diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38303-8.txt | 2946 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38303-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 67577 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38303-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 70507 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38303-h/38303-h.htm | 3269 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38303.txt | 2946 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38303.zip | bin | 0 -> 67560 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 9177 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38303-8.txt b/38303-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..08a105e --- /dev/null +++ b/38303-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2946 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ingersoll in Canada, by Allen Pringle + +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: Ingersoll in Canada + A Reply to Wendling, Archbishop Lynch, Bystander; and Others + +Author: Allen Pringle + +Release Date: December 14, 2011 [EBook #38303] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INGERSOLL IN CANADA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +INGERSOLL IN CANADA + +A REPLY TO WENDLING, ARCHBISHOP LYNCH, BYSTANDER; AND OTHERS. + +By Allen Pringle + +"If all mankind, minus one, were of one opinion, mankind would no more +justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, +would be justified in silencing mankind."--_J. S. Mill, On Liberty_. + + "Here's freedom to him that would read, + Here's freedom to him that would write; + Thert's nane ever feared that the truth should be heard, + But they whom the truth would indite."--Burns. + +"He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a a fool; and he +who dares not is a slave."--_Philosopher_. + +PER CONTRA: "Do not try to reason or you are lost."--_Moody, the +Evangelist_. + +"Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may." + +"Fear first made Gods in the world."--_Lucretius_ + + +"Theology I define to be the art of teaching what nobody knows."--_Lord +Brougham_ + +"It matters not to me whether my neighbors believe in one God or +twenty"--_Jefferson_ + +"The natural world is infinite and eternal. The universe was not called +into being from non-entity."--_Plato_ + +"To assert that Christianity communicated to man moral truths previously +unknown, argues, on the part of the assertor, either gross ignorance or +else wilful fraud."--_Buckle_ + +"Nature is seen to do all things of herself without the meddling of the +Gods."--_Lucretius_ + +"Is there no 'inspiration,' then, but an ancient Jewish, Greekish, Roman +one, with big revenues, loud liturgies, and red stockings?"--_Thos. +Carlyle_ + +"Inanity well tailored and upholstered, mild-spoken Ambiguity, decorous +Hypocrisy, which is astonished you should, think it hypocritical, taking +their room and drawing their wages: from zenith to nadir you have Cant, +Cant--a universe of incredibilities which are not even credited, +which each man at best only tries to persuade himself that he +credits."--_Thomas Carlyle_ + +"The highest possible welfare of all present mankind is my religion; +the perfectibility of the future of our race here upon this planet is +my faith; and I would the time had come, as it yet will come, that this +faith were the religion of all mankind."--_Lord Queensbury_ (who +was recently excluded from the English House of Lords because of his +unorthodox opinions.) + + + + +PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. + +TO THE CLERGY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS OF ONTARIO. + +Gentlemen,--Through the generous and voluntary liberality of a highly +esteemed and estimable Freethought friend, and at his suggestion, I have +been enabled to get out this Second Edition of my pamphlet, of upwards +of 4,000 copies, chiefly for gratuitous distribution among yourselves. +The gentleman referred to conceived the project of supplying every +Minister in the Province with a copy, and it was further decided to also +supply the College Students. + +The compliment to pamphlet and author, which this action on the part of +an intelligent and discriminating Liberal implies, I, of course, duly +appreciate. When the work was written a few months ago, at the request +of fellow-liberals, I had no expectation that it would ultimately +go before so critical and learned a body of readers as the Clergy, +Graduates, and College Students of Ontario. I supposed one modest +edition of 2,000 copies would be all that would ever see the light. +But it has been otherwise desired by my readers. I have, therefore, +no further apology to make for presenting you with the work (my object +being the advancement of truth), and I earnestly submit for your best +consideration its subject matter rather than its literary merits or +demerits. The time has come when these great questions must be examined, +for they _will_ come to the front in spite of the most tenacious +conservatism. Everywhere, thoughtful men are earnestly looking into +them. That the old landmarks in religious belief are being effaced and +the Creeds and Confessions rapidly breaking up is becoming every day +more and more apparent. Goldwin Smith, a man of great historical acumen, +has recently said "A collapse of religious belief, of the most complete +and tremendous kind, is, apparently, now at hand."* The Rev. Hugh +Pedley, B.A., Cobourg, in a very able paper in the July (1880) number of +the _Canadian Monthly_, on "Theological Students and the Times," says: +"There can be no doubt that all forms of thought, all systems of belief, +however venerable with age, are being: handled with the utmost freedom. +Skepticism is becoming more general, and is protean in its adaptibility +to circumstances. There is the philosophical skepticism for the +cultured, and popular skepticism for the masses: the Reviews for the +select, Col. Ingersoll for the people. No _Index Expurgatorius_, whether +Catholic or Protestant, whether ecclesiastical or domestic, is barrier +strong enough to stem the incoming tide." He also says: "I would +advocate a manly, courageous dealing with the doubts of the age in all +our theological schools." * * * "Let there be no timid reserve. Let our +young ministers face the whole strength of the rationalistic position." +* * * "It is not enough that ministers should be well read in church +history, not enough that they should be able to expound in logical +fashion the church doctrines of the Trinity, the Atonement, &c, not +enough that they should understand the architecture of a model sermon. +These matters are quite right in their place, but the minister should go +further. He must go down to the root question, and enquire whether the +history, the systematic theology, and the homilectics are based on a +really Divine Revelation, or only on a series of beautiful legends which +foolish, but reverent, hands have wreathed about the person of Jesus of +Nazareth, a wonderful, religious genius that long ago illumined the +land of Palestine." Further, Mr. Pedley says: "We find men talking as if +thoroughness of investigation would inevitably lead to a loosened hold +on Christianity. So much the worse then for Christianity. If young men +of average intellect, and more than average morality, find that the more +keenly they study Christianity, the less able they are to accept it, and +preach it, then must Christianity be relegated to the dusty lumber-room +of worn-out and superseded religious systems." + + * "The Prospect of a Moral Interregnum." + --Atlantic Monthly, Nov., 1879. + +Mr. Pedley then goes on to point out the effects of ignorance, on the +part of the minister, of the arguments and writings of Freethinkers. He +says: "If he be pastor in a reading community, he will know less than +his congregation about matters which it is his special business to +understand. He will stand towards the Bible, as an ignorant Priest +stands towards the Pope, accepting an infallibility that he has never +proved. He will appear before the intelligent world as a spiritual +coward, a craven-hearted man, who dare not face the enemy who is slowly +mastering his domains. He will become a by-word and a reproach to the +generation which he is confessedly unable to lead, and which sweeps by +with disdainful tread, leaving him far in the rear." + +These are brave words and frank admissions, which should be well +pondered by every clergyman, minister and priest, and every theological +student, for should they fail to acquaint themselves with the doctrines +and arguments of their opponents, they will speedily find themselves, as +Mr. Pedley warns them, preaching to people who know more than they about +matters which it is their special business to know. + +Yours earnestly for Truth, + +A. P. Selby, Nov. 22nd, 1880. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY + +Col. Robt. G. Ingersoll, the American Freethinker and eloquent +iconoclast, visited Canada in April last and lectured on theological +subjects in various places, including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, +Belleville and Napanee, thereby agitating the theological caldron as it +has never been agitated before in this country. + +And "when Mars was gone the dogs of war were let loose!" Since +Ingersoll's departure there has been a profuse shower of "Replies" +and "Refutations" from the press, and a tempest of denunciation and +misrepresentation from the pulpit. Indeed, before the departure of the +redoubtable idol-smasher, the vituperation and slander commenced, under +the aegis of "A warning against the Fallacies of Ingersoll." The pious +Evangelists of the Y. M. C. A., of Toronto, (abetted doubtless by the +clergy) issued this propagandist gospel-manifesto containing slanderous +statements against Mr. Ingersoll. This, with much more zeal than +courtesy, they thrust upon all entering the Royal Opera House on the +first evening of the lectures. The lecturer, in opening, branded the +base slander of this Christian document that he (Ingersoll) had signed a +petition to allow obscene matter to pass through the mails, as a wilful +and malicious falsehood. As this calumny is yet reiterated from press +and pulpit, implicating all Freethinkers as being in favor of obscenity, +the Resolution on this subject which Col. Ingersoll submitted to the +Cincinnati Convention of Freethinkers in September, 1879, will not be +out of place here. It was as follows, and passed unanimously:-- + +Resolved,--That we are utterly opposed to the dissemination through +the mails, or by any other means, of all obscene literature, whether +inspired or uninspired, holding in measureless contempt its authors, +publishers, and disseminators; that we call upon the Christian world +to expunge from the so-called sacred Bible every passage that cannot be +read without covering the cheek of modesty with the blush of shame. + +The cowardly conduct of the Toronto press, with one or two exceptions, +in reference to Ingersoll's lectures, was as astonishing to +liberal-minded men as it was deplorable to all, especially in the "Queen +City of the West," which is, or ought to be, the centre of intellectual +activity and progress in Canada. This exhibition of narrow-minded +bigotry on the part of the Toronto press excited (rather unexpectedly +to them, no doubt) great surprise and severe animadversion from many +quarters. The daily _Globe_ and _Mail_ have, of course, a very wide +circulation, and being the leading newspapers in the country, their +numerous patrons look to them for _all_ the news on _all_ public +questions and events. Imagine, therefore, their surprise and indignation +on opening their papers and looking for reports of Col. Ingersoll's +lectures in Toronto, to find not a word there! Not a syllable by these +puritanical publishers is vouchsafed to their expectant patrons, who +pay their money for--not merely what suits the religious whims and +prejudices of publishers and editors--but for _all_ the news. But +they would scarcely repeat this mistake--or rather imposition on their +readers. They have since unmistakably learned that in this act of +pusillanimous servility to the priesthood, they took a false measure +of their constituencies; and lamentably failed to gauge correctly the +intellectual and moral status of a majority of their patrons. + +The honorable exceptions to this servility of the Toronto press, were +the _Evening Telegram, Weekly Graphic_, and _National_. + +In Belleville, also, there was, I believe, one commendable exception to +the narrowness of the press in reference to Ingersoll's lectures. +This was the _Free Press_, which has on former occasions proved itself +broader than most of its contemporaries. + +The Montreal _Canadian Spectator_ is another notable exception to this +vassalage of the Canadian press; for, though edited by a clergyman, +it has proved itself in favor of freedom of speech and liberty of +conscience, and boldly denounces the narrow prejudice and bigotry which +would gag Ingersoll to-day if it could, and would have burned him two or +three centuries ago at the stake. + +Chief among the "Replies," and "Refutations" which have issued from the +press in Canada since Ingersoll's departure, is that by Hon. Geo. R. +Wendling. This honorable gentleman has, for some months past, been +shadowing Mr. Ingersoll from place to place with his "reply from a +secular stand point;" albeit in Toronto he _preceded_ his opponent, and +replied (?) before the people of that city to a lecture of Ingersoll's +which they had never heard. But, as with the Dutch judge, so with our +Christian friends, _one side_ of the case was enough to hear in order to +be able to give a verdict, and Mr. Wendling was duly applauded for his +"satisfactory answer" to the absent heretic! + +Subsequently, however, Mr. Ingersoll put in an appearance in the +Queen City, and gave his lecture on "The Gods," to which his honorable +opponent had replied in advance. This eloquent and argumentative lecture +was greeted with such obvious favor and vociferous applause that the +"Willard Tract Depository and Bible House" of that city deemed it +imperative to do something to counteract the "poisonous" influence that +had gone forth. They accordingly hastened forthwith to issue Wendling's +"Reply to Robert Ingersoll." This Christian politico-religious +_brochure_ was heralded by some half dozen Toronto Professors and +Doctors of Divinity, and one Vice-Chancellor, to wit: Messrs. McLaren, +Rainsford, Potts, Castle, Powis, Antliff and Blake. These gentlemen, in +a neat little preface, certify their approval of and admiration for Mr. +Wendling's "Reply to the infidelity advocated by Col. Ingersoll," and +add the hope that "it may be circulated by thousands." + +To this no Freethinker has, of course, any objection, so long as he +enjoys an equal right to circulate his documents too. Of this right I +propose to avail myself, and briefly review the salient points (if there +are any) of some of Ingersoll's Canadian critics. Not that I feel called +upon to defend Col. Ingersoll. Should defence be necessary, he is amply +able to defend himself. But as our Christian friends, like drowning men +catching at straws, have, in their alarm for the safety of their creed, +desperately clutched a _layman_, and issued with their unqualified +endorsation, this "lay" reply of Mr. Wendling, who comes before the +public, he tells us, "as a citizen, as a business man, as a lawyer, and +as a politician," and withal as a "man of the world," I have thought +that for another layman--a materialistic layman--(though no lawyer +or politician) to examine some of Mr. Wendling's lay logic and legal +sophistry and politico-religious hash would be a move in the right +direction in the interests of truth. + +Our Christian friends, in issuing their pamphlet, have very judiciously +"improved the occasion" by a liberal sprinkling of admonitory Scripture +texts, which adorn the insides of the covers, etc. By these texts we are +reminded that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," and that +"if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the +plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away +from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his +part out of the Book of Life," etc., etc. But these, our Christian +opponents, are not quite consistent. Verily, the Christian Church is not +willing to take its own medicine--the medicine it mixes for "infidels." +_We_ are warned that if we criticise that book, or take away from the +words of it, or ridicule its absurdities, we will surely incur the +wrath and "plagues" of an angry God; yet these Christians themselves are +complacently doing this very thing. They have already eliminated from +its sacred pages infant damnation, and eternal torture; while a "Bible +Revision Committee," composed of learned and distinguished dignitaries +of different branches of the Christian Church, are now actually engaged +in "taking away from the words of this book!"* Consistency! thou art +a jewel!! Greg, Strauss, Colenso, Renan, Ingersoll, Underwood, and a +thousand others, are consigned to Hades for their destructive criticism +of the Christians' Bible; while those learned Christian Doctors of +Divinity of the "Revision Committee" can tamper with the "Word of God" +and alter it to suit the enlightenment of the age with impunity! They +can excise whole passages without incurring the "plagues" we are told +shall be visited upon any man who adds to or takes from it. + +Now, I have thought if I should adopt the advice contained in the Latin +proverb, _fas est ab hoste doceri_, and take a lesson from the ingenious +propagandic tactics of our Christian friends in placing conspicuously +before their readers choice texts from their Evangelists and Apostles, +it may not be amiss. Hence, we, too, will do a little skirmishing with +some choice sayings of some of the most eminent and learned apostles of +our school. And to those trenchant utterances of Huxley, Tyndall, Mill, +Carlyle, etc., herein given, I beg to direct the careful attention of +the reader. + +To disarm possible criticism, I may say that this little pamphlet has +been written by request, amidst a pressure of farm work, in snatches +of time intervening between other more imperative duties: and to the +advanced Materialist who has gone over the same ground on the different +subjects as myself, I may say it is not written for him, as he does +not require it. But it is for another class of _quasi_ liberals, and +Christians who have read Wendling and the others replied to, and are in +an inquiring mood after truth. And if the arguments are not wholly _new_ +I would simply urge in extenuation that there is scarcely anything new +under the sun, and also my entire agreement with Montaigne, when he +declares he "has as clear a right to think Plato's thoughts as Plato +had." + +ALLEN PRINGLE. + +Selby, Ont., June 25, 1880. + + * The following appears in the press:--"The New Testament + Revision Committee have struck out as spurious the last + seven verses of the last chapter of St. Mark." Now why have + they done this thing? To an "outside barbarian" the true + reason would appear to be that according to those seven + verses there are no Christians on the earth to-day, as not + one from the Pope of Rome or the Archbishop of Canterbury + down to the humblest follower of Jesus can prove himself a + Christian by the plain test therein given. + + + + +REPLY TO WENDLING + +On reading Mr. Wendling's "Reply to Robert Ingersoll," it is difficult +to determine precisely its theological status, or what are Mr. +Wendling's positions, doctrinally, in reference to Christianity. By the +flexibility of doctrine, and dubious orthodoxy, displayed therein, it is +no easy matter to _place_ Mr. Wendling; and his uncertain positions and +theological gyrations remind one of the famous mathematical definition +of Infinity--"a sphere whose circumference is everywhere and whose +centre is anywhere." + +Mr. Wendling says he "champions no creed, no sect," and he assures us he +"places humanity above all creeds." Now, Christianity is undoubtedly a +creed; albeit, some modern theologians, seeing that the dogmas on which +it rests are fast crumbling away, have discovered that Christianity is +simply a "life." As to "placing humanity above all creeds," this move +is decidedly rationalistic and utilitarian. It is clearly a positive +doctrine of the Atheistic philosophy; and it looks more than suspicious +that this shrewd lawyer has been "stealing our thunder," for he will +find no such doctrine in the Bible, and it certainly has no place +in Christian ethics or philosophy. The Bible represents man as below +everything else rather than above--"a mere worm of the dust" It +represents him as utterly depraved, "deceitful above all things and +desperately wicked," and without any good in him. Christianity, +instead of holding humanity above all creeds, has, without compunction, +immolated man by scores of thousands on the bloody altar of creed and +dogma. To maintain its creeds intact, Christianity has reddened the +surface of the earth with human blood. Therefore, whatever Mr. Wendling +may think about the elevation of man above creeds, Christianity does not +hold humanity above its creeds. + +With respect to the authenticity and inspiration of the Bible, Mr. +Wendling's position is extremely dubious. He tells us that "so much of +that book" (the Bible) "as properly records His" (Christ's) "works and +truthfully reports His sayings, must be true." But who is to decide +which the particular portions are which "properly record" and +"_truthfully_ report" Christ's works, especially as these "records" and +"reports" are self-contradictory, and more especially as nothing was +recorded in Christ's time of His sayings or doings, nor until half a +century or more after His death, as historical criticism and research +abundantly prove? If Mr. Wendling believes the Bible to be an inspired +book, wholly authentic and true, the foregoing statement about "so much +of it" as "_truthfully_ reports," &c, is surely a most extraordinary +one. Again, Mr. W. says, "I say so much of that book as bears upon the +Ideal Man" (Christ) "and so much of that book as the Ideal Man has set +the seal of His approval on, we may accept as the long sought for moral +teacher," &c. As before, I would ask, who is to decide what particular +part or parts of this book "the Ideal Man has set the seal of His +approval on?" or whether the "Ideal Man" ever set His seal upon any of +it? or, indeed, whether this "Ideal Man" ever had other than a +purely _ideal_ or subjective existence in the minds of men? Some able +scholars--notably Rev. Robt. Taylor--have, after careful historical +research, come to the conclusion that the Christ of the Gospels never +existed. But, be this as it may, scholars now generally agree that +whether such a person as Jesus of Nazareth lived or not, we have no +authentic account of Him; and not a syllable of His alleged sayings was +recorded during His alleged lifetime, nor for more than half a century +after His death. The reader who wishes to pursue this subject of the +wholly unauthentic character of the Gospels, &c, &c, is referred to +Greg's "Creed of Christendom," Lord Amberley's "Analysis of Religious +Belief," and the great work lately published in England, and now +reprinted here by the Messrs. Belford of Toronto, viz., "Supernatural +Religion." + +It will thus be seen that Mr. Wendling's doctrinal attitude towards the +Bible and Christianity is extremely problematical, and a Materialist +scarcely knows where to place him, or how to deal with his mongrel +positions. Being, as he tells us, "a business man," "a lawyer," "a +politician," and "a man of the world," this versatile gentleman has +evidently imbibed largely of the utilitarian and humanitarian spirit of +the age, while at the same time retaining his Christian predilections; +and hence the hybrid homily with which we have to deal, and which he +calls a "Reply to Robert Ingersoll from a Secular Standpoint." That a +layman, however, should give so uncertain a sound as to his orthodox +whereabouts, and, in attempting to defend his positions (whatever +they are) and answer Freethinkers, should bring forth such a doctrinal +nondescript, is not indeed to be much wondered at, seeing that the +clergy themselves, being mercilessly driven from pillar to post +by modern science and research, occupy the most inconsistent and +incongruous, not to say ridiculous, positions, in doctrine and dogma, in +ecclesiastical formulary and Biblical exegesis. + +However, though of dubious doctrine and doubtful orthodoxy, some of Mr. +Wendling's positions, or rather assumptions and assertions, are clear +enough, and not to be misunderstood; and in a few of the more important +of these I propose to follow him. + +At the outset he dogmatically postulates the assumption that "what most +we need is the conviction that there _is_ a personal God." From social, +commercial, and political considerations this belief in a personal God +is what we most need--so says Mr. Wendling. He talks as though, were +it not for this theistic belief, everything would go to the dogs; and +universal, moral, social and political chaos would come. This, however, +is simply assumed without a shadow of proof. He then goes on with his +demonstration (?) of the existence of a personal God; but it is the +old, old story over again. First he assumes, in the face of the highest +authorities to the contrary, that "among every people in every quarter +of the habitable globe, there exists, and there has existed from the +very furthest reach of history, the idea of one eternal and all-powerful +God." He then gives us a rehash of Paley's design argument to prove the +existence of a God, which he considers conclusive. And, finally, as if +conscious of the weakness of the intellectual argument, he takes refuge +in the moral argument,--in conscience in man as showing the existence +of a personal God with moral attributes. This is the last refuge of the +Theist--the _dernier ressort_ of the theologian. Driven utterly from +the realm of reason they fly to _conscience_ and to _consciousness_ to +establish subjectively what cannot be proved intellectually. Now, this +sort of evidence may do for the Theist and theologian who are determined +to believe in Theos; but to those who live in the light of reason, and +in the realm of intellect not wholly submerged by the emotions, +such inner-consciousness evidence will not be satisfactory; for they +experience no such subjective proof in their own minds, and do not care +to take the mere _feelings_ of others as evidence of anything further +than the existence of nervous ganglion and brain. + +I will now take up Mr. Wendling's arguments to prove the existence of +a personal God, _seriatim_, and briefly consider them. As already +remarked, before setting out to prove a God, Mr. W. postulates the +necessity of one. For the preservation of moral order, social purity, +and commercial integrity, what most we need, it is assumed, "is the +conviction that there is a personal God." This assertion certainly has +a queer look when we reflect that Theism is at present the prevailing +belief among the masses, and has been in the past; and that our prisons +are full of persons who believe in a personal God; and that believers in +God ascend the gallows almost daily, and are swung off to "mansions in +the skies!" Here are some half dozen examples of this kind at hand, the +whole of which I quote from one newspaper, a late issue of the Kingston +_British Whig_:-- + +Breaux, who was hanged in New Orleans, "ascended the gallows smiling +and said he had made his peace with God and all men." Bolen, who was +executed at Macon, Mississippi, said on the gallows: "My mouth will soon +be closed in this world. I rested in the arms of Jesus last night. I am +satisfied. I feel guilty of nothing. God is well pleased with my soul." +Macon, who was executed at the same place, said, "I feel ready to die, +because God has pardoned my sins. I risked my soul on the murder, but +God has forgiven me. There is not a cloud in the way." Brown, who was +also executed at Macon, with the other two, the same day, said, "I have +made peace with God, and will surely go to heaven, I will cross the +river with a rope around my neck that will lead my wicked soul on +to glory. Blessed be God! I am going home!" Stone, who was hanged at +Washington, and Tatio at Windsor, Vermont, the same day as the four +above, both had made their peace with God, and were on their way "to +meet the Lord Jesus Christ." + +A belief in God did not it seems avail to keep these men, nor thousands +of others, from crime; nor does it, in my opinion, to any great extent, +operate as a deterrent of crime. People with favorable organizations and +good surroundings will not be apt to commit murder whether they believe +or disbelieve in a God; while persons born with, bad organizations--bad +heads and impure blood--will very likely, under favorable circumstances, +continue to follow their predominant impulses, whether they believe in +one God or twenty, and, if Christians in belief, they will ultimately +rely on that "fountain of blood open for sin and all uncleanness." +Unscrupulous men who have strong natural tendencies to crime, and +believe in the Christian plan of salvation, will, in bad surroundings, +scarcely fail to indulge their propensities and finally avail themselves +of the "bankrupt scheme"--take a bath in that impure fountain and be +"washed" clean (?) like the gentry instanced above. + +In January and February of this year (1880) Rev. E. P. Hammond, the +noted Methodist revivalist, made a professional tour through Canada +in pursuit of his favorite and profitable calling of "saving souls" +(favorite, probably, _because_ profitable). Among other places he +visited St. Catharines, and before leaving that city, preached a sermon +for the especial benefit, it would seem, of the Universalists. Now, +Universalism has always been specially odious to the other more +evangelical sects, especially the Methodists, who seem positively +shocked at the horrid idea that hell may perhaps be ultimately emptied +of its human contents and all mankind get into heaven. The Universalists +appear to have a good degree of that noble human quality, benevolence, +and hence they believe that the God they worship is too good to damn +forever any creature he has made. For this good opinion of their +Creator they are duly stigmatized, contemned and reprobated by the ultra +orthodox party, who can brook no nonsense about the possibility of the +fires of hell ever being extinguished. These people are evidently well +pleased at the idea that there is a place of torture into which the +non-elect of their fellow creatures may be turned for ever and ever. +How like the God of the Old Testament, these disciples of His are! Mr. +Hammond, it would seem, is of this class; and accordingly, in the sermon +alluded to, proceeded to unbudget himself against Universalism and +Universalists in vigorous style. The sermon was reported in the St. +Catharines _Journal_, and called forth an able and spirited reply +through the same-medium from the Rev. J. B. Lavelle of Fulton, Township +of Grimsby. I propose to make some extracts, quite relevant to the +subject under consideration, from the reply of Rev. Lavelle,--who is a +gentleman, I am informed, of exemplary character and broad intelligence, +and highly respected. Mr. Lavelle says: + +"Permit me to say, Mr. Editor, in justice to Universalists, both on +this continent and in Europe, among whom are some of the ablest Biblical +scholars, and some of the best men, that there is not a particle of +truth in Mr. Hammond's representation. * * * Mr. Hammond, with other +ministers of the endless misery school, believes in the doctrine of +'imputation,' 'substitution,' or 'vicarious' suffering of Christ, which +they erroneously, as we think, call the Atonement; and that the greatest +villain, who has lived a life of crime, rapine, and murder, can take the +benefit of this Spiritual Bankrupt Act (for it is nothing else) at any +time before he dies, and 'go to heaven'--yea, even while standing on +the gallows, swing 'into glory' and thus escape the consequences of his +wicked life. + +"For instance, A and B are two consummate villains, and have been so +for years, but in a quarrel A murders B--of course B goes to an eternal +hell--but, through the labors of Mr. Hammond and others of the +so-called orthodox churches who visit him in his cell before his +execution--he repents. (?) They lay this Spiritual Bankrupt Act before +him. He sees it is the only alternative to keep out of hell; so he takes +the benefit of it, is hanged, and goes to heaven. Thus, the murderer +gets to heaven by the lucky chance of being the murderer instead of the +murdered. If his victim had been fortunate enough to-strike the fatal +blow, he could have changed places with him; and so the endless destiny +of each would have been reversed by the chance blow of a street fight! +Is it, I ask, on such grounds God distributes rewards and punishments? +What must be the moral influence of such a doctrine? + +"Again: A lives a life of crime for sixty years, and on the very next +month or day, repents by taking the benefit of this Spiritual Bankrupt +Act, dies and goes to heaven. B lives a life of virtue and goodness +for sixty years, and the very next day or month makes a false step, or +commits a crime, and is consigned to an endless hell to suffer intense +misery without relief and without end. And yet we are told by the +advocates of this unscriptural doctrine that this is a just distribution +of rewards and punishments under the government of God who 'is Love,' +but above all, THE FATHER. + +"Look at the case of one Ward, who, in one of our counties a while +ago, murdered his wife--was sentenced to death, and attended by his +'Orthodox' spiritual advisers before execution. He also repented (?) and +took the benefit of this Spiritual Bankrupt Act. When he stood upon the +gallows, he said, he 'had but two steps to take--one into eternity and +the other into glory.' And his poor wife--what became of her? Gone, +'with all her imperfections' to suffer unmitigated misery as long as +God himself shall endure, and this, too, according to the unscriptural +doctrine of the same churches which teach 'no change after death.' Again +we ask, what can be the moral influence of such teaching? + +"The truth is the burden of the most of the teaching of the day is, +to 'die right;' 'make your peace with God in time,' and 'get religion +before you die;' thus making religion to mainly consist in one general +scramble to get into heaven and keep out of hell." + +As Freethinkers, we boldly impeach the Christian plan of salvation as +being essentially immoral in its tendency,--as offering a premium on +vice and crime; and for doing this on previous occasions and designating +it a "bankrupt scheme," the writer of this has been the subject of +severe and indignant animadversion from his intimate Christian friends. +Yet here is a Christian minister who takes substantially the same +position as ourselves in reference to the plan of salvation as preached +by Methodists and others, and denounces it as a "Spiritual Bankrupt +Act." And I have made the above extracts from his pen to strengthen my +position against Mr. Wendling, viz., that a belief in God and the Bible +is _not_ essential to social and commercial morality, and the safety of +the State. + +On this subject, Lord Bacon, himself a Christian, says:-- + +"Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to +laws, to reputation: all which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, +though religion were not. But superstition dismounts all these, and +createth an absolute monarchy in the minds of men; therefore Atheism did +never perturb States, for it makes men wary of themselves, as looking +no further, and we see the limes inclined to Atheism (as the time +of Augustus Caesar) were civil times; but superstition, that bone +of contention of many States, bringeth in a new _primum mobile_ that +ravishes all the spheres of government." + +There are thousands of Atheists in almost every civilized country, and +how is it, if Atheism tends to crime, that you will seldom or never +find one in prison for any crime? Buddhism, one of the most ancient +religions, long ante-dating Christianity, is essentially Atheistic. It +has had, and has now, hundreds of millions of followers, and for pure +morality no system of religion has ever equalled it. Webster, the +Christian lexicographer, admits that Buddhism was "characterized by +admirable humanity and morality." The religion of Confucius--of him +who taught the "golden rule" five centuries before Christianity +appeared--was also Atheistic. Therefore, what we "most need" is, not a +"conviction that there _is_ a personal God" (we have that already; all +the murderers, thieves and defaulters believe that doctrine), but we +need more of the "admirable morality" of Buddhism, and more of the +practice of the "golden rule" of Confucius to "do not unto others what +you would not they should do to you." As Emerson has said, "We want some +good Paganism." + +Mr. Wendling's next argument for the existence of a personal God is the +assumed universality of the belief in God, "among every people in every +quarter of the habitable globe," now and "from the very furthest reach +of history." As the value of this argument turns simply on a question +of fact, and as every educated or well-read man knows that the facts +in this case are against Mr. Wendling, and that his assertion is +historically incorrect, it is hardly worth while to spend much time over +it. However, as some readers may not have looked into the authorities on +the subject, I may, perhaps not unprofitably quote briefly from some of +them, and simply refer the reader to others. + +To say nothing of the _Atheistic_ character of the Buddhistic religion, +already referred to, with its millions of followers, there have been, +and are to-day, tribes and peoples who have no belief whatever in, or +conception of, a God or Gods. This fact is conclusively proved by +such authorities as Livingston, the great African explorer (himself a +Christian), Sir John Lubbock, J. S. Mill, Darwin, and even John Wesley, +the founder of Methodism, who, surely, ought to be good authority +with Christians; and him we will first put in the witness box against +Mr.-Wendling. Wesley says, in his Sermons, vol. 2, Sermon C: + +"After all that has been so plausibly written concerning the 'innate +idea of God;' after all that has been said of its being common to all +men, in all ages and nations, it does not appear that man has any more +idea of God than any of the beasts of the field; he has no knowledge +of God at all. Whatever change may afterward be wrought by his own +reflection or education, he is by nature a mere Atheist." + +Charles Darwin, the greatest naturalist in the world, and who is +proverbially careful in his statements, has the following on this +subject in his "Descent of Man," vol. 1, p. 62-3:-- + +"There is ample evidence, derived not from hasty travellers, but from +men who have long resided with savages, that numerous races have existed +and still exist, who have no idea of one or more Gods, and who have no +words in their languages to express such an idea." + +Again, in vol. 2, p. 377, Darwin says:-- + +"The belief in God has often been advanced as not only the greatest, +but the most complete, of all the distinctions between man and the lower +animals. It is, however, impossible, as we have seen, to maintain that +this belief is innate or instinctive in man. On the other hand, a +belief in all-pervading spiritual agencies seems to be universal; and +apparently follows from a considerable advance in the reasoning +powers of man, and from a still greater advance in his faculties +of imagination, curiosity and wonder. I am aware that the assumed +instinctive belief in God has been used by many persons as an argument +for His existence. But this is a rash argument, as we should thus +be compelled to believe in the existence of many cruel and malignant +spirits, possessing only a little more power than man; for the belief +in them is far more general than of a beneficent Deity. The idea of a +universal and beneficent Creator of the universe does not seem to +arise in the mind of man, until he has been elevated by long-continued +culture." + +I would refer the reader who wishes to pursue the subject further, to +Livingston's writings, to Sir J. Lubbock's "Prehistoric Times," and his +"Origin of Civilization," and also to the _Anthropological Review_ for +August, 1864. + +Mr. Wendling's next argument to prove the existence of a personal God +is the once celebrated but now obsolete "design" argument of Catwell and +Paley; but he seems either not to know or he ignores the fact that this +"design argument" has been so thoroughly refuted by the sternest logic +and most indisputable natural facts that the more advanced theologians +of the present day have wholly abandoned it. To reproduce these, or to +give any elaborate refutation, it is unnecessary here. The whole +matter may be disposed of briefly by one or two simple syllogisms which +everybody can comprehend. The famous "design argument," then, may be +formulated into simple syllogistic propositions thus:-- + + Whatever manifests design must have had a designer: + + The world manifests design; + + Therefore, the world must have had a designer. + +This is the whole Christian reasoning on the subject in a nutshell, and +it has been considered by them perfectly conclusive and unanswerable. +The logic is certainly unexceptionable, that is, the conclusion is quite +legitimate from the premises; but it so happens that the premises are +unsound, and in such a case the most unexceptionable logic goes for +naught. If premises be erroneous, though the reasoning be ever so good, +the conclusion must be erroneous. The major premiss of the foregoing +syllogism, that "whatever manifests design must have had a designer," +is a pure assumption, if by design is meant adaptation in Nature. So, +likewise, is the minor premiss an assumption if by design is meant +anything more than the adaptation pervading the universe, or at least +that part cognizable to us. That the _fitness and adaptation_ observable +in Nature do not establish intelligent design, is amply shown by the +highest authorities--by the most eminent naturalists (Hęckel, Darwin, +&c.) of the present day, to whom the reader is referred, and I need +not here amplify in that direction. Nor is it at all necessary for my +present purpose and work. It is only necessary to apply the _teductio ad +absurdum_ to the above argument from design to show its utter fallacy. +We will admit the premises and carry the reasoning of our Christian +friends out a little further. By granting the truth of their major +proposition and reasoning, logically from it we can prove more than is +wholesome for the theologian, as thus:-- + + Whatever manifests design must have had a designer: + + God, in his alleged personality and attributes, manifests design; + + Therefore, God must have had a designer. + +It will thus be seen that Mr. Wendling's design argument from Catwell +and Paley proves entirely too much for his own good, and hence it is +that the astute theologians of the day have abandoned Paley and his +design argument to their fate, where they have been duly relegated by +the incisive logic of the modern materialist. + +Finally, Mr. Wendling comes to the moral argument, and in _conscience_ +finds proof of the existence of a personal God. He complacently avers +that "God made man with this omnipresent 'I ought' implanted in his +nature." Now, in the first place, it is a great mistake that this +"I ought" or conscience is _universally_ implanted in man--is +"omnipresent," as Mr. Wendling puts it. That there are tribes without +the moral sense of conscience, is sustained by the same unimpeachable +authorities referred to in proof of the absence in them of any theistic +conception or belief; and even in civilized (?) society we unfortunately +find an occasional specimen of the _genus homo_ with no noticeable trace +of that "variable quality" we call conscience. + +That conscience is _innate_ in man, and a God-given faculty, instead of +acquired by development, is another convenient assumption without any +substantial foundation. If conscience is a Divine gift to humanity, how +is it that consciences differ so widely, not only in _degree_, but in +_kind_? If conscience is a Divine "monitor" and "guide" from heaven, why +is it that it so often becomes a very blind guide, and leads people into +many by-paths? How is it that under the sanction of conscience the most +horrid crimes and cruelties against humanity have been committed in +the name of God, its alleged author? How is it, if conscience is an +"unerring guide" to conduct, implanted by God, that it has guided +man, in the name of its author, to let out the life blood of his +fellow-creatures in rivers, on account of differences of opinion +_conscientiously_ entertained? Does God give one man one sort of +conscience and another man another and wholly different sort, leading +them in opposite directions, and then prompt the conscience of one to +put the other (his fellow) to death for conscience sake and for God's +sake? If so, it is very questionable work, surely, for a good (?) God +to be engaged in! If God implants the conscience in man, why not be +fair and just and give _all_ men consciences? and give them all the same +article? and not give one man a tolerably good article of conscience +(the Freethinker, for example) and then go and give others (some of +our Christian friends, for example) so poor an article, so to speak--so +flexible and elastic--that it allows them to murder, cheat, lie, +slander, rob widows and orphans, and run away with other people's money +and other men's wives without compunction--without any troublesome pangs +from this universal "I ought" over which Mr. Wendling grows so eloquent! + +The Christian world has been quite long enough teaching an irrational +and absurd doctrine about conscience. They not only blunder as to its +origin, but as to its nature and functions. Nearly every Christian +writer defines conscience as an "inward monitor" to tell us right from +wrong; a divine faculty enabling us to "_judge_ between the good and the +bad;" a "_guide_ to conduct," &c, &c. In the light of our present mental +science this definition of conscience is utterly false. Conscience is +not an _intelligent_ faculty at all--it is simply a feeling. By modern +metaphysics conscience has been relegated from the domain of the +intellect to its proper place among the emotions. Hence it _decides_ +nothing, _judges_ nothing as between right and wrong, or anything else, +for that is a function of intellect. Conscience, instead of being a +"guide" or "judge," is but a blind impulse needing itself to be guided. +It is simply a feeling for the right--a thirsting for the good--but the +_intellect_ must decide what _is_ right; and the nature and character +of its decisions will depend upon various circumstances, such as +organization, education, &c.; and the decisions of different individuals +as to right and wrong will differ as those circumstances differ. We hear +a great deal about "enlightening the conscience;" but it cannot be done. +You might as well talk of enlightening a sunflower, which instinctively +turns its head to the light; or a vine, which instinctively creeps up +the portico. The intellect, however, may be enlightened. Reason, +which is the only and ultimate arbiter and guide to conduct, may be +enlightened; and we may thus modify, guide and direct the blind impulses +of conscience. The truth is, conscience in man, such as it is, is a +development--is acquired rather than innate; has been developed by +Nature instead of "implanted" by God. The moral sense, without doubt, +gradually developed in man as he rose in the scale of intelligence. +Where there is little or no intelligence, the moral sense would be +inapplicable and incongruous, and is not needed, hence does not exist. +When it is required, Nature, in perfect keeping with all her other +adaptations, develops it. Darwin, in the "Descent of Man," vol. i, pp. +68-9, says:-- + +"The following proposition seems to me in a high degree +probable--namely, that any animal whatever, endowed with well-marked +social instincts, would inevitably acquire a moral sense or conscience, +as soon as its intellectual powers had become as well developed, or +nearly as well developed, as in man." + +On this point John Stuart Mill also has the following in his +"Utilitarianism," p. 45:-- + +"If, as is my own belief, the moral feelings are not innate, but +acquired, they are not for that reason less natural." + +The reader is also referred to "Psychological Inquiries," by Sir B. +Brodie, for further evidence on this subject. + +The moral sense, therefore, which exists in a portion of +mankind--distinct traces of which are also found in some of the lower +animals--has been gradually acquired during the evolution of man from +a lower to a higher condition. It has come down to us from primitive +barbarism through long ages of hereditary transmission. The "spiritual +yearnings" of man's nature, thought by Christians to prove a God as +their author, have, in like manner, been gradually acquired. These +subjective emotions and desires--whether you call them _carnal_ or +_spiritual_--are, unquestionably, in the light of modern science, all +matters of gradual development, hereditary inheritance, and education. +The great doctrine of EVOLUTION in nature explains them all. + +Having thus dealt with the arguments of Mr. Wendling in evidence of a +personal God--a primary assumption upon which he predicates many other +assumptions--there is little else in his "Reply to Robert Ingersoll" +demanding attention. One or two, however, of his extraordinary +assertions, it may not be amiss to look into a little; especially as Mr. +Wendling, having waxed valiant over the supposed conclusiveness of his +arguments, triumphantly throws down the glove to "infidelity" in this +wise:-- + +"To my mind the great central thought of Christianity is that every +living soul, of every race, of every clime, of every creed, of every +condition, of every color--every living soul is worthy the Kingdom * * +* And here I challenge infidelity. I lay the challenge broadly down. I +challenge infidelity to name an era or a school in which this doctrine +was taught prior to the advent of the Ideal Man." + +Here, again, Mr. Wendling's orthodoxy is badly out of joint, and his +facts at loose ends. This "central thought" that "every living soul +is worthy the Kingdom" has no place in Christianity. It is by no means +biblical doctrine, however well so humane an idea may fit into Mr. +W.'s own mind. Hence, to designate the _brotherhood of man_ the "great +central thought of Christianity"--a system which is to consign a +majority of mankind to an endless hell of fire and brimstone--is purely +gratuitous. To claim benevolent fatherhood or brotherhood for a religion +which declares that the road to hell is "broad," and many shall go +in thereat, while the way to Heaven is "narrow," and few shall go in +thereat, is to play fast and loose with the Bible. To say that "every +soul is worthy the Kingdom," and call this the "great central thought of +Christianity," in the face of what the "Word of God" cheerfully tells +us on this subject, is, indeed, a "marvellous flexibility of language," +which I do not at all propose to tolerate in discussion with "a lawyer," +"a politician," "a man of the world," or any other man. Hear ye! O! +non-elect, what comforting things the Scripture saith to you on your +"future prospects!" + +"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate." "For the children +being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the +purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of +him that calleth." "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, +and whom he will he hardeneth." (Romans, 8th and 9th Chapters.) "The +wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be +born, speaking lies." (Psalm 58.) "Ye believe not because ye are not of +my sheep." (John 10.) "Ye be reprobates." (II. Corinth. 13.) "Jacob have +I loved, but Esau have I hated." (Romans 9.) He hardened their hearts, +"That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, +and not understand." (Mark 4.) "Hath not the potter power over the +clay." &c. (Romans 9.) "He that believeth not shall be damned." + +This is benevolent (?) fatherhood, and the spirit of the _brotherhood of +humanity_, with a vengance! We are distinctly told that God, "from +the beginning," has deliberately fixed upon the ultimate misery and +destruction of a portion of His hapless creatures; that He moulds them +as clay in the hands of the potter; hardens their hearts and blinds +their eyes, and then tells them He will damn them for not doing what +He has prevented them from doing, and what He knows, beforehand, they +cannot and will not do! This is what Mr. Wendling calls the "great +central thought of Christianity--that 'every soul is worthy the +Kingdom,'"--and he calls loudly upon "infidelity" to name an era or a +school in which this doctrine was taught before the "Ideal Man" taught +it. He is right! We cannot do it! We may search the philosophies and +sacred writings of the Pagans in vain for so fiendish a doctrine. +For pure, unadulterated malevolence, the Vedas, the Shaster, the +Zend-Avesta, afford no parallel for this truly Christian doctrine. + +If, however, Mr. Wendling challenges us to name an era or school in +which the _brotherhood of man_ (as we understand it) was taught before +the time of the "Ideal Man," we unhesitatingly accept his challenge. +It was taught by Buddha, Confucius, and numerous Pagan writers and +philosophers long before the time of Jesus, for proof of which I refer +the reader to Prof. Max Muller, Sir Wm. Jones, Lord, Amberly, &c, or to +the writings themselves. Mr. Wendling desires us to "Tell me (him) why +it is that all the creeds of Christendom and all the civilized nations +unite in accepting the Ideal Man of Christianity despite the laws of +climate and of race?" + +I will answer this question in the Irishman's fashion, by asking one or +two others. Tell me why it is, if Christianity is a divine system, +and its author omnipotent, that, after eighteen centuries of active +propagandism and aggression, compassing sea and land to make proselytes, +it has to-day, according to recent statistics, but the meagre following +of 399,200,000; while Buddhism has 405,600,000, and Brahmanism, +Mohammedanism, etc., 500,000,000? Not nearly one-third of the world's +population Christians, and the number rapidly diminishing! Tell me why +it is, if Christianity is true that its foundations are melting down +like wax in the light of Modern Science?' Tell me why it is, if the +Bible is an inspired book, a divine revelation, that scarcely a single +really eminent scientist or scholar of the present day accepts it as +such? Tell me why it is that Atheism, Agnosticism, and Rationalism are +making such rapid headway among the educated and intelligent, in every +civilized country, both in the church and out of it? That the dogmas +upon which Christianity rests are doomed; and as Froude, the historian, +says, "Doctrines once fixed as a rock are now fluid as water?"* If the +Bible can bear the light of science and historical research, how is it +that these have already irrevocably sapped its very foundations; and +that, as a consequence, the world is completely "honey-combed with +infidelity," as a Toronto paper recently asserted of that city? The +only answer Mr. Wendling can give to these questions is this: Because +Christianity is unable to show its titles; because the Bible, being +human in its origin, and, as a consequence, abounding in errors, both in +science and morals, cannot bear the penetrating light of modern science +and criticism. + + * "Science and Theology, Ancient and Modern."--The + International Religio-Science Series.--Rose-Belford + Publishing Company, Toronto. + + + + +REPLY TO LYNCH + +A CRUSHING (?) EDICT FROM ST. MICHAEL'S PALACE. + +(_Brutem Fulmen_,) + +BY + +"Yours in Christ, (Signed), John Joseph Lynch." + + +Since Ingersoll's visit to Canada, Archbishop Lynch, of Toronto,-has +also felt called upon to issue a bull against the Freethinkers; and, I +propose to take this "bull" by the horns and _lynch_ him (I may say _sub +rosa_ that the Bulls of Rome were long ago emasculated, yet, strangely +enough, they still keep _multiplying_!) Under the circumstances, I +think such a work (lynching the bull) will not be one wholly of +_supererogation_,--though it may be more than a _venial_ offence--indeed +possibly a _mortal_ sin for which I can get no _absolution_--to presume +to criticise an Archbishop, and break a lance with his holy bull! I +have, however, desperately resolved to take my chances of purgatory or +limbo and go in for the bull. + +Some of the Archbishop's flock, it would seem, had ventured to exercise +the natural rights of man to the very modest extent of going to hear +Mr. Ingersoll lecture, and also attending some of the meetings of the +Toronto _Liberal Association_. Hence the fulmination of the aforesaid +"bull," wherein his Grace, with that meekness, charity and toleration +born of piety and infallibility, orders his people to "avoid all +contact with these Freethinkers, their lectures and their writings," +and threatens all Catholics who "go to the meetings and lectures of the +Freethinkers or Atheists" with refusal of "absolution," which priestly +function, he patronizingly tells them, he "reserves" to himself. + +Now, may we not indulge the hope, in this age of reason, and land of at +least professed liberty, and esoteric freedom of conscience, that +every man, be he Catholic or Protestant, will look upon this attempted +exercise of medieval bigotry and intolerance with practical disregard, +and deserved contempt. As for the Freethinkers, they can afford to smile +at the impotent Archbishop, who seems to imagine himself in the ninth +instead of the nineteenth century, and in Rome or Spain instead of the +Dominion of Canada. They can but look at him and his foolish "bull" as +most ridiculous anachronisms. On reading this precious document it is +plain that all this deputy "Vicegerent of God" requires to make him a +first-class modern Torquemada is the power--the outward authority to +carry out his subjective hatred of "brutalized" Freethinkers. But this, +thanks to science, and consequent civilization, he has not got. +The Rationalist can, therefore, at this day, afford to deride the +malevolent, though fortunately impotent, ravings of this zealous bishop +of an emasculated Church. He and his Church (the whole Christian Church) +are, fortunately for humanity, shorn of their wonted strength, which, +in the past, they have used with such fiendish ferocity and brutality +on human kind. The day has gone by when the Church may light an +_auto-da-fé_ around the body of a Bruno. The time has passed when she +may thrust a Galileo into prison and force him to recant the sublime +truths of Astronomy. She can no longer cast a Roger Bacon into a noisome +dungeon because of his scientific investigations. True, she can still, +if she choose, excommunicate a Copernicus for what she denounced as his +"false Pythagorean doctrine," but that is all. Darwin, Huxley, Tyndall, +Proctor and the rest are safe. This relentless enemy of Science and +liberty, and consequently of mankind, can no longer clutch every young +science by the throat and strangle struggling truth, which, crushed to +earth has risen again in its might; and history will scarcely repeat +itself in the case of Bruno the Atheist, or Galileo the Astronomer, +or Roger Bacon the Philosopher, or a thousand other victims of this +ruthless "Bourbon of the world of thought"--the Church. She may still +continue to fulminate her absurd and innocuous _anathemas_, but this is +about all. The Holy Inquisition, with its two hundred and fifty thousand +human victims; the Crusades with its five millions; the massacre of St. +Bartholomew with its fifty thousand; to say nothing of the religious +horrors of the Netherlands, of England, Scotland, and Ireland since the +reformation--all these holy horrors, let us hope, are "hideous blots on +the history of the past never to be repeated." Or will it be said of the +future history of Christianity, as has been frankly admitted of its past +by one of its ardent disciples, Baxter, that "Blood, blood, blood stains +every page?" + +The tables are now turning. The Church, to-day, instead of burning +unbelievers, and strangling science by immuring in dungeons its +votaries, is herself being strangled by science (with no loss of human +blood, however). Her cruel theology and irrational dogmas are prostrate, +writhing in their death throes, at the feet of the Hercules of modern +science and criticism. + +A little digression will not be out of order here. Our comic +caricaturist at Toronto (of which, on the whole, Canada may feel proud), +recently had a cartoon representing the theological Gamaliel of St. +Michael's Palace, Toronto, strangling the _serpent_ "Freethought." +Now, though usually on the side of truth and impartiality, _Grip_ has +undoubtedly, in this case, taken an oblique squint at truth and justice, +and has for once, at least, got the cart before the horse. Facts and +truth demand that the positions of the gladiators in his cartoon must be +reversed, and the zoological nomenclature corrected. And if _Grip_ had +read Huxley and Tyndall, and correctly observed the signs of the times, +he would scarcely have fallen into this unpardonable error. Let us quote +Prof. Huxley on this subject of strangling serpents:-- + +"It is true that, if philosophers have suffered, their cause has been +amply revenged. _Extinguished theologians lie about the cradle of every +science as the strangled snakes beside that of Hercules_; and history +records that, whenever science and orthodoxy have been fairly opposed, +the latter has been forced to retire from the lists, bleeding and +crushed, if not annihilated; scotched, if not slain. But orthodoxy +is the Bourbon of the world of thought. It learns not, neither can it +forget; and, though at present bewildered and afraid to move, it is as +willing as ever to insist that the first chapter of Genesis contains the +beginning and the end of sound science; and to visit, with such petty +thunderbolts as its half-paralyzed hands can hurl those who refuse to +degrade Nature to the level of primitive Judaism."--_Lay Sermons_, p. +277-8. + +From this, _Grip_ will see that instead of the fair form of reason +and Freethought (which he represents as a snake) being strangled by +a prelate of the church, it is the serpent, orthodoxy, which is being +strangled by the Hercules of science. It is to be regretted that _Grip_, +notwithstanding his professions of independence and impartiality, is +himself obnoxious to the very moral cowardice he has so often fearlessly +and justly exposed in others. Else why does he represent Freethought as +a snake? Is it because Freethought is yet comparatively weak in numbers, +and unpopular, and because this sort of thing will please the Church, +which _is_ popular and powerful? What characteristic of the snake +attaches to Freethought or Freethinkers? None; and we fearlessly +challenge _Grip_ and the Church on this point. Freethought has none of +the reptilian qualities of hypocrisy, cunning or deceit, but is frank +and fearless. Amid all the obloquy, denunciation, persecution, social +ostracism, calumny, and "holy bulls" hurled at them, Freethinkers have +the courage of their opinions; and bear all these, as well as business +detriment, for the sake of what they sacredly regard as _truth_. + +What does Prof. Tyndall say of Freethinkers and Atheists? To Archbishop +Lynch, who, in his pronunciamiento, says, "A person who, disbelieves in +the Ten Commandments, in hell or in Heaven, can hardly be trusted in +the concerns of life;" and to _Grip_ who cowardly crystalizes this base +assertion into a baser cartoon, I quote with pride the language of +this noble man, and eminent scholar and scientist. In the _Fortnightly +Review_ for November, 1877, Prof. Tyndall says: + +"It may comfort some to know that there are amongst us many whom the +gladiators of the pulpit would call Atheists and Materialists, whose +lives, nevertheless, as tested by any accessible standard of morality, +would contrast more than favorably with the lives of those who seek to +stamp them with this offensive brand. When I say 'offensive' I refer +simply to the intention of those who use such terms, and not because +Atheism or Materialism, when compared with many of the notions +ventilated in the columns of religious newspapers, has any particular +offensiveness to me. If I wished to find men who are scrupulous in their +adherence to engagements, whose words are their bond, and to whom moral +shiftiness of any kind is subjectively unknown; if I wanted a loving +father, a faithful husband, an honorable neighbor, and a just citizen, I +would seek him among the band of Atheists to which I refer. I have +known some of the most pronounced amongst them, not only in life, but in +death--seen them approaching with open eyes the inexorable goal, with no +dread of a 'hangman's whip,' with no hope of a heavenly crown, and still +as mindful of their duties, and as faithful in the discharge of them, as +if their eternal future depended on their latest deeds." + +Let the Archbishop, and _Grip_, and every reader ponder these +brave words of so high an authority in defence of the reprobated +class-stigmatised as "infidels," to which they refer; and then, for +corroboration, compare the testimony given with the living facts around +them.. + +The Archbishop says, these "foolish men" (the Freethinkers) are +"striving to replunge the world into the depths of Barbarism and +Paganism," etc., etc. To those who know that the present attitude of +all the great scientists and eminent _savans_ towards the dogmas of the +Christian Church, is one of undoubted unbelief and hostility; and +who are conversant with the history of the Archbishop's own church in +particular, during the past fifteen centuries,--to them the Archbishop's +vituperation is as foolish as it is ridiculous. From the days of +Constantine to this year, 1880, the Church, of which this learned (?) +prelate is a representative, has strenuously opposed learning, and +retarded civilization; has tolerated no freedom of conscience or liberty +of thought, thus narrowing instead of extending the liberty enjoyed +in Pagan and Imperial Rome, over whose ruins she reared her tyrannical +head. Talk of "Paganism!" His Church needs, as Emerson puts it, "some +good Paganism." She left behind her the liberty even of Pagan Rome, her +maligned precursor. Renan tells us, "We may search in vain, the Roman +law before Constantine, for a single passage against freedom of thought, +and the history of the imperial government furnishes no instance of a +prosecution for entertaining an abstract doctrine." And, Mosheim, +the ecclesiastical historian, tells us that the Romans exercised this +toleration in the amplest manner. + +"The prosecutions of the Christians by the Pagans, it is now universally +conceded by Christian historians, have been greatly exaggerated; +Christians have killed, in one day, for their faith nearly half as many +heretics as all the Christians put to death by the Pagans during the +whole period of the Pagan Empire." (The Influence of Christianity on +Civilization, pp. 24-5, Underwood.) + +The Archbishop's Church is, therefore, no improvement in respect of +liberty or toleration, on the Paganism he reviles. + +What progress the world has made in liberty and civilization, has been +made, not with the assistance of the Christian Church, but in spite of +its determined opposition and deadly hostility. Dr. Draper, author of +the "History of the Conflict between Religion and Science," and other +works, tells us that: + +"Latin Christianity is responsible for the condition and progress of +Europe from the fourth to the sixteenth century," and subsequently +avers, "Whoever will, in in a spirit of impartiality, examine what had +been done by Catholicism for the intellectual and material advancement +of Europe, during her long reign, and what has been done by science +in its brief period of action, can, I am persuaded, come to no other +conclusion than this, that, in instituting a comparison, he has +established a contrast." ("Conflict," p. 321.) Lecky, in his "History +of Morals," vol. 2, p. 18, tells us:--"For more than three centuries the +decadence of theological influence has been one of the most invariable +signs and measures of our progress. In medicine, physical science, +commercial interests, politics, and even ethics, the reformer has been +confronted with theological affirmations that have barred his way, which +were all defended as of vital importance, and were all compelled to +yield before the secularizing influence of civilization." (Protestant as +well as Catholic Christianity is, however, obnoxious to this stricture +of Lecky.) + +The Freethinkers "striving to replunge the world into the depths of +barbarism!" What can the Archbishop's idea of barbarism be? Doubtless in +his priestly mind everything is "barbarism" which does not square +with the Encyclical, or with the dogmas of his infallible Church. +If, however, barbarism is in reality just the opposite of our most +enlightened and highest civilization in Art, Science, Literature and +Ethics, it will, I have the presumption to think, be found that those +"foolish men"--those "brutalized" Freethinkers--are leading the van +of progress forward to a higher civilization, instead of dragging it +backward to barbarism. The truth of this is patent everywhere, in every +civilized country, and many of our Christian opponents admit it, though +Archbishop Lynch may not. A clergyman of Toronto--Rev. W. S. Rainsford, +of St. James' Cathedral--(from whom the Archbishop of St. Mary's +Cathedral might probably, to his advantage, take a lesson in +toleration), in a sermon preached in that city, Nov. 17th, 1878, +in speaking of Freethinkers, made use of the following language, as +reported in the _Globe_ of the 18th: + +"This sort of infidelity, that of Materialism, has its students in +the laboratory and in the library. It includes men of moral lives, of +earnest purposes, * * * men who uphold morality, chastity, self-denial, +perseverance with as clear a voice as Christians do, but on different +grounds." + +Years ago the N. Y. _Independent_, a religious paper, made the following +ingenuous admission: + +"To the shame of the Church it must be confessed that the foremost in +all our philanthropic movements, in the interpretation of the spirit of +the age, in the practical application of genuine Christianity, in the +reformation of abuses in high and low places, in the vindication of +the rights of man, and in practically redressing his wrongs, in the +intellectual and moral regeneration of the race, are the so-called +infidels in our land. The Church has pusillanimously left, not only the +working oar, but the very reins of salutary reform in the hands of +men she denounces as inimical to Christianity, and who are practically +doing, with all their might, for humanity's sake, what the Church ought +to be doing for Christ's sake; and if they succeed, as succeed they +will, in abolishing slavery, banishing rum, restraining licentiousness, +reforming abuses and elevating the masses, then must the recoil on +Christianity be disastrous. Woe, woe, woe, to Christianity when Infidels +by the force of nature, or the tendency of the age, get ahead of the +Church in morals, and in the practical work of Christianity. In some +instances they are already far in advance. In the vindication of Truth, +Righteousness, and Liberty, _they are the pioneers_, beckoning to a +sluggish Church to follow in the rear." + +The _Evangelist_ also, made the following admission of the same facts: +"Among all the earnest minded young men, who are at this moment leading +in thought and action in America, we venture to say that four-fifths are +skeptical of the great historical facts of Christianity. What is held as +Christian doctrine by the churches claims none of their consideration, +and there is among them a general distrust of the clergy, as a class, +and an utter disgust with the very aspect of modern Christianity and of +church worship. This scepticism is not flippant; little is said about +it. It is not a peculiarity alone of radicals and fanatics; most of +them are men of calm and even balance of mind, and belong to no class of +ultraists. It is not worldly and selfish. Nay, the doubters lead in the +bravest and most self-denying enterprises of the day." + +From a Church which has always opposed the education of the people, when +she had the power, and exterminated or expatriated the best intellects +under her jurisdiction, this talk of Freethinkers "re-plunging the world +into the depths of barbarism" comes with a very bad grace from his +Grace of Toronto. By this Church the Moriscoes were driven out of +Spain--100,000 of them--and this because they were the friends of +progress, of art and science. Buckle, the historian, tells us:--"When +they were thrust out of Spain there was no one to fill their places; +arts and manufactures either degenerated or were entirely lost, ard +immense regions of arable land were left uncultivated; whole districts +were suddenly deserted, and down to the present day have never been +repeopled." The Jews also were expelled, as they, too, were in favor +of knowledge and improvement, and this was sufficient cause for their +expatriation. + +This relentless enemy--the Church--of all science, all progress in +knowledge among the people, ruthlessly exterminated the best minds +within its grasp for centuries. Darwin, in his "Descent of Man," vol. 1, +p. 171-2, says:-- + +"During the same period the Holy Inquisition selected with extreme care +the freest and boldest men in order to burn and imprison them. In +Spain alone some of the best men, those who doubted and questioned--and +without doubting and questioning there can be no progress--were +eliminated during three centuries at the rate of a thousand a year." + +Talk to us of barbarism and paganism! A church which, from the time, +nearly fifteen centuries ago, when she burnt the Alexandrian +Libraries and Museum--the intellectual legacies of centuries--to the +present time, has never yet called off her sleuth-hounds with which she +has always hunted down the sacred principles of liberty of thought +and freedom of conscience! A Church which from "the beginning of that +unhappy contest," as Mosheim tells us, "between faith and reason, +religion and philosophy, piety and genius, which increased in succeeding +ages, and is prolonged even to our times with a violence which renders +it extremely difficult to be brought to a conclusion," to this day, +would hold the world in barbarous ignorance if its paralyzed hand could +but avail against the resistless march of knowledge and truth! Draper, +in speaking of the condition of the people under Catholicity in the 14th +century, thus pictures the civilizing (?) and elevating influences of +that Holy Religion:-- + +"There was no far reaching, no persistent plan to ameliorate the +physical condition of the nations. Nothing was done to favor their +intellectual development, indeed, on the contrary, it was the settled +policy to keep them not merely illiterate, but ignorant. Century after +century passed away, and left the peasantry but little better than the +cattle in the fields. * * * Pestilences were permitted to stalk forth +unchecked, or at best opposed only by mummeries. Bad food, wretched +clothing, inadequate shelter, were suffered to produce their result, +and at the end of a thousand years the population of Europe had not +doubled." + +For centuries, and centuries, in the Western Empire, subsequent to the +invasion of the barbarians, when the Church this Toronto prelate owes +allegiance to, had absolute control, such was the dense ignorance that +scarcely a layman could be found who could sign his own name. There was +very little learning, and what little there was the clergy carefully and +jealously confined to themselves; and as Hallam, the historian, tells +us:-- + +"A cloud of ignorance overspread the whole face of the church, hardly +broken by a few glimmering lights, who owe almost the whole of their +distinction to the surrounding darkness." The same historian (Middle +Ages, p. 460,) tells us:--"France reached her lowest point at the +beginning of the eighth century, but England was, at that time, more +respectable, and did not fall into complete degradation until the middle +of the ninth. There could be nothing more deplorable than the state +of Italy during the succeeding century. In almost every council the +ignorance of the clergy forms a subject for reproach. It is asserted by +one held in 992 that scarcely a single person was to be found in Rome +itself, who knew the first elements of letters. Not one priest of a +thousand in Spain, about the age of Charlemagne, could address a common +letter of salutation to one another." + +Lecky, in his "History of Morals," vol. 2, p. 222, tells us that: + +"Medięval Catholicity discouraged and suppressed, in every way, secular +studies," and further, that, "Not till the education of Europe passed +from the monasteries to the universities; not until Mahomedan science +and classical freethought and industrial independence broke the sceptre +of the Church, did the intellectual revival of Europe commence." + +And, I would ask Archbishop Lynch, what was the condition of +the Byzantine Empire during the thousand years or upwards of its +existence?--An empire under the sway of his Church, from its foundation +by the first Christian emperor, Constantine--that exemplary Christian +murderer who, because the Pagan priests refused him absolution for his +enormities, hastened to the bosom of the Christian Church, whose priests +he found more pliable, having little compunction or hesitancy about +granting absolution to the new proselyte. What is the record of history +touching this Empire under the aegis of Catholic Christianity? The +historian Lecky thus graphically sets forth its condition:-- + +"The universal verdict of history is that it constitutes, without a +single exception, the most thoroughly base and despicable form that +civilization has yet assumed. Though very cruel and very sensual, there +have been times when cruelty assumed more ruthless, and sensuality more +extravagant aspects, but there has been no other enduring civilization +so absolutely destitute of all the forms, the elements, of greatness, +and none to which the epithet _mean_ may be so emphatically applied. The +Byzantine Empire was pre-eminently the age of treachery. Its vices were +the vices of men who ceased to be brave without learning to be virtuous. +* * * The history of the empire is a monotonous story of the intrigues +of priests, eunuchs and women, of poisonings, of conspiracies, of +uniform ingratitude, of perpetual fratricides." In speaking of the +condition of the Western Empire the same author proceeds:--"A boundless +intolerance of all divergence of opinion was united with an equally +boundless toleration of all falsehood and deliberate fraud, that could +favor received opinions. Credulity being taught as a virtue, and all +conclusions dictated by authority, a deadly torpor sank upon the human +mind, which for many centuries almost suspended its action, and was only +broken by the scrutinizing, innovating and free-thinking habits that +accompanied the rise of the industrial republics in Italy. Few men who +are not either priests or monks would not have preferred to live in +the best days of the Athenian or of the Roman republics, in the age of +Augustus, or in the age of the Antonines rather than in any period +that elapsed between the _triumph of Christianity and the fourteenth +century_." + +The same historian, whose accuracy Archbishop Lynch will scarcely +attempt to impeach, thus judicially and impartially sums up the +influences of Catholic Christianity both in the Eastern and Western +Empires during many centuries when it had the fullest sway:-- + +"When we remember that in the Byzantine Empire the renovating power of +theology was tried in a new capital, free from Pagan traditions, and for +more than one thousand years unsubdued by barbarians, and that in the +west, the Church, for at least seven hundred years after the shocks of +the invasion had subsided, exercised a control more absolute than any +other moral or intellectual agency has ever attained, it will appear, +I think, that the experiment was very sufficiently tried. It is easy to +make a catalogue of the glaring vices of antiquity, and to contrast them +with the pure morality of Christian writings; but, if we desire to +form a just estimate of the realized improvement, we must compare the +classical and ecclesiastical civilizations as wholes, and must observe +in each case not only the vices that were repressed but also the degree +and variety of positive excellence attained." + +Before the art of printing was discovered, the Church had less +difficulty in keeping the people in ignorance, but after the invention +of that boon to mankind she found herself ominously confronted with the +tree of life from which the people would soon learn to pluck the fruit +of knowledge. Hence the establishment, by Pope Paul IV., about the +middle of the sixteenth century, of the _Index Expurgatorius_, whose +functions, we are told, was "to examine books and manuscripts intended +for publication, and to decide whether the people may be permitted to +read them." This is what his Grace of St. Michael's Palace, in Toronto, +proposes to do for the good Catholics of that city--decide what they +shall read and what they shall not read, as though they were ninnies +and not able to decide that matter for themselves! The fact is, however, +that, in this priestly arrogance and assumption, the Archbishop is +consistent enough; for, although such medięval tyranny is altogether +inconsistent with the spirit of this age, and ludicrously out of place +in 1880, in the City of Toronto, it, nevertheless, perfectly accords +with the tenets and spirit as well as the antecedents of his Church; +which, while it accuses Freethinkers of "barbarism," allows not an inch +of latitude of private judgment in matters of religion, and tolerates +no freedom of conscience: And what is this but barbarism? All freedom of +conscience was fiercely denounced by Gregory XVI. as insane folly, +and the Archbishop of Toronto reiterates this unsavory stigma on +civilization. And why shouldn't he? Theology never learns. The Church +changes not. How can she when she is infallible? Yet an infallible +Pope of an infallible Church, not long since, found himself, while +encompassed with many difficulties, spiritual and temporal, to be about +like other weak mortals in flesh and blood; and, though infallible, +remember, and with the power of miracles and all that, he succumbs and +whiningly complains to a vulgar world that he is "a prisoner in his own +palace in Rome!" And the heretical and sceptical world--the "outside +barbarians"--with a contemptuous leer, gape at the queer spectacle of +the "Vicegerent on Earth" of an all-powerful God being obliged so easily +to succumb to heresy--to a little temporal power. Such, however, is +life--or rather the "mysterious ways of providence," which "ways" always +seem though, as Cromwell observed, to be on the side of the heaviest +artillery,--not the artillery of heaven, but the base artillery of +earth. Indeed, this worldly artillery--the artillery of science and +civilization--has, in this nineteenth century, been making such havoc +with creeds, confessions, and dogmas, that the crowning dogma +of all--this fundamental pillar of the Vatican, the dogma of +infallibility--was, it would seem, fast becoming a _dead dog_; when the +Holy Catholic Church finds it imperatively incumbent upon her to attempt +a resuscitation. This happened in Rome in "_anno domini_" 1870, at that +great Ecumenical Council--that unique anachronism of the nineteenth +century. I know not whether that medięval assembly of Holy "Fathers in +God" was honored by the presence of his Grace of St. Michael's Palace, +in Toronto, or not; but, be that as it may, his reverence's entire +loyalty to the notorious Encyclical and Syllabus of that Council is not +to be questioned or doubted. The miniature Toronto _bull_ of May 9th, +1880, has the true Vatican ring of the big _bull_ of the Council in +Rome in 1870. It, too, denounced, with its usual, though harmless, +_anathema_, Atheism, Pantheism, Naturalism, Rationalism and every other +ism that failed to square with Papal dogma. By the fulmination of that +Syllabus the world learned among many other things, that "No one may +interpret the Sacred Scriptures contrary to the sense in which they are +interpreted by Holy Mother Church, to whom such interpretation belongs." +It was further decreed that "All the Christian faithful are not only +forbidden to defend, as legitimate conclusions of science, those +opinions which are known to be contrary to the doctrine of faith, +especially when condemned by the Church, but are rather absolutely bound +to hold them for errors wearing the deceitful appearance of truth." + +As examples of the holy canons which were actually fulminated and +promulgated by that Ecumenical Council in the latter part of this 19th +century, here are a few:-- + +"Who shall refuse to receive, for sacred and canonical, the books of +Holy Scripture in their integrity, with all their parts, according as +they were enumerated by the Holy Council of Trent, or shall deny that +they are inspired by God, _Let him be anathema_." + +"Who shall say that human sciences ought to be pursued in such a spirit +of freedom that one may be allowed to hold as true their assertions, +even when opposed to revealed doctrine, _Let him be anathema_." + +"Who shall say that it may at any time come to pass, in the progress +of science, that the doctrines set forth by the Church must be taken in +another sense than that in which the Church has ever received and yet +receives them, _Let him be anathema_." + +These are the modest assumptions of the Church of Rome in this age; and +a prelate of that Church breathes the same noxious vapors forth into the +intellectual atmosphere of the City of Toronto! It remains to be seen +whether in Toronto there are such slaves or fools as will submit to this +worse than Egyptian bondage. Will intelligent Catholics put their necks +in a yoke so galling? None but slaves or barbarians would do it. The +Archbishop would thus fain make barbarians of his own people, and then +he would have the pagans at home without hunting among Freethinkers for +them. In his lecture in Napanee, in April last, Col. Ingersoll gave it +as his opinion that any man--no matter what Church he belonged to, or +what country he lived in--who claimed rights for himself which he denied +to others, is a barbarian! Now, according to this definition, who are +the barbarians? The Freethinkers, or the Archbishop himself and those he +ignominiously holds in mental bondage? + +In conclusion, we thank Archbishop Lynch for his timely "bull." As a +propagandist document for the spread of Freethought, and really in the +interests of those "foolish" and "brutalized" Freethinkers against +whom it was directed, it must prove a great success. It is another +illustration of the essentially bigoted and intolerant spirit of +Christianity in general.* + + * I am well aware that the Protestant sects of Christianity + repudiate this charge of the intolerant and persecuting + spirit of Christianity in general, and vainly attempt to + shift the whole onus and odium upon the Church of Rome. They + tell us that Christianity itself is not persecuting--that it + is not responsible for having reddened the earth with blood + --but that this was all done contrary to the spirit and + teachings of Christianity by men who were not really + Christians. We deny it. We take the position that + Christianity itself is essentially intolerant and + persecuting in spirit; and, we take the New Testament itself + to prove it. We take Christ's alleged words as reported + there, and Paul's alleged words as reported there, and can + thereby abundantly sustain our charge. "He that believeth + not shall be damned." "A man that is a heretic after the + first and second admonition, reject." What is that but the + quintessence of bigotry and intolerance? "I would they were + even cut off which trouble you." How kind! "Think not that I + come to send peace on earth, etc., etc" Scores of passages + could be quoted from the New Testament of similar import, + and the Old Testament is worse yet, for it recommends + putting even your wives or brothers to death should they try + to persuade you to worship their God.--See Deut. 13, 6, 7 + and 8. + + + + +REPLY TO "BYSTANDER." + +I approach this part of my prescribed duty with some hesitation, and not +a little reluctance. _Bystander_ is brilliant, learned, independent, +and honest; and for these qualities, though differing from him on +some important subjects, I entertain a respect and esteem amounting to +affection. I hope, therefore, that I may not write a word here having +even the semblance of discourtesy; for of that sort of treatment the +gentleman in question has had a full share since he honored Canadians by +casting his lot amongst us. + +For the benefit of some readers who, possibly, may not have seen it, I +may say that _The Bystander_ is a "Monthly Review of Current Events," +published in Toronto by Messrs. Hunter, Rose & Co., and written by a +certain distinguished literary gentleman, as referred to above, whose +name I would like to give here only that I feel in courtesy bound to +respect the "impersonality of journalism," the protection of which the +gentleman in question has the right, and with good reason, to claim. + +The last three issues of _The Bystander_ (for April, May and June) have +each a paper on Col. Ingersoll, his lectures, and cognate subjects; the +general tone of which is very liberal, but, at the same time, containing +strictures upon Mr. Ingersoll and his teachings which I consider unfair +and unjust (unintentionally no doubt), and to which I here propose +briefly to reply. + +Having heard Mr. Ingersoll lecture but once I am not in a position from +personal knowledge to speak fully as to the alleged "blasphemy," and +his general "tone" on the platform; but this much I can say, that +_Bystander's_ assertion that "he" (Ingersoll) "repels all decent men, +whatever their convictions; for no decent man likes blasphemy any more +than he likes obscenity," is certainly not true of the one lecture I +heard, or of the score of others of his I have read. I humbly claim +to be myself a "decent man," and I did not find myself "repelled" on +listening to Ingersoll's lecture, but rather attracted. I also saw many +decent people at the lecture (some from a distance), and they did not +seem repelled; but, like myself, well-pleased. In Toronto, according +to the reports in the _Evening Telegram_, there were large audiences of +decent, intelligent people: and instead of being repelled, they greeted +the lecturer with the most enthusiastic approbation and applause, +repeated over and over again. The same reception was accorded him in +Montreal, Belleville and Napanee. + +Bystander contrasts Ingersoll's "offensive tone" on the platform with +the "gentleness and sympathy of the Christian preacher on Mars' Hill," +who, he tells us, "delivered the truths he bore at once with the dignity +of simple earnestness, and with perfect tenderness towards the beliefs +which he came to supersede." Let us, for a moment, examine this claim +of "simple earnestness," and "perfect tenderness" in behalf of Paul the +great preacher of the New Testament. Paul says, (Roman iii. 7) "For if +the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory, why +yet am I also judged as a sinner?" He also tells us (2nd Cor. 12: 16) +that "being _crafty_, I caught you with guile," and likewise assures us +that he was "all things to all men;" to the Jews he "became as a Jew," +etc. What "simple earnestness" this is truly! And the Church of Christ +has nearly always acted in accordance with this Scriptural doctrine that +in _lying_ for God's sake the "end justifies the means." Mosheim, +the ecclesiastical historian, tells us that in the early ages of the +Christian Church, "It was an act of virtue to deceive and lie, when by +that means the interest of the church might be promoted." + +As to Paul's "perfect tenderness toward the beliefs which he came to +supersede," let us look a little into that. In writing to the Galatians +he says [tenderly] "As we said before, so say I now again, if any man +preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him +be _accursed_." (Gal. 1:9.) That is tender toleration for you! Again, +"A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition, reject" +(Titus 4:9.) "I would they were even cut off which trouble you" (Gal. +5: 12.) We, Freethinkers, would stand a poor chance to-day if Paul's +precepts were carried out! Again, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus +Christ, let him be _Anathema Maranatha_" (1 Cor. 16: 22.)-What "perfect +tenderness" this is! With a vengeance are these curses and maledictions +tender! _Bystander_ may search in vain in Ingersoll's lectures, or any +Freethinkers' writings, for such consummate bigotry, intolerance, and +even cruelty as this "Christian preacher" pours out upon all who venture +to differ from him in belief. And what "perfect tenderness" in Paul +to denounce and stigmatize even those of his own church--his +co-religionists--as "_false apostles, deceitful workers, dogs, and +liars!_" Did _Bystander_ or anybody else ever hear such language from +Ingersoll or any other Freethinker? Is it not "offensive to any sensible +and right-minded man?" Does it not "repel all decent men?" + +_Bystander_ admits that when Ingersoll "attacks dogmatic orthodoxy he +is in the right." What more does he attack? This is exactly what he does +attack, and _Bystander_ admits that in so doing he is doing right, thus +showing that he himself does not believe in dogmatic orthodoxy. Now, if +the Christian's God, as described in the Bible, is included in "dogmatic +orthodoxy" (and He surely must be) is Ingersoll blasphemous in attacking +Him? Surely not, according to _Bystander_ himself. _Bystander_ may say, +however, that he does not mean to include the Christian's God in +the "irrational and obsolete orthodoxy," against which he admits +"Ingersoll's arguments are really telling." But does _Bystander_ himself +believe in the God of the Bible? From the tenor of his language he +surely cannot. Does he believe in the God of whom the Bible itself gives +the following description? (For want of time to refer to, and space to +insert chapter and verse, they are not given, but every Bible reader +will recognize the passages given as substantially correct):-- + +"He burns with anger; his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue +as a devouring fire." "His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks +are thrown down by him." "The Lord awaketh as one out of sleep, and like +a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine." "Smoke came out of his +nostrils, and fire out of his mouth, so that coals were kindled by it." +"He had horns coming out of his hand." "Out of his mouth went a sharp +two-edged sword." "The Lord shall roar from on high. He roareth from +his habitation. He shall shout as they that tread the grapes." "He is +a jealous God." "He stirred up jealousy." "He was jealous to fury." +"He rides upon horses." "The Lord is a man of war." "His anger will +be accomplished, and his fury rest upon them, and then he will be +_comforted!_" "His arrows shall be drunken with blood." "He is angry +with the wicked every day." "A fire is kindled in mine anger and shall +burn unto the lowest hell. I will heap mischief upon them; I will spend +my arrows upon them I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, and +the poison of the serpents... both the young man and the virgin, the +suckling also, and the man of gray hairs." [What did the "suckling" do +to merit this?] "He reserveth wrath for his enemies." "He became angry +and swore." "He cried and roared." + +Does _Bystander_ believe in a God like that? whom it is "blasphemy," it +seems, for Ingersol to attack! It is true there are good qualities and +attributes ascribed to God by the Bible as well as bad; but that +does not affect the fact that these are ascribed to him; while the +co-existence of two diametrically opposite sets of attributes in the +same Being is simply absurd. Why is it blasphemy to attack such a +conception of God, any more than to attack any of the other Pagan gods +of antiquity? As he is represented in the Bible, He is certainly no +better than they; and _Bystander_ himself would have little hesitancy +in making an onslaught on the Pagan gods. When primitive Judaism and +Christianity set up a God for _our_ worship and adoration, and at +the same time tells us, "by the book," that He commanded the cruel, +fiendish, and indiscriminate murder of men, women, and innocent children, +we beg to decline to worship, or adore, or believe in any such Being; +and we do not think it "blasphemy" to attack the false belief and the +false God. When we read in the "word of God" that the Lord commanded +one of his prophets to diet on excrement; that the Lord met Moses at a +tavern and tried to kill him (see Exodus, 4, 24); that the sun and moon +stood still; that it rained forty days and nights, and that nearly the +whole world was drowned; that the first man--Adam--was made of clay, and +Eve of a rib, about 6000 years ago; that the world was made in six days, +and that vegetation flourished before there was any sun,--when we read +of all these wonderful things, we beg to be excused from believing them, +and claim the right to ridicule them to our heart's content. If this is +"disrespect," or "insult," or an "ignoble spirit of irreverence," then +we plead guilty to the charge, and are willing to abide by it. + +We do not deny that there may be a God; we only deny the existence +of such a one as the Bible sets forth. We attack only the gods whom +barbarous peoples have fashioned in their own imaginations and set up +for our worship, and not any high or noble conception of a Deity. We +fully admit the existence of a great and mysterious power or force in +the universe which we cannot understand or comprehend. We believe with +Spencer in the great _Unknown_ and _Unknowable_, and have no "attack" +to make upon this power, no word of ridicule, no blasphemy; but, like +Tyndall, stand in its presence with reverence and awe, acknowledging our +ignorance. + +While, however, acknowledging this unseen Power, we decline to +anthropomorphise it--to call it a _person_ or _being_, and invest it +with mental and moral functions similar to our own, differing only in +degree not in kind. It is only the anthropomorphism we attack--only +the superstitions, assumptions and dogmas. We only attack that which +is incredible and absurd--that which "shocks reason." We believe in +religion--the Religion of Humanity--to do right--a religion of _works_ +instead of faith and creeds, and _Bystander_ himself admits that +"religion is carrying a weight which it cannot bear," and that, "unless +the credible can be separated from the incredible, the reasonable from +that which shocks reason, there will be a total eclipse of faith." + +"The Cosmogony of Moses," says _Bystander_, "will, of course not bear +the scrutiny of modern science; few probably are now so bigoted as +to maintain that it will." If it will not bear such scrutiny, is it +blasphemy to attack it, or its author? for the God of the Bible is the +alleged author of that Cosmogony, inspiring Moses or whoever wrote it. +But _Bystander_ further remarks that the Mosaic Cosmogony "need not fear +comparison with the Cosmogony of any other race." We thank him for that +favor. It is exactly what we claim, to wit, that the Cosmogony of Moses, +like all the others, is simply a human production, for it would be +absurd to talk of "comparing" an _inspired_ Cosmogony of _divine origin_ +with _human_ Cosmogonies. Hence, according to _Bystander_ himself, the +Mosaic Cosmogony is simply, like the rest, human: only he thinks it a +little better than the others. It will not, however, "bear the scrutiny +of modern science." Very likely not! What then, becomes of the "fall +of man," the "redemption" the "Ideal Man," and the whole Christian +Superstructure which rests upon the Mosaic Cosmogony? If the pillars are +taken away the building _must_ come down. + +It is also admitted by _Bystander_ that "The moral code of Moses is +tribal and primeval; it is alien to us who live under the ethical +conditions of high civilization and the Religion of Humanity." Precisely +so! And for this magnificent favor also, we again thank _Bystander_. No +materialist or utilitarian could have possibly put it better; albeit a +Christian would experience some moral obfuscation in trying to make out +why, if the "moral code of Moses" is from heaven, it should be "alien +to us" and to these times? He would be hardly able to understand why he +should be comparing his _Divine_ code with _Pagan_ codes to see whether +it is "worse or better than other codes framed in the same stage of +human progress?" Let the Freethinkers take courage. _Bystander_, to +all appearances, will soon be squarely on our side; and then we can +truthfully say, that though the Christians have the greatest scientist, +probably, in Canada (Prof. Dawson, of Montreal,) on their side, we will +have the greatest scholar, historian and _literateur_ in Canada on _our_ +side. Three cheers in the Liberal camp for _Bystander!_ Indeed, we have +some hopes, too, even of Prof. Dawson, whose Mosaic orthodoxy seems to +be relaxing a little of late; and he evidently feels his isolation, his +scientific brethren all being on our side. + +While writing this, the Montreal _Daily Witness_ of June 15th, 1880, +comes to hand from a Freethought octogenarian friend in Port Hope (Wm. +Sisson, Esq.) with the familiar pencil mark, drawing my attention to a +report of the proceedings of "The Congregational Union," at present in +session in Montreal. From it I learn that Rev. Hugh Pedley, B. A., made +an address before the _Union_ on "The Freethought of the Age," from +which I cull the following, as reported in the _Witness_:-- + +"One of the principal difficulties," he said (of the clergy), "was the +prevalence of freethought among the people. There was a time when the +New Testament was received by almost everybody * * * But things had +changed * * * Some time ago the weapons of skilled historians were +turned first against the Old and then against the New Testament * * * +Dr. Norman McLeod, writing from Germany, said, 'I am informed on +credible testimony that ninety-nine out of every hundred persons here +are sceptics.' * * * Germany was to-day more Pagan than Christian * * * +The press passed up and down the land, scattering into every home things +which set men thinking." [Ah! there is the secret; when men begin to +think and reason on theological subjects as they do on secular, good-bye +creeds! goodbye confessions!] "Goldwin Smith, a man who had so studied +the past as to be able to interpret the present, had told us that a +religious collapse of the most complete and tremendous character was +apparent on every hand." It was only very recently that a sceptical work +on 'Supernatural Religion' passed through a number of editions in a few +months. Col. Ingersoll had recently visited the country. He came, he +saw, and in some sense he conquered. (Cries of No! No!) The second night +he had a much larger attendance than on the first. No matter who, ran +Ingersoll down, he was a man of great power of oratory and strong in +those qualities which control audiences. + +The Rev. gentleman then referred deprecatingly to the inadequate-college +training of theological students in "apologetics," as they were not +allowed to read the works of sceptics for themselves, but had to take +their tutors' version of the sceptics' arguments. This "putting up a +little argument and then knocking it down," he said was neither "the +fair nor the true way." He recommended putting "the very sceptical works +into the hands of the students, and he would even say to go and hear +Ingersoll if he came." + +That "man's idea of God rises with his progress in civilization," +_Bystander_ admits; but he attempts to explain the fact away on theistic +grounds, and dilute its strength as an argument that God is simply a +projection of the human mind. He asks:-- + +"If this conception" (a conception of God) "flows from no reality, from +what does it flow? It is a phenomenon of which, as of other phenomena, +there must be some explanation; and we have not yet chanced to see +in the writings of any Agnostic an explanation which seemed at all +satisfactory." + +I would respectfully suggest to _Bystander_ that there _is_ a +satisfactory explanation, though to him it may not be so. In answering +his question I will ask another. If the conception of, or belief in, a +devil or devils, flows from no reality, from what does it flow? The same +of witches, fairies, sprites, hob-goblins, _et hoc genus omne_. Belief +in these is quite as general as belief in God, though _Bystander's_ +question seems to assume that belief in the latter is universal. +This, however, is not the case, as has been conclusively shown in the +foregoing reply to Wend-ling. Therefore, this "conception" argument, +like the famous "design" argument, proves too much, and consequently +proves nothing. As to the _origin_ of the belief in spiritual agencies, +and conceptions of God, Darwin tells us it is not difficult to +comprehend how they arose. He says, "Descent of Man," vol. i, p. 63-5:-- + +"As soon as the important faculties of imagination, wonder, and +curiosity, together with some power of reasoning, had become partially +developed, man would naturally have craved to understand what was +passing around him, and have vaguely speculated on his own existence * * +* The belief in spiritual agencies would easily pass into the belief of +one or more Gods." + +_Bystander_, while freely admitting that the Theistic theory is +compassed with difficulties; and requires "re-statement," reminds us +that the-"materialistic hypothesis is not free from difficulty." The +difficulty he discovers in materialism relates to the order of priority +of matter and force. He asks:-- + +"Which of the two is the First Principle? Force cannot have been +produced by matter, for without force, matter cannot move, change, or +generate at all. Matter cannot have been produced by force, because +force is nothing but the impulsion of matter. Apparently there must have +been something before both, which produced them and determined their +relations; and it must be something beyond the range of sense." + +_Bystander_. I think, has not correctly apprehended the materialistic +position here, and hence the argument for a "something before both +matter and force which produced them," being built upon a postulated +premiss which we cannot accept, has no weight in establishing the +existence of a God behind matter and force. His error lies in the +assumption of the possibility of matter and force existing separately +and independently. He asks, "Which of the two is the First Principle?" +Our answer is, there can be no _first_ as between matter and force, +for there can be no matter without force, and _vice versa_. The two are +inseparable, even in conception, and the existence of one is absolutely +essential to the existence of the other. Hence the argument proceeding +from the assumption of their divisibility and possible independence +fails. The Theist has no right whatever, logically speaking, to assume +that there "must have been something before matter and force which +produced them." So long as matter and force are amply adequate (as far +as we can discern) to the production of all cognizable phenomena, we +are not warranted in assuming the existence of any being or thing behind +them. As soon as the Theist does this, we have the logical right to +carry his reasoning further, and at once assume something else behind +it again, and thus not only one but a thousand gods could be postulated +without the shadow of real proof of one of them. + +There is an ultimate ground, however, upon which the Theist and +Materialist may meet in common, and, so far as I can see, the only +ultimate position they can occupy in perfect corelation. The universe +exists; man as a part of the universe--a mode of existence--is here; +in this we agree. Man, then, being himself the highest intelligence +he knows of, continually seeks an explanation of the universe and of +himself as a part of it. This is the common ground upon which we +all stand--Rationalist, Theist, Agnostic, Atheist--barbarous and +civilized--the weakest and the mightiest intellect. + +All seek to explain the great mystery of the universe--some one way, +some another--from the rude thaumaturgic fancies of the primitive +barbarian up to the abstruse speculations and subtle reasonings of the +cultured Pantheist, intellectual Agnostic, and logical Materialist. +It is true one may be more reasonable and logical than the rest (as I +undoubtedly think is the case), yet they all occupy the common ground of +uncertainty. Not one can _demonstrate_ his position, and in this we are +all alike. (One, however, among all the rest thinks he _knows_ he is +_right_ and can prove it, viz., the dogmatic Christian Theist.) We may +all, therefore, stand together in the presence of Nature and acknowledge +our ignorance. Though each school has its theory, its hypothesis, its +solution, yet the mystery of the mighty universe is still an unsolved +problem. + + + + +REPLY TO "A RATIONALIST" + +We have another reply to Ingersoll in a pamphlet of twenty pages, issued +in Toronto, with the following modest title:--"A Refutation of Col. R. +G. Ingersoll's Lectures, by 'A Rationalist.'" This proemial announcement +is certainly calculated to excite high expectations; but it is only +necessary to look into the rational (?) "refutation" (?) to see that the +names the writer has given himself and pamphlet are both misnomers. How +such an irrational jumble of orthodoxy, heterodoxy, obsolete philosophy, +and moribund metaphysics could by any possibility pass for rationalism, +even in the eyes of its author, is one of those profound mysteries which +"no fellah can understand." Is it not a little singular that all these +"replies" and "refutations" from the orthodox side come from theological +nondescripts--from men who are but half orthodox (the other half not +being recognizable), and not one reply from a thoroughly orthodox +champion? A correlative fact, not without much significance, is that, +though no argument comes from the orthodox side, the denunciations all +come from that source. On the other hand in proportion as the opposing +champion is unorthodox, in that ratio is he tolerant, courteous, and +in favor of free speech and equal rights. "A Rationalist's" essay is +pervaded by the kindliest spirit personally towards his opponent, and +this, in a measure, redeems its literary and logical defects. + +Though "Rationalist" zealously defends the Bible, and argues for a God, +it is impossible to tell how much of the Bible he accepts, or what +God he believes in. He says, "every jot and tittle of the Bible is +inspired," yet in another place tells us, "The Apostle Paul is not +one of the inspired writers," as "His words will not bear a spiritual +interpretation." It would, therefore, seem that no part of the Bible +is inspired except that which will stand this method of "spiritual +interpretation." To get rid of the numerous errors, absurdities, and +immoralities contained in the Bible, "Rationalist" spiritualizes them. +He has a first-class recondite and spiritual meaning for every one of +them, which seems to be entirely satisfactory--to himself. With the +utmost facility everything is explained away; and armed with his occult +style of Bible exegesis he can laugh at the infidel scientist. He says +we must "rub off the literal meaning" in order to get at the spiritual, +and by this convenient method every difficulty between the two sacred +lids vanishes into thin air. This "rubbing off" business he also +applies to the God of the Bible, whose characteristic _anthropomorphism_ +"Rationalist," of course, rubs all off, even his _intelligence_. So that +there would seem to be little more left of the Jewish Jehovah, under +modern scriptural exegesis, than what Beecher describes as a "dim and +shadowy influence." "Rationalist" divests Deity of intelligence to +escape the effects of the following argument:-- + + Intelligence presupposes a greater intelligence, + + God has intelligence, + + Therefore, there must be an intelligence greater than God. + +Seeing the logical force of this, he quibbles thus: "We do not say that +God _has_ intelligence, but that God _is_ wisdom in form and love in +essence, and therefore the infinite source of all intelligence." This +will not do, Mr. "Rationalist!" It is entirely too vague. You must +either contend for a personal or an impersonal God. Give us either Deism +or Pantheism, and not an incongruous mixture, and then we will know on +what ground to meet you. If you mean that God is simply the aggregate, +or even the essence, of all intelligence, all love, all good, why this +is a mere abstraction, and even an Atheist might accept it; but if you +are contending for anything like the Christian's God, as set forth in +the Bible, you will have to alter your definitions very materially. + +As a specimen illustration of "Rationalist's" spiritual method of +resolving Scriptural difficulties I give below his version of the story +of Elisha, the children, and the bears, under the "rubbing off" process. +We, Freethinkers, he says, will not "object to the bears" when we +understand what the story means, and here is his elucidation, _verbatim +et literatim_:-- + +"Elisha represents the external or literal words of Holy Writ on +which the mantle of spiritual truth still rests. Children represent +affections--don't fond mothers even yet call them 'little loves?'--They +also correspond to the opposite, and so evil loves which destroy +obedience to the external life of goodness, taught in, at least, some +of the literal words of Scripture, naturally mock at the baldness of +Elisha. Baldness, since it refers to the head, and the head corresponds +to that union of will and intellect in man which rules, and is, the +life, and ultimates in the very extreme of its very minute external, +corresponds to the most external of the will and thought of Elisha, who +represents the literal meaning of Scripture. So this incident means that +evil loves could see no ultimate good to _themselves_ in the doing +of any good in a practical every-day way even where that was clearly +enjoined, and rendered as beautiful externally as hair is, and therefore +mocked at it, or rather at what seemed to them the lack of it. Then the +bears, which correspond to the animal passions of the animal man, came +out of the woods--woods correspond to the natural perceptions of natural +truth in man--and utterly destroyed these evil loves out of the life. +Again you see we find the same truth; that the Lord implants remains of +goodness and truth in every degree of man's life, even in the natural +man, fitted to cope with and conquer his evils, if man himself will but +permit it." + +There's a sample of "spiritual interpretation" for you! And what +_clearness_ is there, dear reader! Just return to the fourth sentence of +the above extract, commencing with "Baldness," and re-read it, and see +if you can make anything out of it. What the sentence does really +mean is to me as profound a mystery as the incantations of a Gypsy +thaumaturgist. It would be interesting to get "Rationalist" to try his +hand at spiritualizing some of the following passages of Holy Writ:-- + +"In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired," +&c. "And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him" +(Moses) "and sought to kill him." "I have seen God face to face." _Per +Contra_: "No man hath seen God at any time." "I am the Lord, I change +not, I will not go back, neither will I repent." _Per Contra_: "And God +repented of the evil that he said he would do unto them, and he did it +not." "There is no respect of persons with God." _Per Contra_: "Jacob +have I loved, and Esau have I hated." "I am a jealous God, visiting the +iniquities of the fathers upon the children." _Per Contra_: "The son +shall not bear the iniquity of the father." "It is impossible for God +to lie." _Per Contra_: "If the Prophet be deceived when he hath spoken +a thing, I the Lord have deceived that Prophet." "Be not afraid of them +that kill the body." _Per Contra_: "And after these things Jesus would +not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him." "And the anger +of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them +to say, 'Go number Israel.'" _Per Contra_: "And Satan provoked David to +number Israel." "I bear witness of myself, yet my record is true." _Per +Contra_: "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." "A man +is not justified by the works of the law." _Per Contra_: "Ye see, then, +how that by works a man is justified." "There shall no evil happen to +the just." _Per Contra_: "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall +suffer persecution." "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness and all +her paths are peace." _Per Contra_: "In much wisdom is much grief and he +that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." "It shall not be well with +the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days." _Per Contra_: "Wherefore +do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power." "Thou shalt +not: commit adultery." _Per Contra_: "Then said the Lord unto me, 'Go +get, love a woman, an adulteress.'" + +Here, certainly, is ample scope for exegetical ingenuity. The passages +quoted, besides scores of others, many of them too indecent for these +pages, would seem to require the touch of "Rationalist's" spiritual +interpretation wand. When the literal meaning is "rubbed off," the +occult, spiritual meaning will appear. + +As a sample of "Rationalist's" metaphysical philosophy I give the +following:-- + +"Will and love are identical... Will or love is life. A man cannot +think unless he wills to think; and he can only think that which he +wills--only that and nothing more. He can only do what he wills and +thinks. There is no action which is not the effect of will and its +thought. A man wills in order to think," etc. He also tells us that God +gave man a will "as _free_ as His own." Matter is spoken of as "mere +dead inert matter." + +Is more evidence than this needed that "Rationalist" is living in the +past, and has utterly failed to grasp modern thought? His philosophy is +bad, but his metaphysics is worse. Any man who at this day attempts to +"refute" Materialists should at least be somewhat acquainted with the +results of modern thought and scientific research; but "Rationalist" has +apparently advanced no further than the occult Swedenborgian mysticism +of the last century. Further, to talk to-day of "dead inert matter," is +to talk the language of an obsolete philosophy of the past; for modern +science and philosophy alike agree that matter is not "that mere empty +_capacity_ which philosophers have pictured her to be, but the universal +mother who brings forth all things as the fruit of her own womb." As +Pope says:-- + +"See thro' this air, this ocean, and this earth, All matter quick and +bursting into birth." + +Equally absurd is this talk about "Free Will" and "Free Moral Agency." +These metaphysico-theological dogmas have melted in the light of +mental science, and are now as "dead as a door nail," of which fact +"Rationalist" will be convinced if he will take the trouble to look into +Hamilton, Combe, Mill, Buckle, Lewes, Spencer, Huxley and Tyndall, and +he will then, probably, write no more such nonsense as quoted above. It +is not necessary, however, for any observant and thoughtful man to go to +any authorities outside his own mind to be convinced of the fallacy of +the "Free Will" dogma, for his own observation and reflection will do +it. And "Rationalist" can have the same conviction without the aid of +science or philosophy,--without even observation or reflection. Let him +turn to his Bible, which he champions, and read it, and he will find +abundant proof (such as it is) that man's will is not free. Let him read +the 8th, 9th and 11th Chapters of Romans. Let him then read Phil. 2, 13, +"For it is God which worketh in you _both to will and to do_ of His good +_pleasure_." Then read Isaiah, 46, 910, "I am God and there is none like +me, _declaring the end from the beginnings_ and from ancient times _the +things_ that are not _yet_ done, saying, my council shall stand, and I +will do all my _pleasure_." + +Now, I submit that if an omnipotent and omniscient God has "declared the +end from the beginning," and ordered all "the things that are not yet +done" (and you have his word for it here) how is it possible for +mortal and finite man to do any thing contrary to the thing ordered, +or accomplish any "end" but the one "declared from the beginning?" Here +you, who believe in God and the Bible, have his word for it that he has +declared all things "from the beginning." Man then _must_ do and think +as God has declared, and can do nothing else, hence he is _not free_. + +The idea that "a man cannot think unless he wills to think" is too +preposterous (laying the Bible aside) for any reasonable man to accept +who is not a slave to creeds and dogmas. Let "Rationalist," after +reading this sentence, stop reading, and assume a quiescent state (for +of course _his free will_ will enable him to do this)--a state of mental +passivity, as it were,--let him _will nothing_ for the time being,--and +then see if thoughts of some kind do not spontaneously arise in his +mind. And then let him _will_ to have _no thoughts_ for the space +of five minutes, and see if the thoughts do not steal into his brain +(providing of course he has one) unbidden, and in spite of him--in spite +of all his boasted freewill power. Let any reader put this impossible +and absurd dictum of "Rationalist" to the test, and he will have a +living demonstration in his own brain, which will render any further +argument on this point entirely superfluous. + +"Rationalist" worries himself into inextricable confusion over causes +and effects, first causes, first causes and last effects, etc., etc. +Because Ingersoll has said "a first cause is just as impossible as a +last effect," Rationalist well nigh swamps himself in a most ludicrous +"muss-of-a muddle-of-a-jerry-cum-tumble" of bad diction and worse logic +to prove that by such reasoning as Ingersoll's we come to "chaos" and +to "nothing," (hasn't the gentleman himself come to chaos if not to +nothing?) We reason everything out of existence, he says, and just now +we will have left "no nature, no God, no man, no matter" (it would be +_no matter_ if some _bipids_ were gone) "no force," no "nothing"-- +"literally nothing." Shades of Bacon! let us take breath; for this would +certainly be a very bad state of things, from which "good Lord deliver +us!" It would be nearly as bad as before the "creation," when nothing +existed throughout the infinite realms of space save Jehovah himself. + +I will endeavor to make what materialists mean by the impossibility of +a first cause or last effect clear to "Rationalist." We believe in one +existence, and only one--the universe--which, though never itself having +been created or brought into existence (being eternal), is the primal +(or "first" if you like) cause of all phenomena Rationalist will thus +see that in one sense there is no _first came_ as the universe is +eternal, yet in another sense there _is_ a first cause, viz.: the +universe, as it is the primal cause of all phenomena. As to a "last +effect," it should be obvious to every _rational_ mind that as matter +and force are indestructible, and hence eternal in duration, there can +be no last effect; for as long as matter and force exist effects must of +necessity ensue. + + + + +REPLY TO REV. A. J. BRAY + +It is a great relief to a Freethinker to find a man among the clergy +like Mr. Bray, in point of religious liberality. It is like coming upon +an oasis in the waste desert of orthodox bigotry and intolerance. + +Mr. Bray is the able editor of the _Canadian Spectator_, of Montreal; +and also preaches, I believe, every Sunday in Zion Church in that city. +Unlike his clerical brethren generally, when Mr. Ingersoll lectured in +Montreal, in April last, Mr. Bray went to hear him, and answered him +from his pulpit the two following Sundays. These "Discourses" were +published in the succeeding numbers of his paper, the _Spectator_. Hear +him on free speech:-- + +"In a free country all kinds of freedom must be allowed, and Mr. +Ingersoll had just as much right to come here and say his say in his own +manner, and according to his own discretion, as Mr. Hammond has to come +and preach and teach in his way. If men are free to agree with us, they +are also free to differ with us; to differ a little, to differ much, +to differ altogether. If the Mayor had found a law by which he could +prohibit Ingersoll from lecturing against our religious beliefs, I would +have started an agitation at once for the repeal of that absurd and +antiquated law. If hearing arguments against our faith is likely to +unsettle us, then we had better be unsettled. We are badly off with all +our religious literature and preaching, if we cannot endure any kind of +criticism, and witticism, and argument." + +These are brave words, and every fair-minded man in this Dominion will +agree with Mr. Bray in his liberal and courageous utterances. They are +timely words to go forth in that city where the war of sects has waxed +so hot and virulent of late. Montreal needs more men like Bray in her +churches, to mollify the bigotry, and stamp out the bitter feuds, and +fierce antagonism of Christian against Christian. + +As this pamphlet has already reached a much greater length than +originally intended, I have but little space to devote to Mr. Bray's +Reply to Ingersoll. One or two points, however, must be noticed. + +Mr. Bray falls into the same error as "Bystander" in accusing + +Ingersoll of attacking a theology which, he tells us, is "opposed to +all reason," and now "well nigh obsolete." I would simply say if it is +"obsolete," it is the stock in trade of the Christian Church today. Take +away from it this obsolete theology (which is "opposed to all reason,") +and there is nothing left of Christianity worth speaking of; for the +morality Christianity contains does not of right belong to it It is +Pagan. It has been _appropriated_ by Christianity, and is not original +with it. There is not a single moral precept in the Bible, but was +taught before that book was written. (For proof of this, see Sir +Wm. Jones, Max Muller, Lord Amberly, and "Supernatural Religion.") +Therefore, when you take away the dogmas of Christianity--its "obsolete +theology"--you take away Christianity itself to all intents and +purposes. And hence the utter inconsistency and absurdity of our +opponents in taxing us with merely attacking a dead theology, when that +dead theology is all there is of a religion which they defend and +wish to perpetuate. Seeing, then, that the theology of Christianity is +admittedly dead, why not give it up and come over to us? for all you +have left--the brotherhood of man--belongs to us: it is our RELIGION OF +HUMANITY. + +As the only salient point, to my mind, in Mr. Bray's reply to Ingersoll +is dealt with in the following letter, which I addressed to the +_Spectator_, and which appeared in its columns, I have only space here +to reproduce that letter:-- + +To the Editor of the Canadian Spectator: + +Sir,--In your issue of the 10th instant, in a discourse in reply to Col. +Ingersoll, I find the following:-- + +"The lecturer, who seemed to imagine that he understood everything else, +was compelled to acknowledge that he did not understand why there should +be so much hunger and pain and misery. Why, the world over, life should +live upon life. When he has cast Jehovah out of the Universe, he is +pained and puzzled to account for the presence of wrong and sorrow. With +God he cannot account for it; without God he cannot account for it. If +Col. Ingersoll, or any other of that school, can give me an intelligent +theory of life, and satisfactory solution of the problem of the presence +of evil and pain without God, I am prepared to consider it." + +Now, Sir, having the honor (or dishonor, as the case may be,) to belong +to that school, I venture to take up the gauntlet thus thrown down. From +our stand-point we are able, we think, to give an intelligent theory of +these things; and although it may not be wholly devoid of mystery, we +claim it is less mysterious than the Christian theory. We claim that +the Materialistic explanation of the Universe and its phenomena is more +reasonable and less mysterious than the Theistic; and this is why +we find ourselves compelled to adopt it and become Atheists. On the +Materialistic hypothesis of development and evolution we are certainly +_not_ "puzzled to account for the presence of wrong and sorrow," however +much we may be pained at their fearful prevalence. It is only on the +hypothesis of being under the governance of an omnipotent and infinitely +_benevolent_ Being that we are utterly unable to account for such-a +state of things. Although the ultimate tendency of the forces of +the-Universe seems to be towards a higher, and higher, and more perfect +condition, not only for man, but all animals, and even plants, yet +these-forces are, as Science abundantly proves, utterly without +mercy--without pity for man or any other animal. Therefore, on the +evolution philosophy of things, we can reasonably predicate pain, +sorrow, and wrong; and are not puzzled at their existence. It is only on +the theory of a _good_ God controlling the Universe that we stand dumb +with confusion and wonderment in the presence of all this woe, pain, +misery, and wrong-with which the world is filled--this terrible +"struggle for life," where the-strong prey upon the weak, where animal +eats animal, and man eats-man! + +The theologians have had upwards of two thousand years to reduce the +Materialistic paradoxes of Epicurus on the existence of evil, but have +they done so? If there be a God, and He is all-powerful, He _could_ +remove the _surplus_ evil and pain from the world, and if He is all-good +He _would_ remove it, is an argument which has never yet been answered +by a Paley, a Butler, a Dawson, or any other Christian Theist or Bible +apologist. I use the phrase "_surplus_ evil and pain" for this reason: +As a sort of apology for the rank malevolence abroad in the world, and +as an argument for the existence of a beneficent God, Christian Theists +tell us that pain is necessary as an antecedent to the proper enjoyment +of pleasure; that it is necessary to the growth and development of +character; that the storm of the ocean is an essential pre-requisite to +the adequate enjoyment of the subsequent calm; that all smooth sailing +would be monotonous and insipid. Now, we will admit this for the sake +of the argument; but there yet remains the mass of _surplus_ evil to +be accounted for, which is wholly unnecessary for such corrective and +distributive purposes. It may, perhaps, be necessary that the tempest +toss the ship about on the bosom of the ocean in order that the living +freight may have a keener appreciation of the succeeding calm, and also +to develop awe and sublimity in their breasts; but to accomplish this it +is scarcely to the purpose to send all to the bottom of the ocean! That +we may have a proper relish for our food and a due appreciation of the +blessings of a good appetite, it may be necessary that we feel the pangs +of hunger and starvation occasionally; but to give us this wholesome +discipline it would seem hardly necessary that millions of human beings +should actually be starved to death! + +Now, on the theory of _inexorable law_* instead of a _beneficent +Providence_, we are not surprised that a ship which is not strong enough +to ride the storm should go to the bottom, even though five hundred +bishops and clergymen be aboard supplicating an unknown God for succor. +On the theory of inexorable and merciless law in which we are fast +bound, we are not "puzzled" that millions of human beings should +starve to death when these laws or conditions of Nature are violated in +over-population and a false political and social economy. Or when a Tay +bridge goes down with its living freight under the pressure of train +and tempest, the Atheist is neither surprised nor puzzled: but the +Christian, who worships a benevolent (?) God and believes that not a +hair falls from his head without His notice, can only look at such a +malevolent horror in dumb silence and amazement--he has no explanation. +Our theory of the presence of evil in the world is, therefore, at +least rational; but, is the Christian theory rational? Is it rational +to-suppose that all the pain, sorrow, and evil in the world have been +caused by the puerile circumstance of a woman eating an apple? This +would be as monstrously unjust as it is irrational and absurd. + +As to the origin and maintenance of life "without God," it is quite as +comprehensible and rational without God as with one with the Christian +conditions and qualifications. An universe of matter containing +the "promise and potency of all forms and qualities of life" is +as intelligible and comprehensible as a God _outside_ the Universe +embodying the potency of all life. From the time that Lucretius declared +that "Nature is seen to do all things spontaneously of herself without +the meddling of the Gods," and Bruno that matter is the "universal +mother who brings forth all things as the fruit of her own womb," down +to Prof. Tyndall, who discerns in matter "the promise and potency of +every form and quality of life," scientists have never been able to +discover the least intrusion of any creative power into the operations +of + + * Materialists, in using the phrase "law of Nature," use a + popular expression, but not in the popular sense as + presupposing a law-giver. By "law of Nature" we simply mean + natural sequence--the uniformity of Nature's operations. + +Nature and the affairs of this world, or the least trace of interference +by any God or gods. In the primeval ages of ignorance and barbarism the +gods were supposed to do everything, from the production of wind, rain, +tempest, thunder and lightning, earthquakes, &c, down to dyspepsia +and potato-bugs. Science now explains all these things and a thousand +others. Indeed, in modern philosophy there is no room for the gods in +the Universe, and nothing left for them to do. And there cannot be any +room _beyond_ it for them, for "above Nature we cannot rise." + +The Materialistic theory (and to it we subscribe) is that there is +but _one existence_, the _Universe_, and that it is eternal--without +beginning or end--that the matter of the Universe never could have been +created, for _ex nihilo nihil fit_, (from nothing nothing can come,) and +that it contains within itself the potency adequate to the production of +all phenomena. This we think to be more conceivable and intelligent +than the Christian theory that there are two existences--God and the +Universe--and that there was a time when there was but one existence, +God, and that after an indefinite period of quiescence and "masterly +inactivity" He finally created a Universe either out of Himself or out +of nothing--either one of which propositions is philosophically absurd. +And in either case, to say that God would be infinite would be equally +absurd. + +Respectfully, + +ALLEN PRINGLE. + +Napanee, Ont., April 23, 1880. + + + + +THE OATH QUESTION + +(TO CANADIAN FREETHINKERS.) + +As this Pamphlet will be widely circulated throughout Canada (especially +Ontario), it will come into the hands of most Canadian Freethinkers, and +I have therefore thought this an opportune time to bring this question, +in which we are all so deeply interested, before the Freethinkers of +Canada, and urge upon them the necessity of agitation for reform. The +time has come, I think, for action in petitioning Parliament to remove +the serious and most unjust disabilities under which we, as a class, are +now placed, and thus have equal rights extended to all citizens. As the +law now stands we are deprived of our rights in the courts, and the ends +of justice are often defeated, not only to our detriment but that of +Christians themselves. If the presiding judge choose to adhere to the +strict letter of the law the testimony of Atheists is refused. It is +very easy to see how the gravest injustice could be inflicted upon +Freethinkers and Christians alike under this unjust law. A Freethinker +may be the only witness to a case involving the interests of a +Christian, or he may be the only witness for himself as against a +Christian; and by his not being eligible as a witness the ends of +justice are defeated. Or an unscrupulous believer may claim that he is +a Freethinker to get rid of giving evidence altogether. It is true there +seems to rest with the Judges a large amount of discretionary power as +to whom they will or will not accept to give evidence; and the majority, +perhaps, of our Canadian Judges exhibit a commendable spirit of +liberality in the matter of accepting the testimony of Freethinkers. But +occasionally one is to be met with, too full of religion and bigotry to +recognize our rights or extend any discretion in our favor. In the +city of Toronto, a few months ago, the testimony of two respectable +and intelligent witnesses was refused because they did not believe +the dogmas of the popular religion.* As an offset to this, however, an +Ottawa-Judge recently showed his fairness and liberality by allowing +a Juryman Freethinker, who declined to take the oath, to make an +affirmation. The Grand Juror referred to, Mr. John Law, of Ottawa, is +described as-a gentleman of "unimpeachable honor and probity," and +hence his simple affirmation being, as he stated, fully binding on his +conscience, would, or certainly ought to, have more weight than the +oaths of many witnesses (believers) who are taken into the witness box. +The presiding Judge, doubtless, so regarded the matter, and therefore, +in his discretion, magnanimously allowed Mr. Law to affirm. + +In England, under "The Evidence Amendment Act" of 1869,32* and 33 Vic, +c. 68, s. 4, Atheists can make the following affirmation instead of +taking the Christian oath, and the Court must allow all Freethinkers to +do so who demand it: + +"I solemnly promise and declare that the evidence given by me to the +Court, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." + +We want a similar Act in Canada, and then Counsel will not be able as +now to badger witnesses about "infidel belief," and turn the court into +an inquisition; nor will a bigoted judge have it in his discretion to +order Atheists down from the witness-box as not fit to give evidence. +At almost every sitting of our courts it is demonstrated beyond a doubt. +that believers in the Bible, who take the oath on that Book, do not +all tell the truth under oath. Every judge and lawyer in the land knows +this, and all know it who have much to do in courts of law. The simple +word or affirmation of an honest man, whether Christian or Infidel, is +better than a thousand oaths of many believers in the Bible, who are +without hesitation taken into the witness-box. Moreover, the Atheist in +making the above affirmation under the Act referred to, is subject to +the same penalties for perjury as the Christian is in taking, the usual +oath. There is, therefore, no good reason why we should! not have +a similar Act here, and it behooves us to begin to move towards its +consummation. Freethinkers are getting numerous in Canada, and they are, +to say the least, as exemplary citizens, socially and morally, as their +Christian neighbors? Why then should they be longer denied equal rights +with their Christian neighbors? + + * Since writing this I have been informed by one of the + witnesses alluded to, that no blame can be fairly imputed to + the presiding Judge in this case, as he felt compelled, + against his sympathies, to carry out the unjust law. + +In England they still have a State Religion, yet the rights of +Rationalists in this respect are conceded to them. Here we have no +state religion, and yet we suffer under religious disabilities which are +utterly out of keeping with the spirit of the age, and which are fast +being swept away in every civilized country. The Bradlaugh imbroglio +recently in the English House of Commons has had the effect of opening +some people's eyes, especially those conservative Christians who +are still afflicted with lingerings of that bigoted, intolerant, and +persecuting spirit which formerly lighted the fires of Smithfleld, +hung quakers, imprisoned so-called "blasphemers," and violated civil +contracts in the name of God. In the last election in England, a few +months ago, Charles Bradlaugh, the eminent Atheist and Republican, was +elected to the English House of Commons for the borough of Northampton, +and in entering the House he claimed his right, instead of taking the +Parliamentary oath, to affirm under the Act referred to above. The +House at first refused, vacillated, appointed Committees, and vigorously +debated the matter; while the bigoted members at once proceeded to +unbudget themselves in true Christian style against the "vermin" +Atheist. Meanwhile the levelheaded Atheist knew what he was about, and, +as the sequel showed, proved himself more than a match for the English +House of Commons. Meanwhile also, the people of England--the working +classes--were-watching the whole business, and finally when Bradlaugh +was refused both oath and affirmation, and the intention to keep the +Atheist out of Parliament became manifest, they (the people) promptly +came to the front. Just then it began to dawn on "the powers that be" +that _vox populi, vox Dei_ had more truth than poetry in it. The people +of England--the producers--(called "lower classes" by the "upper" +_non_-producers) assembled in scores of thousands in indignation +mass-meetings all over England, demanding the admission of Charles +Bradlaugh (their best friend) to his rightful seat in the English House +of Commons. The aforesaid "powers that be" took the alarm. Seeing that +the "voice of the people" was even more potent than the "voice of God," +they prudently bowed to its mandate. They perceived that no Clock Tower, +or other tower in England would hold the workingman's friend even for +the space of seven days. Bradlaugh must be released or the House of +Brunswick might peradventure soon be in mourning--not, probably, for +spilled blood, but for a crown, aye, a crown! No wonder the English +Government feared to see Charles Bradlaugh enter the House of +Commons. He had impeached the House of Brunswick. And it was no "soft +impeachment." No, but a terribly hard indictment! Was it ever answered? +No, it was too true to answer. The only answer was from Lord Randolph +Churchill in the House of Commons, and it was characteristic. This rabid +monarchist, with much more Christian zeal than knowledge or discretion, +took Bradlaugh's "Impeachment of the House of Brunswick" and cast it +viciously under his feet on the floor of the House of Commons. That was +the way the "Impeachment" was answered! Well, as Shakspeare says, "let +the galled jades wince!" But the Atheist had his revenge! They had put +him in the Tower, but they very soon let him out. He had been somewhat +accustomed to fighting the English Government, having beaten them twice, +and he feared not. He was imprisoned one day, but released the next. +An Act was speedily passed giving more even than Bradlaugh at first +demanded--giving every member who wishes in future, the right to affirm +instead of taking the Christian Oath. Bradlaugh has accordingly made +his affirmation as he at first demanded, and has taken his seat in the +English House of Commons as M. P. for Northampton,* And now let every +Freethinker throughout the civilized world rejoice, for this is a great +victory for our cause! The eloquent champion of our dearest rights +has achieved a glorious victory on the very threshold of the English +Parliament before he enters it! Let us take courage! The indomitable and +invincible Iconoclast has now attained a position where his voice will +be heard in behalf of liberty and the rights of man the world over! He +is called "coarse" by some over-cultured people, but his coarseness is +of the kind the world needs, and therefore _we_ do not object to it. The +superstitions, and errors, and wrongs, and oppressions still weighing +down our fellow-men need bare-handed ("coarse") handling, without +gloves, and Bradlaugh wears none of these, but fearlessly throws down +the gauntlet to falsehood and oppression whenever and wherever found. +But I fear I am getting a little off the Oath Question here in my +enthusiasm for Charles Bradlaugh, Member of Parliament for Northampton. + + * The press of Canada, with very few exceptions, have done + Mr. Bradlaugh a great injustice in connection with the oath + question, as they have (perhaps unintentionally) utterly + misrepresented him. They have charged that he "flaunted his + Atheism before the House of Commons," that he at first + _refused_ to take the oath on conscientious grounds and + subsequently "swallowed his scruples" and offered to take + the oath; and that, therefore, the Atheist is without + conscience and without principle, sacrificing all for place. + Now, this is all utterly untrue. He did not flaunt his + Atheism before the House. He did not _refuse_ to take the + oath, but simply claimed to be allowed to affirm. The + Speaker having intimated to Mr. Bradlaugh that if he desired + to address the House in explanation of his claim he would be + permitted to do so, Mr. Bradlaugh said, "I have repeatedly, + for nine years past, made an affirmation in the highest + courts of jurisdiction in this realm: I am ready to make + such a declaration or affirmation." And subsequently when + Mr. Bradlaugh offered to take the oath, it was after he had + made an explanation that although a portion of it to him was + a meaningless form, yet that the oath as a whole, if he took + it would be binding on his conscience substantially the same + as an affirmation. These are the facts, all taken from + authentic official sources, and not from what bigoted and + prejudiced correspondents have sent us across the ocean. My + authority is the record of the proceedings of the + Parliamentary Committees on the Bradlaugh case, where the + facts I have stated were distinctly brought out in evidence, + to which source I beg to refer the newspapers of this + country and call upon them to make the _amende honorable_ by + setting this matter right before their readers. + +In conclusion, I beg to again urge upon my fellow Freethinkers +throughout Canada the necessity of taking such action as will secure +for us our legal rights in the Courts of this country. I trust that the +petitions to Parliament for an Evidence Amendment Act, which we design +ere long to put in circulation, may be numerously signed and diligently +circulated by the liberal friends in the various places to which they +will be sent. + +Selby, Lennox Co., Ont., July, 1880 + + +"It can do truth no service to blink the fact, known to all who have the +most ordinary Acquaintance with literary history, that a large portion, +of the noblest and most valuable moral teaching has been the work, not +only of men who did not know, but of men who knew and rejected, the +Christian faith."--J. S. Mill. + +"The history of Christ is contained in records which exhibit +contradictions that cannot be reconciled, imperfections that would +greatly detract from even admitted human compositions, and erroneous +principles of morality that would hardly have found a place in the most +incomplete system of the philosophers of Greece and Rome."--Rev. Dr. +Giles. + +"That any human creature, be he peer or peasant, man or woman, pauper or +millionaire, should be visited with pains and penalties because of +his or her speculative opinion on a subject whereon but few even of +professing Christians are agreed, is a bitter satire on our vaunted +liberty. My Lords, it is the spirit which lighted the martyr-fires of +Smithfield, and led to the stake gallant and noble souls such as Bruno. +It is a noble; company you are placing me in, my Lords, and I shall +thank you for it."--_Ibid_. + +"Who shall number the patient and earnest seekers after truth, from the +days of Galileo until now, whose lives have been embittered, and their +good name blasted, by the mistaken zeal of Bibliolators? Who shall count +the host of weaker men whose sense of truth has been destroyed in the +effort to harmonize impossibilities--whose life has been wasted in the +attempt to force the generous new wine of Science into the old bottles +of Judaism, compelled by the outcry of the same strong party." _Prof. +Huxley_. + +"Thou shalt not kill, even the smallest creature. + +"Thou shalt not appropriate to thyself what belongs to another. + +"Thou shah not infringe the laws of chastity. + +"Thou shalt not lie. + +"Thou Shalt not calumniate. + +"Thou shalt not speak of injuries. + +"Thou shalt not excite quarrels, by repeating the words of others. + +"Thou shalt not hate." + +--_Moral Precepts from Buddhistic Sacred Books._ + + +"I discern in matter * * the promise and potency of all forms and +qualities of life."--_Tyndall_ + +"A poor man, in our day, has many gods foisted on him; and big voices +bid him 'Worship or be --------' in a menacing and confusing manner. +What shall he do? By far the greater part of said gods, current in the +public, whether canonized by Pope or Populas, are mere dumb asses and +beautiful prize-oxen--nay, some of them, who have articulate faculty, +are devils instead of Gods. A poor man that would save his soul alive is +reduced to the sad necessity of _sharply trying his gods_ whether they +are divine or not, which is a terrible pass for mankind, and lays an +awful problem upon each man."--_Tomas Carlyle_ + +"These Gospels, so important to the Church, have not come to us in one +undisputed form. We have no authorised copy of them in their original +language, so that we may know in what precise words they were originally +written. The authorities from which we derive their sacred text are +various ancient copies, written by hand on parchment. Of the Gospels +there are more than five hundred of these manuscripts of various ages, +from the fourth century after Christ to the fifteenth, when printing +superseded manual writing for publication of books. Of these five +hundred and more, _no two_ are in all points alike: probably in no two +of the more ancient can _even a few consecutive verses_ be found +in which all the words agree."--_Dean Alford, "How to Study the New +Testament_." "I find Armenian Christians who say that it is a sin to eat +a hare; Greeks who affirm that the Holy Ghost does not proceed from +the Son; Nestorians who deny that Mary is the mother of God: Latins +who boast that in the extreme West the Christians of Europe think quite +contrary to those of Asia and Africa. I know that ten or twelve sects +in Europe anathematise each other; the Musselmen disdain the Christians, +whom they nevertheless tolerate; the Jews hold in equal execration the +Christians and Muselmen; the Fire-worshippers despise them all; the +remnant of the Sabeans will not eat with either of the Other sects; +and the Brahmin cannot suffer either Salbeans, or Fire-Worshippers, or +Christians, or Musselmen, or Jews. I have a hundred times wished that +Jesus Christ, in coming to be incarnated in Judea, had united all the +sects under his laws. I have asked myself why, being God, he did not use +the rights of his divinity; why, in coming to deliver us from sin, he +has left us in sin; why, in coming to enlighten all men, he has left +almost all men in darkness. I know I am nothing; I know that from the +depth of my nothingness I have no right to interrogate the Being of +Beings; but I may, like Job, raise a voice of respectful sorrow from the +bosom of my misery."--_Voltaire_. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ingersoll in Canada, by Allen Pringle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INGERSOLL IN CANADA *** + +***** This file should be named 38303-8.txt or 38303-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/3/0/38303/ + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/38303-8.zip b/38303-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb2f6ed --- /dev/null +++ b/38303-8.zip diff --git a/38303-h.zip b/38303-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0366d7b --- /dev/null +++ b/38303-h.zip diff --git a/38303-h/38303-h.htm b/38303-h/38303-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6135d10 --- /dev/null +++ b/38303-h/38303-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3269 @@ +<?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> + Ingersoll in Canada, by Allen Pringle + </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 Ingersoll in Canada, by Allen Pringle + +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: Ingersoll in Canada + A Reply to Wendling, Archbishop Lynch, Bystander; and Others + +Author: Allen Pringle + +Release Date: December 14, 2011 [EBook #38303] +Last Updated: January 25, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INGERSOLL IN CANADA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + INGERSOLL IN CANADA + </h1> + <h3> + A REPLY TO WENDLING, ARCHBISHOP LYNCH, BYSTANDER; AND OTHERS. + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Allen Pringle + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + "If all mankind, minus one, were of one opinion, mankind would no more + justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would + be justified in silencing mankind."—<i>J. S. Mill, On Liberty</i>. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Here's freedom to him that would read, + Here's freedom to him that would write; + Thert's nane ever feared that the truth should be heard, + But they whom the truth would indite."—Burns. +</pre> + <p> + "He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a a fool; and he who + dares not is a slave."—<i>Philosopher</i>. + </p> + <p> + PER CONTRA: "Do not try to reason or you are lost."—<i>Moody, the + Evangelist</i>. + </p> + <p> + "Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may." + </p> + <p> + "Fear first made Gods in the world."—<i>Lucretius</i> + </p> + <p> + "Theology I define to be the art of teaching what nobody knows."—<i>Lord + Brougham</i> + </p> + <p> + "It matters not to me whether my neighbors believe in one God or twenty"—<i>Jefferson</i> + </p> + <p> + "The natural world is infinite and eternal. The universe was not called + into being from non-entity."—<i>Plato</i> + </p> + <p> + "To assert that Christianity communicated to man moral truths previously + unknown, argues, on the part of the assertor, either gross ignorance or + else wilful fraud."—<i>Buckle</i> + </p> + <p> + "Nature is seen to do all things of herself without the meddling of the + Gods."—<i>Lucretius</i> + </p> + <p> + "Is there no 'inspiration,' then, but an ancient Jewish, Greekish, Roman + one, with big revenues, loud liturgies, and red stockings?"—<i>Thos. + Carlyle</i> + </p> + <p> + "Inanity well tailored and upholstered, mild-spoken Ambiguity, decorous + Hypocrisy, which is astonished you should, think it hypocritical, taking + their room and drawing their wages: from zenith to nadir you have Cant, + Cant—a universe of incredibilities which are not even credited, + which each man at best only tries to persuade himself that he credits."—<i>Thomas + Carlyle</i> + </p> + <p> + "The highest possible welfare of all present mankind is my religion; the + perfectibility of the future of our race here upon this planet is my + faith; and I would the time had come, as it yet will come, that this faith + were the religion of all mankind."—<i>Lord Queensbury</i> (who was + recently excluded from the English House of Lords because of his + unorthodox opinions.) + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> INTRODUCTORY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> REPLY TO WENDLING </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> REPLY TO LYNCH </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> REPLY TO "BYSTANDER." </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> REPLY TO "A RATIONALIST" </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> REPLY TO REV. A. J. BRAY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> THE OATH QUESTION </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. + </h2> + <h3> + TO THE CLERGY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS OF ONTARIO. + </h3> + <p> + Gentlemen,—Through the generous and voluntary liberality of a highly + esteemed and estimable Freethought friend, and at his suggestion, I have + been enabled to get out this Second Edition of my pamphlet, of upwards of + 4,000 copies, chiefly for gratuitous distribution among yourselves. The + gentleman referred to conceived the project of supplying every Minister in + the Province with a copy, and it was further decided to also supply the + College Students. + </p> + <p> + The compliment to pamphlet and author, which this action on the part of an + intelligent and discriminating Liberal implies, I, of course, duly + appreciate. When the work was written a few months ago, at the request of + fellow-liberals, I had no expectation that it would ultimately go before + so critical and learned a body of readers as the Clergy, Graduates, and + College Students of Ontario. I supposed one modest edition of 2,000 copies + would be all that would ever see the light. But it has been otherwise + desired by my readers. I have, therefore, no further apology to make for + presenting you with the work (my object being the advancement of truth), + and I earnestly submit for your best consideration its subject matter + rather than its literary merits or demerits. The time has come when these + great questions must be examined, for they <i>will</i> come to the front + in spite of the most tenacious conservatism. Everywhere, thoughtful men + are earnestly looking into them. That the old landmarks in religious + belief are being effaced and the Creeds and Confessions rapidly breaking + up is becoming every day more and more apparent. Goldwin Smith, a man of + great historical acumen, has recently said "A collapse of religious + belief, of the most complete and tremendous kind, is, apparently, now at + hand."* The Rev. Hugh Pedley, B.A., Cobourg, in a very able paper in the + July (1880) number of the <i>Canadian Monthly</i>, on "Theological + Students and the Times," says: "There can be no doubt that all forms of + thought, all systems of belief, however venerable with age, are being: + handled with the utmost freedom. Skepticism is becoming more general, and + is protean in its adaptibility to circumstances. There is the + philosophical skepticism for the cultured, and popular skepticism for the + masses: the Reviews for the select, Col. Ingersoll for the people. No <i>Index + Expurgatorius</i>, whether Catholic or Protestant, whether ecclesiastical + or domestic, is barrier strong enough to stem the incoming tide." He also + says: "I would advocate a manly, courageous dealing with the doubts of the + age in all our theological schools." * * * "Let there be no timid reserve. + Let our young ministers face the whole strength of the rationalistic + position." * * * "It is not enough that ministers should be well read in + church history, not enough that they should be able to expound in logical + fashion the church doctrines of the Trinity, the Atonement, &c, not + enough that they should understand the architecture of a model sermon. + These matters are quite right in their place, but the minister should go + further. He must go down to the root question, and enquire whether the + history, the systematic theology, and the homilectics are based on a + really Divine Revelation, or only on a series of beautiful legends which + foolish, but reverent, hands have wreathed about the person of Jesus of + Nazareth, a wonderful, religious genius that long ago illumined the land + of Palestine." Further, Mr. Pedley says: "We find men talking as if + thoroughness of investigation would inevitably lead to a loosened hold on + Christianity. So much the worse then for Christianity. If young men of + average intellect, and more than average morality, find that the more + keenly they study Christianity, the less able they are to accept it, and + preach it, then must Christianity be relegated to the dusty lumber-room of + worn-out and superseded religious systems." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * "The Prospect of a Moral Interregnum." + —Atlantic Monthly, Nov., 1879. +</pre> + <p> + Mr. Pedley then goes on to point out the effects of ignorance, on the part + of the minister, of the arguments and writings of Freethinkers. He says: + "If he be pastor in a reading community, he will know less than his + congregation about matters which it is his special business to understand. + He will stand towards the Bible, as an ignorant Priest stands towards the + Pope, accepting an infallibility that he has never proved. He will appear + before the intelligent world as a spiritual coward, a craven-hearted man, + who dare not face the enemy who is slowly mastering his domains. He will + become a by-word and a reproach to the generation which he is confessedly + unable to lead, and which sweeps by with disdainful tread, leaving him far + in the rear." + </p> + <p> + These are brave words and frank admissions, which should be well pondered + by every clergyman, minister and priest, and every theological student, + for should they fail to acquaint themselves with the doctrines and + arguments of their opponents, they will speedily find themselves, as Mr. + Pedley warns them, preaching to people who know more than they about + matters which it is their special business to know. + </p> + <p> + Yours earnestly for Truth, + </p> + <p> + A. P. Selby, Nov. 22nd, 1880. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTORY + </h2> + <p> + Col. Robt. G. Ingersoll, the American Freethinker and eloquent iconoclast, + visited Canada in April last and lectured on theological subjects in + various places, including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Belleville and + Napanee, thereby agitating the theological caldron as it has never been + agitated before in this country. + </p> + <p> + And "when Mars was gone the dogs of war were let loose!" Since Ingersoll's + departure there has been a profuse shower of "Replies" and "Refutations" + from the press, and a tempest of denunciation and misrepresentation from + the pulpit. Indeed, before the departure of the redoubtable idol-smasher, + the vituperation and slander commenced, under the aegis of "A warning + against the Fallacies of Ingersoll." The pious Evangelists of the Y. M. C. + A., of Toronto, (abetted doubtless by the clergy) issued this propagandist + gospel-manifesto containing slanderous statements against Mr. Ingersoll. + This, with much more zeal than courtesy, they thrust upon all entering the + Royal Opera House on the first evening of the lectures. The lecturer, in + opening, branded the base slander of this Christian document that he + (Ingersoll) had signed a petition to allow obscene matter to pass through + the mails, as a wilful and malicious falsehood. As this calumny is yet + reiterated from press and pulpit, implicating all Freethinkers as being in + favor of obscenity, the Resolution on this subject which Col. Ingersoll + submitted to the Cincinnati Convention of Freethinkers in September, 1879, + will not be out of place here. It was as follows, and passed unanimously:— + </p> + <p> + Resolved,—That we are utterly opposed to the dissemination through + the mails, or by any other means, of all obscene literature, whether + inspired or uninspired, holding in measureless contempt its authors, + publishers, and disseminators; that we call upon the Christian world to + expunge from the so-called sacred Bible every passage that cannot be read + without covering the cheek of modesty with the blush of shame. + </p> + <p> + The cowardly conduct of the Toronto press, with one or two exceptions, in + reference to Ingersoll's lectures, was as astonishing to liberal-minded + men as it was deplorable to all, especially in the "Queen City of the + West," which is, or ought to be, the centre of intellectual activity and + progress in Canada. This exhibition of narrow-minded bigotry on the part + of the Toronto press excited (rather unexpectedly to them, no doubt) great + surprise and severe animadversion from many quarters. The daily <i>Globe</i> + and <i>Mail</i> have, of course, a very wide circulation, and being the + leading newspapers in the country, their numerous patrons look to them for + <i>all</i> the news on <i>all</i> public questions and events. Imagine, + therefore, their surprise and indignation on opening their papers and + looking for reports of Col. Ingersoll's lectures in Toronto, to find not a + word there! Not a syllable by these puritanical publishers is vouchsafed + to their expectant patrons, who pay their money for—not merely what + suits the religious whims and prejudices of publishers and editors—but + for <i>all</i> the news. But they would scarcely repeat this mistake—or + rather imposition on their readers. They have since unmistakably learned + that in this act of pusillanimous servility to the priesthood, they took a + false measure of their constituencies; and lamentably failed to gauge + correctly the intellectual and moral status of a majority of their + patrons. + </p> + <p> + The honorable exceptions to this servility of the Toronto press, were the + <i>Evening Telegram, Weekly Graphic</i>, and <i>National</i>. + </p> + <p> + In Belleville, also, there was, I believe, one commendable exception to + the narrowness of the press in reference to Ingersoll's lectures. This was + the <i>Free Press</i>, which has on former occasions proved itself broader + than most of its contemporaries. + </p> + <p> + The Montreal <i>Canadian Spectator</i> is another notable exception to + this vassalage of the Canadian press; for, though edited by a clergyman, + it has proved itself in favor of freedom of speech and liberty of + conscience, and boldly denounces the narrow prejudice and bigotry which + would gag Ingersoll to-day if it could, and would have burned him two or + three centuries ago at the stake. + </p> + <p> + Chief among the "Replies," and "Refutations" which have issued from the + press in Canada since Ingersoll's departure, is that by Hon. Geo. R. + Wendling. This honorable gentleman has, for some months past, been + shadowing Mr. Ingersoll from place to place with his "reply from a secular + stand point;" albeit in Toronto he <i>preceded</i> his opponent, and + replied (?) before the people of that city to a lecture of Ingersoll's + which they had never heard. But, as with the Dutch judge, so with our + Christian friends, <i>one side</i> of the case was enough to hear in order + to be able to give a verdict, and Mr. Wendling was duly applauded for his + "satisfactory answer" to the absent heretic! + </p> + <p> + Subsequently, however, Mr. Ingersoll put in an appearance in the Queen + City, and gave his lecture on "The Gods," to which his honorable opponent + had replied in advance. This eloquent and argumentative lecture was + greeted with such obvious favor and vociferous applause that the "Willard + Tract Depository and Bible House" of that city deemed it imperative to do + something to counteract the "poisonous" influence that had gone forth. + They accordingly hastened forthwith to issue Wendling's "Reply to Robert + Ingersoll." This Christian politico-religious <i>brochure</i> was heralded + by some half dozen Toronto Professors and Doctors of Divinity, and one + Vice-Chancellor, to wit: Messrs. McLaren, Rainsford, Potts, Castle, Powis, + Antliff and Blake. These gentlemen, in a neat little preface, certify + their approval of and admiration for Mr. Wendling's "Reply to the + infidelity advocated by Col. Ingersoll," and add the hope that "it may be + circulated by thousands." + </p> + <p> + To this no Freethinker has, of course, any objection, so long as he enjoys + an equal right to circulate his documents too. Of this right I propose to + avail myself, and briefly review the salient points (if there are any) of + some of Ingersoll's Canadian critics. Not that I feel called upon to + defend Col. Ingersoll. Should defence be necessary, he is amply able to + defend himself. But as our Christian friends, like drowning men catching + at straws, have, in their alarm for the safety of their creed, desperately + clutched a <i>layman</i>, and issued with their unqualified endorsation, + this "lay" reply of Mr. Wendling, who comes before the public, he tells + us, "as a citizen, as a business man, as a lawyer, and as a politician," + and withal as a "man of the world," I have thought that for another layman—a + materialistic layman—(though no lawyer or politician) to examine + some of Mr. Wendling's lay logic and legal sophistry and + politico-religious hash would be a move in the right direction in the + interests of truth. + </p> + <p> + Our Christian friends, in issuing their pamphlet, have very judiciously + "improved the occasion" by a liberal sprinkling of admonitory Scripture + texts, which adorn the insides of the covers, etc. By these texts we are + reminded that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," and that "if + any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues + that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the + words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of + the Book of Life," etc., etc. But these, our Christian opponents, are not + quite consistent. Verily, the Christian Church is not willing to take its + own medicine—the medicine it mixes for "infidels." <i>We</i> are + warned that if we criticise that book, or take away from the words of it, + or ridicule its absurdities, we will surely incur the wrath and "plagues" + of an angry God; yet these Christians themselves are complacently doing + this very thing. They have already eliminated from its sacred pages infant + damnation, and eternal torture; while a "Bible Revision Committee," + composed of learned and distinguished dignitaries of different branches of + the Christian Church, are now actually engaged in "taking away from the + words of this book!"* Consistency! thou art a jewel!! Greg, Strauss, + Colenso, Renan, Ingersoll, Underwood, and a thousand others, are consigned + to Hades for their destructive criticism of the Christians' Bible; while + those learned Christian Doctors of Divinity of the "Revision Committee" + can tamper with the "Word of God" and alter it to suit the enlightenment + of the age with impunity! They can excise whole passages without incurring + the "plagues" we are told shall be visited upon any man who adds to or + takes from it. + </p> + <p> + Now, I have thought if I should adopt the advice contained in the Latin + proverb, <i>fas est ab hoste doceri</i>, and take a lesson from the + ingenious propagandic tactics of our Christian friends in placing + conspicuously before their readers choice texts from their Evangelists and + Apostles, it may not be amiss. Hence, we, too, will do a little + skirmishing with some choice sayings of some of the most eminent and + learned apostles of our school. And to those trenchant utterances of + Huxley, Tyndall, Mill, Carlyle, etc., herein given, I beg to direct the + careful attention of the reader. + </p> + <p> + To disarm possible criticism, I may say that this little pamphlet has been + written by request, amidst a pressure of farm work, in snatches of time + intervening between other more imperative duties: and to the advanced + Materialist who has gone over the same ground on the different subjects as + myself, I may say it is not written for him, as he does not require it. + But it is for another class of <i>quasi</i> liberals, and Christians who + have read Wendling and the others replied to, and are in an inquiring mood + after truth. And if the arguments are not wholly <i>new</i> I would simply + urge in extenuation that there is scarcely anything new under the sun, and + also my entire agreement with Montaigne, when he declares he "has as clear + a right to think Plato's thoughts as Plato had." + </p> + <p> + ALLEN PRINGLE. + </p> + <p> + Selby, Ont., June 25, 1880. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The following appears in the press:—"The New Testament + Revision Committee have struck out as spurious the last + seven verses of the last chapter of St. Mark." Now why have + they done this thing? To an "outside barbarian" the true + reason would appear to be that according to those seven + verses there are no Christians on the earth to-day, as not + one from the Pope of Rome or the Archbishop of Canterbury + down to the humblest follower of Jesus can prove himself a + Christian by the plain test therein given. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + REPLY TO WENDLING + </h2> + <p> + On reading Mr. Wendling's "Reply to Robert Ingersoll," it is difficult to + determine precisely its theological status, or what are Mr. Wendling's + positions, doctrinally, in reference to Christianity. By the flexibility + of doctrine, and dubious orthodoxy, displayed therein, it is no easy + matter to <i>place</i> Mr. Wendling; and his uncertain positions and + theological gyrations remind one of the famous mathematical definition of + Infinity—"a sphere whose circumference is everywhere and whose + centre is anywhere." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Wendling says he "champions no creed, no sect," and he assures us he + "places humanity above all creeds." Now, Christianity is undoubtedly a + creed; albeit, some modern theologians, seeing that the dogmas on which it + rests are fast crumbling away, have discovered that Christianity is simply + a "life." As to "placing humanity above all creeds," this move is + decidedly rationalistic and utilitarian. It is clearly a positive doctrine + of the Atheistic philosophy; and it looks more than suspicious that this + shrewd lawyer has been "stealing our thunder," for he will find no such + doctrine in the Bible, and it certainly has no place in Christian ethics + or philosophy. The Bible represents man as below everything else rather + than above—"a mere worm of the dust" It represents him as utterly + depraved, "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked," and without + any good in him. Christianity, instead of holding humanity above all + creeds, has, without compunction, immolated man by scores of thousands on + the bloody altar of creed and dogma. To maintain its creeds intact, + Christianity has reddened the surface of the earth with human blood. + Therefore, whatever Mr. Wendling may think about the elevation of man + above creeds, Christianity does not hold humanity above its creeds. + </p> + <p> + With respect to the authenticity and inspiration of the Bible, Mr. + Wendling's position is extremely dubious. He tells us that "so much of + that book" (the Bible) "as properly records His" (Christ's) "works and + truthfully reports His sayings, must be true." But who is to decide which + the particular portions are which "properly record" and "<i>truthfully</i> + report" Christ's works, especially as these "records" and "reports" are + self-contradictory, and more especially as nothing was recorded in + Christ's time of His sayings or doings, nor until half a century or more + after His death, as historical criticism and research abundantly prove? If + Mr. Wendling believes the Bible to be an inspired book, wholly authentic + and true, the foregoing statement about "so much of it" as "<i>truthfully</i> + reports," &c, is surely a most extraordinary one. Again, Mr. W. says, + "I say so much of that book as bears upon the Ideal Man" (Christ) "and so + much of that book as the Ideal Man has set the seal of His approval on, we + may accept as the long sought for moral teacher," &c. As before, I + would ask, who is to decide what particular part or parts of this book + "the Ideal Man has set the seal of His approval on?" or whether the "Ideal + Man" ever set His seal upon any of it? or, indeed, whether this "Ideal + Man" ever had other than a purely <i>ideal</i> or subjective existence in + the minds of men? Some able scholars—notably Rev. Robt. Taylor—have, + after careful historical research, come to the conclusion that the Christ + of the Gospels never existed. But, be this as it may, scholars now + generally agree that whether such a person as Jesus of Nazareth lived or + not, we have no authentic account of Him; and not a syllable of His + alleged sayings was recorded during His alleged lifetime, nor for more + than half a century after His death. The reader who wishes to pursue this + subject of the wholly unauthentic character of the Gospels, &c, &c, + is referred to Greg's "Creed of Christendom," Lord Amberley's "Analysis of + Religious Belief," and the great work lately published in England, and now + reprinted here by the Messrs. Belford of Toronto, viz., "Supernatural + Religion." + </p> + <p> + It will thus be seen that Mr. Wendling's doctrinal attitude towards the + Bible and Christianity is extremely problematical, and a Materialist + scarcely knows where to place him, or how to deal with his mongrel + positions. Being, as he tells us, "a business man," "a lawyer," "a + politician," and "a man of the world," this versatile gentleman has + evidently imbibed largely of the utilitarian and humanitarian spirit of + the age, while at the same time retaining his Christian predilections; and + hence the hybrid homily with which we have to deal, and which he calls a + "Reply to Robert Ingersoll from a Secular Standpoint." That a layman, + however, should give so uncertain a sound as to his orthodox whereabouts, + and, in attempting to defend his positions (whatever they are) and answer + Freethinkers, should bring forth such a doctrinal nondescript, is not + indeed to be much wondered at, seeing that the clergy themselves, being + mercilessly driven from pillar to post by modern science and research, + occupy the most inconsistent and incongruous, not to say ridiculous, + positions, in doctrine and dogma, in ecclesiastical formulary and Biblical + exegesis. + </p> + <p> + However, though of dubious doctrine and doubtful orthodoxy, some of Mr. + Wendling's positions, or rather assumptions and assertions, are clear + enough, and not to be misunderstood; and in a few of the more important of + these I propose to follow him. + </p> + <p> + At the outset he dogmatically postulates the assumption that "what most we + need is the conviction that there <i>is</i> a personal God." From social, + commercial, and political considerations this belief in a personal God is + what we most need—so says Mr. Wendling. He talks as though, were it + not for this theistic belief, everything would go to the dogs; and + universal, moral, social and political chaos would come. This, however, is + simply assumed without a shadow of proof. He then goes on with his + demonstration (?) of the existence of a personal God; but it is the old, + old story over again. First he assumes, in the face of the highest + authorities to the contrary, that "among every people in every quarter of + the habitable globe, there exists, and there has existed from the very + furthest reach of history, the idea of one eternal and all-powerful God." + He then gives us a rehash of Paley's design argument to prove the + existence of a God, which he considers conclusive. And, finally, as if + conscious of the weakness of the intellectual argument, he takes refuge in + the moral argument,—in conscience in man as showing the existence of + a personal God with moral attributes. This is the last refuge of the + Theist—the <i>dernier ressort</i> of the theologian. Driven utterly + from the realm of reason they fly to <i>conscience</i> and to <i>consciousness</i> + to establish subjectively what cannot be proved intellectually. Now, this + sort of evidence may do for the Theist and theologian who are determined + to believe in Theos; but to those who live in the light of reason, and in + the realm of intellect not wholly submerged by the emotions, such + inner-consciousness evidence will not be satisfactory; for they experience + no such subjective proof in their own minds, and do not care to take the + mere <i>feelings</i> of others as evidence of anything further than the + existence of nervous ganglion and brain. + </p> + <p> + I will now take up Mr. Wendling's arguments to prove the existence of a + personal God, <i>seriatim</i>, and briefly consider them. As already + remarked, before setting out to prove a God, Mr. W. postulates the + necessity of one. For the preservation of moral order, social purity, and + commercial integrity, what most we need, it is assumed, "is the conviction + that there is a personal God." This assertion certainly has a queer look + when we reflect that Theism is at present the prevailing belief among the + masses, and has been in the past; and that our prisons are full of persons + who believe in a personal God; and that believers in God ascend the + gallows almost daily, and are swung off to "mansions in the skies!" Here + are some half dozen examples of this kind at hand, the whole of which I + quote from one newspaper, a late issue of the Kingston <i>British Whig</i>:— + </p> + <p> + Breaux, who was hanged in New Orleans, "ascended the gallows smiling and + said he had made his peace with God and all men." Bolen, who was executed + at Macon, Mississippi, said on the gallows: "My mouth will soon be closed + in this world. I rested in the arms of Jesus last night. I am satisfied. I + feel guilty of nothing. God is well pleased with my soul." Macon, who was + executed at the same place, said, "I feel ready to die, because God has + pardoned my sins. I risked my soul on the murder, but God has forgiven me. + There is not a cloud in the way." Brown, who was also executed at Macon, + with the other two, the same day, said, "I have made peace with God, and + will surely go to heaven, I will cross the river with a rope around my + neck that will lead my wicked soul on to glory. Blessed be God! I am going + home!" Stone, who was hanged at Washington, and Tatio at Windsor, Vermont, + the same day as the four above, both had made their peace with God, and + were on their way "to meet the Lord Jesus Christ." + </p> + <p> + A belief in God did not it seems avail to keep these men, nor thousands of + others, from crime; nor does it, in my opinion, to any great extent, + operate as a deterrent of crime. People with favorable organizations and + good surroundings will not be apt to commit murder whether they believe or + disbelieve in a God; while persons born with, bad organizations—bad + heads and impure blood—will very likely, under favorable + circumstances, continue to follow their predominant impulses, whether they + believe in one God or twenty, and, if Christians in belief, they will + ultimately rely on that "fountain of blood open for sin and all + uncleanness." Unscrupulous men who have strong natural tendencies to + crime, and believe in the Christian plan of salvation, will, in bad + surroundings, scarcely fail to indulge their propensities and finally + avail themselves of the "bankrupt scheme"—take a bath in that impure + fountain and be "washed" clean (?) like the gentry instanced above. + </p> + <p> + In January and February of this year (1880) Rev. E. P. Hammond, the noted + Methodist revivalist, made a professional tour through Canada in pursuit + of his favorite and profitable calling of "saving souls" (favorite, + probably, <i>because</i> profitable). Among other places he visited St. + Catharines, and before leaving that city, preached a sermon for the + especial benefit, it would seem, of the Universalists. Now, Universalism + has always been specially odious to the other more evangelical sects, + especially the Methodists, who seem positively shocked at the horrid idea + that hell may perhaps be ultimately emptied of its human contents and all + mankind get into heaven. The Universalists appear to have a good degree of + that noble human quality, benevolence, and hence they believe that the God + they worship is too good to damn forever any creature he has made. For + this good opinion of their Creator they are duly stigmatized, contemned + and reprobated by the ultra orthodox party, who can brook no nonsense + about the possibility of the fires of hell ever being extinguished. These + people are evidently well pleased at the idea that there is a place of + torture into which the non-elect of their fellow creatures may be turned + for ever and ever. How like the God of the Old Testament, these disciples + of His are! Mr. Hammond, it would seem, is of this class; and accordingly, + in the sermon alluded to, proceeded to unbudget himself against + Universalism and Universalists in vigorous style. The sermon was reported + in the St. Catharines <i>Journal</i>, and called forth an able and + spirited reply through the same-medium from the Rev. J. B. Lavelle of + Fulton, Township of Grimsby. I propose to make some extracts, quite + relevant to the subject under consideration, from the reply of Rev. + Lavelle,—who is a gentleman, I am informed, of exemplary character + and broad intelligence, and highly respected. Mr. Lavelle says: + </p> + <p> + "Permit me to say, Mr. Editor, in justice to Universalists, both on this + continent and in Europe, among whom are some of the ablest Biblical + scholars, and some of the best men, that there is not a particle of truth + in Mr. Hammond's representation. * * * Mr. Hammond, with other ministers + of the endless misery school, believes in the doctrine of 'imputation,' + 'substitution,' or 'vicarious' suffering of Christ, which they + erroneously, as we think, call the Atonement; and that the greatest + villain, who has lived a life of crime, rapine, and murder, can take the + benefit of this Spiritual Bankrupt Act (for it is nothing else) at any + time before he dies, and 'go to heaven'—yea, even while standing on + the gallows, swing 'into glory' and thus escape the consequences of his + wicked life. + </p> + <p> + "For instance, A and B are two consummate villains, and have been so for + years, but in a quarrel A murders B—of course B goes to an eternal + hell—but, through the labors of Mr. Hammond and others of the + so-called orthodox churches who visit him in his cell before his execution—he + repents. (?) They lay this Spiritual Bankrupt Act before him. He sees it + is the only alternative to keep out of hell; so he takes the benefit of + it, is hanged, and goes to heaven. Thus, the murderer gets to heaven by + the lucky chance of being the murderer instead of the murdered. If his + victim had been fortunate enough to-strike the fatal blow, he could have + changed places with him; and so the endless destiny of each would have + been reversed by the chance blow of a street fight! Is it, I ask, on such + grounds God distributes rewards and punishments? What must be the moral + influence of such a doctrine? + </p> + <p> + "Again: A lives a life of crime for sixty years, and on the very next + month or day, repents by taking the benefit of this Spiritual Bankrupt + Act, dies and goes to heaven. B lives a life of virtue and goodness for + sixty years, and the very next day or month makes a false step, or commits + a crime, and is consigned to an endless hell to suffer intense misery + without relief and without end. And yet we are told by the advocates of + this unscriptural doctrine that this is a just distribution of rewards and + punishments under the government of God who 'is Love,' but above all, THE + FATHER. + </p> + <p> + "Look at the case of one Ward, who, in one of our counties a while ago, + murdered his wife—was sentenced to death, and attended by his + 'Orthodox' spiritual advisers before execution. He also repented (?) and + took the benefit of this Spiritual Bankrupt Act. When he stood upon the + gallows, he said, he 'had but two steps to take—one into eternity + and the other into glory.' And his poor wife—what became of her? + Gone, 'with all her imperfections' to suffer unmitigated misery as long as + God himself shall endure, and this, too, according to the unscriptural + doctrine of the same churches which teach 'no change after death.' Again + we ask, what can be the moral influence of such teaching? + </p> + <p> + "The truth is the burden of the most of the teaching of the day is, to + 'die right;' 'make your peace with God in time,' and 'get religion before + you die;' thus making religion to mainly consist in one general scramble + to get into heaven and keep out of hell." + </p> + <p> + As Freethinkers, we boldly impeach the Christian plan of salvation as + being essentially immoral in its tendency,—as offering a premium on + vice and crime; and for doing this on previous occasions and designating + it a "bankrupt scheme," the writer of this has been the subject of severe + and indignant animadversion from his intimate Christian friends. Yet here + is a Christian minister who takes substantially the same position as + ourselves in reference to the plan of salvation as preached by Methodists + and others, and denounces it as a "Spiritual Bankrupt Act." And I have + made the above extracts from his pen to strengthen my position against Mr. + Wendling, viz., that a belief in God and the Bible is <i>not</i> essential + to social and commercial morality, and the safety of the State. + </p> + <p> + On this subject, Lord Bacon, himself a Christian, says:— + </p> + <p> + "Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, + to reputation: all which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, though + religion were not. But superstition dismounts all these, and createth an + absolute monarchy in the minds of men; therefore Atheism did never perturb + States, for it makes men wary of themselves, as looking no further, and we + see the limes inclined to Atheism (as the time of Augustus Caesar) were + civil times; but superstition, that bone of contention of many States, + bringeth in a new <i>primum mobile</i> that ravishes all the spheres of + government." + </p> + <p> + There are thousands of Atheists in almost every civilized country, and how + is it, if Atheism tends to crime, that you will seldom or never find one + in prison for any crime? Buddhism, one of the most ancient religions, long + ante-dating Christianity, is essentially Atheistic. It has had, and has + now, hundreds of millions of followers, and for pure morality no system of + religion has ever equalled it. Webster, the Christian lexicographer, + admits that Buddhism was "characterized by admirable humanity and + morality." The religion of Confucius—of him who taught the "golden + rule" five centuries before Christianity appeared—was also + Atheistic. Therefore, what we "most need" is, not a "conviction that there + <i>is</i> a personal God" (we have that already; all the murderers, + thieves and defaulters believe that doctrine), but we need more of the + "admirable morality" of Buddhism, and more of the practice of the "golden + rule" of Confucius to "do not unto others what you would not they should + do to you." As Emerson has said, "We want some good Paganism." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Wendling's next argument for the existence of a personal God is the + assumed universality of the belief in God, "among every people in every + quarter of the habitable globe," now and "from the very furthest reach of + history." As the value of this argument turns simply on a question of + fact, and as every educated or well-read man knows that the facts in this + case are against Mr. Wendling, and that his assertion is historically + incorrect, it is hardly worth while to spend much time over it. However, + as some readers may not have looked into the authorities on the subject, I + may, perhaps not unprofitably quote briefly from some of them, and simply + refer the reader to others. + </p> + <p> + To say nothing of the <i>Atheistic</i> character of the Buddhistic + religion, already referred to, with its millions of followers, there have + been, and are to-day, tribes and peoples who have no belief whatever in, + or conception of, a God or Gods. This fact is conclusively proved by such + authorities as Livingston, the great African explorer (himself a + Christian), Sir John Lubbock, J. S. Mill, Darwin, and even John Wesley, + the founder of Methodism, who, surely, ought to be good authority with + Christians; and him we will first put in the witness box against + Mr.-Wendling. Wesley says, in his Sermons, vol. 2, Sermon C: + </p> + <p> + "After all that has been so plausibly written concerning the 'innate idea + of God;' after all that has been said of its being common to all men, in + all ages and nations, it does not appear that man has any more idea of God + than any of the beasts of the field; he has no knowledge of God at all. + Whatever change may afterward be wrought by his own reflection or + education, he is by nature a mere Atheist." + </p> + <p> + Charles Darwin, the greatest naturalist in the world, and who is + proverbially careful in his statements, has the following on this subject + in his "Descent of Man," vol. 1, p. 62-3:— + </p> + <p> + "There is ample evidence, derived not from hasty travellers, but from men + who have long resided with savages, that numerous races have existed and + still exist, who have no idea of one or more Gods, and who have no words + in their languages to express such an idea." + </p> + <p> + Again, in vol. 2, p. 377, Darwin says:— + </p> + <p> + "The belief in God has often been advanced as not only the greatest, but + the most complete, of all the distinctions between man and the lower + animals. It is, however, impossible, as we have seen, to maintain that + this belief is innate or instinctive in man. On the other hand, a belief + in all-pervading spiritual agencies seems to be universal; and apparently + follows from a considerable advance in the reasoning powers of man, and + from a still greater advance in his faculties of imagination, curiosity + and wonder. I am aware that the assumed instinctive belief in God has been + used by many persons as an argument for His existence. But this is a rash + argument, as we should thus be compelled to believe in the existence of + many cruel and malignant spirits, possessing only a little more power than + man; for the belief in them is far more general than of a beneficent + Deity. The idea of a universal and beneficent Creator of the universe does + not seem to arise in the mind of man, until he has been elevated by + long-continued culture." + </p> + <p> + I would refer the reader who wishes to pursue the subject further, to + Livingston's writings, to Sir J. Lubbock's "Prehistoric Times," and his + "Origin of Civilization," and also to the <i>Anthropological Review</i> + for August, 1864. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Wendling's next argument to prove the existence of a personal God is + the once celebrated but now obsolete "design" argument of Catwell and + Paley; but he seems either not to know or he ignores the fact that this + "design argument" has been so thoroughly refuted by the sternest logic and + most indisputable natural facts that the more advanced theologians of the + present day have wholly abandoned it. To reproduce these, or to give any + elaborate refutation, it is unnecessary here. The whole matter may be + disposed of briefly by one or two simple syllogisms which everybody can + comprehend. The famous "design argument," then, may be formulated into + simple syllogistic propositions thus:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Whatever manifests design must have had a designer: + + The world manifests design; + + Therefore, the world must have had a designer. +</pre> + <p> + This is the whole Christian reasoning on the subject in a nutshell, and it + has been considered by them perfectly conclusive and unanswerable. The + logic is certainly unexceptionable, that is, the conclusion is quite + legitimate from the premises; but it so happens that the premises are + unsound, and in such a case the most unexceptionable logic goes for + naught. If premises be erroneous, though the reasoning be ever so good, + the conclusion must be erroneous. The major premiss of the foregoing + syllogism, that "whatever manifests design must have had a designer," is a + pure assumption, if by design is meant adaptation in Nature. So, likewise, + is the minor premiss an assumption if by design is meant anything more + than the adaptation pervading the universe, or at least that part + cognizable to us. That the <i>fitness and adaptation</i> observable in + Nature do not establish intelligent design, is amply shown by the highest + authorities—by the most eminent naturalists (Hęckel, Darwin, &c.) + of the present day, to whom the reader is referred, and I need not here + amplify in that direction. Nor is it at all necessary for my present + purpose and work. It is only necessary to apply the <i>teductio ad + absurdum</i> to the above argument from design to show its utter fallacy. + We will admit the premises and carry the reasoning of our Christian + friends out a little further. By granting the truth of their major + proposition and reasoning, logically from it we can prove more than is + wholesome for the theologian, as thus:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Whatever manifests design must have had a designer: + + God, in his alleged personality and attributes, manifests design; + + Therefore, God must have had a designer. +</pre> + <p> + It will thus be seen that Mr. Wendling's design argument from Catwell and + Paley proves entirely too much for his own good, and hence it is that the + astute theologians of the day have abandoned Paley and his design argument + to their fate, where they have been duly relegated by the incisive logic + of the modern materialist. + </p> + <p> + Finally, Mr. Wendling comes to the moral argument, and in <i>conscience</i> + finds proof of the existence of a personal God. He complacently avers that + "God made man with this omnipresent 'I ought' implanted in his nature." + Now, in the first place, it is a great mistake that this "I ought" or + conscience is <i>universally</i> implanted in man—is "omnipresent," + as Mr. Wendling puts it. That there are tribes without the moral sense of + conscience, is sustained by the same unimpeachable authorities referred to + in proof of the absence in them of any theistic conception or belief; and + even in civilized (?) society we unfortunately find an occasional specimen + of the <i>genus homo</i> with no noticeable trace of that "variable + quality" we call conscience. + </p> + <p> + That conscience is <i>innate</i> in man, and a God-given faculty, instead + of acquired by development, is another convenient assumption without any + substantial foundation. If conscience is a Divine gift to humanity, how is + it that consciences differ so widely, not only in <i>degree</i>, but in <i>kind</i>? + If conscience is a Divine "monitor" and "guide" from heaven, why is it + that it so often becomes a very blind guide, and leads people into many + by-paths? How is it that under the sanction of conscience the most horrid + crimes and cruelties against humanity have been committed in the name of + God, its alleged author? How is it, if conscience is an "unerring guide" + to conduct, implanted by God, that it has guided man, in the name of its + author, to let out the life blood of his fellow-creatures in rivers, on + account of differences of opinion <i>conscientiously</i> entertained? Does + God give one man one sort of conscience and another man another and wholly + different sort, leading them in opposite directions, and then prompt the + conscience of one to put the other (his fellow) to death for conscience + sake and for God's sake? If so, it is very questionable work, surely, for + a good (?) God to be engaged in! If God implants the conscience in man, + why not be fair and just and give <i>all</i> men consciences? and give + them all the same article? and not give one man a tolerably good article + of conscience (the Freethinker, for example) and then go and give others + (some of our Christian friends, for example) so poor an article, so to + speak—so flexible and elastic—that it allows them to murder, + cheat, lie, slander, rob widows and orphans, and run away with other + people's money and other men's wives without compunction—without any + troublesome pangs from this universal "I ought" over which Mr. Wendling + grows so eloquent! + </p> + <p> + The Christian world has been quite long enough teaching an irrational and + absurd doctrine about conscience. They not only blunder as to its origin, + but as to its nature and functions. Nearly every Christian writer defines + conscience as an "inward monitor" to tell us right from wrong; a divine + faculty enabling us to "<i>judge</i> between the good and the bad;" a "<i>guide</i> + to conduct," &c, &c. In the light of our present mental science + this definition of conscience is utterly false. Conscience is not an <i>intelligent</i> + faculty at all—it is simply a feeling. By modern metaphysics + conscience has been relegated from the domain of the intellect to its + proper place among the emotions. Hence it <i>decides</i> nothing, <i>judges</i> + nothing as between right and wrong, or anything else, for that is a + function of intellect. Conscience, instead of being a "guide" or "judge," + is but a blind impulse needing itself to be guided. It is simply a feeling + for the right—a thirsting for the good—but the <i>intellect</i> + must decide what <i>is</i> right; and the nature and character of its + decisions will depend upon various circumstances, such as organization, + education, &c.; and the decisions of different individuals as to right + and wrong will differ as those circumstances differ. We hear a great deal + about "enlightening the conscience;" but it cannot be done. You might as + well talk of enlightening a sunflower, which instinctively turns its head + to the light; or a vine, which instinctively creeps up the portico. The + intellect, however, may be enlightened. Reason, which is the only and + ultimate arbiter and guide to conduct, may be enlightened; and we may thus + modify, guide and direct the blind impulses of conscience. The truth is, + conscience in man, such as it is, is a development—is acquired + rather than innate; has been developed by Nature instead of "implanted" by + God. The moral sense, without doubt, gradually developed in man as he rose + in the scale of intelligence. Where there is little or no intelligence, + the moral sense would be inapplicable and incongruous, and is not needed, + hence does not exist. When it is required, Nature, in perfect keeping with + all her other adaptations, develops it. Darwin, in the "Descent of Man," + vol. i, pp. 68-9, says:— + </p> + <p> + "The following proposition seems to me in a high degree probable—namely, + that any animal whatever, endowed with well-marked social instincts, would + inevitably acquire a moral sense or conscience, as soon as its + intellectual powers had become as well developed, or nearly as well + developed, as in man." + </p> + <p> + On this point John Stuart Mill also has the following in his + "Utilitarianism," p. 45:— + </p> + <p> + "If, as is my own belief, the moral feelings are not innate, but acquired, + they are not for that reason less natural." + </p> + <p> + The reader is also referred to "Psychological Inquiries," by Sir B. + Brodie, for further evidence on this subject. + </p> + <p> + The moral sense, therefore, which exists in a portion of mankind—distinct + traces of which are also found in some of the lower animals—has been + gradually acquired during the evolution of man from a lower to a higher + condition. It has come down to us from primitive barbarism through long + ages of hereditary transmission. The "spiritual yearnings" of man's + nature, thought by Christians to prove a God as their author, have, in + like manner, been gradually acquired. These subjective emotions and + desires—whether you call them <i>carnal</i> or <i>spiritual</i>—are, + unquestionably, in the light of modern science, all matters of gradual + development, hereditary inheritance, and education. The great doctrine of + EVOLUTION in nature explains them all. + </p> + <p> + Having thus dealt with the arguments of Mr. Wendling in evidence of a + personal God—a primary assumption upon which he predicates many + other assumptions—there is little else in his "Reply to Robert + Ingersoll" demanding attention. One or two, however, of his extraordinary + assertions, it may not be amiss to look into a little; especially as Mr. + Wendling, having waxed valiant over the supposed conclusiveness of his + arguments, triumphantly throws down the glove to "infidelity" in this + wise:— + </p> + <p> + "To my mind the great central thought of Christianity is that every living + soul, of every race, of every clime, of every creed, of every condition, + of every color—every living soul is worthy the Kingdom * * * And + here I challenge infidelity. I lay the challenge broadly down. I challenge + infidelity to name an era or a school in which this doctrine was taught + prior to the advent of the Ideal Man." + </p> + <p> + Here, again, Mr. Wendling's orthodoxy is badly out of joint, and his facts + at loose ends. This "central thought" that "every living soul is worthy + the Kingdom" has no place in Christianity. It is by no means biblical + doctrine, however well so humane an idea may fit into Mr. W.'s own mind. + Hence, to designate the <i>brotherhood of man</i> the "great central + thought of Christianity"—a system which is to consign a majority of + mankind to an endless hell of fire and brimstone—is purely + gratuitous. To claim benevolent fatherhood or brotherhood for a religion + which declares that the road to hell is "broad," and many shall go in + thereat, while the way to Heaven is "narrow," and few shall go in thereat, + is to play fast and loose with the Bible. To say that "every soul is + worthy the Kingdom," and call this the "great central thought of + Christianity," in the face of what the "Word of God" cheerfully tells us + on this subject, is, indeed, a "marvellous flexibility of language," which + I do not at all propose to tolerate in discussion with "a lawyer," "a + politician," "a man of the world," or any other man. Hear ye! O! + non-elect, what comforting things the Scripture saith to you on your + "future prospects!" + </p> + <p> + "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate." "For the children + being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose + of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that + calleth." "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he + will he hardeneth." (Romans, 8th and 9th Chapters.) "The wicked are + estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking + lies." (Psalm 58.) "Ye believe not because ye are not of my sheep." (John + 10.) "Ye be reprobates." (II. Corinth. 13.) "Jacob have I loved, but Esau + have I hated." (Romans 9.) He hardened their hearts, "That seeing they may + see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand." + (Mark 4.) "Hath not the potter power over the clay." &c. (Romans 9.) + "He that believeth not shall be damned." + </p> + <p> + This is benevolent (?) fatherhood, and the spirit of the <i>brotherhood of + humanity</i>, with a vengance! We are distinctly told that God, "from the + beginning," has deliberately fixed upon the ultimate misery and + destruction of a portion of His hapless creatures; that He moulds them as + clay in the hands of the potter; hardens their hearts and blinds their + eyes, and then tells them He will damn them for not doing what He has + prevented them from doing, and what He knows, beforehand, they cannot and + will not do! This is what Mr. Wendling calls the "great central thought of + Christianity—that 'every soul is worthy the Kingdom,'"—and he + calls loudly upon "infidelity" to name an era or a school in which this + doctrine was taught before the "Ideal Man" taught it. He is right! We + cannot do it! We may search the philosophies and sacred writings of the + Pagans in vain for so fiendish a doctrine. For pure, unadulterated + malevolence, the Vedas, the Shaster, the Zend-Avesta, afford no parallel + for this truly Christian doctrine. + </p> + <p> + If, however, Mr. Wendling challenges us to name an era or school in which + the <i>brotherhood of man</i> (as we understand it) was taught before the + time of the "Ideal Man," we unhesitatingly accept his challenge. It was + taught by Buddha, Confucius, and numerous Pagan writers and philosophers + long before the time of Jesus, for proof of which I refer the reader to + Prof. Max Muller, Sir Wm. Jones, Lord, Amberly, &c, or to the writings + themselves. Mr. Wendling desires us to "Tell me (him) why it is that all + the creeds of Christendom and all the civilized nations unite in accepting + the Ideal Man of Christianity despite the laws of climate and of race?" + </p> + <p> + I will answer this question in the Irishman's fashion, by asking one or + two others. Tell me why it is, if Christianity is a divine system, and its + author omnipotent, that, after eighteen centuries of active propagandism + and aggression, compassing sea and land to make proselytes, it has to-day, + according to recent statistics, but the meagre following of 399,200,000; + while Buddhism has 405,600,000, and Brahmanism, Mohammedanism, etc., + 500,000,000? Not nearly one-third of the world's population Christians, + and the number rapidly diminishing! Tell me why it is, if Christianity is + true that its foundations are melting down like wax in the light of Modern + Science?' Tell me why it is, if the Bible is an inspired book, a divine + revelation, that scarcely a single really eminent scientist or scholar of + the present day accepts it as such? Tell me why it is that Atheism, + Agnosticism, and Rationalism are making such rapid headway among the + educated and intelligent, in every civilized country, both in the church + and out of it? That the dogmas upon which Christianity rests are doomed; + and as Froude, the historian, says, "Doctrines once fixed as a rock are + now fluid as water?"* If the Bible can bear the light of science and + historical research, how is it that these have already irrevocably sapped + its very foundations; and that, as a consequence, the world is completely + "honey-combed with infidelity," as a Toronto paper recently asserted of + that city? The only answer Mr. Wendling can give to these questions is + this: Because Christianity is unable to show its titles; because the + Bible, being human in its origin, and, as a consequence, abounding in + errors, both in science and morals, cannot bear the penetrating light of + modern science and criticism. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * "Science and Theology, Ancient and Modern."—The + International Religio-Science Series.—Rose-Belford + Publishing Company, Toronto. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + REPLY TO LYNCH + </h2> + <h3> + A CRUSHING (?) EDICT FROM ST. MICHAEL'S PALACE. + </h3> + <p> + (<i>Brutem Fulmen</i>,) BY "Yours in Christ, (Signed), John Joseph Lynch." + </p> + <p> + Since Ingersoll's visit to Canada, Archbishop Lynch, of Toronto,-has also + felt called upon to issue a bull against the Freethinkers; and, I propose + to take this "bull" by the horns and <i>lynch</i> him (I may say <i>sub + rosa</i> that the Bulls of Rome were long ago emasculated, yet, strangely + enough, they still keep <i>multiplying</i>!) Under the circumstances, I + think such a work (lynching the bull) will not be one wholly of <i>supererogation</i>,—though + it may be more than a <i>venial</i> offence—indeed possibly a <i>mortal</i> + sin for which I can get no <i>absolution</i>—to presume to criticise + an Archbishop, and break a lance with his holy bull! I have, however, + desperately resolved to take my chances of purgatory or limbo and go in + for the bull. + </p> + <p> + Some of the Archbishop's flock, it would seem, had ventured to exercise + the natural rights of man to the very modest extent of going to hear Mr. + Ingersoll lecture, and also attending some of the meetings of the Toronto + <i>Liberal Association</i>. Hence the fulmination of the aforesaid "bull," + wherein his Grace, with that meekness, charity and toleration born of + piety and infallibility, orders his people to "avoid all contact with + these Freethinkers, their lectures and their writings," and threatens all + Catholics who "go to the meetings and lectures of the Freethinkers or + Atheists" with refusal of "absolution," which priestly function, he + patronizingly tells them, he "reserves" to himself. + </p> + <p> + Now, may we not indulge the hope, in this age of reason, and land of at + least professed liberty, and esoteric freedom of conscience, that every + man, be he Catholic or Protestant, will look upon this attempted exercise + of medieval bigotry and intolerance with practical disregard, and deserved + contempt. As for the Freethinkers, they can afford to smile at the + impotent Archbishop, who seems to imagine himself in the ninth instead of + the nineteenth century, and in Rome or Spain instead of the Dominion of + Canada. They can but look at him and his foolish "bull" as most ridiculous + anachronisms. On reading this precious document it is plain that all this + deputy "Vicegerent of God" requires to make him a first-class modern + Torquemada is the power—the outward authority to carry out his + subjective hatred of "brutalized" Freethinkers. But this, thanks to + science, and consequent civilization, he has not got. The Rationalist can, + therefore, at this day, afford to deride the malevolent, though + fortunately impotent, ravings of this zealous bishop of an emasculated + Church. He and his Church (the whole Christian Church) are, fortunately + for humanity, shorn of their wonted strength, which, in the past, they + have used with such fiendish ferocity and brutality on human kind. The day + has gone by when the Church may light an <i>auto-da-fé</i> around the body + of a Bruno. The time has passed when she may thrust a Galileo into prison + and force him to recant the sublime truths of Astronomy. She can no longer + cast a Roger Bacon into a noisome dungeon because of his scientific + investigations. True, she can still, if she choose, excommunicate a + Copernicus for what she denounced as his "false Pythagorean doctrine," but + that is all. Darwin, Huxley, Tyndall, Proctor and the rest are safe. This + relentless enemy of Science and liberty, and consequently of mankind, can + no longer clutch every young science by the throat and strangle struggling + truth, which, crushed to earth has risen again in its might; and history + will scarcely repeat itself in the case of Bruno the Atheist, or Galileo + the Astronomer, or Roger Bacon the Philosopher, or a thousand other + victims of this ruthless "Bourbon of the world of thought"—the + Church. She may still continue to fulminate her absurd and innocuous <i>anathemas</i>, + but this is about all. The Holy Inquisition, with its two hundred and + fifty thousand human victims; the Crusades with its five millions; the + massacre of St. Bartholomew with its fifty thousand; to say nothing of the + religious horrors of the Netherlands, of England, Scotland, and Ireland + since the reformation—all these holy horrors, let us hope, are + "hideous blots on the history of the past never to be repeated." Or will + it be said of the future history of Christianity, as has been frankly + admitted of its past by one of its ardent disciples, Baxter, that "Blood, + blood, blood stains every page?" + </p> + <p> + The tables are now turning. The Church, to-day, instead of burning + unbelievers, and strangling science by immuring in dungeons its votaries, + is herself being strangled by science (with no loss of human blood, + however). Her cruel theology and irrational dogmas are prostrate, writhing + in their death throes, at the feet of the Hercules of modern science and + criticism. + </p> + <p> + A little digression will not be out of order here. Our comic caricaturist + at Toronto (of which, on the whole, Canada may feel proud), recently had a + cartoon representing the theological Gamaliel of St. Michael's Palace, + Toronto, strangling the <i>serpent</i> "Freethought." Now, though usually + on the side of truth and impartiality, <i>Grip</i> has undoubtedly, in + this case, taken an oblique squint at truth and justice, and has for once, + at least, got the cart before the horse. Facts and truth demand that the + positions of the gladiators in his cartoon must be reversed, and the + zoological nomenclature corrected. And if <i>Grip</i> had read Huxley and + Tyndall, and correctly observed the signs of the times, he would scarcely + have fallen into this unpardonable error. Let us quote Prof. Huxley on + this subject of strangling serpents:— + </p> + <p> + "It is true that, if philosophers have suffered, their cause has been + amply revenged. <i>Extinguished theologians lie about the cradle of every + science as the strangled snakes beside that of Hercules</i>; and history + records that, whenever science and orthodoxy have been fairly opposed, the + latter has been forced to retire from the lists, bleeding and crushed, if + not annihilated; scotched, if not slain. But orthodoxy is the Bourbon of + the world of thought. It learns not, neither can it forget; and, though at + present bewildered and afraid to move, it is as willing as ever to insist + that the first chapter of Genesis contains the beginning and the end of + sound science; and to visit, with such petty thunderbolts as its + half-paralyzed hands can hurl those who refuse to degrade Nature to the + level of primitive Judaism."—<i>Lay Sermons</i>, p. 277-8. + </p> + <p> + From this, <i>Grip</i> will see that instead of the fair form of reason + and Freethought (which he represents as a snake) being strangled by a + prelate of the church, it is the serpent, orthodoxy, which is being + strangled by the Hercules of science. It is to be regretted that <i>Grip</i>, + notwithstanding his professions of independence and impartiality, is + himself obnoxious to the very moral cowardice he has so often fearlessly + and justly exposed in others. Else why does he represent Freethought as a + snake? Is it because Freethought is yet comparatively weak in numbers, and + unpopular, and because this sort of thing will please the Church, which <i>is</i> + popular and powerful? What characteristic of the snake attaches to + Freethought or Freethinkers? None; and we fearlessly challenge <i>Grip</i> + and the Church on this point. Freethought has none of the reptilian + qualities of hypocrisy, cunning or deceit, but is frank and fearless. Amid + all the obloquy, denunciation, persecution, social ostracism, calumny, and + "holy bulls" hurled at them, Freethinkers have the courage of their + opinions; and bear all these, as well as business detriment, for the sake + of what they sacredly regard as <i>truth</i>. + </p> + <p> + What does Prof. Tyndall say of Freethinkers and Atheists? To Archbishop + Lynch, who, in his pronunciamiento, says, "A person who, disbelieves in + the Ten Commandments, in hell or in Heaven, can hardly be trusted in the + concerns of life;" and to <i>Grip</i> who cowardly crystalizes this base + assertion into a baser cartoon, I quote with pride the language of this + noble man, and eminent scholar and scientist. In the <i>Fortnightly Review</i> + for November, 1877, Prof. Tyndall says: + </p> + <p> + "It may comfort some to know that there are amongst us many whom the + gladiators of the pulpit would call Atheists and Materialists, whose + lives, nevertheless, as tested by any accessible standard of morality, + would contrast more than favorably with the lives of those who seek to + stamp them with this offensive brand. When I say 'offensive' I refer + simply to the intention of those who use such terms, and not because + Atheism or Materialism, when compared with many of the notions ventilated + in the columns of religious newspapers, has any particular offensiveness + to me. If I wished to find men who are scrupulous in their adherence to + engagements, whose words are their bond, and to whom moral shiftiness of + any kind is subjectively unknown; if I wanted a loving father, a faithful + husband, an honorable neighbor, and a just citizen, I would seek him among + the band of Atheists to which I refer. I have known some of the most + pronounced amongst them, not only in life, but in death—seen them + approaching with open eyes the inexorable goal, with no dread of a + 'hangman's whip,' with no hope of a heavenly crown, and still as mindful + of their duties, and as faithful in the discharge of them, as if their + eternal future depended on their latest deeds." + </p> + <p> + Let the Archbishop, and <i>Grip</i>, and every reader ponder these brave + words of so high an authority in defence of the reprobated + class-stigmatised as "infidels," to which they refer; and then, for + corroboration, compare the testimony given with the living facts around + them.. + </p> + <p> + The Archbishop says, these "foolish men" (the Freethinkers) are "striving + to replunge the world into the depths of Barbarism and Paganism," etc., + etc. To those who know that the present attitude of all the great + scientists and eminent <i>savans</i> towards the dogmas of the Christian + Church, is one of undoubted unbelief and hostility; and who are conversant + with the history of the Archbishop's own church in particular, during the + past fifteen centuries,—to them the Archbishop's vituperation is as + foolish as it is ridiculous. From the days of Constantine to this year, + 1880, the Church, of which this learned (?) prelate is a representative, + has strenuously opposed learning, and retarded civilization; has tolerated + no freedom of conscience or liberty of thought, thus narrowing instead of + extending the liberty enjoyed in Pagan and Imperial Rome, over whose ruins + she reared her tyrannical head. Talk of "Paganism!" His Church needs, as + Emerson puts it, "some good Paganism." She left behind her the liberty + even of Pagan Rome, her maligned precursor. Renan tells us, "We may search + in vain, the Roman law before Constantine, for a single passage against + freedom of thought, and the history of the imperial government furnishes + no instance of a prosecution for entertaining an abstract doctrine." And, + Mosheim, the ecclesiastical historian, tells us that the Romans exercised + this toleration in the amplest manner. + </p> + <p> + "The prosecutions of the Christians by the Pagans, it is now universally + conceded by Christian historians, have been greatly exaggerated; + Christians have killed, in one day, for their faith nearly half as many + heretics as all the Christians put to death by the Pagans during the whole + period of the Pagan Empire." (The Influence of Christianity on + Civilization, pp. 24-5, Underwood.) + </p> + <p> + The Archbishop's Church is, therefore, no improvement in respect of + liberty or toleration, on the Paganism he reviles. + </p> + <p> + What progress the world has made in liberty and civilization, has been + made, not with the assistance of the Christian Church, but in spite of its + determined opposition and deadly hostility. Dr. Draper, author of the + "History of the Conflict between Religion and Science," and other works, + tells us that: + </p> + <p> + "Latin Christianity is responsible for the condition and progress of + Europe from the fourth to the sixteenth century," and subsequently avers, + "Whoever will, in in a spirit of impartiality, examine what had been done + by Catholicism for the intellectual and material advancement of Europe, + during her long reign, and what has been done by science in its brief + period of action, can, I am persuaded, come to no other conclusion than + this, that, in instituting a comparison, he has established a contrast." + ("Conflict," p. 321.) Lecky, in his "History of Morals," vol. 2, p. 18, + tells us:—"For more than three centuries the decadence of + theological influence has been one of the most invariable signs and + measures of our progress. In medicine, physical science, commercial + interests, politics, and even ethics, the reformer has been confronted + with theological affirmations that have barred his way, which were all + defended as of vital importance, and were all compelled to yield before + the secularizing influence of civilization." (Protestant as well as + Catholic Christianity is, however, obnoxious to this stricture of Lecky.) + </p> + <p> + The Freethinkers "striving to replunge the world into the depths of + barbarism!" What can the Archbishop's idea of barbarism be? Doubtless in + his priestly mind everything is "barbarism" which does not square with the + Encyclical, or with the dogmas of his infallible Church. If, however, + barbarism is in reality just the opposite of our most enlightened and + highest civilization in Art, Science, Literature and Ethics, it will, I + have the presumption to think, be found that those "foolish men"—those + "brutalized" Freethinkers—are leading the van of progress forward to + a higher civilization, instead of dragging it backward to barbarism. The + truth of this is patent everywhere, in every civilized country, and many + of our Christian opponents admit it, though Archbishop Lynch may not. A + clergyman of Toronto—Rev. W. S. Rainsford, of St. James' Cathedral—(from + whom the Archbishop of St. Mary's Cathedral might probably, to his + advantage, take a lesson in toleration), in a sermon preached in that + city, Nov. 17th, 1878, in speaking of Freethinkers, made use of the + following language, as reported in the <i>Globe</i> of the 18th: + </p> + <p> + "This sort of infidelity, that of Materialism, has its students in the + laboratory and in the library. It includes men of moral lives, of earnest + purposes, * * * men who uphold morality, chastity, self-denial, + perseverance with as clear a voice as Christians do, but on different + grounds." + </p> + <p> + Years ago the N. Y. <i>Independent</i>, a religious paper, made the + following ingenuous admission: + </p> + <p> + "To the shame of the Church it must be confessed that the foremost in all + our philanthropic movements, in the interpretation of the spirit of the + age, in the practical application of genuine Christianity, in the + reformation of abuses in high and low places, in the vindication of the + rights of man, and in practically redressing his wrongs, in the + intellectual and moral regeneration of the race, are the so-called + infidels in our land. The Church has pusillanimously left, not only the + working oar, but the very reins of salutary reform in the hands of men she + denounces as inimical to Christianity, and who are practically doing, with + all their might, for humanity's sake, what the Church ought to be doing + for Christ's sake; and if they succeed, as succeed they will, in + abolishing slavery, banishing rum, restraining licentiousness, reforming + abuses and elevating the masses, then must the recoil on Christianity be + disastrous. Woe, woe, woe, to Christianity when Infidels by the force of + nature, or the tendency of the age, get ahead of the Church in morals, and + in the practical work of Christianity. In some instances they are already + far in advance. In the vindication of Truth, Righteousness, and Liberty, + <i>they are the pioneers</i>, beckoning to a sluggish Church to follow in + the rear." + </p> + <p> + The <i>Evangelist</i> also, made the following admission of the same + facts: "Among all the earnest minded young men, who are at this moment + leading in thought and action in America, we venture to say that + four-fifths are skeptical of the great historical facts of Christianity. + What is held as Christian doctrine by the churches claims none of their + consideration, and there is among them a general distrust of the clergy, + as a class, and an utter disgust with the very aspect of modern + Christianity and of church worship. This scepticism is not flippant; + little is said about it. It is not a peculiarity alone of radicals and + fanatics; most of them are men of calm and even balance of mind, and + belong to no class of ultraists. It is not worldly and selfish. Nay, the + doubters lead in the bravest and most self-denying enterprises of the + day." + </p> + <p> + From a Church which has always opposed the education of the people, when + she had the power, and exterminated or expatriated the best intellects + under her jurisdiction, this talk of Freethinkers "re-plunging the world + into the depths of barbarism" comes with a very bad grace from his Grace + of Toronto. By this Church the Moriscoes were driven out of Spain—100,000 + of them—and this because they were the friends of progress, of art + and science. Buckle, the historian, tells us:—"When they were thrust + out of Spain there was no one to fill their places; arts and manufactures + either degenerated or were entirely lost, ard immense regions of arable + land were left uncultivated; whole districts were suddenly deserted, and + down to the present day have never been repeopled." The Jews also were + expelled, as they, too, were in favor of knowledge and improvement, and + this was sufficient cause for their expatriation. + </p> + <p> + This relentless enemy—the Church—of all science, all progress + in knowledge among the people, ruthlessly exterminated the best minds + within its grasp for centuries. Darwin, in his "Descent of Man," vol. 1, + p. 171-2, says:— + </p> + <p> + "During the same period the Holy Inquisition selected with extreme care + the freest and boldest men in order to burn and imprison them. In Spain + alone some of the best men, those who doubted and questioned—and + without doubting and questioning there can be no progress—were + eliminated during three centuries at the rate of a thousand a year." + </p> + <p> + Talk to us of barbarism and paganism! A church which, from the time, + nearly fifteen centuries ago, when she burnt the Alexandrian Libraries and + Museum—the intellectual legacies of centuries—to the present + time, has never yet called off her sleuth-hounds with which she has always + hunted down the sacred principles of liberty of thought and freedom of + conscience! A Church which from "the beginning of that unhappy contest," + as Mosheim tells us, "between faith and reason, religion and philosophy, + piety and genius, which increased in succeeding ages, and is prolonged + even to our times with a violence which renders it extremely difficult to + be brought to a conclusion," to this day, would hold the world in + barbarous ignorance if its paralyzed hand could but avail against the + resistless march of knowledge and truth! Draper, in speaking of the + condition of the people under Catholicity in the 14th century, thus + pictures the civilizing (?) and elevating influences of that Holy + Religion:— + </p> + <p> + "There was no far reaching, no persistent plan to ameliorate the physical + condition of the nations. Nothing was done to favor their intellectual + development, indeed, on the contrary, it was the settled policy to keep + them not merely illiterate, but ignorant. Century after century passed + away, and left the peasantry but little better than the cattle in the + fields. * * * Pestilences were permitted to stalk forth unchecked, or at + best opposed only by mummeries. Bad food, wretched clothing, inadequate + shelter, were suffered to produce their result, and at the end of a + thousand years the population of Europe had not doubled." + </p> + <p> + For centuries, and centuries, in the Western Empire, subsequent to the + invasion of the barbarians, when the Church this Toronto prelate owes + allegiance to, had absolute control, such was the dense ignorance that + scarcely a layman could be found who could sign his own name. There was + very little learning, and what little there was the clergy carefully and + jealously confined to themselves; and as Hallam, the historian, tells us:— + </p> + <p> + "A cloud of ignorance overspread the whole face of the church, hardly + broken by a few glimmering lights, who owe almost the whole of their + distinction to the surrounding darkness." The same historian (Middle Ages, + p. 460,) tells us:—"France reached her lowest point at the beginning + of the eighth century, but England was, at that time, more respectable, + and did not fall into complete degradation until the middle of the ninth. + There could be nothing more deplorable than the state of Italy during the + succeeding century. In almost every council the ignorance of the clergy + forms a subject for reproach. It is asserted by one held in 992 that + scarcely a single person was to be found in Rome itself, who knew the + first elements of letters. Not one priest of a thousand in Spain, about + the age of Charlemagne, could address a common letter of salutation to one + another." + </p> + <p> + Lecky, in his "History of Morals," vol. 2, p. 222, tells us that: + </p> + <p> + "Medięval Catholicity discouraged and suppressed, in every way, secular + studies," and further, that, "Not till the education of Europe passed from + the monasteries to the universities; not until Mahomedan science and + classical freethought and industrial independence broke the sceptre of the + Church, did the intellectual revival of Europe commence." + </p> + <p> + And, I would ask Archbishop Lynch, what was the condition of the Byzantine + Empire during the thousand years or upwards of its existence?—An + empire under the sway of his Church, from its foundation by the first + Christian emperor, Constantine—that exemplary Christian murderer + who, because the Pagan priests refused him absolution for his enormities, + hastened to the bosom of the Christian Church, whose priests he found more + pliable, having little compunction or hesitancy about granting absolution + to the new proselyte. What is the record of history touching this Empire + under the aegis of Catholic Christianity? The historian Lecky thus + graphically sets forth its condition:— + </p> + <p> + "The universal verdict of history is that it constitutes, without a single + exception, the most thoroughly base and despicable form that civilization + has yet assumed. Though very cruel and very sensual, there have been times + when cruelty assumed more ruthless, and sensuality more extravagant + aspects, but there has been no other enduring civilization so absolutely + destitute of all the forms, the elements, of greatness, and none to which + the epithet <i>mean</i> may be so emphatically applied. The Byzantine + Empire was pre-eminently the age of treachery. Its vices were the vices of + men who ceased to be brave without learning to be virtuous. * * * The + history of the empire is a monotonous story of the intrigues of priests, + eunuchs and women, of poisonings, of conspiracies, of uniform ingratitude, + of perpetual fratricides." In speaking of the condition of the Western + Empire the same author proceeds:—"A boundless intolerance of all + divergence of opinion was united with an equally boundless toleration of + all falsehood and deliberate fraud, that could favor received opinions. + Credulity being taught as a virtue, and all conclusions dictated by + authority, a deadly torpor sank upon the human mind, which for many + centuries almost suspended its action, and was only broken by the + scrutinizing, innovating and free-thinking habits that accompanied the + rise of the industrial republics in Italy. Few men who are not either + priests or monks would not have preferred to live in the best days of the + Athenian or of the Roman republics, in the age of Augustus, or in the age + of the Antonines rather than in any period that elapsed between the <i>triumph + of Christianity and the fourteenth century</i>." + </p> + <p> + The same historian, whose accuracy Archbishop Lynch will scarcely attempt + to impeach, thus judicially and impartially sums up the influences of + Catholic Christianity both in the Eastern and Western Empires during many + centuries when it had the fullest sway:— + </p> + <p> + "When we remember that in the Byzantine Empire the renovating power of + theology was tried in a new capital, free from Pagan traditions, and for + more than one thousand years unsubdued by barbarians, and that in the + west, the Church, for at least seven hundred years after the shocks of the + invasion had subsided, exercised a control more absolute than any other + moral or intellectual agency has ever attained, it will appear, I think, + that the experiment was very sufficiently tried. It is easy to make a + catalogue of the glaring vices of antiquity, and to contrast them with the + pure morality of Christian writings; but, if we desire to form a just + estimate of the realized improvement, we must compare the classical and + ecclesiastical civilizations as wholes, and must observe in each case not + only the vices that were repressed but also the degree and variety of + positive excellence attained." + </p> + <p> + Before the art of printing was discovered, the Church had less difficulty + in keeping the people in ignorance, but after the invention of that boon + to mankind she found herself ominously confronted with the tree of life + from which the people would soon learn to pluck the fruit of knowledge. + Hence the establishment, by Pope Paul IV., about the middle of the + sixteenth century, of the <i>Index Expurgatorius</i>, whose functions, we + are told, was "to examine books and manuscripts intended for publication, + and to decide whether the people may be permitted to read them." This is + what his Grace of St. Michael's Palace, in Toronto, proposes to do for the + good Catholics of that city—decide what they shall read and what + they shall not read, as though they were ninnies and not able to decide + that matter for themselves! The fact is, however, that, in this priestly + arrogance and assumption, the Archbishop is consistent enough; for, + although such medięval tyranny is altogether inconsistent with the spirit + of this age, and ludicrously out of place in 1880, in the City of Toronto, + it, nevertheless, perfectly accords with the tenets and spirit as well as + the antecedents of his Church; which, while it accuses Freethinkers of + "barbarism," allows not an inch of latitude of private judgment in matters + of religion, and tolerates no freedom of conscience: And what is this but + barbarism? All freedom of conscience was fiercely denounced by Gregory + XVI. as insane folly, and the Archbishop of Toronto reiterates this + unsavory stigma on civilization. And why shouldn't he? Theology never + learns. The Church changes not. How can she when she is infallible? Yet an + infallible Pope of an infallible Church, not long since, found himself, + while encompassed with many difficulties, spiritual and temporal, to be + about like other weak mortals in flesh and blood; and, though infallible, + remember, and with the power of miracles and all that, he succumbs and + whiningly complains to a vulgar world that he is "a prisoner in his own + palace in Rome!" And the heretical and sceptical world—the "outside + barbarians"—with a contemptuous leer, gape at the queer spectacle of + the "Vicegerent on Earth" of an all-powerful God being obliged so easily + to succumb to heresy—to a little temporal power. Such, however, is + life—or rather the "mysterious ways of providence," which "ways" + always seem though, as Cromwell observed, to be on the side of the + heaviest artillery,—not the artillery of heaven, but the base + artillery of earth. Indeed, this worldly artillery—the artillery of + science and civilization—has, in this nineteenth century, been + making such havoc with creeds, confessions, and dogmas, that the crowning + dogma of all—this fundamental pillar of the Vatican, the dogma of + infallibility—was, it would seem, fast becoming a <i>dead dog</i>; + when the Holy Catholic Church finds it imperatively incumbent upon her to + attempt a resuscitation. This happened in Rome in "<i>anno domini</i>" + 1870, at that great Ecumenical Council—that unique anachronism of + the nineteenth century. I know not whether that medięval assembly of Holy + "Fathers in God" was honored by the presence of his Grace of St. Michael's + Palace, in Toronto, or not; but, be that as it may, his reverence's entire + loyalty to the notorious Encyclical and Syllabus of that Council is not to + be questioned or doubted. The miniature Toronto <i>bull</i> of May 9th, + 1880, has the true Vatican ring of the big <i>bull</i> of the Council in + Rome in 1870. It, too, denounced, with its usual, though harmless, <i>anathema</i>, + Atheism, Pantheism, Naturalism, Rationalism and every other ism that + failed to square with Papal dogma. By the fulmination of that Syllabus the + world learned among many other things, that "No one may interpret the + Sacred Scriptures contrary to the sense in which they are interpreted by + Holy Mother Church, to whom such interpretation belongs." It was further + decreed that "All the Christian faithful are not only forbidden to defend, + as legitimate conclusions of science, those opinions which are known to be + contrary to the doctrine of faith, especially when condemned by the + Church, but are rather absolutely bound to hold them for errors wearing + the deceitful appearance of truth." + </p> + <p> + As examples of the holy canons which were actually fulminated and + promulgated by that Ecumenical Council in the latter part of this 19th + century, here are a few:— + </p> + <p> + "Who shall refuse to receive, for sacred and canonical, the books of Holy + Scripture in their integrity, with all their parts, according as they were + enumerated by the Holy Council of Trent, or shall deny that they are + inspired by God, <i>Let him be anathema</i>." + </p> + <p> + "Who shall say that human sciences ought to be pursued in such a spirit of + freedom that one may be allowed to hold as true their assertions, even + when opposed to revealed doctrine, <i>Let him be anathema</i>." + </p> + <p> + "Who shall say that it may at any time come to pass, in the progress of + science, that the doctrines set forth by the Church must be taken in + another sense than that in which the Church has ever received and yet + receives them, <i>Let him be anathema</i>." + </p> + <p> + These are the modest assumptions of the Church of Rome in this age; and a + prelate of that Church breathes the same noxious vapors forth into the + intellectual atmosphere of the City of Toronto! It remains to be seen + whether in Toronto there are such slaves or fools as will submit to this + worse than Egyptian bondage. Will intelligent Catholics put their necks in + a yoke so galling? None but slaves or barbarians would do it. The + Archbishop would thus fain make barbarians of his own people, and then he + would have the pagans at home without hunting among Freethinkers for them. + In his lecture in Napanee, in April last, Col. Ingersoll gave it as his + opinion that any man—no matter what Church he belonged to, or what + country he lived in—who claimed rights for himself which he denied + to others, is a barbarian! Now, according to this definition, who are the + barbarians? The Freethinkers, or the Archbishop himself and those he + ignominiously holds in mental bondage? + </p> + <p> + In conclusion, we thank Archbishop Lynch for his timely "bull." As a + propagandist document for the spread of Freethought, and really in the + interests of those "foolish" and "brutalized" Freethinkers against whom it + was directed, it must prove a great success. It is another illustration of + the essentially bigoted and intolerant spirit of Christianity in general.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * I am well aware that the Protestant sects of Christianity + repudiate this charge of the intolerant and persecuting + spirit of Christianity in general, and vainly attempt to + shift the whole onus and odium upon the Church of Rome. They + tell us that Christianity itself is not persecuting—that it + is not responsible for having reddened the earth with blood + —but that this was all done contrary to the spirit and + teachings of Christianity by men who were not really + Christians. We deny it. We take the position that + Christianity itself is essentially intolerant and + persecuting in spirit; and, we take the New Testament itself + to prove it. We take Christ's alleged words as reported + there, and Paul's alleged words as reported there, and can + thereby abundantly sustain our charge. "He that believeth + not shall be damned." "A man that is a heretic after the + first and second admonition, reject." What is that but the + quintessence of bigotry and intolerance? "I would they were + even cut off which trouble you." How kind! "Think not that I + come to send peace on earth, etc., etc" Scores of passages + could be quoted from the New Testament of similar import, + and the Old Testament is worse yet, for it recommends + putting even your wives or brothers to death should they try + to persuade you to worship their God.—See Deut. 13, 6, 7 + and 8. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + REPLY TO "BYSTANDER." + </h2> + <p> + I approach this part of my prescribed duty with some hesitation, and not a + little reluctance. <i>Bystander</i> is brilliant, learned, independent, + and honest; and for these qualities, though differing from him on some + important subjects, I entertain a respect and esteem amounting to + affection. I hope, therefore, that I may not write a word here having even + the semblance of discourtesy; for of that sort of treatment the gentleman + in question has had a full share since he honored Canadians by casting his + lot amongst us. + </p> + <p> + For the benefit of some readers who, possibly, may not have seen it, I may + say that <i>The Bystander</i> is a "Monthly Review of Current Events," + published in Toronto by Messrs. Hunter, Rose & Co., and written by a + certain distinguished literary gentleman, as referred to above, whose name + I would like to give here only that I feel in courtesy bound to respect + the "impersonality of journalism," the protection of which the gentleman + in question has the right, and with good reason, to claim. + </p> + <p> + The last three issues of <i>The Bystander</i> (for April, May and June) + have each a paper on Col. Ingersoll, his lectures, and cognate subjects; + the general tone of which is very liberal, but, at the same time, + containing strictures upon Mr. Ingersoll and his teachings which I + consider unfair and unjust (unintentionally no doubt), and to which I here + propose briefly to reply. + </p> + <p> + Having heard Mr. Ingersoll lecture but once I am not in a position from + personal knowledge to speak fully as to the alleged "blasphemy," and his + general "tone" on the platform; but this much I can say, that <i>Bystander's</i> + assertion that "he" (Ingersoll) "repels all decent men, whatever their + convictions; for no decent man likes blasphemy any more than he likes + obscenity," is certainly not true of the one lecture I heard, or of the + score of others of his I have read. I humbly claim to be myself a "decent + man," and I did not find myself "repelled" on listening to Ingersoll's + lecture, but rather attracted. I also saw many decent people at the + lecture (some from a distance), and they did not seem repelled; but, like + myself, well-pleased. In Toronto, according to the reports in the <i>Evening + Telegram</i>, there were large audiences of decent, intelligent people: + and instead of being repelled, they greeted the lecturer with the most + enthusiastic approbation and applause, repeated over and over again. The + same reception was accorded him in Montreal, Belleville and Napanee. + </p> + <p> + Bystander contrasts Ingersoll's "offensive tone" on the platform with the + "gentleness and sympathy of the Christian preacher on Mars' Hill," who, he + tells us, "delivered the truths he bore at once with the dignity of simple + earnestness, and with perfect tenderness towards the beliefs which he came + to supersede." Let us, for a moment, examine this claim of "simple + earnestness," and "perfect tenderness" in behalf of Paul the great + preacher of the New Testament. Paul says, (Roman iii. 7) "For if the truth + of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory, why yet am I also + judged as a sinner?" He also tells us (2nd Cor. 12: 16) that "being <i>crafty</i>, + I caught you with guile," and likewise assures us that he was "all things + to all men;" to the Jews he "became as a Jew," etc. What "simple + earnestness" this is truly! And the Church of Christ has nearly always + acted in accordance with this Scriptural doctrine that in <i>lying</i> for + God's sake the "end justifies the means." Mosheim, the ecclesiastical + historian, tells us that in the early ages of the Christian Church, "It + was an act of virtue to deceive and lie, when by that means the interest + of the church might be promoted." + </p> + <p> + As to Paul's "perfect tenderness toward the beliefs which he came to + supersede," let us look a little into that. In writing to the Galatians he + says [tenderly] "As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach + any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be <i>accursed</i>." + (Gal. 1:9.) That is tender toleration for you! Again, "A man that is a + heretic after the first and second admonition, reject" (Titus 4:9.) "I + would they were even cut off which trouble you" (Gal. 5: 12.) We, + Freethinkers, would stand a poor chance to-day if Paul's precepts were + carried out! Again, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be + <i>Anathema Maranatha</i>" (1 Cor. 16: 22.)-What "perfect tenderness" this + is! With a vengeance are these curses and maledictions tender! <i>Bystander</i> + may search in vain in Ingersoll's lectures, or any Freethinkers' writings, + for such consummate bigotry, intolerance, and even cruelty as this + "Christian preacher" pours out upon all who venture to differ from him in + belief. And what "perfect tenderness" in Paul to denounce and stigmatize + even those of his own church—his co-religionists—as "<i>false + apostles, deceitful workers, dogs, and liars!</i>" Did <i>Bystander</i> or + anybody else ever hear such language from Ingersoll or any other + Freethinker? Is it not "offensive to any sensible and right-minded man?" + Does it not "repel all decent men?" + </p> + <p> + <i>Bystander</i> admits that when Ingersoll "attacks dogmatic orthodoxy he + is in the right." What more does he attack? This is exactly what he does + attack, and <i>Bystander</i> admits that in so doing he is doing right, + thus showing that he himself does not believe in dogmatic orthodoxy. Now, + if the Christian's God, as described in the Bible, is included in + "dogmatic orthodoxy" (and He surely must be) is Ingersoll blasphemous in + attacking Him? Surely not, according to <i>Bystander</i> himself. <i>Bystander</i> + may say, however, that he does not mean to include the Christian's God in + the "irrational and obsolete orthodoxy," against which he admits + "Ingersoll's arguments are really telling." But does <i>Bystander</i> + himself believe in the God of the Bible? From the tenor of his language he + surely cannot. Does he believe in the God of whom the Bible itself gives + the following description? (For want of time to refer to, and space to + insert chapter and verse, they are not given, but every Bible reader will + recognize the passages given as substantially correct):— + </p> + <p> + "He burns with anger; his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as + a devouring fire." "His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are + thrown down by him." "The Lord awaketh as one out of sleep, and like a + mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine." "Smoke came out of his + nostrils, and fire out of his mouth, so that coals were kindled by it." + "He had horns coming out of his hand." "Out of his mouth went a sharp + two-edged sword." "The Lord shall roar from on high. He roareth from his + habitation. He shall shout as they that tread the grapes." "He is a + jealous God." "He stirred up jealousy." "He was jealous to fury." "He + rides upon horses." "The Lord is a man of war." "His anger will be + accomplished, and his fury rest upon them, and then he will be <i>comforted!</i>" + "His arrows shall be drunken with blood." "He is angry with the wicked + every day." "A fire is kindled in mine anger and shall burn unto the + lowest hell. I will heap mischief upon them; I will spend my arrows upon + them I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, and the poison of the + serpents... both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also, and the + man of gray hairs." [What did the "suckling" do to merit this?] "He + reserveth wrath for his enemies." "He became angry and swore." "He cried + and roared." + </p> + <p> + Does <i>Bystander</i> believe in a God like that? whom it is "blasphemy," + it seems, for Ingersol to attack! It is true there are good qualities and + attributes ascribed to God by the Bible as well as bad; but that does not + affect the fact that these are ascribed to him; while the co-existence of + two diametrically opposite sets of attributes in the same Being is simply + absurd. Why is it blasphemy to attack such a conception of God, any more + than to attack any of the other Pagan gods of antiquity? As he is + represented in the Bible, He is certainly no better than they; and <i>Bystander</i> + himself would have little hesitancy in making an onslaught on the Pagan + gods. When primitive Judaism and Christianity set up a God for <i>our</i> + worship and adoration, and at the same time tells us, "by the book," that + He commanded the cruel, fiendish, and indiscriminate murder of men, women, + and innocent children, we beg to decline to worship, or adore, or believe + in any such Being; and we do not think it "blasphemy" to attack the false + belief and the false God. When we read in the "word of God" that the Lord + commanded one of his prophets to diet on excrement; that the Lord met + Moses at a tavern and tried to kill him (see Exodus, 4, 24); that the sun + and moon stood still; that it rained forty days and nights, and that + nearly the whole world was drowned; that the first man—Adam—was + made of clay, and Eve of a rib, about 6000 years ago; that the world was + made in six days, and that vegetation flourished before there was any sun,—when + we read of all these wonderful things, we beg to be excused from believing + them, and claim the right to ridicule them to our heart's content. If this + is "disrespect," or "insult," or an "ignoble spirit of irreverence," then + we plead guilty to the charge, and are willing to abide by it. + </p> + <p> + We do not deny that there may be a God; we only deny the existence of such + a one as the Bible sets forth. We attack only the gods whom barbarous + peoples have fashioned in their own imaginations and set up for our + worship, and not any high or noble conception of a Deity. We fully admit + the existence of a great and mysterious power or force in the universe + which we cannot understand or comprehend. We believe with Spencer in the + great <i>Unknown</i> and <i>Unknowable</i>, and have no "attack" to make + upon this power, no word of ridicule, no blasphemy; but, like Tyndall, + stand in its presence with reverence and awe, acknowledging our ignorance. + </p> + <p> + While, however, acknowledging this unseen Power, we decline to + anthropomorphise it—to call it a <i>person</i> or <i>being</i>, and + invest it with mental and moral functions similar to our own, differing + only in degree not in kind. It is only the anthropomorphism we attack—only + the superstitions, assumptions and dogmas. We only attack that which is + incredible and absurd—that which "shocks reason." We believe in + religion—the Religion of Humanity—to do right—a religion + of <i>works</i> instead of faith and creeds, and <i>Bystander</i> himself + admits that "religion is carrying a weight which it cannot bear," and + that, "unless the credible can be separated from the incredible, the + reasonable from that which shocks reason, there will be a total eclipse of + faith." + </p> + <p> + "The Cosmogony of Moses," says <i>Bystander</i>, "will, of course not bear + the scrutiny of modern science; few probably are now so bigoted as to + maintain that it will." If it will not bear such scrutiny, is it blasphemy + to attack it, or its author? for the God of the Bible is the alleged + author of that Cosmogony, inspiring Moses or whoever wrote it. But <i>Bystander</i> + further remarks that the Mosaic Cosmogony "need not fear comparison with + the Cosmogony of any other race." We thank him for that favor. It is + exactly what we claim, to wit, that the Cosmogony of Moses, like all the + others, is simply a human production, for it would be absurd to talk of + "comparing" an <i>inspired</i> Cosmogony of <i>divine origin</i> with <i>human</i> + Cosmogonies. Hence, according to <i>Bystander</i> himself, the Mosaic + Cosmogony is simply, like the rest, human: only he thinks it a little + better than the others. It will not, however, "bear the scrutiny of modern + science." Very likely not! What then, becomes of the "fall of man," the + "redemption" the "Ideal Man," and the whole Christian Superstructure which + rests upon the Mosaic Cosmogony? If the pillars are taken away the + building <i>must</i> come down. + </p> + <p> + It is also admitted by <i>Bystander</i> that "The moral code of Moses is + tribal and primeval; it is alien to us who live under the ethical + conditions of high civilization and the Religion of Humanity." Precisely + so! And for this magnificent favor also, we again thank <i>Bystander</i>. + No materialist or utilitarian could have possibly put it better; albeit a + Christian would experience some moral obfuscation in trying to make out + why, if the "moral code of Moses" is from heaven, it should be "alien to + us" and to these times? He would be hardly able to understand why he + should be comparing his <i>Divine</i> code with <i>Pagan</i> codes to see + whether it is "worse or better than other codes framed in the same stage + of human progress?" Let the Freethinkers take courage. <i>Bystander</i>, + to all appearances, will soon be squarely on our side; and then we can + truthfully say, that though the Christians have the greatest scientist, + probably, in Canada (Prof. Dawson, of Montreal,) on their side, we will + have the greatest scholar, historian and <i>literateur</i> in Canada on <i>our</i> + side. Three cheers in the Liberal camp for <i>Bystander!</i> Indeed, we + have some hopes, too, even of Prof. Dawson, whose Mosaic orthodoxy seems + to be relaxing a little of late; and he evidently feels his isolation, his + scientific brethren all being on our side. + </p> + <p> + While writing this, the Montreal <i>Daily Witness</i> of June 15th, 1880, + comes to hand from a Freethought octogenarian friend in Port Hope (Wm. + Sisson, Esq.) with the familiar pencil mark, drawing my attention to a + report of the proceedings of "The Congregational Union," at present in + session in Montreal. From it I learn that Rev. Hugh Pedley, B. A., made an + address before the <i>Union</i> on "The Freethought of the Age," from + which I cull the following, as reported in the <i>Witness</i>:— + </p> + <p> + "One of the principal difficulties," he said (of the clergy), "was the + prevalence of freethought among the people. There was a time when the New + Testament was received by almost everybody * * * But things had changed * + * * Some time ago the weapons of skilled historians were turned first + against the Old and then against the New Testament * * * Dr. Norman + McLeod, writing from Germany, said, 'I am informed on credible testimony + that ninety-nine out of every hundred persons here are sceptics.' * * * + Germany was to-day more Pagan than Christian * * * The press passed up and + down the land, scattering into every home things which set men thinking." + [Ah! there is the secret; when men begin to think and reason on + theological subjects as they do on secular, good-bye creeds! goodbye + confessions!] "Goldwin Smith, a man who had so studied the past as to be + able to interpret the present, had told us that a religious collapse of + the most complete and tremendous character was apparent on every hand." It + was only very recently that a sceptical work on 'Supernatural Religion' + passed through a number of editions in a few months. Col. Ingersoll had + recently visited the country. He came, he saw, and in some sense he + conquered. (Cries of No! No!) The second night he had a much larger + attendance than on the first. No matter who, ran Ingersoll down, he was a + man of great power of oratory and strong in those qualities which control + audiences. + </p> + <p> + The Rev. gentleman then referred deprecatingly to the inadequate-college + training of theological students in "apologetics," as they were not + allowed to read the works of sceptics for themselves, but had to take + their tutors' version of the sceptics' arguments. This "putting up a + little argument and then knocking it down," he said was neither "the fair + nor the true way." He recommended putting "the very sceptical works into + the hands of the students, and he would even say to go and hear Ingersoll + if he came." + </p> + <p> + That "man's idea of God rises with his progress in civilization," <i>Bystander</i> + admits; but he attempts to explain the fact away on theistic grounds, and + dilute its strength as an argument that God is simply a projection of the + human mind. He asks:— + </p> + <p> + "If this conception" (a conception of God) "flows from no reality, from + what does it flow? It is a phenomenon of which, as of other phenomena, + there must be some explanation; and we have not yet chanced to see in the + writings of any Agnostic an explanation which seemed at all satisfactory." + </p> + <p> + I would respectfully suggest to <i>Bystander</i> that there <i>is</i> a + satisfactory explanation, though to him it may not be so. In answering his + question I will ask another. If the conception of, or belief in, a devil + or devils, flows from no reality, from what does it flow? The same of + witches, fairies, sprites, hob-goblins, <i>et hoc genus omne</i>. Belief + in these is quite as general as belief in God, though <i>Bystander's</i> + question seems to assume that belief in the latter is universal. This, + however, is not the case, as has been conclusively shown in the foregoing + reply to Wend-ling. Therefore, this "conception" argument, like the famous + "design" argument, proves too much, and consequently proves nothing. As to + the <i>origin</i> of the belief in spiritual agencies, and conceptions of + God, Darwin tells us it is not difficult to comprehend how they arose. He + says, "Descent of Man," vol. i, p. 63-5:— + </p> + <p> + "As soon as the important faculties of imagination, wonder, and curiosity, + together with some power of reasoning, had become partially developed, man + would naturally have craved to understand what was passing around him, and + have vaguely speculated on his own existence * * * The belief in spiritual + agencies would easily pass into the belief of one or more Gods." + </p> + <p> + <i>Bystander</i>, while freely admitting that the Theistic theory is + compassed with difficulties; and requires "re-statement," reminds us that + the-"materialistic hypothesis is not free from difficulty." The difficulty + he discovers in materialism relates to the order of priority of matter and + force. He asks:— + </p> + <p> + "Which of the two is the First Principle? Force cannot have been produced + by matter, for without force, matter cannot move, change, or generate at + all. Matter cannot have been produced by force, because force is nothing + but the impulsion of matter. Apparently there must have been something + before both, which produced them and determined their relations; and it + must be something beyond the range of sense." + </p> + <p> + <i>Bystander</i>. I think, has not correctly apprehended the materialistic + position here, and hence the argument for a "something before both matter + and force which produced them," being built upon a postulated premiss + which we cannot accept, has no weight in establishing the existence of a + God behind matter and force. His error lies in the assumption of the + possibility of matter and force existing separately and independently. He + asks, "Which of the two is the First Principle?" Our answer is, there can + be no <i>first</i> as between matter and force, for there can be no matter + without force, and <i>vice versa</i>. The two are inseparable, even in + conception, and the existence of one is absolutely essential to the + existence of the other. Hence the argument proceeding from the assumption + of their divisibility and possible independence fails. The Theist has no + right whatever, logically speaking, to assume that there "must have been + something before matter and force which produced them." So long as matter + and force are amply adequate (as far as we can discern) to the production + of all cognizable phenomena, we are not warranted in assuming the + existence of any being or thing behind them. As soon as the Theist does + this, we have the logical right to carry his reasoning further, and at + once assume something else behind it again, and thus not only one but a + thousand gods could be postulated without the shadow of real proof of one + of them. + </p> + <p> + There is an ultimate ground, however, upon which the Theist and + Materialist may meet in common, and, so far as I can see, the only + ultimate position they can occupy in perfect corelation. The universe + exists; man as a part of the universe—a mode of existence—is + here; in this we agree. Man, then, being himself the highest intelligence + he knows of, continually seeks an explanation of the universe and of + himself as a part of it. This is the common ground upon which we all stand—Rationalist, + Theist, Agnostic, Atheist—barbarous and civilized—the weakest + and the mightiest intellect. + </p> + <p> + All seek to explain the great mystery of the universe—some one way, + some another—from the rude thaumaturgic fancies of the primitive + barbarian up to the abstruse speculations and subtle reasonings of the + cultured Pantheist, intellectual Agnostic, and logical Materialist. It is + true one may be more reasonable and logical than the rest (as I + undoubtedly think is the case), yet they all occupy the common ground of + uncertainty. Not one can <i>demonstrate</i> his position, and in this we + are all alike. (One, however, among all the rest thinks he <i>knows</i> he + is <i>right</i> and can prove it, viz., the dogmatic Christian Theist.) We + may all, therefore, stand together in the presence of Nature and + acknowledge our ignorance. Though each school has its theory, its + hypothesis, its solution, yet the mystery of the mighty universe is still + an unsolved problem. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + REPLY TO "A RATIONALIST" + </h2> + <p> + We have another reply to Ingersoll in a pamphlet of twenty pages, issued + in Toronto, with the following modest title:—"A Refutation of Col. + R. G. Ingersoll's Lectures, by 'A Rationalist.'" This proemial + announcement is certainly calculated to excite high expectations; but it + is only necessary to look into the rational (?) "refutation" (?) to see + that the names the writer has given himself and pamphlet are both + misnomers. How such an irrational jumble of orthodoxy, heterodoxy, + obsolete philosophy, and moribund metaphysics could by any possibility + pass for rationalism, even in the eyes of its author, is one of those + profound mysteries which "no fellah can understand." Is it not a little + singular that all these "replies" and "refutations" from the orthodox side + come from theological nondescripts—from men who are but half + orthodox (the other half not being recognizable), and not one reply from a + thoroughly orthodox champion? A correlative fact, not without much + significance, is that, though no argument comes from the orthodox side, + the denunciations all come from that source. On the other hand in + proportion as the opposing champion is unorthodox, in that ratio is he + tolerant, courteous, and in favor of free speech and equal rights. "A + Rationalist's" essay is pervaded by the kindliest spirit personally + towards his opponent, and this, in a measure, redeems its literary and + logical defects. + </p> + <p> + Though "Rationalist" zealously defends the Bible, and argues for a God, it + is impossible to tell how much of the Bible he accepts, or what God he + believes in. He says, "every jot and tittle of the Bible is inspired," yet + in another place tells us, "The Apostle Paul is not one of the inspired + writers," as "His words will not bear a spiritual interpretation." It + would, therefore, seem that no part of the Bible is inspired except that + which will stand this method of "spiritual interpretation." To get rid of + the numerous errors, absurdities, and immoralities contained in the Bible, + "Rationalist" spiritualizes them. He has a first-class recondite and + spiritual meaning for every one of them, which seems to be entirely + satisfactory—to himself. With the utmost facility everything is + explained away; and armed with his occult style of Bible exegesis he can + laugh at the infidel scientist. He says we must "rub off the literal + meaning" in order to get at the spiritual, and by this convenient method + every difficulty between the two sacred lids vanishes into thin air. This + "rubbing off" business he also applies to the God of the Bible, whose + characteristic <i>anthropomorphism</i> "Rationalist," of course, rubs all + off, even his <i>intelligence</i>. So that there would seem to be little + more left of the Jewish Jehovah, under modern scriptural exegesis, than + what Beecher describes as a "dim and shadowy influence." "Rationalist" + divests Deity of intelligence to escape the effects of the following + argument:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Intelligence presupposes a greater intelligence, + + God has intelligence, + + Therefore, there must be an intelligence greater than God. +</pre> + <p> + Seeing the logical force of this, he quibbles thus: "We do not say that + God <i>has</i> intelligence, but that God <i>is</i> wisdom in form and + love in essence, and therefore the infinite source of all intelligence." + This will not do, Mr. "Rationalist!" It is entirely too vague. You must + either contend for a personal or an impersonal God. Give us either Deism + or Pantheism, and not an incongruous mixture, and then we will know on + what ground to meet you. If you mean that God is simply the aggregate, or + even the essence, of all intelligence, all love, all good, why this is a + mere abstraction, and even an Atheist might accept it; but if you are + contending for anything like the Christian's God, as set forth in the + Bible, you will have to alter your definitions very materially. + </p> + <p> + As a specimen illustration of "Rationalist's" spiritual method of + resolving Scriptural difficulties I give below his version of the story of + Elisha, the children, and the bears, under the "rubbing off" process. We, + Freethinkers, he says, will not "object to the bears" when we understand + what the story means, and here is his elucidation, <i>verbatim et + literatim</i>:— + </p> + <p> + "Elisha represents the external or literal words of Holy Writ on which the + mantle of spiritual truth still rests. Children represent affections—don't + fond mothers even yet call them 'little loves?'—They also correspond + to the opposite, and so evil loves which destroy obedience to the external + life of goodness, taught in, at least, some of the literal words of + Scripture, naturally mock at the baldness of Elisha. Baldness, since it + refers to the head, and the head corresponds to that union of will and + intellect in man which rules, and is, the life, and ultimates in the very + extreme of its very minute external, corresponds to the most external of + the will and thought of Elisha, who represents the literal meaning of + Scripture. So this incident means that evil loves could see no ultimate + good to <i>themselves</i> in the doing of any good in a practical + every-day way even where that was clearly enjoined, and rendered as + beautiful externally as hair is, and therefore mocked at it, or rather at + what seemed to them the lack of it. Then the bears, which correspond to + the animal passions of the animal man, came out of the woods—woods + correspond to the natural perceptions of natural truth in man—and + utterly destroyed these evil loves out of the life. Again you see we find + the same truth; that the Lord implants remains of goodness and truth in + every degree of man's life, even in the natural man, fitted to cope with + and conquer his evils, if man himself will but permit it." + </p> + <p> + There's a sample of "spiritual interpretation" for you! And what <i>clearness</i> + is there, dear reader! Just return to the fourth sentence of the above + extract, commencing with "Baldness," and re-read it, and see if you can + make anything out of it. What the sentence does really mean is to me as + profound a mystery as the incantations of a Gypsy thaumaturgist. It would + be interesting to get "Rationalist" to try his hand at spiritualizing some + of the following passages of Holy Writ:— + </p> + <p> + "In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired," &c. + "And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him" (Moses) + "and sought to kill him." "I have seen God face to face." <i>Per Contra</i>: + "No man hath seen God at any time." "I am the Lord, I change not, I will + not go back, neither will I repent." <i>Per Contra</i>: "And God repented + of the evil that he said he would do unto them, and he did it not." "There + is no respect of persons with God." <i>Per Contra</i>: "Jacob have I + loved, and Esau have I hated." "I am a jealous God, visiting the + iniquities of the fathers upon the children." <i>Per Contra</i>: "The son + shall not bear the iniquity of the father." "It is impossible for God to + lie." <i>Per Contra</i>: "If the Prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a + thing, I the Lord have deceived that Prophet." "Be not afraid of them that + kill the body." <i>Per Contra</i>: "And after these things Jesus would not + walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him." "And the anger of the + Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, + 'Go number Israel.'" <i>Per Contra</i>: "And Satan provoked David to + number Israel." "I bear witness of myself, yet my record is true." <i>Per + Contra</i>: "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." "A man + is not justified by the works of the law." <i>Per Contra</i>: "Ye see, + then, how that by works a man is justified." "There shall no evil happen + to the just." <i>Per Contra</i>: "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus + shall suffer persecution." "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness and all + her paths are peace." <i>Per Contra</i>: "In much wisdom is much grief and + he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." "It shall not be well + with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days." <i>Per Contra</i>: + "Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power." + "Thou shalt not: commit adultery." <i>Per Contra</i>: "Then said the Lord + unto me, 'Go get, love a woman, an adulteress.'" + </p> + <p> + Here, certainly, is ample scope for exegetical ingenuity. The passages + quoted, besides scores of others, many of them too indecent for these + pages, would seem to require the touch of "Rationalist's" spiritual + interpretation wand. When the literal meaning is "rubbed off," the occult, + spiritual meaning will appear. + </p> + <p> + As a sample of "Rationalist's" metaphysical philosophy I give the + following:— + </p> + <p> + "Will and love are identical... Will or love is life. A man cannot think + unless he wills to think; and he can only think that which he wills—only + that and nothing more. He can only do what he wills and thinks. There is + no action which is not the effect of will and its thought. A man wills in + order to think," etc. He also tells us that God gave man a will "as <i>free</i> + as His own." Matter is spoken of as "mere dead inert matter." + </p> + <p> + Is more evidence than this needed that "Rationalist" is living in the + past, and has utterly failed to grasp modern thought? His philosophy is + bad, but his metaphysics is worse. Any man who at this day attempts to + "refute" Materialists should at least be somewhat acquainted with the + results of modern thought and scientific research; but "Rationalist" has + apparently advanced no further than the occult Swedenborgian mysticism of + the last century. Further, to talk to-day of "dead inert matter," is to + talk the language of an obsolete philosophy of the past; for modern + science and philosophy alike agree that matter is not "that mere empty <i>capacity</i> + which philosophers have pictured her to be, but the universal mother who + brings forth all things as the fruit of her own womb." As Pope says:— + </p> + <p> + "See thro' this air, this ocean, and this earth, All matter quick and + bursting into birth." + </p> + <p> + Equally absurd is this talk about "Free Will" and "Free Moral Agency." + These metaphysico-theological dogmas have melted in the light of mental + science, and are now as "dead as a door nail," of which fact "Rationalist" + will be convinced if he will take the trouble to look into Hamilton, + Combe, Mill, Buckle, Lewes, Spencer, Huxley and Tyndall, and he will then, + probably, write no more such nonsense as quoted above. It is not + necessary, however, for any observant and thoughtful man to go to any + authorities outside his own mind to be convinced of the fallacy of the + "Free Will" dogma, for his own observation and reflection will do it. And + "Rationalist" can have the same conviction without the aid of science or + philosophy,—without even observation or reflection. Let him turn to + his Bible, which he champions, and read it, and he will find abundant + proof (such as it is) that man's will is not free. Let him read the 8th, + 9th and 11th Chapters of Romans. Let him then read Phil. 2, 13, "For it is + God which worketh in you <i>both to will and to do</i> of His good <i>pleasure</i>." + Then read Isaiah, 46, 910, "I am God and there is none like me, <i>declaring + the end from the beginnings</i> and from ancient times <i>the things</i> + that are not <i>yet</i> done, saying, my council shall stand, and I will + do all my <i>pleasure</i>." + </p> + <p> + Now, I submit that if an omnipotent and omniscient God has "declared the + end from the beginning," and ordered all "the things that are not yet + done" (and you have his word for it here) how is it possible for mortal + and finite man to do any thing contrary to the thing ordered, or + accomplish any "end" but the one "declared from the beginning?" Here you, + who believe in God and the Bible, have his word for it that he has + declared all things "from the beginning." Man then <i>must</i> do and + think as God has declared, and can do nothing else, hence he is <i>not + free</i>. + </p> + <p> + The idea that "a man cannot think unless he wills to think" is too + preposterous (laying the Bible aside) for any reasonable man to accept who + is not a slave to creeds and dogmas. Let "Rationalist," after reading this + sentence, stop reading, and assume a quiescent state (for of course <i>his + free will</i> will enable him to do this)—a state of mental + passivity, as it were,—let him <i>will nothing</i> for the time + being,—and then see if thoughts of some kind do not spontaneously + arise in his mind. And then let him <i>will</i> to have <i>no thoughts</i> + for the space of five minutes, and see if the thoughts do not steal into + his brain (providing of course he has one) unbidden, and in spite of him—in + spite of all his boasted freewill power. Let any reader put this + impossible and absurd dictum of "Rationalist" to the test, and he will + have a living demonstration in his own brain, which will render any + further argument on this point entirely superfluous. + </p> + <p> + "Rationalist" worries himself into inextricable confusion over causes and + effects, first causes, first causes and last effects, etc., etc. Because + Ingersoll has said "a first cause is just as impossible as a last effect," + Rationalist well nigh swamps himself in a most ludicrous "muss-of-a + muddle-of-a-jerry-cum-tumble" of bad diction and worse logic to prove that + by such reasoning as Ingersoll's we come to "chaos" and to "nothing," + (hasn't the gentleman himself come to chaos if not to nothing?) We reason + everything out of existence, he says, and just now we will have left "no + nature, no God, no man, no matter" (it would be <i>no matter</i> if some + <i>bipids</i> were gone) "no force," no "nothing"— "literally + nothing." Shades of Bacon! let us take breath; for this would certainly be + a very bad state of things, from which "good Lord deliver us!" It would be + nearly as bad as before the "creation," when nothing existed throughout + the infinite realms of space save Jehovah himself. + </p> + <p> + I will endeavor to make what materialists mean by the impossibility of a + first cause or last effect clear to "Rationalist." We believe in one + existence, and only one—the universe—which, though never + itself having been created or brought into existence (being eternal), is + the primal (or "first" if you like) cause of all phenomena Rationalist + will thus see that in one sense there is no <i>first came</i> as the + universe is eternal, yet in another sense there <i>is</i> a first cause, + viz.: the universe, as it is the primal cause of all phenomena. As to a + "last effect," it should be obvious to every <i>rational</i> mind that as + matter and force are indestructible, and hence eternal in duration, there + can be no last effect; for as long as matter and force exist effects must + of necessity ensue. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + REPLY TO REV. A. J. BRAY + </h2> + <p> + It is a great relief to a Freethinker to find a man among the clergy like + Mr. Bray, in point of religious liberality. It is like coming upon an + oasis in the waste desert of orthodox bigotry and intolerance. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bray is the able editor of the <i>Canadian Spectator</i>, of Montreal; + and also preaches, I believe, every Sunday in Zion Church in that city. + Unlike his clerical brethren generally, when Mr. Ingersoll lectured in + Montreal, in April last, Mr. Bray went to hear him, and answered him from + his pulpit the two following Sundays. These "Discourses" were published in + the succeeding numbers of his paper, the <i>Spectator</i>. Hear him on + free speech:— + </p> + <p> + "In a free country all kinds of freedom must be allowed, and Mr. Ingersoll + had just as much right to come here and say his say in his own manner, and + according to his own discretion, as Mr. Hammond has to come and preach and + teach in his way. If men are free to agree with us, they are also free to + differ with us; to differ a little, to differ much, to differ altogether. + If the Mayor had found a law by which he could prohibit Ingersoll from + lecturing against our religious beliefs, I would have started an agitation + at once for the repeal of that absurd and antiquated law. If hearing + arguments against our faith is likely to unsettle us, then we had better + be unsettled. We are badly off with all our religious literature and + preaching, if we cannot endure any kind of criticism, and witticism, and + argument." + </p> + <p> + These are brave words, and every fair-minded man in this Dominion will + agree with Mr. Bray in his liberal and courageous utterances. They are + timely words to go forth in that city where the war of sects has waxed so + hot and virulent of late. Montreal needs more men like Bray in her + churches, to mollify the bigotry, and stamp out the bitter feuds, and + fierce antagonism of Christian against Christian. + </p> + <p> + As this pamphlet has already reached a much greater length than originally + intended, I have but little space to devote to Mr. Bray's Reply to + Ingersoll. One or two points, however, must be noticed. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bray falls into the same error as "Bystander" in accusing + </p> + <p> + Ingersoll of attacking a theology which, he tells us, is "opposed to all + reason," and now "well nigh obsolete." I would simply say if it is + "obsolete," it is the stock in trade of the Christian Church today. Take + away from it this obsolete theology (which is "opposed to all reason,") + and there is nothing left of Christianity worth speaking of; for the + morality Christianity contains does not of right belong to it It is Pagan. + It has been <i>appropriated</i> by Christianity, and is not original with + it. There is not a single moral precept in the Bible, but was taught + before that book was written. (For proof of this, see Sir Wm. Jones, Max + Muller, Lord Amberly, and "Supernatural Religion.") Therefore, when you + take away the dogmas of Christianity—its "obsolete theology"—you + take away Christianity itself to all intents and purposes. And hence the + utter inconsistency and absurdity of our opponents in taxing us with + merely attacking a dead theology, when that dead theology is all there is + of a religion which they defend and wish to perpetuate. Seeing, then, that + the theology of Christianity is admittedly dead, why not give it up and + come over to us? for all you have left—the brotherhood of man—belongs + to us: it is our RELIGION OF HUMANITY. + </p> + <p> + As the only salient point, to my mind, in Mr. Bray's reply to Ingersoll is + dealt with in the following letter, which I addressed to the <i>Spectator</i>, + and which appeared in its columns, I have only space here to reproduce + that letter:— + </p> + <p> + To the Editor of the Canadian Spectator: + </p> + <p> + Sir,—In your issue of the 10th instant, in a discourse in reply to + Col. Ingersoll, I find the following:— + </p> + <p> + "The lecturer, who seemed to imagine that he understood everything else, + was compelled to acknowledge that he did not understand why there should + be so much hunger and pain and misery. Why, the world over, life should + live upon life. When he has cast Jehovah out of the Universe, he is pained + and puzzled to account for the presence of wrong and sorrow. With God he + cannot account for it; without God he cannot account for it. If Col. + Ingersoll, or any other of that school, can give me an intelligent theory + of life, and satisfactory solution of the problem of the presence of evil + and pain without God, I am prepared to consider it." + </p> + <p> + Now, Sir, having the honor (or dishonor, as the case may be,) to belong to + that school, I venture to take up the gauntlet thus thrown down. From our + stand-point we are able, we think, to give an intelligent theory of these + things; and although it may not be wholly devoid of mystery, we claim it + is less mysterious than the Christian theory. We claim that the + Materialistic explanation of the Universe and its phenomena is more + reasonable and less mysterious than the Theistic; and this is why we find + ourselves compelled to adopt it and become Atheists. On the Materialistic + hypothesis of development and evolution we are certainly <i>not</i> + "puzzled to account for the presence of wrong and sorrow," however much we + may be pained at their fearful prevalence. It is only on the hypothesis of + being under the governance of an omnipotent and infinitely <i>benevolent</i> + Being that we are utterly unable to account for such-a state of things. + Although the ultimate tendency of the forces of the-Universe seems to be + towards a higher, and higher, and more perfect condition, not only for + man, but all animals, and even plants, yet these-forces are, as Science + abundantly proves, utterly without mercy—without pity for man or any + other animal. Therefore, on the evolution philosophy of things, we can + reasonably predicate pain, sorrow, and wrong; and are not puzzled at their + existence. It is only on the theory of a <i>good</i> God controlling the + Universe that we stand dumb with confusion and wonderment in the presence + of all this woe, pain, misery, and wrong-with which the world is filled—this + terrible "struggle for life," where the-strong prey upon the weak, where + animal eats animal, and man eats-man! + </p> + <p> + The theologians have had upwards of two thousand years to reduce the + Materialistic paradoxes of Epicurus on the existence of evil, but have + they done so? If there be a God, and He is all-powerful, He <i>could</i> + remove the <i>surplus</i> evil and pain from the world, and if He is + all-good He <i>would</i> remove it, is an argument which has never yet + been answered by a Paley, a Butler, a Dawson, or any other Christian + Theist or Bible apologist. I use the phrase "<i>surplus</i> evil and pain" + for this reason: As a sort of apology for the rank malevolence abroad in + the world, and as an argument for the existence of a beneficent God, + Christian Theists tell us that pain is necessary as an antecedent to the + proper enjoyment of pleasure; that it is necessary to the growth and + development of character; that the storm of the ocean is an essential + pre-requisite to the adequate enjoyment of the subsequent calm; that all + smooth sailing would be monotonous and insipid. Now, we will admit this + for the sake of the argument; but there yet remains the mass of <i>surplus</i> + evil to be accounted for, which is wholly unnecessary for such corrective + and distributive purposes. It may, perhaps, be necessary that the tempest + toss the ship about on the bosom of the ocean in order that the living + freight may have a keener appreciation of the succeeding calm, and also to + develop awe and sublimity in their breasts; but to accomplish this it is + scarcely to the purpose to send all to the bottom of the ocean! That we + may have a proper relish for our food and a due appreciation of the + blessings of a good appetite, it may be necessary that we feel the pangs + of hunger and starvation occasionally; but to give us this wholesome + discipline it would seem hardly necessary that millions of human beings + should actually be starved to death! + </p> + <p> + Now, on the theory of <i>inexorable law</i>* instead of a <i>beneficent + Providence</i>, we are not surprised that a ship which is not strong + enough to ride the storm should go to the bottom, even though five hundred + bishops and clergymen be aboard supplicating an unknown God for succor. On + the theory of inexorable and merciless law in which we are fast bound, we + are not "puzzled" that millions of human beings should starve to death + when these laws or conditions of Nature are violated in over-population + and a false political and social economy. Or when a Tay bridge goes down + with its living freight under the pressure of train and tempest, the + Atheist is neither surprised nor puzzled: but the Christian, who worships + a benevolent (?) God and believes that not a hair falls from his head + without His notice, can only look at such a malevolent horror in dumb + silence and amazement—he has no explanation. Our theory of the + presence of evil in the world is, therefore, at least rational; but, is + the Christian theory rational? Is it rational to-suppose that all the + pain, sorrow, and evil in the world have been caused by the puerile + circumstance of a woman eating an apple? This would be as monstrously + unjust as it is irrational and absurd. + </p> + <p> + As to the origin and maintenance of life "without God," it is quite as + comprehensible and rational without God as with one with the Christian + conditions and qualifications. An universe of matter containing the + "promise and potency of all forms and qualities of life" is as + intelligible and comprehensible as a God <i>outside</i> the Universe + embodying the potency of all life. From the time that Lucretius declared + that "Nature is seen to do all things spontaneously of herself without the + meddling of the Gods," and Bruno that matter is the "universal mother who + brings forth all things as the fruit of her own womb," down to Prof. + Tyndall, who discerns in matter "the promise and potency of every form and + quality of life," scientists have never been able to discover the least + intrusion of any creative power into the operations of + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Materialists, in using the phrase "law of Nature," use a + popular expression, but not in the popular sense as + presupposing a law-giver. By "law of Nature" we simply mean + natural sequence—the uniformity of Nature's operations. +</pre> + <p> + Nature and the affairs of this world, or the least trace of interference + by any God or gods. In the primeval ages of ignorance and barbarism the + gods were supposed to do everything, from the production of wind, rain, + tempest, thunder and lightning, earthquakes, &c, down to dyspepsia and + potato-bugs. Science now explains all these things and a thousand others. + Indeed, in modern philosophy there is no room for the gods in the + Universe, and nothing left for them to do. And there cannot be any room <i>beyond</i> + it for them, for "above Nature we cannot rise." + </p> + <p> + The Materialistic theory (and to it we subscribe) is that there is but <i>one + existence</i>, the <i>Universe</i>, and that it is eternal—without + beginning or end—that the matter of the Universe never could have + been created, for <i>ex nihilo nihil fit</i>, (from nothing nothing can + come,) and that it contains within itself the potency adequate to the + production of all phenomena. This we think to be more conceivable and + intelligent than the Christian theory that there are two existences—God + and the Universe—and that there was a time when there was but one + existence, God, and that after an indefinite period of quiescence and + "masterly inactivity" He finally created a Universe either out of Himself + or out of nothing—either one of which propositions is + philosophically absurd. And in either case, to say that God would be + infinite would be equally absurd. + </p> + <p> + Respectfully, + </p> + <p> + ALLEN PRINGLE. + </p> + <p> + Napanee, Ont., April 23, 1880. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE OATH QUESTION + </h2> + <h3> + (TO CANADIAN FREETHINKERS.) + </h3> + <p> + As this Pamphlet will be widely circulated throughout Canada (especially + Ontario), it will come into the hands of most Canadian Freethinkers, and I + have therefore thought this an opportune time to bring this question, in + which we are all so deeply interested, before the Freethinkers of Canada, + and urge upon them the necessity of agitation for reform. The time has + come, I think, for action in petitioning Parliament to remove the serious + and most unjust disabilities under which we, as a class, are now placed, + and thus have equal rights extended to all citizens. As the law now stands + we are deprived of our rights in the courts, and the ends of justice are + often defeated, not only to our detriment but that of Christians + themselves. If the presiding judge choose to adhere to the strict letter + of the law the testimony of Atheists is refused. It is very easy to see + how the gravest injustice could be inflicted upon Freethinkers and + Christians alike under this unjust law. A Freethinker may be the only + witness to a case involving the interests of a Christian, or he may be the + only witness for himself as against a Christian; and by his not being + eligible as a witness the ends of justice are defeated. Or an unscrupulous + believer may claim that he is a Freethinker to get rid of giving evidence + altogether. It is true there seems to rest with the Judges a large amount + of discretionary power as to whom they will or will not accept to give + evidence; and the majority, perhaps, of our Canadian Judges exhibit a + commendable spirit of liberality in the matter of accepting the testimony + of Freethinkers. But occasionally one is to be met with, too full of + religion and bigotry to recognize our rights or extend any discretion in + our favor. In the city of Toronto, a few months ago, the testimony of two + respectable and intelligent witnesses was refused because they did not + believe the dogmas of the popular religion.* As an offset to this, + however, an Ottawa-Judge recently showed his fairness and liberality by + allowing a Juryman Freethinker, who declined to take the oath, to make an + affirmation. The Grand Juror referred to, Mr. John Law, of Ottawa, is + described as-a gentleman of "unimpeachable honor and probity," and hence + his simple affirmation being, as he stated, fully binding on his + conscience, would, or certainly ought to, have more weight than the oaths + of many witnesses (believers) who are taken into the witness box. The + presiding Judge, doubtless, so regarded the matter, and therefore, in his + discretion, magnanimously allowed Mr. Law to affirm. + </p> + <p> + In England, under "The Evidence Amendment Act" of 1869,32* and 33 Vic, c. + 68, s. 4, Atheists can make the following affirmation instead of taking + the Christian oath, and the Court must allow all Freethinkers to do so who + demand it: + </p> + <p> + "I solemnly promise and declare that the evidence given by me to the + Court, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." + </p> + <p> + We want a similar Act in Canada, and then Counsel will not be able as now + to badger witnesses about "infidel belief," and turn the court into an + inquisition; nor will a bigoted judge have it in his discretion to order + Atheists down from the witness-box as not fit to give evidence. At almost + every sitting of our courts it is demonstrated beyond a doubt. that + believers in the Bible, who take the oath on that Book, do not all tell + the truth under oath. Every judge and lawyer in the land knows this, and + all know it who have much to do in courts of law. The simple word or + affirmation of an honest man, whether Christian or Infidel, is better than + a thousand oaths of many believers in the Bible, who are without + hesitation taken into the witness-box. Moreover, the Atheist in making the + above affirmation under the Act referred to, is subject to the same + penalties for perjury as the Christian is in taking, the usual oath. There + is, therefore, no good reason why we should! not have a similar Act here, + and it behooves us to begin to move towards its consummation. Freethinkers + are getting numerous in Canada, and they are, to say the least, as + exemplary citizens, socially and morally, as their Christian neighbors? + Why then should they be longer denied equal rights with their Christian + neighbors? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Since writing this I have been informed by one of the + witnesses alluded to, that no blame can be fairly imputed to + the presiding Judge in this case, as he felt compelled, + against his sympathies, to carry out the unjust law. +</pre> + <p> + In England they still have a State Religion, yet the rights of + Rationalists in this respect are conceded to them. Here we have no state + religion, and yet we suffer under religious disabilities which are utterly + out of keeping with the spirit of the age, and which are fast being swept + away in every civilized country. The Bradlaugh imbroglio recently in the + English House of Commons has had the effect of opening some people's eyes, + especially those conservative Christians who are still afflicted with + lingerings of that bigoted, intolerant, and persecuting spirit which + formerly lighted the fires of Smithfleld, hung quakers, imprisoned + so-called "blasphemers," and violated civil contracts in the name of God. + In the last election in England, a few months ago, Charles Bradlaugh, the + eminent Atheist and Republican, was elected to the English House of + Commons for the borough of Northampton, and in entering the House he + claimed his right, instead of taking the Parliamentary oath, to affirm + under the Act referred to above. The House at first refused, vacillated, + appointed Committees, and vigorously debated the matter; while the bigoted + members at once proceeded to unbudget themselves in true Christian style + against the "vermin" Atheist. Meanwhile the levelheaded Atheist knew what + he was about, and, as the sequel showed, proved himself more than a match + for the English House of Commons. Meanwhile also, the people of England—the + working classes—were-watching the whole business, and finally when + Bradlaugh was refused both oath and affirmation, and the intention to keep + the Atheist out of Parliament became manifest, they (the people) promptly + came to the front. Just then it began to dawn on "the powers that be" that + <i>vox populi, vox Dei</i> had more truth than poetry in it. The people of + England—the producers—(called "lower classes" by the "upper" + <i>non</i>-producers) assembled in scores of thousands in indignation + mass-meetings all over England, demanding the admission of Charles + Bradlaugh (their best friend) to his rightful seat in the English House of + Commons. The aforesaid "powers that be" took the alarm. Seeing that the + "voice of the people" was even more potent than the "voice of God," they + prudently bowed to its mandate. They perceived that no Clock Tower, or + other tower in England would hold the workingman's friend even for the + space of seven days. Bradlaugh must be released or the House of Brunswick + might peradventure soon be in mourning—not, probably, for spilled + blood, but for a crown, aye, a crown! No wonder the English Government + feared to see Charles Bradlaugh enter the House of Commons. He had + impeached the House of Brunswick. And it was no "soft impeachment." No, + but a terribly hard indictment! Was it ever answered? No, it was too true + to answer. The only answer was from Lord Randolph Churchill in the House + of Commons, and it was characteristic. This rabid monarchist, with much + more Christian zeal than knowledge or discretion, took Bradlaugh's + "Impeachment of the House of Brunswick" and cast it viciously under his + feet on the floor of the House of Commons. That was the way the + "Impeachment" was answered! Well, as Shakspeare says, "let the galled + jades wince!" But the Atheist had his revenge! They had put him in the + Tower, but they very soon let him out. He had been somewhat accustomed to + fighting the English Government, having beaten them twice, and he feared + not. He was imprisoned one day, but released the next. An Act was speedily + passed giving more even than Bradlaugh at first demanded—giving + every member who wishes in future, the right to affirm instead of taking + the Christian Oath. Bradlaugh has accordingly made his affirmation as he + at first demanded, and has taken his seat in the English House of Commons + as M. P. for Northampton,* And now let every Freethinker throughout the + civilized world rejoice, for this is a great victory for our cause! The + eloquent champion of our dearest rights has achieved a glorious victory on + the very threshold of the English Parliament before he enters it! Let us + take courage! The indomitable and invincible Iconoclast has now attained a + position where his voice will be heard in behalf of liberty and the rights + of man the world over! He is called "coarse" by some over-cultured people, + but his coarseness is of the kind the world needs, and therefore <i>we</i> + do not object to it. The superstitions, and errors, and wrongs, and + oppressions still weighing down our fellow-men need bare-handed ("coarse") + handling, without gloves, and Bradlaugh wears none of these, but + fearlessly throws down the gauntlet to falsehood and oppression whenever + and wherever found. But I fear I am getting a little off the Oath Question + here in my enthusiasm for Charles Bradlaugh, Member of Parliament for + Northampton. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The press of Canada, with very few exceptions, have done + Mr. Bradlaugh a great injustice in connection with the oath + question, as they have (perhaps unintentionally) utterly + misrepresented him. They have charged that he "flaunted his + Atheism before the House of Commons," that he at first + <i>refused</i> to take the oath on conscientious grounds and + subsequently "swallowed his scruples" and offered to take + the oath; and that, therefore, the Atheist is without + conscience and without principle, sacrificing all for place. + Now, this is all utterly untrue. He did not flaunt his + Atheism before the House. He did not <i>refuse</i> to take the + oath, but simply claimed to be allowed to affirm. The + Speaker having intimated to Mr. Bradlaugh that if he desired + to address the House in explanation of his claim he would be + permitted to do so, Mr. Bradlaugh said, "I have repeatedly, + for nine years past, made an affirmation in the highest + courts of jurisdiction in this realm: I am ready to make + such a declaration or affirmation." And subsequently when + Mr. Bradlaugh offered to take the oath, it was after he had + made an explanation that although a portion of it to him was + a meaningless form, yet that the oath as a whole, if he took + it would be binding on his conscience substantially the same + as an affirmation. These are the facts, all taken from + authentic official sources, and not from what bigoted and + prejudiced correspondents have sent us across the ocean. My + authority is the record of the proceedings of the + Parliamentary Committees on the Bradlaugh case, where the + facts I have stated were distinctly brought out in evidence, + to which source I beg to refer the newspapers of this + country and call upon them to make the <i>amende honorable</i> by + setting this matter right before their readers. +</pre> + <p> + In conclusion, I beg to again urge upon my fellow Freethinkers throughout + Canada the necessity of taking such action as will secure for us our legal + rights in the Courts of this country. I trust that the petitions to + Parliament for an Evidence Amendment Act, which we design ere long to put + in circulation, may be numerously signed and diligently circulated by the + liberal friends in the various places to which they will be sent. + </p> + <p> + Selby, Lennox Co., Ont., July, 1880 + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + "It can do truth no service to blink the fact, known to all who have the + most ordinary Acquaintance with literary history, that a large portion, of + the noblest and most valuable moral teaching has been the work, not only + of men who did not know, but of men who knew and rejected, the Christian + faith."—J. S. Mill. + </p> + <p> + "The history of Christ is contained in records which exhibit + contradictions that cannot be reconciled, imperfections that would greatly + detract from even admitted human compositions, and erroneous principles of + morality that would hardly have found a place in the most incomplete + system of the philosophers of Greece and Rome."—Rev. Dr. Giles. + </p> + <p> + "That any human creature, be he peer or peasant, man or woman, pauper or + millionaire, should be visited with pains and penalties because of his or + her speculative opinion on a subject whereon but few even of professing + Christians are agreed, is a bitter satire on our vaunted liberty. My + Lords, it is the spirit which lighted the martyr-fires of Smithfield, and + led to the stake gallant and noble souls such as Bruno. It is a noble; + company you are placing me in, my Lords, and I shall thank you for it."—<i>Ibid</i>. + </p> + <p> + "Who shall number the patient and earnest seekers after truth, from the + days of Galileo until now, whose lives have been embittered, and their + good name blasted, by the mistaken zeal of Bibliolators? Who shall count + the host of weaker men whose sense of truth has been destroyed in the + effort to harmonize impossibilities—whose life has been wasted in + the attempt to force the generous new wine of Science into the old bottles + of Judaism, compelled by the outcry of the same strong party." <i>Prof. + Huxley</i>. + </p> + <p> + "Thou shalt not kill, even the smallest creature. + </p> + <p> + "Thou shalt not appropriate to thyself what belongs to another. + </p> + <p> + "Thou shalt not infringe the laws of chastity. + </p> + <p> + "Thou shalt not lie. + </p> + <p> + "Thou shalt not calumniate. + </p> + <p> + "Thou shalt not speak of injuries. + </p> + <p> + "Thou shalt not excite quarrels, by repeating the words of others. + </p> + <p> + "Thou shalt not hate." + </p> + <p> + —<i>Moral Precepts from Buddhistic Sacred Books.</i> + </p> + <p> + "I discern in matter * * the promise and potency of all forms and + qualities of life."—<i>Tyndall</i> + </p> + <p> + "A poor man, in our day, has many gods foisted on him; and big voices bid + him 'Worship or be ————' in a menacing and + confusing manner. What shall he do? By far the greater part of said gods, + current in the public, whether canonized by Pope or Populas, are mere dumb + asses and beautiful prize-oxen—nay, some of them, who have + articulate faculty, are devils instead of Gods. A poor man that would save + his soul alive is reduced to the sad necessity of <i>sharply trying his + gods</i> whether they are divine or not, which is a terrible pass for + mankind, and lays an awful problem upon each man."—<i>Tomas Carlyle</i> + </p> + <p> + "These Gospels, so important to the Church, have not come to us in one + undisputed form. We have no authorised copy of them in their original + language, so that we may know in what precise words they were originally + written. The authorities from which we derive their sacred text are + various ancient copies, written by hand on parchment. Of the Gospels there + are more than five hundred of these manuscripts of various ages, from the + fourth century after Christ to the fifteenth, when printing superseded + manual writing for publication of books. Of these five hundred and more, + <i>no two</i> are in all points alike: probably in no two of the more + ancient can <i>even a few consecutive verses</i> be found in which all the + words agree."—<i>Dean Alford. "How to Study the New Testament</i>." + </p> + <p> + "I find Armenian Christians who say that it is a sin to eat a hare; Greeks + who affirm that the Holy Ghost does not proceed from the Son; Nestorians + who deny that Mary is the mother of God: Latins who boast that in the + extreme West the Christians of Europe think quite contrary to those of + Asia and Africa. I know that ten or twelve sects in Europe anathematise + each other; the Musselmen disdain the Christians, whom they nevertheless + tolerate; the Jews hold in equal execration the Christians and Muselmen; + the Fire-worshippers despise them all; the remnant of the Sabeans will not + eat with either of the Other sects; and the Brahmin cannot suffer either + Salbeans, or Fire-Worshippers, or Christians, or Musselmen, or Jews. I + have a hundred times wished that Jesus Christ, in coming to be incarnated + in Judea, had united all the sects under his laws. I have asked myself + why, being God, he did not use the rights of his divinity; why, in coming + to deliver us from sin, he has left us in sin; why, in coming to enlighten + all men, he has left almost all men in darkness. I know I am nothing; I + know that from the depth of my nothingness I have no right to interrogate + the Being of Beings; but I may, like Job, raise a voice of respectful + sorrow from the bosom of my misery."—<i>Voltaire</i>. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ingersoll in Canada, by Allen Pringle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INGERSOLL IN CANADA *** + +***** This file should be named 38303-h.htm or 38303-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/3/0/38303/ + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/38303.txt b/38303.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..70d709f --- /dev/null +++ b/38303.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2946 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ingersoll in Canada, by Allen Pringle + +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: Ingersoll in Canada + A Reply to Wendling, Archbishop Lynch, Bystander; and Others + +Author: Allen Pringle + +Release Date: December 14, 2011 [EBook #38303] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INGERSOLL IN CANADA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +INGERSOLL IN CANADA + +A REPLY TO WENDLING, ARCHBISHOP LYNCH, BYSTANDER; AND OTHERS. + +By Allen Pringle + +"If all mankind, minus one, were of one opinion, mankind would no more +justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, +would be justified in silencing mankind."--_J. S. Mill, On Liberty_. + + "Here's freedom to him that would read, + Here's freedom to him that would write; + Thert's nane ever feared that the truth should be heard, + But they whom the truth would indite."--Burns. + +"He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a a fool; and he +who dares not is a slave."--_Philosopher_. + +PER CONTRA: "Do not try to reason or you are lost."--_Moody, the +Evangelist_. + +"Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may." + +"Fear first made Gods in the world."--_Lucretius_ + + +"Theology I define to be the art of teaching what nobody knows."--_Lord +Brougham_ + +"It matters not to me whether my neighbors believe in one God or +twenty"--_Jefferson_ + +"The natural world is infinite and eternal. The universe was not called +into being from non-entity."--_Plato_ + +"To assert that Christianity communicated to man moral truths previously +unknown, argues, on the part of the assertor, either gross ignorance or +else wilful fraud."--_Buckle_ + +"Nature is seen to do all things of herself without the meddling of the +Gods."--_Lucretius_ + +"Is there no 'inspiration,' then, but an ancient Jewish, Greekish, Roman +one, with big revenues, loud liturgies, and red stockings?"--_Thos. +Carlyle_ + +"Inanity well tailored and upholstered, mild-spoken Ambiguity, decorous +Hypocrisy, which is astonished you should, think it hypocritical, taking +their room and drawing their wages: from zenith to nadir you have Cant, +Cant--a universe of incredibilities which are not even credited, +which each man at best only tries to persuade himself that he +credits."--_Thomas Carlyle_ + +"The highest possible welfare of all present mankind is my religion; +the perfectibility of the future of our race here upon this planet is +my faith; and I would the time had come, as it yet will come, that this +faith were the religion of all mankind."--_Lord Queensbury_ (who +was recently excluded from the English House of Lords because of his +unorthodox opinions.) + + + + +PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. + +TO THE CLERGY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS OF ONTARIO. + +Gentlemen,--Through the generous and voluntary liberality of a highly +esteemed and estimable Freethought friend, and at his suggestion, I have +been enabled to get out this Second Edition of my pamphlet, of upwards +of 4,000 copies, chiefly for gratuitous distribution among yourselves. +The gentleman referred to conceived the project of supplying every +Minister in the Province with a copy, and it was further decided to also +supply the College Students. + +The compliment to pamphlet and author, which this action on the part of +an intelligent and discriminating Liberal implies, I, of course, duly +appreciate. When the work was written a few months ago, at the request +of fellow-liberals, I had no expectation that it would ultimately +go before so critical and learned a body of readers as the Clergy, +Graduates, and College Students of Ontario. I supposed one modest +edition of 2,000 copies would be all that would ever see the light. +But it has been otherwise desired by my readers. I have, therefore, +no further apology to make for presenting you with the work (my object +being the advancement of truth), and I earnestly submit for your best +consideration its subject matter rather than its literary merits or +demerits. The time has come when these great questions must be examined, +for they _will_ come to the front in spite of the most tenacious +conservatism. Everywhere, thoughtful men are earnestly looking into +them. That the old landmarks in religious belief are being effaced and +the Creeds and Confessions rapidly breaking up is becoming every day +more and more apparent. Goldwin Smith, a man of great historical acumen, +has recently said "A collapse of religious belief, of the most complete +and tremendous kind, is, apparently, now at hand."* The Rev. Hugh +Pedley, B.A., Cobourg, in a very able paper in the July (1880) number of +the _Canadian Monthly_, on "Theological Students and the Times," says: +"There can be no doubt that all forms of thought, all systems of belief, +however venerable with age, are being: handled with the utmost freedom. +Skepticism is becoming more general, and is protean in its adaptibility +to circumstances. There is the philosophical skepticism for the +cultured, and popular skepticism for the masses: the Reviews for the +select, Col. Ingersoll for the people. No _Index Expurgatorius_, whether +Catholic or Protestant, whether ecclesiastical or domestic, is barrier +strong enough to stem the incoming tide." He also says: "I would +advocate a manly, courageous dealing with the doubts of the age in all +our theological schools." * * * "Let there be no timid reserve. Let our +young ministers face the whole strength of the rationalistic position." +* * * "It is not enough that ministers should be well read in church +history, not enough that they should be able to expound in logical +fashion the church doctrines of the Trinity, the Atonement, &c, not +enough that they should understand the architecture of a model sermon. +These matters are quite right in their place, but the minister should go +further. He must go down to the root question, and enquire whether the +history, the systematic theology, and the homilectics are based on a +really Divine Revelation, or only on a series of beautiful legends which +foolish, but reverent, hands have wreathed about the person of Jesus of +Nazareth, a wonderful, religious genius that long ago illumined the +land of Palestine." Further, Mr. Pedley says: "We find men talking as if +thoroughness of investigation would inevitably lead to a loosened hold +on Christianity. So much the worse then for Christianity. If young men +of average intellect, and more than average morality, find that the more +keenly they study Christianity, the less able they are to accept it, and +preach it, then must Christianity be relegated to the dusty lumber-room +of worn-out and superseded religious systems." + + * "The Prospect of a Moral Interregnum." + --Atlantic Monthly, Nov., 1879. + +Mr. Pedley then goes on to point out the effects of ignorance, on the +part of the minister, of the arguments and writings of Freethinkers. He +says: "If he be pastor in a reading community, he will know less than +his congregation about matters which it is his special business to +understand. He will stand towards the Bible, as an ignorant Priest +stands towards the Pope, accepting an infallibility that he has never +proved. He will appear before the intelligent world as a spiritual +coward, a craven-hearted man, who dare not face the enemy who is slowly +mastering his domains. He will become a by-word and a reproach to the +generation which he is confessedly unable to lead, and which sweeps by +with disdainful tread, leaving him far in the rear." + +These are brave words and frank admissions, which should be well +pondered by every clergyman, minister and priest, and every theological +student, for should they fail to acquaint themselves with the doctrines +and arguments of their opponents, they will speedily find themselves, as +Mr. Pedley warns them, preaching to people who know more than they about +matters which it is their special business to know. + +Yours earnestly for Truth, + +A. P. Selby, Nov. 22nd, 1880. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY + +Col. Robt. G. Ingersoll, the American Freethinker and eloquent +iconoclast, visited Canada in April last and lectured on theological +subjects in various places, including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, +Belleville and Napanee, thereby agitating the theological caldron as it +has never been agitated before in this country. + +And "when Mars was gone the dogs of war were let loose!" Since +Ingersoll's departure there has been a profuse shower of "Replies" +and "Refutations" from the press, and a tempest of denunciation and +misrepresentation from the pulpit. Indeed, before the departure of the +redoubtable idol-smasher, the vituperation and slander commenced, under +the aegis of "A warning against the Fallacies of Ingersoll." The pious +Evangelists of the Y. M. C. A., of Toronto, (abetted doubtless by the +clergy) issued this propagandist gospel-manifesto containing slanderous +statements against Mr. Ingersoll. This, with much more zeal than +courtesy, they thrust upon all entering the Royal Opera House on the +first evening of the lectures. The lecturer, in opening, branded the +base slander of this Christian document that he (Ingersoll) had signed a +petition to allow obscene matter to pass through the mails, as a wilful +and malicious falsehood. As this calumny is yet reiterated from press +and pulpit, implicating all Freethinkers as being in favor of obscenity, +the Resolution on this subject which Col. Ingersoll submitted to the +Cincinnati Convention of Freethinkers in September, 1879, will not be +out of place here. It was as follows, and passed unanimously:-- + +Resolved,--That we are utterly opposed to the dissemination through +the mails, or by any other means, of all obscene literature, whether +inspired or uninspired, holding in measureless contempt its authors, +publishers, and disseminators; that we call upon the Christian world +to expunge from the so-called sacred Bible every passage that cannot be +read without covering the cheek of modesty with the blush of shame. + +The cowardly conduct of the Toronto press, with one or two exceptions, +in reference to Ingersoll's lectures, was as astonishing to +liberal-minded men as it was deplorable to all, especially in the "Queen +City of the West," which is, or ought to be, the centre of intellectual +activity and progress in Canada. This exhibition of narrow-minded +bigotry on the part of the Toronto press excited (rather unexpectedly +to them, no doubt) great surprise and severe animadversion from many +quarters. The daily _Globe_ and _Mail_ have, of course, a very wide +circulation, and being the leading newspapers in the country, their +numerous patrons look to them for _all_ the news on _all_ public +questions and events. Imagine, therefore, their surprise and indignation +on opening their papers and looking for reports of Col. Ingersoll's +lectures in Toronto, to find not a word there! Not a syllable by these +puritanical publishers is vouchsafed to their expectant patrons, who +pay their money for--not merely what suits the religious whims and +prejudices of publishers and editors--but for _all_ the news. But +they would scarcely repeat this mistake--or rather imposition on their +readers. They have since unmistakably learned that in this act of +pusillanimous servility to the priesthood, they took a false measure +of their constituencies; and lamentably failed to gauge correctly the +intellectual and moral status of a majority of their patrons. + +The honorable exceptions to this servility of the Toronto press, were +the _Evening Telegram, Weekly Graphic_, and _National_. + +In Belleville, also, there was, I believe, one commendable exception to +the narrowness of the press in reference to Ingersoll's lectures. +This was the _Free Press_, which has on former occasions proved itself +broader than most of its contemporaries. + +The Montreal _Canadian Spectator_ is another notable exception to this +vassalage of the Canadian press; for, though edited by a clergyman, +it has proved itself in favor of freedom of speech and liberty of +conscience, and boldly denounces the narrow prejudice and bigotry which +would gag Ingersoll to-day if it could, and would have burned him two or +three centuries ago at the stake. + +Chief among the "Replies," and "Refutations" which have issued from the +press in Canada since Ingersoll's departure, is that by Hon. Geo. R. +Wendling. This honorable gentleman has, for some months past, been +shadowing Mr. Ingersoll from place to place with his "reply from a +secular stand point;" albeit in Toronto he _preceded_ his opponent, and +replied (?) before the people of that city to a lecture of Ingersoll's +which they had never heard. But, as with the Dutch judge, so with our +Christian friends, _one side_ of the case was enough to hear in order to +be able to give a verdict, and Mr. Wendling was duly applauded for his +"satisfactory answer" to the absent heretic! + +Subsequently, however, Mr. Ingersoll put in an appearance in the +Queen City, and gave his lecture on "The Gods," to which his honorable +opponent had replied in advance. This eloquent and argumentative lecture +was greeted with such obvious favor and vociferous applause that the +"Willard Tract Depository and Bible House" of that city deemed it +imperative to do something to counteract the "poisonous" influence that +had gone forth. They accordingly hastened forthwith to issue Wendling's +"Reply to Robert Ingersoll." This Christian politico-religious +_brochure_ was heralded by some half dozen Toronto Professors and +Doctors of Divinity, and one Vice-Chancellor, to wit: Messrs. McLaren, +Rainsford, Potts, Castle, Powis, Antliff and Blake. These gentlemen, in +a neat little preface, certify their approval of and admiration for Mr. +Wendling's "Reply to the infidelity advocated by Col. Ingersoll," and +add the hope that "it may be circulated by thousands." + +To this no Freethinker has, of course, any objection, so long as he +enjoys an equal right to circulate his documents too. Of this right I +propose to avail myself, and briefly review the salient points (if there +are any) of some of Ingersoll's Canadian critics. Not that I feel called +upon to defend Col. Ingersoll. Should defence be necessary, he is amply +able to defend himself. But as our Christian friends, like drowning men +catching at straws, have, in their alarm for the safety of their creed, +desperately clutched a _layman_, and issued with their unqualified +endorsation, this "lay" reply of Mr. Wendling, who comes before the +public, he tells us, "as a citizen, as a business man, as a lawyer, and +as a politician," and withal as a "man of the world," I have thought +that for another layman--a materialistic layman--(though no lawyer +or politician) to examine some of Mr. Wendling's lay logic and legal +sophistry and politico-religious hash would be a move in the right +direction in the interests of truth. + +Our Christian friends, in issuing their pamphlet, have very judiciously +"improved the occasion" by a liberal sprinkling of admonitory Scripture +texts, which adorn the insides of the covers, etc. By these texts we are +reminded that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," and that +"if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the +plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away +from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his +part out of the Book of Life," etc., etc. But these, our Christian +opponents, are not quite consistent. Verily, the Christian Church is not +willing to take its own medicine--the medicine it mixes for "infidels." +_We_ are warned that if we criticise that book, or take away from the +words of it, or ridicule its absurdities, we will surely incur the +wrath and "plagues" of an angry God; yet these Christians themselves are +complacently doing this very thing. They have already eliminated from +its sacred pages infant damnation, and eternal torture; while a "Bible +Revision Committee," composed of learned and distinguished dignitaries +of different branches of the Christian Church, are now actually engaged +in "taking away from the words of this book!"* Consistency! thou art +a jewel!! Greg, Strauss, Colenso, Renan, Ingersoll, Underwood, and a +thousand others, are consigned to Hades for their destructive criticism +of the Christians' Bible; while those learned Christian Doctors of +Divinity of the "Revision Committee" can tamper with the "Word of God" +and alter it to suit the enlightenment of the age with impunity! They +can excise whole passages without incurring the "plagues" we are told +shall be visited upon any man who adds to or takes from it. + +Now, I have thought if I should adopt the advice contained in the Latin +proverb, _fas est ab hoste doceri_, and take a lesson from the ingenious +propagandic tactics of our Christian friends in placing conspicuously +before their readers choice texts from their Evangelists and Apostles, +it may not be amiss. Hence, we, too, will do a little skirmishing with +some choice sayings of some of the most eminent and learned apostles of +our school. And to those trenchant utterances of Huxley, Tyndall, Mill, +Carlyle, etc., herein given, I beg to direct the careful attention of +the reader. + +To disarm possible criticism, I may say that this little pamphlet has +been written by request, amidst a pressure of farm work, in snatches +of time intervening between other more imperative duties: and to the +advanced Materialist who has gone over the same ground on the different +subjects as myself, I may say it is not written for him, as he does +not require it. But it is for another class of _quasi_ liberals, and +Christians who have read Wendling and the others replied to, and are in +an inquiring mood after truth. And if the arguments are not wholly _new_ +I would simply urge in extenuation that there is scarcely anything new +under the sun, and also my entire agreement with Montaigne, when he +declares he "has as clear a right to think Plato's thoughts as Plato +had." + +ALLEN PRINGLE. + +Selby, Ont., June 25, 1880. + + * The following appears in the press:--"The New Testament + Revision Committee have struck out as spurious the last + seven verses of the last chapter of St. Mark." Now why have + they done this thing? To an "outside barbarian" the true + reason would appear to be that according to those seven + verses there are no Christians on the earth to-day, as not + one from the Pope of Rome or the Archbishop of Canterbury + down to the humblest follower of Jesus can prove himself a + Christian by the plain test therein given. + + + + +REPLY TO WENDLING + +On reading Mr. Wendling's "Reply to Robert Ingersoll," it is difficult +to determine precisely its theological status, or what are Mr. +Wendling's positions, doctrinally, in reference to Christianity. By the +flexibility of doctrine, and dubious orthodoxy, displayed therein, it is +no easy matter to _place_ Mr. Wendling; and his uncertain positions and +theological gyrations remind one of the famous mathematical definition +of Infinity--"a sphere whose circumference is everywhere and whose +centre is anywhere." + +Mr. Wendling says he "champions no creed, no sect," and he assures us he +"places humanity above all creeds." Now, Christianity is undoubtedly a +creed; albeit, some modern theologians, seeing that the dogmas on which +it rests are fast crumbling away, have discovered that Christianity is +simply a "life." As to "placing humanity above all creeds," this move +is decidedly rationalistic and utilitarian. It is clearly a positive +doctrine of the Atheistic philosophy; and it looks more than suspicious +that this shrewd lawyer has been "stealing our thunder," for he will +find no such doctrine in the Bible, and it certainly has no place +in Christian ethics or philosophy. The Bible represents man as below +everything else rather than above--"a mere worm of the dust" It +represents him as utterly depraved, "deceitful above all things and +desperately wicked," and without any good in him. Christianity, +instead of holding humanity above all creeds, has, without compunction, +immolated man by scores of thousands on the bloody altar of creed and +dogma. To maintain its creeds intact, Christianity has reddened the +surface of the earth with human blood. Therefore, whatever Mr. Wendling +may think about the elevation of man above creeds, Christianity does not +hold humanity above its creeds. + +With respect to the authenticity and inspiration of the Bible, Mr. +Wendling's position is extremely dubious. He tells us that "so much of +that book" (the Bible) "as properly records His" (Christ's) "works and +truthfully reports His sayings, must be true." But who is to decide +which the particular portions are which "properly record" and +"_truthfully_ report" Christ's works, especially as these "records" and +"reports" are self-contradictory, and more especially as nothing was +recorded in Christ's time of His sayings or doings, nor until half a +century or more after His death, as historical criticism and research +abundantly prove? If Mr. Wendling believes the Bible to be an inspired +book, wholly authentic and true, the foregoing statement about "so much +of it" as "_truthfully_ reports," &c, is surely a most extraordinary +one. Again, Mr. W. says, "I say so much of that book as bears upon the +Ideal Man" (Christ) "and so much of that book as the Ideal Man has set +the seal of His approval on, we may accept as the long sought for moral +teacher," &c. As before, I would ask, who is to decide what particular +part or parts of this book "the Ideal Man has set the seal of His +approval on?" or whether the "Ideal Man" ever set His seal upon any of +it? or, indeed, whether this "Ideal Man" ever had other than a +purely _ideal_ or subjective existence in the minds of men? Some able +scholars--notably Rev. Robt. Taylor--have, after careful historical +research, come to the conclusion that the Christ of the Gospels never +existed. But, be this as it may, scholars now generally agree that +whether such a person as Jesus of Nazareth lived or not, we have no +authentic account of Him; and not a syllable of His alleged sayings was +recorded during His alleged lifetime, nor for more than half a century +after His death. The reader who wishes to pursue this subject of the +wholly unauthentic character of the Gospels, &c, &c, is referred to +Greg's "Creed of Christendom," Lord Amberley's "Analysis of Religious +Belief," and the great work lately published in England, and now +reprinted here by the Messrs. Belford of Toronto, viz., "Supernatural +Religion." + +It will thus be seen that Mr. Wendling's doctrinal attitude towards the +Bible and Christianity is extremely problematical, and a Materialist +scarcely knows where to place him, or how to deal with his mongrel +positions. Being, as he tells us, "a business man," "a lawyer," "a +politician," and "a man of the world," this versatile gentleman has +evidently imbibed largely of the utilitarian and humanitarian spirit of +the age, while at the same time retaining his Christian predilections; +and hence the hybrid homily with which we have to deal, and which he +calls a "Reply to Robert Ingersoll from a Secular Standpoint." That a +layman, however, should give so uncertain a sound as to his orthodox +whereabouts, and, in attempting to defend his positions (whatever +they are) and answer Freethinkers, should bring forth such a doctrinal +nondescript, is not indeed to be much wondered at, seeing that the +clergy themselves, being mercilessly driven from pillar to post +by modern science and research, occupy the most inconsistent and +incongruous, not to say ridiculous, positions, in doctrine and dogma, in +ecclesiastical formulary and Biblical exegesis. + +However, though of dubious doctrine and doubtful orthodoxy, some of Mr. +Wendling's positions, or rather assumptions and assertions, are clear +enough, and not to be misunderstood; and in a few of the more important +of these I propose to follow him. + +At the outset he dogmatically postulates the assumption that "what most +we need is the conviction that there _is_ a personal God." From social, +commercial, and political considerations this belief in a personal God +is what we most need--so says Mr. Wendling. He talks as though, were +it not for this theistic belief, everything would go to the dogs; and +universal, moral, social and political chaos would come. This, however, +is simply assumed without a shadow of proof. He then goes on with his +demonstration (?) of the existence of a personal God; but it is the +old, old story over again. First he assumes, in the face of the highest +authorities to the contrary, that "among every people in every quarter +of the habitable globe, there exists, and there has existed from the +very furthest reach of history, the idea of one eternal and all-powerful +God." He then gives us a rehash of Paley's design argument to prove the +existence of a God, which he considers conclusive. And, finally, as if +conscious of the weakness of the intellectual argument, he takes refuge +in the moral argument,--in conscience in man as showing the existence +of a personal God with moral attributes. This is the last refuge of the +Theist--the _dernier ressort_ of the theologian. Driven utterly from +the realm of reason they fly to _conscience_ and to _consciousness_ to +establish subjectively what cannot be proved intellectually. Now, this +sort of evidence may do for the Theist and theologian who are determined +to believe in Theos; but to those who live in the light of reason, and +in the realm of intellect not wholly submerged by the emotions, +such inner-consciousness evidence will not be satisfactory; for they +experience no such subjective proof in their own minds, and do not care +to take the mere _feelings_ of others as evidence of anything further +than the existence of nervous ganglion and brain. + +I will now take up Mr. Wendling's arguments to prove the existence of +a personal God, _seriatim_, and briefly consider them. As already +remarked, before setting out to prove a God, Mr. W. postulates the +necessity of one. For the preservation of moral order, social purity, +and commercial integrity, what most we need, it is assumed, "is the +conviction that there is a personal God." This assertion certainly has +a queer look when we reflect that Theism is at present the prevailing +belief among the masses, and has been in the past; and that our prisons +are full of persons who believe in a personal God; and that believers in +God ascend the gallows almost daily, and are swung off to "mansions in +the skies!" Here are some half dozen examples of this kind at hand, the +whole of which I quote from one newspaper, a late issue of the Kingston +_British Whig_:-- + +Breaux, who was hanged in New Orleans, "ascended the gallows smiling +and said he had made his peace with God and all men." Bolen, who was +executed at Macon, Mississippi, said on the gallows: "My mouth will soon +be closed in this world. I rested in the arms of Jesus last night. I am +satisfied. I feel guilty of nothing. God is well pleased with my soul." +Macon, who was executed at the same place, said, "I feel ready to die, +because God has pardoned my sins. I risked my soul on the murder, but +God has forgiven me. There is not a cloud in the way." Brown, who was +also executed at Macon, with the other two, the same day, said, "I have +made peace with God, and will surely go to heaven, I will cross the +river with a rope around my neck that will lead my wicked soul on +to glory. Blessed be God! I am going home!" Stone, who was hanged at +Washington, and Tatio at Windsor, Vermont, the same day as the four +above, both had made their peace with God, and were on their way "to +meet the Lord Jesus Christ." + +A belief in God did not it seems avail to keep these men, nor thousands +of others, from crime; nor does it, in my opinion, to any great extent, +operate as a deterrent of crime. People with favorable organizations and +good surroundings will not be apt to commit murder whether they believe +or disbelieve in a God; while persons born with, bad organizations--bad +heads and impure blood--will very likely, under favorable circumstances, +continue to follow their predominant impulses, whether they believe in +one God or twenty, and, if Christians in belief, they will ultimately +rely on that "fountain of blood open for sin and all uncleanness." +Unscrupulous men who have strong natural tendencies to crime, and +believe in the Christian plan of salvation, will, in bad surroundings, +scarcely fail to indulge their propensities and finally avail themselves +of the "bankrupt scheme"--take a bath in that impure fountain and be +"washed" clean (?) like the gentry instanced above. + +In January and February of this year (1880) Rev. E. P. Hammond, the +noted Methodist revivalist, made a professional tour through Canada +in pursuit of his favorite and profitable calling of "saving souls" +(favorite, probably, _because_ profitable). Among other places he +visited St. Catharines, and before leaving that city, preached a sermon +for the especial benefit, it would seem, of the Universalists. Now, +Universalism has always been specially odious to the other more +evangelical sects, especially the Methodists, who seem positively +shocked at the horrid idea that hell may perhaps be ultimately emptied +of its human contents and all mankind get into heaven. The Universalists +appear to have a good degree of that noble human quality, benevolence, +and hence they believe that the God they worship is too good to damn +forever any creature he has made. For this good opinion of their +Creator they are duly stigmatized, contemned and reprobated by the ultra +orthodox party, who can brook no nonsense about the possibility of the +fires of hell ever being extinguished. These people are evidently well +pleased at the idea that there is a place of torture into which the +non-elect of their fellow creatures may be turned for ever and ever. +How like the God of the Old Testament, these disciples of His are! Mr. +Hammond, it would seem, is of this class; and accordingly, in the sermon +alluded to, proceeded to unbudget himself against Universalism and +Universalists in vigorous style. The sermon was reported in the St. +Catharines _Journal_, and called forth an able and spirited reply +through the same-medium from the Rev. J. B. Lavelle of Fulton, Township +of Grimsby. I propose to make some extracts, quite relevant to the +subject under consideration, from the reply of Rev. Lavelle,--who is a +gentleman, I am informed, of exemplary character and broad intelligence, +and highly respected. Mr. Lavelle says: + +"Permit me to say, Mr. Editor, in justice to Universalists, both on +this continent and in Europe, among whom are some of the ablest Biblical +scholars, and some of the best men, that there is not a particle of +truth in Mr. Hammond's representation. * * * Mr. Hammond, with other +ministers of the endless misery school, believes in the doctrine of +'imputation,' 'substitution,' or 'vicarious' suffering of Christ, which +they erroneously, as we think, call the Atonement; and that the greatest +villain, who has lived a life of crime, rapine, and murder, can take the +benefit of this Spiritual Bankrupt Act (for it is nothing else) at any +time before he dies, and 'go to heaven'--yea, even while standing on +the gallows, swing 'into glory' and thus escape the consequences of his +wicked life. + +"For instance, A and B are two consummate villains, and have been so +for years, but in a quarrel A murders B--of course B goes to an eternal +hell--but, through the labors of Mr. Hammond and others of the +so-called orthodox churches who visit him in his cell before his +execution--he repents. (?) They lay this Spiritual Bankrupt Act before +him. He sees it is the only alternative to keep out of hell; so he takes +the benefit of it, is hanged, and goes to heaven. Thus, the murderer +gets to heaven by the lucky chance of being the murderer instead of the +murdered. If his victim had been fortunate enough to-strike the fatal +blow, he could have changed places with him; and so the endless destiny +of each would have been reversed by the chance blow of a street fight! +Is it, I ask, on such grounds God distributes rewards and punishments? +What must be the moral influence of such a doctrine? + +"Again: A lives a life of crime for sixty years, and on the very next +month or day, repents by taking the benefit of this Spiritual Bankrupt +Act, dies and goes to heaven. B lives a life of virtue and goodness +for sixty years, and the very next day or month makes a false step, or +commits a crime, and is consigned to an endless hell to suffer intense +misery without relief and without end. And yet we are told by the +advocates of this unscriptural doctrine that this is a just distribution +of rewards and punishments under the government of God who 'is Love,' +but above all, THE FATHER. + +"Look at the case of one Ward, who, in one of our counties a while +ago, murdered his wife--was sentenced to death, and attended by his +'Orthodox' spiritual advisers before execution. He also repented (?) and +took the benefit of this Spiritual Bankrupt Act. When he stood upon the +gallows, he said, he 'had but two steps to take--one into eternity and +the other into glory.' And his poor wife--what became of her? Gone, +'with all her imperfections' to suffer unmitigated misery as long as +God himself shall endure, and this, too, according to the unscriptural +doctrine of the same churches which teach 'no change after death.' Again +we ask, what can be the moral influence of such teaching? + +"The truth is the burden of the most of the teaching of the day is, +to 'die right;' 'make your peace with God in time,' and 'get religion +before you die;' thus making religion to mainly consist in one general +scramble to get into heaven and keep out of hell." + +As Freethinkers, we boldly impeach the Christian plan of salvation as +being essentially immoral in its tendency,--as offering a premium on +vice and crime; and for doing this on previous occasions and designating +it a "bankrupt scheme," the writer of this has been the subject of +severe and indignant animadversion from his intimate Christian friends. +Yet here is a Christian minister who takes substantially the same +position as ourselves in reference to the plan of salvation as preached +by Methodists and others, and denounces it as a "Spiritual Bankrupt +Act." And I have made the above extracts from his pen to strengthen my +position against Mr. Wendling, viz., that a belief in God and the Bible +is _not_ essential to social and commercial morality, and the safety of +the State. + +On this subject, Lord Bacon, himself a Christian, says:-- + +"Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to +laws, to reputation: all which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, +though religion were not. But superstition dismounts all these, and +createth an absolute monarchy in the minds of men; therefore Atheism did +never perturb States, for it makes men wary of themselves, as looking +no further, and we see the limes inclined to Atheism (as the time +of Augustus Caesar) were civil times; but superstition, that bone +of contention of many States, bringeth in a new _primum mobile_ that +ravishes all the spheres of government." + +There are thousands of Atheists in almost every civilized country, and +how is it, if Atheism tends to crime, that you will seldom or never +find one in prison for any crime? Buddhism, one of the most ancient +religions, long ante-dating Christianity, is essentially Atheistic. It +has had, and has now, hundreds of millions of followers, and for pure +morality no system of religion has ever equalled it. Webster, the +Christian lexicographer, admits that Buddhism was "characterized by +admirable humanity and morality." The religion of Confucius--of him +who taught the "golden rule" five centuries before Christianity +appeared--was also Atheistic. Therefore, what we "most need" is, not a +"conviction that there _is_ a personal God" (we have that already; all +the murderers, thieves and defaulters believe that doctrine), but we +need more of the "admirable morality" of Buddhism, and more of the +practice of the "golden rule" of Confucius to "do not unto others what +you would not they should do to you." As Emerson has said, "We want some +good Paganism." + +Mr. Wendling's next argument for the existence of a personal God is the +assumed universality of the belief in God, "among every people in every +quarter of the habitable globe," now and "from the very furthest reach +of history." As the value of this argument turns simply on a question +of fact, and as every educated or well-read man knows that the facts +in this case are against Mr. Wendling, and that his assertion is +historically incorrect, it is hardly worth while to spend much time over +it. However, as some readers may not have looked into the authorities on +the subject, I may, perhaps not unprofitably quote briefly from some of +them, and simply refer the reader to others. + +To say nothing of the _Atheistic_ character of the Buddhistic religion, +already referred to, with its millions of followers, there have been, +and are to-day, tribes and peoples who have no belief whatever in, or +conception of, a God or Gods. This fact is conclusively proved by +such authorities as Livingston, the great African explorer (himself a +Christian), Sir John Lubbock, J. S. Mill, Darwin, and even John Wesley, +the founder of Methodism, who, surely, ought to be good authority +with Christians; and him we will first put in the witness box against +Mr.-Wendling. Wesley says, in his Sermons, vol. 2, Sermon C: + +"After all that has been so plausibly written concerning the 'innate +idea of God;' after all that has been said of its being common to all +men, in all ages and nations, it does not appear that man has any more +idea of God than any of the beasts of the field; he has no knowledge +of God at all. Whatever change may afterward be wrought by his own +reflection or education, he is by nature a mere Atheist." + +Charles Darwin, the greatest naturalist in the world, and who is +proverbially careful in his statements, has the following on this +subject in his "Descent of Man," vol. 1, p. 62-3:-- + +"There is ample evidence, derived not from hasty travellers, but from +men who have long resided with savages, that numerous races have existed +and still exist, who have no idea of one or more Gods, and who have no +words in their languages to express such an idea." + +Again, in vol. 2, p. 377, Darwin says:-- + +"The belief in God has often been advanced as not only the greatest, +but the most complete, of all the distinctions between man and the lower +animals. It is, however, impossible, as we have seen, to maintain that +this belief is innate or instinctive in man. On the other hand, a +belief in all-pervading spiritual agencies seems to be universal; and +apparently follows from a considerable advance in the reasoning +powers of man, and from a still greater advance in his faculties +of imagination, curiosity and wonder. I am aware that the assumed +instinctive belief in God has been used by many persons as an argument +for His existence. But this is a rash argument, as we should thus +be compelled to believe in the existence of many cruel and malignant +spirits, possessing only a little more power than man; for the belief +in them is far more general than of a beneficent Deity. The idea of a +universal and beneficent Creator of the universe does not seem to +arise in the mind of man, until he has been elevated by long-continued +culture." + +I would refer the reader who wishes to pursue the subject further, to +Livingston's writings, to Sir J. Lubbock's "Prehistoric Times," and his +"Origin of Civilization," and also to the _Anthropological Review_ for +August, 1864. + +Mr. Wendling's next argument to prove the existence of a personal God +is the once celebrated but now obsolete "design" argument of Catwell and +Paley; but he seems either not to know or he ignores the fact that this +"design argument" has been so thoroughly refuted by the sternest logic +and most indisputable natural facts that the more advanced theologians +of the present day have wholly abandoned it. To reproduce these, or to +give any elaborate refutation, it is unnecessary here. The whole +matter may be disposed of briefly by one or two simple syllogisms which +everybody can comprehend. The famous "design argument," then, may be +formulated into simple syllogistic propositions thus:-- + + Whatever manifests design must have had a designer: + + The world manifests design; + + Therefore, the world must have had a designer. + +This is the whole Christian reasoning on the subject in a nutshell, and +it has been considered by them perfectly conclusive and unanswerable. +The logic is certainly unexceptionable, that is, the conclusion is quite +legitimate from the premises; but it so happens that the premises are +unsound, and in such a case the most unexceptionable logic goes for +naught. If premises be erroneous, though the reasoning be ever so good, +the conclusion must be erroneous. The major premiss of the foregoing +syllogism, that "whatever manifests design must have had a designer," +is a pure assumption, if by design is meant adaptation in Nature. So, +likewise, is the minor premiss an assumption if by design is meant +anything more than the adaptation pervading the universe, or at least +that part cognizable to us. That the _fitness and adaptation_ observable +in Nature do not establish intelligent design, is amply shown by the +highest authorities--by the most eminent naturalists (Haeckel, Darwin, +&c.) of the present day, to whom the reader is referred, and I need +not here amplify in that direction. Nor is it at all necessary for my +present purpose and work. It is only necessary to apply the _teductio ad +absurdum_ to the above argument from design to show its utter fallacy. +We will admit the premises and carry the reasoning of our Christian +friends out a little further. By granting the truth of their major +proposition and reasoning, logically from it we can prove more than is +wholesome for the theologian, as thus:-- + + Whatever manifests design must have had a designer: + + God, in his alleged personality and attributes, manifests design; + + Therefore, God must have had a designer. + +It will thus be seen that Mr. Wendling's design argument from Catwell +and Paley proves entirely too much for his own good, and hence it is +that the astute theologians of the day have abandoned Paley and his +design argument to their fate, where they have been duly relegated by +the incisive logic of the modern materialist. + +Finally, Mr. Wendling comes to the moral argument, and in _conscience_ +finds proof of the existence of a personal God. He complacently avers +that "God made man with this omnipresent 'I ought' implanted in his +nature." Now, in the first place, it is a great mistake that this +"I ought" or conscience is _universally_ implanted in man--is +"omnipresent," as Mr. Wendling puts it. That there are tribes without +the moral sense of conscience, is sustained by the same unimpeachable +authorities referred to in proof of the absence in them of any theistic +conception or belief; and even in civilized (?) society we unfortunately +find an occasional specimen of the _genus homo_ with no noticeable trace +of that "variable quality" we call conscience. + +That conscience is _innate_ in man, and a God-given faculty, instead of +acquired by development, is another convenient assumption without any +substantial foundation. If conscience is a Divine gift to humanity, how +is it that consciences differ so widely, not only in _degree_, but in +_kind_? If conscience is a Divine "monitor" and "guide" from heaven, why +is it that it so often becomes a very blind guide, and leads people into +many by-paths? How is it that under the sanction of conscience the most +horrid crimes and cruelties against humanity have been committed in +the name of God, its alleged author? How is it, if conscience is an +"unerring guide" to conduct, implanted by God, that it has guided +man, in the name of its author, to let out the life blood of his +fellow-creatures in rivers, on account of differences of opinion +_conscientiously_ entertained? Does God give one man one sort of +conscience and another man another and wholly different sort, leading +them in opposite directions, and then prompt the conscience of one to +put the other (his fellow) to death for conscience sake and for God's +sake? If so, it is very questionable work, surely, for a good (?) God +to be engaged in! If God implants the conscience in man, why not be +fair and just and give _all_ men consciences? and give them all the same +article? and not give one man a tolerably good article of conscience +(the Freethinker, for example) and then go and give others (some of +our Christian friends, for example) so poor an article, so to speak--so +flexible and elastic--that it allows them to murder, cheat, lie, +slander, rob widows and orphans, and run away with other people's money +and other men's wives without compunction--without any troublesome pangs +from this universal "I ought" over which Mr. Wendling grows so eloquent! + +The Christian world has been quite long enough teaching an irrational +and absurd doctrine about conscience. They not only blunder as to its +origin, but as to its nature and functions. Nearly every Christian +writer defines conscience as an "inward monitor" to tell us right from +wrong; a divine faculty enabling us to "_judge_ between the good and the +bad;" a "_guide_ to conduct," &c, &c. In the light of our present mental +science this definition of conscience is utterly false. Conscience is +not an _intelligent_ faculty at all--it is simply a feeling. By modern +metaphysics conscience has been relegated from the domain of the +intellect to its proper place among the emotions. Hence it _decides_ +nothing, _judges_ nothing as between right and wrong, or anything else, +for that is a function of intellect. Conscience, instead of being a +"guide" or "judge," is but a blind impulse needing itself to be guided. +It is simply a feeling for the right--a thirsting for the good--but the +_intellect_ must decide what _is_ right; and the nature and character +of its decisions will depend upon various circumstances, such as +organization, education, &c.; and the decisions of different individuals +as to right and wrong will differ as those circumstances differ. We hear +a great deal about "enlightening the conscience;" but it cannot be done. +You might as well talk of enlightening a sunflower, which instinctively +turns its head to the light; or a vine, which instinctively creeps up +the portico. The intellect, however, may be enlightened. Reason, +which is the only and ultimate arbiter and guide to conduct, may be +enlightened; and we may thus modify, guide and direct the blind impulses +of conscience. The truth is, conscience in man, such as it is, is a +development--is acquired rather than innate; has been developed by +Nature instead of "implanted" by God. The moral sense, without doubt, +gradually developed in man as he rose in the scale of intelligence. +Where there is little or no intelligence, the moral sense would be +inapplicable and incongruous, and is not needed, hence does not exist. +When it is required, Nature, in perfect keeping with all her other +adaptations, develops it. Darwin, in the "Descent of Man," vol. i, pp. +68-9, says:-- + +"The following proposition seems to me in a high degree +probable--namely, that any animal whatever, endowed with well-marked +social instincts, would inevitably acquire a moral sense or conscience, +as soon as its intellectual powers had become as well developed, or +nearly as well developed, as in man." + +On this point John Stuart Mill also has the following in his +"Utilitarianism," p. 45:-- + +"If, as is my own belief, the moral feelings are not innate, but +acquired, they are not for that reason less natural." + +The reader is also referred to "Psychological Inquiries," by Sir B. +Brodie, for further evidence on this subject. + +The moral sense, therefore, which exists in a portion of +mankind--distinct traces of which are also found in some of the lower +animals--has been gradually acquired during the evolution of man from +a lower to a higher condition. It has come down to us from primitive +barbarism through long ages of hereditary transmission. The "spiritual +yearnings" of man's nature, thought by Christians to prove a God as +their author, have, in like manner, been gradually acquired. These +subjective emotions and desires--whether you call them _carnal_ or +_spiritual_--are, unquestionably, in the light of modern science, all +matters of gradual development, hereditary inheritance, and education. +The great doctrine of EVOLUTION in nature explains them all. + +Having thus dealt with the arguments of Mr. Wendling in evidence of a +personal God--a primary assumption upon which he predicates many other +assumptions--there is little else in his "Reply to Robert Ingersoll" +demanding attention. One or two, however, of his extraordinary +assertions, it may not be amiss to look into a little; especially as Mr. +Wendling, having waxed valiant over the supposed conclusiveness of his +arguments, triumphantly throws down the glove to "infidelity" in this +wise:-- + +"To my mind the great central thought of Christianity is that every +living soul, of every race, of every clime, of every creed, of every +condition, of every color--every living soul is worthy the Kingdom * * +* And here I challenge infidelity. I lay the challenge broadly down. I +challenge infidelity to name an era or a school in which this doctrine +was taught prior to the advent of the Ideal Man." + +Here, again, Mr. Wendling's orthodoxy is badly out of joint, and his +facts at loose ends. This "central thought" that "every living soul +is worthy the Kingdom" has no place in Christianity. It is by no means +biblical doctrine, however well so humane an idea may fit into Mr. +W.'s own mind. Hence, to designate the _brotherhood of man_ the "great +central thought of Christianity"--a system which is to consign a +majority of mankind to an endless hell of fire and brimstone--is purely +gratuitous. To claim benevolent fatherhood or brotherhood for a religion +which declares that the road to hell is "broad," and many shall go +in thereat, while the way to Heaven is "narrow," and few shall go in +thereat, is to play fast and loose with the Bible. To say that "every +soul is worthy the Kingdom," and call this the "great central thought of +Christianity," in the face of what the "Word of God" cheerfully tells +us on this subject, is, indeed, a "marvellous flexibility of language," +which I do not at all propose to tolerate in discussion with "a lawyer," +"a politician," "a man of the world," or any other man. Hear ye! O! +non-elect, what comforting things the Scripture saith to you on your +"future prospects!" + +"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate." "For the children +being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the +purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of +him that calleth." "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, +and whom he will he hardeneth." (Romans, 8th and 9th Chapters.) "The +wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be +born, speaking lies." (Psalm 58.) "Ye believe not because ye are not of +my sheep." (John 10.) "Ye be reprobates." (II. Corinth. 13.) "Jacob have +I loved, but Esau have I hated." (Romans 9.) He hardened their hearts, +"That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, +and not understand." (Mark 4.) "Hath not the potter power over the +clay." &c. (Romans 9.) "He that believeth not shall be damned." + +This is benevolent (?) fatherhood, and the spirit of the _brotherhood of +humanity_, with a vengance! We are distinctly told that God, "from +the beginning," has deliberately fixed upon the ultimate misery and +destruction of a portion of His hapless creatures; that He moulds them +as clay in the hands of the potter; hardens their hearts and blinds +their eyes, and then tells them He will damn them for not doing what +He has prevented them from doing, and what He knows, beforehand, they +cannot and will not do! This is what Mr. Wendling calls the "great +central thought of Christianity--that 'every soul is worthy the +Kingdom,'"--and he calls loudly upon "infidelity" to name an era or a +school in which this doctrine was taught before the "Ideal Man" taught +it. He is right! We cannot do it! We may search the philosophies and +sacred writings of the Pagans in vain for so fiendish a doctrine. +For pure, unadulterated malevolence, the Vedas, the Shaster, the +Zend-Avesta, afford no parallel for this truly Christian doctrine. + +If, however, Mr. Wendling challenges us to name an era or school in +which the _brotherhood of man_ (as we understand it) was taught before +the time of the "Ideal Man," we unhesitatingly accept his challenge. +It was taught by Buddha, Confucius, and numerous Pagan writers and +philosophers long before the time of Jesus, for proof of which I refer +the reader to Prof. Max Muller, Sir Wm. Jones, Lord, Amberly, &c, or to +the writings themselves. Mr. Wendling desires us to "Tell me (him) why +it is that all the creeds of Christendom and all the civilized nations +unite in accepting the Ideal Man of Christianity despite the laws of +climate and of race?" + +I will answer this question in the Irishman's fashion, by asking one or +two others. Tell me why it is, if Christianity is a divine system, +and its author omnipotent, that, after eighteen centuries of active +propagandism and aggression, compassing sea and land to make proselytes, +it has to-day, according to recent statistics, but the meagre following +of 399,200,000; while Buddhism has 405,600,000, and Brahmanism, +Mohammedanism, etc., 500,000,000? Not nearly one-third of the world's +population Christians, and the number rapidly diminishing! Tell me why +it is, if Christianity is true that its foundations are melting down +like wax in the light of Modern Science?' Tell me why it is, if the +Bible is an inspired book, a divine revelation, that scarcely a single +really eminent scientist or scholar of the present day accepts it as +such? Tell me why it is that Atheism, Agnosticism, and Rationalism are +making such rapid headway among the educated and intelligent, in every +civilized country, both in the church and out of it? That the dogmas +upon which Christianity rests are doomed; and as Froude, the historian, +says, "Doctrines once fixed as a rock are now fluid as water?"* If the +Bible can bear the light of science and historical research, how is it +that these have already irrevocably sapped its very foundations; and +that, as a consequence, the world is completely "honey-combed with +infidelity," as a Toronto paper recently asserted of that city? The +only answer Mr. Wendling can give to these questions is this: Because +Christianity is unable to show its titles; because the Bible, being +human in its origin, and, as a consequence, abounding in errors, both in +science and morals, cannot bear the penetrating light of modern science +and criticism. + + * "Science and Theology, Ancient and Modern."--The + International Religio-Science Series.--Rose-Belford + Publishing Company, Toronto. + + + + +REPLY TO LYNCH + +A CRUSHING (?) EDICT FROM ST. MICHAEL'S PALACE. + +(_Brutem Fulmen_,) + +BY + +"Yours in Christ, (Signed), John Joseph Lynch." + + +Since Ingersoll's visit to Canada, Archbishop Lynch, of Toronto,-has +also felt called upon to issue a bull against the Freethinkers; and, I +propose to take this "bull" by the horns and _lynch_ him (I may say _sub +rosa_ that the Bulls of Rome were long ago emasculated, yet, strangely +enough, they still keep _multiplying_!) Under the circumstances, I +think such a work (lynching the bull) will not be one wholly of +_supererogation_,--though it may be more than a _venial_ offence--indeed +possibly a _mortal_ sin for which I can get no _absolution_--to presume +to criticise an Archbishop, and break a lance with his holy bull! I +have, however, desperately resolved to take my chances of purgatory or +limbo and go in for the bull. + +Some of the Archbishop's flock, it would seem, had ventured to exercise +the natural rights of man to the very modest extent of going to hear +Mr. Ingersoll lecture, and also attending some of the meetings of the +Toronto _Liberal Association_. Hence the fulmination of the aforesaid +"bull," wherein his Grace, with that meekness, charity and toleration +born of piety and infallibility, orders his people to "avoid all +contact with these Freethinkers, their lectures and their writings," +and threatens all Catholics who "go to the meetings and lectures of the +Freethinkers or Atheists" with refusal of "absolution," which priestly +function, he patronizingly tells them, he "reserves" to himself. + +Now, may we not indulge the hope, in this age of reason, and land of at +least professed liberty, and esoteric freedom of conscience, that +every man, be he Catholic or Protestant, will look upon this attempted +exercise of medieval bigotry and intolerance with practical disregard, +and deserved contempt. As for the Freethinkers, they can afford to smile +at the impotent Archbishop, who seems to imagine himself in the ninth +instead of the nineteenth century, and in Rome or Spain instead of the +Dominion of Canada. They can but look at him and his foolish "bull" as +most ridiculous anachronisms. On reading this precious document it is +plain that all this deputy "Vicegerent of God" requires to make him a +first-class modern Torquemada is the power--the outward authority to +carry out his subjective hatred of "brutalized" Freethinkers. But this, +thanks to science, and consequent civilization, he has not got. +The Rationalist can, therefore, at this day, afford to deride the +malevolent, though fortunately impotent, ravings of this zealous bishop +of an emasculated Church. He and his Church (the whole Christian Church) +are, fortunately for humanity, shorn of their wonted strength, which, +in the past, they have used with such fiendish ferocity and brutality +on human kind. The day has gone by when the Church may light an +_auto-da-fe_ around the body of a Bruno. The time has passed when she +may thrust a Galileo into prison and force him to recant the sublime +truths of Astronomy. She can no longer cast a Roger Bacon into a noisome +dungeon because of his scientific investigations. True, she can still, +if she choose, excommunicate a Copernicus for what she denounced as his +"false Pythagorean doctrine," but that is all. Darwin, Huxley, Tyndall, +Proctor and the rest are safe. This relentless enemy of Science and +liberty, and consequently of mankind, can no longer clutch every young +science by the throat and strangle struggling truth, which, crushed to +earth has risen again in its might; and history will scarcely repeat +itself in the case of Bruno the Atheist, or Galileo the Astronomer, +or Roger Bacon the Philosopher, or a thousand other victims of this +ruthless "Bourbon of the world of thought"--the Church. She may still +continue to fulminate her absurd and innocuous _anathemas_, but this is +about all. The Holy Inquisition, with its two hundred and fifty thousand +human victims; the Crusades with its five millions; the massacre of St. +Bartholomew with its fifty thousand; to say nothing of the religious +horrors of the Netherlands, of England, Scotland, and Ireland since the +reformation--all these holy horrors, let us hope, are "hideous blots on +the history of the past never to be repeated." Or will it be said of the +future history of Christianity, as has been frankly admitted of its past +by one of its ardent disciples, Baxter, that "Blood, blood, blood stains +every page?" + +The tables are now turning. The Church, to-day, instead of burning +unbelievers, and strangling science by immuring in dungeons its +votaries, is herself being strangled by science (with no loss of human +blood, however). Her cruel theology and irrational dogmas are prostrate, +writhing in their death throes, at the feet of the Hercules of modern +science and criticism. + +A little digression will not be out of order here. Our comic +caricaturist at Toronto (of which, on the whole, Canada may feel proud), +recently had a cartoon representing the theological Gamaliel of St. +Michael's Palace, Toronto, strangling the _serpent_ "Freethought." +Now, though usually on the side of truth and impartiality, _Grip_ has +undoubtedly, in this case, taken an oblique squint at truth and justice, +and has for once, at least, got the cart before the horse. Facts and +truth demand that the positions of the gladiators in his cartoon must be +reversed, and the zoological nomenclature corrected. And if _Grip_ had +read Huxley and Tyndall, and correctly observed the signs of the times, +he would scarcely have fallen into this unpardonable error. Let us quote +Prof. Huxley on this subject of strangling serpents:-- + +"It is true that, if philosophers have suffered, their cause has been +amply revenged. _Extinguished theologians lie about the cradle of every +science as the strangled snakes beside that of Hercules_; and history +records that, whenever science and orthodoxy have been fairly opposed, +the latter has been forced to retire from the lists, bleeding and +crushed, if not annihilated; scotched, if not slain. But orthodoxy +is the Bourbon of the world of thought. It learns not, neither can it +forget; and, though at present bewildered and afraid to move, it is as +willing as ever to insist that the first chapter of Genesis contains the +beginning and the end of sound science; and to visit, with such petty +thunderbolts as its half-paralyzed hands can hurl those who refuse to +degrade Nature to the level of primitive Judaism."--_Lay Sermons_, p. +277-8. + +From this, _Grip_ will see that instead of the fair form of reason +and Freethought (which he represents as a snake) being strangled by +a prelate of the church, it is the serpent, orthodoxy, which is being +strangled by the Hercules of science. It is to be regretted that _Grip_, +notwithstanding his professions of independence and impartiality, is +himself obnoxious to the very moral cowardice he has so often fearlessly +and justly exposed in others. Else why does he represent Freethought as +a snake? Is it because Freethought is yet comparatively weak in numbers, +and unpopular, and because this sort of thing will please the Church, +which _is_ popular and powerful? What characteristic of the snake +attaches to Freethought or Freethinkers? None; and we fearlessly +challenge _Grip_ and the Church on this point. Freethought has none of +the reptilian qualities of hypocrisy, cunning or deceit, but is frank +and fearless. Amid all the obloquy, denunciation, persecution, social +ostracism, calumny, and "holy bulls" hurled at them, Freethinkers have +the courage of their opinions; and bear all these, as well as business +detriment, for the sake of what they sacredly regard as _truth_. + +What does Prof. Tyndall say of Freethinkers and Atheists? To Archbishop +Lynch, who, in his pronunciamiento, says, "A person who, disbelieves in +the Ten Commandments, in hell or in Heaven, can hardly be trusted in +the concerns of life;" and to _Grip_ who cowardly crystalizes this base +assertion into a baser cartoon, I quote with pride the language of +this noble man, and eminent scholar and scientist. In the _Fortnightly +Review_ for November, 1877, Prof. Tyndall says: + +"It may comfort some to know that there are amongst us many whom the +gladiators of the pulpit would call Atheists and Materialists, whose +lives, nevertheless, as tested by any accessible standard of morality, +would contrast more than favorably with the lives of those who seek to +stamp them with this offensive brand. When I say 'offensive' I refer +simply to the intention of those who use such terms, and not because +Atheism or Materialism, when compared with many of the notions +ventilated in the columns of religious newspapers, has any particular +offensiveness to me. If I wished to find men who are scrupulous in their +adherence to engagements, whose words are their bond, and to whom moral +shiftiness of any kind is subjectively unknown; if I wanted a loving +father, a faithful husband, an honorable neighbor, and a just citizen, I +would seek him among the band of Atheists to which I refer. I have +known some of the most pronounced amongst them, not only in life, but in +death--seen them approaching with open eyes the inexorable goal, with no +dread of a 'hangman's whip,' with no hope of a heavenly crown, and still +as mindful of their duties, and as faithful in the discharge of them, as +if their eternal future depended on their latest deeds." + +Let the Archbishop, and _Grip_, and every reader ponder these +brave words of so high an authority in defence of the reprobated +class-stigmatised as "infidels," to which they refer; and then, for +corroboration, compare the testimony given with the living facts around +them.. + +The Archbishop says, these "foolish men" (the Freethinkers) are +"striving to replunge the world into the depths of Barbarism and +Paganism," etc., etc. To those who know that the present attitude of +all the great scientists and eminent _savans_ towards the dogmas of the +Christian Church, is one of undoubted unbelief and hostility; and +who are conversant with the history of the Archbishop's own church in +particular, during the past fifteen centuries,--to them the Archbishop's +vituperation is as foolish as it is ridiculous. From the days of +Constantine to this year, 1880, the Church, of which this learned (?) +prelate is a representative, has strenuously opposed learning, and +retarded civilization; has tolerated no freedom of conscience or liberty +of thought, thus narrowing instead of extending the liberty enjoyed +in Pagan and Imperial Rome, over whose ruins she reared her tyrannical +head. Talk of "Paganism!" His Church needs, as Emerson puts it, "some +good Paganism." She left behind her the liberty even of Pagan Rome, her +maligned precursor. Renan tells us, "We may search in vain, the Roman +law before Constantine, for a single passage against freedom of thought, +and the history of the imperial government furnishes no instance of a +prosecution for entertaining an abstract doctrine." And, Mosheim, +the ecclesiastical historian, tells us that the Romans exercised this +toleration in the amplest manner. + +"The prosecutions of the Christians by the Pagans, it is now universally +conceded by Christian historians, have been greatly exaggerated; +Christians have killed, in one day, for their faith nearly half as many +heretics as all the Christians put to death by the Pagans during the +whole period of the Pagan Empire." (The Influence of Christianity on +Civilization, pp. 24-5, Underwood.) + +The Archbishop's Church is, therefore, no improvement in respect of +liberty or toleration, on the Paganism he reviles. + +What progress the world has made in liberty and civilization, has been +made, not with the assistance of the Christian Church, but in spite of +its determined opposition and deadly hostility. Dr. Draper, author of +the "History of the Conflict between Religion and Science," and other +works, tells us that: + +"Latin Christianity is responsible for the condition and progress of +Europe from the fourth to the sixteenth century," and subsequently +avers, "Whoever will, in in a spirit of impartiality, examine what had +been done by Catholicism for the intellectual and material advancement +of Europe, during her long reign, and what has been done by science +in its brief period of action, can, I am persuaded, come to no other +conclusion than this, that, in instituting a comparison, he has +established a contrast." ("Conflict," p. 321.) Lecky, in his "History +of Morals," vol. 2, p. 18, tells us:--"For more than three centuries the +decadence of theological influence has been one of the most invariable +signs and measures of our progress. In medicine, physical science, +commercial interests, politics, and even ethics, the reformer has been +confronted with theological affirmations that have barred his way, which +were all defended as of vital importance, and were all compelled to +yield before the secularizing influence of civilization." (Protestant as +well as Catholic Christianity is, however, obnoxious to this stricture +of Lecky.) + +The Freethinkers "striving to replunge the world into the depths of +barbarism!" What can the Archbishop's idea of barbarism be? Doubtless in +his priestly mind everything is "barbarism" which does not square +with the Encyclical, or with the dogmas of his infallible Church. +If, however, barbarism is in reality just the opposite of our most +enlightened and highest civilization in Art, Science, Literature and +Ethics, it will, I have the presumption to think, be found that those +"foolish men"--those "brutalized" Freethinkers--are leading the van +of progress forward to a higher civilization, instead of dragging it +backward to barbarism. The truth of this is patent everywhere, in every +civilized country, and many of our Christian opponents admit it, though +Archbishop Lynch may not. A clergyman of Toronto--Rev. W. S. Rainsford, +of St. James' Cathedral--(from whom the Archbishop of St. Mary's +Cathedral might probably, to his advantage, take a lesson in +toleration), in a sermon preached in that city, Nov. 17th, 1878, +in speaking of Freethinkers, made use of the following language, as +reported in the _Globe_ of the 18th: + +"This sort of infidelity, that of Materialism, has its students in +the laboratory and in the library. It includes men of moral lives, of +earnest purposes, * * * men who uphold morality, chastity, self-denial, +perseverance with as clear a voice as Christians do, but on different +grounds." + +Years ago the N. Y. _Independent_, a religious paper, made the following +ingenuous admission: + +"To the shame of the Church it must be confessed that the foremost in +all our philanthropic movements, in the interpretation of the spirit of +the age, in the practical application of genuine Christianity, in the +reformation of abuses in high and low places, in the vindication of +the rights of man, and in practically redressing his wrongs, in the +intellectual and moral regeneration of the race, are the so-called +infidels in our land. The Church has pusillanimously left, not only the +working oar, but the very reins of salutary reform in the hands of +men she denounces as inimical to Christianity, and who are practically +doing, with all their might, for humanity's sake, what the Church ought +to be doing for Christ's sake; and if they succeed, as succeed they +will, in abolishing slavery, banishing rum, restraining licentiousness, +reforming abuses and elevating the masses, then must the recoil on +Christianity be disastrous. Woe, woe, woe, to Christianity when Infidels +by the force of nature, or the tendency of the age, get ahead of the +Church in morals, and in the practical work of Christianity. In some +instances they are already far in advance. In the vindication of Truth, +Righteousness, and Liberty, _they are the pioneers_, beckoning to a +sluggish Church to follow in the rear." + +The _Evangelist_ also, made the following admission of the same facts: +"Among all the earnest minded young men, who are at this moment leading +in thought and action in America, we venture to say that four-fifths are +skeptical of the great historical facts of Christianity. What is held as +Christian doctrine by the churches claims none of their consideration, +and there is among them a general distrust of the clergy, as a class, +and an utter disgust with the very aspect of modern Christianity and of +church worship. This scepticism is not flippant; little is said about +it. It is not a peculiarity alone of radicals and fanatics; most of +them are men of calm and even balance of mind, and belong to no class of +ultraists. It is not worldly and selfish. Nay, the doubters lead in the +bravest and most self-denying enterprises of the day." + +From a Church which has always opposed the education of the people, when +she had the power, and exterminated or expatriated the best intellects +under her jurisdiction, this talk of Freethinkers "re-plunging the world +into the depths of barbarism" comes with a very bad grace from his +Grace of Toronto. By this Church the Moriscoes were driven out of +Spain--100,000 of them--and this because they were the friends of +progress, of art and science. Buckle, the historian, tells us:--"When +they were thrust out of Spain there was no one to fill their places; +arts and manufactures either degenerated or were entirely lost, ard +immense regions of arable land were left uncultivated; whole districts +were suddenly deserted, and down to the present day have never been +repeopled." The Jews also were expelled, as they, too, were in favor +of knowledge and improvement, and this was sufficient cause for their +expatriation. + +This relentless enemy--the Church--of all science, all progress in +knowledge among the people, ruthlessly exterminated the best minds +within its grasp for centuries. Darwin, in his "Descent of Man," vol. 1, +p. 171-2, says:-- + +"During the same period the Holy Inquisition selected with extreme care +the freest and boldest men in order to burn and imprison them. In +Spain alone some of the best men, those who doubted and questioned--and +without doubting and questioning there can be no progress--were +eliminated during three centuries at the rate of a thousand a year." + +Talk to us of barbarism and paganism! A church which, from the time, +nearly fifteen centuries ago, when she burnt the Alexandrian +Libraries and Museum--the intellectual legacies of centuries--to the +present time, has never yet called off her sleuth-hounds with which she +has always hunted down the sacred principles of liberty of thought +and freedom of conscience! A Church which from "the beginning of that +unhappy contest," as Mosheim tells us, "between faith and reason, +religion and philosophy, piety and genius, which increased in succeeding +ages, and is prolonged even to our times with a violence which renders +it extremely difficult to be brought to a conclusion," to this day, +would hold the world in barbarous ignorance if its paralyzed hand could +but avail against the resistless march of knowledge and truth! Draper, +in speaking of the condition of the people under Catholicity in the 14th +century, thus pictures the civilizing (?) and elevating influences of +that Holy Religion:-- + +"There was no far reaching, no persistent plan to ameliorate the +physical condition of the nations. Nothing was done to favor their +intellectual development, indeed, on the contrary, it was the settled +policy to keep them not merely illiterate, but ignorant. Century after +century passed away, and left the peasantry but little better than the +cattle in the fields. * * * Pestilences were permitted to stalk forth +unchecked, or at best opposed only by mummeries. Bad food, wretched +clothing, inadequate shelter, were suffered to produce their result, +and at the end of a thousand years the population of Europe had not +doubled." + +For centuries, and centuries, in the Western Empire, subsequent to the +invasion of the barbarians, when the Church this Toronto prelate owes +allegiance to, had absolute control, such was the dense ignorance that +scarcely a layman could be found who could sign his own name. There was +very little learning, and what little there was the clergy carefully and +jealously confined to themselves; and as Hallam, the historian, tells +us:-- + +"A cloud of ignorance overspread the whole face of the church, hardly +broken by a few glimmering lights, who owe almost the whole of their +distinction to the surrounding darkness." The same historian (Middle +Ages, p. 460,) tells us:--"France reached her lowest point at the +beginning of the eighth century, but England was, at that time, more +respectable, and did not fall into complete degradation until the middle +of the ninth. There could be nothing more deplorable than the state +of Italy during the succeeding century. In almost every council the +ignorance of the clergy forms a subject for reproach. It is asserted by +one held in 992 that scarcely a single person was to be found in Rome +itself, who knew the first elements of letters. Not one priest of a +thousand in Spain, about the age of Charlemagne, could address a common +letter of salutation to one another." + +Lecky, in his "History of Morals," vol. 2, p. 222, tells us that: + +"Mediaeval Catholicity discouraged and suppressed, in every way, secular +studies," and further, that, "Not till the education of Europe passed +from the monasteries to the universities; not until Mahomedan science +and classical freethought and industrial independence broke the sceptre +of the Church, did the intellectual revival of Europe commence." + +And, I would ask Archbishop Lynch, what was the condition of +the Byzantine Empire during the thousand years or upwards of its +existence?--An empire under the sway of his Church, from its foundation +by the first Christian emperor, Constantine--that exemplary Christian +murderer who, because the Pagan priests refused him absolution for his +enormities, hastened to the bosom of the Christian Church, whose priests +he found more pliable, having little compunction or hesitancy about +granting absolution to the new proselyte. What is the record of history +touching this Empire under the aegis of Catholic Christianity? The +historian Lecky thus graphically sets forth its condition:-- + +"The universal verdict of history is that it constitutes, without a +single exception, the most thoroughly base and despicable form that +civilization has yet assumed. Though very cruel and very sensual, there +have been times when cruelty assumed more ruthless, and sensuality more +extravagant aspects, but there has been no other enduring civilization +so absolutely destitute of all the forms, the elements, of greatness, +and none to which the epithet _mean_ may be so emphatically applied. The +Byzantine Empire was pre-eminently the age of treachery. Its vices were +the vices of men who ceased to be brave without learning to be virtuous. +* * * The history of the empire is a monotonous story of the intrigues +of priests, eunuchs and women, of poisonings, of conspiracies, of +uniform ingratitude, of perpetual fratricides." In speaking of the +condition of the Western Empire the same author proceeds:--"A boundless +intolerance of all divergence of opinion was united with an equally +boundless toleration of all falsehood and deliberate fraud, that could +favor received opinions. Credulity being taught as a virtue, and all +conclusions dictated by authority, a deadly torpor sank upon the human +mind, which for many centuries almost suspended its action, and was only +broken by the scrutinizing, innovating and free-thinking habits that +accompanied the rise of the industrial republics in Italy. Few men who +are not either priests or monks would not have preferred to live in +the best days of the Athenian or of the Roman republics, in the age of +Augustus, or in the age of the Antonines rather than in any period +that elapsed between the _triumph of Christianity and the fourteenth +century_." + +The same historian, whose accuracy Archbishop Lynch will scarcely +attempt to impeach, thus judicially and impartially sums up the +influences of Catholic Christianity both in the Eastern and Western +Empires during many centuries when it had the fullest sway:-- + +"When we remember that in the Byzantine Empire the renovating power of +theology was tried in a new capital, free from Pagan traditions, and for +more than one thousand years unsubdued by barbarians, and that in the +west, the Church, for at least seven hundred years after the shocks of +the invasion had subsided, exercised a control more absolute than any +other moral or intellectual agency has ever attained, it will appear, +I think, that the experiment was very sufficiently tried. It is easy to +make a catalogue of the glaring vices of antiquity, and to contrast them +with the pure morality of Christian writings; but, if we desire to +form a just estimate of the realized improvement, we must compare the +classical and ecclesiastical civilizations as wholes, and must observe +in each case not only the vices that were repressed but also the degree +and variety of positive excellence attained." + +Before the art of printing was discovered, the Church had less +difficulty in keeping the people in ignorance, but after the invention +of that boon to mankind she found herself ominously confronted with the +tree of life from which the people would soon learn to pluck the fruit +of knowledge. Hence the establishment, by Pope Paul IV., about the +middle of the sixteenth century, of the _Index Expurgatorius_, whose +functions, we are told, was "to examine books and manuscripts intended +for publication, and to decide whether the people may be permitted to +read them." This is what his Grace of St. Michael's Palace, in Toronto, +proposes to do for the good Catholics of that city--decide what they +shall read and what they shall not read, as though they were ninnies +and not able to decide that matter for themselves! The fact is, however, +that, in this priestly arrogance and assumption, the Archbishop is +consistent enough; for, although such mediaeval tyranny is altogether +inconsistent with the spirit of this age, and ludicrously out of place +in 1880, in the City of Toronto, it, nevertheless, perfectly accords +with the tenets and spirit as well as the antecedents of his Church; +which, while it accuses Freethinkers of "barbarism," allows not an inch +of latitude of private judgment in matters of religion, and tolerates +no freedom of conscience: And what is this but barbarism? All freedom of +conscience was fiercely denounced by Gregory XVI. as insane folly, +and the Archbishop of Toronto reiterates this unsavory stigma on +civilization. And why shouldn't he? Theology never learns. The Church +changes not. How can she when she is infallible? Yet an infallible +Pope of an infallible Church, not long since, found himself, while +encompassed with many difficulties, spiritual and temporal, to be about +like other weak mortals in flesh and blood; and, though infallible, +remember, and with the power of miracles and all that, he succumbs and +whiningly complains to a vulgar world that he is "a prisoner in his own +palace in Rome!" And the heretical and sceptical world--the "outside +barbarians"--with a contemptuous leer, gape at the queer spectacle of +the "Vicegerent on Earth" of an all-powerful God being obliged so easily +to succumb to heresy--to a little temporal power. Such, however, is +life--or rather the "mysterious ways of providence," which "ways" always +seem though, as Cromwell observed, to be on the side of the heaviest +artillery,--not the artillery of heaven, but the base artillery of +earth. Indeed, this worldly artillery--the artillery of science and +civilization--has, in this nineteenth century, been making such havoc +with creeds, confessions, and dogmas, that the crowning dogma +of all--this fundamental pillar of the Vatican, the dogma of +infallibility--was, it would seem, fast becoming a _dead dog_; when the +Holy Catholic Church finds it imperatively incumbent upon her to attempt +a resuscitation. This happened in Rome in "_anno domini_" 1870, at that +great Ecumenical Council--that unique anachronism of the nineteenth +century. I know not whether that mediaeval assembly of Holy "Fathers in +God" was honored by the presence of his Grace of St. Michael's Palace, +in Toronto, or not; but, be that as it may, his reverence's entire +loyalty to the notorious Encyclical and Syllabus of that Council is not +to be questioned or doubted. The miniature Toronto _bull_ of May 9th, +1880, has the true Vatican ring of the big _bull_ of the Council in +Rome in 1870. It, too, denounced, with its usual, though harmless, +_anathema_, Atheism, Pantheism, Naturalism, Rationalism and every other +ism that failed to square with Papal dogma. By the fulmination of that +Syllabus the world learned among many other things, that "No one may +interpret the Sacred Scriptures contrary to the sense in which they are +interpreted by Holy Mother Church, to whom such interpretation belongs." +It was further decreed that "All the Christian faithful are not only +forbidden to defend, as legitimate conclusions of science, those +opinions which are known to be contrary to the doctrine of faith, +especially when condemned by the Church, but are rather absolutely bound +to hold them for errors wearing the deceitful appearance of truth." + +As examples of the holy canons which were actually fulminated and +promulgated by that Ecumenical Council in the latter part of this 19th +century, here are a few:-- + +"Who shall refuse to receive, for sacred and canonical, the books of +Holy Scripture in their integrity, with all their parts, according as +they were enumerated by the Holy Council of Trent, or shall deny that +they are inspired by God, _Let him be anathema_." + +"Who shall say that human sciences ought to be pursued in such a spirit +of freedom that one may be allowed to hold as true their assertions, +even when opposed to revealed doctrine, _Let him be anathema_." + +"Who shall say that it may at any time come to pass, in the progress +of science, that the doctrines set forth by the Church must be taken in +another sense than that in which the Church has ever received and yet +receives them, _Let him be anathema_." + +These are the modest assumptions of the Church of Rome in this age; and +a prelate of that Church breathes the same noxious vapors forth into the +intellectual atmosphere of the City of Toronto! It remains to be seen +whether in Toronto there are such slaves or fools as will submit to this +worse than Egyptian bondage. Will intelligent Catholics put their necks +in a yoke so galling? None but slaves or barbarians would do it. The +Archbishop would thus fain make barbarians of his own people, and then +he would have the pagans at home without hunting among Freethinkers for +them. In his lecture in Napanee, in April last, Col. Ingersoll gave it +as his opinion that any man--no matter what Church he belonged to, or +what country he lived in--who claimed rights for himself which he denied +to others, is a barbarian! Now, according to this definition, who are +the barbarians? The Freethinkers, or the Archbishop himself and those he +ignominiously holds in mental bondage? + +In conclusion, we thank Archbishop Lynch for his timely "bull." As a +propagandist document for the spread of Freethought, and really in the +interests of those "foolish" and "brutalized" Freethinkers against +whom it was directed, it must prove a great success. It is another +illustration of the essentially bigoted and intolerant spirit of +Christianity in general.* + + * I am well aware that the Protestant sects of Christianity + repudiate this charge of the intolerant and persecuting + spirit of Christianity in general, and vainly attempt to + shift the whole onus and odium upon the Church of Rome. They + tell us that Christianity itself is not persecuting--that it + is not responsible for having reddened the earth with blood + --but that this was all done contrary to the spirit and + teachings of Christianity by men who were not really + Christians. We deny it. We take the position that + Christianity itself is essentially intolerant and + persecuting in spirit; and, we take the New Testament itself + to prove it. We take Christ's alleged words as reported + there, and Paul's alleged words as reported there, and can + thereby abundantly sustain our charge. "He that believeth + not shall be damned." "A man that is a heretic after the + first and second admonition, reject." What is that but the + quintessence of bigotry and intolerance? "I would they were + even cut off which trouble you." How kind! "Think not that I + come to send peace on earth, etc., etc" Scores of passages + could be quoted from the New Testament of similar import, + and the Old Testament is worse yet, for it recommends + putting even your wives or brothers to death should they try + to persuade you to worship their God.--See Deut. 13, 6, 7 + and 8. + + + + +REPLY TO "BYSTANDER." + +I approach this part of my prescribed duty with some hesitation, and not +a little reluctance. _Bystander_ is brilliant, learned, independent, +and honest; and for these qualities, though differing from him on +some important subjects, I entertain a respect and esteem amounting to +affection. I hope, therefore, that I may not write a word here having +even the semblance of discourtesy; for of that sort of treatment the +gentleman in question has had a full share since he honored Canadians by +casting his lot amongst us. + +For the benefit of some readers who, possibly, may not have seen it, I +may say that _The Bystander_ is a "Monthly Review of Current Events," +published in Toronto by Messrs. Hunter, Rose & Co., and written by a +certain distinguished literary gentleman, as referred to above, whose +name I would like to give here only that I feel in courtesy bound to +respect the "impersonality of journalism," the protection of which the +gentleman in question has the right, and with good reason, to claim. + +The last three issues of _The Bystander_ (for April, May and June) have +each a paper on Col. Ingersoll, his lectures, and cognate subjects; the +general tone of which is very liberal, but, at the same time, containing +strictures upon Mr. Ingersoll and his teachings which I consider unfair +and unjust (unintentionally no doubt), and to which I here propose +briefly to reply. + +Having heard Mr. Ingersoll lecture but once I am not in a position from +personal knowledge to speak fully as to the alleged "blasphemy," and +his general "tone" on the platform; but this much I can say, that +_Bystander's_ assertion that "he" (Ingersoll) "repels all decent men, +whatever their convictions; for no decent man likes blasphemy any more +than he likes obscenity," is certainly not true of the one lecture I +heard, or of the score of others of his I have read. I humbly claim +to be myself a "decent man," and I did not find myself "repelled" on +listening to Ingersoll's lecture, but rather attracted. I also saw many +decent people at the lecture (some from a distance), and they did not +seem repelled; but, like myself, well-pleased. In Toronto, according +to the reports in the _Evening Telegram_, there were large audiences of +decent, intelligent people: and instead of being repelled, they greeted +the lecturer with the most enthusiastic approbation and applause, +repeated over and over again. The same reception was accorded him in +Montreal, Belleville and Napanee. + +Bystander contrasts Ingersoll's "offensive tone" on the platform with +the "gentleness and sympathy of the Christian preacher on Mars' Hill," +who, he tells us, "delivered the truths he bore at once with the dignity +of simple earnestness, and with perfect tenderness towards the beliefs +which he came to supersede." Let us, for a moment, examine this claim +of "simple earnestness," and "perfect tenderness" in behalf of Paul the +great preacher of the New Testament. Paul says, (Roman iii. 7) "For if +the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory, why +yet am I also judged as a sinner?" He also tells us (2nd Cor. 12: 16) +that "being _crafty_, I caught you with guile," and likewise assures us +that he was "all things to all men;" to the Jews he "became as a Jew," +etc. What "simple earnestness" this is truly! And the Church of Christ +has nearly always acted in accordance with this Scriptural doctrine that +in _lying_ for God's sake the "end justifies the means." Mosheim, +the ecclesiastical historian, tells us that in the early ages of the +Christian Church, "It was an act of virtue to deceive and lie, when by +that means the interest of the church might be promoted." + +As to Paul's "perfect tenderness toward the beliefs which he came to +supersede," let us look a little into that. In writing to the Galatians +he says [tenderly] "As we said before, so say I now again, if any man +preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him +be _accursed_." (Gal. 1:9.) That is tender toleration for you! Again, +"A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition, reject" +(Titus 4:9.) "I would they were even cut off which trouble you" (Gal. +5: 12.) We, Freethinkers, would stand a poor chance to-day if Paul's +precepts were carried out! Again, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus +Christ, let him be _Anathema Maranatha_" (1 Cor. 16: 22.)-What "perfect +tenderness" this is! With a vengeance are these curses and maledictions +tender! _Bystander_ may search in vain in Ingersoll's lectures, or any +Freethinkers' writings, for such consummate bigotry, intolerance, and +even cruelty as this "Christian preacher" pours out upon all who venture +to differ from him in belief. And what "perfect tenderness" in Paul +to denounce and stigmatize even those of his own church--his +co-religionists--as "_false apostles, deceitful workers, dogs, and +liars!_" Did _Bystander_ or anybody else ever hear such language from +Ingersoll or any other Freethinker? Is it not "offensive to any sensible +and right-minded man?" Does it not "repel all decent men?" + +_Bystander_ admits that when Ingersoll "attacks dogmatic orthodoxy he +is in the right." What more does he attack? This is exactly what he does +attack, and _Bystander_ admits that in so doing he is doing right, thus +showing that he himself does not believe in dogmatic orthodoxy. Now, if +the Christian's God, as described in the Bible, is included in "dogmatic +orthodoxy" (and He surely must be) is Ingersoll blasphemous in attacking +Him? Surely not, according to _Bystander_ himself. _Bystander_ may say, +however, that he does not mean to include the Christian's God in +the "irrational and obsolete orthodoxy," against which he admits +"Ingersoll's arguments are really telling." But does _Bystander_ himself +believe in the God of the Bible? From the tenor of his language he +surely cannot. Does he believe in the God of whom the Bible itself gives +the following description? (For want of time to refer to, and space to +insert chapter and verse, they are not given, but every Bible reader +will recognize the passages given as substantially correct):-- + +"He burns with anger; his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue +as a devouring fire." "His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks +are thrown down by him." "The Lord awaketh as one out of sleep, and like +a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine." "Smoke came out of his +nostrils, and fire out of his mouth, so that coals were kindled by it." +"He had horns coming out of his hand." "Out of his mouth went a sharp +two-edged sword." "The Lord shall roar from on high. He roareth from +his habitation. He shall shout as they that tread the grapes." "He is +a jealous God." "He stirred up jealousy." "He was jealous to fury." +"He rides upon horses." "The Lord is a man of war." "His anger will +be accomplished, and his fury rest upon them, and then he will be +_comforted!_" "His arrows shall be drunken with blood." "He is angry +with the wicked every day." "A fire is kindled in mine anger and shall +burn unto the lowest hell. I will heap mischief upon them; I will spend +my arrows upon them I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, and +the poison of the serpents... both the young man and the virgin, the +suckling also, and the man of gray hairs." [What did the "suckling" do +to merit this?] "He reserveth wrath for his enemies." "He became angry +and swore." "He cried and roared." + +Does _Bystander_ believe in a God like that? whom it is "blasphemy," it +seems, for Ingersol to attack! It is true there are good qualities and +attributes ascribed to God by the Bible as well as bad; but that +does not affect the fact that these are ascribed to him; while the +co-existence of two diametrically opposite sets of attributes in the +same Being is simply absurd. Why is it blasphemy to attack such a +conception of God, any more than to attack any of the other Pagan gods +of antiquity? As he is represented in the Bible, He is certainly no +better than they; and _Bystander_ himself would have little hesitancy +in making an onslaught on the Pagan gods. When primitive Judaism and +Christianity set up a God for _our_ worship and adoration, and at +the same time tells us, "by the book," that He commanded the cruel, +fiendish, and indiscriminate murder of men, women, and innocent children, +we beg to decline to worship, or adore, or believe in any such Being; +and we do not think it "blasphemy" to attack the false belief and the +false God. When we read in the "word of God" that the Lord commanded +one of his prophets to diet on excrement; that the Lord met Moses at a +tavern and tried to kill him (see Exodus, 4, 24); that the sun and moon +stood still; that it rained forty days and nights, and that nearly the +whole world was drowned; that the first man--Adam--was made of clay, and +Eve of a rib, about 6000 years ago; that the world was made in six days, +and that vegetation flourished before there was any sun,--when we read +of all these wonderful things, we beg to be excused from believing them, +and claim the right to ridicule them to our heart's content. If this is +"disrespect," or "insult," or an "ignoble spirit of irreverence," then +we plead guilty to the charge, and are willing to abide by it. + +We do not deny that there may be a God; we only deny the existence +of such a one as the Bible sets forth. We attack only the gods whom +barbarous peoples have fashioned in their own imaginations and set up +for our worship, and not any high or noble conception of a Deity. We +fully admit the existence of a great and mysterious power or force in +the universe which we cannot understand or comprehend. We believe with +Spencer in the great _Unknown_ and _Unknowable_, and have no "attack" +to make upon this power, no word of ridicule, no blasphemy; but, like +Tyndall, stand in its presence with reverence and awe, acknowledging our +ignorance. + +While, however, acknowledging this unseen Power, we decline to +anthropomorphise it--to call it a _person_ or _being_, and invest it +with mental and moral functions similar to our own, differing only in +degree not in kind. It is only the anthropomorphism we attack--only +the superstitions, assumptions and dogmas. We only attack that which +is incredible and absurd--that which "shocks reason." We believe in +religion--the Religion of Humanity--to do right--a religion of _works_ +instead of faith and creeds, and _Bystander_ himself admits that +"religion is carrying a weight which it cannot bear," and that, "unless +the credible can be separated from the incredible, the reasonable from +that which shocks reason, there will be a total eclipse of faith." + +"The Cosmogony of Moses," says _Bystander_, "will, of course not bear +the scrutiny of modern science; few probably are now so bigoted as +to maintain that it will." If it will not bear such scrutiny, is it +blasphemy to attack it, or its author? for the God of the Bible is the +alleged author of that Cosmogony, inspiring Moses or whoever wrote it. +But _Bystander_ further remarks that the Mosaic Cosmogony "need not fear +comparison with the Cosmogony of any other race." We thank him for that +favor. It is exactly what we claim, to wit, that the Cosmogony of Moses, +like all the others, is simply a human production, for it would be +absurd to talk of "comparing" an _inspired_ Cosmogony of _divine origin_ +with _human_ Cosmogonies. Hence, according to _Bystander_ himself, the +Mosaic Cosmogony is simply, like the rest, human: only he thinks it a +little better than the others. It will not, however, "bear the scrutiny +of modern science." Very likely not! What then, becomes of the "fall +of man," the "redemption" the "Ideal Man," and the whole Christian +Superstructure which rests upon the Mosaic Cosmogony? If the pillars are +taken away the building _must_ come down. + +It is also admitted by _Bystander_ that "The moral code of Moses is +tribal and primeval; it is alien to us who live under the ethical +conditions of high civilization and the Religion of Humanity." Precisely +so! And for this magnificent favor also, we again thank _Bystander_. No +materialist or utilitarian could have possibly put it better; albeit a +Christian would experience some moral obfuscation in trying to make out +why, if the "moral code of Moses" is from heaven, it should be "alien +to us" and to these times? He would be hardly able to understand why he +should be comparing his _Divine_ code with _Pagan_ codes to see whether +it is "worse or better than other codes framed in the same stage of +human progress?" Let the Freethinkers take courage. _Bystander_, to +all appearances, will soon be squarely on our side; and then we can +truthfully say, that though the Christians have the greatest scientist, +probably, in Canada (Prof. Dawson, of Montreal,) on their side, we will +have the greatest scholar, historian and _literateur_ in Canada on _our_ +side. Three cheers in the Liberal camp for _Bystander!_ Indeed, we have +some hopes, too, even of Prof. Dawson, whose Mosaic orthodoxy seems to +be relaxing a little of late; and he evidently feels his isolation, his +scientific brethren all being on our side. + +While writing this, the Montreal _Daily Witness_ of June 15th, 1880, +comes to hand from a Freethought octogenarian friend in Port Hope (Wm. +Sisson, Esq.) with the familiar pencil mark, drawing my attention to a +report of the proceedings of "The Congregational Union," at present in +session in Montreal. From it I learn that Rev. Hugh Pedley, B. A., made +an address before the _Union_ on "The Freethought of the Age," from +which I cull the following, as reported in the _Witness_:-- + +"One of the principal difficulties," he said (of the clergy), "was the +prevalence of freethought among the people. There was a time when the +New Testament was received by almost everybody * * * But things had +changed * * * Some time ago the weapons of skilled historians were +turned first against the Old and then against the New Testament * * * +Dr. Norman McLeod, writing from Germany, said, 'I am informed on +credible testimony that ninety-nine out of every hundred persons here +are sceptics.' * * * Germany was to-day more Pagan than Christian * * * +The press passed up and down the land, scattering into every home things +which set men thinking." [Ah! there is the secret; when men begin to +think and reason on theological subjects as they do on secular, good-bye +creeds! goodbye confessions!] "Goldwin Smith, a man who had so studied +the past as to be able to interpret the present, had told us that a +religious collapse of the most complete and tremendous character was +apparent on every hand." It was only very recently that a sceptical work +on 'Supernatural Religion' passed through a number of editions in a few +months. Col. Ingersoll had recently visited the country. He came, he +saw, and in some sense he conquered. (Cries of No! No!) The second night +he had a much larger attendance than on the first. No matter who, ran +Ingersoll down, he was a man of great power of oratory and strong in +those qualities which control audiences. + +The Rev. gentleman then referred deprecatingly to the inadequate-college +training of theological students in "apologetics," as they were not +allowed to read the works of sceptics for themselves, but had to take +their tutors' version of the sceptics' arguments. This "putting up a +little argument and then knocking it down," he said was neither "the +fair nor the true way." He recommended putting "the very sceptical works +into the hands of the students, and he would even say to go and hear +Ingersoll if he came." + +That "man's idea of God rises with his progress in civilization," +_Bystander_ admits; but he attempts to explain the fact away on theistic +grounds, and dilute its strength as an argument that God is simply a +projection of the human mind. He asks:-- + +"If this conception" (a conception of God) "flows from no reality, from +what does it flow? It is a phenomenon of which, as of other phenomena, +there must be some explanation; and we have not yet chanced to see +in the writings of any Agnostic an explanation which seemed at all +satisfactory." + +I would respectfully suggest to _Bystander_ that there _is_ a +satisfactory explanation, though to him it may not be so. In answering +his question I will ask another. If the conception of, or belief in, a +devil or devils, flows from no reality, from what does it flow? The same +of witches, fairies, sprites, hob-goblins, _et hoc genus omne_. Belief +in these is quite as general as belief in God, though _Bystander's_ +question seems to assume that belief in the latter is universal. +This, however, is not the case, as has been conclusively shown in the +foregoing reply to Wend-ling. Therefore, this "conception" argument, +like the famous "design" argument, proves too much, and consequently +proves nothing. As to the _origin_ of the belief in spiritual agencies, +and conceptions of God, Darwin tells us it is not difficult to +comprehend how they arose. He says, "Descent of Man," vol. i, p. 63-5:-- + +"As soon as the important faculties of imagination, wonder, and +curiosity, together with some power of reasoning, had become partially +developed, man would naturally have craved to understand what was +passing around him, and have vaguely speculated on his own existence * * +* The belief in spiritual agencies would easily pass into the belief of +one or more Gods." + +_Bystander_, while freely admitting that the Theistic theory is +compassed with difficulties; and requires "re-statement," reminds us +that the-"materialistic hypothesis is not free from difficulty." The +difficulty he discovers in materialism relates to the order of priority +of matter and force. He asks:-- + +"Which of the two is the First Principle? Force cannot have been +produced by matter, for without force, matter cannot move, change, or +generate at all. Matter cannot have been produced by force, because +force is nothing but the impulsion of matter. Apparently there must have +been something before both, which produced them and determined their +relations; and it must be something beyond the range of sense." + +_Bystander_. I think, has not correctly apprehended the materialistic +position here, and hence the argument for a "something before both +matter and force which produced them," being built upon a postulated +premiss which we cannot accept, has no weight in establishing the +existence of a God behind matter and force. His error lies in the +assumption of the possibility of matter and force existing separately +and independently. He asks, "Which of the two is the First Principle?" +Our answer is, there can be no _first_ as between matter and force, +for there can be no matter without force, and _vice versa_. The two are +inseparable, even in conception, and the existence of one is absolutely +essential to the existence of the other. Hence the argument proceeding +from the assumption of their divisibility and possible independence +fails. The Theist has no right whatever, logically speaking, to assume +that there "must have been something before matter and force which +produced them." So long as matter and force are amply adequate (as far +as we can discern) to the production of all cognizable phenomena, we +are not warranted in assuming the existence of any being or thing behind +them. As soon as the Theist does this, we have the logical right to +carry his reasoning further, and at once assume something else behind +it again, and thus not only one but a thousand gods could be postulated +without the shadow of real proof of one of them. + +There is an ultimate ground, however, upon which the Theist and +Materialist may meet in common, and, so far as I can see, the only +ultimate position they can occupy in perfect corelation. The universe +exists; man as a part of the universe--a mode of existence--is here; +in this we agree. Man, then, being himself the highest intelligence +he knows of, continually seeks an explanation of the universe and of +himself as a part of it. This is the common ground upon which we +all stand--Rationalist, Theist, Agnostic, Atheist--barbarous and +civilized--the weakest and the mightiest intellect. + +All seek to explain the great mystery of the universe--some one way, +some another--from the rude thaumaturgic fancies of the primitive +barbarian up to the abstruse speculations and subtle reasonings of the +cultured Pantheist, intellectual Agnostic, and logical Materialist. +It is true one may be more reasonable and logical than the rest (as I +undoubtedly think is the case), yet they all occupy the common ground of +uncertainty. Not one can _demonstrate_ his position, and in this we are +all alike. (One, however, among all the rest thinks he _knows_ he is +_right_ and can prove it, viz., the dogmatic Christian Theist.) We may +all, therefore, stand together in the presence of Nature and acknowledge +our ignorance. Though each school has its theory, its hypothesis, its +solution, yet the mystery of the mighty universe is still an unsolved +problem. + + + + +REPLY TO "A RATIONALIST" + +We have another reply to Ingersoll in a pamphlet of twenty pages, issued +in Toronto, with the following modest title:--"A Refutation of Col. R. +G. Ingersoll's Lectures, by 'A Rationalist.'" This proemial announcement +is certainly calculated to excite high expectations; but it is only +necessary to look into the rational (?) "refutation" (?) to see that the +names the writer has given himself and pamphlet are both misnomers. How +such an irrational jumble of orthodoxy, heterodoxy, obsolete philosophy, +and moribund metaphysics could by any possibility pass for rationalism, +even in the eyes of its author, is one of those profound mysteries which +"no fellah can understand." Is it not a little singular that all these +"replies" and "refutations" from the orthodox side come from theological +nondescripts--from men who are but half orthodox (the other half not +being recognizable), and not one reply from a thoroughly orthodox +champion? A correlative fact, not without much significance, is that, +though no argument comes from the orthodox side, the denunciations all +come from that source. On the other hand in proportion as the opposing +champion is unorthodox, in that ratio is he tolerant, courteous, and +in favor of free speech and equal rights. "A Rationalist's" essay is +pervaded by the kindliest spirit personally towards his opponent, and +this, in a measure, redeems its literary and logical defects. + +Though "Rationalist" zealously defends the Bible, and argues for a God, +it is impossible to tell how much of the Bible he accepts, or what +God he believes in. He says, "every jot and tittle of the Bible is +inspired," yet in another place tells us, "The Apostle Paul is not +one of the inspired writers," as "His words will not bear a spiritual +interpretation." It would, therefore, seem that no part of the Bible +is inspired except that which will stand this method of "spiritual +interpretation." To get rid of the numerous errors, absurdities, and +immoralities contained in the Bible, "Rationalist" spiritualizes them. +He has a first-class recondite and spiritual meaning for every one of +them, which seems to be entirely satisfactory--to himself. With the +utmost facility everything is explained away; and armed with his occult +style of Bible exegesis he can laugh at the infidel scientist. He says +we must "rub off the literal meaning" in order to get at the spiritual, +and by this convenient method every difficulty between the two sacred +lids vanishes into thin air. This "rubbing off" business he also +applies to the God of the Bible, whose characteristic _anthropomorphism_ +"Rationalist," of course, rubs all off, even his _intelligence_. So that +there would seem to be little more left of the Jewish Jehovah, under +modern scriptural exegesis, than what Beecher describes as a "dim and +shadowy influence." "Rationalist" divests Deity of intelligence to +escape the effects of the following argument:-- + + Intelligence presupposes a greater intelligence, + + God has intelligence, + + Therefore, there must be an intelligence greater than God. + +Seeing the logical force of this, he quibbles thus: "We do not say that +God _has_ intelligence, but that God _is_ wisdom in form and love in +essence, and therefore the infinite source of all intelligence." This +will not do, Mr. "Rationalist!" It is entirely too vague. You must +either contend for a personal or an impersonal God. Give us either Deism +or Pantheism, and not an incongruous mixture, and then we will know on +what ground to meet you. If you mean that God is simply the aggregate, +or even the essence, of all intelligence, all love, all good, why this +is a mere abstraction, and even an Atheist might accept it; but if you +are contending for anything like the Christian's God, as set forth in +the Bible, you will have to alter your definitions very materially. + +As a specimen illustration of "Rationalist's" spiritual method of +resolving Scriptural difficulties I give below his version of the story +of Elisha, the children, and the bears, under the "rubbing off" process. +We, Freethinkers, he says, will not "object to the bears" when we +understand what the story means, and here is his elucidation, _verbatim +et literatim_:-- + +"Elisha represents the external or literal words of Holy Writ on +which the mantle of spiritual truth still rests. Children represent +affections--don't fond mothers even yet call them 'little loves?'--They +also correspond to the opposite, and so evil loves which destroy +obedience to the external life of goodness, taught in, at least, some +of the literal words of Scripture, naturally mock at the baldness of +Elisha. Baldness, since it refers to the head, and the head corresponds +to that union of will and intellect in man which rules, and is, the +life, and ultimates in the very extreme of its very minute external, +corresponds to the most external of the will and thought of Elisha, who +represents the literal meaning of Scripture. So this incident means that +evil loves could see no ultimate good to _themselves_ in the doing +of any good in a practical every-day way even where that was clearly +enjoined, and rendered as beautiful externally as hair is, and therefore +mocked at it, or rather at what seemed to them the lack of it. Then the +bears, which correspond to the animal passions of the animal man, came +out of the woods--woods correspond to the natural perceptions of natural +truth in man--and utterly destroyed these evil loves out of the life. +Again you see we find the same truth; that the Lord implants remains of +goodness and truth in every degree of man's life, even in the natural +man, fitted to cope with and conquer his evils, if man himself will but +permit it." + +There's a sample of "spiritual interpretation" for you! And what +_clearness_ is there, dear reader! Just return to the fourth sentence of +the above extract, commencing with "Baldness," and re-read it, and see +if you can make anything out of it. What the sentence does really +mean is to me as profound a mystery as the incantations of a Gypsy +thaumaturgist. It would be interesting to get "Rationalist" to try his +hand at spiritualizing some of the following passages of Holy Writ:-- + +"In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired," +&c. "And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him" +(Moses) "and sought to kill him." "I have seen God face to face." _Per +Contra_: "No man hath seen God at any time." "I am the Lord, I change +not, I will not go back, neither will I repent." _Per Contra_: "And God +repented of the evil that he said he would do unto them, and he did it +not." "There is no respect of persons with God." _Per Contra_: "Jacob +have I loved, and Esau have I hated." "I am a jealous God, visiting the +iniquities of the fathers upon the children." _Per Contra_: "The son +shall not bear the iniquity of the father." "It is impossible for God +to lie." _Per Contra_: "If the Prophet be deceived when he hath spoken +a thing, I the Lord have deceived that Prophet." "Be not afraid of them +that kill the body." _Per Contra_: "And after these things Jesus would +not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him." "And the anger +of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them +to say, 'Go number Israel.'" _Per Contra_: "And Satan provoked David to +number Israel." "I bear witness of myself, yet my record is true." _Per +Contra_: "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." "A man +is not justified by the works of the law." _Per Contra_: "Ye see, then, +how that by works a man is justified." "There shall no evil happen to +the just." _Per Contra_: "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall +suffer persecution." "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness and all +her paths are peace." _Per Contra_: "In much wisdom is much grief and he +that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." "It shall not be well with +the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days." _Per Contra_: "Wherefore +do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power." "Thou shalt +not: commit adultery." _Per Contra_: "Then said the Lord unto me, 'Go +get, love a woman, an adulteress.'" + +Here, certainly, is ample scope for exegetical ingenuity. The passages +quoted, besides scores of others, many of them too indecent for these +pages, would seem to require the touch of "Rationalist's" spiritual +interpretation wand. When the literal meaning is "rubbed off," the +occult, spiritual meaning will appear. + +As a sample of "Rationalist's" metaphysical philosophy I give the +following:-- + +"Will and love are identical... Will or love is life. A man cannot +think unless he wills to think; and he can only think that which he +wills--only that and nothing more. He can only do what he wills and +thinks. There is no action which is not the effect of will and its +thought. A man wills in order to think," etc. He also tells us that God +gave man a will "as _free_ as His own." Matter is spoken of as "mere +dead inert matter." + +Is more evidence than this needed that "Rationalist" is living in the +past, and has utterly failed to grasp modern thought? His philosophy is +bad, but his metaphysics is worse. Any man who at this day attempts to +"refute" Materialists should at least be somewhat acquainted with the +results of modern thought and scientific research; but "Rationalist" has +apparently advanced no further than the occult Swedenborgian mysticism +of the last century. Further, to talk to-day of "dead inert matter," is +to talk the language of an obsolete philosophy of the past; for modern +science and philosophy alike agree that matter is not "that mere empty +_capacity_ which philosophers have pictured her to be, but the universal +mother who brings forth all things as the fruit of her own womb." As +Pope says:-- + +"See thro' this air, this ocean, and this earth, All matter quick and +bursting into birth." + +Equally absurd is this talk about "Free Will" and "Free Moral Agency." +These metaphysico-theological dogmas have melted in the light of +mental science, and are now as "dead as a door nail," of which fact +"Rationalist" will be convinced if he will take the trouble to look into +Hamilton, Combe, Mill, Buckle, Lewes, Spencer, Huxley and Tyndall, and +he will then, probably, write no more such nonsense as quoted above. It +is not necessary, however, for any observant and thoughtful man to go to +any authorities outside his own mind to be convinced of the fallacy of +the "Free Will" dogma, for his own observation and reflection will do +it. And "Rationalist" can have the same conviction without the aid of +science or philosophy,--without even observation or reflection. Let him +turn to his Bible, which he champions, and read it, and he will find +abundant proof (such as it is) that man's will is not free. Let him read +the 8th, 9th and 11th Chapters of Romans. Let him then read Phil. 2, 13, +"For it is God which worketh in you _both to will and to do_ of His good +_pleasure_." Then read Isaiah, 46, 910, "I am God and there is none like +me, _declaring the end from the beginnings_ and from ancient times _the +things_ that are not _yet_ done, saying, my council shall stand, and I +will do all my _pleasure_." + +Now, I submit that if an omnipotent and omniscient God has "declared the +end from the beginning," and ordered all "the things that are not yet +done" (and you have his word for it here) how is it possible for +mortal and finite man to do any thing contrary to the thing ordered, +or accomplish any "end" but the one "declared from the beginning?" Here +you, who believe in God and the Bible, have his word for it that he has +declared all things "from the beginning." Man then _must_ do and think +as God has declared, and can do nothing else, hence he is _not free_. + +The idea that "a man cannot think unless he wills to think" is too +preposterous (laying the Bible aside) for any reasonable man to accept +who is not a slave to creeds and dogmas. Let "Rationalist," after +reading this sentence, stop reading, and assume a quiescent state (for +of course _his free will_ will enable him to do this)--a state of mental +passivity, as it were,--let him _will nothing_ for the time being,--and +then see if thoughts of some kind do not spontaneously arise in his +mind. And then let him _will_ to have _no thoughts_ for the space +of five minutes, and see if the thoughts do not steal into his brain +(providing of course he has one) unbidden, and in spite of him--in spite +of all his boasted freewill power. Let any reader put this impossible +and absurd dictum of "Rationalist" to the test, and he will have a +living demonstration in his own brain, which will render any further +argument on this point entirely superfluous. + +"Rationalist" worries himself into inextricable confusion over causes +and effects, first causes, first causes and last effects, etc., etc. +Because Ingersoll has said "a first cause is just as impossible as a +last effect," Rationalist well nigh swamps himself in a most ludicrous +"muss-of-a muddle-of-a-jerry-cum-tumble" of bad diction and worse logic +to prove that by such reasoning as Ingersoll's we come to "chaos" and +to "nothing," (hasn't the gentleman himself come to chaos if not to +nothing?) We reason everything out of existence, he says, and just now +we will have left "no nature, no God, no man, no matter" (it would be +_no matter_ if some _bipids_ were gone) "no force," no "nothing"-- +"literally nothing." Shades of Bacon! let us take breath; for this would +certainly be a very bad state of things, from which "good Lord deliver +us!" It would be nearly as bad as before the "creation," when nothing +existed throughout the infinite realms of space save Jehovah himself. + +I will endeavor to make what materialists mean by the impossibility of +a first cause or last effect clear to "Rationalist." We believe in one +existence, and only one--the universe--which, though never itself having +been created or brought into existence (being eternal), is the primal +(or "first" if you like) cause of all phenomena Rationalist will thus +see that in one sense there is no _first came_ as the universe is +eternal, yet in another sense there _is_ a first cause, viz.: the +universe, as it is the primal cause of all phenomena. As to a "last +effect," it should be obvious to every _rational_ mind that as matter +and force are indestructible, and hence eternal in duration, there can +be no last effect; for as long as matter and force exist effects must of +necessity ensue. + + + + +REPLY TO REV. A. J. BRAY + +It is a great relief to a Freethinker to find a man among the clergy +like Mr. Bray, in point of religious liberality. It is like coming upon +an oasis in the waste desert of orthodox bigotry and intolerance. + +Mr. Bray is the able editor of the _Canadian Spectator_, of Montreal; +and also preaches, I believe, every Sunday in Zion Church in that city. +Unlike his clerical brethren generally, when Mr. Ingersoll lectured in +Montreal, in April last, Mr. Bray went to hear him, and answered him +from his pulpit the two following Sundays. These "Discourses" were +published in the succeeding numbers of his paper, the _Spectator_. Hear +him on free speech:-- + +"In a free country all kinds of freedom must be allowed, and Mr. +Ingersoll had just as much right to come here and say his say in his own +manner, and according to his own discretion, as Mr. Hammond has to come +and preach and teach in his way. If men are free to agree with us, they +are also free to differ with us; to differ a little, to differ much, +to differ altogether. If the Mayor had found a law by which he could +prohibit Ingersoll from lecturing against our religious beliefs, I would +have started an agitation at once for the repeal of that absurd and +antiquated law. If hearing arguments against our faith is likely to +unsettle us, then we had better be unsettled. We are badly off with all +our religious literature and preaching, if we cannot endure any kind of +criticism, and witticism, and argument." + +These are brave words, and every fair-minded man in this Dominion will +agree with Mr. Bray in his liberal and courageous utterances. They are +timely words to go forth in that city where the war of sects has waxed +so hot and virulent of late. Montreal needs more men like Bray in her +churches, to mollify the bigotry, and stamp out the bitter feuds, and +fierce antagonism of Christian against Christian. + +As this pamphlet has already reached a much greater length than +originally intended, I have but little space to devote to Mr. Bray's +Reply to Ingersoll. One or two points, however, must be noticed. + +Mr. Bray falls into the same error as "Bystander" in accusing + +Ingersoll of attacking a theology which, he tells us, is "opposed to +all reason," and now "well nigh obsolete." I would simply say if it is +"obsolete," it is the stock in trade of the Christian Church today. Take +away from it this obsolete theology (which is "opposed to all reason,") +and there is nothing left of Christianity worth speaking of; for the +morality Christianity contains does not of right belong to it It is +Pagan. It has been _appropriated_ by Christianity, and is not original +with it. There is not a single moral precept in the Bible, but was +taught before that book was written. (For proof of this, see Sir +Wm. Jones, Max Muller, Lord Amberly, and "Supernatural Religion.") +Therefore, when you take away the dogmas of Christianity--its "obsolete +theology"--you take away Christianity itself to all intents and +purposes. And hence the utter inconsistency and absurdity of our +opponents in taxing us with merely attacking a dead theology, when that +dead theology is all there is of a religion which they defend and +wish to perpetuate. Seeing, then, that the theology of Christianity is +admittedly dead, why not give it up and come over to us? for all you +have left--the brotherhood of man--belongs to us: it is our RELIGION OF +HUMANITY. + +As the only salient point, to my mind, in Mr. Bray's reply to Ingersoll +is dealt with in the following letter, which I addressed to the +_Spectator_, and which appeared in its columns, I have only space here +to reproduce that letter:-- + +To the Editor of the Canadian Spectator: + +Sir,--In your issue of the 10th instant, in a discourse in reply to Col. +Ingersoll, I find the following:-- + +"The lecturer, who seemed to imagine that he understood everything else, +was compelled to acknowledge that he did not understand why there should +be so much hunger and pain and misery. Why, the world over, life should +live upon life. When he has cast Jehovah out of the Universe, he is +pained and puzzled to account for the presence of wrong and sorrow. With +God he cannot account for it; without God he cannot account for it. If +Col. Ingersoll, or any other of that school, can give me an intelligent +theory of life, and satisfactory solution of the problem of the presence +of evil and pain without God, I am prepared to consider it." + +Now, Sir, having the honor (or dishonor, as the case may be,) to belong +to that school, I venture to take up the gauntlet thus thrown down. From +our stand-point we are able, we think, to give an intelligent theory of +these things; and although it may not be wholly devoid of mystery, we +claim it is less mysterious than the Christian theory. We claim that +the Materialistic explanation of the Universe and its phenomena is more +reasonable and less mysterious than the Theistic; and this is why +we find ourselves compelled to adopt it and become Atheists. On the +Materialistic hypothesis of development and evolution we are certainly +_not_ "puzzled to account for the presence of wrong and sorrow," however +much we may be pained at their fearful prevalence. It is only on the +hypothesis of being under the governance of an omnipotent and infinitely +_benevolent_ Being that we are utterly unable to account for such-a +state of things. Although the ultimate tendency of the forces of +the-Universe seems to be towards a higher, and higher, and more perfect +condition, not only for man, but all animals, and even plants, yet +these-forces are, as Science abundantly proves, utterly without +mercy--without pity for man or any other animal. Therefore, on the +evolution philosophy of things, we can reasonably predicate pain, +sorrow, and wrong; and are not puzzled at their existence. It is only on +the theory of a _good_ God controlling the Universe that we stand dumb +with confusion and wonderment in the presence of all this woe, pain, +misery, and wrong-with which the world is filled--this terrible +"struggle for life," where the-strong prey upon the weak, where animal +eats animal, and man eats-man! + +The theologians have had upwards of two thousand years to reduce the +Materialistic paradoxes of Epicurus on the existence of evil, but have +they done so? If there be a God, and He is all-powerful, He _could_ +remove the _surplus_ evil and pain from the world, and if He is all-good +He _would_ remove it, is an argument which has never yet been answered +by a Paley, a Butler, a Dawson, or any other Christian Theist or Bible +apologist. I use the phrase "_surplus_ evil and pain" for this reason: +As a sort of apology for the rank malevolence abroad in the world, and +as an argument for the existence of a beneficent God, Christian Theists +tell us that pain is necessary as an antecedent to the proper enjoyment +of pleasure; that it is necessary to the growth and development of +character; that the storm of the ocean is an essential pre-requisite to +the adequate enjoyment of the subsequent calm; that all smooth sailing +would be monotonous and insipid. Now, we will admit this for the sake +of the argument; but there yet remains the mass of _surplus_ evil to +be accounted for, which is wholly unnecessary for such corrective and +distributive purposes. It may, perhaps, be necessary that the tempest +toss the ship about on the bosom of the ocean in order that the living +freight may have a keener appreciation of the succeeding calm, and also +to develop awe and sublimity in their breasts; but to accomplish this it +is scarcely to the purpose to send all to the bottom of the ocean! That +we may have a proper relish for our food and a due appreciation of the +blessings of a good appetite, it may be necessary that we feel the pangs +of hunger and starvation occasionally; but to give us this wholesome +discipline it would seem hardly necessary that millions of human beings +should actually be starved to death! + +Now, on the theory of _inexorable law_* instead of a _beneficent +Providence_, we are not surprised that a ship which is not strong enough +to ride the storm should go to the bottom, even though five hundred +bishops and clergymen be aboard supplicating an unknown God for succor. +On the theory of inexorable and merciless law in which we are fast +bound, we are not "puzzled" that millions of human beings should +starve to death when these laws or conditions of Nature are violated in +over-population and a false political and social economy. Or when a Tay +bridge goes down with its living freight under the pressure of train +and tempest, the Atheist is neither surprised nor puzzled: but the +Christian, who worships a benevolent (?) God and believes that not a +hair falls from his head without His notice, can only look at such a +malevolent horror in dumb silence and amazement--he has no explanation. +Our theory of the presence of evil in the world is, therefore, at +least rational; but, is the Christian theory rational? Is it rational +to-suppose that all the pain, sorrow, and evil in the world have been +caused by the puerile circumstance of a woman eating an apple? This +would be as monstrously unjust as it is irrational and absurd. + +As to the origin and maintenance of life "without God," it is quite as +comprehensible and rational without God as with one with the Christian +conditions and qualifications. An universe of matter containing +the "promise and potency of all forms and qualities of life" is +as intelligible and comprehensible as a God _outside_ the Universe +embodying the potency of all life. From the time that Lucretius declared +that "Nature is seen to do all things spontaneously of herself without +the meddling of the Gods," and Bruno that matter is the "universal +mother who brings forth all things as the fruit of her own womb," down +to Prof. Tyndall, who discerns in matter "the promise and potency of +every form and quality of life," scientists have never been able to +discover the least intrusion of any creative power into the operations +of + + * Materialists, in using the phrase "law of Nature," use a + popular expression, but not in the popular sense as + presupposing a law-giver. By "law of Nature" we simply mean + natural sequence--the uniformity of Nature's operations. + +Nature and the affairs of this world, or the least trace of interference +by any God or gods. In the primeval ages of ignorance and barbarism the +gods were supposed to do everything, from the production of wind, rain, +tempest, thunder and lightning, earthquakes, &c, down to dyspepsia +and potato-bugs. Science now explains all these things and a thousand +others. Indeed, in modern philosophy there is no room for the gods in +the Universe, and nothing left for them to do. And there cannot be any +room _beyond_ it for them, for "above Nature we cannot rise." + +The Materialistic theory (and to it we subscribe) is that there is +but _one existence_, the _Universe_, and that it is eternal--without +beginning or end--that the matter of the Universe never could have been +created, for _ex nihilo nihil fit_, (from nothing nothing can come,) and +that it contains within itself the potency adequate to the production of +all phenomena. This we think to be more conceivable and intelligent +than the Christian theory that there are two existences--God and the +Universe--and that there was a time when there was but one existence, +God, and that after an indefinite period of quiescence and "masterly +inactivity" He finally created a Universe either out of Himself or out +of nothing--either one of which propositions is philosophically absurd. +And in either case, to say that God would be infinite would be equally +absurd. + +Respectfully, + +ALLEN PRINGLE. + +Napanee, Ont., April 23, 1880. + + + + +THE OATH QUESTION + +(TO CANADIAN FREETHINKERS.) + +As this Pamphlet will be widely circulated throughout Canada (especially +Ontario), it will come into the hands of most Canadian Freethinkers, and +I have therefore thought this an opportune time to bring this question, +in which we are all so deeply interested, before the Freethinkers of +Canada, and urge upon them the necessity of agitation for reform. The +time has come, I think, for action in petitioning Parliament to remove +the serious and most unjust disabilities under which we, as a class, are +now placed, and thus have equal rights extended to all citizens. As the +law now stands we are deprived of our rights in the courts, and the ends +of justice are often defeated, not only to our detriment but that of +Christians themselves. If the presiding judge choose to adhere to the +strict letter of the law the testimony of Atheists is refused. It is +very easy to see how the gravest injustice could be inflicted upon +Freethinkers and Christians alike under this unjust law. A Freethinker +may be the only witness to a case involving the interests of a +Christian, or he may be the only witness for himself as against a +Christian; and by his not being eligible as a witness the ends of +justice are defeated. Or an unscrupulous believer may claim that he is +a Freethinker to get rid of giving evidence altogether. It is true there +seems to rest with the Judges a large amount of discretionary power as +to whom they will or will not accept to give evidence; and the majority, +perhaps, of our Canadian Judges exhibit a commendable spirit of +liberality in the matter of accepting the testimony of Freethinkers. But +occasionally one is to be met with, too full of religion and bigotry to +recognize our rights or extend any discretion in our favor. In the +city of Toronto, a few months ago, the testimony of two respectable +and intelligent witnesses was refused because they did not believe +the dogmas of the popular religion.* As an offset to this, however, an +Ottawa-Judge recently showed his fairness and liberality by allowing +a Juryman Freethinker, who declined to take the oath, to make an +affirmation. The Grand Juror referred to, Mr. John Law, of Ottawa, is +described as-a gentleman of "unimpeachable honor and probity," and +hence his simple affirmation being, as he stated, fully binding on his +conscience, would, or certainly ought to, have more weight than the +oaths of many witnesses (believers) who are taken into the witness box. +The presiding Judge, doubtless, so regarded the matter, and therefore, +in his discretion, magnanimously allowed Mr. Law to affirm. + +In England, under "The Evidence Amendment Act" of 1869,32* and 33 Vic, +c. 68, s. 4, Atheists can make the following affirmation instead of +taking the Christian oath, and the Court must allow all Freethinkers to +do so who demand it: + +"I solemnly promise and declare that the evidence given by me to the +Court, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." + +We want a similar Act in Canada, and then Counsel will not be able as +now to badger witnesses about "infidel belief," and turn the court into +an inquisition; nor will a bigoted judge have it in his discretion to +order Atheists down from the witness-box as not fit to give evidence. +At almost every sitting of our courts it is demonstrated beyond a doubt. +that believers in the Bible, who take the oath on that Book, do not +all tell the truth under oath. Every judge and lawyer in the land knows +this, and all know it who have much to do in courts of law. The simple +word or affirmation of an honest man, whether Christian or Infidel, is +better than a thousand oaths of many believers in the Bible, who are +without hesitation taken into the witness-box. Moreover, the Atheist in +making the above affirmation under the Act referred to, is subject to +the same penalties for perjury as the Christian is in taking, the usual +oath. There is, therefore, no good reason why we should! not have +a similar Act here, and it behooves us to begin to move towards its +consummation. Freethinkers are getting numerous in Canada, and they are, +to say the least, as exemplary citizens, socially and morally, as their +Christian neighbors? Why then should they be longer denied equal rights +with their Christian neighbors? + + * Since writing this I have been informed by one of the + witnesses alluded to, that no blame can be fairly imputed to + the presiding Judge in this case, as he felt compelled, + against his sympathies, to carry out the unjust law. + +In England they still have a State Religion, yet the rights of +Rationalists in this respect are conceded to them. Here we have no +state religion, and yet we suffer under religious disabilities which are +utterly out of keeping with the spirit of the age, and which are fast +being swept away in every civilized country. The Bradlaugh imbroglio +recently in the English House of Commons has had the effect of opening +some people's eyes, especially those conservative Christians who +are still afflicted with lingerings of that bigoted, intolerant, and +persecuting spirit which formerly lighted the fires of Smithfleld, +hung quakers, imprisoned so-called "blasphemers," and violated civil +contracts in the name of God. In the last election in England, a few +months ago, Charles Bradlaugh, the eminent Atheist and Republican, was +elected to the English House of Commons for the borough of Northampton, +and in entering the House he claimed his right, instead of taking the +Parliamentary oath, to affirm under the Act referred to above. The +House at first refused, vacillated, appointed Committees, and vigorously +debated the matter; while the bigoted members at once proceeded to +unbudget themselves in true Christian style against the "vermin" +Atheist. Meanwhile the levelheaded Atheist knew what he was about, and, +as the sequel showed, proved himself more than a match for the English +House of Commons. Meanwhile also, the people of England--the working +classes--were-watching the whole business, and finally when Bradlaugh +was refused both oath and affirmation, and the intention to keep the +Atheist out of Parliament became manifest, they (the people) promptly +came to the front. Just then it began to dawn on "the powers that be" +that _vox populi, vox Dei_ had more truth than poetry in it. The people +of England--the producers--(called "lower classes" by the "upper" +_non_-producers) assembled in scores of thousands in indignation +mass-meetings all over England, demanding the admission of Charles +Bradlaugh (their best friend) to his rightful seat in the English House +of Commons. The aforesaid "powers that be" took the alarm. Seeing that +the "voice of the people" was even more potent than the "voice of God," +they prudently bowed to its mandate. They perceived that no Clock Tower, +or other tower in England would hold the workingman's friend even for +the space of seven days. Bradlaugh must be released or the House of +Brunswick might peradventure soon be in mourning--not, probably, for +spilled blood, but for a crown, aye, a crown! No wonder the English +Government feared to see Charles Bradlaugh enter the House of +Commons. He had impeached the House of Brunswick. And it was no "soft +impeachment." No, but a terribly hard indictment! Was it ever answered? +No, it was too true to answer. The only answer was from Lord Randolph +Churchill in the House of Commons, and it was characteristic. This rabid +monarchist, with much more Christian zeal than knowledge or discretion, +took Bradlaugh's "Impeachment of the House of Brunswick" and cast it +viciously under his feet on the floor of the House of Commons. That was +the way the "Impeachment" was answered! Well, as Shakspeare says, "let +the galled jades wince!" But the Atheist had his revenge! They had put +him in the Tower, but they very soon let him out. He had been somewhat +accustomed to fighting the English Government, having beaten them twice, +and he feared not. He was imprisoned one day, but released the next. +An Act was speedily passed giving more even than Bradlaugh at first +demanded--giving every member who wishes in future, the right to affirm +instead of taking the Christian Oath. Bradlaugh has accordingly made +his affirmation as he at first demanded, and has taken his seat in the +English House of Commons as M. P. for Northampton,* And now let every +Freethinker throughout the civilized world rejoice, for this is a great +victory for our cause! The eloquent champion of our dearest rights +has achieved a glorious victory on the very threshold of the English +Parliament before he enters it! Let us take courage! The indomitable and +invincible Iconoclast has now attained a position where his voice will +be heard in behalf of liberty and the rights of man the world over! He +is called "coarse" by some over-cultured people, but his coarseness is +of the kind the world needs, and therefore _we_ do not object to it. The +superstitions, and errors, and wrongs, and oppressions still weighing +down our fellow-men need bare-handed ("coarse") handling, without +gloves, and Bradlaugh wears none of these, but fearlessly throws down +the gauntlet to falsehood and oppression whenever and wherever found. +But I fear I am getting a little off the Oath Question here in my +enthusiasm for Charles Bradlaugh, Member of Parliament for Northampton. + + * The press of Canada, with very few exceptions, have done + Mr. Bradlaugh a great injustice in connection with the oath + question, as they have (perhaps unintentionally) utterly + misrepresented him. They have charged that he "flaunted his + Atheism before the House of Commons," that he at first + _refused_ to take the oath on conscientious grounds and + subsequently "swallowed his scruples" and offered to take + the oath; and that, therefore, the Atheist is without + conscience and without principle, sacrificing all for place. + Now, this is all utterly untrue. He did not flaunt his + Atheism before the House. He did not _refuse_ to take the + oath, but simply claimed to be allowed to affirm. The + Speaker having intimated to Mr. Bradlaugh that if he desired + to address the House in explanation of his claim he would be + permitted to do so, Mr. Bradlaugh said, "I have repeatedly, + for nine years past, made an affirmation in the highest + courts of jurisdiction in this realm: I am ready to make + such a declaration or affirmation." And subsequently when + Mr. Bradlaugh offered to take the oath, it was after he had + made an explanation that although a portion of it to him was + a meaningless form, yet that the oath as a whole, if he took + it would be binding on his conscience substantially the same + as an affirmation. These are the facts, all taken from + authentic official sources, and not from what bigoted and + prejudiced correspondents have sent us across the ocean. My + authority is the record of the proceedings of the + Parliamentary Committees on the Bradlaugh case, where the + facts I have stated were distinctly brought out in evidence, + to which source I beg to refer the newspapers of this + country and call upon them to make the _amende honorable_ by + setting this matter right before their readers. + +In conclusion, I beg to again urge upon my fellow Freethinkers +throughout Canada the necessity of taking such action as will secure +for us our legal rights in the Courts of this country. I trust that the +petitions to Parliament for an Evidence Amendment Act, which we design +ere long to put in circulation, may be numerously signed and diligently +circulated by the liberal friends in the various places to which they +will be sent. + +Selby, Lennox Co., Ont., July, 1880 + + +"It can do truth no service to blink the fact, known to all who have the +most ordinary Acquaintance with literary history, that a large portion, +of the noblest and most valuable moral teaching has been the work, not +only of men who did not know, but of men who knew and rejected, the +Christian faith."--J. S. Mill. + +"The history of Christ is contained in records which exhibit +contradictions that cannot be reconciled, imperfections that would +greatly detract from even admitted human compositions, and erroneous +principles of morality that would hardly have found a place in the most +incomplete system of the philosophers of Greece and Rome."--Rev. Dr. +Giles. + +"That any human creature, be he peer or peasant, man or woman, pauper or +millionaire, should be visited with pains and penalties because of +his or her speculative opinion on a subject whereon but few even of +professing Christians are agreed, is a bitter satire on our vaunted +liberty. My Lords, it is the spirit which lighted the martyr-fires of +Smithfield, and led to the stake gallant and noble souls such as Bruno. +It is a noble; company you are placing me in, my Lords, and I shall +thank you for it."--_Ibid_. + +"Who shall number the patient and earnest seekers after truth, from the +days of Galileo until now, whose lives have been embittered, and their +good name blasted, by the mistaken zeal of Bibliolators? Who shall count +the host of weaker men whose sense of truth has been destroyed in the +effort to harmonize impossibilities--whose life has been wasted in the +attempt to force the generous new wine of Science into the old bottles +of Judaism, compelled by the outcry of the same strong party." _Prof. +Huxley_. + +"Thou shalt not kill, even the smallest creature. + +"Thou shalt not appropriate to thyself what belongs to another. + +"Thou shah not infringe the laws of chastity. + +"Thou shalt not lie. + +"Thou Shalt not calumniate. + +"Thou shalt not speak of injuries. + +"Thou shalt not excite quarrels, by repeating the words of others. + +"Thou shalt not hate." + +--_Moral Precepts from Buddhistic Sacred Books._ + + +"I discern in matter * * the promise and potency of all forms and +qualities of life."--_Tyndall_ + +"A poor man, in our day, has many gods foisted on him; and big voices +bid him 'Worship or be --------' in a menacing and confusing manner. +What shall he do? By far the greater part of said gods, current in the +public, whether canonized by Pope or Populas, are mere dumb asses and +beautiful prize-oxen--nay, some of them, who have articulate faculty, +are devils instead of Gods. A poor man that would save his soul alive is +reduced to the sad necessity of _sharply trying his gods_ whether they +are divine or not, which is a terrible pass for mankind, and lays an +awful problem upon each man."--_Tomas Carlyle_ + +"These Gospels, so important to the Church, have not come to us in one +undisputed form. We have no authorised copy of them in their original +language, so that we may know in what precise words they were originally +written. The authorities from which we derive their sacred text are +various ancient copies, written by hand on parchment. Of the Gospels +there are more than five hundred of these manuscripts of various ages, +from the fourth century after Christ to the fifteenth, when printing +superseded manual writing for publication of books. Of these five +hundred and more, _no two_ are in all points alike: probably in no two +of the more ancient can _even a few consecutive verses_ be found +in which all the words agree."--_Dean Alford, "How to Study the New +Testament_." "I find Armenian Christians who say that it is a sin to eat +a hare; Greeks who affirm that the Holy Ghost does not proceed from +the Son; Nestorians who deny that Mary is the mother of God: Latins +who boast that in the extreme West the Christians of Europe think quite +contrary to those of Asia and Africa. I know that ten or twelve sects +in Europe anathematise each other; the Musselmen disdain the Christians, +whom they nevertheless tolerate; the Jews hold in equal execration the +Christians and Muselmen; the Fire-worshippers despise them all; the +remnant of the Sabeans will not eat with either of the Other sects; +and the Brahmin cannot suffer either Salbeans, or Fire-Worshippers, or +Christians, or Musselmen, or Jews. I have a hundred times wished that +Jesus Christ, in coming to be incarnated in Judea, had united all the +sects under his laws. I have asked myself why, being God, he did not use +the rights of his divinity; why, in coming to deliver us from sin, he +has left us in sin; why, in coming to enlighten all men, he has left +almost all men in darkness. I know I am nothing; I know that from the +depth of my nothingness I have no right to interrogate the Being of +Beings; but I may, like Job, raise a voice of respectful sorrow from the +bosom of my misery."--_Voltaire_. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ingersoll in Canada, by Allen Pringle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INGERSOLL IN CANADA *** + +***** This file should be named 38303.txt or 38303.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/3/0/38303/ + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/38303.zip b/38303.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..de537f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/38303.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..472358c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #38303 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38303) |