like expedition to a man in the + dark." + + —John Newton. +</pre> + <p> + CRITICISM in theology, as in literature, is with many an intoxication. + Zest in showing what is wrong is apt to blunt the taste for what is right, + which it is the true end of criticism to discover. Lord Byron said critics + disliked Pope because he afforded them so few chances of objection. They + found fault with him because he had no faults. The criticism of theology + begets complacency in many. There is a natural satisfaction in being free + from the superstition of the vulgar, in the Church as well as out of it. + No wonder many find abiding pleasure in the intellectual refutation of the + errors of supernaturalism and in putting its priests to confusion. + Absorbed in the antagonism of theology, many lose sight of ultimate + utility, and regard error, not as a misfortune to be alleviated, so much + as a fault to be exposed. Like the theologian whose color they take, they + do not much consider whether their method causes men to dislike the truth + through its manner of being offered to them. Their ambition is to make + those in error look foolish. Free thinkers of zeal are apt to become + intense, and like Jules Ferry (a late French premier), care less for + power, than for conflict, and the lover of conflict is not easily induced + to regard the disproof of theology as a means to an end* higher than + itself. It is difficult to impart to uncalculating zealots a sense of + proportion. They dash along the warpath by their own momentum. Railway + engineers find that it takes twice as much power to stop an express train + as it does to start it. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Buckle truly says, "Liberty is not a means, it is an end + in itself," But the uses of liberty are means to ends + Else why do we want liberty? +</pre> + <p> + When I first knew free thought societies they were engaged in + Church-fighting—which is still popular among them, and which has led + the public to confuse criticism with Secularism, an entirely different + thing. + </p> + <p> + Insurgent thought exclusively directed, breeds, as is said elsewhere, a + distinguished class of men—among scholars as well as among the + uninformed—who have a passion for disputation, which like other + passions "grows by what it feeds upon." Yet a limited number of such + paladins of investigation are not without uses in the economy of + civilisations. They resemble the mighty hunters of old, they extirpate + beasts of prey which roam the theological forests, and thus they render + life more safe to dwellers in cities, open to the voracious incursions of + supernaturalism. + </p> + <p> + Without the class of combatants described, in whom discussion is + irrepressible, and whose courage neither odium nor danger abates, many + castles of superstition would never be stormed. But mere intellectual-ism + generates a different and less useful species of thinkers, who neither + hunt in the jungles of theology nor storm strongholds. We all know + hundreds in every great town who have freed themselves, or have been freed + by others, from ecclesiastical error, who remain supine. Content with + their own superiority (which they owe to the pioneers who went before them + more generous than they) they speak no word, and lend no aid towards + conferring the same advantages upon such as are still enslaved. They + affect to despise the ignorance they ought to be foremost to dissipate. + They exclaim in the words of Goethe's Coptic song: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Fools from their folly 'tis hopeless to stay, + Mules will be mules by the laws of their mulishness, + Then be advised and leave fools to their foolishness, + What from an ass can be got but a bray." +</pre> + <p> + These Coptic philosophers overlook that they would have been "asses" also, + had those who vindicated freedom before their day, and raised it to a + power, been as indifferent and as contemptuous as believers in the + fool-theory are. Coptic thinkers forget that every man is a fool in + respect of any question on which he gives an opinion without having + thought independently upon it. With patience you can make a thinker out of + a fool; and the first step from the fool stage is accomplished by a little + thinking. It is well to remember the exclamation of Thackeray: "If thou + hast never been a fool, be sure thou wilt never be a wise man." + </p> + <p> + It is, however, but justice to some who join the stationariness, to own + that they have fared badly on the warpath against error, and are entitled + to the sympathy we extend to the battered soldier who falls out of the + ranks on the march. Grote indicates what the severity of the service is, + in the following passage from his <i>Mischiefs of Natural Religion</i>:—"Of + all human antipathies that which the believer in a God bears to the + unbeliever, is the fullest, the most unqualified, and the most universal. + The mere circumstance of dissent involves a tacit imputation of error and + incapacity on the part of the priest, who discerns that his persuasive + power is not rated so highly by others as it is by himself. This + invariably begets dislike towards his antagonist." + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless it is a reproach to those whom militant thought has made + free, if they remain unmindful of the fate of their inferiors. Yet + Christian churches, with all self-complacent superiority to which many of + them are prone, are not free from the sins of indifference and + superfineness. This was conspicuously shown by Southey in a letter to Sir + Henry Taylor, in which he says:—"Have you seen the strange book + which Anastasius Hope left for publication and which his representatives, + in spite of all dissuasion, have published? His notion of immortality and + heaven is that at the consummation of all things he, and you, and I, and + John Murray, and Nebuchadnezzar, and Lambert the fat man, and the Living + Skeleton, and Queen Elizabeth, and the Hottentot, Venus, and Thutell, and + Probert, and the Twelve Apostles, and the noble army of martyrs, and + Genghis Khan and all his armies, and Noah with all his ancestors and all + his posterity,—yea, all men, and all women, and all children that + have ever been, or ever shall be, saints and sinners alike, are all to be + put together and made into one great celestial, eternal human being.... I + do not like the scheme. I don't like the notion of being mixed up with + Hume, and Hunt, and Whittle Harvey, and Philpotts, and Lord Althorp, and + the Huns, and the Hottentots, and the Jews, and the Philistines, and the + Scotch, and the Irish. God forbid! I hope to be I, myself, in an English + heaven, with you yourself,—you and some others without whom heaven + would be no heaven to me." + </p> + <p> + Most of these persons would have the same dislike to be mixed up with Mr. + Southey. Lord Byron would not have been enthusiastic about it. The + Comtists have done something to preach a doctrine of humanity, and to put + an end to this pitiful contempt of a few men for their fellows,—fellows + who in many respects are often superior to those who despise them. + </p> + <p> + All superiority is apt to be contemptuous of inferiors, unless conscience + and generosity takes care of it, and incites it to instruct inferior + natures. The prayer of Browning is one of noble discernment:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Make no more giants, God— + But elevate the race at once." +</pre> + <p> + Even free thought, so far as it confines itself to itself, becomes + stationary. Like the squirrel in its cage: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Whether it turns by wood or wire, + Never gets one hair's breadth higher." +</pre> + <p> + If any doubt whether stationariness of thought is possible, let them think + of Protestantism which climbed on to the ledge of private judgment three + centuries ago—and has remained there. Instead of mounting higher and + overrunning all the plateaus of error above them, it has done its best to + prevent any who would do it, from ascending. There is now, however, a new + order of insurgent thought of the excelsior caste which seeks to climb the + heights. Distinguished writers against theology in the past have regarded + destructive criticism as preparing the way to higher conceptions of life + and duty. If so little has been done in this direction among working class + thinkers, it is because destructiveness is more easy. It needs only + indignation to perfect it, and indignation requires no effort. The faculty + of constructiveness is more arduous in exercise, and is later in + germination. More men are able to take a state than to make a state. Hence + Secularism, though inevitable as the next stage of militant progress, more + slowly wins adherents and appreciation. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. THIRD STAGE OF FREE THOUGHT—SECULARISM + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Nothing is destroyed until it has been replaced." + + —Madame de Staėl. +</pre> + <p> + SEEING this wise maxim in a paper by Auguste Comte, I asked my friend Wm. + de Fonvielle, who was in communication with Comte, to learn for me the + authorship of the phrase. Comte answered that it was the Emperor's + (Napoleon III.). It first appeared, as I afterwards found, in the writings + of Madame de Staėl, and more fully expressed by her. + </p> + <p> + Self-regarding criticism having discovered the insufficiency of theology + for the guidance of man, next sought to ascertain what rules human reason + may supply for the independent conduct of life, which is the object of + Secularism. + </p> + <p> + At first, the term was taken to be a "mask" concealing sinister features—a + "new name for an old thing"—or as a substitute term for scepticism + or atheism. If impressions were always knowledge, men would be wise + without inquiry, and explanations would be unnecessary. The term + Secularism was chosen to express the extension of free thought to ethics. + Free thinkers commonly go no further than saying, "We search for truth"*; + Secularists say we have found it—at least, so much as replaces the + chief errors and uncertainties of theology. + </p> + <p> + Harriet Martineau, the most intrepid thinker among the women of her day, + wrote to Lloyd Garrison a letter (inserted in the <i>Liberator</i>, 1853) + approving "the term Secularism as including a large number of persons who + are not atheists and uniting them for action, which has Secularism for its + object. By the adoption of the new term a vast amount of prejudice is got + rid of." At length it was seen that the "new term" designated a new + conception. + </p> + <p> + Secularism is a code of duty pertaining to this life, founded on + considerations purely human, and intended mainly for those who find + theology indefinite or inadequate, unreliable or unbelievable. + </p> + <p> + Its essential principles are three: + </p> + <p> + 1. The improvement of this life by <i>material</i> means. + </p> + <p> + 2. That science is the available** Providence of man. + </p> + <p> + 3. That it is good to do good. Whether there be other good or not, the + good of the present life is good, and it is good to seek that good. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * M. Aurelius Antoninus said, "I seek the truth by which no + man was ever injured." It would be true had he said mankind. + Men are continually injured by the truth, or how do martyrs + come, or why do we honor them? + + **This phrase was a suggestion of my friend the Rev. Dr. H. + T. Crosskey about 1854. I afterwards used the word + "available" which does not deny, nor challenge, nor affirm + the belief in a theological Providence by others, who, + therefore, are not incited to assail the effectual + proposition that material resources are an available + Providence where a spiritual Providence is inactive. +</pre> + <p> + Individual good attained by methods conducive to the good of others, is + the highest aim of man, whether regard be had to human welfare in this + life or personal fitness for another. Precedence is therefore given to the + duties of this life. + </p> + <p> + Being asked to send to the International Congress of Liberal Thinkers, + (1886), an account of the tenets of the English party known as + Secularists, I gave the following explanation to them. + </p> + <p> + "The Secular is that, the issues of which can be tested by the experience + of this life. + </p> + <p> + "The ground common to all self-determined thinkers is that of independency + of opinion, known as free thought, which though but an impulse of + intellectual courage in the search for truth, or an impulse of aggression + against hurtful or irritating error, or the caprice of a restless mind, is + to be encouraged. It is necessary to promote independent thought—whatever + its manner of manifestation—since there can be no progress without + it. A Secularist is intended to be a reasoner, that is as Coleridge + defined him, one who inquires what a thing is, and not only what it is, + but <i>why</i> it is what it is. + </p> + <p> + "One of two great forces of opinion created in this age, is what is known + as atheism,* which deprives superstition of its standing-ground and + compels theism to reason for its existence. The other force is materialism + which shows the physical consequences of error, supplying, as it were, + beacon lights to morality. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Huxley's term agnosticism implies a different thing— + unknowingness without denial. +</pre> + <p> + "Though respecting the right of the atheist and theist to their theories + of the origin of nature, the Secularist regards them as belonging to the + debatable ground of speculation. Secularism neither asks nor gives any + opinion upon them, confining itself to the entirely independent field of + study—the order of the universe. Neither asserting nor denying + theism or a future life, having no sufficient reason to give if called + upon; the fact remains that material influences exist, vast and available + for good, as men have the will and wit to employ them. Whatever may be the + value of metaphysical or theological theories of morals, utility in + conduct is a daily test of common sense, and is capable of deciding + intelligently more questions of practical duty than any other rule. + Considerations which pertain to the general welfare, operate without the + machinery of theological creeds, and over masses of men in every land to + whom Christian incentives are alien, or disregarded." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. THREE PRINCIPLES VINDICATED + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Be wisely worldly, but not worldly wise." + + —Francis Quarles. +</pre> + <p> + FIRST PRINCIPLE: <i>Of material means as conditions of welfare in this + world</i>.—Theology works by "spiritual" means, Secularism by <i>material</i> + means. Christians and Secularists both intend raising the character of the + people, but their methods are very different. Christians are now beginning + to employ material agencies for the elevation of life, which science, and + not theology, has brought under their notice. But the Christian does not + trust these agencies; the Secularist does, and in his mind the Secular is + sacred. Spiritual means can never be depended upon for food, raiment, art, + or national defence. + </p> + <p> + The Archbishop of York (Dr. Magee), a clearheaded and candid prelate, + surprised his contemporaries (at the Diocesan Conference, Leicester, + October 19, 1889) by declaring that "Christianity made no claim to + rearrange the economic relations of man in the State, or in society. He + hoped he would be understood when he said plainly that it was his firm + belief that any Christian State, carrying out in all its relations, the + Sermon on the Mount, could not exist for a week. It was perfectly clear + that a State could not continue to exist upon what were commonly called + Christian principles." + </p> + <p> + From the first, Secularism had based its claims to be regarded on the fact + that only the rich could afford to be Christians, and the poor must look + to other principles for deliverance. + </p> + <p> + Material means are those which are calculable, which are under the control + and command of man, and can be tested by human experience. No definition + of Secularism shows its distinctiveness which omits to specify <i>material</i> + means as its method of procedure. + </p> + <p> + But for the theological blasphemy of nature, representing it as the + unintelligent tool of God, the Secular would have ennobled common life + long ago. Sir Godfrey Kneller said, "He never looked on a bad picture but + he carried away in his mind a dirty tint." Secularism would efface the + dirty tints of life which Christianity has prayed over, but not removed. + </p> + <p> + Second Principle: <i>Of the providence of science</i>.—Men are + limited in power, and are oft in peril, and those who are taught to trust + to supernatural aid are betrayed to their own destruction. We are told we + should work as though there were no help in heaven, and pray as though + there were no help in ourselves. Since, however, praying saves no ship, + arrests no disease, and does not pay the tax-gatherer, it is better to + work at once and without the digression of sinking prayer-buckets into + empty wells, and spending life in drawing nothing up. The word + illuminating secular life is <i>self-help</i>. The Secularist vexes not + the ear of heaven by mendicant supplications. His is the only religion + that gives heaven no trouble. + </p> + <p> + Third Principle: <i>Of goodness as fitness for this world or another</i>.—Goodness + is the service of others with a view to their advantage. There is no + higher human merit. Human welfare is the sanction of morality. The measure + of a good action is its conducive-ness to progress. The utilitarian test + of generous rightness in motive may be open to objection,—there is + no test which is not,—but the utilitarian rule is one comprehensible + by every mind. It is the only rule which makes knowledge necessary, and + becomes more luminous as knowledge increases. A fool may be a believer,* + but not a utilitarian who seeks his ground of action in the largest field + of relevant facts his mind is able to survey. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The Guardian told as about 1887 that the Bishop of Exeter + confirmed five idiots. +</pre> + <p> + Utility in morals is measuring the good of one by its agreement with the + good of many. Large ideas are when a man measures the good of his parish + by the good of the town, the good of the town by the good of the county, + the good of the county by the good of the country, the good of the country + by the good of the continent, the good of the continent by the + cosmopolitanism of the world. + </p> + <p> + Truth and solicitude for the social welfare of others are the proper + concern of a soul worth saving. Only minds with goodness in them have the + desert of future existence. Minds without veracity and generosity die. The + elements of death are in the selfish already. They could not live in a + better world if they were admitted. + </p> + <p> + In a noble passage in his sermon on "Citizenship" the Rev. Stopford Brooks + said: "There are thousands of my fellow-citizens, men, and women, and + children, who are living in conditions in which they have no true means of + becoming healthy in body, trained in mind, or comforted by beauty. Life is + as hard for them as it is easy for me. I cannot help them by giving them + money, one by one, but I can help them by making the condition of their + life easier by a good government of the city in which they live. And even + if the charge on my property for this purpose increases for a time, year + by year, till the work is done, that charge I will gladly pay. It shall be + my ethics, <i>my religion</i>, my patriotism, my citizenship to do it."* + The great preacher whose words are here cited, like Theodore Parker, the + Jupiter of the pulpit in his day, as Wendell Phillips described him to me, + is not a Secularist; but he expresses here the religion of the Secularist, + if such a person can be supposed to have a religion. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Preached in reference to the London County Council + election, March, 1892. +</pre> + <p> + A theological creed which the base may hold, and usually do, has none of + the merit of deeds of service to humanity, which only the good + intentionally perform. Conscience is the sense of right with regard to + others, it is a sense of duty towards others which tells us that we should + do justice to them; and if not able to do it individually, to endeavor to + get it done by others. At St. Peter's Gate there can be no passport so + safe as this. He was not far wrong who, when asked where heaven lay, + answered: "On the other side of a good action." + </p> + <p> + If, as Dr. James Martineau says, "there is a thought of God in the thing + that is true, and a will of God in that which is right," Secularism, + caring for truth and duty, cannot be far wrong. Thus, it has a reasonable + regard for the contingencies of another life should it supervene. Reasoned + opinions rely for justification upon intelligent conviction, and a well + informed sincerity. + </p> + <p> + The Secularist, is without presumption of an infallible creed, is without + the timorous indefiniteness of a creedless believer. He does not disown a + creed because theologians have promulgated Jew bound, unalterable articles + of faith. The Secularist has a creed as definite as science, and as + flexible as progress, increasing as the horizon of truth is enlarged. His + creed is a confession of his belief. There is more unity of opinion among + self-thinkers than is supposed. They all maintain the necessity of + independent opinion, for they all exercise it. They all believe in the + moral rightfulness of independent thought, or they are guilty for + propagating it. They all agree as to the right of publishing + well-considered thought, otherwise thinking would be of little use. They + all approve of free criticism, for there could be no reliance on thought + which did not use, or could not bear that. All agree as to the equal + action of opinion, without which opinion would be fruitless and action a + monopoly. All agree that truth is the object of free thought, for many + have died to gain it. All agree that scrutiny is the pathway to truth, for + they have all passed along it. They all attach importance to the good of + this life, teaching this as the first service to humanity. All are of one + opinion as to the efficacy of material means in promoting human + improvement, for they alone are distinguished by vindicating their use. + All hold that morals are effectively commended by reason, for all + self-thinkers have taught so. All believe that God, if he exists, is the + God of the honest, and that he respects conscience more than creeds, for + all free thinkers have died in this faith. Independent thinkers from + Socrates to Herbert Spencer and Huxley* have all agreed: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * See Biographical Dictionary of Free Thinkers of all Ages + and Nations, by J. M. Wheeler, and Four Hundred Years of + Free Thought from Columbus to Ingersoll, by Samuel Porter + Putnam, containing upwards of 1,000 biographies. +</pre> + <p> + In the necessity of free thought. + </p> + <p> + In the rightfulness of it. + </p> + <p> + In the adequacy of it. + </p> + <p> + In the considerate publicity of it. + </p> + <p> + In the fair criticism of it. + </p> + <p> + In the equal action of conviction. + </p> + <p> + In the recognition of this life, and + </p> + <p> + In the material control of it. + </p> + <p> + The Secularist, like Karpos the gardener, may say of his creed, "Its + points are few and simple. They are: to be a good citizen, a good husband, + a good father, and a good workman. I go no further," said Karpos, "but + pray God to take it all in good part and have mercy on my soul."* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Dialogue between Karpos the gardener and Bashiew Tucton, + by Voltaire. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. HOW SECULARISM AROSE + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "We must neither lead nor leave men to mistake falsehood for + truth. Not to undeceive is to deceive." + + —Archbishop Whately. +</pre> + <p> + BEING one of the social missionaries in the propaganda of Robert Owen, I + was, like H. Viewssiew, a writer of those days, a "student of realities." + It soon became clear to me, as to others, that men are much influenced for + good or evil, by their environments. The word was unused then, + "circumstances" was the term employed. Then as now there were numerous + persons everywhere to be met with who explained everything on supernatural + principles with all the confidence of infinite knowledge. Not having this + advantage, I profited as well as I could by such observation as was in my + power to make. I could see that material laws counted for something in the + world. This led me to the conclusion that the duty of watching the ways of + nature was incumbent on all who would find true conditions of human + betterment, or new reasons for morality—both very much needed. To + this end the name of Secularism was given to certain principles which had + for their object human improvement by material means, regarding science as + the providence of man and justifying morality by considerations which + pertain to this life alone. + </p> + <p> + The rise and development (if I may use so fine a term) of these views may + be traced in the following records. + </p> + <p> + 1. "Materialism will be advanced as the only sound basis of rational + thought and practice." (Prospectus of the <i>Movement</i>, 1843, written + by me.) + </p> + <p> + 2. Five prizes awarded to me, for lectures to the Manchester Order of + Odd-fellows. These Degree Addresses (1846) were written on the principle + that morality, apart from theology, could be based on human reason and + experience. + </p> + <p> + 3. The <i>Reasoner</i> restricts itself to the known, to the present, and + seeks to realise the life that is. (Preface to the <i>Reasoner</i>, 1846.) + </p> + <p> + 4. A series of papers was commenced in the <i>Reasoner</i> entitled "The + Moral Remains of the Bible," one object of which was to show that those + who no longer held the Bible as an infallible book, might still value it + wherein it was ethically excellent. (<i>Reasoner</i>, Vol. V., No. 106, p. + 17, 1848.) + </p> + <p> + 5. "To teach men to see that the sum of all knowledge and duty is <i>Secular</i> + and that it pertains to this world alone." (<i>Reasoner</i>, Nov. 19, + 1851. Article, "Truths to Teach," p. 1.) + </p> + <p> + This was the first time the word "Secular" was applied as a general test + of principles of conduct apart from spiritual considerations. + </p> + <p> + 6. "Giving an account of ourselves in the whole extent of opinion, we + should use the word <i>Secularist</i> as best indicating that province of + human duty which belongs to this life." (<i>Reasoner</i>, Dec. 3, 1851, p. + 34.) + </p> + <p> + This was the first time the word "Secularist" appeared in literature as + descriptive of a new way of thinking. + </p> + <p> + 7. "Mr. Holyoake, editor of the <i>Reasoner</i>, will lay before the + meeting [then proposed] the present position of Secularism in the + provinces." (<i>Reasoner</i>, Dec. 10, 1851, p. 62.) + </p> + <p> + This was the first time the word "Secularism" appeared in the press. + </p> + <p> + The meeting above mentioned was held December 29, 1851, at which the + statement made might be taken as an epitome of this book. (See <i>Reasoner</i>, + No. 294, Vol. 12, p. 129. 1852.) + </p> + <p> + 8. A letter on the "Future of Secularism" appeared in the <i>Reasoner</i>, + (<i>Reasoner</i>, Feb. 4, 1852, p. 187.) + </p> + <p> + This was the first time Secularism was written upon as a movement. The + term was the heading of a letter by Charles Frederick Nicholls. + </p> + <p> + 9. "One public purpose is to obtain the repeal of all acts of Parliament + which interfere with Secular practice." (Article, "Nature of Secular + Societies," (Reasoner), No. 325, p. 146, Aug. 18, 1852.) + </p> + <p> + This is exactly the attitude Secularism takes with regard to the Bible and + to Christianity. It rejects such parts of the Scriptures, or of + Christianism, or Acts of Parliament, as conflict with or obstruct ethical + truth. We do not seek the repeal of all Acts of Parliament, but only of + such as interfere with Secular progress. + </p> + <p> + 10. "The friends of 'Secular Education' [the Manchester Association was + then so known] are not Secularists. They do not pretend to be so, they do + not even wish to be so regarded, they merely use the word Secular as an + adjective, as applied to a mode of instruction. We apply it to the <i>nature</i> + of all knowledge." We use the noun Secularism. No one else has done it. + With others the term Secular is merely a descriptive; with us the term is + used as a subject. With others it is a branch of knowledge; with us it is + the primary business of life,—the name of the province of + speculation to which we confine ourselves.* When so used in these pages + the word "Secularism" or "Secularist" is employed to mark the distinction. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * See article "The Seculars—the Propriety of Their Name," + by G.J. Holyoake. Reasoner, p. 177, Sep. 1, 1852. +</pre> + <p> + A Bolton clergyman reported in the <i>Bolton Guardian</i> that Mr. + Holyoake had announced as the first subject of his Lectures, "Why do the + Clergy Avoid Discussion and the Secularists Seek it?" (<i>Reasoner</i>, + No. 328, p. 294, Vol. 12, 1852.) + </p> + <p> + These citations from my own writings are sufficient to show the origin and + nature of Secularism. Such views were widely accepted by liberal thinkers + of the day, as an improvement and extension of free thought advocacy. + Societies were formed, halls were given a Secular name, and conferences + were held to organise adherents of the new opinion. The first was held in + the Secular Institute, Manchester (Oct. 3, 1852). Delegates were sent from + Societies in Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton, Blackburn, Bradford, Burnley, + Bury, Glasgow, Keighley, Leigh, London, Manchester, Miles Platting, + Newcastle-on-Tyne, Oldham, Over Darwen, Owen's Journal, Paisley, Preston, + Rochdale, Stafford, Sheffield, Stockport, Todmorden. + </p> + <p> + Among the delegates were many well known, long known, and some still known—James + Charlton (now the famous manager of the Chicago and Alton Railway), Abram + Greenwood (now the cashier of the Cooperative Wholesale Bank of + Manchester), William Mallalieu of Todmorden (familiarly known as the + "Millionaire" of the original Rochdale Pioneers), Dr. Hiram Uttley of + Burnley, John Crank of Stockport, Thomas Hayes, then of Miles Platting, + now manager of the Crumpsall Biscuit Works of the Cooperative Wholesale + Society, Joseph Place of Nottingham, James Motherwell of Paisley, Dr. + Henry Travis (socialist writer on Owen's system), Samuel Ingham of + Manchester, J. R. Cooper of Manchester, and the present writer. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. HOW SECULARISM WAS DIFFUSED + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Only by varied iteration can alien conceptions be forced on + reluctant minds." + + —Herbert Spencer. +</pre> + <p> + IN 1853 the Six-Night Discussion took place in Cowper Street School Rooms, + London, with the Rev. Brewin Grant, B. A. A report was published by + Partridge and Oakley at 2s. 6d, of which 45,900 were sold, which widely + diffused a knowledge of Secularistic views. + </p> + <p> + Our adversary had been appointed with clerical ceremony, on a "Three + years' mission" against us. He had wit, readiness, and an electric + velocity of speech, boasting that he could speak three times faster than + any one else. But he proved to be of use to us without intending it, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "His acrid words + Turned the sweet milk of kindness into curds." +</pre> + <p> + whereby he set many against the cause he represented. He had the + cleverness to see that there ought to be a "Christian Secularism," which + raised Secularism to the level of Christian curiosity. In Glasgow, in + 1854, I met Mr. Grant again during several nights' discussion in the City + Hall. This debate also was published, as was one of three nights with the + Rev. J. H. Rutherford (afterwards Dr. Rutherford) in Newcastle on Tyne, + who aimed to prove that Christianity contained the better Secularism. Thus + that new form of free thought came to have public recognition. + </p> + <p> + The lease of a house, 147 Fleet Street, was bought (1852), where was + established a Secular Institute, connected with printing, book-selling, + and liberal publishing. Further conferences were held in July, 1854, one + at Stockport. At an adjourned conference Mr. Joseph Barker (whom we had + converted) presided.* We had a London Secular Society which met at the + Hall of Science, City Road, and held its Council meetings in Mr. Le + Blond's handsome house in London Wall. This work, and much more, was done + before and while Mr. Bradlaugh (who afterwards was conspicuously + identified with the movement) was in the army. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Reasoner, No. 428, Vol. XVII.. p. 87. +</pre> + <p> + It was in 1854 that I published the first pamphlet on <i>Secularism the + Practical Philosophy of the People</i>. It commenced by showing the + necessity of independent, self-helping, self-extricating opinions. Its + opening passage was as follows: + </p> + <p> + "In a state of society in which every inch of land, every blade of grass, + every spray of water, every bird and flower has an owner, what has the + poor man to do with orthodox religion which begins by proclaiming him a + miserable sinner, and ends by leaving him a miserable slave, as far as + unrequited toil goes? + </p> + <p> + "The poor man finds himself in an <i>armed</i> world where might is God, + and poverty is fettered. Abroad the hired soldier blocks up the path of + freedom, and the priest the path of progress. Every penniless man, woman, + and child is virtually the property of the capitalist, no less in England + than is the slave in New Orleans.* Society blockades poverty, leaving it + scarce escape. The artisan is engaged in an imminent struggle against + wrong and injustice; then what has he the struggler, to do with doctrines + which brand him with inherited guilt, which paralyse him by an arbitrary + faith, which deny saving power to good works, which menace him with + eternal perdition?" + </p> + <p> + The two first works of importance, controverting Secularist principles, + were by the Rev. Joseph Parker and Dr. J. A. Langford; Dr. Parker was + ingenious, Dr. Langford eloquent. I had discussed with Dr. Parker in + Banbury. In his <i>Six Chapters on Secularism</i>** which was the title of + his book, he makes pleasant references to that debate. The <i>Christian + Weekly News</i> of that day said: "These Six Chapters have been written by + a young provincial minister of great power and promise, of whom the world + has not yet heard, but of whom it will hear pleasing things some day." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Not entirely so. The English slave can run away—at his + own peril. + + ** Published by my, then, neighbour, William Freeman, of 69 + Fleet Street, himself an energetic, pleasant-minded + Christian. +</pre> + <p> + This prediction has come true. I had told Mr. Freeman that the "young + preacher" had given me that impression in the discussion with him. Dr. + Parker said in his first Chapter that, "If the New Testament teachings + oppose our own consciousness, violate our moral sense, lead us out of + sympathy with humanity, then we shall abandon them." This was exactly the + case of Secularism which he undertook to confute. Dr. Langford held a more + rational religion than Dr. Parker. His <i>Answer</i>, which reached a + second thousand, had passages of courtesy and friendship, yet he contended + with graceful vigor against opinions—three-fourths of which + justified his own. + </p> + <p> + In an address delivered Sept. 29, 1851, I had said that, "There were three + classes of persons opposed to Christianity:— + </p> + <p> + "1. The dissolute. + </p> + <p> + "2. The indifferent. + </p> + <p> + "3. The intellectually independent. + </p> + <p> + "The dissolute are against Christianity because they regard it as a foe to + sensuality. The indifferent reject it through being ignorant of it, or not + having time to attend to it, or not caring to attend to it, or not being + able to attend to it, through constitutional insensibility to its appeals. + The intellectually independent avoid it as opposed to freedom, morality + and progress." It was to these classes, and not to Christians, that + Secularism was addressed. Neither Dr. Parker nor Dr. Langford took notice + that it was intended to furnish ethical guidance where Christianity, + whatever might be its quality, or pretensions, or merit, was inoperative.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * In 1857 Dr. Joseph Parker published a maturer and more + important volume, Helps to Truth Seekers, or, Christianity + and Scepticism, containing "The Secularist Theory—A + Critique." At a distance of more than thirty-five years it + seems to me an abler book, from the Christian point of view, + than I thought it on its appearance. +</pre> + <p> + The new form of free thought under the title of the "Principles of + Secularism" was submitted to John Stuart Mill, to whose friendship and + criticism I had often been indebted, and he approved the statement as one + likely to be useful to those outside the pale of Christianity. + </p> + <p> + A remarkable thing occurred in 1854. A prize of £100 was offered by the + Evangelical Alliance for the best book on the "Aspects, Causes, and + Agencies" of what they called by the odious apostolic defamatory name of + "Infidelity."* The Rev. Thomas Pearson of Eyemouth won the prize by a + brilliant book, which I praised for its many relevant quotations, its + instruction and fairness, but I represented that its price (10s. 6d.) + prevented numerous humble readers from possessing it. The Evangelical + Alliance inferred that the "relevancy" was on their side, altogether, + whereas I meant relevant to the argument and to those supposed to be + confuted by it. They resolved to issue twenty-thousand copies at one + shilling a volume. The most eminent Evangelical ministers and + congregations of the day subscribed to the project. Four persons put down + their names for one thousand copies each, and a strong list of subscribers + was sent out. Unfortunately I published another article intending to + induce readers of the <i>Reasoner</i> to procure copies, as they would + find in its candid pages a wealth of quotations of free-thought opinion + with which very few were acquainted. The number of eminent writers, + dissentients from Christianity, and the force and felicity of their + objections to it, as cited by Mr. Pearson, would astonish and instruct + Christians who were quite unfamiliar with the historic literature of + heretical thought. This unwise article stopped the project. The "Shilling + Edition" never appeared, and the public lost the most useful and informing + book written against us in my time. The Rev. Mr. Pearson died not long + after; all too soon, for he was a minister who commanded respect. He had + research, good faith, candor, and courtesy, qualities rare in his day. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A term of intentional offence as here used. Infidelity + meant treachery to the truth, whereas the heretic has often + sacrificed his life from fidelity to it. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. SECULAR INSTRUCTION DISTINCT FROM SECULARISM + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "A mariner must have his eye on the rock and the sand as + well as upon the North Star." + + —Maxim of the Sea. +</pre> + <p> + IT IS time now to point out, what many never seem to understand, that + Secular instruction is entirely distinct from Secularism. In my earlier + days the term "scientific" was the distressing word in connexion with + education, but the trouble of later years is with the word "Secular." + Theological critics run on the "rock" there. + </p> + <p> + Many persons regard Secular teaching with distrust, thinking it to be the + same as Secularism. Secular instruction is known by the sign of + separateness. It means knowledge given apart from theology. Secular + instruction comprises a set of rules for the guidance of industry, + commerce, science, and art. Secular teaching is as distinct from theology + as a poem from a sermon. A man may be a mathematician, an architect, a + lawyer, a musician, or a surgeon, and be a + </p> + <p> + Christian all the same; as Faraday was both a chemist and a devout + Sandemanian; as Buckland was a geologist as well as a Dean. But if + theology be mixed up with professional knowledge, there will be + muddle-headedness.* At a separate time, theology can be taught, and any + learner will have a clearer and more commanding knowledge of Christianity + by its being distinctive in his mind. Secular instruction neither assails + Christianity nor prejudices the learner against it; any more than + sculpture assails jurisprudence, or than geometry prejudices the mind + against music. If the Secular instructor made it a point, as he ought to + do, to inculcate elementary ideas of morality, he would confine himself to + explaining how far truth and duty have sanctions in considerations purely + human—leaving it to teachers of religion to supplement at another + time and place, what they believe to be further and higher sanctions. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Edward Baines (afterwards Sir Edward) was the greatest + opponent in his day, of national schools and Secular + instruction, sent his sou to a Secular school, because he + wanted him to be clever as well as Christian. He was both as + I well know. +</pre> + <p> + Secular instruction implies that the proper business of the school-teacher + is to impart a knowledge of the duties of this world; and the proper + business of chapel and church is to explain the duties relevant to another + world, which can only be done in a secondhand way by the school-teacher. + The wonder is that the pride of the minister does not incite him to keep + his own proper work in his own hands, and protest against the + school-teacher meddling with it. By doing so he would augment his own + dignity and the distinctiveness of his office. + </p> + <p> + By keeping each kind of knowledge apart, a man learns both, more easily + and more effectually. Secular training is better for the scholar and safer + for the State; and better for the priest if he has a faith that can stand + by itself. + </p> + <p> + If the reader does not distrust it as a paradox, he will assent that the + Secular is distinct from Secularism, as distinct as an act is distinct + from its motive. Secular teaching comprises a set of rules of instruction + in trade, business, and professional knowledge. Secularism furnishes a set + of principles for the ethical conduct of life. Secular instruction is far + more limited in its range than Secularism which defends secular pursuits + against theology, where theology attacks them or obstructs them. But pure + Secular knowledge is confined to its own pursuit, and does not come in + contact with theology any more than architecture comes in contact with + preaching. + </p> + <p> + A man may be a shareholder in a gas company or a waterworks, a house + owner, a landlord, a farmer, or a workman. All these are secular pursuits, + and he who follows them may consult only his own interest. But if he be a + Secularist, he will consider not only his own interest, but, as far as he + can, the welfare of the community or the world, as his action or example + may tell for the good of universal society. He will do "his best," not as + Mr. Ruskin says, "the best of an ass," but "the best of an intelligent + man." In every act he will put his conscience and character with a view so + to discharge the duties of this life as to merit another, if there be one. + Just as a Christian seeks to serve God, a Secularist seeks to serve man. + This it is to be a Secularist. The idea of this service is what Secularism + puts into his mind. Professor Clifford exclaimed: "The Kingdom of God has + come—when comes the Kingdom of man?" A Secularist is one who hastens + the coming of this kingdom: which must be agreeable to heaven if the + people of this world are to occupy the mansions there. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. THE DISTINCTIVENESS MADE FURTHER EVIDENT. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "The cry that so-called secular education is Atheistic is + hardly worth notice. Cricket is not theological; at the same + time, it is not Atheistic." + + —Rev. Joseph Parker, D. D., Times, October 11, 1894. +</pre> + <p> + NOR is Secularism atheism. The laws of the universe are quite distinct + from the question of the origin of the universe. The study of the laws of + nature, which Secularism selects, is quite different from speculation as + to the authorship of nature. We may judge and prize the beauty and uses of + an ancient edifice, though we may never know the builder. Secularism is a + form of opinion which concerns itself only with questions the issues of + which can be tested by the experience of this life. It is clear that the + existence of deity and the actuality of another life, are questions + excluded from Secularism, which exacts no denial of deity or immortality, + from members of Secularist societies. During their day only two persons of + public distinction—the Bishop of Peterborough and Charles Bradlaugh—maintained + that the Secular was atheistic. Yet Mr. Bradlaugh never put a profession + of atheism as one of the tenets of any Secularist Society. Atheism may be + a personal tenet, but it cannot be a Secularist tenet, from which it is + wholly disconnected. + </p> + <p> + No one would confuse the Secular with the atheistic who understood that + the Secular is separate. Mr. Hodgson Pratt, a Christian, writing in <i>Concord</i> + (October, 1894), a description of the burial of Angelo Mazzoleni, said + "the funeral was entirely Secular," meaning the ceremony was distinct from + that of the Church, being based on considerations pertaining to duty in + this world. + </p> + <p> + In the indefiniteness of colloquial speech we constantly hear the phrase, + "School Board education." Yet School Boards cannot give education. It is + beyond their reach. Most persons confuse instruction with education. + Instruction relates to industrial, commercial, agricultural, and + scientific knowledge and like subjects. Education implies the complete + training and "drawing out of the whole powers of the mind."* Thus + instruction is different from education. Instruction is departmental + knowledge. Education includes all the influences of life; instruction + gives skill, education forms character. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Henry Drummond gave this definition in the House of + Commons, and it was adopted by W. J. Fox and other leaders + of opinion in that day. +</pre> + <p> + The Rev. Dr. Parker is the first Nonconformist preacher of distinction who + has avowed his concurrence with Secular instruction in Board Schools. When + Mr. W. E. Forster was framing his Education Act, I besought him to raise + English educational policy to the level of the much smoking, + much-pondering Dutch. "The system of education in Holland dates from 1857. + It is a Secular system, meaning by Secular that the Bible is not allowed + to be read in schools, nor is any religious instruction allowed to be + given. The use of the school-room is, however, granted to ministers of all + denominations for the purpose of teaching religion out of school-hours. + The schoolmaster is not allowed to give religious instruction, or even to + read the Bible in school at any time."* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Report from the Hague, by Mr. (now Right Hon.) Jesse + Collings, M. P., May, 1870. +</pre> + <p> + No State rears better citizens or better Christians than the Dutch. Mr. + Gladstone, with his customary discernment, has said that "Secular + instruction does not involve denial of religious teaching, but merely + separation in point of time." It seems incredible that Christian + ministers, generally, do not see the advantage of this. I should probably + have become a Christian preacher myself, had it not been for the + incessantness with which religion was obtruded on me in childhood and + youth. Even now my mind aches when I think of it. For myself, I respect + the individuality of piety. It is always picturesque. Looking at religion + from the outside, I can see that concrete sectarianism is a source of + religious strength. A man is only master of his own faith when he sees it + clearly, distinctly, and separately. Rather than permit Secular + instruction and religious education to be imparted separately, Christian + ministers permit the great doctrines they profess to maintain to be + whittled down to a School Board average, in which, when done honestly + towards all opinions, no man can discern Christianity without the aid of a + microscope. And this passes, in these days, for good ecclesiastical + policy. In a recent letter (November, 1894) Mr. Gladstone has re-affirmed + his objection to "an undenominational system of religion framed by, or + under the authority of, the State." He says: "It would, I think, be better + for the State to limit itself to giving Secular instruction, which, of + course, is no complete education." Mr. Gladstone does not confound Secular + instruction with education, but is of the way of thinking of Miltou, who + says: "I call a complete and generous education that which fits a man to + perform justly, skilfully, and magnanimously all the offices, both private + and public, of peace and war." Secular instruction touches no doctrine, + menaces no creed, raises no scepticism in the mind. But an average of + belief introduces the aggressive hand of heresy into every school, + tampering with tenets rooted in the conscience, wantonly alarming + religious convictions, and substituting for a clear, frank, and manly + issue a disastrous, blind, and timid policy, wriggling along like a + serpent instead of walking with self-dependent erectness. This manly + erect-ness would be the rule were the formula of the great preacher + accepted who has said: "Secular education by the State, and Christian + education by the Christian Church is my motto."* Uniformity of truth is + desirable, and it will come, not by contrivance, but by conviction. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The Rev. Joseph Parker, D. D. +</pre> + <p> + Some one quoted lately in the <i>Daily News</i> (September 19, 1895) the + following sentences I wrote in 1870: + </p> + <p> + "With secular instruction only in the day school, religion will acquire + freshness and new force. The clergyman and the minister will exercise a + new influence, because their ministrations will have dignity and + definiteness. They will no longer delegate things declared by them to be + sacred to be taught second-hand by the harassed, overworked, and + oft-reluctant schoolmaster and schoolmistress, who must contradict the + gentleness of religion by the peremptoriness of the pedagogue, and efface + the precept that 'God is love' by an incontinent application of the + birch.... It is not secular instruction which breeds irreverence, but this + ill-timed familiarity with the reputed things of God which robs divinity + of its divineness." + </p> + <p> + The Bible in the school-room will not always be to the advantage of + clericalism, as it is thought to be now. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Forster's Education Act created what Mr. Disraeli contemptuously + described as a new "sacerdotal caste,"—a body of second-hand + preachers, who are to be paid by the money of the State to do the work + which the minister and the clergyman avow they are called by heaven to + perform,—namely, to save the souls of the people. According to this + Act, the clergy are really no longer necessary; their work can be done by + a commoner and cheaper order of artificer. Mr. Forster insisted that the + Bible be introduced into the school-room, which gives great advantage to + the Freethinker, as it makes a critical agitation against its character + and pretensions a matter of self-defence for every family. Another eminent + preacher, Mr. C. H. Spurgeon, wrote, not openly in the <i>Times</i> as Dr. + Parker did, but in <i>The Sword and Trowel</i> thus: "We should like to + see established a system of universal application, which would give a + sound Secular education to children, and leave the religious training to + the home and the agencies of the Church of Christ." It is worthy of the + radiant common sense of the famous orator of the Tabernacle that he should + have said this anywhere. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. SELF-DEFENSIVE FOR THE PEOPLE + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "What suits the gods above + Only the gods can know; + What we want is + This World's sense + How to live below." +</pre> + <p> + BY its nature, Secularism is tolerant with regard to religions. I once + drew up a code of rules for an atheistic school. One rule was that the + children should be taught the tenets of the Christian, Catholic, Moslem, + Jewish, and the leading theological systems of the world, as well as + Secularistic and atheistic forms of thought; so that when the pupil came + to years of discretion he might be able, intelligently, to choose a faith + for himself. Less than this would be a fraud upon the understanding of a + man. In matters which concern himself alone, he must be free to choose for + himself, and know what he is choosing from. That form of belief which has + misgivings as to whether it can stand by itself, is to be distrusted. + </p> + <p> + It is the scandal of Christianity that, for twenty-five years, it has + paralysed School Board instruction by its discord of opinion as to the + religious tenets to be imparted; while in Secularity there is no disunity. + Everybody is agreed upon the rules of arithmetic. The laws of grammar + command general assent. There are no rival schools upon the interpretation + of geometrical problems. It is only in divinity that irreconcilable + diversity exists. When Secular instruction is conceded, denominational + differences will be respected, as aspects of the integrity of conscience, + which no longer obstruct the intellectual progress of the people. + </p> + <p> + But there are graver issues than the pride and preference of the preacher; + namely, the welfare of the children of the people. What the working + classes want is an industrial education. Poverty is a battle, and the poor + are always in a conflict—a conflict in which the most ignorant ever + go to the wall. The accepted policy of the State leaves the increase of + population to chance. It suffers none to be killed; it compels people to + be kept alive, and abandons their subsistence to the accident of + capitalists requiring to hire their services. Thus our great towns are + crowded with families, impelled there by the wild forces of hunger and of + passion. From the workingman thus situated, the governing class exacts + four duties: + </p> + <p> + 1. That he shall give the parish no disquietude by asking it to maintain + his family. + </p> + <p> + 2. That he shall pay whatever taxes are levied upon him. + </p> + <p> + 3. That he shall give no trouble to the police. + </p> + <p> + 4. That he shall fight generally whomsoever the Government may see fit to + involve the nation in war with. + </p> + <p> + Whatever knowledge is necessary to enable the future workman to do these + things, is his right, and should be given to him in his youth in the + speediest manner; and any other inculcation which shall delay this + knowledge on its way, or confuse the learner in acquiring it, is a cruelty + to him and a peril to the community which permits it; and the State, were + it discerning and just, would forbid it. + </p> + <p> + In April, 1870, in a letter which appeared in the <i>Spectator</i>; I + wrote as follows: + </p> + <p> + "In the speech of the Bishop of Peterborough, delivered at the Educational + Conference at Leicester, and published in a separate form by the National + Education Union, his Lordship quotes from a recent letter of mine to the + <i>Daily News</i> some words in which I explained that 'unsectarian + education amounts to a new species of parliamentary piety.' It is a + satisfaction to find that the Bishop of Peterborough is able to 'entirely + endorse these words.' The Bishop asks: 'Whose words do you suppose they + are? They are the words of that reactionary maintainer of creeds and + dogmas—Mr. Holyoake.' So far from being a 'reactionary' in this + matter, I have always maintained that every form of sincere opinion, + religious or secular, should have free play and fair play. I have never + varied in advocating the right of free utterance and free action of all + earnest conviction. The State requires a self-supporting and tax-paying + population. But the State cannot insure this, except by imparting <i>productive</i> + knowledge to the people. It is necessary for the people to receive, it is + the interest of the State to give, <i>productive</i> instruction in + national schools." + </p> + <p> + If people realised how much extended secular instruction is needed, they + would be impatient with the obstruction of it by contending sects. + Children want industrial education to fit them for emigrants. A knowledge + of soils, of cattle, of climate, and crops, and how to nail up a wigwam + and grow pork and corn, is what they need. For want of such knowledge + Clerkenwell watchmakers, Northampton shoemakers, Lancashire weavers, and + Durham miners perish as emigrants, and their bones bleach the prairies. + Yet all orthodox teaching turns out its pupils uninstructed, for, as + Tillottson has said, "He that does not know those things which are of use + and necessity for him to know, is but an ignorant man, whatever he may + know beside." To know this world, and the Secular conditions of prosperity + in it, is indispensable to the people. + </p> + <p> + Christianity is entirely futile in industry. If a workman cannot pay his + taxes, the most devout Chancellor of the Exchequer will not abate sixpence + in consideration of the defaulter's piety. The poor man may believe in the + Thirty-nine Articles, be able to recite all the Collects; he may spend his + Sundays at church, and his evenings at prayer-meeting; but the reverend + magistrate, who has confirmed him and preached to him, will send him to + gaol if he does not pay. The sooner workmen understand that Christianity + has no commercial value, the better for them. + </p> + <p> + Why should purely Secular instruction be regarded with distrust, when + purely religious education does not answer? It does not appear in human + experience that purely religious teaching, even when dispensed in a + clergyman's family, is a security for good conduct. It is matter of common + remark that the sons of clergymen turn out worse than the sons of parents + in other professions. + </p> + <p> + We want no whining or puling population. The elements of science and + morality will give children the use of their minds, and minds to use, and + teach justice and kindness, self-direction, self-reliance, fortitude, and + truth. There is piety in this instruction,—piety to mankind,—exactly + that sort of piety for the want of which society suffers. + </p> + <p> + The principles for which during two centuries Nonconformity in England has + contended are, that the State should forbid no religion, impose no + religion, teach no religion, pay no religion. In 1870, the year in which + Mr. Forster's Act came into operation, I was the only person who issued a + public address to the "School Board Electors" in favor of free compulsory, + and Secular instruction. Two of the proposals, the least likely to be + favorably received, have since been adopted. The turn of the third must be + near, unless fools are always at the polls. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. REJECTED TENETS REPLACED BY BETTER + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "False ideas can be confuted by argument, but it is only by + true ideas they can be expelled." + + —Cardinal Newman. +</pre> + <p> + ERROR will live wherever vermin of the mind may burrow; and error, if + expelled, will return to its accustomed haunt, unless its place be + otherwise occupied by some tenant of truth. Suppose that criticism has + established: + </p> + <p> + 1. That God is unknown. + </p> + <p> + 2. That a future life is unprovable. + </p> + <p> + 3. That the Bible is not a practical guide. + </p> + <p> + 4. That Providence sleeps. + </p> + <p> + 5. That prayer is futile. + </p> + <p> + 6. That original sin is untrue. + </p> + <p> + 7. That eternal perdition is unreal. + </p> + <p> + What is free thought going to do? All these theological ideas, however + untrue, are forces of opinion on the side of error. After taking these + doctrines out of the minds of men, as far as reasoning criticism may do + it, what is proposed to be put in their place? When we call out to men + that they are going down a wrong road, we are more likely to arrest their + attention if we can point out the right road to take. + </p> + <p> + No mind is ever entirely empty. The objection to ignorance is not that it + has no ideas, but that it has wrong ones. Its ideas are narrow, cramped, + vicious. It likes without reason, hates without cause, and is suspicious + of what it might trust. It is not enough to tell a man who is eating + injurious food that it will harm him. If he has no other aliment, he must + go on feeding upon what he has. If you cannot supply better, you cannot + reproach him who takes the bad. But if you have true principles, they + should be offered as substitutes for the false. Secularist truth should + tread close upon the heels of theological error. + </p> + <p> + 1. For the study of the origin of the universe Secularism substitutes the + study of the laws and uses of the universe, which, Cardinal Newman + admitted, might be regarded as consonant to the will of its author. + </p> + <p> + 2. For a future state Secularism proposes the wise use of this, as he who + fails in this "duty nearest hand" has no moral fitness for any other. + </p> + <p> + 3. For revelation it offers the guidance of observation, investigation, + and experience. Instead of taking authority for truth, it takes truth for + authority. + </p> + <p> + 4. For the providence of Scripture, Secularism directs men to the + providence of science, which provides against peril, or brings deliverance + when peril comes. + </p> + <p> + 5. For prayer it proposes self-help and the employment of all the + resources of manliness and industry. Jupiter himself rebuked the waggoner + who cried for aid, instead of putting his own shoulder to the wheel. + </p> + <p> + 6. For original depravity, which infuses hopelessness into all effort for + personal excellence, Secularism counsels the creation of those conditions, + so far as human prevision can provide them, in which it shall be + "impossible for a man to be depraved or poor." The aim of Secularism is to + promote the moralisation of this world, which Christianity has proved + ineffectual to accomplish. + </p> + <p> + 7. For eternal perdition, which appals every human heart, Secularism + substitutes the warnings and penalties of causation attending the + violation of the laws of nature, or the laws of truth—penalties + inexorable and unevadable in their consequences. Though they extend to the + individual no farther than this life, they are without the terrible + element of divine vindictive-ness, yet, being near and inevitable—following + the offender close as the shadow of the offence—are more deterrent + than future punishment, which "faith" may evade without merit. + </p> + <p> + The aim of Secularism is to educate the conscience in the service of man. + It puts duty into free thought. Men inquired, for self-protection, and + from dislike of error. But if a man was in no danger himself, and was + indifferent whether an error—which no longer harmed him—prevailed + or not, Secularism holds that it is still a duty to aid in ending it for + the sake of others. It was W. J. Fox, the most heretical preacher of his + day, who said (1824): "I believe in the right of religion and the <i>duty</i> + of free inquiry." He is a very exceptional person—as we know in + political as well as in questions of mental freedom—who cares for a + right he does not need himself. A man is generally of opinion, as I have + seen in many agitations, that nobody need care for a form of liberty he + does not want himself. It is as though a man on the bank should think that + a man in the water does not want a rope. Duty is devotion to the right. + Right in morals is that which is morally expedient. That is morally + expedient which is conducive to the happiness of the greatest numbers. The + service of others is the practical form of duty. "He," says Buddha, "who + was formerly heedless, and afterwards becomes earnest, lights up the world + like the moon escaped from a cloud." + </p> + <p> + Constructiveness is an education which attains success but slowly. Some + men have no distinctive notion whatever of truth. It seems never to have + occurred to them that there is anything intrinsic in it, and they only + fall into it by accident. Others have a wholesome idea that truth is + essential, and that, as a rule, you ought to tell it, and some do it. This + is a small conception of truth, but it is good as far as it goes, and + ought to be valued, as it is scarce. If any one asks such a person whether + what he says is what he <i>thinks</i>, or what he <i>knows</i>, to be + true, he is perplexed. The difference between the two things has not + occurred to him. He has been under the impression that what he believes is + the same thing as what he knows, and when he finds the two things are very + different, his idea of truth is doubled and is twice as large as it was + before. + </p> + <p> + There is yet a larger view, to which many never attain. To them all truth + is truth of equal value. All geese are geese, but all are not equally + tender. Though all horses are horses, all are not equally swift. Yet many + never observe that all facts are not equally succulent or swift, nor all + truth of equal value or usefulness. + </p> + <p> + Social truth has three marks,—it must be explicit, relevant to the + question in hand, and of use for the purpose in hand. But it requires some + intelligence to observe this, and judgment to act upon it. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. MORALITY INDEPENDENT OF THEOLOGY + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Religion, as dealing with the confessedly incomprehensible, + is not the basis for human union, in social, or industrial, + or political circles, but only that portion of old religion + which is now called moral." + + —Professor Francis William Newman. +</pre> + <p> + BISHOP ELLICOTT was the first prelate whom I heard admit (in a sermon to + the members of the British Association for the Advancement of Science) + that men might be moral from other motives than those furnished by + Christianity. Renan says that Justin Martyr "in his <i>Apology</i>, never + attacks the principle of the empire. He wants the empire to examine the + Christian doctrines." A Secularist would have attacked the principle, + regarding freedom as of more consequence to progress than any doctrine + without it. Those who seek to guide life by reason are not without a + standard of appeal. "Secularism accepts no authority but that of nature, + adopts no methods but those of science and philosophy, and respects in + practice no rule but that of the conscience, illustrated by the common + sense of mankind. It values the lessons of the past, and looks to + tradition as presenting a storehouse of raw materials for thought, and in + many cases results of high wisdom for our reverence; but it utterly + disowns tradition as a ground of belief, whether miracles and + supernaturalism be claimed or not claimed on its side. No sacred Scripture + or ancient Church can be made a basis of belief, for the obvious reason + that their claims always need to be proved, and cannot without absurdity + be assumed. The association leaves to its individual members to yield + whatever respects their own good sense judges to be due to the opinions of + great men, living or dead, spoken or written; as also to the practice of + ancient communities, national or ecclesiastical. But it disowns all appeal + to such authorities as final tests of truth."* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * I owe the expression of this passage, whose + comprehensiveness and felicity of phrase exceed the reach of + my pen, to Professor Francis William Newman. +</pre> + <p> + Morality can be inspired and confirmed by perception of the consequences + of conduct. Theology regards free will as the foundation of + responsibility. But free will saves no man from material consequences, and + diverts attention from material causes of evil and good. Under the free + will doctrine the wonder is that any morality is left in the world. It is + a doctrine which gives scoundrels the same chance as a saint. When a man + is assured that he can be saved when he believes, and that, having free + will, he can believe when he pleases, he, as a rule, never does please + until he has had his fill of vice, or is about to die,—either of + disease or by the hangman. If by the hangman, he is told that, provided he + repents before eight o'clock in the morning, he may find himself nestling + in Abraham's bosom before nine. Free will is the doctrine of rascalism. It + is time morality had other foundation than theology. The relations of life + can be made as impressive as ideas of supernaturalism. But in this + Christians not only lend no help, they disparage the attempt to control + life by reason. When Secularism was first talked of, the President of the + Congregational Union, the Rev. Dr. Harris, commended to the Union the + words of Bishop Lavington of a century earlier (1750): "My brethren, I beg + you will rise up with me against mere moral preaching."* A writer of + distinction, R. H. Hutton, writing on "Secularism" in the <i>Expositor</i> + so late as 1881, argues strenuously that moral government is impossible + without supernatural convictions. The egotism of Christianity is as + conspicuous as that of politics. No ethic is genuine unless it bears the + hall-mark of the Church. Secularism does not deny the efficacy of other + theories of life upon those who accept them, and only claims to be of use + as commending morality on considerations purely human, to those who reject + theories purely spiritual. Any one familiar with controversy knows that + Christianity is advertised like a patent medicine which will cure all the + maladies of mankind. Everybody who tries reasoned morality is encouraged + to condemn it, and is denounced if he commends it. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * British Banner, October 27, 1852. +</pre> + <p> + It is a maxim of Secularism that, wherever there is a rightful object at + which men should aim, there is a Secular path to it. + </p> + <p> + Nearly all inferior natures are susceptible of moral and physical + improvability, which improvability can be indefinitely advanced by + supplying proper material conditions. + </p> + <p> + Since it is not capable of demonstration whether the inequalities of human + condition will be compensated for in another life, it is the business of + intelligence to rectify them in this world. The speculative worship of + superior beings, who cannot need it, seems a lesser duty than the patient + service of known inferior natures and the mitigation of harsh destiny, so + that the ignorant may be enlightened and the low elevated. + </p> + <p> + Christians often promote projects beneficial to men; but are they not + mainly incited thereto by the hope of inclining the hearts of those they + aid to their cause? Is not their motive proselytism? Is it not a higher + morality to do good for its own sake, careless whether those benefited + become adherents or not? + </p> + <p> + Going to a distant town to mitigate some calamity there, will illustrate + the principle of Secularism. One man will go on this errand from pure + sympathy with the unfortunate; this is goodness. Another goes because the + priest bids him; this is obedience. Another goes because the twenty-fifth + chapter of Matthew tells him that all such persons will pass to the right + hand of the Father; this is calculation. Another goes because he believes + God commands him; this is theological piety. Another goes because he is + aware that the neglect of suffering will not answer; this is + utilitarianism. But another goes on the errand of mercy because it is an + immediate service to humanity, knowing that material deliverance is piety + and better than spiritual consolation; this is Secularism. + </p> + <p> + One whose reputation for spirituality is in all the Churches says: + "Properly speaking, all true work is religion, and whatsoever religion is + not work may go and dwell among the Brahmins, the Antinomians, Spinning + Dervishes, or where it will. Admirable was that maxim of the old monks, <i>Laborare + est orare</i> (Work is worship)".* In his article on Auguste Comte, Mr. J. + S. Mill says he "uses religion in its modern sense as signifying that + which binds the convictions, whether to deity or to duty,—deity in + the theological sense, or duty in the moral sense." This is the only sense + in which a Secularist would employ the term. Religious moralism is a term + I might use, since it binds a man to humanity, which religion does not. + "Without God," said Mazzini to the Italian workingmen forty years ago,—"without + God you may compel, but not persuade. You may become tyrants in your turn; + you cannot be educators or apostles." One night, when Mazzini was speaking + in this way, in the hearing of Garibaldi, arguing that there was no ground + of duty unless based on the idea of God, the General turned round and + said: "I am an Atheist. Am I deficient in the sense of duty?" "Ah," + replied Mazzini, "you imbibed it with your mother's milk." All around + smiled at the quick-witted evasion. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Carlyle, Past and Present. +</pre> + <p> + In one sense Mazzini was as atheistic in mind as orthodox Christians. He + disbelieved that truth, duty, or humanity could have any vitality unless + derived from belief in God. Devout as few men are, in the Church or out of + it, yet Mazzini believed alone in God. Dogmas of the Churches were to him + as though they were not; yet there were times when he seemed to admit that + other motives than the one which inspired him might operate for good in + other minds. In a letter he once addressed to me there occurred this + splendid passage:— + </p> + <p> + "We pursue the same end,—progressive improvement, association, + transformation of the corrupted medium in which we are now living, the + overthrow of all idolatries, shams, lies, and conventionalities. We both + want man to be, not the poor, passive, cowardly, phantasmagoric unreality + of the actual time, thinking in one way and acting in another; bending to + power which he hates and despises; carrying empty popish or Thirty-nine + Article formulas on his brow, and none within; but a fragment of the + living truth, a real individual being linked to collective humanity,—the + bold seeker of things to come; the gentle, mild, loving, yet firm, + uncompromising, inexorable apostle of all that is just and heroic,—the + Priest, the Poet, and the Prophet." + </p> + <p> + Mazzini saw in the conception of God the great "Indicator" of duty, and + that the one figure, "the most deeply inspired of God, men have seen on + the earth was Jesus." Mazzini's impassioned protest against unbelief was + itself a form of unbelief. He believed only in one God, not in three. If + Jesus was inspired of God, he was not God, or he would have been + self-inspired. But, apart from this repellent heresy, if Theism and + Christianism are essential to those who would serve humanity, all + propaganda of freedom must be delayed until converts are made to this new + faith. + </p> + <p> + The question will be put, Has independent morality ever been seen in + action? + </p> + <p> + Voltaire, at the peril of his liberty and life, rescued a friendless + family from the fire and the wheel the priests had prepared for them. + Paine inspired the independence of America, and Lloyd Garrison gave + liberty to the slaves whose bondage the clergy defended. The Christianity + of three nations produced no three men in their day who did anything + comparable to the achievement of these three sceptics, who wrought this + splendid good, not only without Christianity, but in opposition to it. + Save for Christian obstruction, they had accomplished still greater good + without the peril they had to brave. + </p> + <p> + None of the earlier critics of Secularism, as has been said (and not many + in the later years), realised that it was addressed, not to Christians, + but to those who rejected Christianity, or who were indifferent to it, and + were outside it. Christians cannot do anything to inspire <i>them</i> with + ethical principles, since they do not believe in morality unless based on + their supernatural tenets. They have to convert men to Theism, to + miracles, prophecy, inspiration of the Scriptures, the Trinity, and other + soul-wearying doctrines, before they can inculcate morality they can + trust. We do not rush in where they fear to tread. Secularism moves where + they do not tread at all. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. ETHICAL CERTITUDE + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "You can tell more about a man's character by trading horses + with him once than you can by hearing him talk for a year in + prayer meeting." + + —American Maxim. +</pre> + <p> + A FORM of thought which has no certitude can command no intelligent trust. + Unless capable of verification, no opinion can claim attention, nor retain + attention, if it obtains it. + </p> + <p> + If a sum in arithmetic be wrong, it can be discovered by a new way of + working; if a medical recipe is wrong, the effect is manifest in the + health; if a political law is wrong, it is sooner or later apparent in the + mischief it produces; if a theorem in navigation is erroneous, delay or + disaster warns the mariner of his mistake; if an insane moralist teaches + that adherence to truth is wrong, men can try the effects of lying, when + distrust and disgrace soon undeceive them. But if a theological belief is + wrong, we must die to find it out. Secularism, therefore, is safer. It is + best to follow the double lights of reason and experience than the dark + lantern of faith. "In all but religion," exclaims a famous preacher,* "men + know their true interests and use their own understanding. Nobody takes + anything on trust at market, nor would anybody do so at church if there + were but a hundredth part the care for truth which there is for money." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * W. J. Fox. +</pre> + <p> + Mr. Rathbone Greg has shown, in a memorable passage, that "the lot of man—not + perhaps altogether of the individual, but certainly of the race—is + in his own hands, from his being surrounded by <i>fixed laws</i>, on + knowledge of which, and conformity to which, his well-being depends. The + study of these and obedience to them form, therefore, the great aim of + public instruction. Men must be taught: + </p> + <p> + "1. The physical laws on which health depends. + </p> + <p> + "2. The moral laws on which happiness depends. + </p> + <p> + "3. The intellectual laws on which knowledge depends. + </p> + <p> + "4. The social and political laws on which national prosperity and + advancement depend. + </p> + <p> + "5. The economic laws on which wealth depends." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Spurgeon had flashes of Secularistic inspiration, as when engaging a + servant, who professed to have taken religion, he asked "whether she swept + under the mats." It was judging piety by a material test. + </p> + <p> + There is no trust surer than the conclusions of reason and science. What + is incapable of proof is usually decided by desire, and is without the + conditions of uniformity or certitude. + </p> + <p> + Duty consists in doing the right because it is just to others, and because + we must set the example of doing right to others, or we have no claim that + others shall do right to us. Certitude is best obtained by the employment + of material means, because we can better calculate them, and because they + are less likely to evade us, or betray us, than any other means available + to us. + </p> + <p> + Orthodox religions are pale in the face now. They still keep the word of + material promise to the ear, and break it to the heart; and a great number + of people now know it, and many of the clergy know that they know it. The + poor need material aid, and prayer is the way not to get it; while + science, more provident than faith, has brought the people generous gifts, + and inspired them with just expectations. What men need is a guide which + stands on a business footing. The Churches administer a system of foreign + affairs in a very loose way, quite inconsistent with sound commercial + principles. For instance, a firm giving checks on a bank in some distant + country—not to be found in any gazetteer of ascertained places, nor + laid down in any chart, and from which no persons who ever set out in + search of it were ever known to return—would do very little business + among prudent men. Yet this is precisely the nature of the business + engaged in by orthodox firms. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, Secularism proposes to transact the business of life on + purely mercantile principles. It engages only in that class of + transactions the issue of which can be tested by the experience of this + life. Its checks, if I may so speak, are drawn upon duty, good sense, and + material effort, and are to be cashed from proceeds arising in our midst—under + our own eyes—subject to ordinary commercial tests. Nature is the + banker who pays all notes held by those who observe its laws. To use the + words of Macbeth, it is here, "on this bank and shoal of time" upon which + we are cast, that nature pays its checks, and not elsewhere; which are + honored now, and not in an unknown world, in some unknown time, and in an + entirely unknown way. By lack of judgment, or sense, the Secularist may + transact bad business; but he gives good security. His surety is + experience. His references are to the facts of the present time. He puts + all who have dealings with him on their guard. Secularism tells men that + they must look out for themselves, act for themselves, within the limits + of neither injuring nor harming others. Secularism does not profess to be + infallible, but it acts on honest principles. It seeks to put progress on + the business footing of good faith.* Adherents who accept the theory of + this life for this life dwell in a land of their own—the land of + certitude. Science and utilitarian morality are kings in that country, and + rule there by right of conquest over error and superstition. In the + kingdom of Thought there is no conquest over men, but over foolishness + only. Outside the world of science and morality lies the great Debatable + Ground of the existence of Deity and a Future State. The Ruler of the + Debatable Ground is named Probability, and his two ministers are Curiosity + and Speculation. Over that mighty plain, which is as wide as the universe + and as old as time, no voice of the gods has ever been heard, and no + footsteps of theirs have ever been traced. Philosophers have explored the + field with telescopes of a longer range than the eyes of a thousand + saints, and have recognised nothing save the silent and distant horizon. + Priests have denounced them for not perceiving what was invisible. + Sectaries have clamored, and the most ignorant have howled—as the + most ignorant always do—that there is something there, because they + want to see it. All the while the white mystery is still unpenetrated in + this life. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * See Secularism a Religion which Gives Heaven no Trouble. +</pre> + <p> + But a future being undisclosed is no proof that there is no future. Those + who reason through their desires will believe there is; those who reason + through their understanding may yet hope that there is. In the meantime, + all stand before the portals of the untrodden world in equal + unknowingness. If faith can be piety, work is more so. To bring new beauty + out of common life—is not that piety? To change blank stupidity into + intelligent admiration of any work of nature—is not that piety? If + our towns and streets be made to give gladness and cheerfulness to all who + live or walk therein—is not that piety? If the prayer of innocence + ascend to heaven through a pure atmosphere, instead of through the noisome + and polluted air of uncleanness common in the purlieus of towns and of + churches, and even cathedrals—is not that piety? Can we, in these + days, conceive of religious persons being ignorant and dirty? Yet they + abound. If, therefore, we send to heaven clean, intelligent, bright-minded + saints—is not that piety? It is no bad religion—as religions + go—to believe in the good God of knowledge and cleanliness and + cheerfulness and beauty, and offer at his altar the daily sacrifice of + intelligent sincerity and material service. + </p> + <p> + We leave to others their own way of faith and worship. We ask only leave + to take our own. Carlyle has told us that only two men are to be honored, + and no third—the mechanic and the thinker: he who works with honest + hand, making the world habitable; and he who works with his brain, making + thought artistic and true. "All the rest," he adds with noble scorn, "are + chaff, which the wind may blow whither it list-eth." The certainty of + heaven is for the useful alone. Mere belief is the easiest, the poorest, + the shabbiest device by which conscientious men ever attempted to scale + the walls of Paradise. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. THE ETHICAL METHOD OF CONTROVERSY + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "It was one of the secrets of my craft in the old days, when + I wanted to weld iron or work steel to a fine purpose, to + begin gently. If I began, as all learners do, to strike my + heaviest blows at the start, the iron would crumble instead + of welding, or the steel would suffer under my hammer, so + that when it came to be tempered it would 'fly,' as we used + to say, and rob the thing I had made of its finest quality." + + —Robert Coliyer, D. D. +</pre> + <p> + "THEY who believe that they have truth ask no favor, save that of being + heard; they dare the judgment of mankind; refused co-operation, they + invoke opposition, for opposition is their opportunity." This was the + maxim I wrote at the beginning of the Secularistic movement, to show that + we were willing to accept ourselves the controversy, which we contended + was the sole means of establishing truth. No proposition, as Samuel Bailey + showed, is to be trusted until it has been tested by very wide discussion. + We soon found that the free and open field of Milton was not sufficient. + It needed a "fair" as well as a "free and open encounter." Disputants + require to be equally matched in debate as in arms. + </p> + <p> + The Secularist policy is to accept the purely moral teaching of the Bible, + and to controvert its theology, in such respects as it contradicts and + discourages ethical effort. Yet theological questions are always sought to + be forced upon us. The Rev. Henry Townley followed me to the <i>Leader</i> + office (1853-1854) to induce me to discuss the question of the "existence + of God." I never had done so, and objected that it would give the + impression that Secularism was atheistic. He was so insistent and + importunate that I consented to discuss the question with him. Never after + did I do so with any one. The Rev. Brewin Grant endeavored to get my + acceptance of propositions which pledged me to a wild opposition to + Christianity. Mr. Samuel Morley, honorable in all things, admitted I had + objected to it, but in the end I assented to it, that the discussion might + not be broken off. Thomas Cooper was persistent that I should discuss with + him the authenticity of the Scriptures. What I proposed was the + proposition that the authenticity of the Scripture, its miracles, and + prophecies are quite apart from moral truth. + </p> + <p> + The discussion took place in the city of York, lasting five nights. Canon + Robinson and Canon Hey presided alternately. Mr. Cooper was an able man in + dealing with the stock propositions of Christianity; but their relevance + as tests of morality was an entirely new subject to him. He protested + rather than reasoned, and declared he would never discuss the question of + the ethical test of the truth of Scriptures; nor have I ever found any + responsible minister willing to do so down to this day. Thus Christians + should condemn with reservation the tendency in Secularists to debate + theology, seeing how reluctant they are to do otherwise themselves. + Christians seem incapable of understanding how much the objection to their + cause arises in the revolt of the moral sense against it. + </p> + <p> + On first meeting Richard Carlile in 1842, some years before Secularism + took a distinctive form, he invited me to hear him lecture upon the + principles of the <i>Christian Warrior</i>,* of which he was editor, and + to give my opinion thereon. In doing so I explained the ideas from which I + have never departed; namely, that no theologic, astronomic, or miraculous + mode of proving Scriptural doctrine could ever be made even intelligible, + except to students of very considerable research. Such theories, I + contended, must rest, more or less, on critical and conjectural + interpretation, and could never enable a workingman to dare the + understanding of others in argument. Scientific interpretation laid + entirely outside Christian requirements, and seemed to Christians as + disingenuous evasion of what they took to be obvious truths. My contention + was that the people have no historic or critical knowledge enabling them + to determine the divine origin of Christianity. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The last periodical Mr. Carlile edited. +</pre> + <p> + On the platform he who has most knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin will + always be able to silence any dissentient who has not equal information. + If by accident a controversialist happen to possess this knowledge, it + goes for nothing unless he has credit for classical competency. In + controversy of this nature it is not enough for a man to know; he must be + known to know before his conclusions can command attention. To myself it + was not of moment whether the Scriptures were authentic or inspired. My + sole inquiry was, Did they contain clear moral guidance? If they did, I + accepted that guidance with gratitude. If I found maxims obviously useful + and true, judged by human experience, I adopted them, whether given by + inspiration or not. If precepts did not answer to this test, they were not + acceptable, though all the apostles in session had signed them. To + miracles I did not object, nor did I see any sense in endeavoring to + explain them away. We all have reason to regret that no one performs them + now. It was our misfortune that the power, delegated with so much pomp of + promise to the saints, had not descended to these days. If any preacher or + deacon could, in our day, feed five thousand men on a few loaves and a few + small fishes, and leave as many baskets of fragments as would run a + workhouse for a month, the Poor Law Commissioners would make a king of + that saint. But if a precept enjoined me to believe what was not true, it + would be a base precept, and all the miracles in the Scriptures could not + alter its character; while, if a precept be honest and just, no miracle is + wanted to attest it; indeed, a miracle to allure credence in it would only + cast suspicion on its genuineness. The moral test of the Scriptures was + sufficient, since it had the commanding advantage of appealing to the + common sense of all sorts and conditions of men, of Christian or of Pagan + persuasion. Ethical criticism has this further merit, that on the platform + of discussion the miner, the weaver, or farm-laborer is on the same level + as the priest. A man goes to heaven upon his own judgment; whereas, if his + belief is based on the learning of others, he goes to heaven second-hand. + </p> + <p> + When Mr. J. A. Froude wrote for John Henry Newman the Life of St. + Belletin, he ended with the words: "And this is all that is known, <i>and + more than all</i>, of the life of a servant of God." In the Bible there + appears to be a great deal more than was ever known. This does not concern + the Secularist, though it does the scholar. If there be moral maxims in + the Scripture, what does it matter how they got there? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. ITS DISCRIMINATION + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "There is nothing so terrible as activity without insight" + + —Goethe. +</pre> + <p> + IN 1847 I commenced in the <i>Reasoner</i> what I entitled "The Moral + Remains of the Bible,"—a selection of some splendid moral stories, + incidents, and sentences having ethical characteristics such as I doubted + not would "remain" when the Bible came to be regarded as a human book. I + wrote a "Logic of Life."* My <i>Trial of Theism</i> was only "as accused + of obstructing Secular life," as stated on the title-page. The object was + to show how much useful criticism could be entered upon without touching + the questions of authenticity, or miracles, or the existence of deity. + Thus it was left to opponents to declare that things morally incredible + were inspired by God. In this case it was not I, but <i>they</i>, who + blasphemed. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Companion to the "Logic of Death," both contained in The + Trial of Theism. +</pre> + <p> + Take the case of Samson's famous engagement with the Philistines at + Ramath,—Lehi surrounded by a band of warlike Philistines (though, as + the text implies, 3,000 of his own armed countrymen were at hand). Samson, + who had no weapon, was not given one by them, but had to look about for a + "new jawbone of an ass." With this singular instrument he killed, one + after the other, a thousand Philistine soldiers, who were big, strong men, + and, unless every blow was fatal, it must have taken several blows to kill + some of them. + </p> + <p> + Are there three places in the human body where a single blow will be sure + to kill a man? Did Samson know those places? And was he always able to + direct his blow with unerring precision to one or other of those + particular spots? If the thousand Philistines "surrounded" him, how did he + keep the others off while he struggled with the one he was killing? It is + not conceivable that the Philistines stood there to be killed, and meekly + submitted to ignoble blows, death, and degradation. The jawbone must have + been of strange texture to have crashed through armor, and have turned + aside spears and swords of stalwart warriors without chipping, splitting, + or breaking in two. What time it must have taken Samson to pursue each + man, beat off his comrades, drag him from their midst, give him the + asinine <i>coup de grāce</i>, drag and cast his dead body upon the "heaps" + of slain he was piling up! What struggling, scuffling, and turmoil of + blood and blows Samson must have gone through! Spurted all over with + blood, Barnum would have bought him for a Dime Museum as the + deepest-colored Red Indian known. No Deerfoot could have been nimbler than + Samson must have been on this mighty day. When this Herculean fight was + over, which, with the utmost expedition, must have occupied Samson six + days,—which would give 166 killed single-handed per day,—the + only effect produced upon Samson appears to have been that he was "sore + athirst." Even after this extraordinary use of the jawbone it was in such + good condition that, a hollow place being "clave" in it, a fount of water + gushed forth for refreshing this remarkable warrior. Were it not recorded + in the Bible, it would be said that the writer intended to imply that the + jawbone of the ass is to be found only in the mouth of the reader. + </p> + <p> + Can it need miracle or prophecy, authenticity, or inspiration, to attest + this story of the Jewish Jack-the-Giant-killer? What moral good can arise + from a narration which it is reverence to reject? By leaving it to the + Christian to say it is given by "inspiration" of God, it is he who + blasphemes. But if the question of authenticity were raised, the character + of the narrative would be lost sight of, and would not come into question; + while the test of moral probability decides the invalidity of the story + within the compass of the knowledge of an ordinary audience. + </p> + <p> + In the same manner, keeping to the policy of affirmation, he who maintains + the self-existence, the self-action, and eternity of the universe can be + met only by those who defame nature as a second-hand tool of God. Such are + atheists towards nature, the author of their existence, and God must so + regard them. + </p> + <p> + A single precept of Christ's, "Take no thought for the morrow," has bred + swarms of mendicants in every age since this day; but a far more dangerous + precept is "Resist not evil," which has made Christianity welcome to so + many tyrants. Christ, whatever other sentiments he had, had a slave heart. + Every friend of freedom knows that "resistance is the backbone of the + world." The patriot poet* exclaims: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Land of our Fathers—in their hour of need + God help them, guarded by the passive creed." + + * Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. +</pre> + <p> + No miracle could make these precepts true, and he who proved their + authenticity would be the enemy of mankind. + </p> + <p> + Whether Christ existed or not affects in no way what excellence and + inimitableness there was in his delineated character. His offer of + palpable materialistic evidence to Thomas showed that he recognised the + right of scepticism to relevant satisfaction. His concession of proof in + this case needed no supernatural testimony to render it admirable. + </p> + <p> + The reader will now see what the policy of Secularist advocacy is,—mainly + to test theology by its ethical import. To many all policy is restraint; + they cry down policy, and erect blundering into a virtue. + </p> + <p> + Whereas policy is guidance to a chosen end. Mathematics is but the policy + of measurement; grammar but the policy of speech; logic but the policy of + reason; arithmetic but the policy of calculation; temperance but the + policy of health; trigonometry but the policy of navigation; roads but the + policy of transit; music but the policy of controlling sound; art but the + policy of beauty; law but the policy of protection; discipline but the + policy of strength; love but the policy of affection. An enemy may object + to an adversary having a policy, because he is futile without one. The + policy adopted may be bad, but no policy at all is idiocy, and commits a + cause to the providence of Bedlam. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX. APART FROM CHRISTIANISM + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "What is written by Moses can only be read by God." + + —Bikar Proverb. +</pre> + <p> + SECULARISM differs from Christianism in so far as it accepts only the + teachings which pertain to man, and which are consonant with reason and + experience. + </p> + <p> + Parts of the Bible have moral splendor in them, but no Christian will + allow any one to take the parts he deems true, and reject as untrue those + he deems false. He who ventured to be thus eclectic would be defamed as + Paine was. Thus Christians compel those who would stand by reason to stand + apart from them. + </p> + <p> + To accept a part, and put that forward as the whole—to pretend or + even to assume it to be the whole—is dishonest. To retain a portion, + and reject what you leave, and not say so, is deceiving. To contend that + what you accept as the spirit of Christianity is in accordance with all + that contradicts it, is to spend your days in harmonising opposite + statements—a pursuit demoralising to the understanding. The + Secularist has, therefore, to choose between dishonesty, the deception of + others and deception of himself, or ethical principles independent of + Christianity—and this is what he does: + </p> + <p> + The Bible being a bundle of Hebrew tracts on tribal life and tribal spite, + its assumed infallibility is a burden, contradicting and misleading to all + who accept it as a divine handbook of duty. + </p> + <p> + In papers issued by religious societies upon the Bible it is declared to + be "so complete a system that nothing can be added to it, or taken from + it," and that "it contains everything needful to be known or done." This + is so false that no one, perceiving it, could be honest and not protest + against it in the interest of others. Recently the Bishop of Worcester + said: "It was of no use resisting the Higher Criticism. God had not been + pleased to give us what might be called a perfect Bible."* Then it is + prudence to seek a more trustworthy guide. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Midland Evening News, 1893. +</pre> + <p> + If money were bequeathed to maintain the eclectic criticism of the + Scripture, it would be confiscated by Christian law. So to stand apart is + indispensable self-defence. Individual Christians, as I well know, devote + themselves with a noble earnestness to the service of man, as they + understand his interests; but so long as Christianity retains the power of + fraud, and uses it, Christianism as a system, or as a cause, remains + outside the pale of respect. Prayer, in which the oppressed and poor are + taught to trust, is of no avail for protection or food, and the poor ought + to know it. The Bishop of Manchester declared, in my hearing, that the + Lord's Prayer will not bring us "daily bread," but that "it is an exercise + of faith to ask for what we shall not receive." But if prayer will not + bring "daily bread," it is a dangerous deception to keep up the belief + that it will. The eyes of forethought are closed by trust in such aid, + thrift is an affront to the generosity of heaven, and labor is + foolishness. But, alas! aid does not come by supplication. The + prayer-maker dies in mendicancy. It is not reverence 'to pour into the + ears of God praise for protection never accorded. Dean Stanley, admirable + as a man as well as a saint, was killed in the Deanery, Westminster, by a + bad drain, in spite of all his Collects. Dean Farrar has been driven from + St. Margaret's Rectory, in Dean's Yard, by another drain, which poisons in + spite of the Thirty-nine Articles; and Canon Eyton refuses to take up his + residence until the sanitary engineers have overhauled* the place, which, + notwithstanding the invocations of the Church, Providence does not see to. + To keep silence on the non-intervention of Providence would be to connive + at the fate of those who come to destruction by such dependence. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "O mother, praying God will save + Thy sailor! + While thy head is bowed, + His heavy-shotted hammock-shroud + Drops in his vast and wandering grave!" + + * See Westminister Gazette London Letter, November 19, 1895. +</pre> + <p> + True respect would treat God as though at the least he is a gentlemen. + Christianity does not do this. No gentleman would accept thanks for + benefits he had not conferred, nor would he exact thanks daily and hourly + for gifts he had really made, nor have the vanity to covet perpetual + thanksgivings. He who would respect God, or respect himself, must seek a + faith apart from such Christianity. + </p> + <p> + A divine, who excelled in good sense, said: "Dangerous it were for the + feeble brain of man to wade far into the doings of the Most High. Our + soundest knowledge is, to know that we know him not; <i>and our safest + eloquence concerning Him is our silence</i>; therefore it be-hoveth our + words to be wary and few."* + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Barbauld may have borrowed from Richard Hooker her fine line: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Silence is our least injurious praise."** + + * Ecclesiastical Polity, book I., | 2. + + ** Charles Lamb was of this opinion when he remarked: "Had I + to say grace, I would rather say it over a good book than + over a mutton chop." Christians say grace over an + indigestible meal. But perhaps they are right, since they + need supernatural aid to assimilate it. +</pre> + <p> + An earnest Christian, not a religious man (for all Christians are not + religious), assuming the professional familiarity with the mind of God, + said to me: "Should the Lord call you to-day, are you prepared to meet + Him?" I answered: Certainly; for the service of man in some form is seldom + absent from my thoughts, and must be consonant with his will. Were I to + pray, I should pray God to spare me from the presumption of expecting to + meet him, and from the vanity and conceit of thinking that the God of the + universe will take an opportunity of meeting me. + </p> + <p> + Who can have moral longing for a religion which represents God as hanging + over York Castle to receive the soul of Dove, the debauchee, who slowly + poisoned his wife, and whose final spiritual progress was posted day by + day on the Castle gates until the hour of the hangman came? Dove's + confession was as appalling as instructive. It ran thus: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "I know that the Eternal One, + Upon His throne divine, + Gorged with the blood of His own Son, + No longer thirsts for mine. + + "Many a man has passed his life + In doing naught but good, + Who has not half the confidence I have + In Jesus Christ, His blood."* + + * From a volume of verse privately circulated in Liverpool + at the time, by W. H. Rathbone. +</pre> + <p> + By quoting these lines, which Burns might have written, the writer is + sorry to portray, in their naked form, principles which so many cherish. + But the anatomy of creeds can no more be explained, with the garments of + tradition and sentiment upon them, than a surgeon can demonstrate the + structure of the body with the clothes on. Divine perdition is an ethical + impossibility. + </p> + <p> + Christianism is too often but a sour influence on life. It tolerates + nature, but does not enjoy it. Instead of giving men two Sundays, as it + might,—one for recreation and one for contemplation,—it + converts the only day of the poor into a penal infliction. It is always + more or less against art, parks, clubs, sanitation, equity to labor, + freedom, and many other things. If any Christians eventually accept these + material ideas, they mostly dislike them. Art takes attention from the + Gospel. In parks many delight to walk, when they might be at chapel or + church. Clubs teach men toleration, and toleration is thought to beget + indifference. Sanitation is a form of blasphemy. Every Christian sings:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Diseases are Thy servants, Lord; + They come at Thy command." +</pre> + <p> + But sanitation assassinates these "servants of the Lord." In every + hospital they are tried, condemned, and executed as the enemies of + mankind. If labor had justice, it would be independent, and no longer + hopeless, as the poor always are. Freedom renders men defiant of + subjection, which all priests are prone to exercise. Secularism has none + of this distrust and fear. It elects to be on the side of human progress, + and takes that side, withstand it who may. Thus, those who care for the + improvement of mankind must act on principles dissociated from doctrines + repellent to humanity and deterrent of ameliorative enterprise. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX. SECULARISM CREATES A NEW RESPONSIBILITY + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Mankind is an ass, who kicks those who endeavor to take off + his panniers." + + —Spanish Proverb. +</pre> + <p> + NO ONE need go to Spain to meet with animals who kick you if you serve + them. Spanish asses are to be found in every land. Could we see the legs + of truth, we should find them black and blue with the kicks received in + unloosening the panniers of error, strapped by priests on the backs of the + people. Even philosophers kick as well as the ignorant, when new ideas are + brought before them. No improvement would ever be attempted if friends of + truth were afraid of the asses' hoofs in the air. + </p> + <p> + He who maintains that mankind can be largely improved by material means, + imposes on himself the responsibility of employing such means, and of + promoting their use as far as he can, and trusting to their efficacy,—not + being discouraged because he is but one, and mankind are many. No man can + read all the books, or do all the work, of the world. It is enough that + each reads what he needs, and, in matter of moral action, does all he can. + He who does less, fails in his duty to himself and to others. + </p> + <p> + Christian doctrine has none of the responsibility which Secularism + imposes. If there be vice or rapine, oppression or murder, the purely + Christian conscience is absolved. It is the Lord's world, and nothing + could occur unless he permitted it. If any Christian heart is moved to + compassion, it commonly exudes in prayer. He "puts the matter before the + Lord and leaves it in His hands." The Secularist takes it into his own. + What are his hands for? The Christian can sit still and see children grow + up with rickets in their body and rickets in their soul. He will see them + die in a foul atmosphere, where no angel could come to receive their + spirit without first stopping his nose with his handkerchief, as I have + seen Lord Palmerston do on entering Harrow on Speech Day. The Christian + can make money out of unrequited labor. When he dies, he makes no + reparation to those who earned his wealth, but leaves it to build a + church, as though he thought God was blind, not knowing (if Christ spake + truly) that the Devil is sitting in the fender in his room, ready to carry + his soul up the chimney to bear Dives company. Why should he be anxious to + mitigate inequality of human condition? It is the Lord's will, or it would + not be. When it was seen that I was ceasing to believe this, Christians in + the church to which I belonged knelt around me, and prayed that I might be + influenced not to go out into the world to see if these things could be + improved. It was no light duty I imposed on myself. + </p> + <p> + A Secularist is mindful of Carlyle's saying, "No man is a saint in his + sleep." Indeed, if any one takes upon himself the responsibility of + bettering by reason the state of things, he will be kept pretty well awake + with his understanding. + </p> + <p> + Many persons think their own superiority sufficient for mankind, and do + not wish their exclusiveness to be encroached upon. Their plea is that + they distrust the effect of setting the multitude free from mental + tyranny, and they distrust democracy, which would sooner or later end + political tyranny. + </p> + <p> + These men of dainty distrust have a crowd of imitators, in whom nobody + recognises any superiority to justify their misgivings as to others. The + distrust of independence in the hands of the people arises mainly from the + dislike of the trouble it takes to educate the ignorant in its use and + limit. The Secularist undertakes this trouble as far as his means permit. + As an advocate of open thought and the free action of opinion, he counts + the responsibility of trust in the people as a duty. + </p> + <p> + It will be asked, What are the deterrent influences upon which Secularism + relies for rendering vice, of the major or minor kind, repellent? It + relies upon making it clear that in the order of nature retribution treads + upon the heels of transgression, and, if tardy in doing it, its steps + should be hastened. + </p> + <p> + The mark of error of life is—disease. Science can take the body to + pieces, and display mischief palpable to the eyes, when the results of + vice startle, like an apparition, those who discern that: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Their acts their angels are,—if good; if ill, + Their fatal shadows that walk by them still." +</pre> + <p> + A man is not so ready to break the laws of nature when he sees he will + break himself in doing it. He may not fear God, but he fears fever and + consumption. He may have a gay heart, but he will not like the occupation + of being his own sexton and digging his own grave. When he sees that death + lurks in the frequent glass, for instance, that spoils the flavor of the + wine. He takes less pride in the beeswing who sees the shroud in the + bottle. He may hope that God will forgive him, but he knows that death + will not. He who holds the scythe is accustomed to cut down fools, whether + they be peers or sweeps. Death knows the fool at a glance. To prevent any + mistake, Disease has marked him with her broad arrow. The young man who + once has his eyes well open to this state of the case, will be considerate + as to the quality of his pleasures, especially when he knows that alluring + but unwholesome pleasure is in the pay of death. Temperance advocates made + more converts by exhibiting the biological effects of alcohol than by all + their exhortations. + </p> + <p> + The moral nature of man is as palpable as the physical to those who look + for its signs. There is a moral squint in the judgment, as plain to be + seen as a cast in the eyes. The voice is not honest; it has the accent of + a previous conviction in it. The speech has contortions of meaning in it. + The sense is limp and flaccid, showing that the mind is flabby. Such a one + has the backbone of a fish; he does not stand upright. As the Americans + say, he does not "stand square" to anything. There is no moral pulse in + his heart. If you could take hold of his soul, it would feel like a dead + oyster, and would slip through your fingers. Everybody knows these people. + You don't consult them; you don't trust them. You would rather have no + business transactions with them. If they are in a political movement, you + know they will shuffle when the pinch of principle comes. + </p> + <p> + Crime has its consequences, and criminals, little and great, know it. When + Alaric A. Watts wrote of the last Emperor of the French:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Safe art thou, Louis!—for a time; + But tremble!—never yet was crime, + Beyond one little space, secure. + The coward and the brave alike + Can wait and watch, can rush and strike. + Which marks thee? One of them, be rare,—" +</pre> + <p> + few thought the bold prediction true; but it came to pass, and the + Napoleonic name and race became extinct, to the relief of Europe. + </p> + <p> + Trouble comes from avowing unpopular ideas. Diderot well saw this when he + said: "There is less inconvenience in being mad with the mad than in being + wise by oneself." One who regards truth as duty will accept + responsibilities. It is the American idea + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "To make a man and leave him be." +</pre> + <p> + But we must be sure we have made him a man,—self-acting, guided by + reasoned proof, and one who, as Archbishop Whately said, "believes the + principles he maintains, and maintains them because he believes them." + </p> + <p> + A man is not a man while under superstition, nor is he a man when free + from it, unless his mind is built on principles conducive and incentive to + the service of man. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI. THROUGH OPPOSITION TO RECOGNITION + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "So many gods, so many creeds— + So many paths that wind and wind, + While just the art of being kind + Is all the sad world needs." + + —Ella Wheeler Wilcox. +</pre> + <p> + LADY HESTER STANHOPE said she knew "Lord Byron must be a bad man, for he + was always <i>intending</i> something." Any improvement in the method of + life is "intending something," and society ought to be tolerant of those + whose badness takes no worse form. The rules Secularism prescribes for + human conduct are few, and no intelligent preacher would say they indicate + a dangerous form of "badness." They are: + </p> + <p> + 1. Truth in speech. + </p> + <p> + 2. Honesty in transaction. + </p> + <p> + 3. Industry in business. + </p> + <p> + 4. Equity in according the gain among those whose diligence and vigilance + help to produce it. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Though this world be but a bubble, + Two things stand like stone— + Kindness in another's trouble, + Courage in your own." +</pre> + <p> + Learning and fortune do but illuminate these virtues. They cannot + supersede them. The germs of these qualities are in every human heart. It + is only necessary that we cultivate them. Men are like billiard balls—they + would all go into the right pockets in a few generations, if rightly + propelled. Yet these principles, simple and unpretending as they are, + being founded on considerations apart from modes of orthodox thought, have + had a militant career. The Spanish proverb has been in request: "Beware of + an ox before, of a mule behind, and of a monk on every side." The monk, + tonsured and untonsured, is found in every religion. + </p> + <p> + In Glasgow I sometimes delivered lectures on the Sunday in a quaint old + hall situated up a wynd in Candleriggs. On the Saturday night I gave a + woman half-a-crown to wash and whiten the stairs leading to the hall, and + the passage leading to the street and across the causeway, so that the + entrance to the hall should be clean and sweet. Sermons were preached in + the same hall when the stairs were repulsively dirty. The woman remarked + to a neighbor that "Mr. Holyoake's views were wrang, but he seemed to have + clean principles." He who believes in the influence of material conditions + will do what he can to have them pure, not only where he speaks, but where + he frequents and where he resides. The theological reader, who by accident + or curiosity looks over these pages, will find much from which he will + dissent; but I hope he will be able to regard this book as one of "clean + principles," as far as the limited light of the author goes. Accepting the + "golden rule" of Huxley—"Give unqualified assent to no propositions + but those the truth of which is so clear and distinct that they cannot be + doubted"—causes the Secularist to credit less than his neighbors, + and that goes against him; being, as it were, a reproach of their avidity + of belief. One reason for writing this book is to explain—to as many + of the new generation as may happen to read it—the discrimination of + Secularism. Newspapers and the clerical class, who ought to be well + informed, continually speak of mere free-thinking as Secularism. How this + has been caused has already been indicated. Two or three remarkable and + conspicuous representatives of free thought, who found iconoclasticism + easier, less responsible, and more popular, have given to many erroneous + impressions. When Mr. Bradlaugh, Mrs. Besant, and Mr. Foote came into the + Secularistic movement, which preceded their day, they gave proof that they + understood its principles, which they afterwards disregarded or postponed. + I cite their opinions lest the reader should think that this book gives an + account of a form of thought not previously known. One wrote: + </p> + <p> + "From very necessity, Secularism is affirmative and constructive; it is + impossible to thoroughly negate any falsehood without making more or less + clear the opposing truth."* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * "Secularism: What Is It?" National Secular Society's + Tracts—No. 7. By Charles Bradlaugh. +</pre> + <p> + Again: + </p> + <p> + "Secularism conflicts with theology in this: that the Secularist teaches + the improvability of humanity by human means; while the theologian not + only denies this, but rather teaches that the Secular effort is + blasphemous and unavailing unless preceded and accompanied by reliance on + divine aid."* + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Besant said: + </p> + <p> + "Still we have won a plot of ground—men's and women's hearts. To + them Secularism has a message; to them it brings a rule of conduct; to + them it gives a test of morality, and a guide through the difficulties of + life. Our morality is tested only—be it noted—by utility in + this life and in this world."** + </p> + <p> + Mr. Foote was not less discerning and usefully explicit, saying: + </p> + <p> + "Secularism is founded upon the distinction between the things of time and + the things of eternity.... The good of others Secularism declares to be + the law of morality; and although certain theologies secondarily teach the + same doctrine, yet they differ from Secularism in founding it upon the + supposed will of God, thus admitting the possibility of its being set + aside in obedience to some other equally or more imperative divine + injunction."*** + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * "Why Are We Secularists?" National Secular Society's + Tracts—No. 8. By Charles Bradlaugh. + + ** "Secular Morality." National Secular Society's Tracts— + No. 3. By Annie Besant. + + *** Secularism and Its Misrepresentation, by G. W. Foote, + who subsequently succeeded Mr. Bradlaugh as President of the + National Secular Society. +</pre> + <p> + For several years the <i>National Reformer</i> bore the subtitle of + "Secular Advocate." + </p> + <p> + We could not expect early concurrence with the policy of preferring + ethical to theological questions of theism and unprovable immortality. We + accepted the maxim of Sir Philip Sydney—namely, that "Reason cannot + show itself more reasonable than to leave reasoning on things above + reason." We are not in the land of the real yet, common sense is not half + so romantic to the average man as the transcendental, and an atheistical + advocacy got the preference with the impetuous. The Secularistic proposal + to consult the instruction of an adversary proved less exciting than his + destruction. The patience and resource it implies to work by reason alone + are not to the taste of those to whom a kick is easier than a kindness, + and less troublesome than explanation. Those who have the refutatory + passion intense say you must clear the ground before you can build upon + it. Granted; nevertheless, the signs of the times show that a good deal of + ground has been cleared. The instinct of progress renders the minority, + who reflect, more interested in the builder than the undertaker. What + would be thought of a general who delayed occupying a country he had + conquered until he had extirpated all the inhabitants in it? So, in the + kingdom of error, he who will go on breaking images, without setting + statues up in their place, will give superstition a long life. The savage + man does not desert his idols because you call them ugly. It is only by + slow degrees, and under the influence of better-carved gods, that his + taste is changed and his worship improved. The reader will see that + Secularism leaves the mystery of deity to the chartered imagination of + man, and does not attempt to close the door of the future, but holds that + the desert of another existence belongs only to those who engage in the + service of man in this life. Prof. F. W. Newman says: "The conditions of a + future life being unknown, there is no imaginable means of benefiting + ourselves and others in it, except by aiming after present goodness."* + </p> + <p> + Men have a right to look beyond this world, but not to overlook it. Men, + if they can, may connect themselves with eternity, but they cannot + disconnect themselves from humanity without sacrificing duty. The purport + of Secularism is not far from the tenor of the famous sermon by the Rev. + James Caird, of which the Queen said: + </p> + <p> + "He explained in the most simple manner what real religion is—not a + thing to drive us from the world, not a perpetual moping over 'good' + books; but being and doing good."** + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Prof. P. W. Newman, who is always clear beyond all + scholars, and candid beyond all theologians, has published a + Palinode retracting former conclusions he had published, and + admitting the uncertainty of the evidence in favor of after- + existence. + + ** The Queen on the Rev. J. Caird's sermon, Leaves from the + Journal of Our Life in the Highlands. +</pre> + <p> + This end we reach not by a theological, but by a Secular, path. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII. SELF-EXTENDING PRINCIPLES + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Prodigious actions may as well be done + By weaver's issue as by prince's son." + + —Dryden. +</pre> + <p> + SO FAR as Secularism is reasonable, it must be self-extending among all + who think. Adherents of that class are slowly acquired. Accessions begin + in criticism, though that, as we have seen, is apt to stop there. In all + movements the most critical persons are the least suggestive of + improvements. Constructiveness only excites enthusiasm in fertile minds. + After the Cowper Street Discussion with the Rev. Brewin Grant in 1853, see + Chapter X, page 50, societies, halls, and newspapers adopted the Secular + name. In 1863 appeared the <i>Christian Reasoner</i>, edited by the Rev. + Dr. Rylance, a really reasoning clergyman, whom I afterwards had the + pleasure to know in New York. His publication was intended to be a + substitute for the <i>Reasoner</i>, which I had then edited for seventeen + years. But when the <i>Reasoner</i> commenced, in 1846, Christian + believing was far more thought of than Christian reasoning. One line in + Dr. Rylance's <i>Christian Reasoner</i> was remarkable, which charged us + with "forgetfulness of the necessary incompleteness of Re-velation." + </p> + <p> + So far from forgetting it, it was one of the grounds on which Secularism + was founded. However, it is to the credit of Dr. Rylance that he should + have preceded, by thirty years, the Bishop of Worcester in discerning the + shortcomings of Revelation, as cited in Chapter XIX, page 101. + </p> + <p> + In 1869 we obtained the first Act of Secular affirmation, which Mr. J. S. + Mill said was mainly due to my exertions, and to my example of never + taking an oath. In obtaining the Act, I had no help from Mr. Bradlaugh, he + being an ostentatious oath-taker at that time. It was owing to Mr. G. W. + Hastings (then, or afterwards, M. P.), the founder of the Social Science + Association, that the Affirmation clause was added to the Act of 1869. One + of the objects we avowed was "to procure a law of affirmation for persons + who objected to take the oath."* + </p> + <p> + Another of our aims was stated to be: "To convert churches and chapels + into temples of instruction for the people.... to solicit priests to be + teachers of useful knowledge."** We strove to promote these ends by + holding in honor all who gave effect to such human precepts as were + contained in Christianity. This fairness and justice has led many to + suppose that I accepted the theological as well as the ethical passages in + the Scriptures. But how can a Christian preacher be inclined to risk the + suspicion of the narrower-minded members of his congregation, if no one + gives him credit for doing right when he does it? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Secularism the Practical Philosophy of the People, p. 13; + 1854. Fifteen years before the first Act was passed. + + ** Secularism the Practical Philosophy of the People, by G. + J. Holyoake, p. 12; 1854. +</pre> + <p> + With our limited means and newness of doctrine, we could not hope to rival + an opulent hierarchy and occupy its temples; but we knew that the truth, + if we had it, and could diffuse it in a reasonable manner, would make its + way and gradually change the convictions of a theological caste. The very + nature of Free-thought makes it impossible for a long time yet, that we + should have many wealthy or well-placed supporters. Where the platform is + open to every subject likely to be of public service—subjects + suppressed everywhere else, and open to the discussion of the wise or + foolish present who may arise to speak, outrages of good taste will occur. + Persons who forget that abuse does not destroy use, and that freedom is + more precious than propriety, cease to support a free-speaking Society. + The advocacy of slave emancipation was once an outrage in America. It is + now regarded as the glory of the nation. In an eloquent passage it has + been pointed out what society owes to the unfriended efforts of those who + established and have maintained the right of free speech. + </p> + <p> + "Theology of the old stamp, so far from encouraging us to love nature, + teaches us that it is under a curse. It teaches us to look upon the animal + creation with shuddering disgust; upon the whole race of man, outside our + narrow sect, as delivered over to the Devil; and upon the laws of nature + at large as a temporary mechanism, in which we have been caught, but from + which we are to anticipate a joyful deliverance. It is science, not + theology, which has changed all this; it is the atheists, infidels, and + rationalists, as they are kindly called, who have taught us to take fresh + interest in our poor fellow denizens of the world, and not to despise them + because Almighty Benevolence could not be expected to admit them to + Heaven. To the same teaching we owe the recognition of the noble + aspirations embodied in every form of religion, and the destruction of the + ancient monopoly of divine influences."* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Leslie Stephens's Freetkinking and Plain Speaking. +</pre> + <p> + Those who, in storm and stress, bring truth into the world may not be able + to complete its triumph, but it makes its own way, and finally conquers + the understanding of mankind. + </p> + <p> + Priestley, without fortune, with only the slender income of a Unitarian + minister, created and kept up a chemical laboratory. There alone he + discovered oxygen. Few regarded him, few applauded him; only a few + Parisian philosophers thanked him. He had no disciples to spread his new + truth. He was not even tolerated in the town which he endowed with the + fame of his priceless discovery. His house was burnt by a Church-and-King + mob; his instruments, books, and manuscripts destroyed; and he had to seek + his fortune in a foreign land. + </p> + <p> + Yet what has come out of his discovery? It has become part of the + civilisation of the world, and mankind owe more to him than they yet + understand. + </p> + <p> + When a young man, he forsook the Calvinism in which he was reared. "I + came," he said, "to embrace what is called heterodox views on every + question."* He cared for this world as well as for another, and hence was + distrusted by all "true believers." Though he had "spiritual hopes," he + agreed that he should be called a materialist. + </p> + <p> + We have now had (1895) a London Reform Sunday, more than two hundred and + fifty (one list gave four hundred) preachers of all denominations taking + for their unprecedented text, "The Duties and Responsibilities of + Citizenship,"—a thing the most sanguine deemed incredible when + suggested by me in 1854.** Within twenty years Dr. Felix Adler has founded + noble Ethical Societies. Dr. Stanton Coit is extending them in Great + Britain. They are Secularist societies in their nature. South Place Chapel + now has taken the name of Ethical Society. Since the days of W. J. Fox, + who first made it famous, it has been the only successor in London of the + Moral Church opened by Thomas Holcroft. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * See Chambers's Encyclopaedia (1888); article: Priestley. + + ** We have now a Museum Sunday. Even twenty years ago those + who advocated the Sunday opening of museums were counted + irreverent and beyond the pale of grace. Their opening is + now legalised (1896). +</pre> + <p> + Though modern Secular societies, to which these pages relate, have been + anti-theological mainly, the Secular Society of Leicester is a + distinguished exception. It has long had a noble hall of its own, and from + the earliest inception of Secularism it has been consistent and persistent + in its principles. As stated elsewhere,* the "Principles of Secularism" + were submitted to John Stuart Mill in 1854, and his approval was of + importance in the eyes of their advocates. In the first issue of <i>Chambers's + Encyclopaedia</i> a special article appeared upon these views, and in the + later issue of that work in 1888 a new article was written on Secularism. + In the Rev. Dr. Molesworth's <i>History of England</i> a very clear + account was given of the rise of Secularist opinions. This will be + sufficient information for readers unacquainted with the subject. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Sixty Years of an Agitator's Life, Chap. CX. +</pre> + <p> + The cause of reason has had more to confront than the cause of + Christianity, which has always been on the side of power since the days of + Christ. The two most influential ideas which, in every age since + Christianity arose, have given it currency among the ignorant and the + credulous, have been the ideas of Hell and prayer. Hell has been the + terror, and prayer the bribe, which have won the allegiance of the timid + and the needy. These two master passions of alarm and despair have brought + the unfortunate portions of mankind to the foot of the Cross. + </p> + <p> + The cause of reason has no advantages of this nature, and only the + intelligent have confidence in its progress. If we have expected to do + more than we have, we are not the only party who have been prematurely + sanguine. The Rev. David Bogue, preaching in Whitfield's Tabernacle, + Tottenham-Court Road, at the foundation of the Foreign Missionary Society + (1790) of the Congregational denomination, exclaimed amid almost + unequalled enthusiasm: "We are called together this evening to the funeral + of bigotry." Judging from what has happened since, bigotry was not dead + when its funeral was prepared, or it was not effectually buried, as it has + been seen much about since that day. + </p> + <p> + Bigotry, like Charles II., takes an unconscionable time in dying. Down to + Sir Charles Lyell's days, so harmless a study as geology was distrusted, + and Lyell, like Priestley, had to seek auditors in America. While he + lectured at Boston to 1,500 persons, 2,000 more were unable to obtain + tickets, which were bought at a guinea each extra. At our great ancient + seat of learning, Oxford, Buckland lectured on the same interesting + subject to an audience of three. + </p> + <p> + Secularism keeps the lamp of free thought burning by aiding and honoring + all who would infuse an ethical passion into those who lead the growing + army of independent thinkers. Our lamp is not yet a large one, and its + supply of oil is limited by Christian law; but, like the fire in the + Temple of Montezuma, we keep it burning. In all the centuries since the + torch of free thought was first lighted, though often threatened, often + assailed, often dimned, it has never been extinguished. We could not hope + to captivate society by splendid edifices, nor many cultivated advocates; + but truth of principle will penetrate where those who maintain it will + never be seen and never heard. The day cometh when other torches will be + lighted at the obscure fire, which, borne aloft by other and stronger + hands, will shed lasting illumination where otherwise darkness would + permanently prevail. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning has said: "Truth is + like sacramental bread,—we must pass it on." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SECULARIST CEREMONIES. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Death is the decisive test of the value of the education + and morality of society; Secular funerals are the symbol of + the social renovation." + + —J. P. Proudhon. +</pre> + <p> + CERTAIN ceremonies are common to all human society, and should be + consistent with the opinions of those in whose name the ceremonies take + place. The marriage service of the Church contains things no bride could + hear without a blush, if she understood them; and the Burial Service + includes statements the minister ought to know to be untrue, and by which + the sadness of death is desecrated. The Secularist naturally seeks other + forms of speech. It being a principle of Secularism to endeavor to replace + what it deems bad by something better—or more consistent with its + profession—the following addresses are given. Other hands may supply + happier examples; but, in the meantime, these which follow may meet with + the needs of those who have no one at hand to speak for them, and are not + accustomed to speak for themselves. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ON MARRIAGE. + </h2> + <p> + Marriage involves several things of which few persons think beforehand, + and which it is useful to call their attention to at this time. The + bridegroom, by the act of marriage, professes that he has chosen out of + all the women of the world, known to him, the one to whom he will be + faithful while life shall last. He declares the bride to be his + preference, and, whoever he may see hereafter, or like, or love, the door + of association shall be shut upon them in his heart for ever. The bride, + on her part, declares and promises the same things. The belief in each + other's perfection is the most beautiful illusion of love. Sometimes the + illusion happily continues during life. It may happen—it does happen + sometimes—that each discovers that the other is not perfect. The + Quaker's advice was: "Open your eyes wide before marriage, but shut them + afterwards." Those who have neglected the first part of this counsel will + still profit by observing the second. Let those who will look about, and + put tormenting constructions on innocent acts: beware of jealousy, which + kills more happiness than ever Love created. + </p> + <p> + The result of marriage is usually offspring, when society will have + imposed upon it an addition to its number. It is necessary for the credit + of the parents, as well as for the welfare of the children, that they + should be born healthy, reared healthy, and be well educated; so that they + may be strong and intelligent when the time comes for them to encounter, + for themselves, the vicissitudes of life. Those who marry are considered + to foreknow and to foresee these duties, and to pledge themselves to do + the best in their power to discharge them. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, and ever afterwards, let love reign between you. And + remember the minister of Love is deference towards each other. Ceremonial + manners are conducive to affection. Love is not a business, but the + permanence of love is a business. + </p> + <p> + Unless there are good humor, patience, pleasantness, discretion, and + forbearance, love will cease. Those who expect perfection will lose + happiness. A wise tolerance is the sunshine of love, and they who maintain + the sentiment will come to count their marriage the beginning of the + brightness of life. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + NAMING CHILDREN. + </h2> + <p> + In naming children it is well to avoid names whose associations pledge the + child, without its consent, to some line of action it may have no mind to, + or capacity for, when grown up. A child called "Brutus" would be expected + to stab Cęsar—and the Cęsars are always about. The name "Washington" + destroyed a politician of promise who bore it. He could never live up to + it. A name should be a pleasant mark to be known by, not a badge to be + borne. + </p> + <p> + In formally naming a child it is the parents alone to whom useful words + can be addressed. + </p> + <p> + Heredity, which means qualities derived from parentage, is a prophecy of + life. Therefore let parents render themselves as perfect in health, as + wise in mind, and as self-respecting in manners as they can; for their + qualities in some degree will appear in their offspring. One advantage of + children is that they contribute unconsciously to the education of + parents. No parents of sense can fail to see that children are as + imitative as monkeys, and have better memories. Not only do they imitate + actions, but repeat forms of expression, and will remember them ever + after. The manners of parents become more or less part of the manners and + mind of the child. Sensible parents, seeing this, will put a guard upon + their conduct and speech, so that their example in act and word may be a + store-house of manners and taste from which their children may draw wisdom + in conduct and speech. The minds of children are as photographic plates on + which parents are always printing something which will be indelibly + visible in future days. Therefore the society, the surroundings, the + teachers of the child, so far as the parents can control them, should be + well chosen, in order that the name borne by the young shall command + respect when their time comes to play a part in the drama of life. To this + end a child should be taught to take care what he promises, and that when + he has given his promise he has to keep it, for he whose word is not to be + trusted is always suspected, and his opinion is not sought by others, or + is disregarded when uttered. A child should early learn that debt is + dependence, and the habit of it is the meanness of living upon loans. + There can be no independence, no reliance upon the character of any one, + who will buy without the means of payment, or who lives beyond his income. + Such persons intend to live on the income of some one else, and do it + whether they intend it or not. He alone can be independent who trusts to + himself for advancement. No one ought to be helped forward who does not + possess this quality, or will not put his hand to any honest work open to + him. Beware of the child who has too much pride to do what he can for his + own support, but has not too much pride to live upon his parents, or upon + friends. Such pride is idleness, or thoughtlessness, or both, unless + illness causes the inability. + </p> + <p> + Since offspring have to be trained in health and educated in the + understanding, there must not be many in the family unless the parents + have property. The poor cannot afford to have many children if they intend + to do their duty by them. It is immoral in the rich to have many because + the example is bad, and because they are sooner or later quartered upon + the people to keep them; or, if they are provided for by their parents, + they are under no obligation to do anything for themselves, which is + neither good for them nor good for the community, to which they contribute + nothing. + </p> + <p> + Believing this child will be trained by its parents to be an honor to + them, and a welcome addition to the family of humanity, it is publicly + named with pleasure. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + OVER THE DEAD. + </h2> + <h3> + I.——READING AT A GRAVE. + </h3> + <p> + Esdras and Uriel, + </p> + <p> + [An argument in which the Prophet speaks as a Secularist.] + </p> + <p> + And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, said:—I + am sent to show thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before + thee: whereof, if thou canst declare me one, I will show thee also the way + that thou desirest to see.... + </p> + <p> + And I said, Tell on, my Lord. + </p> + <p> + Then said he unto me, Go thy way; weigh me the weight of the fire, or + measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past. + </p> + <p> + Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest + ask such things of me? + </p> + <p> + And he said unto me, If I should ask thee how great dwellings are in the + midst of the sea, or how many springs are in the beginning of the deep, or + how many springs are above the firmament, or which are the outgoings of + Paradise, peradventure thou wouldst say unto me, I never went down into + the deep, nor as yet into Hell, neither did I ever climb up into Heaven. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, now have I asked thee but only of the fire, and wind, and of + the day wherethrough thou hast passed, and of things from which thou canst + not be separated, and yet canst thou give me no answer of them. + </p> + <p> + He said, moreover, unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown up + with thee, canst thou not know? How should thy vessel, then, be able to + comprehend the way of the Highest?.... + </p> + <p> + Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all than that we + should live still in wickedness and to suffer, and not to know wherefor. + </p> + <p> + He answered me and said, I went into a forest, into a plain, and the trees + took counsel, and said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea, that + it may depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods. + </p> + <p> + The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, + let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain: that there also we may + make us another country. + </p> + <p> + The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it. + The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand + stood up and stopped them. + </p> + <p> + If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to + justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn? + </p> + <p> + I answered, and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have + devised; for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also hath his + place to bear his floods. + </p> + <p> + Then answered he me and said, Thou hast given a right judgment; but why + judgest thou not thyself also? For like as the ground is given unto the + woods, and the sea to his floods, even so they that dwell upon the earth + may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he that + dwelleth upon the heavens may only understand the things that are above + the height of the heavens. + </p> + <p> + Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have + understanding. + </p> + <p> + For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things y but of such as + pass by us daily. + </p> + <p> + Harriet Martineau's Hymn.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Which may be sung where it can be so arranged. +</pre> + <p> + [The only hymn known to me in which a Supreme Cause is implied without + being asserted or denied, or the reader committed to belief in it.] + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Beneath this starry arch + Nought resteth or is still, + But all things hold their march + As if by one great will: + Moves one, move all: + Hark to the footfall! + On, on, for ever! + + Yon sheaves were once but seed; + Will ripens into deed. + As eave-drops swell the streams, + Day-thoughts feed nightly dreams; + And sorrow tracketh wrong, + As echo follows song, + On, on, for ever! + + By night, like stars on high, + The hours reveal their train; + They whisper and go by; + I never watch in vain: + Moves one, move all: + Hark to the footfall! + On, on, for ever! + + They pass the cradle-head, + And there a promise shed; + They pass the moist new grave, + And bid bright verdure wave; + They bear through every clime, + The harvests of all time, + On, on, for ever! +</pre> + <p> + II.—AT THE GRAVE OF A CHILD. + </p> + <p> + The death of a child is alone its parents' sorrow. Too young to know, too + innocent to fear, its life is a smile and its death a sleep. As the sun + goes down before our eyes, so a mother's love vanishes from the gaze of + infancy, and death, like evening, comes to it with quietness, gentleness, + and rest. We measure the loss of a child by the grief we feel. When its + love is gone, its promise over, and its prattle silent, its fate excites + the parents' tears; but we forget that infancy, like the rose, is + unconscious of the sweetness it sheds, and it parts without pain from the + pleasure it was too young to comprehend, though engaging enough to give to + others. The death of a child is like the death of a day, of which George + Herbert sings: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Sweet day, so clear, so calm, so bright + Bridal of the earth and sky; + The dew shall weep thy fall to-night— + For thou must die." +</pre> + <p> + It is no consolation to say, "When a child dies it is taken from the + sorrows of life." Yes! it is taken from the sorrows of life, and from its + joys also. When the young die they are taken away from the evil, and from + good as well. What parents' love does not include the happiness of its + offspring? No! we will not cheat ourselves. Death is a real loss to those + who mourn, and the world is never the same again to those who have wept by + the grave of a child. Argument does not, in that hour, reach the heart. It + is human to weep, and sympathy is the only medicine of great grief. The + sight of the empty shoe in the corner will efface the most relevant logic. + Not all the preaching since Adam has made death other than death. Yet, + though sorrow cannot be checked at once by reason, it may be chastened by + it. Wisdom teaches that all human passions must be subordinate to the + higher purposes of life. We must no more abandon ourselves to grief than + to vice. The condition of life is the liability to vicissitude, and, while + it is human to feel, it is duty to endure. The flowers fade, and the stars + go down, and youth and loveliness vanish in the eternal change. Though we + cannot but regret a vital loss, it is wisdom to love all that is good for + its own sake; to enjoy its presence fully, but not to build on its + continuance, doing what we can to insure its continuance, and bearing with + fortitude its loss when it comes. If the death of infancy teaches us this + lesson, the past may be a charmed memory, with courage and dignity in it. + </p> + <p> + III.—MEN OR WOMEN. + </p> + <p> + The science of life teaches us that while there is pain there is life. It + would seem, therefore, that death, with silent and courteous step, never + comes save to the unconscious. A niece of Franklin's, known for her wit + and consideration for others, arrived at her last hour at the age of + ninety-eight. In her composure a friend gently touched her. "Ah," murmured + the old lady, "I was dying so beautifully when you brought me back! But + never mind, my dear; I shall try it again." This bright resignation, + worthy of the niece of a philosopher, is making its way in popular + affection. + </p> + <p> + Lord Tennyson, when death came near to him, wrote: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Sunset and evening star, + And one clear call for me! + And may there be no moaning of the bar + When I put out to sea. + + "Twilight and evening bell, + And after that the dark, + And may there be no sadness of farewell + When I embark." +</pre> + <p> + There is just a touch of superstition in these genial lines. He writes: + "After death the dark." How did he know that? What evidence is there that + the unknown land is "dark"? Why not light? The unknown has no determinate + or ascertained color. + </p> + <p> + Where we know nothing, neither priest nor poet has any right to speak as + though he had knowledge. Improbability does not imply impossibility. That + which invests death with romantic interest is, that it may be a venture on + untried existence. If a future state be true, it will befall those who do + not expect it as well as those who do. Another world, if such there be, + will come most benefitingly and most agreeably to those who have qualified + themselves for it, by having made the best use in their power of this. By + best use is meant the service of man. Desert consists alone in the service + of others. Kindness and cheerfulness are the two virtues which most + brighten human life. + </p> + <p> + Wide-eyed philanthropy is not merely money-giving goodness, but the wider + kindness which aids the ascendancy of the right and minimises misery + everywhere. + </p> + <p> + Death teaches, as nothing else does, one useful lesson. Whatever affection + or friendship we may have shown to one we have lost, Death brings to our + memory countless acts of tenderness which we had neglected. Conscience + makes us sensible of these omissions now it is too late to repair them. + But we can pay to the living what we think we owe to the dead; whereby we + transmute the dead we honor into benefactors of those they leave behind. + This is a useful form of consolation, of which all survivors may avail + themselves. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Ernestine Rose—a brave advocate of unfriended right—when + age and infirmity brought her near to death, recalled the perils and + triumphs in which she had shared, the slave she had helped to set free + from the bondage of ownership, and the slave minds she had set free from + the bondage of authority; she was cheered, and exclaimed: "But I have + lived." + </p> + <p> + The day will come when all around this grave shall meet death; but it will + be a proud hour if, looking back upon a useful and generous past, we each + can say: "I have <i>lived</i>." + </p> + <p> + IV.——ON A CAREER OF PUBLIC USEFULNESS. + </p> + <p> + In reasoning upon death no one has surpassed the argument of Socrates, who + said: "Death is one of two things: either the dead may be nothing and have + no feeling—well, then, if there be no feeling, but it be like sleep, + when the sleeper has no dream, surely death would be a marvellous gain, + for thus all futurity appears to be nothing more than one night. If, on + the other hand, death be a removal hence to another place, and what is + said be true, that all the dead are there, what greater blessing can there + be than this?" + </p> + <p> + Sir Edwin Arnold, in his <i>Secret of Death</i>, writes: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Nay, but as when one layeth + His worn-out robes away, + And, taking new ones, sayeth, + 'These will I wear to-day!' + + So putteth by the spirit + Lightly its garb of flesh, + And passeth to inherit + A residence afresh." +</pre> + <p> + This may be true, and there is no objection to it if it is. But the pity + is, nobody seems to be sure about it. At death we may mourn, but duty + ceaseth not. If we desist in endeavors for the right because a combatant + falls at our side, no battle will ever be won. "Life," Mazzini used to + say, "is a battle and a march." Those who serve others at their own peril + are always in + </p> + <p> + "battle." Let us honor them as they pass. Some of them have believed: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Though love repine and reason chafe, + There came a voice without reply— + 'Tis man's perdition to be safe, + When for the truth he ought to die.'" +</pre> + <p> + They are of those who, as another poet has said, "are not to be mourned, + but to be imitated."* The mystery of death is no greater than the mystery + of life. All that precedes our existence was unseen, unimaginable, and + unknown to us. What may succeed in the future is unprovable by philosopher + or priest: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "A flower above and the mould below: + And this is all that the mourners know."** +</pre> + <p> + The ideal of life which gives calmness and confidence in death is the same + in the mind of the wise Christian as in the mind of the philosopher. + Sydney Smith says: "Add to the power of discovering truth the desire of + using it for the promotion of human happiness, and you have the great end + and object of our existence."*** Putting just intention into action, a man + fulfils the supreme duty of life, which casts out all fear of the future. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * W. J. Linton. + + ** Barry Cornwall. + + *** Moral Philosophy. +</pre> + <p> + A poet who thought to reconcile to their loss those whose lines have not + fallen to them in pleasant places wrote: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "A little rule, a little sway, + A sunbeam on a winter's day, + Is all the proud and mighty have + Between the cradle and the grave." +</pre> + <p> + This is not true; the proud and mighty have rest at choice, and play at + will. The "sunbeam" is on them all their days. Between the cradle and the + grave is the whole existence of man. The splendid inheritance of the + "proud and mighty" ought to be shared by all whose labor creates and makes + possible the good fortune of those who "toil not, neither do they spin"*, + and whoever has sought to endow the industrious with liberty and + intelligence, with competence and leisure, we may commit to the earth in + the sure and certain hope that they deserve well, and will fare well, in + any "land of the leal" to which mankind may go. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's English Secularism, by George Jacob Holyoake + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENGLISH SECULARISM *** + +***** This file should be named 38104-h.htm or 38104-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/1/0/38104/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +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. 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