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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/38801-8.txt b/38801-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8640e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/38801-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10451 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 1 +(of 12), by Robert G. Ingersoll + +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: The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 1 (of 12) + Dresden Edition--Lectures + +Author: Robert G. Ingersoll + +Release Date: February 9, 2012 [EBook #38801] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORKS OF INGERSOLL *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + + +THE WORKS OF ROBERT G. INGERSOLL + +"The Destroyer Of Weeds, Thistles And Thorns Is A Benefactor, Whether He +Soweth Grain Or Not." + +IN TWELVE VOLUMES, VOLUME I. + +LECTURES + +1901 + +THE DRESDEN PUBLISHING CO. + + +TO + +EVA A. INGERSOLL, + +MY WIFE, + +A WOMAN WITHOUT SUPERSTITION, + +THIS VOLUME + +IS DEDICATED. + +FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. + +FOR THE USE OF MAN, + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. + +THE GODS. + +(1872.) + +An Honest God is the Noblest Work of Man--Resemblance of Gods to +their Creators--Manufacture and Characteristics of Deities--Their +Amours--Deficient in many Departments of Knowledge--Pleased with the +Butchery of Unbelievers--A Plentiful Supply--Visitations--One God's +Laws of War--The Book called the Bible--Heresy of Universalism--Faith +an unhappy mixture of Insanity and Ignorance--Fallen Gods, or +Devils--Directions concerning Human Slavery--The first Appearance of +the Devil--The Tree of Knowledge--Give me the Storm and Tempest of +Thought--Gods and Devils Natural Productions--Personal Appearance +of Deities--All Man's Ideas suggested by his Surroundings--Phenomena +Supposed to be Produced by Intelligent Powers--Insanity and Disease +attributed to Evil Spirits--Origin of the Priesthood--Temptation of +Christ--Innate Ideas--Divine Interference--Special Providence--The +Crane and the Fish--Cancer as a proof of Design--Matter and +Force--Miracle--Passing the Hat for just one Fact--Sir William Hamilton +on Cause and Effect--The Phenomena of Mind--Necessity and Free Will--The +Dark Ages--The Originality of Repetition--Of what Use have the Gods been +to Man?--Paley and Design--Make Good Health Contagious--Periodicity of +the Universe and the Commencement of Intellectual Freedom--Lesson of +the ineffectual attempt to rescue the Tomb of Christ from the +Mohammedans--The Cemetery of the Gods--Taking away Crutches--Imperial +Reason + + +HUMBOLDT. + +(1869.) + +The Universe is Governed by Law--The Self-made Man--Poverty generally +an Advantage--Humboldt's Birth-place--His desire for Travel--On what +Humboldt's Fame depends--His Companions and Friends--Investigations +in the New World--A Picture--Subjects of his Addresses--Victory of the +Church over Philosophy--Influence of the discovery that the World is +governed by Law--On the term Law--Copernicus--Astronomy--Aryabhatta-- +Descartes--Condition of the World and Man when the morning of Science +Dawned--Reasons for Honoring Humboldt--The World his Monument + + +THOMAS PAINE. + +(1870.) + +With his Name left out the History of Liberty cannot be Written--Paine's +Origin and Condition--His arrival in America with a Letter of +Introduction by Franklin--Condition of the Colonies--"Common Sense"--A +new Nation Born--Paine the Best of Political Writers--The "Crisis"--War +not to the Interest of a trading Nation--Paine's Standing at the Close +of the Revolution--Close of the Eighteenth Century in France-The +"Rights of Man"--Paine Prosecuted in England--"The World is my +Country"--Elected to the French Assembly--Votes against the Death of +the King--Imprisoned--A look behind the Altar--The "Age of Reason"--His +Argument against the Bible as a Revelation--Christianity of Paine's +Day--A Blasphemy Law in Force in Maryland--The Scotch "Kirk"--Hanging +of Thomas Aikenhead for Denying the Inspiration of the +Scriptures--"Cathedrals and Domes, and Chimes and Chants"--Science--"He +Died in the Land his Genius Defended," + + +INDIVIDUALITY. + +(1873.) + +"His Soul was like a Star and Dwelt Apart"--Disobedience one of the +Conditions of Progress.--Magellan--The Monarch and the Hermit-Why +the Church hates a Thinker--The Argument from Grandeur and +Prosperity-Travelers and Guide-boards--A Degrading Saying--Theological +Education--Scotts, Henrys and McKnights--The Church the Great +Robber--Corrupting the Reason of Children--Monotony of Acquiescence: For +God's sake, say No--Protestant Intolerance: Luther and Calvin--Assertion +of Individual Independence a Step toward Infidelity--Salute to +Jupiter--The Atheistic Bug-Little Religious Liberty in America--God in +the Constitution, Man Out--Decision of the Supreme Court of Illinois +that an Unbeliever could not testify in any Court--Dissimulation--Nobody +in this Bed--The Dignity of a Unit + + +HERETICS AND HERESIES. + +(1874.) + +Liberty, a Word without which all other Words are Vain--The Church, the +Bible, and Persecution--Over the wild Waves of War rose and fell +the Banner of Jesus Christ--Highest Type of the Orthodox +Christian--Heretics' Tongues and why they should be Removed before +Burning--The Inquisition Established--Forms of Torture--Act of Henry +VIII for abolishing Diversity of Opinion--What a Good Christian was +Obliged to Believe--The Church has Carried the Black Flag--For what Men +and Women have been Burned--John Calvin's Advent into the +World--His Infamous Acts--Michael Servetus--Castalio--Spread of +Presbyterianism--Indictment of a Presbyterian Minister in Illinois for +Heresy--Specifications--The Real Bible + + +THE GHOSTS. + +(1877.) + +Dedication to Ebon C. Ingersoll--Preface--Mendacity of the Religious +Press--"Materialism"--Ways of Pleasing the Ghosts--The Idea of +Immortality not Born of any Book--Witchcraft and Demon-ology--Witch +Trial before Sir Matthew Hale--John Wesley a Firm Believer in +Ghosts--"Witch-spots"--Lycanthropy--Animals Tried and Convicted--The +Governor of Minnesota and the Grasshoppers--A Papal Bull against +Witchcraft--Victims of the Delusion--Sir William Blackstone's +Affirmation--Trials in Belgium--Incubi and Succubi--A Bishop +Personated by the Devil--The Doctrine that Diseases are caused by +Ghosts--Treatment--Timothy Dwight against Vaccination--Ghosts as +Historians--The Language of Eden--Leibnitz, Founder of the Science +of Language--Cosmas on Astronomy--Vagaries of Kepler and Tycho +Brahe--Discovery of Printing, Powder, and America--Thanks to the +Inventors--The Catholic Murderer and the Meat--Let the Ghosts Go + + +THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD. + +(1877.) + +Liberty sustains the same Relation to Mind that Space does to +Matter--The History of Man a History of Slavery--The Infidel Our +Fathers in the good old Time--The iron Arguments that Christians +Used--Instruments of Torture--A Vision of the Inquisition--Models of +Man's Inventions--Weapons, Armor, Musical Instruments, Paintings, +Books, Skulls--The Gentleman in the Dug-out--Homage to Genius and +Intellect--Abraham Lincoln--What I mean by Liberty--The Man who cannot +afford to Speak his Thought is a Certificate of the Meanness of the +Community in which he Resides--Liberty of Woman--Marriage and the +Family--Ornaments the Souvenirs of Bondage-The Story of the Garden of +Eden--Adami and Heva--Equality of the Sexes-The word "Boss"--The Cross +Man-The Stingy Man--Wives who are Beggars--How to Spend Money--By +the Tomb of the Old Napoleon--The Woman you Love will never Grow +Old--Liberty of Children--When your Child tells a Lie--Disowning +Children--Beating your own Flesh and Blood--Make Home Pleasant--Sunday +when I was a Boy--The Laugh of a Child--The doctrine of Eternal +Punishment--Jonathan Edwards on the Happiness of Believing Husbands +whose Wives are in Hell--The Liberty of Eating and Sleeping--Water in +Fever--Soil and Climate necessary to the production of Genius--Against +Annexing Santo Domingo--Descent of Man--Conclusion + + +ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS. + +(1877.) + +To Plow is to Pray; to Plant is to Prophesy, and the Harvest Answers and +Fulfills--The Old Way of Farming--Cooking an Unknown Art-Houses, Fuel, +and Crops--The Farmer's Boy--What a Farmer should Sell--Beautifying +the Home--Advantages of Illinois as a Farming State--Advantages of the +Farmer over the Mechanic--Farm Life too Lonely-On Early Rising--Sleep +the Best Doctor--Fashion--Patriotism and Boarding Houses--The Farmer and +the Railroads--Money and Confidence--Demonetization of Silver-Area of +Illinois--Mortgages and Interest--Kindness to Wives and Children--How +a Beefsteak should be Cooked--Decorations and Comfort--Let the Children +Sleep--Old Age + + +WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED? + +(1880.) + +Preface--The Synoptic Gospels--Only Mark Knew of the Necessity of +Belief--Three Christs Described--The Jewish Gentleman and the Piece of +Bacon--Who Wrote the New Testament?--Why Christ and the Apostles wrote +Nothing--Infinite Respect for the Man Christ--Different Feeling for +the Theological Christ--Saved from What?--Chapter on the Gospel of +Matthew--What this Gospel says we must do to be Saved--Jesus and the +Children--John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards conceived of as Dimpled +Darlings--Christ and the Man who inquired what Good Thing he should +do that he might have Eternal Life--Nothing said about Belief--An +Interpolation--Chapter on the Gospel of Mark--The Believe or be Damned +Passage, and why it was written--The last Conversation of Christ with +his Disciples--The Signs that Follow them that Believe--Chapter on +the Gospel of Luke--Substantial Agreement with Matthew and Mark--How +Zaccheus achieved Salvation--The two Thieves on the Cross--Chapter +on the Gospel of John--The Doctrine of Regeneration, or the New +Birth--Shall we Love our Enemies while God Damns His?--Chapter on the +Catholics--Communication with Heaven through Decayed Saints--Nuns and +Nunneries--Penitentiaries of God should be Investigated--The +Athanasian Creed expounded--The Trinity and its Members--Chapter on the +Episcopalians--Origin of the Episcopal Church--Apostolic Succession +an Imported Article--Episcopal Creed like the Catholic, with a +few Additional Absurdities--Chapter on the Methodists--Wesley and +Whitfield--Their Quarrel about Predestination--Much Preaching for Little +Money--Adapted to New Countries--Chapter on the Presbyterians--John +Calvin, Murderer--Meeting between Calvin and Knox--The Infamy of +Calvinism--Division in the Church--The Young Presbyterian's Resignation +to the Fate of his Mother--A Frightful, Hideous, and Hellish +Creed--Chapter on the Evangelical Alliance--Jeremy Taylor's Opinion of +Baptists--Orthodoxy not Dead--Creed of the Alliance--Total Depravity, +Eternal Damnation--What do You Propose?--The Gospel of Good-fellowship, +Cheerfulness, Health, Good Living, Justice--No Forgiveness--God's +Forgiveness Does not Pay my Debt to Smith--Gospel of Liberty, of +Intelligence, of Humanity--One World at a Time--"Upon that Rock I +Stand" + + + + +PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. + +IN presenting to the public this edition of the late Robert G. +Ingersoll's works, it has been the aim of the publisher to make it +worthy of the author and a pleasure to his friends and admirers. No one +can be more conscious than he of the magnitude of the task +undertaken, or more keenly feel how far short it must fall of adequate +accomplishment. + +When it is remembered that countless utterances of the author were never +caught from his eloquent lips, it is matter for congratulation that +so much has been preserved. The authorized addresses, arguments and +articles that have already appeared in print and passed the review of +the authors more or less careful inspection, will be readily recognized +as accurate and complete; but in this latest and fullest compilation +are many emanations from his heart and brain that have never had his +scrutiny, were not revised by him, and that yet, by general judgment, +should not be lost to the world. + +These unedited sundries consist of fragments of speeches and incompleted +articles discovered amongst the authors literary remains and for +unknown reasons left in more or less unfinished form. It has been the +publisher's ambition to gather these fugitive pieces and place them in +this edition by the side of the saved treasures. Whether the work has +been well or ill done a generous public must decide, while the sole +responsibility must rest with, as it has been assumed by, the publisher. + +In carrying out the design of the present edition, the publisher +gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Mr. Ingersoll's family, +who have freely placed at his disposal many papers, inscriptions, +monographs, memoranda and pages of valuable material. + +Recognition is also here made of the kind courtesy of the press and of +publishers of magazines who have generously permitted the publication of +articles originally written for them. + +Finally, the publisher gives his thanks to all the devoted friends of +the author who in many ways, by suggestion and unselfish labor, +have aided in getting out this work. Of these, none have been more +unremitting in service, and to none is the publisher more indebted, than +to Mr. I. Newton Baker, Mr. Ingersoll's former private secretary, to Dr. +Edgar C. Beall, and to Mr. George E. Macdonald for the fine Tables of +Contents and the very valuable Index to this edition. + +C. P. FARRELL. + +New York, July, 1900. + + + + +THE GODS + +An Honest God is the Noblest Work of Man. + +EACH nation has created a god, and the god has always resembled his +creators. He hated and loved what they hated and loved, and he was +invariably found on the side of those in power. Each god was intensely +patriotic, and detested all nations but his own. All these gods demanded +praise, flattery, and worship. Most of them were pleased with sacrifice, +and the smell of innocent blood has ever been considered a divine +perfume. All these gods have insisted upon having a vast number of +priests, and the priests have always insisted upon being supported by +the people, and the principal business of these priests has been to +boast about their god, and to insist that he could easily vanquish all +the other gods put together. + +These gods have been manufactured after numberless models, and according +to the most grotesque fashions. Some have a thousand arms, some a +hundred heads, some are adorned with necklaces of living snakes, some +are armed with clubs, some with sword and shield, some with bucklers, +and some have wings as a cherub; some were invisible, some would show +themselves entire, and some would only show their backs; some were +jealous, some were foolish, some turned themselves into men, some into +swans, some into bulls, some into doves, and some into Holy Ghosts, +and made love to the beautiful daughters of men. Some were married--all +ought to have been--and some were considered as old bachelors from all +eternity. Some had children, and the children were turned into gods and +worshiped as their fathers had been. Most of these gods were revengeful, +savage, lustful, and ignorant. As they generally depended upon +their priests for information, their ignorance can hardly excite our +astonishment. + +These gods did not even know the shape of the worlds they had created, +but supposed them perfectly flat Some thought the day could be +lengthened by stopping the sun, that the blowing of horns could throw +down the walls of a city, and all knew so little of the real nature +of the people they had created, that they commanded the people to love +them. Some were so ignorant as to suppose that man could believe just +as he might desire, or as they might command, and that to be governed +by observation, reason, and experience was a most foul and damning sin. +None of these gods could give a true account of the creation of this +little earth. All were wofully deficient in geology and astronomy. As a +rule, they were most miserable legislators, and as executives, they were +far inferior to the average of American presidents. + +These deities have demanded the most abject and degrading obedience. In +order to please them, man must lay his very face in the dust Of course, +they have always been partial to the people who created them, and have +generally shown their partiality by assisting those people to rob and +destroy others, and to ravish their wives and daughters. + +Nothing is so pleasing to these gods as the butchery of unbelievers. +Nothing so enrages them, even now, as to have some one deny their +existence. + +Few nations have been so poor as to have but one god. Gods were made +so easily, and the raw material cost so little, that generally the god +market was fairly glutted, and heaven crammed with these phantoms. These +gods not only attended to the skies, but were supposed to interfere in +all the affairs of men. They presided over everybody and everything. +They attended to every department. All was supposed to be under their +immediate control. Nothing was too small--nothing too large; the falling +of sparrows and the motions of the planets were alike attended to by +these industrious and observing deities. From their starry thrones they +frequently came to the earth for the purpose of imparting information to +man. It is related of one that he came amid thunderings and lightnings +in order to tell the people that they should not cook a kid in its +mother's milk. Some left their shining abodes to tell women that they +should, or should not, have children, to inform a priest how to cut +and wear his apron, and to give directions as to the proper manner of +cleaning the intestines of a bird. + +When the people failed to worship one of these gods, or failed to feed +and clothe his priests, (which was much the same thing,) he generally +visited them with pestilence and famine. Sometimes he allowed some other +nation to drag them into slavery--to sell their wives and children; but +generally he glutted his vengeance by murdering their first-born. +The priests always did their whole duty, not only in predicting these +calamities, but in proving, when they did happen, that they were brought +upon the people because they had not given quite enough to them. + +These gods differed just as the nations differed; the greatest and most +powerful had the most powerful gods, while the weaker ones were obliged +to content themselves with the very off-scourings of the heavens. Each +of these gods promised happiness here and hereafter to all his slaves, +and threatened to eternally punish all who either disbelieved in his +existence or suspected that some other god might be his superior; but to +deny the existence of all gods was, and is, the crime of crimes. Redden +your hands with human blood; blast by slander the fair fame of the +innocent; strangle the smiling child upon its mother's knees; deceive, +ruin and desert the beautiful girl who loves and trusts you, and +your case is not hopeless. For all this, and for all these you may +be forgiven. For all this, and for all these, that bankrupt court +established by the gospel, will give you a discharge; but deny the +existence of these divine ghosts, of these gods, and the sweet and +tearful face of Mercy becomes livid with eternal hate. Heaven's golden +gates are shut, and you, with an infinite curse ringing in your +ears, with the brand of infamy upon your brow, commence your endless +wanderings in the lurid gloom of hell--an immortal vagrant--an eternal +outcast--a deathless convict. + +One of these gods, and one who demands our love, our admiration and +our worship, and one who is worshiped, if mere heartless ceremony is +worship, gave to his chosen people for their guidance, the following +laws of war: "When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, +_then proclaim peace unto it_. And it shall be if it make thee answer of +peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be that all the people that is +found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. +And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, +then thou shalt besiege it. + +"And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thy hands, thou shalt +smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword. But the women and +the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all +the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself, and thou shalt eat +the spoil of thine enemies which the Lord thy God hath given thee. Thus +shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, +which are not of the cities of these nations. But of the cities of these +people which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, _thou +shalt save alive nothing that breatheth_" + +Is it possible for man to conceive of anything more perfectly infamous? +Can you believe that such directions were given by any being except an +infinite fiend? Remember that the army receiving these instructions +was one of invasion. Peace was offered upon condition that the people +submitting should be the slaves of the invader; but if any should have +the courage to defend their homes, to fight for the love of wife and +child, then the sword was to spare none--not even the prattling, dimpled +babe. + +And we are called upon to worship such a God; to get upon our knees and +tell him that he is good, that he is merciful, that he is just, that he +is love. We are asked to stifle every noble sentiment of the soul, and +to trample under foot all the sweet charities of the heart. Because we +refuse to stultify ourselves--refuse to become liars--we are denounced, +hated, traduced and ostracized here, and this same god threatens to +torment us in eternal fire the moment death allows him to fiercely +clutch our naked helpless souls. Let the people hate, let the god +threaten--we will educate them, and we will despise and defy him. + +The book, called the Bible, is filled with passages equally horrible, +unjust and atrocious. This is the book to be read in schools in order +to make our children loving, kind and gentle! This is the book to +be recognized in our Constitution as the source of all authority and +justice! + +Strange! that no one has ever been persecuted by the church for +believing God bad, while hundreds of millions have been destroyed +for thinking him good. The orthodox church never will forgive the +Universalist for saying "God is love." It has always been considered +as one of the very highest evidences of true and undefiled religion to +insist that all men, women and children deserve eternal damnation. It +has always been heresy to say, "God will at last save all." + +We are asked to justify these frightful passages, these infamous laws +of war, because the Bible is the word of God. As a matter of fact, there +never was, and there never can be, an argument, even tending to prove +the inspiration of any book whatever. In the absence of positive +evidence, analogy and experience, argument is simply impossible, and at +the very best, can amount only to a useless agitation of the air. + +The instant we admit that a book is too sacred to be doubted, or even +reasoned about, we are mental serfs. It is infinitely absurd to suppose +that a god would address a communication to intelligent beings, and yet +make it a crime, to be punished in eternal flames, for them to use their +intelligence for the purpose of understanding his communication. If we +have the right to use our reason, we certainly have the right to act in +accordance with it, and no god can have the right to punish us for such +action. + +The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is monstrous. +It is the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in Christ is to +be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, +observation, and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for +refutation, and can be relieved only by that unhappy mixture of insanity +and ignorance, called "faith." What man, who ever thinks, can believe +that blood can appease God? And yet, our entire system of religion is +based upon that belief. The Jews pacified Jehovah with the blood of +animals, and according to the Christian system, the blood of Jesus +softened the heart of God a little, and rendered possible the salvation +of a fortunate few. It is hard to conceive how the human mind can give +assent to such terrible ideas, or how any sane man can read the Bible +and still believe in the doctrine of inspiration. + +Whether the Bible is true or false, is of no consequence in comparison +with the mental freedom of the race. + +Salvation through slavery is worthless. Salvation from slavery is +inestimable. + +As long as man believes the Bible to be infallible, that book is his +master. The civilization of this century is not the child of faith, but +of unbelief--the result of free thought. + +All that is necessary, as it seems to me, to convince any reasonable +person that the Bible is simply and purely of human invention--of +barbarian invention--is to read it Read it as you would any other book; +think of it as you would of any other; get the bandage of reverence +from your eyes; drive from your heart the phantom of fear; push from the +throne of your brain the cowled form of superstition--then read the Holy +Bible, and you will be amazed that you ever, for one moment, supposed a +being of infinite wisdom, goodness and purity, to be the author of such +ignorance and of such atrocity. + +Our ancestors not only had their god-factories, but they made devils as +well. These devils were generally disgraced and fallen gods. Some had +headed unsuccessful revolts; some had been caught sweetly reclining in +the shadowy folds of some fleecy cloud, kissing the wife of the god of +gods. These devils generally sympathized with man. There is in regard +to them a most wonderful fact: In nearly all the theologies, mythologies +and religions, the devils have been much more humane and merciful +than the gods. No devil ever gave one of his generals an order to kill +children and to rip open the bodies of pregnant women. Such barbarities +were always ordered by the good gods. The pestilences were sent by the +most merciful gods. The frightful famine, during which the dying child +with pallid lips sucked the withered bosom of a dead mother, was sent by +the loving gods. No devil was ever charged with such fiendish brutality. + +One of these gods, according to the account, drowned an entire world, +with the exception of eight persons. The old, the young, the beautiful +and the helpless were remorsely devoured by the shoreless sea. This, +the most fearful tragedy that the imagination of ignorant priests ever +conceived, was the act, not of a devil, but of a god, so-called, whom +men ignorantly worship unto this day. What a stain such an act would +leave upon the character of a devil! One of the prophets of one of these +gods, having in his power a captured king, hewed him in pieces in the +sight of all the people. Was ever any imp of any devil guilty of such +savagery? + +One of these gods is reported to have given the following directions +concerning human slavery: "If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years shall +he serve, and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he +came in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he were married, then +his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and +she have borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be +her master's, and he shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall +plainly say, I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go +out free. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also +bring him unto the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall +bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever." + +According to this, a man was given liberty upon condition that he would +desert forever his wife and children. Did any devil ever force upon a +husband, upon a father, so cruel and so heartless an alternative? Who +can worship such a god? Who can bend the knee to such a monster? Who can +pray to such a fiend? + +All these gods threatened to torment forever the souls of their enemies. +Did any devil ever make so infamous a threat? The basest thing recorded +of the devil, is what he did concerning Job and his family, and that +was done by the express permission of one of these gods, and to decide +a little difference of opinion between their serene highnesses as to the +character of "my servant Job." The first account we have of the devil is +found in that purely scientific book called Genesis, and is as follows: +"Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the +Lord God had made, and he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye +shall not eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden? And the woman +said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the +garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden +God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest +ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. +For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall +be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the +woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to +the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the +fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and +he did eat.... And the Lord God said, Behold the man is become as one of +us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take +also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever. Therefore the Lord +God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which +he was taken. So he drove out the man, and he placed at the east of the +Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned every way to +keep the way of the tree of life." + +According to this account the promise of the devil was fulfilled to +the very letter. Adam and Eve did not die, and they did become as gods, +knowing good and evil. + +The account shows, however, that the gods dreaded education and +knowledge then just as they do now. The church still faithfully guards +the dangerous tree of knowledge, and has exerted in all ages her utmost +power to keep mankind from eating the fruit thereof. The priests have +never ceased repeating the old falsehood and the old threat: "Ye shall +not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." From every +pulpit comes the same cry, born of the same fear: "Lest they eat and +become as gods, knowing good and evil." For this reason, religion +hates science, faith detests reason, theology is the sworn enemy of +philosophy, and the church with its flaming sword still guards the hated +tree, and like its supposed founder, curses to the lowest depths the +brave thinkers who eat and become as gods. + +If the account given in Genesis is really true, ought we not, after all, +to thank this serpent? He was the first schoolmaster, the first advocate +of learning, the first enemy of ignorance, the first to whisper in human +ears the sacred word liberty, the creator of ambition, the author of +modesty, of inquiry, of doubt, of investigation, of progress and of +civilization. + +Give me the storm and tempest of thought and action, rather than the +dead calm of ignorance and faith! Banish me from Eden when you will; but +first let me eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge! + +Some nations have borrowed their gods; of this number, we are compelled +to say, is our own. The Jews having ceased to exist as a nation, and +having no further use for a god, our ancestors appropriated him and +adopted their devil at the same time. This borrowed god is still an +object of some adoration, and this adopted devil still excites the +apprehensions of our people. He is still supposed to be setting his +traps and snares for the purpose of catching our unwary souls, and is +still, with reasonable success, waging the old war against our God. + +To me, it seems easy to account for these ideas concerning gods and +devils. They are a perfectly natural production. Man has created them +all, and under the same circumstances would create them again. Man has +not only created all these gods, but he has created them out of the +materials by which he has been surrounded. Generally he has modeled them +after himself, and has given them hands, heads, feet, eyes, ears, +and organs of speech. Each nation made its gods and devils speak its +language not only, but put in their mouths the same mistakes in history, +geography, astronomy, and in all matters of fact, generally made by the +people. No god was ever in advance of the nation that created him. The +negroes represented their deities with black skins and curly hair. The +Mongolian gave to his a yellow complexion and dark almond-shaped eyes. +The Jews were not allowed to paint theirs, or we should have seen +Jehovah with a full beard, an oval face, and an aquiline nose. Zeus was +a perfect Greek, and Jove looked as though a member of the Roman senate. +The gods of Egypt had the patient face and placid look of the loving +people who made them. The gods of northern countries were represented +warmly clad in robes of fur; those of the tropics were naked. The gods +of India were often mounted upon elephants; those of some islanders were +great swimmers, and the deities of the Arctic zone were passionately +fond of whale's blubber. Nearly all people have carved or painted +representations of their gods, and these representations were, by the +lower classes, generally treated as the real gods, and to these images +and idols they addressed prayers and offered sacrifice. + +In some countries? even at this day, if the people after long praying +do not obtain their desires, they turn their images off as impotent +gods, or upbraid them in a most reproachful manner, loading them with +blows and curses. 'How now, dog of a spirit,' they say, 'we give you +lodging in a magnificent temple, we gild you with gold, feed you with +the choicest food, and offer incense to you; yet, after all this care, +you are so ungrateful as to refuse us what we ask.' + +Hereupon they will pull the god down and drag him through the filth +of the street. If, in the meantime, it happens that they obtain their +request, then, with a great deal of ceremony, they wash him clean, carry +him back and place him in his temple again, where they fall down and +make excuses for what they have done. 'Of a truth,' they say, 'we were +a little too hasty, and you were a little too long in your grant. Why +should you bring this beating on yourself. But what is done cannot be +undone. Let us not think of it any more. If you will forget what is +past, we will gild you over brighter again than before. + +Man has never been at a loss for gods. He has worshiped almost +everything, including the vilest and most disgusting beasts. He has +worshiped fire, earth, air, water, light, stars, and for hundreds of +ages prostrated himself before enormous snakes. Savage tribes often make +gods of articles they get from civilized people. The Todas worship a +cow-bell. The Kotas worship two silver plates, which they regard as +husband and wife, and another tribe manufactured a god out of a king of +hearts. + +Man, having always been the physical superior of woman, accounts for +the fact that most of the high gods have been males. Had woman been the +physical superior, the powers supposed to be the rulers of Nature would +have been women, and instead of being represented in the apparel of +man, they would have luxuriated in trains, lownecked dresses, laces and +back-hair. + +Nothing can be plainer than that each nation gives to its god its +peculiar characteristics, and that every individual gives to his god his +personal peculiarities. + +Man has no ideas, and can have none, except those suggested by his +surroundings. He cannot conceive of anything utterly unlike what he has +seen or felt. He can exaggerate, diminish, combine, separate, deform, +beautify, improve, multiply and compare what he sees, what he feels, +what he hears, and all of which he takes cognizance through the medium +of the senses; but he cannot create. Having seen exhibitions of power, +he can say, omnipotent. Having lived, he can say, immortality. Knowing +something of time, he can say, eternity. Conceiving something of +intelligence, he can say, God. Having seen exhibitions of malice, he can +say, devil. A few gleams of happiness having fallen athwart the gloom of +his life, he can say, heaven. Pain, in its numberless forms, having been +experienced, he can say, hell. Yet all these ideas have a foundation +in fact, and only a foundation. The superstructure has been reared +by exaggerating, diminishing, combining, separating, deforming, +beautifying, improving or multiplying realities, so that the edifice or +fabric is but the incongruous grouping of what man has perceived through +the medium of the senses. It is as though we should give to a lion the +wings of an eagle, the hoofs of a bison, the tail of a horse, the pouch +of a kangaroo, and the trunk of an elephant. We have in imagination +created an impossible monster. And yet the various parts of this monster +really exist So it is with all the gods that man has made. + +Beyond nature man cannot go even in thought--above nature he cannot +rise--below nature he cannot fall. + +Man, in his ignorance, supposed that all phenomena were produced by +some intelligent powers, and with direct reference to him. To preserve +friendly relations with these powers was, and still is, the object of +all religions. Man knelt through fear and to implore assistance, or +through gratitude for some favor which he supposed had been rendered. He +endeavored by supplication to appease some being who, for some reason, +had, as he believed, become enraged. The lightning and thunder terrified +him. In the presence of the volcano he sank upon his knees. The great +forests filled with wild and ferocious beasts, the monstrous serpents +crawling in mysterious depths, the boundless sea, the flaming comets, +the sinister eclipses, the awful calmness of the stars, and, more than +all, the perpetual presence of death, convinced him that he was the +sport and prey of unseen and malignant powers. The strange and frightful +diseases to which he was subject, the freezings and burnings of fever, +the contortions of epilepsy, the sudden palsies, the darkness of night, +and the wild, terrible and fantastic dreams that filled his brain, +satisfied him that he was haunted and pursued by countless spirits +of evil. For some reason he supposed that these spirits differed +in power--that they were not all alike malevolent--that the higher +controlled the lower, and that his very existence depended upon gaining +the assistance of the more powerful. For this purpose he resorted to +prayer, to flattery, to worship and to sacrifice. + +These ideas appear to have been almost universal in savage man. + +For ages all nations supposed that the sick and insane were possessed by +evil spirits. For thousands of years the practice of medicine consisted +in frightening these spirits away. Usually the priests would make the +loudest and most discordant noises possible. They would blow horns, +beat upon rude drums, clash cymbals, and in the meantime utter the most +unearthly yells. If the noise-remedy failed, they would implore the aid +of some more powerful spirit. + +To pacify these spirits was considered of infinite importance. The poor +barbarian, knowing that men could be softened by gifts, gave to these +spirits that which to him seemed of the most value. With bursting heart +he would offer the blood of his dearest child. It was impossible for him +to conceive of a god utterly unlike himself, and he naturally supposed +that these powers of the air would be affected a little at the sight of +so great and so deep a sorrow. It was with the barbarian then as with +the civilized now--one class lived upon and made merchandise of the +fears of another. Certain persons took it upon themselves to appease the +gods, and to instruct the people in their duties to these unseen powers. +This was the origin of the priesthood. The priest pretended to stand +between the wrath of the gods and the helplessness of man. He was man's +attorney at the court of heaven. He carried to the invisible world a +flag of truce, a protest and a request. He came back with a command, +with authority and with power. Man fell upon his knees before his own +servant, and the priest, taking advantage of the awe inspired by his +supposed influence with the gods, made of his fellow-man a cringing +hypocrite and slave. Even Christ, the supposed son of God, taught that +persons were possessed of evil spirits, and frequently, according to +the account, gave proof of his divine origin and mission by frightening +droves of devils out of his unfortunate countrymen. Casting out devils +was his principal employment, and the devils thus banished generally +took occasion to acknowledge him as the true Messiah; which was not only +very kind of them, but quite fortunate for him. The religious people +have always regarded the testimony of these devils as perfectly +conclusive, and the writers of the New Testament quote the words of +these imps of darkness with great satisfaction. + +The fact that Christ could withstand the temptations of the devil was +considered as conclusive evidence that he was assisted by some god, or +at least by some being superior to man. St. Matthew gives an account of +an attempt made by the devil to tempt the supposed son of God; and it +has always excited the wonder of Christians that the temptation was +so nobly and heroically withstood. The account to which I refer is as +follows: + +"Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted +of the devil. And when the tempter came to him, he said: 'If thou be the +son of God, command that these stones be made bread.' But he answered, +and said: 'It is written: man shall not live by bread alone, but by +every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.' Then the devil +taketh him up into the holy city and setteth him upon a pinnacle of +the temple and saith unto him: 'If thou be the son of God, cast thyself +down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning +thee, lest at any time thou shalt dash thy foot against a stone,'Jesus +said unto him: 'It is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy +God.' Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and +sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and +saith unto him: 'All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and +worship me.'" + +The Christians now claim that Jesus was God. If he was God, of course +the devil knew that fact, and yet, according to this account, the devil +took 'the omnipotent God and placed him upon a pinnacle of the temple, +and endeavored to induce him to dash himself against the earth. Failing +in that, he took the creator, owner and governor of the universe up into +an exceeding high mountain, and offered him this world--this grain of +sand--if he, the God of all the worlds, would fall down and worship +him, a poor devil, without even a tax title to one foot of dirt! Is it +possible the devil was such an idiot? Should any great credit be given +to this deity for not being caught with such chaff? Think of it! The +devil--the prince of sharpers--the king of cunning--the master of +finesse, trying to bribe God with a grain of sand that belonged to God! + +Is there in all the religious literature of the world anything more +grossly absurd than this? + +These devils, according to the Bible, were of various kinds--some could +speak and hear, others were deaf and dumb. All could not be cast out +in the same way. The deaf and dumb spirits were quite difficult to deal +with. St. Mark tells of a gentleman who brought his son to Christ. The +boy, it seems, was possessed of a dumb spirit, over which the disciples +had no control. "Jesus said unto the spirit: 'Thou dumb and deaf spirit, +I charge thee come out of him, and enter no more into him.'" Whereupon, +the deaf spirit (having heard what was said) cried out (being dumb) and +immediately vacated the premises. The ease with which Christ controlled +this deaf and dumb spirit excited the wonder of his disciples, and they +asked him privately why they could not cast that spirit out. To whom he +replied: "This kind can come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting." Is +there a Christian in the whole world who would believe such a story +if found in any other book? The trouble is, these pious people shut up +their reason, and then open their Bible. + +In the olden times the existence of devils was universally admitted. The +people had no doubt upon that subject, and from such belief it followed +as a matter of course, that a person, in order to vanquish these devils, +had either to be a god, or to be assisted by one. All founders of +religions have established their claims to divine origin by controlling +evil spirits and suspending the laws of nature. Casting out devils was +a certificate of divinity. A prophet, unable to cope with the powers +of darkness was regarded with contempt The utterance of the highest +and noblest sentiments, the most blameless and holy life, commanded but +little respect, unless accompanied by power to work miracles and command +spirits. + +This belief in good and evil powers had its origin in the fact that man +was surrounded by what he was pleased to call good and evil phenomena. +Phenomena affecting man pleasantly were ascribed to good spirits, while +those affecting him unpleasantly or injuriously, were ascribed to evil +spirits. It being admitted that all phenomena were produced by spirits, +the spirits were divided according to the phenomena, and the phenomena +were good or bad as they affected man. + +Good spirits were supposed to be the authors of good phenomena, and evil +spirits of the evil--so that the idea of a devil has been as universal +as the idea of a god. + +Many writers maintain that an idea to become universal must be true; +that all universal ideas are innate, and that innate ideas cannot be +false. If the fact that an idea has been universal proves that it +is innate, and if the fact that an idea is innate proves that it is +correct, then the believers in innate ideas must admit that the evidence +of a god superior to nature, and of a devil superior to nature, is +exactly the same, and that the existence of such a devil must be as +self-evident as the existence of such a god. The truth is, a god was +inferred from good, and a devil from bad, phenomena. And it is just as +natural and logical to suppose that a devil would cause happiness as +to suppose that a god would produce misery. Consequently, if an +intelligence, infinite and supreme, is the immediate author of all +phenomena, it is difficult to determine whether such intelligence is the +friend or enemy of man. If phenomena were all good, we might say they +were all produced by a perfectly beneficent being. If they were all bad, +we might say they were produced by a perfectly malevolent power; but, +as phenomena are, as they affect man, both good and bad, they must be +produced by different and antagonistic spirits; by one who is sometimes +actuated by kindness, and sometimes by malice; or all must be produced +of necessity, and without reference to their consequences upon man. + +The foolish doctrine that all phenomena can be traced to the +interference of good and evil spirits, has been, and still is, almost +universal. That most people still believe in some spirit that can change +the natural order of events, is proven by the fact that nearly all +resort to prayer. Thousands, at this very moment, are probably imploring +some supposed power to interfere in their behalf. Some want health +restored; some ask that the loved and absent be watched over and +protected, some pray for riches, some for rain, some want diseases +stayed, some vainly ask for food, some ask for revivals, a few ask for +more wisdom, and now and then one tells the Lord to do as he may think +best. Thousands ask to be protected from the devil; some, like David, +pray for revenge, and some implore even God, not to lead them into +temptation. All these prayers rest upon, and are produced by, the idea +that some power not only can, but probably will, change the order of the +universe. This belief has been among the great majority of tribes +and nations. All sacred books are filled with the accounts of such +interferences, and our own Bible is no exception to this rule. + +If we believe in a power superior to nature, it is perfectly natural to +suppose that such power can and will interfere in the affairs of this +world. If there is no interference, of what practical use can such +power be? The Scriptures give us the most wonderful accounts of divine +interference: Animals talk like men; springs gurgle from dry bones; the +sun and moon stop in the heavens in order that General Joshua may have +more time to murder; the shadow on a dial goes back ten degrees to +convince a petty king of a barbarous people that he is not going to die +of a boil; fire refuses to burn; water positively declines to seek its +level, but stands up like a wall; grains of sand become lice; common +walking-sticks, to gratify a mere freak, twist themselves into serpents, +and then swallow each other by way of exercise; murmuring streams, +laughing at the attraction of gravitation, run up hill for years, +following wandering tribes from a pure love of frolic; prophecy becomes +altogether easier than history; the sons of God become enamored of the +world's girls; women are changed into salt for the purpose of keeping a +great event fresh in the minds of men; an excellent article of brimstone +is imported from heaven free of duty; clothes refuse to wear out for +forty years; birds keep restaurants and feed wandering prophets free of +expense; bears tear children in pieces for laughing at old men without +wigs; muscular development depends upon the length of one's hair; dead +people come to life, simply to get a joke on their enemies and heirs; +witches and wizards converse freely with the souls of the departed, and +God himself becomes a stone-cutter and engraver, after having been a +tailor and dressmaker. + +The veil between heaven and earth was always rent or lifted. The shadows +of this world, the radiance of heaven, and the glare of hell mixed +and mingled until man became uncertain as to which country he really +inhabited. Man dwelt in an unreal world. He mistook his ideas, his +dreams, for real things. His fears became terrible and malicious +monsters. He lived in the midst of furies and fairies, nymphs and +naiads, goblins and ghosts, witches and wizards, sprites and spooks, +deities and devils. The obscure and gloomy depths were filled with +claw and wing--with beak and hoof--with leering looks and sneering +mouths--with the malice of deformity--with the cunning of hatred, and +with all the slimy forms that fear can draw and paint upon the shadowy +canvas of the dark. + +It is enough to make one almost insane with pity to think what man in +the long night has suffered; of the tortures he has endured, surrounded, +as he supposed, by malignant powers and clutched by the fierce phantoms +of the air. No wonder that he fell upon his trembling knees--that he +built altars and reddened them even with his own blood. No wonder that +he implored ignorant priests and impudent magicians for aid. No wonder +that he crawled groveling in the dust to the temple's door, and there, +in the insanity of despair, besought the deaf gods to hear his bitter +cry of agony and fear. + +The savage as he emerges from a state of barbarism, gradually loses +faith in his idols of wood and stone, and in their place puts a +multitude of spirits. As he advances in knowledge, he generally discards +the petty spirits, and in their stead believes in one, whom he supposes +to be infinite and supreme. Supposing this great spirit to be superior +to nature, he offers worship or flattery in exchange for assistance. At +last, finding that he obtains no aid from this supposed deity--: +finding that every search after the absolute must of necessity end in +failure--finding that man cannot by any possibility conceive of the +conditionless--he begins to investigate the facts by which he is +surrounded, and to depend upon himself. + +The people are beginning to think, to reason and to investigate. Slowly, +painfully, but surely, the gods are being driven from the earth. Only +upon rare occasions are they, even by the most religious, supposed to +interfere in the affairs of men. In most matters we are at last supposed +to be free. Since the invention of steamships and railways, so that the +products of all countries can be easily interchanged, the gods have quit +the business of producing famine. Now and then they kill a child because +it is idolized by its parents. As a rule they have given up causing +accidents on railroads, exploding boilers, and bursting kerosene lamps. +Cholera, yellow fever, and small-pox are still considered heavenly +weapons; but measles, itch and ague are now attributed to natural +causes. As a general thing, the gods have stopped drowning children, +except as a punishment for violating the Sabbath. They still pay some +attention to the affairs of kings, men of genius and persons of great +wealth; but ordinary people are left to shirk for themselves as best +they may. In wars between great nations, the gods still interfere; but +in prize fights, the best man with an honest referee, is almost sure to +win. + +The church cannot abandon the idea of special providence. To give up +that doctrine is to give up all. The church must insist that prayer +is answered--that some power superior to nature hears and grants the +request of the sincere and humble Christian, and that this same power in +some mysterious way provides for all. + +A devout clergyman sought every opportunity to impress upon the mind +of his son the fact, that God takes care of all his creatures; that the +falling sparrow attracts his attention, and that his loving kindness is +over all his works. Happening, one day, to see a crane wading in quest +of food, the good man pointed out to his son the perfect adaptation of +the crane to get his living in that manner. "See," said he, "how his +legs are formed for wading! What a long slender bill he has! Observe how +nicely he folds his feet when putting them in or drawing them out of +the water! He does not cause the slightest ripple. He is thus enabled +to approach the fish without giving them any notice of his arrival." +"My son," said he, "it is impossible to look at that bird without +recognizing the design, as well as the goodness of God, in thus +providing the means of subsistence." "Yes," replied the boy, "I think I +see the goodness of God, at least so far as the crane is concerned; but +after all, father, don't you think the arrangement a little tough on the +fish?" + +Even the advanced religionist, although disbelieving in any great amount +of interference by the gods in this age of the world, still thinks, +that in the beginning, some god made the laws governing the universe. +He believes that in consequence of these laws a man can lift a greater +weight with, than without, a lever; that this god so made matter, and so +established the order of things, that two bodies cannot occupy the same +space at the same time; so that a body once put in motion will keep +moving until it is stopped; so that it is a greater distance around, +than across a circle; so that a perfect square has four equal sides, +instead of five or seven. He insists that it took a direct interposition +of Providence to make the whole greater than a part, and that had it not +been for this power superior to nature, twice one might have been more +than twice two, and sticks and strings might have had only one end +apiece. Like the old Scotch divine, he thanks God that Sunday comes at +the end instead of in the middle of the week, and that death comes at +the close instead of at the commencement of life, thereby giving us time +to prepare for that holy day and that most solemn event These religious +people see nothing but design everywhere, and personal, intelligent +interference in everything. They insist that the universe has been +created, and that the adaptation of means to ends is perfectly apparent. +They point us to the sunshine, to the flowers, to the April rain, and +to all there is of beauty and of use in the world. Did it ever occur to +them that a cancer is as beautiful in its development as is the reddest +rose? That what they are pleased to call the adaptation of means to +ends, is as apparent in the cancer as in the April rain? How beautiful +the process of digestion! By what ingenious methods the blood is +poisoned so that the cancer shall have food! By what wonderful +contrivances the entire system of man is made to pay tribute to this +divine and charming cancer! See by what admirable instrumentalities it +feeds itself from the surrounding quivering, dainty flesh! See how it +gradually but surely expands and grows! By what marvelous mechanism +it is supplied with long and slender roots that reach out to the most +secret nerves of pain for sustenance and life! What beautiful colors +it presents! Seen through the microscope it is a miracle of order and +beauty. All the ingenuity of man cannot stop its growth. Think of the +amount of thought it must have required to invent a way by which the +life of one man might be given to produce one cancer? Is it possible to +look upon it and doubt that there is design in the universe, and that +the inventor of this wonderful cancer must be infinitely powerful, +ingenious and good? + +We are told that the universe was designed and created, and that it is +absurd to suppose that matter has existed from eternity, but that it is +perfectly self-evident that a god has. + +If a god created the universe, then, there must have been a time when he +commenced to create. Back of that time there must have been an eternity, +during which there had existed nothing--absolutely nothing--except this +supposed god. According to this theory, this god spent an eternity, so +to speak, in an infinite vacuum, and in perfect idleness. + +Admitting that a god did create the universe, the question then arises, +of what did he create it? It certainly was not made of nothing. Nothing, +considered in the light of a raw material, is a most decided failure. It +follows, then, that the god must have made the universe out of himself, +he being the only existence. The universe is material, and if it was +made of god, the god must have been material. With this very thought in +his mind, Anaximander of Miletus said: "Creation is the decomposition of +the infinite." + +It has been demonstrated that the earth would fall to the sun, only for +the fact, that it is attracted by other worlds, and those worlds must +be attracted by other worlds still beyond them, and so on, without +end. This proves the material universe to be infinite. If an infinite +universe has been made out of an infinite god, how much of the god is +left? + +The idea of a creative deity is gradually being abandoned, and nearly +all truly scientific minds admit that matter must have existed from +eternity. It is indestructible, and the indestructible cannot be +created. It is the crowning glory of our century to have demonstrated +the indestructibility and the eternal persistence of force. Neither +matter nor force can be increased nor diminished. Force cannot exist +apart from matter. Matter exists only in connection with force, and +consequently, a force apart from matter, and superior to nature, is a +demonstrated impossibility. + +Force, then, must have also existed from eternity, and could not have +been created. Matter in its countless forms, from dead earth to the +eyes of those we love, and force, in all its manifestations, from simple +motion to the grandest thought, deny creation and defy control. + +Thought is a form of force. We walk with the same force with which we +think. Man is an organism, that changes several forms of force into +thought-force. Man is a machine into which we put what we call food, and +produce what we call thought. Think of that wonderful chemistry by which +bread was changed into the divine tragedy of Hamlet! + +A god must not only be material, but he must be an organism, capable of +changing other forms of force into thought-force. This is what we call +eating. Therefore, if the god thinks, he must eat, that is to say, he +must of necessity have some means of supplying the force with which to +think. It is impossible to conceive of a being who can eternally impart +force to matter, and yet have no means of supplying the force thus +imparted. + +If neither matter nor force were created, what evidence have we, then, +of the existence of a power superior to nature? The theologian will +probably reply, "We have law and order, cause and effect, and beside all +this, matter could not have put itself in motion." + +Suppose, for the sake of the argument, that there is no being superior +to nature, and that matter and force have existed from eternity. Now, +suppose that two atoms should come together, would there be an effect? +Yes. Suppose they came in exactly opposite directions with equal force, +they would be stopped, to say the least. This would be an effect. If +this is so, then you have matter, force and effect without a being +superior to nature. Now, suppose that two other atoms, just like the +first two, should come together under precisely the same circumstances, +would not the effect be exactly the same? Yes. Like causes, producing +like effects, is what we mean by law and order. Then we have matter, +force, effect, law and order without a being superior to nature. Now, we +know that every effect must also be a cause, and that every cause must +be an effect. The atoms coming together did produce an effect, and as +every effect must also be a cause, the effect produced by the collision +of the atoms, must as to something else have been a cause. Then we have +matter, force, law, order, cause and effect without a being superior to +nature. Nothing is left for the supernatural but empty space. His throne +is a void, and his boasted realm is without matter, without force, +without law, without cause, and without effect. + +But what put all this matter in motion? If matter and force have existed +from eternity, then matter must have always been in motion. There can +be no force without motion. Force is forever active, and there is, and +there can be no cessation. If, therefore, matter and force have existed +from eternity, so has motion. In the whole universe there is not even +one atom in a state of rest. + +A deity outside of nature exists in nothing, and is nothing. Nature +embraces with infinite arms all matter and all force. That which is +beyond her grasp is destitute of both, and can hardly be worth the +worship and adoration even of a man. + +There is but one way to demonstrate the existence of a power independent +of and superior to nature, and that is by breaking, if only for one +moment, the continuity of cause and effect Pluck from the endless chain +of existence one little link; stop for one instant the grand procession, +and you have shown beyond all contradiction that nature has a master. +Change the fact, just for one second, that matter attracts matter, and a +god appears. + +The rudest savage has always known this fact, and for that reason always +demanded the evidence of miracle. The founder of a religion must be able +to turn water into wine--cure with a word the blind and lame, and +raise with a simple touch the dead to life. It was necessary for him to +demonstrate to the satisfaction of his barbarian disciple, that he +was superior to nature. In times of ignorance this was easy to do. The +credulity of the savage was almost boundless. To him the marvelous +was the beautiful, the mysterious was the sublime. Consequently, every +religion has for its foundation a miracle--that is to say, a violation +of nature--that is to say, a falsehood. + +No one, in the world's whole history, ever attempted to substantiate a +truth by a miracle. Truth scorns the assistance of miracle. Nothing but +falsehood ever attested itself by signs and wonders. No miracle ever was +performed, and no sane man ever thought he had performed one, and until +one is performed, there can be no evidence of the existence of any power +superior to and independent of nature. + +The church wishes us to believe. Let the church, or one of its +intellectual saints, perform a miracle, and we will believe. We are told +that nature has a superior. Let this superior, for one single instant, +control nature, and we will admit the truth of your assertions. + +We have heard talk enough. We have listened to all the drowsy, idealess, +vapid sermons that we wish to hear. We have read your Bible and the +works of your best minds. We have heard your prayers, your solemn groans +and your reverential amens. All these amount to less than nothing. We +want one fact. We beg at the doors of your churches for just one little +fact We pass our hats along your pews and under your pulpits and implore +you for just one fact We know all about your mouldy wonders and your +stale miracles. We want a this year's fact. We ask only one. Give us one +fact for charity. Your miracles are too ancient. The witnesses have +been dead for nearly two thousand years. Their reputation for "truth and +veracity" in the neighborhood where they resided is wholly unknown to +us. Give us a new miracle, and substantiate it by witnesses who still +have the cheerful habit of living in this world. Do not send us to +Jericho to hear the winding horns, nor put us in the fire with Shadrach, +Meshech, and Abednego. Do not compel us to navigate the sea with Captain +Jonah, nor dine with Mr. Ezekiel. There is no sort of use in sending us +fox-hunting with Samson. We have positively lost all interest in that +little speech so eloquently delivered by Balaam's inspired donkey. It +is worse than useless to show us fishes with money in their mouths, +and call our attention to vast multitudes stuffing themselves with five +crackers and two sardines. We demand a new miracle, and we demand it +now. Let the church furnish at least one, or forever after hold her +peace. + +In the olden time, the church, by violating the order of nature, proved +the existence of her God. At that time miracles were performed with the +most astonishing ease. They became so common that the church ordered +her priests to desist. And now this same church--the people having found +some little sense--admits, not only, that she cannot perform a miracle, +but insists that the absence of miracle--the steady, unbroken march of +cause and effect, proves the existence of a power superior to nature. +The fact is, however, that the indissoluble chain of cause and effect +proves exactly the contrary. + +Sir William Hamilton, one of the pillars of modern theology, in +discussing this very subject, uses the following language: "The +phenomena of matter taken by themselves, so far from warranting any +inference to the existence of a god, would on the contrary ground even +an argument to his negation. The phenomena of the material world are +subjected to immutable laws; are produced and reproduced in the same +invariable succession, and manifest only the blind force of a mechanical +necessity." + +Nature is but an endless series of efficient causes. She cannot create, +but she eternally transforms. There was no beginning, and there can be +no end. + +The best minds, even in the religious world, admit that in material +nature there is no evidence of what they are pleased to call a god. +They find their evidence in the phenomena of intelligence, and very +innocently assert that intelligence is above, and in fact, opposed to +nature. They insist that man, at least, is a special creation; that +he has somewhere in his brain a divine spark, a little portion of the +"Great First Cause." They say that matter cannot produce thought; but +that thought can produce matter. They tell us that man has intelligence, +and therefore there must be an intelligence greater than his. Why not +say, God has intelligence, therefore there must be an intelligence +greater than his? So far as we know, there is no intelligence apart +from matter. We cannot conceive of thought, except as produced within a +brain. + +The science, by means of which they demonstrate the existence of an +impossible intelligence, and an incomprehensible power is called, +metaphysics or theology. The theologians admit that the phenomena of +matter tend, at least, to disprove the existence of any power superior +to nature, because in such phenomena we see nothing but an endless chain +of efficient causes--nothing but the force of a mechanical necessity. +They therefore appeal to what they denominate the phenomena of mind to +establish this superior power. + +The trouble is, that in the phenomena of mind we find the same endless +chain of efficient causes; the same mechanical necessity. Every thought +must have had an efficient cause. Every motive, every desire, every +fear, hope and dream must have been necessarily produced. There is no +room in the mind of man for providence or chance. The facts and forces +governing thought are as absolute as those governing the motions of +the planets. A poem is produced by the forces of nature, and is as +necessarily and naturally produced as mountains and seas. You will seek +in vain for a thought in man's brain without its efficient cause. +Every mental operation is the necessary result of certain facts and +conditions. Mental phenomena are considered more complicated than those +of matter, and consequently more mysterious. Being more mysterious, they +are considered better evidence of the existence of a god. No one infers +a god from the simple, from the known, from what is understood, but from +the complex, from the unknown, and, incomprehensible. Our ignorance is +God; what we know is science. + +When we abandon the doctrine that some infinite being created matter +and force, and enacted a code of laws for their government, the idea +of interference will be lost. The real priest will then be, not the +mouth-piece of some pretended deity, but the interpreter of nature. From +that moment the church ceases to exist. The tapers will die out upon the +dusty altar; the moths will eat the fading velvet of pulpit and pew; +the Bible will take its place with the Shastras, Puranas, Vedas, Eddas, +Sagas and Korans, and the fetters of a degrading faith will fall from +the minds of men. + +"But," says the religionist, "you cannot explain everything; you cannot +understand everything; and that which you cannot explain, that which you +do not comprehend, is my God." + +We are explaining more every day. We are understanding more every day; +consequently your God is growing smaller every day. + +Nothing daunted, the religionist then insists that nothing can exist +without a cause, except cause, and that this uncaused cause is God. + +To this we again reply: Every cause must produce an effect, because +until it does produce an effect, it is not a cause. Every effect must +in its turn become a cause. Therefore, in the nature of things, there +cannot be a last cause, for the reason that a so-called last cause would +necessarily produce an effect, and that effect must of necessity becomes +a cause. The converse of these propositions must be true. Every effect +must have had a cause, and every cause must have been an effect. +Therefore there could have been no first cause. A first cause is just as +impossible as a last effect. + +Beyond the universe there is nothing, and within the universe the +supernatural does not and cannot exist. + +The moment these great truths are understood and admitted, a belief in +general or special providence become impossible. From that instant men +will cease their vain efforts to please an imaginary being, and will +give their time and attention to the affairs of this world. They will +abandon the idea of attaining any object by prayer and supplication. +The element of uncertainty will, in a great measure, be removed from the +domain of the future, and man, gathering courage from a succession of +victories over the obstructions of nature, will attain a serene grandeur +unknown to the disciples of any superstition. The plans of mankind will +no longer be interfered with by the finger of a supposed omnipotence, +and no one will believe that nations or individuals are protected or +destroyed by any deity whatever. Science, freed from the chains of pious +custom and evangelical prejudice, will, within her sphere, be supreme. +The mind will investigate without reverence, and publish its conclusions +without fear. Agassiz will no longer hesitate to declare the Mosaic +cosmogony utterly inconsistent with the demonstrated truths of geology, +and will cease pretending any reverence for the Jewish Scriptures. The +moment science succeeds in rendering the church powerless for evil, the +real thinkers will be outspoken. The little flags of truce carried by +timid philosophers will disappear, and the cowardly parley will give +place to victory--lasting and universal. + +If we admit that some infinite being has controlled the destinies of +persons and peoples, history becomes a most cruel and bloody farce. +Age after age, the strong have trampled upon the weak; the crafty +and heartless have ensnared and enslaved the simple and innocent, +and nowhere, in all the annals of mankind, has any god succored the +oppressed. + +Man should cease to expect aid from on high. By this time he should know +that heaven has no ear to hear, and no hand to help. The present is the +necessary child of all the past. There has been no chance, and there can +be no interference. + +If abuses are destroyed, man must destroy them. If slaves are freed, man +must free them. If new truths are discovered, man must discover them. +If the naked are clothed; if the hungry are fed; if justice is done; +if labor is rewarded; if superstition is driven from the mind; if the +defenceless are protected and if the right finally triumphs, all must be +the work of man. The grand victories of the future must be won by man, +and by man alone. + +Nature, so far as we can discern, without passion and without intention, +forms, transforms, and retransforms forever. She neither weeps nor +rejoices. She produces man without purpose, and obliterates him without +regret. She knows no distinction between the beneficial and the hurtful. +Poison and nutrition, pain and joy, life and death, smiles and tears are +alike to her. She is neither merciful nor cruel. She cannot be flattered +by worship nor melted by tears. She does not know even the attitude of +prayer. She appreciates no difference between poison in the fangs of +snakes and mercy in the hearts of men. Only through man does nature take +cognizance of the good, the true, and the beautiful; and, so far as we +know, man is the highest intelligence. + +And yet man continues to believe that there is some power independent +of and superior to nature, and still endeavors, by form, ceremony, +supplication, hypocrisy and sacrifice, to obtain its aid. His best +energies have been wasted in the service of this phantom. The horrors +of witchcraft were all born of an ignorant belief in the existence of +a totally depraved being superior to nature, acting in perfect +independence of her laws; and all religious superstition has had for its +basis a belief in at least two beings, one good and the other bad, both +of whom could arbitrarily change the order of the universe. The history +of religion is simply the story of man's efforts in all ages to avoid +one of these powers, and to pacify the other. Both powers have inspired +little else than abject fear. The cold, calculating sneer of the devil, +and the frown of God, were equally terrible. In any event, man's fate +was to be arbitrarily fixed forever by an unknown power superior to +all law, and to all fact. Until this belief is thrown aside, man must +consider himself the slave of phantom masters--neither of whom promise +liberty in this world nor in the next. + +Man must learn to rely upon himself. Reading bibles will not protect +him from the blasts of winter, but houses, fires, and clothing will. +To prevent famine, one plow is worth a million sermons, and even patent +medicines will cure more diseases than all the prayers uttered since the +beginning of the world. + +Although many eminent men have endeavored to harmonize necessity and +free will, the existence of evil, and the infinite power and good ness +of God, they have succeeded only in producing learned and ingenious +failures. Immense efforts have been made to reconcile ideas utterly +inconsistent with the facts by which we are surrounded, and all persons +who have failed to perceive the pretended reconciliation, have been +denounced as infidels, atheists and scoffers. The whole power of the +church has been brought to bear against philosophers and scientists +in order to compel a denial of the authority of demonstration, and to +induce some Judas to betray Reason, one of the saviors of mankind. + +During that frightful period known as the "Dark Ages," Faith reigned, +with scarcely a rebellious subject. Her temples were "carpeted with +knees," and the wealth of nations adorned her countless shrines. The +great painters prostituted their genius to immortalize her vagaries, +while the poets enshrined them in song. At her bidding, man covered the +earth with blood. The scales of Justice were turned with her gold, and +for her use were invented all the cunning instruments of pain. She built +cathedrals for God, and dungeons for men. She peopled the clouds with +angels and the earth with slaves. For centuries the world was retracing +its steps--going steadily back toward barbaric night! A few infidels--a +few heretics cried, "Halt!" to the great rabble of ignorant devotion, +and made it possible for the genius of the nineteenth century to +revolutionize the cruel creeds and superstitions of mankind. + +The thoughts of man, in order to be of any real worth, must be free. +Under the influence of fear the brain is paralyzed, and instead of +bravely solving a problem for itself, tremblingly adopts the solution +of another. As long as a majority of men will cringe to the very earth +before some petty prince or king, what must be the infinite abjectness +of their little souls in the presence of their supposed creator and God? +Under such circumstances, what can their thoughts be worth? + +The originality of repetition, and the mental vigor of acquiescence, are +all that we have any right to expect from the Christian world. As long +as every question is answered by the word "God," scientific inquiry is +simply impossible. As fast as phenomena are satisfactorily explained the +domain of the power, supposed to be superior to nature must decrease, +while the horizon of the known must as constantly continue to enlarge. + +It is no longer satisfactory to account for the fall and rise of nations +by saying, "It is the will of God." Such an explanation puts ignorance +and education upon an exact equality, and does away with the idea of +really accounting for anything whatever. + +Will the religionist pretend that the real end of science is to +ascertain how and why God acts? Science, from such a standpoint would +consist in investigating the law of arbitrary action, and in a grand +endeavor to ascertain the rules necessarily obeyed by infinite caprice. + +From a philosophical point of view, science is knowledge of the laws +of life; of the conditions of happiness; of the facts by which we are +surrounded, and the relations we sustain to men and things--by means +of which, man, so to speak, subjugates nature and bends the elemental +powers to his will, making blind force the servant of his brain. + +A belief in special providence does away with the spirit of +investigation, and is inconsistent with personal effort. Why should man +endeavor to thwart the designs of God? Which of you, by taking thought, +can add one cubit to his stature? Under the influence of this belief, +man, basking in the sunshine of a delusion, considers the lilies of the +field and refuses to take any thought for the morrow. Believing himself +in the power of an infinite being, who can, at any moment, dash him +to the lowest hell or raise him to the highest heaven, he necessarily +abandons the idea of accomplishing anything by his own efforts. As +long as this belief was general, the world was filled with ignorance, +superstition and misery. The energies of man were wasted in a vain +effort to obtain the aid of this power, supposed to be superior to +nature. For countless ages, even men were sacrificed upon the altar of +this impossible god. To please him, mothers have shed the blood of their +own babes; martyrs have chanted triumphant songs in the midst of flame; +priests have gorged themselves with blood; nuns have forsworn the +ecstasies of love; old men have tremblingly implored; women have sobbed +and entreated; every pain has been endured, and every horror has been +perpetrated. + +Through the dim long years that have fled, humanity has suffered more +than can be conceived. Most of the misery has been endured by the weak, +the loving and the innocent Women have been treated like poisonous +beasts, and little children trampled upon as though they had been +vermin. Numberless altars have been reddened, even with the blood of +babes; beautiful girls have been given to slimy serpents; whole races +of men doomed to centuries of slavery, and everywhere there has been +outrage beyond the power of genius to express. During all these years +the suffering have supplicated; the withered lips of famine have prayed; +the pale victims have implored, and Heaven has been deaf and blind. + +Of what use have the gods been to man? + +It is no answer to say that some god created the world, established +certain laws, and then turned his attention to other matters, leaving +his children weak, ignorant and unaided, to fight the battle of life +alone. It is no solution to declare that in some, other world this god +will render a few, or even all, his subjects happy. What right have we +to expect that a perfectly wise, good and powerful being will ever +do better than he has done, and is doing? The world is filled with +imperfections. If it was made by an infinite being, what reason have we +for saying that he will render it nearer perfect than it now is? If the +infinite "Father" allows a majority of his children to live in ignorance +and wretchedness now, what evidence is there that he will ever improve +their condition? Will God have more power? Will he become more merciful? +Will his love for his poor creatures increase? Can the conduct of +infinite wisdom, power and love ever change? Is the infinite capable of +any improvement whatever? + +We are informed by the clergy that this world is a kind of school; that +the evils by which we are surrounded are for the purpose of developing +our souls, and that only by suffering can men become pure, strong, +virtuous and grand. + +Supposing this to be true, what is to become of those who die in +infancy? The little children, according to this philosophy, can never +be developed. They were so unfortunate as to escape the ennobling +influences of pain and misery, and as a consequence, are doomed to +an eternity of mental inferiority. If the clergy are right on this +question, none are so unfortunate as the happy, and we should envy only +the suffering and distressed. If evil is necessary to the development +of man, in this life, how is it possible for the soul to improve in the +perfect joy of Paradise? + +Since Paley found his watch, the argument of "design" has been relied +upon as unanswerable. The church teaches that this world, and all that +it contains, were created substantially as we now see them; that the +grasses, the flowers, the trees, and all animals, including man, were +special creations, and that they sustain no necessary relation to each +other. The most orthodox will admit that some earth has been washed into +the sea; that the sea has encroached a little upon the land, and that +some mountains may be a trifle lower than in the morning of creation. +The theory of gradual development was unknown to our fathers; the idea +of evolution did not occur to them. Our fathers looked upon the then +arrangement of things as the primal arrangement. The earth appeared +to them fresh from the hands of a deity. They knew nothing of the slow +evolutions of countless years, but supposed that the almost infinite +variety of vegetable and animal forms had existed from the first. + +Suppose that upon some island we should find a man a million years of +age, and suppose that we should find him in the possession of a most +beautiful carriage, constructed upon the most perfect model. And +suppose, further, that he should tell us that it was the result of +several hundred thousand years of labor and of thought; that for +fifty thousand years he used as flat a log as he could find, before +it occurred to him, that by splitting the log, he could have the same +surface with only half the weight; that it took him many thousand years +to invent wheels for this log; that the wheels he first used were solid, +and that fifty thousand years of thought suggested the use of spokes +and tire; that for many centuries he used the wheels without linch-pins; +that it took a hundred thousand years more to think of using four +wheels, instead of two; that for ages he walked behind the carriage, +when going down hill, in order to hold it back, and that only by a lucky +chance he invented the tongue; would we conclude that this man, from +the very first, had been an infinitely ingenious and perfect mechanic? +Suppose we found him living in an elegant mansion, and he should inform +us that he lived in that house for five hundred thousand years before +he thought of putting on a roof, and that he had but recently invented +windows and doors; would we say that from the beginning he had been an +infinitely accomplished and scientific architect? + +Does not an improvement in the things created, show a corresponding +improvement in the creator? + +Would an infinitely wise, good and powerful God, intending to produce +man, commence with the lowest possible forms of life; with the simplest +organism that can be imagined, and during immeasurable periods of time, +slowly and almost imperceptibly improve upon the rude beginning, until +man was evolved? Would countless ages thus be wasted in the production +of awkward forms, afterwards abandoned? Can the intelligence of man +discover the least wisdom in covering the earth with crawling, creeping +horrors, that live only upon the agonies and pangs of others? Can we see +the propriety of so constructing the earth, that only an insignificant +portion of its surface is capable of producing an intelligent man? Who +can appreciate the mercy of so making the world that all animals devour +animals; so that every mouth is a slaughterhouse, and every stomach +a tomb? Is it possible to discover infinite intelligence and love in +universal and eternal carnage? + +What would we think of a father, who should give a farm to his children, +and before giving them possession should plant upon it thousands of +deadly shrubs and vines; should stock it with ferocious beasts, and +poisonous reptiles; should take pains to put a few swamps in the +neighborhood to breed malaria; should so arrange matters, that the +ground would occasionally open and swallow a few of his darlings, and +besides all this, should establish a few volcanoes in the immediate +vicinity, that might at any moment overwhelm his children with rivers of +fire? Suppose that this father neglected to tell his children which of +the plants were deadly; that the reptiles were poisonous; failed to say +anything about the earthquakes, and kept the volcano business a profound +secret; would we pronounce him angel or fiend? + +And yet this is exactly what the orthodox God has done. + +According to the theologians, God prepared this globe expressly for the +habitation of his loved children, and yet he filled the forests with +ferocious beasts; placed serpents in every path; stuffed the world with +earthquakes, and adorned its surface with mountains of flame. + +Notwithstanding all this, we are told that the world is perfect; that +it was created by a perfect being, and is therefore necessarily perfect. +The next moment, these same persons will tell us that the world was +cursed; covered with brambles, thistles and thorns, and that man was +doomed to disease and death, simply because our poor, dear mother ate an +apple contrary to the command of an arbitrary God. + +A very pious friend of mine, having heard that I had said the world +was full of imperfections, asked me if the report was true. Upon being +informed that it was, he expressed great surprise that any one could +be guilty of such presumption. He said that, in his judgment, it was +impossible to point out an imperfection. "Be kind enough," said he, "to +name even one improvement that you could make, if you had the power." +"Well," said I, "I would make good health catching, instead of disease." +The truth is, it is impossible to harmonize all the ills, and pains, +and agonies of this world with the idea that we were created by, and +are watched over and protected by an infinitely wise, powerful and +beneficent God, who is superior to and independent of nature. + +The clergy, however, balance all the real ills of this life with the +expected joys of the next. We are assured that all is perfection in +heaven--there the skies are cloudless--there all is serenity and peace. +Here empires may be overthrown; dynasties may be extinguished in blood; +millions of slaves may toil 'neath the fierce rays of the sun, and the +cruel strokes of the lash; yet all is happiness in heaven. Pestilences +may strew the earth with corpses of the loved; the survivors may bend +above them in agony--yet the placid bosom of heaven is unruffled. +Children may expire vainly asking for bread; babes may be devoured by +serpents, while the gods sit smiling in the clouds. The innocent may +languish unto death in the obscurity of dungeons; brave men and heroic +women may be changed to ashes at the bigot's stake, while heaven is +filled with song and joy. Out on the wide sea, in darkness and in storm, +the shipwrecked struggle with the cruel waves while the angels play +upon their golden harps. The streets of the world are filled with +the diseased, the deformed and the helpless; the chambers of pain are +crowded with the pale forms of the suffering, while the angels float +and fly in the happy realms of day. In heaven they are too happy to have +sympathy; too busy singing to aid the imploring and distressed. Their +eyes are blinded; their ears are stopped and their hearts are turned to +stone by the infinite selfishness of joy. The saved mariner is too happy +when he touches the shore to give a moment's thought to his drowning +brothers. With the indifference of happiness, with the contempt of +bliss, heaven barely glances at the miseries of earth. Cities are +devoured by the rushing lava; the earth opens and thousands perish; +women raise their clasped hands towards heaven, but the gods are too +happy to aid their children. The smiles of the deities are unacquainted +with the tears of men. The shouts of heaven drown the sobs of earth. + +Having shown how man created gods, and how he became the trembling slave +of his own creation, the questions naturally arise: How did he free +himself even a little, from these monarchs of the sky, from these +despots of the clouds, from this aristocracy of the air? How did he, +even to the extent that he has, outgrow his ignorant, abject terror, and +throw off the yoke of superstition? + +Probably, the first thing that tended to disabuse his mind was the +discovery of order, of regularity, of periodicity in the universe. From +this he began to suspect that everything did not happen purely with +reference to him. He noticed, that whatever he might do, the motions +of the planets were always the same; that eclipses were periodical, +and that even comets came at certain intervals. This convinced him that +eclipses and comets had nothing to do with him, and that his conduct had +nothing to do with them. He perceived that they were not caused for +his benefit or injury. He thus learned to regard them with admiration +instead of fear. He began to suspect that famine was not sent by some +enraged and revengeful deity, but resuited often from the neglect and +ignorance of man. He learned that diseases were not produced by evil +spirits. He found that sickness was occasioned by natural causes, +and could be cured by natural means. He demonstrated, to his own +satisfaction at least, that prayer is not a medicine. He found by +sad experience that his gods were of no practical use, as they never +assisted him, except when he was perfectly able to help himself. At +last, he began to discover that his individual action had nothing +whatever to do with strange appearances in the heavens; that it was +impossible for him to be bad enough to cause a whirlwind, or good enough +to stop one. After many centuries of thought, he about half concluded +that making mouths at a priest would not necessarily cause an +earthquake. He noticed, and no doubt with considerable astonishment, +that very good men were occasionally struck by lightning, while very bad +ones escaped. He was frequently forced to the painful conclusion (and it +is the most painful to which any human being ever was forced) that the +right did not always prevail. He noticed that the gods did not interfere +in behalf of the weak and innocent. He was now and then astonished +by seeing an unbeliever in the enjoyment of most excellent health. He +finally ascertained that there could be no possible connection between +an unusually severe winter and his failure to give a sheep to a priest. +He began to suspect that the order of the universe was not constantly +being changed to assist him because he repeated a creed. He observed +that some children would steal after having been regularly baptized. +He noticed a vast difference between religion and justice, and that +the worshipers of the same god, took delight in cutting each other's +throats. He saw that these religious disputes filled the world with +hatred and slavery. At last he had the courage to suspect, that no god +at any time interferes with the order of events. He learned a few +facts, and these facts positively refused to harmonize with the ignorant +superstitions of his fathers. Finding his sacred books incorrect and +false in some particulars, his faith in their authenticity began to be +shaken; finding his priests ignorant upon some points, he began to +lose respect for the cloth. This was the commencement of intellectual +freedom. + +The civilization of man has increased just to the same extent that +religious power has decreased. The intellectual advancement of man +depends upon how often he can exchange an old superstition for a new +truth. The church never enabled a human being to make even one of these +exchanges; on the contrary, all her power has been used to prevent them. +In spite, however, of the church, man found that some of his religious +conceptions were wrong. By reading his Bible, he found that the ideas +of his God were more cruel and brutal than those of the most depraved +savage. He also discovered that this holy book was filled with +ignorance, and that it must have been written by persons wholly +unacquainted with the nature of the phenomena by which we are +surrounded; and now and then, some man had the goodness and courage to +speak his honest thoughts. In every age some thinker, some doubter, some +investigator, some hater of hypocrisy, some despiser of sham, some +brave lover of the right, has gladly, proudly and heroically braved +the ignorant fury of superstition for the sake of man and truth. These +divine men were generally torn in pieces by the worshipers of the +gods. Socrates was poisoned because he lacked reverence for some of the +deities. Christ was crucified by a religious rabble for the crime of +blasphemy. Nothing is more gratifying to a religionist than to destroy +his enemies at the command of God. Religious persecution springs from a +due admixture of love towards God and hatred towards man. + +The terrible religious wars that inundated the world with blood tended +at least to bring all religion into disgrace and hatred. Thoughtful +people began to question the divine origin of a religion that made its +believers hold the rights of others in absolute contempt. A few began +to compare Christianity with the religions of heathen people, and were +forced to admit that the difference was hardly worth dying for. They +also found that other nations were even happier and more prosperous than +their own. They began to suspect that their religion, after all, was not +of much real value. + +For three hundred years the Christian world endeavored to rescue from +the "Infidel" the empty sepulchre of Christ. For three hundred years the +armies of the cross were baffled and beaten by the victorious hosts +of an impudent impostor. This immense fact sowed the seeds of distrust +throughout all Christendom, and millions began to lose confidence in +a God who had been vanquished by Mohammed. The people also found that +commerce made friends where religion made enemies, and that religious +zeal was utterly incompatible with peace between nations or individuals. +They discovered that those who loved the gods most were apt to love men +least; that the arrogance of universal forgiveness was amazing; that the +most malicious had the effrontery to pray for their enemies, and that +humility and tyranny were the fruit of the same tree. + +For ages, a deadly conflict has been waged between a few brave men and +women of thought and genius upon the one side, and the great ignorant +religious mass on the other. This is the war between Science and Faith. +The few have appealed to reason, to honor, to law, to freedom, to the +known, and to happiness here in this world. The many have appealed +to prejudice, to fear, to miracle, to slavery, to the unknown, and +to misery hereafter. The few have said, "Think!" The many have said, +"Believe!" + +The first doubt was the womb and cradle of progress, and from the first +doubt, man has continued to advance. Men began to investigate, and the +church began to oppose. The astronomer scanned the heavens, while the +church branded his grand forehead with the word, "Infidel;" and now, +not a glittering star in all the vast expanse bears a Christian name. +In spite of all religion, the geologist penetrated the earth, read her +history in books of stone, and found, hidden within her bosom, souvenirs +of all the ages. Old ideas perished in the retort of the chemist, and +useful truths took their places. One by one religious conceptions have +been placed in the crucible of science, and thus far, nothing but dross +has been found. A new world has been discovered by the microscope; +everywhere has been found the infinite; in every direction man has +investigated and explored and nowhere, in earth or stars, has been found +the footstep of any being superior to or independent of nature. Nowhere +has been discovered the slightest evidence of any interference from +without. + +These are the sublime truths that enabled man to throw off the yoke of +superstition. These are the splendid facts that snatched the sceptre of +authority from the hands of priests. + +In that vast cemetery, called the past, are most of the religions of +men, and there, too, are nearly all their gods. The sacred temples of +India were ruins long ago. Over column and cornice; over the painted and +pictured walls, cling and creep the trailing vines. Brahma, the golden, +with four heads and four arms; Vishnu, the sombre, the punisher of the +wicked, with his three eyes, his crescent, and his necklace of skulls; +Siva, the destroyer, red with seas of blood; Kali, the goddess; +Draupadi, the white-armed, and Chrishna, the Christ, all passed away and +left the thrones of heaven desolate. Along the banks of the sacred +Nile, Isis no longer wandering weeps, searching for the dead Osiris. The +shadow of Typhons scowl falls no more upon the waves. The sun rises +as of yore, and his golden beams still smite the lips of Memnon, but +Mem-non is as voiceless as the Sphinx. The sacred fanes are lost in +desert sands; the dusty mummies are still waiting for the resurrection +promised by their priests, and the old beliefs, wrought in curiously +sculptured stone, sleep in the mystery of a language lost and dead. +Odin, the author of life and soul, Vili and Ve, and the mighty giant +Ymir, strode long ago from the icy halls of the North; and Thor, with +iron glove and glittering hammer, dashes mountains to the earth no more. +Broken are the circles and cromlechs of the ancient Druids; fallen upon +the summits of the hills, and covered with the centuries' moss, are the +sacred cairns. The divine fires of Persia and of the Aztecs, have died +out in the ashes of the past, and there is none to rekindle, and none to +feed the holy flames. The harp of Orpheus is still; the drained cup of +Bacchus has been thrown aside; Venus lies dead in stone, and her white +bosom heaves no more with love. The streams still murmur, but no naiads +bathe; the trees still wave, but in the forest aisles no dryads dance. +The gods have flown from high Olympus. Not even the beautiful women +can lure them back, and Danæ lies unnoticed, naked to the stars. Hushed +forever are the thunders of Sinai; lost are the voices of the prophets, +and the land once flowing with milk and honey, is but a desert waste. +One by one, the myths have faded from the clouds: one by one, the +phantom host has disappeared, and one by one, facts, truths and +realities have taken their places. The supernatural has almost gone, but +the natural remains. The gods have fled, but man is here. + +Nations, like individuals, have their periods of youth, of manhood and +decay. Religions are the same. The same inexorable destiny awaits them +all. The gods created by the nations must perish with their creators. +They were created by men, and like men, they must pass away. The deities +of one age are the by-words of the next The religion of our day, and +country, is no more exempt from the sneer of the future than the others +have been. When India was supreme, Brahma sat upon the world's throne. +When the sceptre passed to Egypt, Isis and Osiris received the homage of +mankind. Greece, with her fierce valor, swept to empire, and Zeus put +on the purple of authority. The earth trembled with the tread of Rome's +intrepid sons, and Jove grasped with mailed hand the thunderbolts of +heaven. Rome fell, and Christians from her territory, with the red sword +of war, carved out the ruling nations of the world, and now Christ sits +upon the old throne. Who will be his successor? + +Day by day, religious conceptions grow less and less intense. Day by +day, the old spirit dies out of book and creed. The burning enthusiasm, +the quenchless zeal of the early church have gone, never, never to +return. The ceremonies remain, but the ancient faith is fading out +of the human heart. The worn-out arguments fail to convince, and +denunciations that once blanched the faces of a race, excite in us +only derision and disgust. As time rolls on, the miracles grow mean and +small, and the evidences our fathers thought conclusive utterly fail to +satisfy us. There is an "irrepressible conflict" between religion and +science, and they cannot peaceably occupy the same brain nor the same +world. + +While utterly discarding all creeds, and denying the truth of all +religions, there is neither in my heart nor upon my lips a sneer for the +hopeful, loving and tender souls who believe that from all this discord +will result a perfect harmony; that every evil will in some mysterious +way become a good, and that above and over all there is a being who, in +some way, will reclaim and glorify every one of the children of men; +but for those who heartlessly try to prove that salvation is almost +impossible; that damnation is almost certain; that the highway of the +universe leads to hell; who fill life with fear and death with horror; +who curse the cradle and mock the tomb, it is impossible to entertain +other than feelings of pity, contempt and scorn. + +Reason, Observation and Experience--the Holy Trinity of Science--have +taught us that happiness is the only good; that the time to be happy is +now, and the way to be happy is to make others so. This is enough for +us. In this belief we are content to live and die. If by any possibility +the existence of a power superior to, and independent of, nature shall +be demonstrated, there will then be time enough to kneel. Until then, +let us stand erect. + +Notwithstanding the fact that infidels in all ages have battled for +the rights of man, and have at all times been the fearless advocates +of liberty and justice, we are constantly charged by the church with +tearing down without building again. The church should by this time know +that it is utterly impossible to rob men of their opinions. The history +of religious persecution fully establishes the fact that the mind +necessarily resists and defies every attempt to control it by violence. +The mind necessarily clings to old ideas until prepared for the new. +The moment we comprehend the truth, all erroneous ideas are of necessity +cast aside. + +A surgeon once called upon a poor cripple and kindly offered to render +him any assistance in his power. The surgeon began to discourse very +learnedly upon the nature and origin of disease; of the curative +properties of certain medicines; of the advantages of exercise, air and +light, and of the various ways in which health and strength could be +restored. These remarks were so full of good sense, and discovered so +much profound thought and accurate knowledge, that the cripple, becoming +thoroughly alarmed, cried out, "Do not, I pray you, take away my +crutches. They are my only support, and without them I should be +miserable indeed!" "I am not going," said the surgeon, "to take away +your crutches. I am going to cure you, and then you will throw the +crutches away yourself." + +For the vagaries of the clouds the infidels propose to substitute the +realities of earth; for superstition, the splendid demonstrations and +achievements of science; and for theological tyranny, the chainless +liberty of thought. + +We do not say that we have discovered all; that our doctrines are the +all in all of truth. We know of no end to the development of man. We +cannot unravel the infinite complications of matter and force. The +history of one monad is as unknown as that of the universe; one drop of +water is as wonderful as all the seas; one leaf, as all the forests; and +one grain of sand, as all the stars. + +We are not endeavoring to chain the future, but to free the present. We +are not forging fetters for our children, but we are breaking those our +fathers made for us. We are the advocates of inquiry, of investigation +and thought This of itself, is an admission that we are not perfectly +satisfied with all our conclusions. Philosophy has not the egotism of +faith. While superstition builds walls and creates obstructions, +science opens all the highways of thought. We do not pretend to have +circumnavigated everything, and to have solved all difficulties, but we +do believe that it is better to love men than to fear gods; that it is +grander and nobler to think and investigate for yourself than to repeat +a creed. We are satisfied that there can be but little liberty on earth +while men worship a tyrant in heaven. We do not expect to accomplish +everything in our day; but we want to do what good we can, and to render +all the service possible in the holy cause of human progress. We know +that doing away with gods and supernatural persons and powers is not an +end. It is a means to an end: the real end being the happiness of man. + +Felling forests is not the end of agriculture. Driving pirates from the +sea is not all there is of commerce. + +We are laying the foundations of the grand temple of the future--not the +temple of all the gods, but of all the people--wherein, with appropriate +rites, will be celebrated the religion of Humanity. We are doing what +little we can to hasten the coming of the day when society shall cease +producing millionaires and mendicants--gorged indolence and famished +industry--truth in rags, and superstition robed and crowned. We are +looking for the time when the useful shall be the honorable; and when +Reason, throned upon the world's brain, shall be the King of Kings, and +God of Gods. + + + + +HUMBOLDT. + +The Universe is Governed by Law. + +GREAT men seem to be a part of the infinite--brothers of the mountains +and the seas. + +Humboldt was one of these. He was one of those serene men, in some +respects like our own Franklin, whose names have all the lustre of a +star. He was one of the few, great enough to rise above the superstition +and prejudice of his time, and to know that experience, observation, and +reason are the only basis of knowledge. + +He became one of the greatest of men in spite of having been born rich +and noble--in spite of position. I say in spite of these things, +because wealth and position are generally the enemies of genius, and the +destroyers of talent. + +It is often said of this or that man, that he is a self-made man--that +he was born of the poorest and humblest parents, and that with every +obstacle to overcome he became great. This is a mistake. Poverty is +generally an advantage. Most of the intellectual giants of the world +have been nursed at the sad and loving breast of poverty. Most of those +who have climbed highest on the shining ladder of fame commenced at the +lowest round. They were reared in the straw-thatched cottages of Europe; +in the log-houses of America; in the factories of the great cities; in +the midst of toil; in the smoke and din of labor, and on the verge of +want. They were rocked by the feet of mothers whose hands, at the same +time, were busy with the needle or the wheel. + +It is hard for the rich to resist the thousand allurements of pleasure, +and so I say, that Humboldt, in spite of having been born to wealth and +high social position, became truly and grandly great. + +In the antiquated and romantic castle of Tegel, by the side of the pine +forest, on the shore of the charming lake, near the beautiful city of +Berlin, the great Humboldt, one hundred years ago to-day, was born, and +there he was educated after the method suggested by Rousseau,--Campe, +the philologist and critic, and the intellectual Kunth being his tutors. +There he received the impressions that determined his career; there the +great idea that the universe is governed by law, took possession of +his mind, and there he dedicated his life to the demonstration of this +sublime truth. + +He came to the conclusion that the source of man's unhappiness is his +ignorance of nature. + +After having received the most thorough education at that time possible, +and having determined to what end he would devote the labors of his +life, he turned his attention to the sciences of geology, mining, +mineralogy, botany, the distribution of plants, the distribution +of animals, and the effect of climate upon man. All grand physical +phenomena were investigated and explained. From his youth he had felt a +great desire for travel. He felt, as he says, a violent passion for +the sea, and longed to look upon nature in her wildest and most rugged +forms. He longed to give a physical description of the universe--a grand +picture of nature; to account for all phenomena; to discover the laws +governing the world; to do away with that splendid delusion called +special providence, and to establish the fact that the universe is +governed by law. + +To establish this truth was, and is, of infinite importance to mankind. +That fact is the death-knell of superstition; it gives liberty to every +soul, annihilates fear, and ushers in the Age of Reason. + +The object of this illustrious man was to comprehend the phenomena of +physical objects in their general connection, and to represent nature as +one great whole, moved and animated by internal forces. + +For this purpose he turned his attention to descriptive botany, +traversing distant lands and mountain ranges to ascertain with certainty +the geographical distribution of plants. He investigated the laws +regulating the differences of temperature and climate, and the changes +of the atmosphere. He studied the formation of the earth's crust, +explored the deepest mines, ascended the highest mountains, and wandered +through the craters of extinct volcanoes. + +He became thoroughly acquainted with chemistry, with astronomy, with +terrestrial magnetism; and as the investigation of one subject leads +to all others, for the reason that there is a mutual dependence and a +necessary connection between all facts, so Humboldt became acquainted +with all the known sciences. + +His fame does not depend so much upon his discoveries (although he +discovered enough to make hundreds of reputations) as upon his vast and +splendid generalizations. + +He was to science what Shakespeare was to the drama. + +He found, so to speak, the world full of unconnected facts--all portions +of a vast system--parts of a great machine; he discovered the connection +that each bears to all; put them together, and demonstrated beyond all +contradiction that the earth is governed by law. + +He knew that to discover the connection of phenomena is the primary aim +of all natural investigation. He was infinitely practical. + +Origin and destiny were questions with which he had nothing to do. + +His surroundings made him what he was. + +In accordance with a law not fully comprehended, he was a production of +his time. + +Great men do not live alone; they are surrounded by the great; they are +the instruments used to accomplish the tendencies of their generation; +they fulfill the prophecies of their age. + +Nearly all of the scientific men of the eighteenth century had the same +idea entertained by Humboldt, but most of them in a dim and confused +way. There was, however, a general belief among the intelligent that +the world is governed by law, and that there really exists a connection +between all facts, _or that all facts are simply the different aspects +of a general fact_, and that the task of science is to discover this +connection; to comprehend this general fact or to announce the laws of +things. + +Germany was full of thought, and her universities swarmed with +philosophers and grand thinkers in every department of knowledge. + +Humboldt was the friend and companion of the greatest poets, historians, +philologists, artists, statesmen, critics, and logicians of his time. + +He was the companion of Schiller, who believed that man would be +regenerated through the influence of the Beautiful; of Goethe, the grand +patriarch of German literature; of Weiland, who has been called +the Voltaire of Germany; of Herder, who wrote the outlines of a +philosophical history of man; of Kotzebue, who lived in the world of +romance; of Schleiermacher, the pantheist; of Schlegel, who gave to +his countrymen the enchanted realm of Shakespeare; of the sublime Kant, +author of the first work published in Germany on Pure Reason; of Fichte, +the infinite idealist; of Schopenhauer, the European Buddhist who +followed the great Gautama to the painless and dreamless Nirwana, and +of hundreds of others, whose names are familiar to and honored by the +scientific world. + +The German mind had been grandly roused from the long lethargy of the +dark ages of ignorance, fear, and faith. Guided by the holy light of +reason, every department of knowledge was investigated, enriched and +illustrated. + +Humboldt breathed the atmosphere of investigation; old ideas were +abandoned; old creeds, hallowed by centuries, were thrown aside; thought +became courageous; the athlete, Reason, challenged to mortal combat the +monsters of superstition. + +No wonder that under these influences Humboldt formed the great purpose +of presenting to the world a picture of Nature, in order that men might, +for the first time, behold the face of their Mother. + +Europe becoming too small for his genius, he visited the tropics in +the new world, where in the most circumscribed limits he could find the +greatest number of plants, of animals, and the greatest diversity of +climate, that he might ascertain the laws governing the production and +distribution of plants, animals and men, and the effects of climate +upon them all. He sailed along the gigantic Amazon--the mysterious +Orinoco--traversed the Pampas--climbed the Andes until he stood upon the +crags of Chimborazo, more than eighteen thousand feet above the level of +the sea, and climbed on until blood flowed from his eyes and lips. +For nearly five years he pursued his investigations in the new world, +accompanied by the intrepid Bonpland. Nothing escaped his attention. He +was the best intellectual organ of these new revelations of science. He +was calm, reflective and eloquent; filled with a sense of the beautiful, +and the love of truth. His collections were immense, and valuable beyond +calculation to every science. He endured innumerable hardships, braved +countless dangers in unknown and savage lands, and exhausted his fortune +for the advancement of true learning. + +Upon his return to Europe he was hailed as the second Columbus; as the +scientific discoverer of America; as the revealer of a new world; as the +great demonstrator of the sublime truth, that the universe is governed +by law. + +I have seen a picture of the old man, sitting upon a mountain +side--above him the eternal snow--below, the smiling valley of the +tropics, filled with vine and palm; his chin upon his breast, his eyes +deep, thoughtful and calm--his forehead majestic--grander than the +mountain upon which he sat--crowned with the snow of his whitened hair, +he looked the intellectual autocrat of this world. + +Not satisfied with his discoveries in America, he crossed the steppes +of Asia, the wastes of Siberia, the great Ural range, adding to the +knowledge of mankind at every step. His energy acknowledged no obstacle, +his life knew no leisure; every day was filled with labor and with +thought. + +He was one of the apostles of science, and he served his divine master +with a self-sacrificing zeal that knew no abatement; with an ardor that +constantly increased, and with a devotion unwavering and constant as the +polar star. + +In order that the people at large might have the benefit of his numerous +discoveries, and his vast knowledge, he delivered at Berlin a course +of lectures, consisting of sixty-one free addresses, upon the following +subjects: + +Five, upon the nature and limits of physical geography. + +Three, were devoted to a history of science. + +Two, to inducements to a study of natural science. + +Sixteen, on the heavens. + +Five, on the form, density, latent heat, and magnetic power of the +earth, and to the polar light. + +Four, were on the nature of the crust of the earth, on hot springs +earthquakes, and volcanoes. + +Two, on mountains and the type of their formation. + +Two, on the form of the earth's surface, on the connection of +continents, and the elevation of soil over ravines. + +Three, on the sea as a globular fluid surrounding the earth. + +Ten, on the atmosphere as an elastic fluid surrounding the earth, and on +the distribution of heat. + +One, on the geographic distribution of organ ized matter in general. + +Three, on the geography of plants. + +Three, on the geography of animals, and + +Two, on the races of men. + +These lectures are what is known as the Cosmos, and present a scientific +picture of the world--of infinite diversity in unity--of ceaseless +motion in the eternal grasp of law. + +These lectures contain the result of his investigation, observation, and +experience; they furnish the connection between phenomena; they disclose +some of the changes through which the earth has passed in the countless +ages; the history of vegetation, animals and men, the effects of climate +upon individuals and nations, the relation we sustain to other worlds, +and demonstrate that all phenomena, whether insignificant or grand, +exist in accordance with inexorable law. + +There are some truths, however, that we never should forget: +Superstition has always been the relentless enemy of science; faith has +been a hater of demonstration; hypocrisy has been sincere only in its +dread of truth, and all religions are inconsistent with mental freedom. + +Since the murder of Hypatia in the fifth century, when the polished +blade of Greek philosophy was broken by the club of ignorant +Catholicism, until to-day, superstition has detested every effort of +reason. + +It is almost impossible to conceive of the completeness of the victory +that the church achieved over philosophy. For ages science was utterly +ignored; thought was a poor slave; an ignorant priest was master of the +world; faith put out the eyes of the soul; the reason was a trembling +coward; the imagination was set on fire of hell; every human feeling was +sought to be suppressed; love was considered infinitely sinful; pleasure +was the road to eternal fire, and God was supposed to be happy only when +his children were miserable. The world was governed by an Almighty's +whim; prayers could change the order of things, halt the grand +procession of nature, could produce rain, avert pestilence, famine and +death in all its forms. There was no idea of the certain; all depended +upon divine pleasure or displeasure rather; heaven was full of +inconsistent malevolence, and earth of ignorance. Everything was done to +appease the divine wrath; every public calamity was caused by the +sins of the people; by a failure to pay tithes, or for having, even in +secret, felt a disrespect for a priest. To the poor multitude, the earth +was a kind of enchanted forest, full of demons ready to devour, and +theological serpents lurking with infinite power to fascinate and +torture the unhappy and impotent soul. Life to them was a dim and +mysterious labyrinth, in which they wandered weary, and lost, guided by +priests as bewildered as themselves, without knowing that at every step +the Ariadne of reason offered them the long lost clue. + +The very heavens were full of death; the lightning was regarded as the +glittering vengeance of God, and the earth was thick with snares for the +unwary feet of man. The soul was supposed to be crowded with the wild +beasts of desire; the heart to be totally corrupt, prompting only to +crime; virtues were regarded as deadly sins in disguise; there was a +continual warfare being waged between the Deity and the Devil, for +the possession of every soul; the latter generally being considered +victorious. The flood, the tornado, the volcano, were all evidences of +the displeasure of heaven, and the sinfulness of man. The blight that +withered, the frost that blackened, the earthquake that devoured, were +the messengers of the Creator. + +The world was governed by Fear. + +Against all the evils of nature, there was known only the defence of +prayer, of fasting, of credulity, and devotion. _Man in his helplessness +endeavored to soften the heart of God_. The faces of the multitude +were blanched with fear, and wet with tears; they were the prey of +hypocrites, kings and priests. + +My heart bleeds when I contemplate the sufferings endured by the +millions now dead; of those who lived when the world appeared to +be insane; when the heavens were filled with an infinite Horror who +snatched babes with dimpled hands and rosy cheeks from the white breasts +of mothers, and dashed them into an abyss of eternal flame. + +Slowly, beautifully, like the coming of the dawn, came the grand truth, +that the universe is governed by law; that disease fastens itself +upon the good and upon the bad; that the tornado cannot be stopped by +counting beads; that the rushing lava pauses not for bended knees, the +lightning for clasped and uplifted hands, nor the cruel waves of the sea +for prayer; that paying tithes causes, rather than prevents famine; that +pleasure is not sin; that happiness is the only good; that demons and +gods exist only in the imagination; that faith is a lullaby sung to put +the soul to sleep; that devotion is a bribe that fear offers to supposed +power; that offering rewards in another world for obedience in this, is +simply buying a soul on credit; that knowledge consists in ascertaining +the laws of nature, and that wisdom is the science of happiness. Slowly, +grandly, beautifully, these truths are dawning upon mankind. + +From Copernicus we learned that this earth is only a grain of sand on +the infinite shore of the universe; that everywhere we are surrounded by +shining worlds vastly greater than our own, all moving and existing in +accordance with law. True, the earth began to grow small, but man began +to grow great. + +The moment the fact was, established that other worlds are governed +by law, it was only natural to conclude that our little world was +also under its dominion. The old theological method of accounting for +physical phenomena by the pleasure and displeasure of the Deity was, +by the intellectual, abandoned. They found that disease, death, life, +thought, heat, cold, the seasons, the winds, the dreams of man, the +instinct of animals,--in short, that all physical and mental phenomena +are governed by law, absolute, eternal and inexorable. + +Let it be understood that by the term Law is meant the same invariable +relations of succession and resemblance predicated of all facts +springing from like conditions. Law is a fact--not a cause. It is a +fact, that like conditions produce like results: this fact is Law. When +we say that the universe is governed by law, we mean that this fact, +called law, is incapable of change; that it is, has been, and forever +will be, the same inexorable, immutable Fact, inseparable from all +phenomena. Law, in this sense, was not enacted or made. It could not +have been otherwise than as it is. That which necessarily exists has no +creator. + +Only a few years ago this earth was considered the real center of +the universe; all the stars were supposed to revolve around this +insignificant atom. The German mind, more than any other, has done +away with this piece of egotism. Purbach and Mullerus, in the fifteenth +century, contributed most to the advancement of astronomy in their day. +To the latter, the world is indebted for the introduction of decimal +fractions, which completed our arithmetical notation, and formed the +second of the three steps by which, in modern times, the science +of numbers has been so greatly improved; and yet, both of these men +believed in the most childish absurdities, at least in enough of them, +to die without their orthodoxy having ever been suspected. + +Next came the great Copernicus, and he stands at the head of the heroic +thinkers of his time, who had the courage and the mental strength to +break the chains of prejudice, custom, and authority, and to establish +truth on the basis of experience, observation and reason. He removed the +earth, so to speak, from the centre of the universe, and ascribed to it +a two-fold motion, and demonstrated the true position which it occupies +in the solar system. + +At his bidding the earth began to revolve. At the command of his genius +it commenced its grand flight mid the eternal constellations round the +sun. + +For fifty years his discoveries were disregarded. All at once, by the +exertions of Galileo, they were kindled into so grand a conflagration as +to consume the philosophy of Aristotle, to alarm the hierarchy of +Rome, and to threaten the existence of every opinion not founded upon +experience, observation, and reason. + +The earth was no longer considered a universe, governed by the caprices +of some revengeful Deity, who had made the stars out of what he had +left after completing the world, and had stuck them in the sky simply to +adorn the night. + +I have said this much concerning astronomy because it was the first +splendid step forward! The first sublime blow that shattered the lance +and shivered the shield of superstition; the first real help that +man received from heaven; because it was the first great lever placed +beneath the altar of a false religion; the first revelation of the +infinite to man; the first authoritative declaration, that the universe +is governed by law; the first science that gave the lie direct to the +cosmogony of barbarism, and because it is the sublimest victory that the +reason has achieved. + +In speaking of astronomy, I have confined myself to the discoveries made +since the revival of learning. Long ago, on the banks of the Ganges, +ages before Copernicus lived, Aryabhatta taught that the earth is a +sphere, and revolves on its own axis. This, however, does not detract +from the glory of the great German. The discovery of the Hindu had been +lost in the midnight of Europe--in the age of faith, and Copernicus was +as much a discoverer as though Aryabhatta had never lived. + +In this short address there is no time to speak of other sciences, and +to point out the particular evidence furnished by each, to establish +the dominion of law, nor to more than mention the name of Descartes, the +first who undertook to give an explanation of the celestial motions, +or who formed the vast and philosophic conception of reducing all the +phenomena of the universe to the same law; of Montaigne, one of the +heroes of common sense; of Galvani, whose experiments gave the telegraph +to the world; of Voltaire, who contributed more than any other of the +sons of men to the destruction of religious intolerance; of August +Comte, whose genius erected to itself a monument that still touches the +stars; of Guttenberg, Watt, Stephenson, Arkwright, all soldiers of +science, in the grand army of the dead kings. + +The glory of science is, that it is freeing the soul--breaking the +mental manacles--getting the brain out of bondage--giving courage to +thought--filling the world with mercy, justice, and joy. + +Science found agriculture plowing with a stick reaping with a +sickle--commerce at the mercy of the treacherous waves and the +inconstant winds--a world without books--without schools man denying +the authority of reason, employing his ingenuity in the manufacture +of instruments of torture, in building inquisitions and cathedrals. +It found the land filled with malicious monks--with persecuting +Protestants, and the burners of men. It found a world full of fear; +ignorance upon its knees; credulity the greatest virtue; women treated +like beasts of burden; cruelty the only means of reformation. + +It found the world at the mercy of disease and famine; men trying to +read their fates in the stars, and to tell their fortunes by signs and +wonders; generals thinking to conquer their enemies by making the sign +of the cross, or by telling a rosary. It found all history full of petty +and ridiculous falsehood, and the Almighty was supposed to spend most +of his time turning sticks into snakes, drowning boys for swimming on +Sunday, and killing little children for the purpose of converting their +parents. It found the earth filled with slaves and tyrants, the people +in all countries downtrodden, half naked, half starved, without hope, +and without reason in the world. + +Such was the condition of man when the morning of science dawned upon +his brain, and before he had heard the sublime declaration that the +universe is governed by law. + +For the change that has taken place we are indebted solely to +science--the only lever capable of raising mankind. Abject faith is +barbarism; reason is civilization. To obey is slavish; to act from +a sense of obligation perceived by the reason, is noble. Ignorance +worships mystery; Reason explains it: the one grovels, the other soars. + +No wonder that fable is the enemy of knowledge. A man with a false +diamond shuns the society of lapidaries, and it is upon this principle +that superstition abhors science. + +In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. They have +worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most gigantic liars, +and buried the great thieves in marble and gold. Under the loftiest +monuments sleeps the dust of murder. + +Imposture has always worn a crown. + +The world is beginning to change because the people are beginning +to think. To think is to advance. Everywhere the great minds are +investigating the creeds and the superstitions of men--the phenomena +of nature, and the laws of things. At the head of this great army of +investigators stood Humboldt--the serene leader of an intellectual +host--a king by the suffrage of Science, and the divine right of Genius. + +And to-day we are not honoring some butcher called a soldier--some +wily politician called a statesman--some robber called a king, nor +some malicious metaphysician called a saint We are honoring the grand +Humboldt, whose victories were all achieved in the arena of thought; who +destroyed prejudice, ignorance and error--not men; who shed light--not +blood, and who contributed to the knowledge, the wealth, and the +happiness of all mankind. + +His life was pure, his aims lofty, his learning varied and profound, and +his achievements vast. + +We honor him because he has ennobled our race, because he has +contributed as much as any man living or dead to the real prosperity of +the world. We honor him because he honored us--because he labored +for others--because he was the most learned man of the most learned +nation--because he left a legacy of glory to every human being. For +these reasons he is honored throughout the world. Millions are doing +homage to his genius at this moment, and millions are pronouncing his +name with reverence and recounting what he accomplished. + +We associate the name of Humboldt with oceans, continents, mountains, +and volcanoes--with the great palms--the wide deserts--the snow-lipped +craters of the Andes--with primeval forests and European capitals--with +wildernesses and universities--with savages and savans--with the lonely +rivers of unpeopled wastes--with peaks and pampas, and steppes, and +cliffs and crags--with the progress of the world--with every science +known to man, and with every star glittering in the immensity of space. + +Humboldt adopted none of the soul-shrinking creeds of his day; wasted +none of his time in the stupidities, inanities and contradictions of +theological metaphysics; he did not endeavor to harmonize the astronomy +and geology of a barbarous people with the science of the nineteenth +century. Never, for one moment, did he abandon the sublime standard of +truth; he investigated, he studied, he thought, he separated the gold +from the dross in the crucible of his grand brain. He was never found on +his knees before the altar of superstition. He stood erect by the grand +tranquil column of Reason. He was an admirer, a lover, an adorer of +Nature, and at the age of ninety, bowed by the weight of nearly +a century, covered with the insignia of honor, loved by a nation, +respected by a world, with kings for his servants, he laid his weary +head upon her bosom--upon the bosom of the universal Mother--and with +her loving arms around him, sank into that slumber called Death. + +History added another name to the starry scroll of the immortals. + +The world is his monument; upon the eternal granite of her hills he +inscribed his name, and there upon everlasting stone his genius wrote +this, the sublimest of truths: + +"The Universe is Governed by Law!" + + + + +THOMAS PAINE + +With His Name Left Out, the History of Liberty Cannot be Written. + +TO speak the praises of the brave and thoughtful dead, is to me a labor +of gratitude and love. + +Through all the centuries gone, the mind of man has been beleaguered by +the mailed hosts of superstition. Slowly and painfully has advanced the +army of deliverance. Hated by those they wished to rescue, despised +by those they were dying to save, these grand soldiers, these immortal +deliverers, have fought without thanks, labored without applause, +suffered without pity, and they have died execrated and abhorred. For +the good of mankind they accepted isolation, poverty, and calumny. They +gave up all, sacrificed all, lost all but truth and self-respect. + +One of the bravest soldiers in this army was Thomas Paine; and for one, +I feel indebted to him for the liberty we are enjoying this day. Born +among the poor, where children are burdens; in a country where real +liberty was unknown; where the privileges of class were guarded with +infinite jealousy, and the rights of the individual trampled beneath the +feet of priests and nobles; where to advocate justice was treason; where +intellectual freedom was Infidelity, it is wonderful that the idea of +true liberty ever entered his brain. . + +Poverty was his mother--Necessity his master. + +He had more brains than books; more sense than education; more courage +than politeness; more strength than polish. He had no veneration for +old mistakes--no admiration for ancient lies. He loved the truth for +the truth's sake, and for man's sake. He saw oppression on every hand; +injustice everywhere; hypocrisy at the altar, venality on the bench, +tyranny on the throne; and with a splendid courage he espoused the cause +of the weak against the strong--of the enslaved many against the titled +few. + +In England he was nothing. He belonged to the lower classes. There was +no avenue open for him. The people hugged their chains, and the whole +power of the government was ready to crush any man who endeavored to +strike a blow for the right. + +At the age of thirty-seven, Thomas Paine left England for America, +with the high hope of being instrumental in the establishment of a free +government. In his own country he could accomplish nothing. Those two +vultures--Church and State--were ready to tear in pieces and devour the +heart of any one who might deny their divine right to enslave the world. + +Upon his arrival in this country, he found himself possessed of a letter +of introduction, signed by another Infidel, the illustrious Franklin. +This, and his native genius, constituted his entire capital; and he +needed no more. He found the colonies clamoring for justice; whining +about their grievances; upon their knees at the foot of the throne, +imploring that mixture of idiocy and insanity, George the III., by the +grace of God, for a restoration of their ancient privileges. They were +not endeavoring to become free men, but were trying to soften the heart +of their master. They were perfectly willing to make brick if Pharaoh +would furnish the straw. The colonists wished for, hoped for, and prayed +for reconciliation They did not dream of independence. + +Paine gave to the world his "Common Sense." It was the first argument +for separation, the first assault upon the British form of government, +the first blow for a republic, and it aroused our fathers like a +trumpet's blast. + +He was the first to perceive the destiny of the New World. + +No other pamphlet ever accomplished such wonderful results. It was +filled with argument, reason, persuasion, and unanswerable logic. It +opened a new world. It filled the present with hope and the future +with honor. Everywhere the people responded, and in a few months the +Continental Congress declared the colonies free and independent States. + +A new nation was born. + +It is simple justice to say that Paine did more to cause the Declaration +of Independence than any other man. Neither should it be forgotten that +his attacks upon Great Britain were also attacks upon monarchy; and +while he convinced the people that the colonies ought to separate from +the mother country, he also proved to them that a free government is the +best that can be instituted among men. + +In my judgment, Thomas Paine was the best political writer that ever +lived. "What he wrote was pure nature, and his soul and his pen ever +went together." Ceremony, pageantry, and all the paraphernalia of +power, had no effect upon him. He examined into the why and wherefore of +things. He was perfectly radical in his mode of thought. Nothing short +of the bed-rock satisfied him. His enthusiasm for what he believed to +be right knew no bounds. During all the dark scenes of the Revolution, +never for one moment did he despair. Year after year his brave words +were ringing through the land, and by the bivouac fires the weary +soldiers read the inspiring words of "Common Sense," filled with ideas +sharper than their swords, and consecrated themselves anew to the cause +of Freedom. + +Paine was not content with having aroused the spirit of independence, +but he gave every energy of his soul to keep that spirit alive. He was +with the army. He shared its defeats, its dangers, and its glory. When +the situation became desperate, when gloom settled upon all, he gave +them the "Crisis." It was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, +leading the way to freedom, honor, and glory. He shouted to them, "These +are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier, and the sunshine +patriot, will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; +but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and +woman." + +To those who wished to put the war off to some future day, with a lofty +and touching spirit of self-sacrifice he said: "Every generous parent +should say, 'If there must be war let it be in my day, that my child +may have peace.'" To the cry that Americans were rebels, he replied: "He +that rebels against reason is a real rebel; but he that in defence of +reason rebels against tyranny, has a better title to 'Defender of the +Faith' than George the Third." + +Some said it was not to the interest of the colonies to be free. Paine +answered this by saying, "To know whether it be the interest of +the continent to be independent, we need ask only this simple, easy +question: 'Is it the interest of a man to be a boy all his life?'" He +found many who would listen to nothing, and to them he said, "That to +argue with a man who has renounced his reason is like giving medicine +to the dead." This sentiment ought to adorn the walls of every orthodox +church. + +There is a world of political wisdom in this: "England lost her liberty +in a long chain of right reasoning from wrong principles"; and there +is real discrimination in saying, "The Greeks and Romans were strongly +possessed of the spirit of liberty, but not the principles, for at +the time that they were determined not to be slaves themselves, they +employed their power to enslave the rest of mankind." + +In his letter to the British people, in which he tried to convince them +that war was not to their interest, occurs the following passage brimful +of common sense: "War never can be the interest of a trading nation any +more than quarreling can be profitable to a man in business. But to +make war with those who trade with us is like setting a bull-dog upon a +customer at the shop-door." + +The writings of Paine fairly glitter with simple, compact, logical +statements, that carry conviction to the dullest and most prejudiced. He +had the happiest possible way of putting the case; in asking questions +in such a way that they answer themselves, and in stating his premises +so clearly that the deduction could not be avoided. + +Day and night he labored for America; month after month, year after +year, he gave himself to the Great Cause, until there was "a government +of the people and for the people," and until the banner of the stars +floated over a continent redeemed, and consecrated to the happiness of +mankind. + +At the close of the Revolution, no one stood higher in America than +Thomas Paine. The best, the wisest, the most patriotic, were his friends +and admirers; and had he been thinking only of his own good he might +have rested from his toils and spent the remainder of his life in +comfort and in ease. He could have been what the world is pleased to +call "respectable." He could have died surrounded by clergymen, warriors +and statesmen. At his death there would have been an imposing funeral, +miles of carriages, civic societies, salvos of artillery, a nation in +mourning, and, above all, a splendid monument covered with lies. + +He chose rather to benefit mankind. + +At that time the seeds sown by the great Infidels were beginning to bear +fruit in France. The people were beginning to think. + +The Eighteenth Century was crowning its gray hairs with the wreath of +Progress. + +On every hand Science was bearing testimony against the Church. Voltaire +had filled Europe with light; D'Holbach was giving to the _élite_ +of Paris the principles contained in his "System of Nature." The +Encyclopedists had attacked superstition with information for the +masses. The foundation of things began to be examined. A few had the +courage to keep their shoes on and let the bush burn. Miracles began to +get scarce. Everywhere the people began to inquire. America had set an +example to the world. The word Liberty was in the mouths of men, and +they began to wipe the dust from their knees. + +The dawn of a new day had appeared. + +Thomas Paine went to France. Into the new movement he threw all his +energies. His fame had gone before him, and he was welcomed as a friend +of the human race, and as a champion of free government. + +He had never relinquished his intention of pointing out to his +countrymen the defects, absurdities and abuses of the English government +For this purpose he composed and published his greatest political work, +"The Rights of Man." This work should be read by every man and woman. +It is concise, accurate, natural, convincing, and unanswerable. It shows +great thought; an intimate knowledge of the various forms of government; +deep insight into the very springs of human action, and a courage that +compels respect and admiration. The most difficult political problems +are solved in a few sentences. The venerable arguments in favor of +wrong are refuted with a question--answered with a word. For forcible +illustration, apt comparison, accuracy and clearness of statement, and +absolute thoroughness, it has never been excelled. + +The fears of the administration were aroused, and Paine was prosecuted +for libel and found guilty; and yet there is not a sentiment in the +entire work that will not challenge the admiration of every civilized +man. It is a magazine of political wisdom, an arsenal of ideas, and an +honor, not only to Thomas Paine, but to human nature itself. It could +have been written only by the man who had the generosity, the exalted +patriotism, the goodness to say, "The world is my country, and to do +good my religion." + +There is in all the utterances of the world no grander, no sublimer +sentiment. There is no creed that can be compared with it for a moment. +It should be wrought in gold, adorned with jewels, and impressed +upon every human heart: "The world is my country, and to do good my +religion." + +In 1792, Paine was elected by the department of Calais as their +representative in the National Assembly. So great was his popularity in +France that he was selected about the same time by the people of no less +than four departments. + +Upon taking his place in the Assembly he was appointed as one of a +committee to draft a constitution for France. Had the French people +taken the advice of Thomas Paine there would have been no "reign of +terror." The streets of Paris would not have been filled with blood The +Revolution would have been the grandest success of the world. The truth +is that Paine was too conservative to suit the leaders of the French +Revolution. They, to a great extent, were carried away by hatred, and +a desire to destroy. They had suffered so long, they had borne so much, +that it was impossible for them to be moderate in the hour of victory. + +Besides all this, the French people had been so robbed by the +government, so degraded by the church, that they were not fit material +with which to construct a republic. Many of the leaders longed to +establish a beneficent and just government, but the people asked for +revenge. + +Paine was filled with a real love for mankind. His philanthropy was +boundless. He wished to destroy monarchy--not the monarch. He voted for +the destruction of tyranny, and against the death of the king. He wished +to establish a government on a new basis; one that would forget the +past; one that would give privileges to none, and protection to all. + +In the Assembly, where nearly all were demanding the execution of the +king--where to differ from the majority was to be suspected, and, where +to be suspected was almost certain death Thomas Paine had the courage, +the goodness and the justice to vote against death. To vote against +the execution of the king was a vote against his own life. This was +the sublimity of devotion to principle. For this he was arrested, +imprisoned, and doomed to death. + +Search the records of the world and you will find but few sublimer acts +than that of Thomas Paine voting against the kings death. He, the hater +of despotism, the abhorrer of monarchy, the champion of the rights +of man, the republican, accepting death to save the life of a deposed +tyrant--of a throneless king. This was the last grand act of his +political life--the sublime conclusion of his political career. + +All his life he had been the disinterested friend of man. He had +labored--not for money, not for fame, but for the general good. He had +aspired to no office; had asked no recognition of his services, but had +ever been content to labor as a common soldier in the army of Progress. +Confining his efforts to no country, looking upon the world as his field +of action, filled with a genuine love for the right, he found himself +imprisoned by the very people he had striven to save. + +Had his enemies succeeded in bringing him to the block, he would have +escaped the calumnies and the hatred of the Christian world. In this +country, at least, he would have ranked with the proudest names. On the +anniversary of the Declaration his name would have been upon the lips of +all the orators, and his memory in the hearts of all the people. + +Thomas Paine had not finished his career. + +He had spent his life thus far in destroying the power of kings, and +now he turned his attention to the priests. He knew that every abuse had +been embalmed in Scripture--that every outrage was in partnership with +some holy text. He knew that the throne skulked behind the altar, and +both behind a pretended revelation from God. By this time he had found +that it was of little use to free the body and leave the mind in +chains. He had explored the foundations of despotism, and had found them +infinitely rotten. He had dug under the throne, and it occurred to him +that he would take a look behind the altar. + +The result of his investigations was given to the world in the "Age of +Reason." From the moment of its publication he became infamous. He was +calumniated beyond measure. To slander him was to secure the thanks of +the church. All his services were instantly forgotten, disparaged or +denied. He was shunned as though he had been a pestilence. Most of his +old friends forsook him. He was regarded as a moral plague, and at the +bare mention of his name the bloody hands of the church were raised in +horror. He was denounced as the most despicable of men. + +Not content with following him to his grave, they pursued him after +death with redoubled fury, and recounted with infinite gusto and +satisfaction the supposed horrors of his death-bed; gloried in the fact +that he was forlorn and friendless, and gloated like fiends over what +they supposed to be the agonizing remorse of his lonely death. + +It is wonderful that all his services were thus forgotten. It is amazing +that one kind word did not fall from some pulpit; that some one did +not accord to him, at least--honesty. Strange, that in the general +denunciation some one did not remember his labor for liberty, his +devotion to principle, his zeal for the rights of his fellow-men. He +had, by brave and splendid effort, associated his name with the cause +of Progress. He had made it impossible to write the history of political +freedom with his name left out He was one of the creators of light; one +of the heralds of the dawn. He hated tyranny in the name of kings, and +in the name of God, with every drop of his noble blood. He believed in +liberty and justice, and in the sacred doctrine of human equality. Under +these divine banners he fought the battle of his life. In both worlds he +offered his blood for the good of man. In the wilderness of America, in +the French Assembly, in the sombre cell waiting for death, he was the +same unflinching, unwavering friend of his race; the same undaunted +champion of universal freedom. And for this he has been hated; for this +the church has violated even his grave. + +This is enough to make one believe that nothing is more natural than for +men to devour their benefactors. The people in all ages have crucified +and glorified. Whoever lifts his voice against abuses, whoever arraigns +the past at the bar of the present, whoever asks the king to show his +commission, or questions the authority of the priest, will be denounced +as the enemy of man and God. In all ages reason has been regarded as the +enemy of religion. Nothing has been considered so pleasing to the Deity +as a total denial of the authority of your own mind. Self-reliance has +been thought a deadly sin; and the idea of living and dying without the +aid and consolation of superstition has always horrified the church. By +some unaccountable infatuation, belief has been and still is considered +of immense importance. All religions have been based upon the idea that +God will forever reward the true believer, and eternally damn the man +who doubts or denies. Belief is regarded as the one essential thing. To +practice justice, to love mercy, is not enough. You must believe in +some incomprehensible creed. You must say, "Once one is three, and three +times one is one." The man who practiced every virtue, but failed to +believe, was execrated. Nothing so outrages the feelings of the church +as a moral unbeliever--nothing so horrible as a charitable Atheist. + +When Paine was born, the world was religious, the pulpit was the real +throne, and the churches were making every effort to crush out of the +brain the idea that it had the right to think. + +The splendid saying of Lord Bacon, that "the inquiry of truth, which is +the love-making or wooing of it, the knowledge of truth, which is the +presence of it, and the belief of truth, which is the enjoying of it, +are the sovereign good of human nature," has been, and ever will +be, rejected by religionists. Intellectual liberty, as a matter of +necessity, forever destroys the idea that belief is either praise +or blame-worthy, and is wholly inconsistent with every creed in +Christendom. Paine recognized this truth. He also saw that as long as +the Bible was considered inspired, this infamous doctrine of the virtue +of belief would be believed and preached. He examined the Scriptures for +himself, and found them filled with cruelty, absurdity and immorality. + +He again made up his mind to sacrifice himself for the good of his +fellow-men. + +He commenced with the assertion, "That any system of religion that has +anything in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system." +What a beautiful, what a tender sentiment! No wonder the church began to +hate him. He believed in one God, and no more. After this life he +hoped for happiness. He believed that true religion consisted in doing +justice, loving mercy, in endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures +happy, and in offering to God the fruit of the heart. He denied the +inspiration of the Scriptures. This was his crime. + +He contended that it is a contradiction in terms to call anything a +revelation that comes to us second-hand, either verbally or in writing. +He asserted that revelation is necessarily limited to the first +communication, and that after that it is only an account of something +which another person says was a revelation to him. We have only his word +for it, as it was never made to us. This argument never has been and +probably never will be answered. He denied the divine origin of Christ, +and showed conclusively that the pretended prophecies of the Old +Testament had no reference to him whatever; and yet he believed that +Christ was a virtuous and amiable man; that the morality he taught and +practiced was of the most benevolent and elevated character, and that +it had not been exceeded by any. Upon this point he entertained the +same sentiments now held by the Unitarians, and in fact by all the most +enlightened Christians. + +In his time the church believed and taught that every word in the Bible +was absolutely true. Since his day it has been proven false in its +cosmogony, false in its astronomy, false in its chronology, false in its +history, and so far as the Old Testament is concerned, false in almost +everything. There are but few, if any, scientific men who apprehend that +the Bible is literally true. Who on earth at this day would pretend to +settle any scientific question by a text from the Bible? The old belief +is confined to the ignorant and zealous. The church itself will before +long be driven to occupy the position of Thomas Paine. The best minds of +the orthodox world, to-day, are endeavoring to prove the existence of +a personal Deity. All other questions occupy a minor place. You are no +longer asked to swallow the Bible whole, whale, Jonah and all; you are +simply required to believe in God, and pay your pew-rent. There is not +now an enlightened minister in the world who will seriously contend that +Samson's strength was in his hair, or that the necromancers of Egypt +could turn water into blood, and pieces of wood into serpents. These +follies have passed away, and the only reason that the religious world +can now have for disliking Paine is that they have been forced to adopt +so many of his opinions. + +Paine thought the barbarities of the Old Testament inconsistent with +what he deemed the real character of God. He believed that murder, +massacre and indiscriminate slaughter had never been commanded by +the Deity. He regarded much of the Bible as childish, unimportant and +foolish The scientific world entertains the same opinion. Paine attacked +the Bible precisely in the same spirit in which he had attacked the +pretensions of kings. He used the same weapons. All the pomp in the +world could not make him cower. His reason knew no "Holy of Holies," +except the abode of Truth. The sciences were then in their infancy. The +attention of the really learned had not been directed to an impartial +examination of our pretended revelation. It was accepted by most as +a matter of course. The church was all-powerful, and no one, unless +thoroughly imbued with the spirit of self-sacrifice, thought for a +moment of disputing the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. The +infamous doctrines that salvation depends upon belief--upon a mere +intellectual conviction--was then believed and preached. To doubt was +to secure the damnation of your soul. This absurd and devilish doctrine +shocked the common sense of Thomas Paine, and he denounced it with +the fervor of honest indignation. This doctrine, although infinitely +ridiculous, has been nearly universal, and has been as hurtful as +senseless. For the overthrow of this infamous tenet, Paine exerted all +his strength. He left few arguments to be used by those who should come +after him, and he used none that have been refuted. The combined wisdom +and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument +against liberty of thought. Neither can they show why any one should +be punished, either in this world or another, for acting honestly in +accordance with reason; and yet a doctrine with every possible argument +against it has been, and still is, believed and defended by the entire +orthodox world. Can it be possible that we have been endowed with reason +simply that our souls may be caught in its toils and snares, that we may +be led by its false and delusive glare out of the narrow path that leads +to joy into the broad way of everlasting death? Is it possible that +we have been given reason simply that we may through faith ignore its +deductions, and avoid its conclusions? Ought the sailor to throw away +his compass and depend entirely upon the fog? If reason is not to be +depended upon in matters of religion, that is to say, in respect of our +duties to the Deity, why should it be relied upon in matters respecting +the rights of our fellows? Why should we throw away the laws given to +Moses by God himself and have the audacity to make some of our own? How +dare we drown the thunders of Sinai by calling the ayes and noes in a +petty legislature? If reason can determine what is merciful, what is +just, the duties of man to man, what more do we want either in time or +eternity? + +Down, forever down, with any religion that requires upon its ignorant +altar the sacrifice of the goddess Reason, that compels her to abdicate +forever the shining throne of the soul, strips from her form the +imperial purple, snatches from her hand the sceptre of thought and makes +her the bond-woman of a senseless faith! + +If a man should tell you that he had the most beautiful painting in the +world, and after taking you where it was should insist upon having your +eyes shut, you would likely suspect, either that he had no painting or +that it was some pitiable daub. Should he tell you that he was a most +excellent performer on the violin, and yet refuse to play unless your +ears were stopped, you would think, to say the least of it, that he +had an odd way of convincing you of his musical ability. But would his +conduct be any more wonderful than that of a religionist who asks that +before examining his creed you will have the kindness to throw away your +reason? The first gentleman says, "Keep your eyes shut, my picture +will bear everything but being seen;" "Keep your ears stopped, my music +objects to nothing but being heard." The last says, "Away with your +reason, my religion dreads nothing but being understood." + +So far as I am concerned, I most cheerfully admit that most Christians +are honest, and most ministers sincere. We do not attack them; we +attack their creed. We accord to them the same rights that we ask for +ourselves. We believe that their doctrines are hurtful. We believe +that the frightful text, "He that believes shall be saved and he that +believeth not shall be damned," has covered the earth with blood. It has +filled the heart with arrogance, cruelty and murder. It has caused +the religious wars; bound hundreds of thousands to the stake; founded +inquisitions; filled dungeons; invented instruments of torture; taught +the mother to hate her child; imprisoned the mind; filled the world with +ignorance; persecuted the lovers of wisdom; built the monasteries and +convents; made happiness a crime, investigation a sin, and self-reliance +a blasphemy. It has poisoned the springs of learning; misdirected the +energies of the world; filled all countries with want; housed the people +in hovels; fed them with famine; and but for the efforts of a few +brave Infidels it would have taken the world back to the midnight of +barbarism, and left the heavens without a star. + +The maligners of Paine say that he had no right to attack this doctrine, +because he was unacquainted with the dead languages; and for this +reason, it was a piece of pure impudence in him to investigate the +Scriptures. + +Is it necessary to understand Hebrew in order to know that cruelty is +not a virtue, that murder is inconsistent with infinite goodness, and +that eternal punishment can be inflicted upon man only by an eternal +fiend? Is it really essential to conjugate the Greek verbs before you +can make up your mind as to the probability of dead people getting out +of their graves? Must one be versed in Latin before he is entitled to +express his opinion as to the genuineness of a pretended revelation +from God? Common sense belongs exclusively to no tongue. Logic is not +confined to, nor has it been buried with, the dead languages. Paine +attacked the Bible as it is translated. If the translation is wrong, let +its defenders correct it. + +The Christianity of Paine's day is not the Christianity of our time. +There has been a great improvement since then. One hundred and fifty +years ago the foremost preachers of our time would have perished at +the stake. A Universalist would have been torn in pieces in England, +Scotland, and America. Unitarians would have found themselves in the +stocks, pelted by the rabble with dead cats, after which their ears +would have been cut off, their tongues bored, and their foreheads +branded. Less than one hundred and fifty years ago the following law was +in force in Maryland: + +"Be it enacted by the Right Honorable, the Lord Proprietor, by and with +the advice and consent of his Lordship's governor, and the upper and +lower houses of the Assembly, and the authority of the same: + +"That if any person shall hereafter, within this province, wittingly, +maliciously, and advisedly, by writing or speaking, blaspheme or curse +God, or deny our Saviour, Jesus Christ, to be the Son of God, or shall +deny the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, or the Godhead +of any of the three persons, or the unity of the Godhead, or shall utter +any profane words concerning the Holy Trinity, or any of the persons +thereof, and shall thereof be convict by verdict, shall, for the first +offence, be bored through the tongue, and fined twenty pounds to be +levied of his body. And for the second offence, the offender shall be +stigmatized by burning in the forehead with the letter B, and fined +forty pounds. And that for the third offence the offender shall suffer +death without the benefit of clergy." + +The strange thing about this law is, that it has never been repealed, +and is still in force in the District of Columbia. Laws like this were +in force in most of the colonies, and in all countries where the church +had power. + +In the Old Testament, the death penalty is attached to hundreds of +offences. It has been the same in all Christian countries. To-day, in +civilized governments, the death penalty is attached only to murder and +treason; and in some it has been entirely abolished. What a commentary +upon the divine systems of the world! + +In the day of Thomas Paine, the church was ignorant, bloody and +relentless. In Scotland the "Kirk" was at the summit of its power. It +was a full sister of the Spanish Inquisition. It waged war upon human +nature. It was the enemy of happiness, the hater of joy, and the +despiser of religious liberty. It taught parents to murder their +children rather than to allow them to propagate error. If the mother +held opinions of which the infamous "Kirk" disapproved, her children +were taken from her arms, her babe from her very bosom, and she was +not allowed to see them, or to write them a word. It would not allow +shipwrecked sailors to be rescued from drowning on Sunday. It sought to +annihilate pleasure, to pollute the heart by filling it with religious +cruelty and gloom, and to change mankind into a vast horde of pious, +heartless fiends. One of the most famous Scotch divines said: "The Kirk +holds that religious toleration is not far from blasphemy." And this +same Scotch Kirk denounced, beyond measure, the man who had the moral +grandeur to say, "The world is my country, and to do good my religion." +And this same Kirk abhorred the man who said, "Any system of religion +that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system." + +At that time nothing so delighted the church as the beauties of endless +torment, and listening to the weak wailings of damned infants struggling +in the slimy coils and poison-folds of the worm that never dies. + +About the beginning of the nineteenth century, a boy by the name of +Thomas Aikenhead, was indicted and tried at Edinburgh for having denied +the inspiration of the Scriptures, and for having, on several +occasions, when cold, wished himself in hell that he might get warm. +Notwithstanding the poor boy recanted and begged for mercy, he was found +guilty and hanged. His body was thrown in a hole at the foot of the +scaffold and covered with stones. + +Prosecutions and executions like this were common in every Christian +country, and all of them were based upon the belief that an intellectual +conviction is a crime. + +No wonder the church hated and traduced the author of the "Age of +Reason." + +England was filled with Puritan gloom and Episcopal ceremony. All +religious conceptions were of the grossest nature. The ideas of crazy +fanatics and extravagant poets were taken as sober facts. Milton had +clothed Christianity in the soiled and faded finery of the gods--had +added to the story of Christ the fables of Mythology. He gave to the +Protestant Church the most outrageously material ideas of the Deity. +He turned all the angels into soldiers--made heaven a battlefield, put +Christ in uniform, and described God as a militia general. His works +were considered by the Protestants nearly as sacred as the Bible +itself, and the imagination of the people was thoroughly polluted by the +horrible imagery, the sublime absurdity of the blind Milton. + +Heaven and hell were realities--the judgment-day was expected--books of +account would be opened. Every man would hear the charges against him +read. God was supposed to sit on a golden throne, surrounded by the +tallest angels, with harps in their hands and crowns on their heads. The +goats would be thrust into eternal fire on the left, while the orthodox +sheep, on the right, were to gambol on sunny slopes forever and forever. + +The nation was profoundly ignorant, and consequently extremely +religious, so far as belief was concerned. + +In Europe, Liberty was lying chained in the Inquisition--her white bosom +stained with blood. In the New World the Puritans had been hanging +and burning in the name of God, and selling white Quaker children into +slavery in the name of Christ, who said, "Suffer little children to come +unto me." + +Under such conditions progress was impossible. Some one had to lead +the way. The church is, and always has been, incapable of a forward +movement. Religion always looks back. The church has already reduced +Spain to a guitar, Italy to a hand-organ, and Ireland to exile. + +Some one not connected with the church had to attack the monster that +was eating out the heart of the world. Some one had to sacrifice himself +for the good of all. The people were in the most abject slavery; their +manhood had been taken from them by pomp, by pageantry and power. +Progress is born of doubt and inquiry. + +The church never doubts--never inquires. To doubt is heresy--to inquire +is to admit that you do not know--the church does neither. + +More than a century ago Catholisism, wrapped in robes red with the +innocent blood of millions, holding in her frantic clutch crowns and +scepters, honors and gold, the keys of heaven and hell, trampling +beneath her feet the liberties of nations, in the proud moment of almost +universal dominion, felt within her heartless breast the deadly dagger +of Voltaire. From that blow the church never can recover. Livid with +hatred she launched her eternal anathema at the great destroyer, and +ignorant Protestants have echoed the curse of Rome. + +In our country the church was all-powerful, and although divided into +many sects, would instantly unite to repel a common foe. + +Paine struck the first grand blow. + +The "Age of Reason" did more to undermine the power of the Protestant +Church than all other books then known. It furnished an immense amount +of food for thought. It was written for the average mind, and is a +straightforward, honest investigation of the Bible, and of the Christian +system. + +Paine did not falter, from the first page to the last. He gives you his +candid thought, and candid thoughts are always valuable. + +The "Age of Reason" has liberalized us all. It put arguments in the +mouths of the people; it put the church on the defensive; it enabled +somebody in every village to corner the parson; it made the world wiser, +and the church better; it took power from the pulpit and divided it +among the pews. + +Just in proportion that the human race has advanced, the church has lost +power. There is no exception to this rule. + +No nation ever materially advanced that held strictly to the religion of +its founders. + +No nation ever gave itself wholly to the control of the church without +losing its power, its honor, and existence. + +Every church pretends to have found the exact truth. This is the end of +progress. Why pursue that which you have? Why investigate when you know? + +Every creed is a rock in running water: humanity sweeps by it. Every +creed cries to the universe, "Halt!" A creed is the ignorant Past +bullying the enlightened Present. + +The ignorant are not satisfied with what can be demonstrated. Science is +too slow for them, and so they invent creeds. They demand completeness. +A sublime segment, a grand fragment, are of no value to them. They +demand the complete circle--the entire structure. + +In music they want a melody with a recurring accent at measured periods. +In religion they insist upon immediate answers to the questions of +creation and destiny. The alpha and omega of all things must be in the +alphabet of their superstition. A religion that cannot answer every +question, and guess every conundrum is, in their estimation, worse than +worthless. They desire a kind of theological dictionary--a religious +ready reckoner, together with guide-boards at all crossings and turns. +They mistake impudence for authority, solemnity for wisdom, and bathos +for inspiration. The beginning and the end are what they demand. The +grand flight of the eagle is nothing to them. They want the nest in +which he was hatched, and especially the dry limb upon which he roosts. +Anything that can be learned is hardly worth knowing. The present is +considered of no value in itself. Happiness must not be expected this +side of the clouds, and can only be attained by self-denial and faith; +not selfdenial for the good of others, but for the salvation of your own +sweet self. + +Paine denied the authority of bibles and creeds; this was his crime, and +for this the world shut the door in his face, and emptied its slops upon +him from the windows. + +I challenge the world to show that Thomas Paine ever wrote one line, +one word in favor of tyranny--in favor of immorality; one line, one +word against what he believed to be for the highest and best interest +of mankind; one line, one word against justice, charity, or liberty, +and yet he has been pursued as though he had been a fiend from hell. His +memory has been execrated as though he had murdered some Uriah for his +wife; driven some Hagar into the desert to starve with his child upon +her bosom; defiled his own daughters; ripped open with the sword the +sweet bodies of loving and innocent women; advised one brother to +assassinate another; kept a harem with seven hundred wives and three +hundred concubines, or had persecuted Christians even unto strange +cities. + +The church has pursued Paine to deter others. No effort has been in +any age of the world spared to crush out opposition. The church used +painting, music and architecture, simply to degrade mankind. But there +are men that nothing can awe. There have been at all times brave spirits +that dared even the gods. Some proud head has always been above the +waves. In every age some Diogenes has sacrificed to all the gods. True +genius never cowers, and there is always some Samson feeling for the +pillars of authority. + +Cathedrals and domes, and chimes and chants.--temples frescoed and +groined and carved, and gilded with gold--altars and tapers, and +paintings of virgin and babe--censer and chalice--chasuble, paten +and alb--organs, and anthems and incense rising to the winged and +blest--maniple, amice and stole--crosses and crosiers, tiaras +and crowns--mitres and missals and masses--rosaries, relics and +robes--martyrs and saints, and windows stained as with the blood of +Christ--never, never for one moment awed the brave, proud spirit of the +Infidel. He knew that all the pomp and glitter had been purchased with +Liberty--that priceless jewel of the soul. In looking at the cathedral +he remembered the dungeon. The music of the organ was not loud enough +to drown the clank of fetters. He could not forget that the taper had +lighted the fagot. He knew that the cross adorned the hilt of the sword, +and so where others worshiped, he wept and scorned. + +The doubter, the investigator, the Infidel, have been the saviors +of liberty. This truth is beginning to be realized, and the truly +intellectual are honoring the brave thinkers of the past. + +But the church is as unforgiving as ever, and still wonders why any +Infidel should be wicked enough to endeavor to destroy her power. + +I will tell the church why. + +You have imprisoned the human mind; you have been the enemy of liberty; +you have burned us at the stake--wasted us upon slow fires--torn +our flesh with iron; you have covered us with chains--treated us as +outcasts; you have filled the world with fear; you have taken our wives +and children from our arms; you have confiscated our property; you have +denied us the right to testify in courts of justice; you have branded us +with infamy; you have torn out our tongues; you have refused us burial. +In the name of your religion, you have robbed us of every right; and +after having inflicted upon us every evil that can be inflicted in this +world, you have fallen upon your knees, and with clasped hands implored +your God to torment us forever. + +Can you wonder that we hate your doctrines--that we despise your +creeds--that we feel proud to know that we are beyond your power--that +we are free in spite of you--that we can express our honest thought, and +that the whole world is grandly rising into the blessed light? + +Can you wonder that we point with pride to the fact that Infidelity +has ever been found battling for the rights of man, for the liberty of +conscience, and for the happiness of all? + +Can you wonder that we are proud to know that we have always been +disciples of Reason, and soldiers of Freedom; that we have denounced +tyranny and superstition, and have kept our hands unstained with human +blood? + +We deny that religion is the end or object of this life. When it is so +considered it becomes destructive of happiness--the real end of life. +It becomes a hydra-headed monster, reaching in terrible coils from the +heavens, and thrusting its thousand fangs into the bleeding, quivering +hearts of men. It devours their substance, builds palaces for God, (who +dwells not in temples made with hands,) and allows his children to +die in huts and hovels. It fills the earth with mourning, heaven with +hatred, the present with fear, and all the future with despair. + +Virtue is a subordination of the passions to the intellect. It is to +act in accordance with your highest convictions. It does not consist in +believing, but in doing. This is the sublime truth that the Infidels in +all ages have uttered. They have handed the torch from one to the other +through all the years that have fled. Upon the altar of Reason they have +kept the sacred fire, and through the long midnight of faith they fed +the divine flame. + +Infidelity is liberty; all religion is slavery. In every creed man is +the slave of God--woman is the slave of man and the sweet children are +the slaves of all. + +We do not want creeds; we want knowledge--we want happiness. + +And yet we are told by the church that we have accomplished nothing; +that we are simply destroyers; that we tear down without building again. + +Is it nothing to free the mind? Is it nothing to civilize mankind? Is it +nothing to fill the world with light, with discovery, with science? +Is it nothing to dignify man and exalt the intellect? Is it nothing to +grope your way into the dreary prisons, the damp and dropping dungeons, +the dark and silent cells of superstition, where the souls of men are +chained to floors of stone; to greet them like a ray of light, like the +song of a bird, the murmur of a stream; to see the dull eyes open and +grow slowly bright; to feel yourself grasped by the shrunken and unused +hands, and hear yourself thanked by a strange and hollow voice? + +Is it nothing to conduct these souls gradually into the blessed light of +day--to let them see again the happy fields, the sweet, green earth, and +hear the everlasting music of the waves? Is it nothing to make men wipe +the dust from their swollen knees, the tears from their blanched +and furrowed cheeks? Is it a small thing to reave the heavens of an +insatiate monster and write upon the eternal dome, glittering with +stars, the grand word--Freedom? + +Is it a small thing to quench the flames of hell with the holy tears of +pity--to unbind the martyr from the stake--break all the chains--put +out the fires of civil war--stay the sword of the fanatic, and tear the +bloody hands of the Church from the white throat of Science? + +Is it a small thing to make men truly free--to destroy the dogmas of +ignorance, prejudice and power--the poisoned fables of superstition, and +drive from the beautiful face of the earth the fiend of Fear? + +It does seem as though the most zealous Christian must at times +entertain some doubt as to the divine origin of his religion. For +eighteen hundred years the doctrine has been preached. For more than +a thousand years the church had, to a great extent, the control of the +civilized world, and what has been the result? Are the Christian nations +patterns of charity and forbearance? On the contrary, their principal +business is to destroy each other. More than five millions of Christians +are trained, educated, and drilled to murder their fellow-christians. +Every nation is groaning under a vast debt incurred in carrying on war +against other Christians, or defending itself from Christian assault. +The world is covered with forts to protect Christians from Christians, +and every sea is covered with iron monsters ready to blow Christian +brains into eternal froth. Millions upon millions are annually expended +in the effort to construct still more deadly and terrible engines of +death. Industry is crippled, honest toil is robbed, and even beggary is +taxed to defray the expenses of Christian warfare. There must be some +other way to reform this world. We have tried creed, and dogma and +fable, and they have failed; and they have failed in all the nations +dead. + +The people perish for the lack of knowledge. + +Nothing but education--scientific education--can benefit mankind. We +must find out the laws of nature and conform to them. + +We need free bodies and free minds,--free labor and free +thought,--chainless hands and fetterless brains. Free labor will give us +wealth. Free thought will give us truth. + +We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real thoughts, +and to stand by their convictions, even to the very death. We need have +no fear of being too radical. The future will verify all grand and brave +predictions. Paine was splendidly in advance of his time; but he was +orthodox compared with the Infidels of to-day. + +Science, the great Iconoclast, has been busy since 1809, and by the +highway of Progress are the broken images of the Past. + +On every hand the people advance. The Vicar of God has been pushed from +the throne of the Caesars, and upon the roofs of the Eternal City falls +once more the shadow of the Eagle. + +All has been accomplished by the heroic few. The men of science have +explored heaven and earth, and with infinite patience have furnished +the facts. The brave thinkers have used them. The gloomy caverns of +superstition have been transformed into temples of thought, and the +demons of the past are the angels of to-day. + +Science took a handful of sand, constructed a telescope, and with it +explored the starry depths of heaven. Science wrested from the gods +their thunderbolts; and now, the electric spark, freighted with thought +and love, flashes under all the waves of the sea. Science took a tear +from the cheek of unpaid labor, converted it into steam, created a giant +that turns with tireless arm, the countless wheels of toil. + +Thomas Paine was one of the intellectual heroes--one of the men to whom +we are indebted. His name is associated forever with the Great Republic. +As long as free government exists he will be remembered, admired and +honored. + +He lived a long, laborious and useful life. The world is better for his +having lived. For the sake of truth he accepted hatred and reproach for +his portion. He ate the bitter bread of sorrow. His friends were untrue +to him because he was true to himself, and true to them. He lost the +respect of what is called society, but kept his own. His life is what +the world calls failure and what history calls success. + +If to love your fellow-men more than self is goodness, Thomas Paine was +good. + +If to be in advance of your time--to be a pioneer in the direction of +right--is greatness, Thomas Paine was great. + +If to avow your principles and discharge your duty in the presence of +death is heroic, Thomas Paine was a hero. + +At the age of seventy-three, death touched his tired heart. He died +in the land his genius defended--under the flag he gave to the skies. +Slander cannot touch him now--hatred cannot reach him more. He sleeps in +the sanctuary of the tomb, beneath the quiet of the stars. + +A few more years--a few more brave men--a few more rays of light, and +mankind will venerate the memory of him who said: + +"ANY SYSTEM OF RELIGION THAT SHOCKS THE MIND OF A CHILD CANNOT BE A TRUE +SYSTEM;" + +"The world is my Country, and to do good my Religion." + + + + +INDIVIDUALITY. + +"His Soul was like a Star and dwelt apart." + +ON every hand are the enemies of individuality and mental freedom. +Custom meets us at the cradle and leaves us only at the tomb. Our first +questions are answered by ignorance, and our last by superstition. We +are pushed and dragged by countless hands along the beaten track, and +our entire training can be summed up in the word--suppression. Our +desire to have a thing or to do a thing is considered as conclusive +evidence that we ought not to have it, and ought not to do it. At every +turn we run against cherubim and a flaming sword guarding some entrance +to the Eden of our desire. We are allowed to investigate all subjects in +which we feel no particular interest, and to express the opinions of the +majority with the utmost freedom. We are taught that liberty of +speech should never be carried to the extent of contradicting the dead +witnesses of a popular superstition. Society offers continual rewards +for self-betrayal, and they are nearly all earned and claimed, and some +are paid. + +We have all read accounts of Christian gentlemen remarking, when about +to be hanged, how much better it would have been for them if they had +only followed a mother's advice. But after all, how fortunate it is for +the world that the maternal advice has not always been followed. How +fortunate it is for us all that it is somewhat unnatural for a human +being to obey. Universal obedience is universal stagnation; disobedience +is one of the conditions of progress. Select any age of the world and +tell me what would have been the effect of implicit obedience. Suppose +the church had had absolute control of the human mind at any time, would +not the words liberty and progress have been blotted from human speech? +In defiance of advice, the world has advanced. + +Suppose the astronomers had controlled the science of astronomy; suppose +the doctors had controlled the science of medicine; suppose kings had +been left to fix the forms of government; suppose our fathers had taken +the advice of Paul, who said, "be subject to the powers that be, because +they are ordained of God;" suppose the church could control the world +to-day, we would go back to chaos and old night. Philosophy would be +branded as infamous; Science would again press its pale and thoughtful +face against the prison bars, and round the limbs of liberty would climb +the bigot's flame. + +It is a blessed thing that in every age some one has had individuality +enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions,--some one +who had the grandeur to say his say. I believe it was Magellan who said, +"The church says the earth is flat; but I have seen its shadow on the +moon, and I have more confidence even in a shadow than in the church." +On the prow of his ship were disobedience, defiance, scorn, and success. + +The trouble with most people is, they bow to what is called authority; +they have a certain reverence for the old because it is old. They think +a man is better for being dead, especially if he has been dead a long +time. They think the fathers of their nation were the greatest and best +of all mankind. All these things they implicitly believe because it is +popular and patriotic, and because they were told so when they were very +small, and remember distinctly of hearing mother read it out of a book. +It is hard to over-estimate the influence of early training in the +direction of superstition. You first teach children that a certain book +is true--that it was written by God himself--that to question its truth +is a sin, that to deny it is a crime, and that should they die without +believing that book they will be forever damned without benefit of +clergy. The consequence is, that long before they read that book, they +believe it to be true. When they do read it their minds are wholly +unfitted to investigate its claims. They accept it as a matter of +course. + +In this way the reason is overcome, the sweet instincts of humanity +are blotted from the heart, and while reading its infamous pages even +justice throws aside her scales, shrieking for revenge, and charity, +with bloody hands, applauds a deed of murder. In this way we are taught +that the revenge of man is the justice of God; that mercy is not the +same everywhere. In this way the ideas of our race have been subverted. +In this way we have made tyrants, bigots, and inquisitors. In this way +the brain of man has become a kind of palimpsest upon which, and over +the writings of nature, superstition has scrawled her countless lies. +One great trouble is that most teachers are dishonest. They teach as +certainties those things concerning which they entertain doubts. They +do not say, "we _think_ this is so," but "we _know_ this is so." They do +not appeal to the reason of the pupil, but they command his faith. They +keep all doubts to themselves; they do not explain, they assert. All +this is infamous. In this way you may make Christians, but you cannot +make men; you cannot make women. You can make followers, but no leaders; +disciples, but no Christs. You may promise power, honor, and happiness +to all those who will blindly follow, but you cannot keep your promise. + +A monarch said to a hermit, "Come with me and I will give you power." + +"I have all the power that I know how to use" replied the hermit. + +"Come," said the king, "I will give you wealth." + +"I have no wants that money can supply," said the hermit. + +"I will give you honor," said the monarch. + +"Ah, honor cannot be given, it must be earned," was the hermit's answer. + +"Come," said the king, making a last appeal, "and I will give you +happiness." + +"No," said the man of solitude, "there is no happiness without liberty, +and he who follows cannot be free." + +"You shall have liberty too," said the king. + +"Then I will stay where I am," said the old man. + +And all the king's courtiers thought the hermit a fool. + +Now and then somebody examines, and in spite of all keeps his manhood, +and has the courage to follow where his reason leads. Then the pious +get together and repeat wise saws, and exchange knowing nods and most +prophetic winks. The stupidly wise sit owl-like on the dead limbs of the +tree of knowledge, and solemnly hoot. Wealth sneers, and fashion laughs, +and respectability passes by on the other side, and scorn points with +all her skinny fingers, and all the snakes of superstition writhe and +hiss, and slander lends her tongue, and infamy her brand, and perjury +her oath, and the law its power, and bigotry tortures, and the church +kills. + +The church hates a thinker precisely for the same reason a robber +dislikes a sheriff, or a thief despises the prosecuting witness. Tyranny +likes courtiers, flatterers, followers, fawners, and superstition wants +believers, disciples, zealots, hypocrites, and subscribers. The church +demands worship--the very thing that man should give to no being, human +or divine. To worship another is to degrade yourself. Worship is awe and +dread and vague fear and blind hope. It is the spirit of worship that +elevates the one and degrades the many; that builds palaces for robbers, +erects monuments to crime, and forges manacles even for its own hands. +The spirit of worship is the spirit of tyranny. The worshiper always +regrets that he is not the worshiped. We should all remember that the +intellect has no knees, and that whatever the attitude of the body may +be, the brave soul is always found erect. Whoever worships, abdicates. +Whoever believes at the command of power, tramples his own individuality +beneath his feet, and voluntarily robs himself of all that renders man +superior to the brute. + +The despotism of faith is justified upon the ground that Christian +countries are the grandest and most prosperous of the world. At one time +the same thing could have been truly said in India, in Egypt, in Greece, +in Rome, and in every other country that has, in the history of the +world, swept to empire. This argument proves too much not only, but +the assumption upon which it is based is utterly false. Numberless +circumstances and countless conditions have produced the prosperity +of the Christian world. The truth is, we have advanced in spite of +religious zeal, ignorance, and opposition. The church has won +no victories for the rights of man. Luther labored to reform the +church--Voltaire, to reform men. Over every fortress of tyranny has +waved, and still waves, the banner of the church. Wherever brave blood +has been shed, the sword of the church has been wet. On every chain has +been the sign of the cross. The altar and throne have leaned against and +supported each other. + +All that is good in our civilization is the result of commerce, climate, +soil, geographical position, industry, invention, discovery, art, and +science. The church has been the enemy of progress, for the reason +that it has endeavored to prevent man thinking for himself. To prevent +thought is to prevent all advancement except in the direction of faith. + +Who can imagine the infinite impudence of a church assuming to think for +the human race? Who can imagine the infinite impudence of a church +that pretends to be the mouthpiece of God, and in his name threatens to +inflict eternal punishment upon those who honestly reject its claims and +scorn its pretensions? By what right does a man, or an organization +of men, or a god, claim to hold a brain in bondage? When a fact can be +demonstrated, force is unnecessary; when it cannot be demonstrated, an +appeal to force is infamous. In the presence of the unknown all have an +equal right to think. + +Over the vast plain, called life, we are all travelers, and not one +traveler is perfectly certain that he is going in the right direction. +True it is that no other plain is so well supplied with guide-boards. At +every turn and crossing you will find them, and upon each one is written +the exact direction and distance. One great trouble is, however, that +these boards are all different, and the result is that most travelers +are confused in proportion to the number they read. Thousands of people +are around each of these signs, and each one is doing his best to +convince the traveler that his particular board is the only one upon +which the least reliance can be placed, and that if his road is taken +the reward for so doing will be infinite and eternal, while all the +other roads are said to lead to hell, and all the makers of the other +guide-boards are declared to be heretics, hypocrites and liars. "Well," +says a traveler, "you may be right in what you say, but allow me at +least to read some of the other directions and examine a little into +their claims. I wish to rely a little upon my own judgment in a matter +of so great importance." "No, sir," shouts the zealot, "that is the +very thing you are not allowed to do. You must go my way without +investigation, or you are as good as damned already." "Well," says the +traveler, "if that is so, I believe I had better go your way." And so +most of them go along, taking the word of those who know as little as +themselves. Now and then comes one who, in spite of all threats, calmly +examines the claims of all, and as calmly rejects them all. These +travelers take roads of their own, and are denounced by all the others, +as infidels and atheists. + +Around all of these guide-boards, as far as the eye can reach, the +ground is covered with mountains of human bones, crumbling and +bleaching in the rain and sun. They are the bones of murdered men and +women--fathers, mothers and babes. + +In my judgment, every human being should take a road of his own. Every +mind should be true to itself--should think, investigate and conclude +for itself. This is a duty alike incumbent upon pauper and prince. Every +soul should repel dictation and tyranny, no matter from what source they +come--from earth or heaven, from men or gods. Besides, every traveler +upon this vast plain should give to every other traveler his best idea +as to the road that should be taken. Each is entitled to the honest +opinion of all. And there is but one way to get an honest opinion upon +any subject whatever. The person giving the opinion must be free from +fear. The merchant must not fear to lose his custom, the doctor his +practice, nor the preacher his pulpit There can be no advance without +liberty. Suppression of honest inquiry is retrogression, and must end in +intellectual night. The tendency of orthodox religion to-day is toward +mental slavery and barbarism. Not one of the orthodox ministers dare +preach what he thinks if he knows a majority of his congregation think +otherwise. He knows that every member of his church stands guard over +his brain with a creed, like a club, in his hand. He knows that he +is not expected to search after the truth, but that he is employed to +defend the creed. Every pulpit is a pillory, in which stands a hired +culprit, defending the justice of his own imprisonment. + +Is it desirable that all should be exactly alike in their religious +convictions? Is any such thing possible? Do we not know that there are +no two persons alike in the whole world? No two, trees, no two leaves, +no two anythings that are alike? Infinite diversity is the law. Religion +tries to force all minds into one mould. Knowing that all cannot +believe, the church endeavors to make all say they believe. She longs +for the unity of hypocrisy, and detests the splendid diversity of +individuality and freedom. + +Nearly all people stand in great horror of annihilation, and yet to +give up your individuality is to annihilate yourself. Mental slavery is +mental death, and every man who has given up his intellectual freedom +is the living coffin of his dead soul. In this sense, every church is a +cemetery and every creed an epitaph. + +We should all remember that to be like other people is to be unlike +ourselves, and that nothing can be more detestable in character than +servile imitation. The great trouble with imitation is, that we are apt +to ape those who are in reality far below us. After all, the poorest +bargain that a human being can make, is to give his individuality for +what is called respectability. + +There is no saying more degrading than this: "It is better to be the +tail of a lion than the head of a dog." It is a responsibility to think +and act for yourself. Most people hate responsibility; therefore they +join something and become the tail of some lion. They say, "My party +can act for me--my church can do my thinking. It is enough for me to +pay taxes and obey the lion to which I belong, without troubling myself +about the right, the wrong, or the why or the wherefore of anything +whatever." These people are respectable. They hate reformers, and +dislike exceedingly to have their minds disturbed. They regard +convictions as very disagreeable things to have. They love forms, and +enjoy, beyond everything else, telling what a splendid tail their lion +has, and what a troublesome dog their neighbor is. Besides this natural +inclination to avoid personal responsibility, is and always has been, +the fact, that every religionist has warned men against the presumption +and wickedness of thinking for themselves. The reason has been denounced +by all Christendom as the only unsafe guide. The church has left nothing +undone to prevent man following the logic of his brain. The plainest +facts have been covered with the mantle of mystery. The grossest +absurdities have been declared to be self-evident facts. The order of +nature has been, as it were, reversed, that the hypocritical few might +govern the honest many. The man who stood by the conclusion of his +reason was denounced as a scorner and hater of God and his holy church. +From the organization of the first church until this moment, to think +your own thoughts has been inconsistent with membership. Every member +has borne the marks of collar, and chain, and whip. No man ever +seriously attempted to reform a church without being cast out and hunted +down by the hounds of hypocrisy. The highest crime against a creed is to +change it. Reformation is treason. + +Thousands of young men are being educated at this moment by the various +churches. What for? In order that they may be prepared to investigate +the phenomena by which we are surrounded? No! The object, and the only +object, is that they may be prepared to defend a creed; that they may +learn the arguments of their respective churches, and repeat them in +the dull ears of a thoughtless congregation. If one, after being thus +trained at the expense of the Methodists, turns Presbyterian or Baptist, +he is denounced as an ungrateful wretch. Honest investigation is utterly +impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you +think the church is right you will not investigate, and if you think it +wrong, the church will investigate you. The consequence of this is, +that most of the theological literature is the result of suppression, of +fear, tyranny and hypocrisy. + +Every orthodox writer necessarily said to himself, "If I write that, my +wife and children may want for bread. I will be covered with shame and +branded with infamy; but if I write this, I will gain position, power, +and honor. My church rewards defenders, and burns reformers." + +Under these conditions all your Scotts, Hen-rys, and McKnights have +written; and weighed in these scales, what are their commentaries worth? +They are not the ideas and decisions of honest judges, but the sophisms +of the paid attorneys of superstition. Who can tell what the world has +lost by this infamous system of suppression? How many grand thinkers +have died with the mailed hand of superstition upon their lips? How many +splendid ideas have perished in the cradle of the brain, strangled in +the poison-coils of that python, the Church! + +For thousands of years a thinker was hunted down like an escaped +convict. To him who had braved the church, every door was shut, every +knife was open. To shelter him from the wild storm, to give him a crust +when dying, to put a cup of water to his cracked and bleeding lips; +these were all crimes, not one of which the church ever did forgive; +and with the justice taught of her God, his helpless children were +exterminated as scorpions and vipers. + +Who at the present day can imagine the courage, the devotion to +principle, the intellectual and moral grandeur it once required to be an +infidel, to brave the church, her racks, her fagots, her dungeons, her +tongues of fire,--to defy and scorn her heaven and her hell--her devil +and her God? They were the noblest sons of earth. They were the real +saviors of our race, the destroyers of superstition and the creators of +Science. They were the real Titans who bared their grand foreheads to +all the thunderbolts of all the gods. + +The church has been, and still is, the great robber. She has rifled not +only the pockets but the brains of the world. She is the stone at the +sepulchre of liberty; the upas tree, in whose shade the intellect of man +has withered; the Gorgon beneath whose gaze the human heart has turned +to stone. Under her influence even the Protestant mother expects to be +happy in heaven, while her brave boy, who fell fighting for the rights +of man, shall writhe in hell. + +It is said that some of the Indian tribes place the heads of their +children between pieces of bark until the form of the skull is +permanently changed. To us this seems a most shocking custom; and yet, +after all, is it as bad as to put the souls of our children in the +strait-jacket of a creed? to so utterly deform their minds that they +regard the God of the Bible as a being of infinite mercy, and +really consider it a virtue to believe a thing just because it seems +unreasonable? Every child in the Christian world has uttered its +wondering protest against this outrage. All the machinery of the church +is constantly employed in corrupting the reason of children. In every +possible way they are robbed of their own thoughts and forced to accept +the statements of others. Every Sunday school has for its object the +crushing out of every germ of individuality. The poor children are +taught that nothing can be more acceptable to God than unreasoning +obedience and eyeless faith, and that to believe God did an impossible +act, is far better than to do a good one yourself. They are told that +all religions have been simply the John-the-Baptists of ours; that all +the gods of antiquity have withered and shrunken into the Jehovah of the +Jews; that all the longings and aspirations of the race are realized in +the motto of the Evangelical Alliance, "Liberty in non-essentials", +that all there is, or ever was, of religion can be found in the +apostles' creed; that there is nothing left to be discovered; that all +the thinkers are dead, and all the living should simply be believers; +that we have only to repeat the epitaph found on the grave of wisdom; +that grave-yards are the best possible universities, and that the +children must be forever beaten with the bones of the fathers. + +It has always seemed absurd to suppose that a god would choose for his +companions, during all eternity, the dear souls whose highest and only +ambition is to obey. He certainly would now and then be tempted to make +the same remark made by an English gentleman to his poor guest. The +gentleman had invited a man in humble circumstances to dine with him. +The man was so overcome with the honor that to everything the gentleman +said he replied "Yes." Tired at last with the monotony of acquiescence, +the gentleman cried out, "For God's sake, my good man, say 'No,' just +once, so there will be two of us." + +Is it possible that an infinite God created this world simply to be the +dwelling-place of slaves and serfs? simply for the purpose of raising +orthodox Christians? That he did a few miracles to astonish them; that +all the evils of life are simply his punishments, and that he is finally +going to turn heaven into a kind of religious museum filled with Baptist +barnacles, petrified Presbyterians and Methodist mummies? I want no +heaven for which I must give my reason; no happiness in exchange for +my liberty, and no immortality that demands the surrender of my +individuality. Better rot in the windowless tomb, to which there is no +door but the red mouth of the pallid worm, than wear the jeweled collar +even of a god. + +Religion does not, and cannot, contemplate man as free. She accepts only +the homage of the prostrate, and scorns the offerings of those who stand +erect. She cannot tolerate the liberty of thought. The wide and sunny +fields belong not to her domain. The star-lit heights of genius and +individuality are above and beyond her appreciation and power. Her +subjects cringe at her feet, covered with the dust of obedience. + +They are not athletes standing posed by rich life and brave endeavor +like antique statues, but shriveled deformities, studying with furtive +glance the cruel face of power. + +No religionist seems capable of comprehending this plain truth. There +is this difference between thought and action: for our actions we +are responsible to ourselves and to those injuriously affected; for +thoughts, there can, in the nature of things, be no responsibility to +gods or men, here or hereafter. And yet the Protestant has vied with +the Catholic in denouncing freedom of thought; and while I was taught to +hate Catholicism with every drop of my blood, it is only justice to +say, that in all essential particulars it is precisely the same as every +other religion. Luther denounced mental liberty with all the coarse and +brutal vigor of his nature; Calvin despised, from the very bottom of his +petrified heart, anything that even looked like religious toleration, +and solemnly declared that to advocate it was to crucify Christ afresh. +All the founders of all the orthodox churches have advocated the +same infamous tenet. The truth is, that what is called religion is +necessarily inconsistent with free thought A believer is a bird in a +cage, a Freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wing. + +At present, owing to the inroads that have been made by liberals and +infidels, most of the churches pretend to be in favor of religious +liberty. Of these churches, we will ask this question: How can a man, +who conscientiously believes in religious liberty, worship a God who +does not? They say to us: "We will not imprison you on account of your +belief, but our God will." "We will not burn you because you throw away +the sacred Scriptures, but their author will." "We think it an infamous +crime to persecute our brethren for opinion's sake,--but the God, whom +we ignorantly worship, will on that account, damn his own children +forever." + +Why is it that these Christians not only detest the infidels, but +cordially despise each other? Why do they refuse to worship in the +temples of each other? Why do they care so little for the damnation of +men, and so much for the baptism of children? Why will they adorn their +churches with the money of thieves and flatter vice for the sake of +subscriptions? Why will they attempt to bribe Science to certify to +the writings of God? Why do they torture the words of the great into an +acknowledgment of the truth of Christianity? Why do they stand with hat +in hand before presidents, kings, emperors, and scientists, begging, +like Lazarus, for a few crumbs of religious comfort? Why are they so +delighted to find an allusion to Providence in the message of Lincoln? +Why are they so afraid that some one will find out that Paley wrote an +essay in favor of the Epicurean philosophy, and that Sir Isaac Newton +was once an infidel? Why are they so anxious to show that Voltaire +recanted; that Paine died palsied with fear; that the Emperor Julian +cried out "Galilean, thou hast conquered"; that Gibbon died a Catholic; +that Agassiz had a little confidence in Moses; that the old Napoleon +was once complimentary enough to say that he thought Christ greater +than himself or Cæsar; that Washington was caught on his knees at Valley +Forge; that blunt old Ethan Allen told his child to believe the religion +of her mother; that Franklin said, "Don't unchain the tiger," and that +Volney got frightened in a storm at sea? + +Is it because the foundation of their temple is crumbling, because the +walls are cracked, the pillars leaning, the great dome swaying to its +fall, and because Science has written over the high altar its mene, +mene, tekel, upharsin--the old words, destined to be the epitaph of all +religions? + +Every assertion of individual independence has been a step toward +infidelity. Luther started toward Humboldt,--Wesley, toward John Stuart +Mill. To really reform the church is to destroy it. Every new religion +has a little less superstition than the old, so that the religion of +Science is but a question of time. + +I will not say the church has been an unmitigated evil in all respects. +Its history is infamous and glorious. It has delighted in the production +of extremes. It has furnished murderers for its own martyrs. It has +sometimes fed the body, but has always starved the soul. It has been a +charitable highwayman--a profligate beggar--a generous pirate. It +has produced some angels and a multitude of devils. It has built more +prisons than asylums. It made a hundred orphans while it cared for one. +In one hand it has carried the alms-dish and in the other a sword. +It has founded schools and endowed universities for the purpose of +destroying true learning. It filled the world with hypocrites and +zealots, and upon the cross of its own Christ it crucified the +individuality of man. It has sought to destroy the independence of the +soul and put the world upon its knees. This is its crime. The commission +of this crime was necessary to its existence. In order to compel +obedience it declared that it had the truth, and all the truth; that God +had made it the keeper of his secrets; his agent and his vicegerent. It +declared that all other religions were false and infamous. It rendered +all compromise impossible and all thought superfluous. Thought was its +enemy, obedience was its friend. Investigation was fraught with danger; +therefore investigation was suppressed. The holy of holies was behind +the curtain. All this was upon the principle that forgers hate to +have the signature examined by an expert, and that imposture detests +curiosity. + +"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," has always been the favorite +text of the church. + +In short, Christianity has always opposed every forward movement of the +human race. Across the highway of progress it has always been building +breastworks of Bibles, tracts, commentaries, prayer-books, creeds, +dogmas and platforms, and at every advance the Christians have gathered +together behind these heaps of rubbish and shot the poisoned arrows of +malice at the soldiers of freedom. + +And even the liberal Christian of to-day has his holy of holies, and in +the niche of the temple of his heart has his idol. He still clings to a +part of the old superstition, and all the pleasant memories of the old +belief linger in the horizon of his thoughts like a sunset. We associate +the memory of those we love with the religion of our childhood. It +seems almost a sacrilege to rudely destroy the idols that our fathers +worshiped, and turn their sacred and beautiful truths into the fables of +barbarism. Some throw away the Old Testament and cling to the New, while +others give up everything except the idea that there is a personal God, +and that in some wonderful way we are the objects of his care. + +Even this, in my opinion, as Science, the great iconoclast, marches +onward, will have to be abandoned with the rest. The great ghost +will surely share the fate of the little ones. They fled at the first +appearance of the dawn, and the other will vanish with the perfect +day. Until then the independence of man is little more than a dream. +Overshadowed by an immense personality, in the presence of the +irresponsible and the infinite, the individuality of man is lost, and +he falls prostrate in the very dust of fear. Beneath the frown of the +absolute, man stands a wretched, trembling slave,--beneath his smile he +is at best only a fortunate serf. Governed by a being whose arbitrary +will is law, chained to the chariot of power, his destiny rests in the +pleasure of the unknown. Under these circumstances, what wretched object +can he have in lengthening out his aimless life? + +And yet, in most minds, there is a vague fear of the gods--a shrinking +from the malice of the skies. Our fathers were slaves, and nearly all +their children are mental serfs. The enfranchisement of the soul is +a slow and painful process. Superstition, the mother of those hideous +twins, Fear and Faith, from her throne of skulls, still rules the world, +and will until the mind of woman ceases to be the property of priests. + +When women reason, and babes sit in the lap of philosophy, the victory +of reason over the shadowy host of darkness will be complete. + +In the minds of many, long after the intellect has thrown aside as +utterly fabulous the legends of the church, there still remains a +lingering suspicion, born of the mental habits contracted in childhood, +that after all there may be a grain of truth in these mountains of +theological mist, and that possibly the superstitious side is the side +of safety. + +A gentleman, walking among the ruins of Athens, came upon a fallen +statue of Jupiter; making an exceedingly low bow he said: "O Jupiter! +I salute thee." He then added: "Should you ever sit upon the throne of +heaven again, do not, I pray you, forget that I treated you politely +when you were prostrate." + +We have all been taught by the church that nothing is so well calculated +to excite the ire of the Deity as to express a doubt as to his +existence, and that to deny it is an unpardonable sin. Numerous +well-attested instances are referred to of atheists being struck dead +for denying the existence of God. According to these religious people, +God is infinitely above us in every respect, infinitely merciful, and +yet he cannot bear to hear a poor finite man honestly question his +existence. Knowing, as he does, that his children are groping in +darkness and struggling with doubt and fear; knowing that he could +enlighten them if he would, he still holds the expression of a sincere +doubt as to his existence, the most infamous of crimes. According to +orthodox logic, God having furnished us with imperfect minds, has a +right to demand a perfect result. + +Suppose Mr. Smith should overhear a couple of small bugs holding a +discussion as to the existence of Mr. Smith, and suppose one should have +the temerity to declare, upon the honor of a bug, that he had examined +the whole question to the best of his ability, including the argument +based upon design, and had come to the conclusion that no man by the +name of Smith had ever lived. Think then of Mr. Smith flying into an +ecstasy of rage, crushing the atheist bug beneath his iron heel, while +he exclaimed, "I will teach you, blasphemous wretch, that Smith is a +diabolical fact!" What then can we think of a God who would open the +artillery of heaven upon one of his own children for simply expressing +his honest thought? And what man who really thinks can help repeating +the words of Ennius: "If there are gods they certainly pay no attention +to the affairs of man." + +Think of the millions of men and women who have been destroyed simply +for loving and worshiping this God. Is it possible that this God, having +infinite power, saw his loving and heroic children languishing in the +darkness of dungeons; heard the clank of their chains when they lifted +their hands to him in the agony of prayer; saw them stretched upon the +bigot's rack, where death alone had pity; saw the serpents of flame +crawl hissing round their shrinking forms---saw all this for sixteen +hundred years, and sat as silent as a stone? + +From such a God, why should man expect assistance? Why should he waste +his days in fruitless prayer? Why should he fall upon his knees and +implore a phantom--a phantom that is deaf, and dumb, and blind? + +Although we live in what is called a free government,--and politically +we are free,--there is but little religious liberty in America. Society +demands, either that you belong to some church, or that you suppress +your opinions. It is contended by many that ours is a Christian +government, founded upon the Bible, and that all who look upon that book +as false or foolish are destroying the foundation of our country. The +truth is, our government is not founded upon the rights of gods, but +upon the rights of men. Our Constitution was framed, not to declare and +uphold the deity of Christ, but the sacredness of humanity. Ours is the +first government made by the people and for the people. It is the only +nation with which the gods have had nothing to do. And yet there are +some judges dishonest and cowardly enough to solemnly decide that this +is a Christian country, and that our free institutions are based upon +the infamous laws of Jehovah. Such judges are the Jeffries of the +church. They believe that decisions, made by hirelings at the bidding of +kings, are binding upon man forever. They regard old law as far superior +to modern justice. They are what might be called orthodox judges. They +spend their days in finding out, not what ought to be, but what has +been. With their backs to the sunrise they worship the night. There is +only one future event with which they concern themselves, and that is +their reelection. No honest court ever did, or ever will, decide that +our Constitution is Christian. The Bible teaches that the powers that +be, are ordained of God. The Bible teaches that God is the source of all +authority, and that all kings have obtained their power from him. Every +tyrant has claimed to be the agent of the Most High. The Inquisition +was founded, not in the name of man, but in the name of God. All the +governments of Europe recognize the greatness of God, and the littleness +of the people. In all ages, hypocrites, called priests, have put crowns +upon the heads of thieves, called kings. + +The Declaration of Independence announces the sublime truth, that all +power comes from the people. This was a denial, and the first denial of +a nation, of the infamous dogma that God confers the right upon one man +to govern others. It was the first grand assertion of the dignity of the +human race. It declared the governed to be the source of power, and +in fact denied the authority of any and all gods. Through the ages of +slavery--through the weary centuries of the lash and chain, God was the +acknowledged ruler of the world. To enthrone man, was to dethrone him. + +To Paine, Jefferson, and Franklin, are we indebted, more than to all +others, for a human government, and for a Constitution in which no God +is recognized superior to the legally expressed will of the people. + +They knew that to put God in the Constitution was to put man out. They +knew that the recognition of a Deity would be seized upon by fanatics +and zealots as a pretext for destroying the liberty of thought. They +knew the terrible history of the church too well to place in her +keeping, or in the keeping of her God, the sacred rights of man. They +intended that all should have the right to worship, or not to worship; +that our laws should make no distinction on account of creed. They +intended to found and frame a government for man, and for man alone. +They wished to preserve the individuality and liberty of all; to prevent +the few from governing the many, and the many from persecuting and +destroying the few. + +Notwithstanding all this, the spirit of persecution still lingers in our +laws. In many of the States, only those who believe in the existence of +some kind of God, are under the protection of the law. + +The supreme court of Illinois decided, in the year of grace 1856, that +an unbeliever in the existence of an intelligent First Cause could not +be allowed to testify in any court. His wife and children might have +been murdered before his very face, and yet in the absence of other +witnesses, the murderer could not have even been indicted. The atheist +was a legal outcast. To him, Justice was not only blind, but deaf. He +was liable, like other men, to support the Government, and was forced to +contribute his share towards paying the salaries of the very judges +who decided that under no circumstances could his voice be heard in any +court. This was the law of Illinois, and so remained until the +adoption of the new Constitution. By such infamous means has the church +endeavored to chain the human mind, and protect the majesty of her God. +The fact is, we have no national religion, and no national God; but +every citizen is allowed to have a religion and a God of his own, or +to reject all religions and deny the existence of all gods. The church, +however, never has, and never will understand and appreciate the genius +of our Government. + +Last year, in a convention of Protestant bigots, held in the city of New +York for the purpose of creating public opinion in favor of a religious +amendment to the Federal Constitution, a reverend doctor of divinity, +speaking of atheists, said: "What are the rights of the atheist? I would +tolerate him as I would tolerate a poor lunatic. I would tolerate him as +I would tolerate a conspirator. He may live and go free, hold his +lands and enjoy his home--he may even vote; but for any higher or more +advanced citizenship, he is, as I hold, utterly disqualified." These are +the sentiments of the church to-day. + +Give the church a place in the Constitution, let her touch once more +the sword of power, and the priceless fruit of all the ages will turn to +ashes on the lips of men. + +In religious ideas and conceptions there has been for ages a slow and +steady development At the bottom of the ladder (speaking of modern +times) is Catholicism, and at the top is Science. The intermediate +rounds of this ladder are occupied by the various sects, whose name is +legion. + +But whatever may be the truth upon any subject has nothing to do +with-our right to investigate that subject, and express any opinion +we may form. All that I ask, is the same right I freely accord to all +others. + +A few years ago a Methodist clergyman took it upon himself to give me a +piece of friendly advice. "Although you may disbelieve the Bible," said +he, "you ought not to say so. That, you should keep to yourself." + +"Do you believe the Bible," said I. + +He replied, "Most assuredly". + +To which I retorted, "Your answer conveys no information to me. You may +be following your own advice. You told me to suppress my opinions. Of +course a man who will advise others to dissimulate will not always be +particular about telling the truth himself." + +There can be nothing more utterly subversive of all that is really +valuable than the suppression of honest thought. No man, worthy of the +form he bears, will at the command of church or state solemnly repeat a +creed his reason scorns. + +It is the duty of each and every one to maintain his individuality. +"This above all, to thine ownself be true, and it must follow as +the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." It is +a magnificent thing to be the sole proprietor of yourself. It is a +terrible thing to wake up at night and say, "There is nobody in this +bed." It is humiliating to know that your ideas are all borrowed; that +you are indebted to your memory for your principles; that your religion +is simply one of your habits, and that you would have convictions if +they were only contagious. It is mortifying to feel that you belong to +a mental mob and cry "crucify him," because the others do; that you reap +what the great and brave have sown, and that you can benefit the world +only by leaving it. + +Surely every human being ought to attain to the dignity of the unit. +Surely it is worth something to be one, and to feel that the census of +the universe would be incomplete without counting you. Surely there +is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought, at least, you are +without a chain; that you have the right to explore all heights and all +depths; that there are no walls nor fences, nor prohibited places, nor +sacred corners in all the vast expanse of thought; that your intellect +owes no allegiance to any being, human or divine; that you hold all in +fee and upon no condition and by no tenure whatever; that in the world +of mind you are relieved from all personal dictation, and from the +ignorant tyranny of majorities. Surely it is worth something to feel +that there are no priests, no popes, no parties, no governments, +no kings, no gods, to whom your intellect can be compelled to pay +a reluctant homage. Surely it is a joy to know that all the cruel +ingenuity of bigotry can devise no prison, no dungeon, no cell in which +for one instant to confine a thought; that ideas cannot be dislocated +by racks, nor crushed in iron boots, nor burned with fire. Surely it is +sublime to think that the brain is a castle, and that within its curious +bastions and winding halls the soul, in spite of all worlds and all +beings, is the supreme sovereign of itself. + + + + +HERETICS AND HERESIES. + +Liberty, a Word without which all other Words are Vain. + +WHOEVER has an opinion of his own, and honestly expresses it, will be +guilty of heresy. Heresy is what the minority believe; it is the name +given by the powerful to the doctrine of the weak. This word was born of +the hatred, arrogance and cruelty of those who love their enemies, and +who, when smitten on one cheek, turn the other. This word was born of +intellectual slavery in the feudal ages of thought It was an epithet +used in the place of argument. From the commencement of the Christian +era, every art has been exhausted and every conceivable punishment +inflicted to force all people to hold the same religious opinions. This +effort was born of the idea that a certain belief was necessary to the +salvation of the soul. Christ taught, and the church still teaches, +that unbelief is the blackest of crimes. God is supposed to hate with +an infinite and implacable hatred, every heretic upon the earth, and the +heretics who have died are supposed at this moment to be suffering the +agonies of the damned. The church persecutes the living and her God +burns the dead. + +It is claimed that God wrote a book called the Bible, and it is +generally admitted that this book is somewhat difficult to understand. +As long as the church had all the copies of this book, and the people +were not allowed to read it, there was comparatively little heresy in +the world; but when it was printed and read, people began honestly to +differ as to its meaning. A few were independent and brave enough to +give the world their real thoughts, and for the extermination of these +men the church used all her power. Protestants and Catholics vied with +each other in the work of enslaving the human mind. For ages they were +rivals in the infamous effort to rid the earth of honest people. They +infested every country, every city, town, hamlet and family. They +appealed to the worst passions of the human heart They sowed the seeds +of discord and hatred in every land. Brother denounced brother, wives +informed against their husbands, mothers accused their children, +dungeons were crowded with the innocent; the flesh of the good and true +rotted in the clasp of chains; the flames devoured the heroic, and in +the name of the most merciful God, his children were exterminated with +famine, sword, and fire. Over the wild waves of battle rose and fell +the banner of Jesus Christ. For sixteen hundred years the robes of the +church were red with innocent blood. The ingenuity of Christians was +exhausted in devising punishment severe enough to be inflicted upon +other Christians who honestly and sincerely differed with them upon any +point whatever. + +Give any orthodox church the power, and to-day they would punish heresy +with whip, and chain, and fire. As long as a church deems a certain +belief essential to salvation, just so long it will kill and burn if it +has the power. Why should the church pity a man whom her God hates? Why +should she show mercy to a kind and noble heretic whom her God will burn +in eternal fire? Why should a Christian be better than his God? It is +impossible for the imagination to conceive of a greater atrocity than +has been perpetrated by the church. Every nerve in the human body +capable of pain has been sought out and touched by the church. + +Let it be remembered that all churches have persecuted heretics to the +extent of their power. Toleration has increased only when and where the +power of the church has diminished. From Augustine until now the +spirit of the Christians has remained the same. There has been the same +intolerance, the same undying hatred of all who think for themselves, +and the same determination to crush out of the human brain all knowledge +inconsistent with an ignorant creed. + +Every church pretends that it has a revelation from God, and that this +revelation must be given to the people through the church; that the +church acts through its priests, and that ordinary mortals must be +content with a revelation--not from God--but from the church. Had the +people submitted to this preposterous claim, of course there could have +been but one church, and that church never could have advanced. It might +have retrograded, because it is not necessary to think or investigate in +order to forget. Without heresy there could have been no progress. + +The highest type of the orthodox Christian does not forget; neither +does he learn. He neither advances nor recedes. He is a living fossil +embedded in that rock called faith. He makes no effort to better his +condition, because all his strength is exhausted in keeping other people +from improving theirs. The supreme desire of his heart is to force all +others to adopt his creed, and in order to accomplish this object he +denounces free thinking as a crime, and this crime he calls heresy. When +he had power, heresy was the most terrible and formidable of words. It +meant confiscation, exile, imprisonment, torture, and death. + +In those days the cross and rack were inseparable companions. Across +the open Bible lay the sword and fagot. Not content with burning such +heretics as were alive, they even tried the dead, in order that the +church might rob their wives and children. The property of all heretics +was confiscated, and on this account they charged the dead with being +heretical--indicted, as it were, their dust--to the end that the +church might clutch the bread of orphans. Learned divines discussed +the propriety of tearing out the tongues of heretics before they were +burned, and the general opinion was, that this ought to be done so that +the heretics should not be able, by uttering blasphemies, to shock +the Christians who were burning them. With a mixture of ferocity and +Christianity, the priests insisted that heretics ought to be burned at +a slow fire, giving as a reason that more time was given them for +repentance. + +No wonder that Jesus Christ said, "I came not to bring peace, but a +sword." + +Every priest regarded himself as the agent of God. He answered all +questions by authority, and to treat him with disrespect was an insult +offered to God. No one was asked to think, but all were commanded to +obey. + +In 1208 the Inquisition was established. Seven years afterward, the +fourth council of the Lateran enjoined all kings and rulers to swear +an oath that they would exterminate heretics from their dominions. The +sword of the church was unsheathed, and the world was at the mercy of +ignorant and infuriated priests, whose eyes feasted upon the agonies +they inflicted. Acting, as they believed, or pretended to believe, under +the command of God; stimulated by the hope of infinite reward in another +world--hating heretics with every drop of their bestial blood; savage +beyond description; merciless beyond conception,--these infamous +priests, in a kind of frenzied joy, leaped upon the helpless victims of +their rage. They crushed their bones in iron boots; tore their quivering +flesh with iron hooks and pincers; cut off their lips and eyelids; +pulled out their nails, and into the bleeding quick thrust needles; tore +out their tongues; extinguished their eyes; stretched them upon racks; +flayed them alive; crucified them with their heads downward; exposed +them to wild beasts; burned them at the stake; mocked their cries and +groans; ravished their wives; robbed their children, and then prayed God +to finish the holy work in hell. + +Millions upon millions were sacrificed upon the altars of bigotry. The +Catholic burned the Lutheran, the Lutheran burned the Catholic, the +Episcopalian tortured the Presbyterian, the Presbyterian tortured the +Episcopalian. Every denomination killed all it could of every other; and +each Christian felt in duty bound to exterminate every other Christian +who denied the smallest fraction of his creed. + +In the reign of Henry VIII.--that pious and moral founder of the +apostolic Episcopal Church,--there was passed by the parliament of +England an act entitled "An act for abolishing of diversity of opinion." +And in this act was set forth what a good Christian was obliged to +believe: First, That in the sacrament was the real body and blood of +Jesus Christ. + +Second, That the body and blood of Jesus Christ was in the bread, and +the blood and body of Jesus Christ was in the wine. + +Third, That priests should not marry. + +Fourth, That vows of chastity were of perpetual obligation. + +Fifth, That private masses ought to be continued; and, + +Sixth, That auricular confession to a priest must be maintained. + +This creed was made by law, in order that all men might know just what +to believe by simply reading the statute. The church hated to see the +people wearing out their brains in thinking upon these subjects. It was +thought far better that a creed should be made by parliament, so that +whatever might be lacking in evidence might be made up in force. The +punishment for denying the first article was death by fire. For +the denial of any other article, imprisonment, and for the second +offence--death. + +Your attention is called to these six articles, established during the +reign of Henry VIII., and by the Church of England, simply because not +one of these articles is believed by that church to-day. If the law then +made by the church could be enforced now, every Episcopalian would be +burned at the stake. + +Similar laws were passed in most Christian countries, as all orthodox +churches firmly believed that mankind could be legislated into heaven. +According to the creed of every church, slavery leads to heaven, liberty +leads to hell. It was claimed that God had founded the church, and that +to deny the authority of the church was to be a traitor to God, and +consequently an ally of the devil. To torture and destroy one of the +soldiers of Satan was a duty no good Christian cared to neglect. Nothing +can be sweeter than to earn the gratitude of God by killing your own +enemies. Such a mingling of profit and revenge, of heaven for yourself +and damnation for those you dislike, is a temptation that your ordinary +Christian never resists. + +According to the theologians, God, the Father of us all, wrote a letter +to his children. The children have always differed somewhat as to the +meaning of this letter. In consequence of these honest differences, +these brothers began to cut out each other's hearts. In every land, +where this letter from God has been read, the children to whom and for +whom it was written have been filled with hatred and malice. They have +imprisoned and murdered each other, and the wives and children of each +other. In the name of God every possible crime has been committed, every +conceivable outrage has been perpetrated. Brave men, tender and loving +women, beautiful girls, and prattling babes have been exterminated in +the name of Jesus Christ. For more than fifty generations the church +has carried the black flag. Her vengeance has been measured only by +her power. During all these years of infamy no heretic has ever been +forgiven. With the heart of a fiend she has hated; with the clutch of +avarice she has grasped; with the jaws of a dragon she has devoured; +pitiless as famine, merciless as fire, with the conscience of a serpent: +such is the history of the Church of God. + +I do not say, and I do not believe, that Christians are as bad as their +creeds. In spite of church and dogma, there have been millions and +millions of men and women true to the loftiest and most generous +promptings of the human heart. They have been true to their convictions, +and, with a self-denial and fortitude excelled by none, have labored +and suffered for the salvation of men. Imbued with the spirit of +self-sacrifice, believing that by personal effort they could rescue at +least a few souls from the infinite shadow of hell, they have +cheerfully endured every hardship and scorned every danger. And yet, +notwithstanding all this, they believed that honest error was a crime. +They knew that the Bible so declared, and they believed that all +unbelievers would be eternally lost. They believed that religion was +of God, and all heresy of the devil. They killed heretics in defence +of their own souls and the souls of their children. They killed them +because, according to their idea, they were the enemies of God, and +because the Bible teaches that the blood of the unbeliever is a most +acceptable sacrifice to heaven. + +Nature never prompted a loving mother to throw her child into the +Ganges. Nature never prompted men to exterminate each other for a +difference of opinion concerning the baptism of infants. These crimes +have been produced by religions filled with all that is illogical, +cruel and hideous. These religions were produced for the most part by +ignorance, tyranny and hypocrisy. Under the impression that the infinite +ruler and creator of the universe had commanded the destruction of +heretics and infidels, the church perpetrated all these crimes. + +Men and women have been burned for thinking there is but one God; that +there was none; that the Holy Ghost is younger than God; that God was +somewhat older than his son; for insisting that good works will save a +man without faith; that faith will do without good works; for declaring +that a sweet babe will not be burned eternally, because its parents +failed to have its head wet by a priest; for speaking of God as +though he had a nose; for denying that Christ was his own father; for +contending that three persons, rightly added together, make more than +one; for believing in purgatory; for denying the reality of hell; for +pretending that priests can forgive sins; for preaching that God is an +essence; for denying that witches rode through the air on sticks; +for doubting the total depravity of the human heart; for laughing +at irresistible grace, predestination and particular redemption; for +denying that good bread could be made of the body of a dead man; for +pretending that the pope was not managing this world for God, and in the +place of God; for disputing the efficacy of a vicarious atonement; for +thinking the Virgin Mary was born like other people; for thinking that a +man's rib was hardly sufficient to make a good-sized woman; for denying +that God used his finger for a pen; for asserting that prayers are not +answered, that diseases are not sent to punish unbelief; for denying +the authority of the Bible; for having a Bible in their possession; for +attending mass, and for refusing to attend; for wearing a surplice; for +carrying a cross, and for refusing; for being a Catholic, and for being +a Protestant; for being an Episcopalian, a Presbyterian, a Baptist, and +for being a Quaker. In short, every virtue has been a crime, and every +crime a virtue. The church has burned honesty and rewarded hypocrisy. +And all this, because it was commanded by a book--a book that men had +been taught implicitly to believe, long, before they knew one word that +was in it They had been taught that to doubt the truth of this book--to +examine it, even--was a crime of such enormity that it could not be +forgiven, either in this world or in the next The Bible was the real +persecutor. The Bible burned heretics, built dungeons, founded the +Inquisition, and trampled upon all the liberties of men. + +How long, O how long will mankind worship a book? How long will they +grovel in the dust before the ignorant legends of the barbaric past? +How long, O how long will they pursue phantoms in a darkness deeper than +death? + +Unfortunately for the world, about the beginning of the sixteenth +century, a man by the name of Gerard Chauvin was married to Jeanne +Lefranc, and still more unfortunately for the world, the fruit of this +marriage was a son, called John Chauvin, who afterwards became famous as +John Calvin, the founder of the Presbyterian Church. + +This man forged five fetters for the brain. These fetters he called +points. That is to say, predestination, particular redemption, total +depravity, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. About +the neck of each follower he put a collar bristling with these five iron +points. The presence of all these points on the collar is still the test +of orthodoxy in the church he founded. This man, when in the flush of +youth, was elected to the office of preacher in Geneva. He at once, +in union with Farel, drew up a condensed statement of the Presbyterian +doctrine, and all the citizens of Geneva, on pain of banishment, were +compelled to take an oath that they believed this statement. Of this +proceeding Calvin very innocently remarked that it produced great +satisfaction. A man named Caroli had the audacity to dispute with +Calvin. For this outrage he was banished. + +To show you what great subjects occupied the attention of Calvin, it is +only necessary to state that he furiously discussed the question as to +whether the sacramental bread should be leavened or unleavened. He drew +up laws regulating the cut of the citizens' clothes, and prescribing +their diet, and all those whose garments were not in the Calvin fashion +were refused the sacrament. At last, the people becoming tired of this +petty theological tyranny, banished Calvin. In a few years, however, +he was recalled and received with great enthusiasm. After this he was +supreme, and the will of Calvin became the law of Geneva. + +Under his benign administration, James Gruet was beheaded because he had +written some profane verses. The slightest word against Calvin or his +absurd doctrines was punished as a crime. + +In 1553 a man was tried at Vienne by the Catholic Church for heresy. He +was convicted and sentenced to death by burning. It was apparently his +good fortune to escape. Pursued by the sleuth hounds of intolerance he +fled to Geneva for protection. A dove flying from hawks, sought safety +in the nest of a vulture. This fugitive from the cruelty of Rome asked +shelter from John Calvin, who had written a book in favor of religious +toleration. Servetus had forgotten that this book was written by Calvin +when in the minority; that it was written in weakness to be forgotten +in power; that it was produced by fear instead of principle. He did not +know that Calvin had caused his arrest at Vienne, in France, and had +sent a copy of his work, which was claimed to be blasphemous, to the +archbishop. He did not then know that the Protestant Calvin was +acting as one of the detectives of the Catholic Church, and had been +instrumental in procuring his conviction for heresy. Ignorant of all +this unspeakable infamy, he put himself in the power of this very +Calvin. The maker of the Presbyterian creed caused the fugitive +Serve-tus to be arrested for blasphemy. He was tried. Calvin was his +accuser. He was convicted and condemned to death by fire. On the morning +of the fatal day, Calvin saw him, and Servetus, the victim, asked +forgiveness of Calvin, the murderer. Servetus was bound to the stake, +and the fagots were lighted. The wind carried the flames somewhat away +from his body, so that he slowly roasted for hours. Vainly he implored +a speedy death. At last the flames climbed round his form; through smoke +and fire his murderers saw a white heroic face. And there they watched +until a man became a charred and shriveled mass. + +Liberty was banished from Geneva, and nothing but Presbyterianism was +left. Honor, justice, mercy, reason and charity were all exiled, but +the five points of predestination, particular redemption, irresistible +grace, total depravity, and the certain perseverance of the saints +remained instead. + +Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and +succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, +except the one from which it was copied. + +Against all this intolerance, one man, a minister, raised his voice. The +name of this man should never be forgotten. It was Castalio. This brave +man had the goodness and the courage to declare the innocence of honest +error. He was the first of the so-called reformers to take this noble +ground. I wish I had the genius to pay a fitting tribute to his memory. +Perhaps it would be impossible to pay him a grander compliment than to +say, Castalio was in all things the opposite of Calvin. To plead for the +right of individual judgment was considered a crime, and Castalio was +driven from Geneva by John Calvin. By him he was denounced as a child of +the devil, as a dog of Satan, as a beast from hell, and as one who, by +this horrid blasphemy of the innocence of honest error, crucified Christ +afresh, and by him he was pursued until rescued by the hand of death. + +Upon the name of Castalio, Calvin heaped every epithet, until his malice +was nearly satisfied and his imagination entirely exhausted. It is +impossible to conceive how human nature can become so frightfully +perverted as to pursue a fellow-man with the malignity of a fiend, +simply because he is good, just, and generous. + +Calvin was of a pallid, bloodless complexion, thin, sickly, irritable, +gloomy, impatient, egotistic, tyrannical, heartless, and infamous. He +was a strange compound of revengeful morality, malicious forgiveness, +ferocious charity, egotistic humility, and a kind of hellish justice. +In other words, he was as near like the God of the Old Testament as his +health permitted. + +The best thing, however, about the Presbyterians of Geneva was, that +they denied the power of the Pope, and the best thing about the Pope +was, that he was not a Presbyterian. + +The doctrines of Calvin spread rapidly, and were eagerly accepted by +multitudes on the continent; but Scotland, in a few years, became the +real fortress of Presbyterianism. The Scotch succeeded in establishing +the same kind of theocracy that flourished in Geneva. The clergy took +possession and control of everybody and everything. It is impossible to +exaggerate the mental degradation, the abject superstition of the people +of Scotland during the reign of Presbyterianism. Heretics were hunted +and devoured as though they had been wild beasts. The gloomy insanity of +Presbyterianism took possession of a great majority of the people. They +regarded their ministers as the Jews did Moses and Aaron. They believed +that they were the especial agents of God, and that whatsoever they +bound in Scotland would be bound in heaven. There was not one particle +of intellectual freedom. No man was allowed to differ with the church, +or to even contradict a priest. Had Presbyterianism maintained its +ascendency, Scotland would have been peopled by savages to-day. + +The revengeful spirit of Calvin took possession of the Puritans, and +caused them to redden the soil of the New World with the brave blood of +honest men. Clinging to the five points of Calvin, they too established +governments in accordance with the teachings of the Old Testament. They +too attached the penalty of death to the expression of honest thought. +They too believed their church supreme, and exerted all their power to +curse this continent with a spiritual despotism as infamous as it was +absurd. They believed with Luther that universal toleration is universal +error, and universal error is universal hell. Toleration was denounced +as a crime. + +Fortunately for us, civilization has had a softening effect even upon +the Presbyterian Church. To the ennobling influence of the arts and +sciences the savage spirit of Calvinism has, in some slight degree, +succumbed. True, the old creed remains substantially as it was written, +but by a kind of tacit understanding it has come to be regarded as a +relic of the past. The cry of "heresy" has been growing fainter and +fainter, and, as a consequence, the ministers of that denomination +have ventured, now and then, to express doubts as to the damnation of +infants, and the doctrine of total depravity. The fact is, the old ideas +became a little monotonous to the people. The fall of man, the scheme of +redemption and irresistible grace, began to have a familiar sound. The +preachers told the old stories while the congregations slept Some of the +ministers became tired of these stories themselves. The five points grew +dull, and they felt that nothing short of irresistible grace could bear +this endless repetition. The outside world was full of progress, and in +every direction men advanced, while this church, anchored to a creed, +idly rotted at the shore. Other denominations, imbued some little with +the spirit of investigation, were springing up on every side, while the +old Presbyterian ark rested on the Ararat of the past, filled with the +theological monsters of another age. + +Lured by the splendors of the outer world, tempted by the achievements +of science, longing to feel the throb and beat of the mighty march of +the human race, a few of the ministers of this conservative denomination +were compelled, by irresistible sense, to say a few words in harmony +with the splendid ideas of to-day. + +These utterances have upon several occasions so nearly wakened some of +the members that, rubbing their eyes, they have feebly inquired whether +these grand ideas were not somewhat heretical. These ministers found +that just in the proportion that their orthodoxy decreased, their +congregations increased. Those who dealt in the pure unadulterated +article found themselves demonstrating the five points to a less number +of hearers than they had points. Stung to madness by this bitter truth, +this galling contrast, this harassing fact, the really orthodox have +raised the cry of heresy, and expect with this cry to seal the lips +of honest men. One of the Presbyterian ministers, and one who has been +enjoying the luxury of a little honest thought, and the real rapture of +expressing it, has already been indicted, and is about to be tried by +the Presbytery of Illinois. He is charged-- + +_First_. With having neglected to preach that most comforting and +consoling truth, the eternal damnation of the soul. + +Surely, that man must be a monster who could wish to blot this blessed +doctrine out and rob earth's wretched children of this blissful hope! + +Who can estimate the misery that has been caused by this most infamous +doctrine of eternal punishment? Think of the lives it has blighted--of +the tears it has caused--of the agony it has produced. Think of the +millions who have been driven to insanity by this most terrible of +dogmas. This doctrine renders God the basest and most cruel being in +the universe. Compared with him, the most frightful deities of the most +barbarous and degraded tribes are miracles of goodness and mercy. There +is nothing more degrading than to worship such a god. Lower than this +the soul can never sink. If the doctrine of eternal damnation is true, +let me share the fate of the unconverted; let me have my portion in +hell, rather than in heaven with a god infamous enough to inflict +eternal misery upon any of the sons of men. + +_Second_. With having spoken a few kind words of Robert Collyer and John +Stuart Mill. + +I have the honor of a slight acquaintance with Robert Collyer. I have +read with pleasure some of his exquisite productions. He has a brain +full of the dawn, the head of a philosopher, the imagination of a poet +and the sincere heart of a child. + +Is a minister to be silenced because he speaks fairly of a noble and +candid adversary? Is it a crime to compliment a lover of justice, an +advocate of liberty; one who devotes his life to the elevation of man, +the discovery of truth, and the promulgation of what he believes to be +right? + +Can that tongue be palsied by a presbytery that praises a self-denying +and heroic life? Is it a sin to speak a charitable word over the grave +of John Stuart Mill? Is it heretical to pay a just and graceful tribute +to departed worth? Must the true Presbyterian violate the sanctity of +the tomb, dig open the grave and ask his God to curse the silent dust? +Is Presbyterianism so narrow that it conceives of no excellence, of no +purity of intention, of no spiritual and moral grandeur outside of its +barbaric creed? Does it still retain within its stony heart all the +malice of its founder? Is it still warming its fleshless hands at the +flames that consumed Servetus? Does it still glory in the damnation of +infants, and does it still persist in emptying the cradle in order that +perdition may be filled? Is it still starving the soul and famishing +the heart? Is it still trembling and shivering, crouching and crawling +before its ignorant Confession of Faith? + +Had such men as Robert Collyer and John Stuart Mill been present at the +burning of Servetus, they would have extinguished the flames with their +tears. Had the presbytery of Chicago been there, they would have quietly +turned their backs, solemnly divided their coat tails, and warmed +themselves. + +_Third_. With having spoken disparagingly of the doctrine of +predestination. + +If there is any dogma that ought to be protected by law, predestination +is that doctrine. Surely it is a cheerful, joyous thing, to one who is +laboring, struggling, and suffering in this weary world, to think that +before he existed; before the earth was; before a star had glittered in +the heavens; before a ray of light had left the quiver of the sun, his +destiny had been irrevocably fixed, and that for an eternity before his +birth he had been doomed to bear eternal pain. + +_Fourth._ With failing to preach the efficacy of a "vicarious +sacrifice." + +Suppose a man had been convicted of murder, and was about to be +hanged--the governor acting as the executioner; and suppose that just +as the doomed man was about to suffer death some one in the crowd +should step forward and say, "I am willing to die in the place of that +murderer. He has a family, and I have none." And suppose further, that +the governor should reply, "Come forward, young man, your offer is +accepted. A murder has been committed and somebody must be hung, +and your death will satisfy the law just as well as the death of the +murderer." What would you then think of the doctrine of "vicarious +sacrifice"? + +This doctrine is the consummation of two outrages--forgiving one crime +and committing another. + +_Fifth_. With having inculcated a phase of the doctrine commonly known +as "evolution," or "development". + +The church believes and teaches the exact opposite of this doctrine. +According to the philosophy of theology, man has continued to degenerate +for six thousand years. To teach that there is that in nature which +impels to higher forms and grander ends, is heresy, of course. The +Deity will damn Spencer and his "Evolution," Darwin and his "Origin +of Species," Bastian and his "Spontaneous Generation," Huxley and his +"Protoplasm," Tyndall and his "Prayer Gauge," and will save those, and +those only, who declare that the universe has been cursed, from the +smallest atom to the grandest star; that everything tends to evil and to +that only, and that the only perfect thing in nature is the Presbyterian +Confession of Faith. + +_Sixth_. With having intimated that the reception of Socrates and +Penelope at heaven's gate was, to say the least, a trifle more cordial +than that of Catharine II. + +Penelope, waiting patiently and trustfully for her lord's return, +delaying her suitors, while sadly weaving and unweaving the shroud of +Laertes, is the most perfect type of wife and woman produced by the +civilization of Greece. + +Socrates, whose life was above reproach and whose death was beyond all +praise, stands to-day, in the estimation of every thoughtful man, at +least the peer of Christ. + +Catharine II. assassinated her husband. Stepping upon his corpse, she +mounted the throne. She was the murderess of Prince Iwan, grand nephew +of Peter the Great, who was imprisoned for eighteen years, and who +during all that time saw the sky but once. Taken all in all, Catharine +was probably one of the most intellectual beasts that ever wore a crown. + +Catharine, however, was the head of the Greek Church, Socrates was +a heretic and Penelope lived and died without having once heard of +"particular redemption" or of "irresistible grace." + +_Seventh_. With repudiating the idea of a "call" to the ministry, and +pretending that men were "called" to preach as they were to the other +avocations of life. + +If this doctrine is true, God, to say the least of it, is an exceedingly +poor judge of human nature. It is more than a century since a man of +true genius has been found in an orthodox pulpit. Every minister is +heretical just to the extent that intellect is above the average. The +Lord seems to be satisfied with mediocrity; but the people are not. + +An old deacon, wishing to get rid of an unpopular preacher, advised him +to give up the ministry and turn his attention to something else. The +preacher replied that he could not conscientiously desert the pulpit, as +he had had a "call" to the ministry. To which the deacon replied, "That +may be so, but it's very unfortunate for you, that when God called you +to preach, he forgot to call anybody to hear you." + +There is nothing more stupidly egotistic than the claim of the clergy +that they are, in some divine sense set apart to the service of the +Lord; that they have been chosen, and sanctified; that there is an +infinite difference between them and persons employed in secular +affairs. They teach us that all other professions must take care of +themselves; that God allows anybody to be a doctor, a lawyer, statesman, +soldier, or artist; that the Motts and Coopers--the Mansfields and +Marshalls--the Wilberforces and Sumners--the Angelos and Raphaels, were +never honored by a "call." They chose their professions and won their +laurels without the assistance of the Lord. All these men were left free +to follow their own inclinations, while God was busily engaged selecting +and "calling" priests, rectors, elders, ministers and exhorters. + +_Eighth_. With having doubted that God was the author of the 109th +Psalm. + +The portion of that psalm which carries with it the clearest and most +satisfactory evidences of inspiration, and which has afforded almost +unspeakable consolation to the Presbyterian Church, is as follows: + +Set thou a wicked man over him; and let Satan stand at his right hand. + +When he shall be judged, let him be condemned; and let his prayer become +sin. + +Let his days be few; and let another take his office. + +Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. + +Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg; let them seek their +bread also out of their desolate places. + +Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the stranger spoil +his labor. + +Let there be none to extend mercy unto him; neither let there be any to +favor his fatherless children. + +Let his posterity be cut off: and in the generation following let their +name be blotted out. + +But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for Thy name's sake; because Thy +mercy is good, deliver Thou me.... I will greatly praise the Lord with +my_ mouth_. + +Think of a God wicked and malicious enough to inspire this prayer. Think +of one infamous enough to answer it. + +Had this inspired psalm been found in some temple erected for the +worship of snakes, or in the possession of some cannibal king, written +with blood upon the dried skins of babes, there would have been a +perfect harmony between its surroundings and its sentiments. + +No wonder that the author of this inspired psalm coldly received +Socrates and Penelope, and reserved his sweetest smiles for Catharine +the Second. + +_Ninth._ With having said that the battles in which the Israelites +engaged, with the approval and command of Jehovah, surpassed in cruelty +those of Julius Cæsar. + +Was it Julius Cæsar who said, "And the Lord our God delivered him before +us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. And we took all +his cities, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little +ones, of every city, we left none to remain"? + +Did Julius Cæsar send the following report to the Roman senate? "And we +took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not +from them, three-score cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of +Og in Bashan. All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and +bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. And we utterly destroyed +them, as we did unto Sihon, king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, +women, and children of every city." + +Did Cæsar take the city of Jericho "and utterly destroy all that was +in the city, both men and women, young and old"? Did he smite "all the +country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the +springs, and all their kings, and leave none remaining that breathed, as +the Lord God had commanded"? + +Search the records of the whole world, find out the history of every +barbarous tribe, and you can find no crime that touched a lower depth of +infamy than those the Bible's God commanded and approved. For such a God +I have no words to express my loathing and contempt, and all the words +in all the languages of man would scarcely be sufficient. Away with such +a God! Give me Jupiter rather, with Io and Europa, or even Siva with his +skulls and snakes. + +_Tenth_. With having repudiated the doctrine of "total depravity." + +What a precious doctrine is that of the total depravity of the human +heart! How sweet it is to believe that the lives of all the good and +great were continual sins and perpetual crimes; that the love a mother +bears her child is, in the sight of God, a sin; that the gratitude of +the natural heart is simple meanness; that the tears of pity are impure; +that for the unconverted to live and labor for others is an offence to +heaven; that the noblest aspirations of the soul are low and groveling +in the sight of God; that man should fall upon his knees and ask +forgiveness, simply for loving his wife and child, and that even the act +of asking forgiveness is in fact a crime! + +Surely it is a kind of bliss to feel that every woman and child in the +wide world, with the exception of those who believe the five points, or +some other equally cruel creed, and such children as have been baptized, +ought at this very moment to be dashed down to the lowest glowing gulf +of hell. + +Take from the Christian the history of his own church--leave that +entirely out of the question--and he has no argument left with which to +substantiate the total depravity of man. + +_Eleventh_. With having doubted the "perseverance of the saints." + +I suppose the real meaning of this doctrine is, that Presbyterians are +just as sure of going to heaven as all other folks are of going to hell. +The real idea being, that it all depends upon the will of God, and not +upon the character of the person to be damned or saved; that God has the +weakness to send Presbyterians to Paradise, and the justice to doom the +rest of mankind to eternal fire. + +It is admitted that no unconverted brain can see the least particle of +sense in this doctrine; that it is abhorrent to all who have not been +the recipients of a "new heart;" that only the perfectly good can +justify the perfectly infamous. + +It is contended that the saints do not persevere of their own free +will--that they are entitled to no credit for persevering; but that +God forces them to persevere, while on the other hand, every crime is +committed in accordance with the secret will of God, who does all things +for his own glory. + +Compared with this doctrine, there is no other idea, that has ever been +believed by man, that can properly be called absurd. + +_Twelfth_. With having spoken and written somewhat lightly of the idea +of converting the heathen with doctrinal sermons. + +Of all the failures of which we have any history or knowledge, the +missionary effort is the most conspicuous. The whole question has been +decided here, in our own country, and conclusively settled. We have +nearly exterminated the Indians, but we have converted none. From the +days of John Eliot to the execution of the last Modoc, not one Indian +has been the subject of irresistible grace or particular redemption. +The few red men who roam the western wilderness have no thought or care +concerning the five points of Calvin. They are utterly oblivious to +the great and vital truths contained in the Thirty-nine Articles, the +Saybrook platform, and the resolutions of the Evangelical Alliance. No +Indian has ever scalped another on account of his religious belief. This +of itself shows conclusively that the missionaries have had no effect +Why should we convert the heathen of China and kill our own? Why should +we send missionaries across the seas, and soldiers over the plains? +Why should we send Bibles to the east and muskets to the west? If it +is impossible to convert Indians who have no religion of their own; no +prejudice for or against the "eternal procession of the Holy Ghost," how +can we expect to convert a heathen who has a religion; who has plenty +of gods and Bibles and prophets and Christs, and who has a religious +literature far grander than our own? Can we hope with the story of +Daniel in the lions' den to rival the stupendous miracles of India? Is +there anything in our Bible as lofty and loving as the prayer of the +Buddhist? Compare your "Confession of Faith" with the following: "Never +will I seek nor receive private individual salvation--never enter into +final peace alone; but forever and everywhere will I live and strive for +the universal redemption of every creature throughout all worlds. Until +all are delivered, never will I leave the world of sin, sorrow, and +struggle, but will remain where I am." + +Think of sending an average Presbyterian to convert a man who daily +offers this tender, this infinitely generous, this incomparable prayer. +Think of reading the 109th Psalm to a heathen who has a Bible of his own +in which is found this passage: "Blessed is that man and beloved of all +the gods, who is afraid of no man, and of whom no man is afraid." + +Why should you read even the New Testament to a Hindu, when his own +Chrishna has said, "If a man strike thee, and in striking drop his +staff, pick it up and hand it to him again"? Why send a Presbyterian to +a Sufi, who says, "Better one moment of silent contemplation and inward +love, than seventy thousand years of outward worship"? "Whoso would +carelessly tread one worm that crawls on earth, that heartless one is +darkly alienate from God; but he that, living, embraceth all things +in his love, to live with him God bursts all bounds above, below." Why +should we endeavor to thrust our cruel and heartless theology upon one +who prays this prayer: "O God, show pity toward the wicked; for on +the good thou hast already bestowed thy mercy by having created them +virtuous"? + +Compare this prayer with the curses and cruelties of the Old +Testament--with the infamies commanded and approved by the being whom we +are taught to worship as a God--and with the following tender product +of Presbyterianism: "It may seem absurd to human wisdom that God should +harden, blind, and deliver up some men to a reprobate sense; that he +should first deliver them over to evil, and then condemn them for that +evil; but the believing spiritual man sees no absurdity in all this, +knowing that God would be never a whit less good even though he should +destroy all men." + +Of all the religions that have been produced by the egotism, the malice, +the ignorance and ambition of man, Presbyterianism is the most hideous. + +But what shall I say more, for the time would fail me to tell of +Sabellianism, of a "Modal Trinity," and the "Eternal Procession of the +Holy Ghost"? + +Upon these charges, a minister is to be tried, here in Chicago; in +this city of pluck and progress--this marvel of energy--this miracle +of nerve. The cry of "heresy," here, sounds like a wail from the Dark +Ages--a shriek from the Inquisition, or a groan from the grave of +Calvin. + +Another effort is being made to enslave a man. + +It is claimed that every member of the church has solemnly agreed +never to outgrow the creed; that he has pledged himself to remain an +intellectual dwarf. Upon this condition the church agrees to save his +soul, and he hands over his brains to bind the bargain. Should a fact be +found inconsistent with the creed, he binds himself to deny the fact +and curse the finder. With scraps of dogmas and crumbs of doctrine, he +agrees that his soul shall be satisfied forever. What an intellectual +feast the Confession of Faith must be! It reminds one of the dinner +described by Sydney Smith, where everything was cold except the water, +and everything sour except the vinegar. + +Every member of a church promises to remain orthodox, that is to +say--stationary. Growth is heresy. Orthodox ideas are the feathers that +have been moulted by the eagle of progress. They are the dead leaves +under the majestic palm, while heresy is the bud and blossom at the top. + +Imagine a vine that grows at one end and decays at the other. The +end that grows is heresy, the end that rots is orthodox The dead are +orthodox, and your cemetery is the most perfect type of a well regulated +church. No thought, no progress, no heresy there. Slowly and silently, +side by side, the satisfied members peacefully decay. There is only this +difference--the dead do not persecute. + +And what does a trial for heresy mean? It means that the church says to +a heretic, "Believe as I do, or I will withdraw my support. I will not +employ you. I will pursue you until your garments are rags; until your +children cry for bread; until your cheeks are furrowed with tears. I +will hunt you to the very portals of the tomb, and then my God will do +the rest I will not imprison you. I will not burn you. The law prevents +my doing that. I helped make the law, not however to protect you, nor +to deprive me of the right to exterminate you but in order to keep +other churches from exterminating me." A trial for heresy means that the +spirit of persecution still lingers in the church; that it still denies +the right of private judgment; that it still thinks more of creed than +truth, and that it is still determined to prevent the intellectual +growth of man. It means that churches are shambles in which are bought +and sold the souls of men. It means that the church is still guilty of +the barbarity of opposing thought with force. It means that if it had +the power, the mental horizon would be bounded by a creed; that it would +bring again the whips and chains and dungeon keys, the rack and fagot of +the past. + +But let me tell the church it lacks the power. There have been, and +still are, too many men who own themselves--too much thought, too much +knowledge for the church to grasp again the sword of power. The church +must abdicate. For the Eglon of superstition Science has a message from +Truth. + +The heretics have not thought and suffered and died in vain. Every +heretic has been, and is, a ray of light. Not in vain did Voltaire, that +great man, point from the foot of the Alps the finger of scorn at every +hypocrite in Europe. Not in vain were the splendid utterances of the +infidels, while beyond all price are the discoveries of science. + +The church has impeded, but it has not and it cannot stop the onward +march of the human race. Heresy cannot be burned, nor imprisoned, nor +starved. It laughs at presbyteries and synods, at ecumenical councils +and the impotent thunders of Sinai. Heresy is the eternal dawn, the +morning star, the glittering herald of the day. Heresy is the last and +best thought. It is the perpetual New World, the unknown sea, toward +which the brave all sail. It is the eternal horizon of progress. + +Heresy extends the hospitalities of the brain to a new thought. + +Heresy is a cradle; orthodoxy, a coffin. + +Why should man be afraid to think, and why should he fear to express his +thoughts? + +Is it possible that an infinite Deity is unwilling that a man should +investigate the phenomena by which he is surrounded? Is it possible that +a god delights in threatening and terrifying men? What glory, what honor +and renown a god must win on such a field! The ocean raving at a drop; a +star envious of a candle; the sun jealous of a fire-fly. + +Go on, presbyteries and synods, go on! Thrust the heretics out of the +church--that is to say, throw away your brains,--put out your eyes. The +infidels will thank you. They are willing to adopt your exiles. Every +deserter from your camp is a recruit for the army of progress. Cling to +the ignorant dogmas of the past; read the 109th Psalm; gloat over the +slaughter of mothers and babes; thank God for total depravity; shower +your honors upon hypocrites, and silence every minister who is touched +with that heresy called genius. + +Be true to your history. Turn out the astronomers, the geologists, the +naturalists, the chemists, and all the honest scientists. With a whip of +scorpions, drive them all out. We want them all. Keep the ignorant, +the superstitious, the bigoted, and the writers of charges and +specifications. + +Keep them, and keep them all. Repeat your pious platitudes in the drowsy +ears of the faithful, and read your Bible to heretics, as kings read +some forgotten riot-act to stop and stay the waves of revolution. +You are too weak to excite anger. We forgive your efforts as the sun +forgives a cloud--as the air forgives the breath you waste. + +How long, O how long, will man listen to the threats of God, and shut +his eyes to the splendid possibilities of Nature? How long, O how long +will man remain the cringing slave of a false and cruel creed? + +By this time the whole world should know that the real Bible has not yet +been written, but is being written, and that it will never be finished +until the race begins its downward march, or ceases to exist. + +The real Bible is not the work of inspired men, nor prophets, nor +apostles, nor evangelists, nor of Christs. Every man who finds a fact, +adds, as it were, a word to this great book. It is not attested +by prophecy, by miracles or signs. It makes no appeal to faith, to +ignorance, to credulity or fear. It has no punishment for unbelief, and +no reward for hypocrisy. It appeals to man in the name of demonstration. +It has nothing to conceal. It has no fear of being read, of being +contradicted, of being investigated and understood. It does not pretend +to be holy, or sacred; it simply claims to be true. It challenges the +scrutiny of all, and implores every reader to verify every line for +himself. It is incapable of being blasphemed. This book appeals to +all the surroundings of man. Each thing that exists testifies of its +perfection. The earth, with its heart of fire and crowns of snow; with +its forests and plains, its rocks and seas; with its every wave and +cloud; with its every leaf and bud and flower, confirms its every word, +and the solemn stars, shining in the infinite abysses, are the eternal +witnesses of its truth. + + + + +THE GHOSTS. + + TO + EBON C. INGERSOLL, + MY BROTHER, + FROM WHOSE LIPS I HEARD THE FIRST APPLAUSE, + AND WITH WHOSE NAME I WISH MY OWN + ASSOCIATED UNTIL BOTH ARE FORGOTTEN, + THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED. + + +PREFACE + +These lectures have been so maimed and mutilated by orthodox malice; +have been made to appear so halt, crutched and decrepit by those who +mistake the pleasures of calumny for the duties of religion, that in +simple justice to myself I concluded to publish them. + +Most of the clergy are, or seem to be, utterly incapable of discussing +anything in a fair and catholic spirit. They appeal, not to reason, +but to prejudice; not to facts, but to passages of Scripture. They can +conceive of no goodness, of no spiritual exaltation beyond the horizon +of their creed. Whoever differs with them upon what they are pleased +to call "fundamental truths," is, in their opinion, a base and infamous +man. To re-enact the tragedies of the sixteenth century, they lack only +the power. Bigotry in all ages has been the same. Christianity simply +transferred the brutality of the Colosseum to the Inquisition. For the +murderous combat of the gladiators, the saints substituted the _auto de +fe_. What has been called religion is, after all, but the organization +of the wild beast in man. The perfumed blossom of arrogance is heaven. +Hell is the consummation of revenge. + +The chief business of the clergy has always been to destroy the joy of +life, and multiply and magnify the terrors and tortures of death and +perdition. They have polluted the heart and paralyzed the brain; and +upon the ignorant altars of the Past and the Dead, they have endeavored +to sacrifice the Present and the Living. + +Nothing can exceed the mendacity of the religious press. I have had some +little experience with political editors, and am forced to say, that +until I read the religious papers, I did not know what malicious and +slimy falsehoods could be constructed from ordinary words. The ingenuity +with which the real and apparent meaning can be tortured out of +language, is simply amazing. The average religious editor is intolerant +and insolent; he knows nothing of affairs; he has the envy of failure, +the malice of impotence, and always accounts for the brave and generous +actions of unbelievers, by low, base and unworthy motives. + +By this time, even the clergy should know that the intellect of the +nineteenth century needs no guardian. They should cease to regard +themselves as shepherds defending flocks of weak, silly and fearful +sheep from the claws and teeth of ravening wolves. By this time they +should know that the religion of the ignorant and brutal Past no +longer satisfies the heart and brain; that the miracles have become +contemptible; that the "evidences" have ceased to convince; that the +spirit of investigation cannot be stopped nor stayed; that the church +is losing her power; that the young are holding in a kind of tender +contempt the sacred follies of the old; that the pulpit and pews no +longer represent the culture and morality of the world, and that the +brand of intellectual inferiority is upon the orthodox brain. + +Men should be liberated from the aristocracy of the air. Every chain +of superstition should be broken. The rights of men and women should +be equal and sacred--marriage should be a perfect partnership--children +should be governed by kindness,--every family should be a +republic--every fireside a democracy. + +It seems almost impossible for religious people to really grasp the idea +of intellectual freedom. They seem to think that man is responsible for +his honest thoughts; that unbelief is a crime; that investigation is +sinful; that credulity is a virtue, and that reason is a dangerous +guide. They cannot divest themselves of the idea that in the realm of +thought there must be government--authority and obedience--laws and +penalties--rewards and punishments, and that somewhere in the universe +there is a penitentiary for the soul. + +In the republic of mind, _one_ is a majority. There, all are monarchs, +and all are equals. The tyranny of a majority even is unknown. Each one +is crowned, sceptered and throned. Upon every brow is the tiara, and +around every form is the imperial purple. Only those are good citizens +who express their honest thoughts, and those who persecute for opinion's +sake, are the only traitors. There, nothing is considered infamous +except an appeal to brute force, and nothing sacred but love, liberty, +and joy. The church contemplates this republic with a sneer. From the +teeth of hatred she draws back the lips of scorn. She is filled with the +spite and spleen born of intellectual weakness. Once she was egotistic; +now she is envious. + +Once she wore upon her hollow breast false gems, supposing them to be +real. They have been shown to be false, but she wears them still. She +has the malice of the caught, the hatred of the exposed. + +We are told to investigate the Bible for ourselves, and at the same time +informed that if we come to the conclusion that it is not the inspired +word of God, we will most assuredly be damned. Under such circumstances, +if we believe this, investigation is impossible. Whoever is held +responsible for his conclusions cannot weigh the evidence with impartial +scales. Fear stands at the balance, and gives to falsehood the weight of +its trembling hand. + +I oppose the church because she is the enemy of liberty; because her +dogmas are infamous and cruel; because she humiliates and degrades +woman; because she teaches the doctrines of eternal torment and the +natural depravity of man; because she insists upon the absurd, the +impossible, and the senseless; because she resorts to falsehood and +slander; because she is arrogant and revengeful; because she allows men +to sin on a credit; because she discourages self-reliance, and laughs +at good works; because she believes in vicarious virtue and vicarious +vice--vicarious punishment and vicarious reward; because she regards +repentance of more importance than restitution, and because she +sacrifices the world we have to one we know not of. + +The free and generous, the tender and affectionate, will understand me. +Those who have escaped from the grated cells of a creed will appreciate +my motives. The sad and suffering wives, the trembling and loving +children will thank me: This is enough. + +Robert G. Ingersoll. + +Washington, D. C., + +April 13, 1878. + + + +THE GHOSTS, + +LET THEM COVER THEIR EYELESS SOCKETS WITH THEIR FLESHLESS HANDS AND FADE +FOREVER FROM THE IMAGINATION OF MEN. + +HERE are three theories by which men account for all phenomena, +for everything that happens: First, the Supernatural; Second, the +Supernatural and Natural; Third, the Natural. Between these theories +there has been, from the dawn of civilization, a continual conflict. In +this great war, nearly all the soldiers have been in the ranks of the +supernatural. The believers in the supernatural insist that matter +is controlled and directed entirely by powers from without; while +naturalists maintain that Nature acts from within; that Nature is not +acted upon; that the universe is all there is; that Nature with infinite +arms embraces everything that exists, and that all supposed powers +beyond the limits of the material are simply ghosts. You say, "Oh, this +is materialism!" What is matter? I take in my hand some earth:--in this +dust put seeds. Let the arrows of light from the quiver of the sun smite +upon it; let the rain fall upon it. The seeds will grow and a plant will +bud and blossom. Do you understand this? Can you explain it better than +you can the production of thought? Have you the slightest conception of +what it really is? And yet you speak of matter as though acquainted with +its origin, as though you had torn from the clenched hands of the rocks +the secrets of material existence. Do you know what force is? Can you +account for molecular action? Are you really familiar with chemistry, +and can you account for the loves and hatreds of the atoms? Is there not +something in matter that forever eludes? After all, can you get beyond, +above or below appearances? Before you cry "materialism!" had you not +better ascertain what matter really is? Can you think even of anything +without a material basis? Is it possible to imagine the annihilation of +a single atom? Is it possible for you to conceive of the creation of an +atom? Can you have a thought that was not suggested to you by what you +call matter? + +Our fathers denounced materialism, and accounted for all phenomena by +the caprice of gods and devils. + +For thousands of years it was believed that ghosts, good and bad, +benevolent and malignant, weak and powerful, in some mysterious way, +produced all phenomena; that disease and health, happiness and misery, +fortune and misfortune, peace and war, life and death, success and +failure, were but arrows from the quivers of these ghosts; that shadowy +phantoms rewarded and punished mankind; that they were pleased and +displeased by the actions of men; that they sent and withheld the snow, +the light, and the rain; that they blessed the earth with harvests or +cursed it with famine; that they fed or starved the children of men; +that they crowned and uncrowned kings; that they took sides in war; that +they controlled the winds; that they gave prosperous voyages, allowing +the brave mariner to meet his wife and child inside the harbor bar, or +sent the storms, strewing the sad shores with wrecks of ships and the +bodies of men. + +Formerly, these ghosts were believed to be almost innumerable. Earth, +air, and water were filled with these phantom hosts. In modern times +they have greatly decreased in number, because the second theory,--a +mingling of the supernatural and natural,--has generally been adopted. +The remaining ghosts, however, are supposed to perform the same offices +as the hosts of yore. + +It has always been believed that these ghosts could in some way be +appeased; that they could be flattered by sacrifices, by prayer, by +fasting, by the building of temples and cathedrals, by the blood of +men and beasts, by forms and ceremonies, by chants, by kneelings and +prostrations, by flagellations and maimings, by renouncing the joys of +home, by living alone in the wide desert, by the practice of celibacy, +by inventing instruments of torture, by destroying men, women and +children, by covering the earth with dungeons, by burning unbelievers, +by putting chains upon the thoughts and manacles upon the limbs of +men, by believing things without evidence and against evidence, by +disbelieving and denying demonstration, by despising facts, by hating +reason, by denouncing liberty, by maligning heretics, by slandering +the dead, by subscribing to senseless and cruel creeds, by discouraging +investigation, by worshiping a book, by the cultivation of credulity, +by observing certain times and days, by counting beads, by gazing at +crosses, by hiring others to repeat verses and prayers, by burning +candles and ringing bells, by enslaving each other and putting out the +eyes of the soul. All this has been done to appease and flatter these +monsters of the air. + +In the history of our poor world, no horror has been omitted, no infamy +has been left undone by the believers in ghosts,--by the worshipers of +these fleshless phantoms. And yet these shadows were born of cowardice +and malignity. They were painted by the pencil of fear upon the canvas +of ignorance by that artist called superstition. + +From these ghosts, our fathers received information. They were +the schoolmasters of our ancestors. They were the scientists and +philosophers, the geologists, legislators, astronomers, physicians, +metaphysicians and historians of the past. For ages these ghosts were +supposed to be the only source of real knowledge. They inspired men to +write books, and the books were considered sacred. If facts were found +to be inconsistent with these books, so much the worse for the facts, +and especially for their discoverers. It was then, and still is, +believed that these books are the basis of the idea of immortality; that +to give up these volumes, or rather the idea that they are inspired, is +to renounce the idea of immortality. This I deny. + +The idea of immortality, that like a sea has ebbed and flowed in the +human heart, with its countless waves of hope and fear, beating against +the shores and rocks of time and fate, was not born of any book, nor of +any creed, nor of any religion. It was born of human affection, and it +will continue to ebb and flow beneath the mists and clouds of doubt +and darkness as long as love kisses the lips of death. It is the +rainbow--Hope shining upon the tears of grief. + +From the books written by the ghosts we have at last ascertained that +they knew nothing about the world in which we live. Did they know +anything about the next? Upon every point where contradiction is +possible, they have been contradicted. + +By these ghosts, by these citizens of the air, the affairs of government +were administered; all authority to govern came from them. The emperors, +kings and potentates all had commissions from these phantoms. Man was +not considered as the source of any power whatever. To rebel against the +king was to rebel against the ghosts, and nothing less than the blood of +the offender could appease the invisible phantom or the visible tyrant. +Kneeling was the proper position to be assumed by the multitude. +The prostrate were the good. Those who stood erect were infidels and +traitors. In the name and by the authority of the ghosts, man was +enslaved, crushed, and plundered. The many toiled wearily in the storm +and sun that the few favorites of the ghosts might live in idleness. +The many lived in huts, and caves, and dens, that the few might dwell in +palaces. The many covered themselves with rags, that the few might +robe themselves in purple and in gold. The many crept, and cringed, and +crawled, that the few might tread upon their flesh with iron feet. + +From the ghosts men received, not only authority, but information of +every kind. They told us the form of this earth. They informed us that +eclipses were caused by the sins of man; that the universe was made +in six days; that astronomy, and geology were devices of wicked men, +instigated by wicked ghosts; that gazing at the sky with a telescope +was a dangerous thing; that digging into the earth was sinful curiosity; +that trying to be wise above what they had written was born of a +rebellious and irreverent spirit. + +They told us there was no virtue like belief, and no crime like doubt; +that investigation was pure impudence, and the punishment therefor, +eternal torment. They not only told us all about this world, but about +two others; and if their statements about the other worlds are as true +as about this, no one can estimate the value of their information. + +For countless ages the world was governed by ghosts, and they spared no +pains to change the eagle of the human intellect into a bat of darkness. +To accomplish this infamous purpose; to drive the love of truth from the +human heart; to prevent the advancement of mankind; to shut out from +the world every ray of intellectual light; to pollute every mind with +superstition, the power of kings, the cunning and cruelty of priests, +and the wealth of nations were exhausted. + +During these years of persecution, ignorance, superstition and slavery, +nearly all the people, the kings, lawyers, doctors, the learned and the +unlearned, believed in that frightful production of ignorance, fear, and +faith, called witchcraft. They believed that man was the sport and prey +of devils. They really thought that the very air was thick with these +enemies of man. With few exceptions, this hideous and infamous belief +was universal. Under these conditions, progress was almost impossible. + +Fear paralyzes the brain. Progress is born of courage. Fear +believes--courage doubts. Fear falls upon the earth and prays--courage +stands erect and thinks. Fear retreats--courage advances. Fear is +barbarism--courage is civilization. Fear believes in witchcraft, in +devils and in ghosts. Fear is religion--courage is science. + +The facts, upon which this terrible belief rested, were proved over +and over again in every court of Europe. Thousands confessed themselves +guilty--admitted that they had sold themselves to the devil. They gave +the particulars of the sale; told what they said and what the devil +replied. They confessed this, when they knew that confession was death; +knew that their property would be confiscated, and their children left +to beg their bread. This is one of the miracles of history--one of the +strangest contradictions of the human mind. Without doubt, they really +believed themselves guilty. In the first place, they believed in +witchcraft as a fact, and when charged with it, they probably became +insane. In their insanity they confessed their guilt. They found +themselves abhorred and deserted--charged with a crime that they could +not disprove. Like a man in quicksand, every effort only sunk them +deeper. Caught in this frightful web, at the mercy of the spiders +of superstition, hope fled, and nothing remained but the insanity of +confession. The whole world appeared to be insane. + +In the time of James the First, a man was executed for causing a storm +at sea with the intention of drowning one of the royal family. How could +he disprove it? How could he show that he did not cause the storm? +All storms were at that time generally supposed to be caused by +the devil--the prince of the power of the air--and by those whom he +assisted. + +I implore you to remember that the believers in such impossible things +were the authors of our creeds and confessions of faith. + +A woman was tried and convicted before Sir Matthew Hale, one of the +great judges and lawyers of England, for having caused children to +vomit crooked pins. She was also charged with having nursed devils. The +learned judge charged the intelligent jury that there was no doubt as +to the existence of witches; that it was established by all history, and +expressly taught by the Bible. + +The woman was hanged and her body burned. + +Sir Thomas More declared that to give up witchcraft was to throw away +the sacred Scriptures. In my judgment, he was right. + +John Wesley was a firm believer in ghosts and witches, and insisted upon +it, years after all laws upon the subject had been repealed in England. +I beg of you to remember that John Wesley was the founder of the +Methodist Church. + +In New England, a woman was charged with being a witch, and with having +changed herself into a fox. While in that condition she was attacked and +bitten by some dogs. A committee of three men, by order of the court, +examined this woman. They removed her clothing and searched for "witch +spots." That is to say, spots into which needles could be thrust without +giving her pain. They reported to the court that such spots were found. +She denied, however, that she ever had changed herself into a fox. Upon +the report of the committee she was found guilty and actually executed. +This was done by our Puritan fathers, by the gentlemen who braved the +dangers of the deep for the sake of worshiping God and persecuting their +fellow-men. + +In those days people believed in what was known as lycanthropy--that is, +that persons, with the assistance of the devil, could assume the form +of wolves. An instance is given where a man was attacked by a wolf. He +defended himself, and succeeded in cutting off one of the animal's paws. +The wolf ran away. The man picked up the paw, put it in his pocket and +carried it home. There he found his wife with one of her hands gone. He +took the paw from his pocket. It had changed to a human hand. He charged +his wife with being a witch. She was tried. She confessed her guilt, and +was burned. + +People were burned for causing frosts in summer--for destroying crops +with hail--for causing storms--for making cows go dry, and even for +souring beer. There was no impossibility for which some one was not +tried and convicted. The life of no one was secure. To be charged, +was to be convicted. Every man was at the mercy of every other. This +infamous belief was so firmly seated in the minds of the people, that to +express a doubt as to its truth was to be suspected. Whoever denied the +existence of witches and devils was denounced as an infidel. + +They believed that animals were often taken possession of by devils, and +that the killing of the animal would destroy the devil. They absolutely +tried, convicted, and executed dumb beasts. + +At Basle, in 1470, a rooster was tried upon the charge of having laid +an egg. Rooster eggs were used only in making witch ointment,--this +everybody knew. The rooster was convicted and with all due solemnity was +burned in the public square. So a hog and six pigs were tried for having +killed and partially eaten a child. The hog was convicted,--but the +pigs, on account probably of their extreme youth, were acquitted. As +late as 1740, a cow was tried and convicted of being possessed by a +devil. + +They used to exorcise rats, locusts, snakes and vermin. They used to go +through the alleys, streets, and fields, and warn them to leave within +a certain number of days. In case they disobeyed, they were threatened +with pains and penalties. + +But let us be careful how we laugh at these things. Let us not pride +ourselves too much on the progress of our age. We must not forget that +some of our people are yet in the same intelligent business. Only a +little while ago, the governor of Minnesota appointed a day of fasting +and prayer, to see if some power could not be induced to kill the +grasshoppers, or send them into some other state. + +About the close of the fifteenth century, so great was the excitement +with regard to the existence of witchcraft that Pope Innocent VIII. +issued a bull directing the inquisitors to be vigilant in searching +out and punishing all guilty of this crime. Forms for the trial +were regularly laid down in a book or a pamphlet called the "Malleus +Maleficorum" (Hammer of Witches), which was issued by the Roman See. +Popes Alexander, Leo, and Adrian, issued like bulls. For two hundred +and fifty years the church was busy in punishing the impossible crime of +witchcraft; in burning, hanging and torturing men, women, and children. +Protestants were as active as Catholics, and in Geneva five hundred +witches were burned at the stake in a period of three months. About one +thousand were executed in one year in the diocese of Como. At least one +hundred thousand victims suffered in Germany alone: the last execution +(in Wurtzburg) taking place as late as 1749. Witches were burned in +Switzerland as late as 1780. + +In England the same frightful scenes were enacted. Statutes were passed +from Henry VI. to James I., defining the crime and its punishment. The +last act passed by the British parliament was when Lord Bacon was a +member of the House of Commons; and this act was not repealed until +1736. + +Sir William Blackstone, in his Commentaries on the Laws of England, +says: "To deny the possibility, nay, actual existence of witchcraft +and sorcery, is at once flatly to contradict the word of God in various +passages both of the Old and New Testament; and the thing itself is +a truth to which every nation in the world hath in its turn borne +testimony, either by examples seemingly well attested, or by prohibitory +laws, which at least suppose the possibility of a commerce with evil +spirits." + +In Brown's Dictionary of the Bible, published at Edinburg, Scotland, in +1807, it is said that: "A witch is a woman that has dealings with Satan. +That such persons are among men is abundantly plain from Scripture, and +that they ought to be put to death." + +This work was re-published in Albany, New York, in 1816. No wonder the +clergy of that city are ignorant and bigoted even unto this day. + +In 1716, Mrs. Hicks and her daughter, nine years of age, were hanged +for selling their souls to the devil, and raising a storm by pulling off +their stockings and making a lather of soap. + +In England it has been estimated that at least thirty thousand were +hanged and burned. The last victim executed in Scotland, perished in +1722. "She was an innocent old woman, who had so little idea of her +situation as to rejoice at the sight of the fire which was destined +to consume her. She had a daughter, lame both of hands and of feet--a +circumstance attributed to the witch having been used to transform her +daughter into a pony and getting her shod by the devil." + +In 1692, nineteen persons were executed and one pressed to death in +Salem, Massachusetts, for the crime of witchcraft. + +It was thought in those days that men and women made compacts with the +devil, orally and in writing. That they abjured God and Jesus Christ, +and dedicated themselves wholly to the devil. The contracts were +confirmed at a general meeting of witches and ghosts, over which the +devil himself presided; and the persons generally signed the articles of +agreement with their own blood. These contracts were, in some instances, +for a few years; in others, for life. General assemblies of the witches +were held at least once a year, at which they appeared entirely naked, +besmeared with an ointment made from the bodies of unbaptized infants. +"To these meetings they rode from great distances on broomsticks, +pokers, goats, hogs, and dogs. Here they did homage to the prince of +hell, and offered him sacrifices of young children, and practiced all +sorts of license until the break of day." + +"As late as 1815, Belgium was disgraced by a witch trial; and guilt was +established by the water ordeal." "In 1836, the populace of Hela, near +Dantzic, twice plunged into the sea a woman reputed to be a sorceress; +and as the miserable creature persisted in rising to the surface, she +was pronounced guilty, and beaten to death." + +"It was believed that the bodies of devils are not like those of men and +animals, cast in an unchangeable mould. It was thought they were like +clouds, refined and subtle matter, capable of assuming any form and +penetrating into any orifice. The horrible tortures they endured +in their place of punishment rendered them extremely sensitive to +suffering, and they continually sought a temperate and somewhat moist +warmth in order to allay their pangs. It was for this reason they so +frequently entered into men and women." + +The devil could transport men, at his will, through the air. He could +beget children; and Martin Luther himself had come in contact with one +of these children. He recommended the mother to throw the child into the +river, in order to free their house from the presence of a devil. + +It was believed that the devil could transform people into any shape he +pleased. + +Whoever denied these things was denounced as an infidel. All the +believers in witchcraft confidently appealed to the Bible. Their mouths +were filled with passages demonstrating the existence of witches and +their power Over human beings. By the Bible they proved that innumerable +evil spirits were ranging over the world endeavoring to ruin mankind; +that these spirits possessed a power and wisdom far transcending the +limits of human faculties; that they delighted in every misfortune that +could befall the world; that their malice was superhuman. That they +caused tempests was proved by the action of the devil toward Job; by the +passage in the book of Revelation describing the four angels who held +the four winds, and to whom it was given to afflict the earth. They +believed the devil could carry persons hundreds of miles, in a few +seconds, through the air. They believed this, because they knew that +Christ had been carried by the devil in the same manner and placed on a +pinnacle of the temple. "The prophet Habakkuk had been transported by a +spirit from Judea to Babylon; and Philip, the evangelist, had been the +object of a similar miracle; and in the same way Saint Paul had been +carried in the body into the third heaven." + +"In those pious days, they believed that _Incubi_ and _Succubi_ were +forever wandering among mankind, alluring, by more than human charms, +the unwary to their destruction, and laying plots, which were too often +successful, against the virtue of the saints. Sometimes the witches +kindled in the monastic priest a more terrestrial fire. People told, +with bated breath, how, under the spell of a vindictive woman, four +successive abbots in a German monastery had been wasted away by an +unholy flame." + +An instance is given in which the devil not only assumed the appearance +of a holy man, in order to pay his addresses to a lady, but when +discovered, crept under the bed, suffered himself to be dragged out, +and was impudent enough to declare that he was the veritable bishop. So +perfectly had he assumed the form and features of the prelate that those +who knew the bishop best were deceived. + +One can hardly imagine the frightful state of the human mind during +these long centuries of darkness and superstition. To them, these things +were awful and frightful realities. Hovering above them in the air, in +their houses, in the bosoms of friends, in their very bodies, in all the +darkness of night, everywhere, around, above and below, were innumerable +hosts of unclean and malignant devils. + +From the malice of those leering and vindictive vampires of the air, +the church pretended to defend mankind. Pursued by these phantoms, the +frightened multitudes fell upon their faces and implored the aid of +robed hypocrisy and sceptered theft. + +Take from the orthodox church of to-day the threat and fear of hell, and +it becomes an extinct volcano. + +Take from the church the miraculous, the supernatural, the +incomprehensible, the unreasonable, the impossible, the unknowable, and +the absurd, and nothing but a vacuum remains. + +Notwithstanding all the infamous things justly laid to the charge of the +church, we are told that the civilization of to-day is the child of what +we are pleased to call the superstition of the past. + +Religion has not civilized man--man has civilized religion. God improves +as man advances. + +Let me call your attention to what we have received from the followers +of the ghosts. Let me give you an outline of the sciences as taught by +these philosophers of the clouds. + +All diseases were produced, either as a punishment by the good ghosts, +or out of pure malignity by the bad ones. There were, properly speaking, +no diseases. The sick were possessed by ghosts. The science of medicine +consisted in knowing how to persuade these ghosts to vacate the +premises. For thousands of years the diseased were treated with +incantations, with hideous noises, with drums and gongs. Everything was +done to make the visit of the ghost as unpleasant as possible, and they +generally succeeded in making things so disagreeable that if the ghost +did not leave, the patient did. These ghosts were supposed to be of +different rank, power and dignity. Now and then a man pretended to have +won the favor of some powerful ghost, and that gave him power over the +little ones. Such a man became an eminent physician. + +It was found that certain kinds of smoke, such as that produced by +burning the liver of a fish, the dried skin of a serpent, the eyes of +a toad, or the tongue of an adder, were exceedingly offensive to the +nostrils of an ordinary ghost. With this smoke, the sick room would be +filled until the ghost vanished or the patient died. + +It was also believed that certain words,--the names of the most powerful +ghosts,--when properly pronounced, were very effective weapons. It was +for a long time thought that Latin words were the best,--Latin being a +dead language, and known by the clergy. Others thought that two sticks +laid across each other and held before the wicked ghost would cause it +instantly to flee in dread away. + +For thousands of years, the practice of medicine consisted in driving +these evil spirits out of the bodies of men. + +In some instances, bargains and compromises were made with the ghosts. +One case is given where a multitude of devils traded a man for a herd +of swine. In this transaction the devils were the losers, as the swine +immediately drowned themselves in the sea. This idea of disease appears +to have been almost universal, and is by no means yet extinct. + +The contortions of the epileptic, the strange twitchings of those +afflicted with chorea, the shakings of palsy, dreams, trances, and the +numberless frightful phenomena produced by diseases of the nerves, were +all seized upon as so many proofs that the bodies of men were filled +with unclean and malignant ghosts. + +Whoever endeavored to account for these things by natural causes, +whoever attempted to cure diseases by natural means, was denounced by +the church as an infidel. To explain anything was a crime. It was to the +interest of the priest that all phenomena should be accounted for by the +will and power of gods and devils. The moment it is admitted that all +phenomena are within the domain of the natural, the necessity for a +priest has disappeared. Religion breathes the air of the supernatural. +Take from the mind of man the idea of the supernatural, and religion +ceases to exist. For this, reason, the church has always despised the +man who explained the wonderful. Upon this principle, nothing was +left undone to stay the science of medicine. As long as plagues and +pestilences could be stopped by prayer, the priest was useful. The +moment the physician found a cure, the priest became an extravagance. +The moment it began to be apparent that prayer could do nothing for the +body, the priest shifted his ground and began praying for the soul. + +Long after the devil idea was substantially abandoned in the practice +of medicine, and when it was admitted that God had nothing to do with +ordinary coughs and colds, it was still believed that all the frightful +diseases were sent by him as punishments for the wickedness of the +people. It was thought to be a kind of blasphemy to even try, by any +natural means, to stay the ravages of pestilence. Formerly, during the +prevalence of plague and epidemics, the arrogance of the priest was +boundless. He told the people that they had slighted the clergy, that +they had refused to pay tithes, that they had doubted some of the +doctrines of the church, and that God was now taking his revenge. The +people for the most part, believed this infamous tissue of priestcraft. +They hastened to fall upon their knees; they poured out their wealth +upon the altars of hypocrisy; they abased and debased themselves; from +their minds they banished all doubts, and made haste to crawl in the +very dust of humility. + +The church never wanted disease to be under the control of man. +Timothy Dwight, president of Yale College, preached a sermon against +vaccination. His idea was, that if God had decreed from all eternity +that a certain man should die with the small-pox, it was a frightful sin +to avoid and annul that decree by the trick of vaccination. Small-pox +being regarded as one of the heaviest guns in the arsenal of heaven, +to spike it was the height of presumption. Plagues and pestilences were +instrumentalities in the hands of God with which to gain the love and +worship of mankind. To find a cure for disease was to take a weapon from +the church. No one tries to cure the ague with prayer. Quinine has been +found altogether more reliable. Just as soon as a specific is found +for a disease, that disease will be left out of the list of prayer. The +number of diseases with which God from time to time afflicts mankind, +is continually decreasing. In a few years all of them will be under the +control of man, the gods will be left unarmed, and the threats of their +priests will excite only a smile. + +The science of medicine has had but one enemy--religion. Man was afraid +to save his body for fear he might lose his soul. + +Is it any wonder that the people in those days believed in and taught +the infamous doctrine of eternal punishment--a doctrine that makes God a +heartless monster and man a slimy hypocrite and slave? + +The ghosts were historians, and their histories were the grossest +absurdities. "Tales told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying +nothing." In those days the histories were written by the monks, who, as +a rule, were almost as superstitious as they were dishonest. They wrote +as though they had been witnesses of every occurrence they related. They +wrote the history of every country of importance. They told all the +past and predicted all the future with an impudence that amounted to +sublimity. "They traced the order of St. Michael, in France, to the +archangel himself, and alleged that he was the founder of a chivalric +order in heaven itself. They said that Tartars originally came from +hell, and that they were called Tartars because Tartarus was one of +the names of perdition. They declared that Scotland was so named after +Scota, a daughter of Pharaoh, who landed in Ireland, invaded Scotland, +and took it by force of arms. This statement was made in a letter +addressed to the Pope in the fourteenth century, and was alluded to as +a well-known fact. The letter was written by some of the highest +dignitaries, and by the direction of the King himself." + +These gentlemen accounted for the red on the breasts of robins, from the +fact that these birds carried water to unbaptized infants in hell. + +Matthew, of Paris, an eminent historian of the fourteenth century, gave +the world the following piece of information: "It is well known that +Mohammed was once a cardinal, and became a heretic because he failed in +his effort to be elected pope;" and that having drank to excess, he fell +by the roadside, and in this condition was killed by swine. "And for +that reason, his followers abhor pork even unto this day." + +Another eminent historian informs us that Nero was in the habit of +vomiting frogs. When I read this, I said to myself: Some of the croakers +of the present day against Progress would be the better for such a +vomit. + +The history of Charlemagne was written by Turpin, of Rheims. He was a +bishop. He assures us that the walls of a city fell down in answer +to prayer. That there were giants in those days who could take fifty +ordinary men under their arms and walk away with them. "With the +greatest of these, a direct descendant of Goliath, one Orlando had a +theological discussion, and that in the heat of the debate, when the +giant was overwhelmed with the argument, Orlando rushed forward and +inflicted a fatal stab." + +The history of Britain, written by the archdeacons of Monmouth and +Oxford, was wonderfully popular. According to them, Brutus conquered +England and built the city of London. During his time, it rained pure +blood for three days. At another time, a monster came from the sea, and, +after having devoured great multitudes of people, swallowed the king +and disappeared. They tell us that King Arthur was not born like other +mortals, but was the result of a magical contrivance; that he had +great luck in killing giants; that he killed one in France that had +the cheerful habit of eating some thirty men a day. That this giant had +clothes woven of the beards of the kings he had devoured. To cap the +climax, one of the authors of this book was promoted for having written +the only reliable history of his country. + +In all the histories of those days there is hardly a single truth. Facts +were considered unworthy of preservation. Anything that really happened +was not of sufficient interest or importance to be recorded. The great +religious historian, Eusebius, ingenuously remarks that in his history +he carefully omitted whatever tended to discredit the church, and that +he piously magnified all that conduced to her glory. + +The same glorious principle was scrupulously adhered to by all the +historians of that time. + +They wrote, and the people believed, that the tracks of Pharoah's +chariots were still visible on the sands of the Red Sea, and that they +had been miraculously preserved from the winds and waves as perpetual +witnesses of the great miracle there performed. + +It is safe to say that every truth in the histories of those times is +the result of accident or mistake. + +They accounted for everything as the work of good and evil spirits. With +cause and effect they had nothing to do. Facts were in no way related +to each other. God, governed by infinite caprice, filled the world with +miracles and disconnected events. From the quiver of his hatred came the +arrows of famine, pestilence, and death. + +The moment that the idea is abandoned that all is natural; that all +phenomena are the necessary links in the endless chain of being, the +conception of history becomes impossible. With the ghosts, the present +is not the child of the past, nor the mother of the future. In the +domain of religion all is chance, accident, and caprice. + +Do not forget, I pray you, that our creeds were written by the +cotemporaries of these historians. + +The same idea was applied to law. It was believed by our intelligent +ancestors that all law derived its sacredness and its binding force from +the fact that it had been communicated to man by the ghosts. Of course +it was not pretended that the ghosts told everybody the law; but they +told it to a few, and the few told it to the people, and the people, as +a rule, paid them exceedingly well for their trouble. It was thousands +of ages before the people commenced making laws for themselves, and +strange as it may appear, most of these laws were vastly superior to the +ghost article. Through the web and woof of human legislation began to +run and shine and glitter the golden thread of justice. + +During these years of darkness it was believed that rather than see an +act of injustice done; rather than see the innocent suffer; rather than +see the guilty triumph, some ghost would interfere. This belief, as a +rule, gave great satisfaction to the victorious party, and as the other +man was dead, no complaint was heard from him. + +This doctrine was the sanctification of brute force and chance. They had +trials by battle, by fire, by water, and by lot. Persons were made +to grasp hot iron, and if it burned them their guilt was established. +Others, with tied hands and feet, were cast into the sea, and if they +sank, the verdict of guilty was unanimous,--if they did not sink, they +were in league with devils. + +So in England, persons charged with crime could appeal to the corsned. +The corsned was a piece of the sacramental bread. If the defendant could +swallow this piece he went acquit. Godwin, Earl of Kent, in the time of +Edward the Confessor, appealed to the corsned. He failed to swallow it +and was choked to death. + +The ghosts and their followers always took delight in torture, in cruel +and unusual punishments. For the infraction of most of their laws, death +was the penalty--death produced by stoning and by fire. Sometimes, +when man committed only murder, he was allowed to flee to some city of +refuge. Murder was a crime against man. But for saying certain words, or +denying certain doctrines, or for picking up sticks on certain days, or +for worshiping the wrong ghost, or for failing to pray to the right one, +or for laughing at a priest, or for saying that wine was not blood, +or that bread was not flesh, or for failing to regard ram's horns as +artillery, or for insisting that a dry bone was scarcely sufficient to +take the place of water works, or that a raven, as a rule, made a poor +landlord:--death, produced by all the ways that the ingenuity of hatred +could devise, was the penalty. + +Law is a growth--it is a science. Right and wrong exist in the nature +of things. Things are not right because they are commanded, nor wrong +because they are prohibited. There are real crimes enough without +creating artificial ones. All progress in legislation has for centuries +consisted in repealing the laws of the ghosts. + +The idea of right and wrong is born of man's capacity to enjoy and +suffer. If man could not suffer, if he could not inflict injury upon his +fellow, if he could neither feel nor inflict pain, the idea of right +and wrong never would have entered his brain. But for this, the word +conscience never would have passed the lips of man. + +There is one good--happiness. There is but one sin--selfishness. All +law should be for the preservation of the one and the destruction of the +other. + +Under the regime of the ghosts, laws were not supposed to exist in the +nature of things. They were supposed to be simply the irresponsible +command of a ghost. These commands were not supposed to rest upon +reason, they were the product of arbitrary will. + +The penalties for the violation of these laws were as cruel as the laws +were senseless and absurd. Working on the Sabbath and murder were both +punished with death. The tendency of such laws is to blot from the human +heart the sense of justice. + +To show you how perfectly every department of knowledge, or ignorance +rather, was saturated with superstition, I will for a moment refer to +the science of language. + +It was thought by our fathers, that Hebrew was the original language; +that it was taught to Adam in the Garden of Eden by the Almighty, and +that consequently all languages came from, and could be traced to, the +Hebrew. Every fact inconsistent with that idea was discarded. According +to the ghosts, the trouble at the tower of Babel accounted for the fact +that all people did not speak Hebrew. The Babel business settled all +questions in the science of language. + +After a time, so many facts were found to be inconsistent with the +Hebrew idea that it began to fall into disrepute, and other languages +began to compete for the honor of being the original. + +Andre Kempe, in 1569, published a work on the language of Paradise, +in which he maintained that God spoke to Adam in Swedish; that Adam +answered in Danish; and that the serpent--which appears to me quite +probable--spoke to Eve in French. Erro, in a work published at Madrid, +took the ground that Basque was the language spoken in the Garden of +Eden; but in 1580 Goropius published his celebrated work at Antwerp, in +which he put the whole matter at rest by showing, beyond all doubt, that +the language spoken in Paradise was neither more nor less than plain +Holland Dutch. + +The real founder of the science of language was Liebnitz, a cotemporary +of Sir Isaac Newton. He discarded the idea that all languages could +be traced to one language. He maintained that language was a natural +growth. Experience teaches us that this must be so. Words are +continually dying and continually being born. Words are naturally and +necessarily produced. Words are the garments of thought, the robes of +ideas. Some are as rude as the skins of wild beasts, and others glisten +and glitter like silk and gold. They have been born of hatred and +revenge; of love and self-sacrifice; of hope and fear, of agony and joy. +These words are born of the terror and beauty of nature. The stars +have fashioned them. In them mingle the darkness and the dawn. From +everything they have taken something. Words are the crystalizations of +human history, of all that man has enjoyed and suffered--his victories +and defeats--all that he has lost and won. Words are the shadows of all +that has been--the mirrors of all that is. + +The ghosts also enlightened our fathers in astronomy and geology. +According to them the earth was made out of nothing, and a little more +nothing having been taken than was used in the construction of this +world, the stars were made out of what was left over. Cosmas, in the +sixth century, taught that the stars were impelled by angels, who either +carried them on their shoulders, rolled them in front of them, or drew +them after. He also taught that each angel that pushed a star took great +pains to observe what the other angels were doing, so that the relative +distances between the stars might always remain the same. He also gave +his idea as to the form of the world. + +He stated that the world was a vast parallelogram; that on the outside +was a strip of land, like the frame of a common slate; that then there +was a strip of water, and in the middle a great piece of land; that +Adam and Eve lived on the outer strip; that their descendants, with +the exception of the Noah family, were drowned by a flood on this outer +strip; that the ark finally rested on the middle piece of land where we +now are. He accounted for night and day by saying that on the outside +strip of land there was a high mountain, around which the sun and moon +revolved, and that when the sun was on the other side of the mountain, +it was night; and when on this side, it was day. + +He also declared that the earth was flat. This he proved by many +passages from the Bible. Among other reasons for believing the earth +to be flat, he brought forward the following: We are told in the New +Testament that Christ shall come again in glory and power, and all the +world shall see him. Now, if the world is round, how are the people +on the other side going to see Christ when he comes? That settled the +question, and the church not only endorsed the book, but declared that +whoever believed less or more than stated by Cosmas, was a heretic. + +In those blessed days, Ignorance was a king and Science an outcast. + +They knew the moment this earth ceased to be the centre of the universe, +and became a mere speck in the starry heaven of existence, that their +religion would become a childish fable of the past. + +In the name and by the authority of the ghosts, men enslaved their +fellow-men; they trampled upon the rights of women and children. In the +name and by the authority of ghosts, they bought and sold and destroyed +each other; they filled heaven with tyrants and earth with slaves, the +present with despair and the future with horror. In the name and by the +authority of the ghosts, they imprisoned the human mind, polluted the +conscience, hardened the heart, subverted justice, crowned robbery, +sainted hypocrisy, and extinguished for a thousand years the torch of +reason. + +I have endeavored, in some faint degree, to show you what has happened, +and what always will happen when men are governed by superstition and +fear; when they desert the sublime standard of reason; when they take +the words of others and do not investigate for themselves. + +Even the great men of those days were nearly as weak in this matter +as the most ignorant. Kepler, one of the greatest men of the world, +an astronomer second to none, although he plucked from the stars the +secrets of the universe, was an astrologer, and really believed that +he could predict the career of a man by finding what star was in the +ascendant at his birth. This great man breathed, so to speak, the +atmosphere of his time. He believed in the music of the spheres, and +assigned alto, bass, tenor, and treble to certain stars. + +Tycho Brahe, another astronomer, kept an idiot, whose disconnected and +meaningless words he carefully set down, and then put them together in +such manner as to make prophecies, and then waited patiently to see them +fulfilled. Luther believed that he had actually seen the devil, and had +discussed points of theology with him. The human mind was in chains. +Every idea almost was a monster. Thought was deformed. Facts were looked +upon as worthless. Only the wonderful was worth preserving. Things that +actually happened were not considered worth recording;--real occurrences +were too common. Everybody expected the miraculous. + +The ghosts were supposed to be busy; devils were thought to be the +most industrious things in the universe, and with these imps, every +occurrence of an unusual character was in some way connected. There was +no order, no serenity, no certainty in anything. Everything depended +upon ghosts and phantoms. Man was, for the most part, at the mercy of +malevolent spirits. He protected himself as best he could with holy +water and tapers and wafers and cathedrals. He made noises and rung +bells to frighten the ghosts, and he made music to charm them. He used +smoke to choke them, and incense to please them. He wore beads and +crosses. He said prayers, and hired others to say them. He fasted when +he was hungry, and feasted when he was not. He believed everything that +seemed unreasonable, just to appease the ghosts. He humbled himself. He +crawled in the dust. He shut the doors and windows, and excluded every +ray of light from the temple of the soul. He debauched and polluted +his own mind, and toiled night and day to repair the walls of his own +prison. From the garden of his heart he plucked and trampled upon the +holy flowers of pity. + +The priests reveled in horrible descriptions of hell. Concerning +the wrath of God, they grew eloquent. They denounced man as totally +depraved. They made reason blasphemy, and pity a crime. Nothing so +delighted them as painting the torments and sufferings of the lost. Over +the worm that never dies they grew poetic; and the second death filled +them with a kind of holy delight. According to them, the smoke and cries +ascending from hell were the perfume and music of heaven. + +At the risk of being tiresome, I have said what I have to show you the +productions of the human mind, when enslaved; the effects of wide-spread +ignorance--the results of fear. I want to convince you that every form +of slavery is a viper, that, sooner or later, will strike its poison +fangs into the bosoms of men. + +The first great step towards progress, is, for man to cease to be the +slave of man; the second, to cease to be the slave of the monsters of +his own creation--of the ghosts and phantoms of the air. + +For ages the human race was imprisoned. + +Through the bars and grates came a few struggling rays of light. Against +these grates and bars Science pressed its pale and thoughtful face, +wooed by the holy dawn of human advancement. + +Men found that the real was the useful; that what a man knows is better +than what a ghost says; that an event is more valuable than a prophecy. +They found that diseases were not produced by spirits, and could not be +cured by frightening them away. They found that death was as natural as +life. They began to study the anatomy and chemistry of the human body, +and found that all was natural and within the domain of law. + +The conjurer and sorcerer were discarded, and the physician and surgeon +employed. They found that the earth was not flat; that the stars were +not mere specks. They found that being born under a particular planet +had nothing to do with the fortunes of men. + +The astrologer was discharged and the astronomer took his place. + +They found that the earth had swept through the constellations for +millions of ages. They found that good and evil were produced by natural +causes, and not by ghosts; that man could not be good enough or bad +enough to stop or cause a rain; that diseases were produced as naturally +as grass, and were not sent as punishments upon man for failing to +believe a certain creed. They found that man, through intelligence, +could take advantage of the forces of nature--that he could make the +waves, the winds, the flames, and the lightnings of heaven do his +bidding and minister to his wants. They found that the ghosts +knew nothing of benefit to man; that they were utterly ignorant +of geology--of astronomy--of geography;--that they knew nothing of +history;--that they were poor doctors and worse surgeons;--that they +knew nothing of law and less of justice; that they were without brains, +and utterly destitute of hearts; that they knew nothing of the rights +of men; that they were despisers of women, the haters of progress, the +enemies of science, and the destroyers of liberty. + +The condition of the world during the Dark Ages shows exactly the result +of enslaving the bodies and souls of men. In those days there was no +freedom. Labor was despised, and a laborer was considered but little +above a beast. Ignorance, like a vast cowl, covered the brain of the +world, and superstition ran riot with the imagination of man. The air +was filled with angels, with demons and monsters. Credulity sat upon +the throne of the soul, and Reason was an exiled king. A man to be +distinguished must be a soldier or a monk. War and theology, that is +to say, murder and hypocrisy, were the principal employments of man. +Industry was a slave, theft was commerce; murder was war, hypocrisy was +religion. + +Every Christian country maintained that it was no robbery to take the +property of Mohammedans by force, and no murder to kill the owners. Lord +Bacon was the first man of note who maintained that a Christian country +was bound to keep its plighted faith with an infidel nation. Reading and +writing were considered dangerous arts. Every layman who could read and +write was suspected of being a heretic. All thought was discouraged. +They forged chains of superstition for the minds, and manacles of iron +for the bodies of men. The earth was ruled by the cowl and sword,--by +the mitre and scepter,--by the altar and throne,--by Fear and Force,--by +Ignorance and Faith,--by ghouls and ghosts. + +In the fifteenth century the following law was in force in England: + +"That whosoever reads the Scriptures in the mother tongue, shall forfeit +land, cattle, life, and goods from their heirs forever, and so be +condemned for heretics to God, enemies to the crown, and most arrant +traitors to the land." + +During the first year this law was in force thirty-nine were hanged for +its violation and their bodies burned. + +In the sixteenth century men were burned because they failed to kneel to +a procession of monks. + +The slightest word uttered against the superstition of the time was +punished with death. + +Even the reformers, so-called, of those days, had no idea of +intellectual liberty--no idea even of toleration. Luther, Knox, Calvin, +believed in religious liberty only when they were in the minority. The +moment they were clothed with power they began to exterminate with fire +and sword. + +Castalio was the first minister who advocated the liberty of the soul. +He was regarded by the reformers as a criminal, and treated as though he +had committed the crime of crimes. + +Bodinus, a lawyer of France, about the same time, wrote a few words +in favor of the freedom of conscience, but public opinion was +overwhelmingly against him. The people were ready, anxious, and willing, +with whip, and chain, and fire, to drive from the mind of man the heresy +that he had a right to think. + +Montaigne, a man blest with so much common sense that he was the most +uncommon man of his time, was the first to raise a voice against torture +in France. But what was the voice of one man against the terrible cry of +ignorant, infatuated, superstitious and malevolent millions? It was the +cry of a drowning man in the wild roar of the cruel sea. + +In spite of the efforts of the brave few the infamous war against the +freedom of the soul was waged until at least one hundred millions of +human beings--fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters--with hopes, loves, +and aspirations like ourselves, were sacrificed upon the cruel altar +of an ignorant faith. They perished in every way by which death can +be produced. Every nerve of pain was sought out and touched by the +believers in ghosts. + +For my part I glory in the fact, that here in the New World,--in the +United States,--liberty of conscience was first guaranteed to man, and +that the Constitution of the United States was the first great decree +entered in the high court of human equity forever divorcing church and +state,--the first injunction granted against the interference of the +ghosts. This was one of the grandest steps ever taken by the human race +in the direction of Progress. + +You will ask what has caused this wonderful change in three hundred +years. And I answer--the inventions and discoveries of the few;--the +brave thoughts, the heroic utterances of the few;--the acquisition of a +few facts. + +Besides, you must remember that every wrong in some way tends to abolish +itself. It is hard to make a lie stand always. A lie will not fit a +fact. It will only fit another lie made for the purpose. The life of +a lie is simply a question of time. Nothing but truth is immortal. The +nobles and kings quarreled;--the priests began to dispute;--the ideas of +government began to change. + +In 1441 printing was discovered. At that time the past was a vast +cemetery with hardly an epitaph. The ideas of men had mostly perished +in the brain that produced them. The lips of the human race had been +sealed. Printing gave pinions to thought. It preserved ideas. It made it +possible for man to bequeath to the future the riches of his brain, the +wealth of his soul. At first, it was used to flood the world with the +mistakes of the ancients, but since that time it has been flooding the +world with light. + +When people read they begin to reason, and when they reason they +progress. This was another grand step in the direction of Progress. + +The discovery of powder, that put the peasant almost upon a par with +the prince;--that put an end to the so-called age of chivalry;--that +released a vast number of men from the armies;--that gave pluck and +nerve a chance with brute strength. + +The discovery of America, whose shores were trod by the restless feet +of adventure;--that brought people holding every shade of superstition +together;--that gave the world an opportunity to compare notes, and to +laugh at the follies of each other. Out of this strange mingling of +all creeds, and superstitions, and facts, and theories, and countless +opinions, came the Great Republic. + +Every fact has pushed a superstition from the brain and a ghost from the +clouds. Every mechanic art is an educator. Every loom, every reaper and +mower, every steamboat, every locomotive, every engine, every press, +every telegraph, is a missionary of Science and an apostle of Progress. +Every mill, every furnace, every building with its wheels and levers, +in which something is made for the convenience, for the use, and for the +comfort and elevation of man, is a church, and every school-house is a +temple. + +Education is the most radical thing in the world. + +To teach the alphabet is to inaugurate a revolution. + +To build a schoolhouse is to construct a fort. + +Every library is an arsenal filled with the weapons and ammunition of +Progress, and every fact is a monitor with sides of iron and a turret of +steel. + +I thank the inventors, the discoverers, the thinkers. I thank Columbus +and Magellan. I thank Galileo, and Copernicus, and Kepler, and +Descartes, and Newton, and Laplace. I thank Locke, and Hume, and Bacon, +and Shakespeare, and Kant, and Fichte, and Leibnitz, and Goethe. I thank +Fulton, and Watts, and Volta, and Galvani, and Franklin, and Morse, who +made lightning the messenger of man. I thank Humboldt, the Shakespeare +of science. I thank Crompton and Arkwright, from whose brains leaped the +looms and spindles that clothe the world. I thank Luther for protesting +against the abuses of the church, and I denounce him because he was +the enemy of liberty. I thank Calvin for writing a book in favor of +religious freedom, and I abhor him because he burned Servetus. I thank +Knox for resisting Episcopal persecution, and I hate him because he +persecuted in his turn. I thank the Puritans for saying "Resistance to +tyrants is obedience to God," and yet I am compelled to say that they +were tyrants themselves. I thank Thomas Paine because he was a believer +in liberty, and because he did as much to make my country free as any +other human being. I thank Voltaire, that great man who, for half a +century, was the intellectual emperor of Europe, and who, from his +throne at the foot of the Alps, pointed the finger of scorn at every +hypocrite in Christendom. I thank Darwin, Haeckel and Büchner, Spencer, +Tyndall and Huxley, Draper, Lecky and Buckle. + +I thank the inventors, the discoverers, the thinkers, the scientists, +the explorers, I thank the honest millions who have toiled. + +I thank the brave men with brave thoughts. They are the Atlases upon +whose broad and mighty shoulders rests the grand fabric of civilization. +They are the men who have broken, and are still breaking, the chains of +Superstition. They are the Titans who carried Olympus by assault, and +who will soon stand victors upon Sinai's crags. + +We are beginning to learn that to exchange a mistake for the truth--a +superstition for a fact--to ascertain the real--is to progress. + +Happiness is the only possible good, and all that tends to the happiness +of man is right, and is of value. All that tends to develop the bodies +and minds of men; all that gives us better houses, better clothes, +better food, better pictures, grander music, better heads, better +hearts; all that renders us more intellectual and more loving, nearer +just; that makes us better husbands and wives, better children, better +citizens--all these things combined produce what I call Progress. + +Man advances only as he overcomes the obstructions of Nature, and this +can be done only by labor and by thought. Labor is the foundation of +all. Without labor, and without great labor, progress is impossible. The +progress of the world depends upon the men who walk in the fresh furrows +and through the rustling corn; upon those who sow and reap; upon those +whose faces are radiant with the glare of furnace fires; upon the +delvers in the mines, and the workers in shops; upon those who give to +the winter air the ringing music of the axe; upon those who battle with +the boisterous billows of the sea; upon the inventors and discoverers; +upon the brave thinkers. + +From the surplus produced by labor, schools and universities are built +and fostered. From this surplus the painter is paid for the productions +of the pencil; the sculptor for chiseling shapeless rock into forms +divinely beautiful, and the poet for singing the hopes, the loves, the +memories, and the aspirations of the world. This surplus has given us +the books in which we converse with the dead and living kings of the +human race. It has given us all there is of beauty, of elegance, and of +refined happiness. + +I am aware that there is a vast difference of opinion as to what +progress really is; that many denounce the ideas of to-day as +destructive of all happiness--of all good, I know that there are many +worshipers of the past. They venerate the ancient because it is ancient. +They see no beauty in anything from which they do not blow the dust of +ages with the breath of praise. They say, no masters like the old; no +religion, no governments like the ancient; no orators, no poets, no +statesmen like those who have been dust for two thousand years. Others +love the modern simply because it is modern. + +We should have gratitude enough to acknowledge the obligations we are +under to the great and heroic of antiquity, and independence enough not +to believe what they said simply because they said it. + +With the idea that labor is the basis of progress goes the truth that +labor must be free. The laborer must be a free man. + +The free man, working for wife and child, gets his head and hands in +partnership. + +To do the greatest amount of work in the shortest space of time, is the +problem of free labor. + +Slavery does the least work in the longest space of time. + +Free labor will give us wealth. Free thought will give us truth. + +Slowly but surely man is freeing his imagination of these sexless +phantoms, of these cruel ghosts. Slowly but surely he is rising above +the superstitions of the past. He is learning to rely upon himself. +He is beginning to find that labor is the only prayer that ought to be +answered, and that hoping, toiling, aspiring, suffering men and women +are of more importance than all the ghosts that ever wandered through +the fenceless fields of space. + +The believers in ghosts claim still, that they are the only wise and +virtuous people upon the earth; claim still, that there is a difference +between them and unbelievers so vast, that they will be infinitely +rewarded, and the others infinitely punished. + +I ask you to-night, do the theories and doctrines of the theologians +satisfy the heart or brain of the nineteenth century? + +Have the churches the confidence of mankind? + +Does the merchant give credit to a man because he belongs to a church? + +Does the banker loan money to a man because he is a Methodist or +Baptist? + +Will a certificate of good standing in any church be taken as collateral +security for one dollar? + +Will you take the word of a church member, or his note, or his oath, +simply because he is a church member? + +Are the clergy, as a class, better, kinder and more generous to their +families--to their fellow-men--than doctors, lawyers, merchants and +farmers? + +Does a belief in ghosts and unreasonable things necessarily make people +honest? + +When a man loses confidence in Moses, must the people lose confidence in +him? + +Does not the credit system in morals breed extravagance in sin? + +Why send missionaries to other lands while every penitentiary in ours is +filled with criminals? + +Is it philosophical to say that they who do right carry a cross? + +Is it a source of joy to think that perdition is the destination of +nearly all of the children of men? + +Is it worth while to quarrel about original sin--when there is so much +copy? + +Does it pay to dispute about baptism, and the Trinity, and +predestination, and apostolic succession and the infallibility of +churches, of popes and of books? Does all this do any good? + +Are the theologians welcomers of new truths? Are they noted for their +candor? Do they treat an opponent with common fairness? Are they +investigators? Do they pull forward, or do they hold back? + +Is science indebted to the church for a solitary fact? + +What church is an asylum for a persecuted truth? + +What great reform has been inaugurated by the church? + +Did the church abolish slavery? + +Has the church raised its voice against war? + +I used to think that there was in religion no real restraining force. +Upon this point my mind has changed. Religion will prevent man from +committing artificial crimes and offences. + +A man committed murder. The evidence was so conclusive that he confessed +his guilt. + +He was asked why he killed his fellow-man. + +He replied: "For money." + +"Did you get any?" + +"Yes." + +"How much?" + +"Fifteen cents." + +"What did you do with this money?" + +"Spent it." + +"What for?" + +"Liquor." + +"What else did you find upon the dead man?" "He had his dinner in a +bucket--some meat and bread." + +"What did you do with that?" + +"I ate the bread." + +"What did you do with the meat?" + +"I threw it away." + +"Why?" + +"It was Friday." + +Just to the extent that man has freed himself from the dominion of +ghosts he has advanced. Just to the extent that he has freed himself +from the tyrants of his own creation he has progressed. Just to the +extent that he has investigated for himself he has lost confidence in +superstition. + +With knowledge obedience becomes intelligent acquiescence--it is no +longer degrading. Acquiescence in the understood--in the known--is the +act of a sovereign, not of a slave. It ennobles, it does not degrade. + +Man has found that he must give liberty to others in order to have it +himself. He has found that a master is also a slave;--that a tyrant +is himself a serf. He has found that governments should be founded and +administered by man and for man; that the rights of all are equal; that +the powers that be are not ordained by God; that woman is at least the +equal of man; that men existed before books; that religion is one of the +phases of thought through which the world is passing; that all creeds +were made by man; that everything is natural; that a miracle is +an impossibility; that we know nothing of origin and destiny; that +concerning the unknown we are all equally ignorant; that the pew has +the right to contradict what the pulpit asserts; that man is responsible +only to himself and those he injures, and that all have a right to +think. + +True religion must be free. Without perfect liberty of the mind there +can be no true religion. Without liberty the brain is a dungeon--the +mind a convict. The slave may bow and cringe and crawl, but he cannot +adore--he cannot love. + +True religion is the perfume of a free and grateful heart. True religion +is a subordination of the passions to the perceptions of the intellect. +True religion is not a theory--it is a practice. It is not a creed--it +is a life. + +A theory that is afraid of investigation is undeserving a place in the +human mind. + +I do not pretend to tell what all the truth is. I do not pretend to have +fathomed the abyss, nor to have floated on outstretched wings level with +the dim heights of thought. I simply plead for freedom. I denounce the +cruelties and horrors of slavery. I ask for light and air for the souls +of men. I say, take off those chains--break those manacles--free those +limbs--release that brain! I plead for the right to think--to reason--to +investigate. I ask that the future may be enriched with the honest +thoughts of men. I implore every human being to be a soldier in the army +of progress. + +I will not invade the rights of others. You have no right to erect your +toll-gate upon the highways of thought. You have no right to leap from +the hedges of superstition and strike down the pioneers of the human +race. You have no right to sacrifice the liberties of man upon the +altars of ghosts. Believe what you may; preach what you desire; have all +the forms and ceremonies you please; exercise your liberty in your own +way but extend to all others the same right. + +I will not attack your doctrines nor your creeds if they accord liberty +to me. If they hold thought to be dangerous--if they aver that doubt is +a crime, then I attack them one and all, because they enslave the minds +of men. + +I attack the monsters, the phantoms of imagination that have ruled the +world. I attack slavery. I ask for room--room for the human mind. + +Why should we sacrifice a real world that we have, for one we know not +of? Why should we enslave ourselves? Why should we forge fetters for +our own hands? Why should we be the slaves of phantoms. The darkness of +barbarism was the womb of these shadows. In the light of science they +cannot cloud the sky forever. They have reddened the hands of man with +innocent blood. They made the cradle a curse, and the grave a place of +torment. + +They blinded the eyes and stopped the ears of the human race. They +subverted all ideas of justice by promising infinite rewards for finite +virtues, and threatening infinite punishment for finite offences. + +They filled the future with heavens and with hells, with the shining +peaks of selfish joy and the lurid abysses of flame. For ages they kept +the world in ignorance and awe, in want and misery, in fear and chains. + +I plead for light, for air, for opportunity. I plead for individual +independence. I plead for the rights of labor and of thought. I plead +for a chainless future. Let the ghosts go--justice remains. Let them +disappear--men and women and children are left. Let the monsters fade +away--the world is here with its hills and seas and plains, with its +seasons of smiles and frowns, its spring of leaf and bud, its summer of +shade and flower and murmuring stream; its autumn with the laden boughs, +when the withered banners of the corn are still, and gathered fields are +growing strangely wan; while death, poetic death, with hands that color +what they touch, weaves in the Autumn wood her tapestries of gold and +brown. + +The world remains with its winters and homes and firesides, where grow +and bloom the virtues of our race. All these are left; and music, with +its sad and thrilling voice, and all there is of art and song and hope +and love and aspiration high. All these remain. Let the ghosts go--we +will worship them no more. + +Man is greater than these phantoms. Humanity is grander than all the +creeds, than all the books. Humanity is the great sea, and these creeds, +and books, and religions, are but the waves of a day. Humanity is the +sky, and these religions and dogmas and theories are but the mists and +clouds changing continually, destined finally to melt away. + +That which is founded upon slavery, and fear, and ignorance, cannot +endure. In the religion of the future there will be men and women and +children, all the aspirations of the soul, and all the tender humanities +of the heart. + +Let the ghosts go. We will worship them no more. Let them cover their +eyeless sockets with their fleshless hands and fade forever from the +imaginations of men. + + + + +THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD. + +Liberty sustains the same Relation to Mind that Space does to Matter. + +THERE is no slavery but ignorance. Liberty is the child of intelligence. + +The history of man is simply the history of slavery, of injustice and +brutality, together with the means by which he has, through the dead and +desolate years, slowly and painfully advanced. He has been the sport +and prey of priest and king, the food of superstition and cruel might. +Crowned force has governed ignorance through fear. Hypocrisy and +tyranny--two vultures--have fed upon the liberties of man. From all +these there has been, and is, but one means of escape--intellectual +development. Upon the back of industry has been the whip. Upon the brain +have been the fetters of superstition. Nothing has been left undone +by the enemies of freedom. Every art and artifice, every cruelty and +outrage has been practiced and perpetrated to destroy the rights of man. +In this great struggle every crime has been rewarded and every virtue +has been punished. Reading, writing, thinking and investigating have all +been crimes. + +Every science has been an outcast. + +All the altars and all the thrones united to arrest the forward march of +the human race. The king said that mankind must not work for themselves. +The priest said that mankind must not think for themselves. One forged +chains for the hands, the other for the soul. Under this infamous +_regime_ the eagle of the human intellect was for ages a slimy serpent +of hypocrisy. + +The human race was imprisoned. Through some of the prison bars came a +few struggling rays of light. Against these bars Science pressed its +pale and thoughtful face, wooed by the holy dawn of human advancement. +Bar after bar was broken away. A few grand men escaped and devoted their +lives to the liberation of their fellows. + +Only a few years ago there was a great awakening of the human mind. Men +began to inquire by what right a crowned robber made them work for him? +The man who asked this question was called a traitor. Others asked by +what right does a robed hypocrite rule my thought? Such men were called +infidels. The priest said, and the king said, where is this spirit +of investigation to stop? They said then and they say now, that it is +dangerous for man to be free. I deny it. Out on the intellectual sea +there is room enough for every sail. In the intellectual air there is +space enough for every wing. + +The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a traitor to +himself and to his fellow-men. + +Every man should stand under the blue and stars, under the infinite flag +of nature, the peer of every other man. + +Standing in the presence of the Unknown, all have the same right to +think, and all are equally interested in the great questions of origin +and destiny. All I claim, all I plead for, is liberty of thought and +expression. That is all. I do not pretend to tell what is absolutely +true, but what I think is true. I do not pretend to tell all the truth. + +I do not claim that I have floated level with the heights of thought, or +that I have descended to the very depths of things. I simply claim +that what ideas I have, I have a right to express; and that any man who +denies that right to me is an intellectual thief and robber. That is +all. + +Take those chains from the human soul. Break those fetters. If I have no +right to think, why have I a brain? If I have no such right, have three +or four men, or any number, who may get together, and sign a creed, and +build a house, and put a steeple upon it, and a bell in it--have they +the right to think? The good men, the good women are tired of the whip +and lash in the realm of thought. They remember the chain and fagot +with a shudder. They are free, and they give liberty to others. Whoever +claims any right that he is unwilling to accord to his fellow-men is +dishonest and infamous. + +In the good old times, our fathers had the idea that they could make +people believe to suit them. Our ancestors, in the ages that are gone, +really believed that by force you could convince a man. You cannot +change the conclusion of the brain by torture; nor by social ostracism. +But I will tell you what you can do by these, and what you have done. +You can make hypocrites by the million. You can make a man say that +he has changed his mind; but he remains of the same opinion still. Put +fetters all over him; crush his feet in iron boots; stretch him to the +last gasp upon the holy rack; burn him, if you please, but his ashes +will be of the same opinion still. + +Our fathers in the good old times--and the best thing I can say about +them is, that they have passed away--had an idea that they could force +men to think their way. That idea is still prevalent in many parts, even +of this country. Even in our day some extremely religious people say, +"We will not trade with that man; we will not vote for him; we will not +hire him if he is a lawyer; we will die before we will take his medicine +if he is a doctor; we will not invite him to dinner; we will socially +ostracise him; he must come to our church; he must believe our +doctrines; he must worship our god or we will not in any way contribute +to his support." + +In the old times of which I have spoken, they desired to make all men +think exactly alike. All the mechanical ingenuity of the world cannot +make two clocks run exactly alike, and how are you going to make +hundreds of millions of people, differing in brain and disposition, in +education and aspiration, in conditions and surroundings, each clad in +a living robe of passionate flesh--how are you going to make them think +and feel alike? If there is an infinite god, one who made us, and wishes +us to think alike, why did he give a spoonful of brains to one, and a +magnificent intellectual development to another? Why is it that we +have all degrees of intelligence, from orthodoxy to genius, if it was +intended that all should think and feel alike? + +I used to read in books how our fathers persecuted mankind. But I never +appreciated it. I read it, but it did not burn itself into my soul. I +did not really appreciate the infamies that have been committed in the +name of religion, until I saw the iron arguments that Christians used. +I saw the Thumbscrew--two little pieces of iron, armed on the inner +surfaces with protuberances, to prevent their slipping; through each end +a screw uniting the two pieces. And when some man denied the efficacy of +baptism, or may be said, "I do not believe that a fish ever swallowed +a man to keep him from drowning," then they put his thumb between these +pieces of iron and in the name of love and universal forgiveness, began +to screw these pieces together. When this was done most men said, "I +will recant." Probably I should have done the same. Probably I would +have said: "Stop; I will admit anything that you wish; I will admit that +there is one god or a million, one hell or a billion; suit yourselves; +but stop." + +But there was now and then a man who would not swerve the breadth of a +hair. There was now and then some sublime heart, willing to die for +an intellectual conviction. Had it not been for such men, we would be +savages to-night. Had it not been for a few brave, heroic souls in every +age, we would have been cannibals, with pictures of wild beasts tattooed +upon our flesh, dancing around some dried snake fetich. + +Let us thank every good and noble man who stood so grandly, so proudly, +in spite of opposition, of hatred and death, for what he believed to be +the truth. + +Heroism did not excite the respect of our fathers. The man who would not +recant was not forgiven. They screwed the thumbscrews down to the last +pang, and then threw their victim into some dungeon, where, in the +throbbing silence and darkness, he might suffer the agonies of the +fabled damned. This was done in the name of love--in the name of +mercy--in the name of the compassionate Christ. + +I saw, too, what they called the Collar of Torture. Imagine a circle +of iron, and on the inside a hundred points almost as sharp as needles. +This argument was fastened about the throat of the sufferer. Then he +could not walk, nor sit down, nor stir without the neck being punctured, +by these points. In a little while the throat would begin to swell, and +suffocation would end the agonies of that man. This man, it may be, had +committed the crime of saying, with tears upon his cheeks, "I do not +believe that God, the father of us all, will damn to eternal perdition +any of the children of men." + +I saw another instrument, called the Scavenger's Daughter. Think of a +pair of shears with handles, not only where they now are, but at the +points as well, and just above the pivot that unites the blades, a +circle of iron. In the upper handles the hands would be placed; in the +lower, the feet; and through the iron ring, at the centre, the head of +the victim would be forced. In this condition, he would be thrown prone +upon the earth, and the strain upon the muscles produced such agony that +insanity would in pity end his pain. + +This was done by gentlemen who said: "Whosoever smiteth thee upon one +cheek turn to him the other also." + +I saw the Rack. This was a box like the bed of a wagon, with a windlass +at each end, with levers, and ratchets to prevent slipping; over each +windlass went chains; some were fastened to the ankles of the sufferer; +others to his wrists. And then priests, clergymen, divines, saints, +began turning these windlasses, and kept turning, until the ankles, the +knees, the hips, the shoulders, the elbows, the wrists of the victim +were all dislocated, and the sufferer was wet with the sweat of agony. +And they had standing by a physician to feel his pulse. What for? To +save his life? Yes. In mercy? No; simply that they might rack him once +again. + +This was done, remember, in the name of civilization; in the name of law +and order; in the name of mercy; in the name of religion; in the name of +the most merciful Christ. + +Sometimes, when I read and think about these frightful things, it seems +to me that I have suffered all these horrors myself. It seems sometimes, +as though I had stood upon the shore of exile and gazed with tearful +eyes toward home and native land; as though my nails had been torn from +my hands, and into the bleeding quick needles had been thrust; as though +my feet had been crushed in iron boots; as though I had been chained in +the cell of the Inquisition and listened with dying ears for the coming +footsteps of release; as though I had stood upon the scaffold and had +seen the glittering axe fall upon me; as though I had been upon the rack +and had seen, bending above me, the white faces of hypocrite priests; +as though I had been taken from my fireside, from my wife and children, +taken to the public square, chained; as though fagots had been piled +about me; as though the flames had climbed around my limbs and scorched +my eyes to blindness, and as though my ashes had been scattered to the +four winds, by all the countless hands of hate. And when I so feel, I +swear that while I live I will do what little I can to preserve and to +augment the liberties of man, woman, and child. + +It is a question of justice, of mercy, of honesty, of intellectual +development. If there is a man in the world who is not willing to give +to every human being every right he claims for himself, he is just so +much nearer a barbarian than I am. It is a question of honesty. The man +who is not willing to give to every other the same intellectual rights +he claims for himself, is dishonest, selfish, and brutal. + +It is a question of intellectual development. Whoever holds another man +responsible for his honest thought, has a deformed and distorted brain. +It is a question of intellectual development. + +A little while ago I saw models of nearly everything that man has made. +I saw models of all the water craft, from the rude dug-out in which +floated a naked savage--one of our ancestors--a naked savage, with +teeth two inches in length, with a spoonful of brains in the back of +his head--I saw models of all the water craft of the world, from that +dug-out up to a man-of-war, that carries a hundred guns and miles of +canvas--from that dug-out to the steamship that turns its brave prow +from the port of New York, with a compass like a conscience, crossing +three thousand miles of billows without missing a throb or beat of its +mighty iron heart. + +I saw at the same time the weapons that man has made, from a club, such +as was grasped by that same savage, when he crawled from his den in +the ground and hunted a snake for his dinner; from that club to the +boomerang, to the sword, to the cross-bow, to the blunderbuss, to the +flint-lock, to the cap-lock, to the needle-gun, up to a cannon cast by +Krupp, capable of hurling a ball weighing two thousand pounds through +eighteen inches of solid steel. + +I saw, too, the armor from the shell of a turtle, that one of our brave +ancestors lashed upon his breast when he went to fight for his country; +the skin of a porcupine, dried with the quills on, which this same +savage pulled over his orthodox head, up to the shirts of mail, that +were worn in the Middle Ages, that laughed at the edge of the sword and +defied the point of the spear; up to a monitor clad in complete steel. + +I saw at the same time, their musical instruments, from the +tom-tom--that is, a hoop with a couple of strings of raw hide drawn +across it--from that tom-tom, up to the instruments we have to-day, that +make the common air blossom with melody. + +I saw, too, their paintings, from a daub of yellow mud, to the great +works which now adorn the galleries of the world. I saw also their +sculpture, from the rude god with four legs, a half dozen arms, several +noses, and two or three rows of ears, and one little, contemptible, +brainless head, up to the figures of to-day--to the marbles that genius +has clad in such a personality that it seems almost impudent to touch +them without an introduction. + +I saw their books--books written upon skins of wild beasts--upon +shoulder-blades of sheep--books written upon leaves, upon bark, up to +the splendid volumes that enrich the libraries of our day. When I +speak of libraries, I think of the remark of Plato: "A house that has a +library in it has a soul." + +I saw their implements of agriculture, from a crooked stick that was +attached to the horn of an ox by some twisted straw, to the agricultural +implements of this generation, that make it possible for a man to +cultivate the soil without being an ignoramus. + +While looking upon these things I was forced to say that man advanced +only as he mingled his thought with his labor,--only as he got into +partnership with the forces of nature,--only as he learned to take +advantage of his surroundings--only as he freed himself from the bondage +of fear,--only as he depended upon himself--only as he lost confidence +in the gods. + +I saw at the same time a row of human skulls, from the lowest skull +that has been found, the Neanderthal skull--skulls from Central Africa, +skulls from the Bushmen of Australia--skulls from the farthest isles of +the Pacific sea--up to the best skulls of the last generation;--and I +noticed that there was the same difference between those skulls that +there was between the products of those skulls, and I said to myself, +"After all, it is a simple question of intellectual development." There +was the same difference between those skulls, the lowest and highest +skulls, that there was between the dug-out and the man-of-war and the +steamship, between the club and the Krupp gun, between the yellow daub +and the landscape, between the tom-tom and an opera by Verdi. + +The first and lowest skull in this row was the den in which crawled the +base and meaner instincts of mankind, and the last was a temple in which +dwelt joy, liberty, and love. + +It is all a question of brain, of intellectual development. + +If we are nearer free than were our fathers, it is because we have +better heads upon the average, and more brains in them. + +Now, I ask you to be honest with me. It makes no difference to you what +I believe, nor what I wish to prove. I simply ask you to be honest. +Divest your minds, for a moment at least, of all religious prejudice. +Act, for a few moments, as though you were men and women. + +Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, if there was one, +at the time this gentleman floated in the dug-out, and charmed his ears +with the music of the tom-tom, had said: "That dug-out is the best boat +that ever can be built by man; the pattern of that came from on high, +from the great god of storm and flood, and any man who says that he can +improve it by putting a mast in it, with a sail upon it, is an infidel, +and shall be burned at the stake;" what, in your judgment--honor +bright--would have been the effect upon the circumnavigation of the +globe? + +Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, if there was +one--and I presume there was a priest, because it was a very ignorant +age--suppose this king and priest had said: "That tom-tom is the most +beautiful instrument of music of which any man can conceive; that is the +kind of music they have in heaven; an angel sitting upon the edge of +a fleecy cloud, golden in the setting sun, playing upon that tom-tom, +became so enraptured, so entranced with her own music, that in a kind of +ecstasy she dropped it--that is how we obtained it; and any man who +says that it can be improved by putting a back and front to it, and +four strings, and a bridge, and getting a bow of hair with rosin, is a +blaspheming wretch, and shall die the death,"--I ask you, what effect +would that have had upon music? If that course had been pursued, would +the human ears, in your judgment, ever have been enriched with the +divine symphonies of Beethoven? + +Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, had said: "That +crooked stick is the best plow that can be invented: the pattern of that +plow was given to a pious farmer in a holy dream, and that twisted straw +is the _ne plus ultra_ of all twisted things, and any man who says he +can make an improvement upon that plow, is an atheist;" what, in your +judgment, would have been the effect upon the science of agriculture? + +But the people said, and the king and priest said: "We want better +weapons with which to kill our fellow-Christians; we want better plows, +better music, better paintings, and whoever will give us better weapons, +and better music, better houses to live in, better clothes, we will robe +him in wealth, and crown him with honor." Every incentive was held out +to every human being to improve these things. That is the reason the +club has been changed to a cannon, the dug-out to a steamship, the daub +to a painting; that is the reason that the piece of rough and broken +stone finally became a glorified statue. + +You must not, however, forget that the gentleman in the dug-out, +the gentleman who was enraptured with the music of the tom-tom, and +cultivated his land with a crooked stick, had a religion of his own. +That gentlemen in the dug-out was orthodox. He was never troubled with +doubts. He lived and died settled in his mind. He believed in hell; and +he thought he would be far happier in heaven, if he could just lean +over and see certain people who expressed doubts as to the truth of his +creed, gently but everlastingly broiled and burned. + +It is a very sad and unhappy fact that this man has had a great many +intellectual descendants. It is also an unhappy fact in nature, that the +ignorant multiply much faster than the intellectual. This fellow in the +dug-out believed in a personal devil. His devil had a cloven hoof, a +long tail, armed with a fiery dart; and his devil breathed brimstone. +This devil was at least the equal of God; not quite so stout but +a little shrewder. And do you know there has not been a patentable +improvement made upon that devil for six thousand years. + +This gentleman in the dug-out believed that God was a tyrant; that he +would eternally damn the man who lived in accordance with his highest +and grandest ideal. He believed that the earth was flat. He believed in +a literal, burning, seething hell of fire and sulphur. He had also his +idea of politics; and his doctrine was, might makes right. And it will +take thousands of years before the world will reverse this doctrine, and +believingly say, "Right makes might." + +All I ask is the same privilege to improve upon that gentleman's +theology as upon his musical instrument; the same right to improve upon +his politics as upon his dug-out. That is all. I ask for the human +soul the same liberty in every direction. That is the only crime I have +committed. I say, let us think. Let each one express his thought. Let us +become investigators, not followers, not cringers and crawlers. If there +is in heaven an infinite being, he never will be satisfied with the +worship of cowards and hypocrites. Honest unbelief, honest infidelity, +honest atheism, will be a perfume in heaven when pious hypocrisy, no +matter how religious it may be outwardly, will be a stench. + +This is my doctrine: Give every other human being every right you claim +for yourself. Keep your mind open to the influences of nature. Receive +new thoughts with hospitality. Let us advance. + +The religionist of to-day wants the ship of his soul to lie at the wharf +of orthodoxy and rot in the sun. He delights to hear the sails of old +opinions flap against the masts of old creeds. He loves to see the +joints and the sides open and gape in the sun, and it is a kind of bliss +for him to repeat again and again: "Do not disturb my opinions. Do not +unsettle my mind; I have it all made up, and I want no infidelity. Let +me go backward rather than forward." + +As far as I am concerned I wish to be out on the high seas. I wish to +take my chances with wind, and wave, and star. And I had rather go down +in the glory and grandeur of the storm, than to rot in any orthodox +harbor whatever. + +After all, we are improving from age to age. The most orthodox people in +this country two hundred years ago would have been burned for the crime +of heresy. The ministers who denounce me for expressing my thought would +have been in the Inquisition themselves. Where once burned and blazed +the bivouac fires of the army of progress, now glow the altars of the +church. The religionists of our time are occupying about the same ground +occupied by heretics and infidels of one hundred years ago. The church +has advanced in spite, as it were, of itself. It has followed the army +of progress protesting and denouncing, and had to keep within protesting +and denouncing distance. If the church had not made great progress I +could not express my thoughts. + +Man, however, has advanced just exactly in the proportion with which he +has mingled his thought with his labor. The sailor, without control +of the wind and wave, knowing nothing or very little of the mysterious +currents and pulses of the sea, is superstitious. So also is the +agriculturist, whose prosperity depends upon something he cannot +control. But the mechanic, when a wheel refuses to turn, never thinks of +dropping on his knees and asking the assistance of some divine power. +He knows there is a reason. He knows that something is too large or too +small; that there is something wrong with his machine; and he goes to +work and he makes it larger or smaller, here or there, until the wheel +will turn. Now, just in proportion as man gets away from being, as it +were, the slave of his surroundings, the serf of the elements,--of the +heat, the frost, the snow, and the lightning,--just to the extent that +he has gotten control of his own destiny, just to the extent that he has +triumphed over the obstacles of nature, he has advanced physically and +intellectually. As man develops, he places a greater value upon his own +rights. Liberty becomes a grander and diviner thing. As he values his +own rights, he begins to value the rights of others. And when all men +give to all others all the rights they claim for themselves, this world +will be civilized. + +A few years ago the people were afraid to question the king, afraid to +question the priest, afraid to investigate a creed, afraid to deny a +book, afraid to denounce a dogma, afraid to reason, afraid to think. +Before wealth they bowed to the very earth, and in the presence of +titles they became abject. All this is slowly but surely changing. We +no longer bow to men simply because they are rich. Our fathers worshiped +the golden calf. The worst you can say of an American now is, he +worships the gold of the calf. Even the calf is beginning to see this +distinction. + +It no longer satisfies the ambition of a great man to be king or +emperor. The last Napoleon was not satisfied with being the emperor of +the French. He was not satisfied with having a circlet of gold about his +head. He wanted some evidence that he had something of value within +his head. So he wrote the life of Julius Cæsar, that he might become +a member of the French Academy. The emperors, the kings, the popes, +no longer tower above their fellows. Compare King William with the +philosopher Haeckel. The king is one of the anointed by the most high, +as they claim--one upon whose head has been poured the divine petroleum +of authority. Compare this king with Haeckel, who towers an intellectual +colossus above the crowned mediocrity. Compare George Eliot with Queen +Victoria. The Queen is clothed in garments given her by blind fortune +and unreasoning chance, while George Eliot wears robes of glory woven in +the loom of her own genius. + +The world is beginning to pay homage to intellect, to genius, to heart. + +We have advanced. We have reaped the benefit of every sublime and heroic +self-sacrifice, of every divine and brave act; and we should endeavor +to hand the torch to the next generation, having added a little to the +intensity and glory of the flame. + +When I think of how much this world has suffered; when I think of how +long our fathers were slaves, of how they cringed and crawled at the +foot of the throne, and in the dust of the altar, of how they abased +themselves, of how abjectly they stood in the presence of superstition +robed and crowned, I am amazed. + +This world has not been fit for a man to live in fifty years. It was not +until the year 1808 that Great Britain abolished the slave trade. Up to +that time her judges, sitting upon the bench in the name of justice, +her priests, occupying her pulpits, in the name of universal love, owned +stock in the slave ships, and luxuriated upon the profits of piracy and +murder. It was not until the same year that the United States of +America abolished the slave trade between this and other countries, but +carefully preserved it as between the States. It was not until the 28th +day of August, 1833, that Great Britain abolished human slavery in +her colonies; and it was not until the 1st day of January, 1863, that +Abraham Lincoln, sustained by the sublime and heroic North, rendered our +flag pure as the sky in which it floats. + +Abraham Lincoln was, in my judgment, in many respects, the grandest +man ever President of the United States. Upon his monument these words +should be written: "Here sleeps the only man in the history of the +world, who, having been clothed with almost absolute power, never abused +it, except upon the side of mercy." + +Think how long we clung to the institution of human slavery, how long +lashes upon the naked back were a legal tender for labor performed. +Think of it. The pulpit of this country deliberately and willingly, for +a hundred years, turned the cross of Christ into a whipping post. + +With every drop of my blood I hate and execrate every form of tyranny, +every form of slavery. I hate dictation. I love liberty. + +What do I mean by liberty? By physical liberty I mean the right to do +anything which does not interfere with the happiness of another. By +intellectual liberty I mean the right to think right and the right to +think wrong. Thought is the means by which we endeavor to arrive at +truth. If we know the truth already, we need not think. All that can +be required is honesty of purpose. You ask my opinion about anything; +I examine it honestly, and when my mind is made up, what should I tell +you? Should I tell you my real thought? What should I do? There is a +book put in my hands. I am told this is the Koran; it was written by +inspiration. I read it, and when I get through, suppose that I think in +my heart and in my brain, that it is utterly untrue, and you then ask +me, what do you think? Now, admitting that I live in Turkey, and have +no chance to get any office unless I am on the side of the Koran, what +should I say? Should I make a clean breast and say, that upon my honor +I do not believe it? What would you think then of my fellow-citizens if +they said: "That man is dangerous, he is dishonest." + +Suppose I read the book called the Bible, and when I get through I make +up my mind that it was written by men. A minister asks me, "Did you read +the Bible?" I answer, that I did. "Do you think it divinely inspired?" +What should I reply? Should I say to myself, "If I deny the inspiration +of the Scriptures, the people will never clothe me with power." What +ought I to answer? Ought I not to say like a man: "I have read it; I do +not believe it." Should I not give the real transcript of my mind? Or +should I turn hypocrite and pretend what I do not feel, and hate myself +forever after for being a cringing coward. For my part I would rather +a man would tell me what he honestly thinks. I would rather he +would preserve his manhood. I had a thousand times rather be a manly +unbeliever than an unmanly believer. And if there is a judgment day, +a time when all will stand before some supreme being, I believe I will +stand higher, and stand a better chance of getting my case decided in my +favor, than any man sneaking through life pretending to believe what he +does not. + +I have made up my mind to say my say. I shall do it kindly, distinctly; +but I am going to do it. I know there are thousands of men who +substantially agree with me, but who are not in a condition to express +their thoughts. They are poor; they are in business; and they know that +should they tell their honest thought, persons will refuse to patronize +them--to trade with them; they wish to get bread for their little +children; they wish to take care of their wives; they wish to have homes +and the comforts of life. Every such person is a certificate of the +meanness of the community in which he resides. And yet I do not blame +these people for not expressing their thought. I say to them: "Keep your +ideas to yourselves; feed and clothe the ones you love; I will do +your talking for you. The church can not touch, can not crush, can not +starve, cannot stop or stay me; I will express your thoughts." + +As an excuse for tyranny, as a justification of slavery, the church has +taught that man is totally depraved. Of the truth of that doctrine, the +church has furnished the only evidence there is. The truth is, we are +both good and bad. The worst are capable of some good deeds, and the +best are capable of bad. The lowest can rise, and the highest may fall. +That mankind can be divided into two great classes, sinners and saints, +is an utter falsehood. In times of great disaster, called it may be, by +the despairing voices of women, men, denounced by the church as totally +depraved, rush to death as to a festival. By such men, deeds are done +so filled with self-sacrifice and generous daring, that millions pay +to them the tribute, not only of admiration, but of tears. Above all +creeds, above all religions, after all, is that divine thing,--Humanity; +and now and then in shipwreck on the wide, wild sea, or 'mid the rocks +and breakers of some cruel shore, or where the serpents of flame writhe +and hiss, some glorious heart, some chivalric soul does a deed +that glitters like a star, and gives the lie to all the dogmas of +superstition. All these frightful doctrines have been used to degrade +and to enslave mankind. + +Away, forever away with the creeds and books and forms and laws and +religions that take from the soul liberty and reason. Down with the idea +that thought is dangerous! Perish the infamous doctrine that man can +have property in man. Let us resent with indignation every effort to put +a chain upon our minds. If there is no God, certainly we should not bow +and cringe and crawl. If there is a God, there should be no slaves. + + + + +LIBERTY OF WOMAN. + +Women have been the slaves of slaves; and in my judgment it took +millions of ages for woman to come from the condition of abject slavery +up to the institution of marriage. Let me say right here, that I regard +marriage as the holiest institution among men. Without the fireside +there is no human advancement; without the family relation there is no +life worth living. Every good government is made up of good families. +The unit of good government is the family, and anything that tends to +destroy the family is perfectly devilish and infamous. I believe in +marriage, and I hold in utter contempt the opinions of those long-haired +men and short-haired women who denounce the institution of marriage. + +The grandest ambition that any man can possibly have, is to so live, and +so improve himself in heart and brain, as to be worthy of the love of +some splendid woman; and the grandest ambition of any girl is to make +herself worthy of the love and adoration of some magnificent man. That +is my idea. There is no success in life without love and marriage. You +had better be the emperor of one loving and tender heart, and she the +empress of yours, than to be king of the world. The man who has really +won the love of one good woman in this world, I do not care if he dies +in the ditch a beggar, his life has been a success. + +I say it took millions of years to come from the condition of abject +slavery up to the condition of marriage. Ladies, the ornaments you +wear upon your persons to-night are but the souvenirs of your mother's +bondage. The chains around your necks, and the bracelets clasped upon +your white arms by the thrilled hand of love, have been changed by the +wand of civilization from iron to shining, glittering gold. + +But nearly every religion has accounted for all the devilment in this +world by the crime of woman. What a gallant thing that is! And if it +is true, I had rather live with the woman I love in a world full of +trouble, than to live in heaven with nobody but men. + +I read in a book--and I will say now that I cannot give the exact +language, as my memory does not retain the words, but I can give the +substance--I read in a book that the Supreme Being concluded to make a +world and one man; that he took some nothing and made a world and one +man, and put this man in a garden. In a little while he noticed that +the man got lonesome; that he wandered around as if he was waiting for +a train. There was nothing to interest him; no news; no papers; no +politics; no policy; and, as the devil had not yet made his appearance, +there was no chance for reconciliation; not even for civil service +reform. Well, he wandered about the garden in this condition, until +finally the Supreme Being made up his mind to make him a companion. + +Having used up all the nothing he originally took in making the world +and one man, he had to take a part of the man to start a woman with. So +he caused a sleep to fall on this man--now understand me, I do not say +this story is true. After the sleep fell upon this man, the Supreme +Being took a rib, or as the French would call it, a cutlet, out of this +man, and from that he made a woman. And considering the amount of raw +material used, I look upon it as the most successful job ever performed. +Well, after he got the woman done, she was brought to the man; not to +see how she liked him, but to see how he liked her. He liked her, and +they started housekeeping; and they were told of certain things they +might do and of one thing they could not do--and of course they did it. +I would have done it in fifteen minutes, and I know it. There wouldn't +have been an apple on that tree half an hour from date, and the limbs +would have been full of clubs. And then they were turned out of the park +and extra policemen were put on to keep them from getting back. + +Devilment commenced. The mumps, and the measles, and the whooping-cough, +and the scarlet fever started in their race for man. They began to have +the toothache, roses began to have thorns, snakes began to have poisoned +teeth, and people began to divide about religion and politics, and the +world has been full of trouble from that day to this. + +Nearly all of the religions of this world account for the existence of +evil by such a story as that! + +I read in another book what appeared to be an account of the same +transaction. It was written about four thousand years before the other. +All commentators agree that the one that was written last was the +original, and that the one that was written first was copied from the +one that was written last. But I would advise you all not to allow your +creed to be disturbed by a little matter of four or five thousand years. +In this other story, Brahma made up his mind to make the world and a man +and woman. He made the world, and he made the man and then the woman, +and put them on the island of Ceylon. According to the account it was +the most beautiful island of which man can conceive. Such birds, such +songs, such flowers and such verdure! And the branches of the trees +were so arranged that when the wind swept through them every tree was a +thousand Æolian harps. + +Brahma, when he put them there, said: "Let them have a period of +courtship, for it is my desire and will that true love should forever +precede marriage." When I read that, it was so much more beautiful and +lofty than the other, that I said to myself, "If either one of these +stories ever turns out to be true, I hope it will be this one." + +Then they had their courtship, with the nightingale singing, and the +stars shining, and the flowers blooming, and they fell in love. Imagine +that courtship! No prospective fathers or mothers-in-law; no prying and +gossiping neighbors; nobody to say, "Young man, how do you expect to +support her?" Nothing of that kind. They were married by the Supreme +Brahma, and he said to them: "Remain here; you must never leave this +island." Well, after a little while the man--and his name was Adami, and +the woman's name was Heva--said to Heva: "I believe I'll look about a +little." He went to the northern extremity of the island where there was +a little narrow neck of land connecting it with the mainland, and the +devil, who is always playing pranks with us, produced a mirage, and when +he looked over to the mainland, such hills and vales, such dells and +dales, such mountains crowned with snow, such cataracts clad in bows of +glory did he see there, that he went back and told Heva: "The country +over there is a thousand times better than this; let us migrate." She, +like every other woman that ever lived, said: "Let well enough alone; we +have all we want; let us stay here." But he said "No, let us go;" so she +followed him, and when they came to this narrow neck of land, he took +her on his back like a gentleman, and carried her over. But the moment +they got over they heard a crash, and looking back, discovered that this +narrow neck of land had fallen into the sea. The mirage had disappeared, +and there were naught but rocks and sand; and then the Supreme Brahma +cursed them both to the lowest hell. + +Then it was that the man spoke,--and I have liked him ever since for +it--"Curse me, but curse not her, it was not her fault, it was mine." + +That's the kind of man to start a world with. + +The Supreme Brahma said: "I will save her, but not thee." And then she +spoke out of her fullness of love, out of a heart in which there was +love enough to make all her daughters rich in holy affection, and said: +"If thou wilt not spare him, spare neither me; I do not wish to live +without him; I love him." Then the Supreme Brahma said--and I have liked +him ever since I read it--"I will spare you both and watch over you and +your children forever." + +Honor bright, is not that the better and grander story? + +And from that same book I want to show you what ideas some of these +miserable heathen had; the heathen we are trying to convert. We send +missionaries over yonder to convert heathen there, and we send soldiers +out on the plains to kill heathen here. If we can convert the heathen, +why not convert those nearest home? Why not convert those we can get at? +Why not convert those who have the immense advantage of the example of +the average pioneer? But to show you the men we are trying to convert: +In this book it says: "Man is strength, woman is beauty; man is courage, +woman is love. When the one man loves the one woman and the one woman +loves the one man, the very angels leave heaven and come and sit in that +house and sing for joy." + +They are the men we are converting. Think of it! I tell you, when I read +these things, I say that love is not of any country; nobility does not +belong exclusively to any race, and through all the ages, there have +been a few great and tender souls blossoming in love and pity. + +In my judgment, the woman is the equal of the man. She has all the +rights I have and one more, and that is the right to be protected. That +is my doctrine. You are married; try and make the woman you love happy. +Whoever marries simply for himself will make a mistake; but whoever +loves a woman so well that he says "I will make her happy," makes no +mistake. And so with the woman who says, "I will make him happy." There +is only one way to be happy, and that is to make somebody else so, and +you cannot be happy by going cross lots; you have got to go the regular +turnpike road. + +If there is any man I detest, it is the man who thinks he is the head +of a family--the man who thinks he is "boss!" The fellow in the dug-out +used that word "boss;" that was one of his favorite expressions. + +Imagine a young man and a young woman courting, walking out in the +moonlight, and the nightingale singing a song of pain and love, as +though the thorn touched her heart--imagine them stopping there in the +moonlight and starlight and song, and saying, "Now, here, let us settle +who is 'boss!'" I tell you it is an infamous word and an infamous +feeling--I abhor a man who is "boss," who is going to govern in his +family, and when he speaks orders all the rest to be still as some +mighty idea is about to be launched from his mouth. Do you know I +dislike this man unspeakably? + +I hate above all things a cross man. What right has he to murder the +sunshine of a day? What right has he to assassinate the joy of life? + +When you go home you ought to go like a ray of light--so that it will, +even in the night, bursty out of the doors and windows and illuminate +the darkness. Some men think their mighty brains have been in a turmoil; +they have been thinking about who will be alderman from the fifth ward; +they have been thinking about politics; great and mighty questions have +been engaging their minds; they have bought calico at five cents or six, +and want to sell it for seven. Think of the intellectual strain that +must have been upon that man, and when he gets home everybody else in +the house must look out for his comfort. A woman who has only taken care +of five or six children, and one or two of them sick, has been nursing +them and singing to them, and trying to make one yard of cloth do the +work of two, she, of course, is fresh and fine and ready to wait upon +this gentleman--the head of the family--the boss! + +Do you know another thing? I despise a stingy man. I do not see how +it is possible for a man to die worth fifty million of dollars, or ten +million of dollars, in a city full of want, when he meets almost every +day the withered hand of beggary and the white lips of famine. How a man +can withstand all that, and hold in the clutch of his greed twenty or +thirty million of dollars, is past my comprehension. I do not see how he +can do it. I should not think he could do it any more than he could keep +a pile of lumber on the beach, where hundreds and thousands of men were +drowning in the sea. + +Do you know that I have known men who would trust their wives with their +hearts and their honor but not with their pocketbook; not with a dollar. +When I see a man of that kind, I always think he knows which of these +articles is the most valuable. Think of making your wife a beggar! Think +of her having to ask you every day for a dollar, or for two dollars or +fifty cents! "What did you do with that dollar I gave you last week?" +Think of having a wife that is afraid of you! What kind of children do +you expect to have with a beggar and a coward for their mother? Oh, +I tell you if you have but a dollar in the world, and you have got to +spend it, spend it like a king; spend it as though it were a dry leaf +and you the owner of unbounded forests! That's the way to spend it! I +had rather be a beggar and spend my last dollar like a king, than be a +king and spend my money like a beggar! If it has got to go, let it go! + +Get the best you can for your family--try to look as well as you can +yourself. When you used to go courting, how elegantly you looked! Ah, +your eye was bright, your step was light, and you looked like a prince. +Do you know that it is insufferable egotism in you to suppose a woman +is going to love you always looking as slovenly as you can! Think of +it! Any good woman on earth will be true to you forever when you do your +level best. + +Some people tell me, "Your doctrine about loving, and wives, and all +that, is splendid for the rich, but it won't do for the poor." I tell +you to-night there is more love in the homes of the poor than in the +palaces of the rich. The meanest hut with love in it is a palace fit for +the gods, and a palace without love is a den only fit for wild beasts. +That is my doctrine! You cannot be so poor that you cannot help +somebody. Good nature is the cheapest commodity in the world; and love +is the only thing that will pay ten per cent, to borrower and lender +both. Do not tell me that you have got to be rich! We have a false +standard of greatness in the United States. We think here that a man +must be great, that he must be notorious; that he must be extremely +wealthy, or that his name must be upon the putrid lips of rumor. It is +all a mistake. It is not necessary to be rich or to be great, or to be +powerful, to be happy. The happy man is the successful man. + +Happiness is the legal tender of the soul. + +Joy is wealth. + +A little while ago, I stood by the grave of the old Napoleon--a +magnificent tomb of gilt and gold, fit almost for a dead deity--and +gazed upon the sarcophagus of rare and nameless marble, where rest at +last the ashes of that restless man. I leaned over the balustrade and +thought about the career of the greatest soldier of the modern world. + +I saw him walking upon the banks of the Seine, contemplating suicide. +I saw him at Toulon--I saw him putting down the mob in the streets of +Paris--I saw him at the head of the army of Italy--I saw him crossing +the bridge of Lodi with the tri-color in his hand--I saw him in Egypt in +the shadows of the pyramids--I saw him conquer the Alps and mingle the +eagles of France with the eagles of the crags. I saw him at Marengo--at +Ulm and Austerlitz. I saw him in Russia, where the infantry of the snow +and the cavalry of the wild blast scattered his legions like winter's +withered leaves. I saw him at Leipsic in defeat and disaster--driven by +a million bayonets back upon Paris--clutched like a wild beast--banished +to Elba. I saw him escape and retake an empire by the force of his +genius. I saw him upon the frightful field of Waterloo, where Chance and +Fate combined to wreck the fortunes of their former king. And I saw him +at St. Helena, with his hands crossed behind him, gazing out upon the +sad and solemn sea. + +I thought of the orphans and widows he had made--of the tears that +had been shed for his glory, and of the only woman who ever loved him, +pushed from his heart by the cold hand of ambition. And I said I would +rather have been a French peasant and worn wooden shoes. I would rather +have lived in a hut with a vine growing over the door, and the grapes +growing purple in the kisses of the autumn sun. I would rather have been +that poor peasant with my loving wife by my side, knitting as the day +died out of the sky--with my children upon my knees and their arms about +me--I would rather have been that man and gone down to the tongueless +silence of the dreamless dust, than to have been that imperial +impersonation of force and murder, known as "Napoleon the Great." + +It is not necessary to be great to be happy; it is not necessary to +be rich to be just and generous and to have a heart filled with divine +affection. No matter whether you are rich or poor, treat your wife as +though she were a splendid flower, and she will fill your life with +perfume and with joy. + +And do you know, it is a splendid thing to think that the woman you +really love will never grow old to you. Through the wrinkles of time, +through the mask of years, if you really love her, you will always see +the face you loved and won. And a woman who really loves a man does not +see that he grows old; he is not decrepit to her; he does not tremble; +he is not old; she always sees the same gallant gentleman who won her +hand and heart. I like to think of it in that way; I like to think that +love is eternal. And to love in that way and then go down the hill +of life together, and as you go down, hear, perhaps, the laughter of +grandchildren, while the birds of joy and love sing once more in the +leafless branches of the tree of age. + +I believe in the fireside. I believe in the democracy of home. I believe +in the republicanism of the family. I believe in liberty, equality and +love. + + + + +THE LIBERTY OF CHILDREN. + +If women have been slaves, what shall I say of children; of the little +children in alleys and sub-cellars; the little children who turn pale +when they hear their fathers' footsteps; little children who run away +when they only hear their names called by the lips of a mother; little +children--the children of poverty, the children of crime, the children +of brutality, wherever they are--flotsam and jetsam upon the wild, mad +sea of life--my heart goes out to them, one and all. + +I tell you the children have the same rights that we have, and we ought +to treat them as though they were human beings. They should be reared +with love, with kindness, with tenderness, and not with brutality. That +is my idea of children. + +When your little child tells a lie, do not rush at him as though the +world were about to go into bankruptcy. Be honest with him. A tyrant +father will have liars for his children; do you know that? + +A lie is born of tyranny upon the one hand and weakness upon the other, +and when you rush at a poor little boy with a club in your hand, of +course he lies. + +I thank thee, Mother Nature, that thou hast put ingenuity enough in the +brain of a child, when attacked by a brutal parent, to throw up a little +breastwork in the shape of a lie. + +When one of your children tells a lie, be honest with him; tell him that +you have told hundreds of them yourself. Tell him it is not the best +way; that you have tried it. Tell him as the man did in Maine when his +boy left home: "John, honesty is the best policy; I have tried both." Be +honest with him. Suppose a man as much larger than you as you are larger +than a child five years old, should come at you with a liberty pole in +his hand, and in a voice of thunder shout, "Who broke that plate?" There +is not a solitary one of you who would not swear you never saw it, +or that it was cracked when you got it. Why not be honest with these +children? Just imagine a man who deals in stocks whipping his boy for +putting false rumors afloat! Think of a lawyer beating his own flesh and +blood for evading the truth when he makes half of his own living that +way! Think of a minister punishing his child for not telling all he +thinks! Just think of it! + +When your child commits a wrong, take it in your arms; let it feel your +heart beat against its heart; let the child know that you really and +truly and sincerely love it. Yet some Christians, good Christians, when +a child commits a fault, drive it from the door and say: "Never do you +darken this house again." Think of that! And then these same people will +get down on their knees and ask God to take care of the child they +have driven from home. I will never ask God to take care of my children +unless I am doing my level best in that same direction. + +But I will tell you what I say to my children: "Go where you will; +commit what crime you may; fall to what depth of degradation you may; +you can never commit any crime that will shut my door, my arms, or my +heart to you. As long as I live you shall have one sincere friend." + +Do you know that I have seen some people who acted as though they +thought that when the Savior said "Suffer little children to come unto +me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven," he had a raw-hide under his +mande, and made that remark simply to get the children within striking +distance? + +I do not believe in the government of the lash, if any one of you ever +expects to whip your children again, I want you to have a photograph +taken of yourself when you are in the act, with your face red with +vulgar anger, and the face of the little child, with eyes swimming +in tears and the little chin dimpled with fear, like a piece of water +struck by a sudden cold wind. Have the picture taken. If that little +child should die, I cannot think of a sweeter way to spend an autumn +afternoon than to go out to the cemetery, when the maples are clad +in tender gold, and little scarlet runners are coming, like poems of +regret, from the sad heart of the earth--and sit down upon the grave and +look at that photograph, and think of the flesh now dust that you beat. +I tell you it is wrong; it is no way to raise children! Make your home +happy. Be honest with them. Divide fairly with them in everything. + +Give them a little liberty and love, and you can not drive them out of +your house. They will want to stay there. Make home pleasant. Let them +play any game they wish. Do not be so foolish as to say: "You may roll +balls on the ground, but you must not roll them on a green cloth. You +may knock them with a mallet, but you must not push them with a cue. +You may play with little pieces of paper which have 'authors' written +on them, but you must not have 'cards.'" Think of it! "You may go to a +minstrel show where people blacken themselves and imitate humanity below +them, but you must not go to a theatre and see the characters created +by immortal genius put upon the stage." Why? Well, I can't think of any +reason in the world except "minstrel" is a word of two syllables, and +"theatre" has three. + +Let children have some daylight at home if you want to keep them there, +and do not commence at the cradle and shout "Don't!" "Don't!" "Stop!" +That is nearly all that is said to a child from the cradle until he is +twenty-one years old, and when he comes of age other people begin saying +"Don't!" And the church says "Don't!" and the party he belongs to says +"Don't!" + +I despise that way of going through this world. Let us have +liberty--just a little. Call me infidel, call me atheist, call me what +you will, I intend so to treat my children, that they can come to my +grave and truthfully say: "He who sleeps here never gave us a moment of +pain. From his lips, now dust, never came to us an unkind word." + +People justify all kinds of tyranny toward children upon the ground that +they are totally depraved. At the bottom of ages of cruelty lies this +infamous doctrine of total depravity. Religion contemplates a child as a +living crime--heir to an infinite curse--doomed to eternal fire. + +In the olden time, they thought some days were too good for a child to +enjoy himself. When I was a boy Sunday was considered altogether too +holy to be happy in. Sunday used to commence then when the sun went down +on Saturday night. We commenced at that time for the purpose of getting +a good ready, and when the sun fell below the horizon on Saturday +evening, there was a darkness fell upon the house ten thousand times +deeper than that of night. Nobody said a pleasant word; nobody laughed; +nobody smiled; the child that looked the sickest was regarded as the +most pious. That night you could not even crack hickory nuts. If you +were caught chewing gum it was only another evidence of the total +depravity of the human heart. It was an exceedingly solemn night. + +Dyspepsia was in the very air you breathed. Everybody looked sad and +mournful. I have noticed all my life that many people think they have +religion when they are troubled with dyspepsia. If there could be found +an absolute specific for that disease, it would be the hardest blow the +church has ever received. + +On Sunday morning the solemnity had simply increased. Then we went to +church. The minister was in a pulpit about twenty feet high, with a +little sounding-board above him, and he commenced at "firstly" and went +on and on and on to about "twenty-thirdly." Then he made a few remarks +by way of application; and then took a general view of the subject, and +in about two hours reached the last chapter in Revelation. + +In those days, no matter how cold the weather was, there was no fire in +the church. It was thought to be a kind of sin to be comfortable while +you were thanking God. The first church that ever had a stove in it in +New England, divided on that account. So the first church in which they +sang by note, was torn in fragments. + +After the sermon we had an intermission. Then came the catechism with +the chief end of man. We went through with that. We sat in a row with +our feet coming in about six inches of the floor. The minister asked +us if we knew that we all deserved to go to hell, and we all answered +"Yes." Then we were asked if we would be willing to go to hell if it was +God's will, and every little liar shouted "Yes." Then the same sermon +was preached once more, commencing at the other end and going back. +After that, we started for home, sad and solemn--overpowered with the +wisdom displayed in the scheme of the atonement. When we got home, if we +had been good boys, and the weather was warm, sometimes they would take +us out to the graveyard to cheer us up a little. It did cheer me. When +I looked at the sunken tombs and the leaning stones, and read the +half-effaced inscriptions through the moss of silence and forgetfulness, +it was a great comfort. The reflection came to my mind that the +observance of the Sabbath could not last always. Sometimes they would +sing that beautiful hymn in which occurs these cheerful lines: + + "Where congregations ne'er break up, + And Sabbaths never end." + +These lines, I think, prejudiced me a little against even heaven. Then +we had good books that we read on Sundays by way of keeping us happy +and contented. There were Milners' "History of the Waldenses," Baxter's +"Call to the Unconverted," Yahn's "Archaeology of the Jews," and +Jenkyns' "On the Atonement." I used to read Jenkyns' "On the Atonement." +I have often thought that an atonement would have to be exceedingly +broad in its provisions to cover the case of a man who would write a +book like that for a boy. + +But at last the Sunday wore away, and the moment the sun went down we +were free. Between three and four o'clock we would go out to see how the +sun was coming on. Sometimes it seemed to me that it was stopping from +pure meanness. But finally it went down. It had to. And when the last +rim of light sank below the horizon, off would go our caps, and we would +give three cheers for liberty once more. + +Sabbaths used to be prisons. Every Sunday was a Bastile. Every Christian +was a kind of turnkey, and every child was a prisoner,--a convict. In +that dungeon, a smile was a crime. + +It was thought wrong for a child to laugh upon this holy day. Think of +that! + +A little child would go out into the garden, and there would be a tree +laden with blossoms, and the little fellow would lean against it, and +there would be a bird on one of the boughs, singing and swinging, and +thinking about four little speckled eggs, warmed by the breast of its +mate,--singing and swinging, and the music in happy waves rippling out +of its tiny throat, and the flowers blossoming, the air filled with +perfume and the great white clouds floating in the sky, and the little +boy would lean up against that tree and think about hell and the worm +that never dies. + +I have heard them preach, when I sat in the pew and my feet did not +touch the floor, about the final home of the unconverted. In order to +impress upon the children the length of time they would probably stay if +they settled in that country, the preacher would frequently give us the +following illustration: "Suppose that once in a billion years a bird +should come from some far-distant planet, and carry off in its little +bill a grain of sand, a time would finally come when the last atom +composing this earth would be carried away; and when this last atom was +taken, it would not even be sun up in hell." Think of such an infamous +doctrine being taught to children! + +The laugh of a child will make the holiest day-more sacred still. +Strike, with hand of fire, O weird musician, thy harp strung with +Apollo's golden hair; fill the vast cathedral aisles with symphonies +sweet and dim, deft toucher of the organ keys; blow, bugler, blow, until +thy silver notes do touch and kiss the moonlit waves, and charm the +lovers wandering 'mid the vine-clad hills. But know, your sweetest +strains are discords all, compared with childhood's happy laugh--the +laugh that fills the eyes with light and every heart with joy. O +rippling river of laughter, thou art the blessed boundary line between +the beasts and men; and every wayward wave of thine doth drown some +fretful fiend of care. O Laughter, rose-lipped daughter of Joy, there +are dimples enough in thy cheeks to catch and hold and glorify all the +tears of grief. + +And yet the minds of children have been polluted by this infamous +doctrine of eternal punishment. I denounce it to-day as a doctrine, the +infamy of which no language is sufficient to express. + +Where did that doctrine of eternal punishment for men and women and +children come from? It came from the low and beastly skull of that +wretch in the dug-out. Where did he get it? It was a souvenir from the +animals. The doctrine of eternal punishment was born in the glittering +eyes of snakes--snakes that hung in fearful coils watching for their +prey. It was born of the howl and bark and growl of wild beasts. It +was born of the grin of hyenas and of the depraved chatter of unclean +baboons. I despise it with every drop of my blood. Tell me there is a +God in the serene heavens that will damn his children for the expression +of an honest belief! More men have died in their sins, judged by your +orthodox creeds, than there are leaves on all the forests in the wide +world ten thousand times over. Tell me these men are in hell; that these +men are in torment; that these children are in eternal pain, and that +they are to be punished forever and forever! I denounce this doctrine as +the most infamous of lies. + +When the great ship containing the hopes and aspirations of the world, +when the great ship freighted with mankind goes down in the night of +death, chaos and disaster, I am willing to go down with the ship. I +will not be guilty of the ineffable meanness of paddling away in some +orthodox canoe. I will go down with the ship, with those who love me, +and with those whom I have loved. If there is a God who will damn his +children forever, I would rather go to hell than to go to heaven and +keep the society of such an infamous tyrant. I make my choice now. I +despise that doctrine. It has covered the cheeks of this world with +tears. It has polluted the hearts of children, and poisoned the +imaginations of men. It has been a constant pain, a perpetual terror to +every good man and woman and child. It has filled the good with horror +and with fear; but it has had no effect upon the infamous and base. It +has wrung the hearts of the tender; it has furrowed the cheeks of the +good. This doctrine never should be preached again. What right have you, +sir, Mr. clergyman, you, minister of the gospel, to stand at the portals +of the tomb, at the vestibule of eternity, and fill the future with +horror and with fear? I do not believe this doctrine: neither do you. +If you did, you could not sleep one moment. Any man who believes it, and +has within his breast a decent, throbbing heart, will go insane. A man +who believes that doctrine and does not go insane has the heart of a +snake and the conscience of a hyena. + +Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is true, is +now in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he hears the cries +of the damned, preached this doctrine; and he said: "Can the believing +husband in heaven be happy with his unbelieving wife in hell? Can the +believing father in heaven be happy with his unbelieving children +in hell? Can the loving wife in heaven be happy with her unbelieving +husband in hell?" And he replies: "I tell you, yea. Such will be their +sense of justice, that it will increase rather than diminish their +bliss." There is no wild beast in the jungles of Africa whose reputation +would not be tarnished by the expression of such a doctrine. + +These doctrines have been taught in the name of religion, in the name of +universal forgiveness, in the name of infinite love and charity. Do not, +I pray you, soil the minds of your children with this dogma. Let them +read for themselves; let them think for themselves. + +Do not treat your children like orthodox posts to be set in a row. Treat +them like trees that need light and sun and air. Be fair and honest +with them; give them a chance. Recollect that their rights are equal to +yours. Do not have it in your mind that you must govern them; that they +must obey. Throw away forever the idea of master and slave. + +In old times they used to make the children go to bed when they were not +sleepy, and get up when they were sleepy. I say let them go to bed when +they are sleepy, and get up when they are not sleepy. + +But you say, this doctrine will do for the rich but not for the poor. +Well, if the poor have to waken their children early in the morning it +is as easy to wake them with a kiss as with a blow. Give your children +freedom; let them preserve their individuality. Let your children eat +what they desire, and commence at the end of a dinner they like. That is +their business and not yours. They know what they wish to eat. If they +are given their liberty from the first, they know what they want better +than any doctor in the world can prescribe. Do you know that all the +improvement that has ever been made in the practice of medicine has +been made by the recklessness of patients and not by the doctors? +For thousands and thousands of years the doctors would not let a man +suffering from fever have a drop of water. Water they looked upon as +poison. But every now and then some man got reckless and said, "I had +rather die than not to slake my thirst." Then he would drink two or +three quarts of water and get well. And when the doctor was told of +what the patient had done, he expressed great surprise that he was still +alive, and complimented his constitution upon being able to bear such a +frightful strain. The reckless men, however, kept on drinking the water, +and persisted in getting well. And finally the doctors said: "In a +fever, water is the very best thing you can take." So, I have more +confidence in the voice of nature about such things than I have in the +conclusions of the medical schools. + +Let your children have freedom and they will fall into your ways; they +will do substantially as you do; but if you try to make them, there is +some magnificent, splendid thing in the human heart that refuses to be +driven. And do you know that it is the luckiest thing that ever happened +for this world, that people are that way. What would have become of the +people five hundred years ago if they had followed strictly the advice +of the doctors? They would have all been dead. What would the people +have been, if at any age of the world they had followed implicitly +the direction of the church? They would have all been idiots. It is a +splendid thing that there is always some grand man who will not mind, +and who will think for himself. + +I believe in allowing the children to think for themselves. I believe +in the democracy of the family. If in this world there is anything +splendid, it is a home where all are equals. + +You will remember that only a few years ago parents would tell their +children to "let their victuals stop their mouths." They used to eat as +though it were a religious ceremony--a very solemn thing. Life should +not be treated as a solemn matter. I like to see the children at table, +and hear each one telling of the wonderful things he has seen and heard. +I like to hear the clatter of knives and forks and spoons mingling with +their happy voices. I had rather hear it than any opera that was ever +put upon the boards. Let the children have liberty. Be honest and fair +with them; be just; be tender, and they will make you rich in love and +joy. + +Men are oaks, women are vines, children are flowers. + +The human race has been guilty of almost countless crimes; but I have +some excuse for mankind. This world, after all, is not very well adapted +to raising good people. In the first place, nearly all of it is water. +It is much better adapted to fish culture than to the production of +folks. Of that portion which is land not one-eighth has suitable soil +and climate to produce great men and women. You cannot raise men and +women of genius, without the proper soil and climate, any more than you +can raise corn and wheat upon the ice fields of the Arctic sea. You must +have the necessary conditions and surroundings. Man is a product; you +must have the soil and food. The obstacles presented by nature must +not be so great that man cannot, by reasonable industry and courage, +overcome them. There is upon this world only a narrow belt of land, +circling zigzag the globe, upon which you can produce men and women of +talent. In the Southern Hemisphere the real climate that man needs falls +mostly upon the sea, and the result is, that the southern half of our +world has never produced a man or woman of great genius. In the far +north there is no genius--it is too cold. In the far south there is no +genius--it is too warm. There must be winter, and there must be summer. +In a country where man needs no coverlet but a cloud, revolution is his +normal condition. Winter is the mother of industry and prudence. Above +all, it is the mother of the family relation. Winter holds in its icy +arms the husband and wife and the sweet children. If upon this earth we +ever have a glimpse of heaven, it is when we pass a home in winter, at +night, and through the windows, the curtains drawn aside, we see the +family about the pleasant hearth; the old lady knitting; the cat playing +with the yarn; the children wishing they had as many dolls or dollars or +knives or somethings, as there are sparks going out to join the roaring +blast; the father reading and smoking, and the clouds rising like +incense from the altar of domestic joy. I never passed such a house +without feeling that I had received a benediction. + +Civilization, liberty, justice, charity, intellectual advancement, are +all flowers that blossom in the drifted snow. + +I do not know that I can better illustrate the great truth that only +part of the world is adapted to the production of great men and women +than by calling your attention to the difference between vegetation +in valleys and upon mountains. In the valley you find the oak and elm +tossing their branches defiantly to the storm, and as you advance up the +mountain side the hemlock, the pine, the birch, the spruce, the fir, +and finally you come to little dwarfed trees, that look like other +trees seen through a telescope reversed--every limb twisted as though +in pain--getting a scanty subsistence from the miserly crevices of the +rocks. You go on and on, until at last the highest crag is freckled with +a kind of moss, and vegetation ends. You might as well try to raise oaks +and elms where the mosses grow, as to raise great men and great women +where their surroundings are unfavorable. You must have the proper +climate and soil. + +A few years ago we were talking about the annexation of Santo Domingo to +this country. I was in Washington at the time. I was opposed to it I +was told that it was a most delicious climate; that the soil produced +everything. But I said: "We do not want it; it is not the right kind +of country in which to raise American citizens. Such a climate would +debauch us. You might go there with five thousand Congregational +preachers, five thousand ruling elders, five thousand professors in +colleges, five thousand of the solid men of Boston and their wives; +settle them all in Santo Domingo, and you will see the second generation +riding upon a mule, bareback, no shoes, a grapevine bridle, hair +sticking out at the top of their sombreros, with a rooster under each +arm, going to a cock fight on Sunday." Such is the influence of climate. + +Science, however, is gradually widening the area within which men +of genius can be produced. We are conquering the north with houses, +clothing, food and fuel. We are in many ways overcoming the heat of the +south. If we attend to this world instead of another, we may in time +cover the land with men and women of genius. + +I have still another excuse. I believe that man came up from the lower +animals. I do not say this as a fact. I simply say I believe it to be +a fact. Upon that question I stand about eight to seven, which, for all +practical purposes, is very near a certainty. When I first heard of that +doctrine I did not like it. My heart was filled with sympathy for those +people who have nothing to be proud of except ancestors. I thought, how +terrible this will be upon the nobility of the Old World. Think of their +being forced to trace their ancestry back to the duke Orang Outang, or +to the princess Chimpanzee. After thinking it all over, I came to the +conclusion that I liked that doctrine. I became convinced in spite of +myself. I read about rudimentary bones and muscles. I was told that +everybody had rudimentary muscles extending from the ear into the cheek. +I asked "What are they?" I was told: "They are the remains of +muscles; that they became rudimentary from lack of use; they went into +bankruptcy. They are the muscles with which your ancestors used to flap +their ears." I do not now so much wonder that we once had them as that +we have outgrown them. + +After all I had rather belong to a race that started from the skull-less +vertebrates in the dim Laurentian seas, vertebrates wiggling without +knowing why they wiggled, swimming without knowing where they were +going, but that in some way began to develop, and began to get a little +higher and a little higher in the scale of existence; that came up by +degrees through millions of ages through all the animal world, through +all that crawls and swims and floats and climbs and walks, and finally +produced the gentleman in the dug-out; and then from this man, getting +a little grander, and each one below calling every one above him a +heretic, calling every one who had made a little advance an infidel or +an atheist--for in the history of this world the man who is ahead has +always been called a heretic--I would rather come from a race that +started from that skull-less vertebrate, and came up and up and up and +finally produced Shakespeare, the man who found the human intellect +dwelling in a hut, touched it with the wand of his genius and it became +a palace domed and pinnacled; Shakespeare, who harvested all the fields +of dramatic thought, and from whose day to this, there have been only +gleaners of straw and chaff--I would rather belong to that race that +commenced a skull-less vertebrate and produced Shakespeare, a race that +has before it an infinite future, with the angel of progress leaning +from the far horizon, beckoning men forward, upward and onward +forever--I had rather belong to such a race, commencing there, producing +this, and with that hope, than to have sprung from a perfect pair upon +which the Lord has lost money every moment from that day to this. + + +CONCLUSION. + +I have given you my honest thought. Surely investigation is better than +unthinking faith. Surely reason is a better guide than fear. This world +should be controlled by the living, not by the dead. The grave is not a +throne, and a corpse is not a king. Man should not try to live on ashes. + +The theologians dead, knew no more than the theologians now living. +More than this cannot be said. About this world little is known,--about +another world, nothing. + +Our fathers were intellectual serfs, and their fathers were slaves. The +makers of our creeds were ignorant and brutal. Every dogma that we have, +has upon it the mark of whip, the rust of chain, and the ashes of fagot. + +Our fathers reasoned with instruments of torture. They believed in the +logic of fire and sword. They hated reason. They despised thought. They +abhorred liberty. + +Superstition is the child of slavery. Free thought will give us truth. +When all have the right to think and to express their thoughts, every +brain will give to all the best it has. The world will then be filled +with intellectual wealth. + +As long as men and women are afraid of the church, as long as a minister +inspires fear, as long as people reverence a thing simply because +they do not understand it, as long as it is respectable to lose your +self-respect, as long as the church has power, as long as mankind +worship a book, just so long will the world be filled with intellectual +paupers and vagrants, covered with the soiled and faded rags of +superstition. + +As long as woman regards the Bible as the charter of her rights, she +will be the slave of man. The Bible was not written by a woman. Within +its lids there is nothing but humiliation and shame for her. She is +regarded as the property of man. She is made to ask forgiveness for +becoming a mother. She is as much below her husband, as her husband is +below Christ. She is not allowed to speak. The gospel is too pure to be +spoken by her polluted lips. Woman should learn in silence. + +In the Bible will be found no description of a civilized home. The free +mother surrounded by free and loving children, adored by a free man, her +husband, was unknown to the inspired writers of the Bible. They did not +believe in the democracy of home--in the republicanism of the fireside. + +These inspired gentlemen knew nothing of the rights of children. They +were the advocates of brute force--the disciples of the lash. They knew +nothing of human rights. Their doctrines have brutalized the homes of +millions, and filled the eyes of infancy with tears. + +Let us free ourselves from the tyranny of a book, from the slavery of +dead ignorance, from the aristocracy of the air. + +There has never been upon the earth a generation of free men and +women. It is not yet time to write a creed. Wait until the chains are +broken--until dungeons are not regarded as temples. Wait until solemnity +is not mistaken for wisdom--until mental cowardice ceases to be known +as reverence. Wait until the living are considered the equals of the +dead--until the cradle takes precedence of the coffin. Wait until what +we know can be spoken without regard to what others may believe. Wait +until teachers take the place of preachers--until followers become +investigators. Wait until the world is free before you write a creed. + +In this creed there will be but one word--Liberty. + +Oh Liberty, float not forever in the far horizon--remain not forever in +the dream of the enthusiast, the philanthropist and poet, but come and +make thy home among the children of men! + +I know not what discoveries, what inventions, what thoughts may leap +from the brain of the world. I know not what garments of glory may be +woven by the years to come. I cannot dream of the victories to be won +upon the fields of thought; but I do know, that coming from the infinite +sea of the future, there will never touch this "bank and shoal of time" +a richer gift, a rarer blessing than liberty for man, for woman, and for +child. + + + + +ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS + +To Plow is to Pray--to Plant is to Prophesy, and the Harvest Answers and +Fulfills. + +I AM not an old and experienced farmer, nor a tiller of the soil, nor +one of the hard-handed sons of labor. I imagine, however, that I know +something about cultivating the soil, and getting happiness out of the +ground. + +I know enough to know that agriculture is the basis of all wealth, +prosperity and luxury. I know that in a country where the tillers of the +fields are free, everybody is free and ought to be prosperous. Happy is +that country where those who cultivate the land own it. Patriotism is +born in the woods and fields--by lakes and streams--by crags and plains. + +The old way of farming was a great mistake. Everything was done the +wrong way. It was all work and waste, weariness and want. They used +to fence a hundred and sixty acres of land with a couple of dogs. +Everything was left to the protection of the blessed trinity of chance, +accident and mistake. + +When I was a farmer they used to haul wheat two hundred miles in wagons +and sell it for thirty-five cents a bushel. They would bring home about +three hundred feet of lumber, two bunches of shingles, a barrel of salt, +and a cook-stove that never would draw and never did bake. + +In those blessed days the people lived on corn and bacon. Cooking was +an unknown art. Eating was a necessity, not a pleasure. It was hard work +for the cook to keep on good terms even with hunger. + +We had poor houses. The rain held the roofs in perfect contempt, and +the snow drifted joyfully on the floors and beds. They had no barns. The +horses were kept in rail pens surrounded with straw. Long before spring +the sides would be eaten away and nothing but roofs would be left. Food +is fuel. When the cattle were exposed to all the blasts of winter, it +took all the corn and oats that could be stuffed into them to prevent +actual starvation. + +In those times most farmers thought the best place for the pig-pen was +immediately in front of the house. There is nothing like sociability. + +Women were supposed to know the art of making fires without fuel. The +wood pile consisted, as a general thing, of one log upon which an axe or +two had been worn out in vain. There was nothing to kindle a fire with. +Pickets were pulled from the garden fence, clap-boards taken from the +house, and every stray plank was seized upon for kindling. Everything +was done in the hardest way. Everything about the farm was disagreeable. +Nothing was kept in order. Nothing was preserved. The wagons stood +in the sun and rain, and the plows rusted in the fields. There was +no leisure, no feeling that the work was done. It was all labor and +weariness and vexation of spirit. The crops were destroyed by wandering +herds, or they were put in too late, or too early, or they were blown +down, or caught by the frost, or devoured by bugs, or stung by flies, +or eaten by worms, or carried away by birds, or dug up by gophers, or +washed away by floods, or dried up by the sun, or rotted in the stack, +or heated in the crib, or they all run to vines, or tops, or straw, or +smut, or cobs. And when in spite of all these accidents that lie in wait +between, the plow and the reaper, they did succeed in raising a good +crop and a high price was offered, then the roads would be impassable. +And when the roads got good, then the prices went down. Everything +worked together for evil. + +Nearly every farmer's boy took an oath that he never would cultivate +the soil. The moment they arrived at the age of twenty-one they left +the desolate and dreary farms and rushed to the towns and cities. They +wanted to be bookkeepers, doctors, merchants, railroad men, insurance +agents, lawyers, even preachers, anything to avoid the drudgery of the +farm. Nearly every boy acquainted with the three R's--reading, writing, +and arithmetic--imagined that he had altogether more education than +ought to be wasted in raising potatoes and corn. They made haste to get +into some other business. Those who stayed upon the farm envied those +who went away. + +A few years ago the times were prosperous, and the young men went to the +cities to enjoy the fortunes that were waiting for them. They wanted to +engage in something that promised quick returns. They built railways, +established banks and insurance companies. They speculated in stocks +in Wall Street, and gambled in grain at Chicago. They became rich. +They lived in palaces. They rode in carriages. They pitied their poor +brothers on the farms, and the poor brothers envied them. + +But time has brought its revenge. The farmers have seen the railroad +president a bankrupt, and the road in the hands of a receiver. They have +seen the bank president abscond, and the insurance company a wrecked and +ruined fraud. The only solvent people, as a class, the only independent +people, are the tillers of the soil. + +Farming must be made more attractive. The comforts of the town must be +added to the beauty of the fields. The sociability of the city must be +rendered possible in the country. + +Farming has been made repulsive. The farmers have been unsociable and +their homes have been lonely. They have been wasteful and careless. They +have not been proud of their business. + +In the first place, farming ought to be reasonably profitable. The +farmers have not attended to their own interests. They have been robbed +and plundered in a hundred ways. + +No farmer can afford to raise corn and oats and hay to sell. He should +sell horses, not oats; sheep, cattle and pork, not corn. He should make +every profit possible out of what he produces. So long as the farmers of +Illinois ship their corn and oats, so long they will be poor,--just so +long will their farms be mortgaged to the insurance companies and banks +of the East,--just so long will they do the work and others reap the +benefit,--just so long will they be poor, and the money lenders grow +rich,--just so long will cunning avarice grasp and hold the net profits +of honest toil. When the farmers of the West ship beef and pork instead +of grain,--when we manufacture here,--when we cease paying tribute to +others, ours will be the most prosperous country in the world. + +Another thing--It is just as cheap to raise a good as a poor breed of +cattle. Scrubs will eat just as much as thoroughbreds. If you are not +able to buy Durhams and Alderneys, you can raise the corn breed. By +"corn breed" I mean the cattle that have, for several generations, had +enough to eat, and have been treated with kindness. Every farmer who +will treat his cattle kindly, and feed them all they want, will, in a +few years, have blooded stock on his farm. All blooded stock has been +produced in this way. You can raise good cattle just as you can raise +good people. If you wish to raise a good boy you must give him plenty to +eat, and treat him with kindness. In this way, and in this way only, can +good cattle or good people be produced. + +Another thing--You must beautify your homes. + +When I was a farmer it was not fashionable to set out trees, nor to +plant vines. + +When you visited the farm you were not welcomed by flowers, and greeted +by trees loaded with fruit. Yellow dogs came bounding over the tumbled +fence like wild beasts. There is no sense--there is no profit in such a +life. It is not living. The farmers ought to beautify their homes. There +should be trees and grass and flowers and running vines. Everything +should be kept in order--gates should be on their hinges, and about all +there should be the pleasant air of thrift. In every house there should +be a bath-room. The bath is a civilizer, a refiner, a beautifier. +When you come from the fields tired, covered with dust, nothing is so +refreshing. Above all things, keep clean. It is not necessary to be a +pig in order to raise one. In the cool of the evening, after a day in +the field, put on clean clothes, take a seat under the trees, 'mid the +perfume of flowers, surrounded by your family, and you will know what it +is to enjoy life like a gentleman. + +In no part of the globe will farming pay better than in Illinois. You +are in the best portion of the earth. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, +there is no such country as yours. The East is hard and stony; the +soil is stingy. The far West is a desert parched and barren, dreary and +desolate as perdition would be with the fires out. It is better to dig +wheat and corn from the soil than gold. Only a few days ago, I was where +they wrench the precious metals from the miserly clutch of the rocks. +When I saw the mountains, treeless, shrub-less, flowerless, without even +a spire of grass, it seemed to me that gold had the same effect upon +the country that holds it, as upon the man who lives and labors only for +that. It affects the land as it does the man. It leaves the heart barren +without a flower of kindness--without a blossom of pity. + +The farmer in Illinois has the best soil--the greatest return for the +least labor--more leisure--more time for enjoyment than any other +farmer in the world. His hard work ceases with autumn. He has the long +winters in which to become acquainted with his family--with his +neighbors--in which to read and keep abreast with the advanced thought +of his day. He has the time and means for self-culture. He has more time +than the mechanic, the merchant or the professional man. If the farmer +is not well informed it is his own fault. Books are cheap, and every +farmer can have enough to give him the outline of every science, and an +idea of all that has been accomplished by man. + +In many respects the farmer has the advantage of the mechanic. In our +time we have plenty of mechanics but no tradesmen. In the sub-division +of labor we have a thousand men working upon different parts of the same +thing, each taught in one particular branch, and in only one. We have, +say, in a shoe factory, hundreds of men, but not one shoemaker. It takes +them all, assisted by a great number of machines, to make a shoe. Each +does a particular part, and not one of them knows the entire trade. The +result is that the moment the factory shuts down these men are out of +employment. Out of employment means out of bread--out of bread means +famine and horror. The mechanic of to-day has but little independence. +His prosperity often depends upon the good will of one man. He is liable +to be discharged for a look, for a word. He lays by but little for his +declining years. He is, at the best, the slave of capital. + +It is a thousand times better to be a whole farmer than part of a +mechanic. It is better to till the ground and work for yourself than +to be hired by corporations. Every man should endeavor to belong to +himself. + +About seven hundred years ago, Khayyam, a Persian, said: "Why should a +man who possesses a piece of bread securing life for two days, and who +has a cup of water--why should such a man be commanded by another, and +why should such a man serve another?" + +Young men should not be satisfied with a salary. Do not mortgage the +possibilities of your future. Have the courage to take life as it comes, +feast or famine. Think of hunting a gold mine for a dollar a day, and +think of finding one for another man. How would you feel then? + +We are lacking in true courage, when, for fear of the future, we take +the crusts and scraps and niggardly salaries of the present. I had +a thousand times rather have a farm and be independent, than to be +President of the United States without independence, filled with doubt +and trembling, feeling of the popular pulse, resorting to art and +artifice, enquiring about the wind of opinion, and succeeding at last in +losing my self-respect without gaining the respect of others. + +Man needs more manliness, more real independence. We must take care of +ourselves. This we can do by labor, and in this way we can preserve our +independence. We should try and choose that business or profession the +pursuit of which will give us the most happiness. Happiness is wealth. +We can be happy without being rich--without holding office--without +being famous. I am not sure that we can be happy with wealth, with +office, or with fame. + +There is a quiet about the life of a farmer, and the hope of a +serene old age, that no other business or profession can promise. A +professional man is doomed sometime to feel that his powers are waning. +He is doomed to see younger and stronger men pass him in the race of +life. He looks forward to an old age of intellectual mediocrity. He will +be last where once he was the first. But the farmer goes, as it were, +into partnership with nature--he lives with trees and flowers--he +breathes the sweet air of the fields. There is no constant and frightful +strain upon his mind. His nights are filled with sleep and rest. He +watches his flocks and herds as they feed upon the green and sunny +slopes. He hears the pleasant rain falling upon the waving corn, and the +trees he planted in youth rustle above him as he plants others for the +children yet to be. + +Our country is filled with the idle and unemployed, and the great +question asking for an answer is: What shall be done with these men? +What shall these men do? To this there is but one answer: They must +cultivate the soil. Farming must be rendered more attractive. Those who +work the land must have an honest pride in their business. They must +educate their children to cultivate the soil. They must make farming +easier, so that their children will not hate it--so that they will not +hate it themselves. The boys must not be taught that tilling the ground +is a curse and almost a disgrace. They must not suppose that education +is thrown away upon them unless they become ministers, merchants, +lawyers, doctors, or statesmen. It must be understood that education +can be used to advantage on a farm. We must get rid of the idea that a +little learning unfits one for work. There is no real conflict between +Latin and labor. There are hundreds of graduates of Yale and Harvard +and other colleges, who are agents of sewing machines, solicitors for +insurance, clerks, copyists, in short, performing a hundred varieties of +menial service. They seem willing to do anything that is not regarded as +work--anything that can be done in a town, in the house, in an office, +but they avoid farming as they would a leprosy. Nearly every young man +educated in this way is simply ruined. Such an education ought to be +called ignorance. It is a thousand times better to have common sense +without education, than education without the sense. Boys and girls +should be educated to help themselves. They should be taught that it is +disgraceful to be idle, and dishonorable to be useless. + +I say again, if you want more men and women on the farms, something must +be done to make farm life pleasant. One great difficulty is that the +farm is lonely. People write about the pleasures of solitude, but they +are found only in books. He who lives long alone becomes insane. A +hermit is a madman. Without friends and wife and child, there is nothing +left worth living for. The unsocial are the enemies of joy. They are +filled with egotism and envy, with vanity and hatred. People who live +much alone become narrow and suspicious. They are apt to be the property +of one idea. They begin to think there is no use in anything. They look +upon the happiness of others as a kind of folly. They hate joyous folks, +because, way down in their hearts, they envy them. + +In our country, farm-life is too lonely. The farms are large, and +neighbors are too far apart. In these days, when the roads are filled +with "tramps," the wives and children need protection. When the farmer +leaves home and goes to some distant field to work, a shadow of fear is +upon his heart all day, and a like shadow rests upon all at home. + +In the early settlement of our country the pioneer was forced to take +his family, his axe, his dog and his gun, and go into the far wild +forest, and build his cabin miles and miles from any neighbor. He saw +the smoke from his hearth go up alone in all the wide and lonely sky. + +But this necessity has passed away, and now, instead of living so far +apart upon the lonely farms, you should live in villages. With the +improved machinery which you have--with your generous soil--with +your markets and means of transportation, you can now afford to live +together. + +It is not necessary in this age of the world for the farmer to rise in +the middle of the night and begin his work. This getting up so early in +the morning is a relic of barbarism. It has made hundreds and thousands +of young men curse the business. There is no need of getting up at three +or four o'clock in the winter morning. The farmer who persists in doing +it and persists in dragging his wife and children from their beds ought +to be visited by a missionary. It is time enough to rise after the sun +has set the example. For what purpose do you get up? To feed the cattle? +Why not feed them more the night before? It is a waste of life. In the +old times they used to get up about three o'clock in the morning, and go +to work long before the sun had risen with "healing upon his wings," and +as a just punishment they all had the ague; and they ought to have it +now. The man who cannot get a living upon Illinois soil without rising +before daylight ought to starve. Eight hours a day is enough for any +farmer to work except in harvest time. When you rise at four and work +till dark what is life worth? Of what use are all the improvements in +farming? Of what use is all the improved machinery unless it tends to +give the farmer a little more leisure? What is harvesting now, compared +with what it was in the old time? Think of the days of reaping, of +cradling, of raking and binding and mowing. Think of threshing with +the flail and winnowing with the wind. And now think of the reapers and +mowers, the binders and threshing machines, the plows and cultivators, +upon which the farmer rides protected from the sun. If, with all these +advantages, you cannot get a living without rising in the middle of the +night, go into some other business. You should not rob your families of +sleep. Sleep is the best medicine in the world. It is the best doctor +upon the earth. There is no such thing as health without plenty of +sleep. Sleep until you are thoroughly rested and restored. When you +work, work; and when you get through take a good, long, and refreshing +rest. + +You should live in villages, so that you can have the benefits of social +life. You can have a reading-room--you can take the best papers and +magazines--you can have plenty of books, and each one can have the +benefit of them all. Some of the young men and women can cultivate +music. You can have social gatherings--you can learn from each +other--you can discuss all topics of interest, and in this way you can +make farming a delightful business. You must keep up with the age. +The way to make farming respectable is for farmers to become really +intelligent. They must live intelligent and happy lives. They must know +something of books and something of what is going on in the world. +They must not be satisfied with knowing something of the affairs of a +neighborhood and nothing about the rest of the earth. The business must +be made attractive, and it never can be until the farmer has prosperity, +intelligence and leisure. + +Another thing--I am a believer in fashion. It is the duty of every woman +to make herself as beautiful and attractive as she possibly can. + +"Handsome is as handsome does," but she is much handsomer if well +dressed. Every man should look his very best. I am a believer in good +clothes. The time never ought to come in this country when you can tell +a farmer's wife or daughter simply by the garments she wears. I say to +every girl and woman, no matter what the material of your dress may be, +no matter how cheap and coarse it is, cut it and make it in the fashion. +I believe in jewelry. Some people look upon it as barbaric, but in my +judgment, wearing jewelry is the first evidence the barbarian gives of +a wish to be civilized. To adorn ourselves seems to be a part of our +nature, and this desire seems to be everywhere and in everything. I +have sometimes thought that the desire for beauty covers the earth with +flowers. It is this desire that paints the wings of moths, tints the +chamber of the shell, and gives the bird its plumage and its song. Oh +daughters and wives, if you would be loved, adorn yourselves--if you +would be adored, be beautiful! + +There is another fault common with the farmers of our country--they want +too much land. You cannot, at present, when taxes are high, afford to +own land that you do not cultivate. Sell it and let others make farms +and homes. In this way what you keep will be enhanced in value. Farmers +ought to own the land they cultivate, and cultivate what they own. +Renters can hardly be called farmers. There can be no such thing in the +highest sense as a home unless you own it. There must be an incentive +to plant trees, to beautify the grounds, to preserve and improve. It +elevates a man to own a home. It gives a certain independence, a force +of character that is obtained in no other way. A man without a home +feels like a passenger. There is in such a man a little of the vagrant. +Homes make patriots. He who has sat by his own fireside with wife and +children will defend it. When he hears the word country pronounced, he +thinks of his home. + +Few men have been patriotic enough to shoulder a musket in defence of a +boarding house. + +The prosperity and glory of our country depend upon the number of our +people who are the owners of homes. Around the fireside cluster the +private and the public virtues of our race. Raise your sons to be +independent through labor--to pursue some business for themselves +and upon their own account--to be self-reliant--to act upon their own +responsibility, and to take the consequences like men. Teach them above +all things to be good, true and tender husbands--winners of love and +builders of homes. + +A great many farmers seem to think that they are the only laborers +in the world. This is a very foolish thing. Farmers cannot get along +without the mechanic. You are not independent of the man of genius. +Your prosperity depends upon the inventor. The world advances by the +assistance of all laborers; and all labor is under obligations to the +inventions of genius. The inventor does as much for agriculture as he +who tills the soil. All laboring men should be brothers. You are in +partnership with the mechanics who make your reapers, your mowers and +your plows; and you should take into your granges all the men who make +their living by honest labor. The laboring people should unite and +should protect themselves against all idlers. You can divide mankind +into two classes: the laborers and the idlers, the supporters and the +supported, the honest and the dishonest. Every man is dishonest who +lives upon the unpaid labor of others, no matter if he occupies a +throne. All laborers should be brothers. The laborers should have equal +rights before the world and before the law. And I want every farmer to +consider every man who labors either with hand or brain as his brother. +Until genius and labor formed a partnership there was no such thing +as prosperity among men. Every reaper and mower, every agricultural +implement, has elevated the work of the farmer, and his vocation grows +grander with every invention. In the olden time the agriculturist +was ignorant; he knew nothing of machinery, he was the slave of +superstition. He was always trying to appease some imaginary power by +fasting and prayer. He supposed that some being actuated by malice, sent +the untimely frost, or swept away with the wild wind his rude abode. +To him the seasons were mysteries. The thunder told him of an enraged +god--the barren fields of the vengeance of heaven. The tiller of the +soil lived in perpetual and abject fear. He knew nothing of mechanics, +nothing of order, nothing of law, nothing of cause and effect. He was +a superstitious savage. He invented prayers instead of plows, creeds +instead of reapers and mowers. He was unable to devote all his time to +the gods, and so he hired others to assist him, and for their influence +with the gentlemen supposed to control the weather, he gave one-tenth of +all he could produce. + +The farmer has been elevated through science and he should not forget +the debt he owes to the mechanic, to the inventor, to the thinker. He +should remember that all laborers belong to the same grand family--that +they are the real kings and queens, the only true nobility. + +Another idea entertained by most farmers is that they are in some +mysterious way oppressed by every other kind of business--that they are +devoured by monopolies, especially by railroads. + +Of course, the railroads are indebted to the farmers for their +prosperity, and the farmers are indebted to the railroads. Without them +Illinois would be almost worthless. + +A few years ago you endeavored to regulate the charges of railroad +companies. The principal complaint you had was that they charged too +much for the transportation of corn and other cereals to the East. You +should remember that all freights are paid by the consumer; and that +it made little difference to you what the railroad charged for +transportation to the East, as that transportation had to be paid by +the consumers of the grain. You were really interested in transportation +from the East to the West and in local freights. The result is that +while you have put down through freights you have not succeeded so well +in local freights. The exact opposite should be the policy of Illinois. +Put down local freights; put them down, if you can, to the lowest +possible figure, and let through rates take care of themselves. If all +the corn raised in Illinois could be transported to New York absolutely +free, it would enhance but little the price that you would receive. +What we want is the lowest possible local rate. Instead of this you have +simply succeeded in helping the East at the expense of the West. The +railroads are your friends. They are your partners. They can prosper +only where the country through which they run prospers. All intelligent +railroad men know this. They know that present robbery is future +bankruptcy. They know that the interest of the farmer and of the +railroad is the same. We must have railroads. What can we do without +them? + +When we had no railroads, we drew, as I said before, our grain two +hundred miles to market. + +In those days the farmers did not stop at hotels. They slept under their +wagons--took with them their food--fried their own bacon, made their +coffee, and ate their meals in the snow and rain. Those were the days +when they received ten cents a bushel for corn--when they sold four +bushels of potatoes for a quarter--thirty-three dozen eggs for a dollar, +and a hundred pounds of pork for a dollar and a half. + +What has made the difference? + +The railroads came to your door and they brought with them the markets +of the world. They brought New York and Liverpool and London into +Illinois, and the State has been clothed with prosperity as with a +mantle. It is the interest of the farmer to protect every great interest +in the State. You should feel proud that Illinois has more railroads +than any other State in this Union. Her main tracks and side tracks +would furnish iron enough to belt the globe. In Illinois there are +ten thousand miles of railways. In these iron highways more than three +hundred million dollars have been invested--a sum equal to ten times +the original cost of all the land in the State. To make war upon the +railroads is a short-sighted and suicidal policy. They should be treated +fairly and should be taxed by the same standard that farms are taxed, +and in no other way. If we wish to prosper we must act together, and we +must see to it that every form of labor is protected. + +There has been a long period of depression in all business. The farmers +have suffered least of all. Your land is just as rich and productive as +ever. Prices have been reasonable. The towns and cities have suffered. +Stocks and bonds have shrunk from par to worthless paper. Princes have +become paupers, and bankers, merchants and millionaires have passed into +the oblivion of bankruptcy. The period of depression is slowly passing +away, and we are entering upon better times. + +A great many people say that a scarcity of money is our only difficulty. +In my opinion we have money enough, but we lack confidence in each other +and in the future. + +There has been so much dishonesty, there have been so many failures, +that the people are afraid to trust anybody. There is plenty of money, +but there seems to be a scarcity of business. If you were to go to the +owner of a ferry, and, upon seeing his boat lying high and dry on the +shore, should say, "There is a superabundance of ferryboat," he would +probably reply, "No, but there is a scarcity of water." So with us there +is not a scarcity of money, but there is a scarcity of business. And +this scarcity springs from lack of confidence in one another. So many +presidents of savings banks, even those belonging to the Young Men's +Christian Association, run off with the funds; so many railroad and +insurance companies are in the hands of receivers; there is so much +bankruptcy on every hand, that all capital is held in the nervous clutch +of fear. Slowly, but surely we are coming back to honest methods in +business. Confidence will return, and then enterprise will unlock the +safe and money will again circulate as of yore; the dollars will leave +their hiding places and every one will be seeking investment. + +For my part, I do not ask any interference on the part of the Government +except to undo the wrong it has done. I do not ask that money be made +out of nothing. I do not ask for the prosperity born of paper. But I do +ask for the remonetization of silver. Silver was demonetized by fraud. +It was an imposition upon every solvent man; a fraud upon every honest +debtor in the United States. It assassinated labor. It was done in the +interest of avarice and greed, and should be undone by honest men. + +The farmers should vote only for such men as are able and willing to +guard and advance the interests of labor. We should know better than +to vote for men who will deliberately put a tariff of three dollars +a thousand upon Canada lumber, when every farmer in Illinois is a +purchaser of lumber. People who live upon the prairies ought to vote for +cheap lumber. We should protect ourselves. We ought to have intelligence +enough to know what we want and how to get it. The real laboring men of +this country can succeed if they are united. By laboring men, I do not +mean only the farmers. I mean all who contribute in some way to the +general welfare. They should forget prejudices and party names, and +remember only the best interests of the people. Let us see if we cannot, +in Illinois, protect every department of industry. Let us see if all +property cannot be protected alike and taxed alike, whether owned by +individuals or corporations. + +Where industry creates and justice protects, prosperity dwells. + +Let me tell you something more about Illinois. We have fifty-six +thousand square miles of land--nearly thirty-six million acres. Upon +these plains we can raise enough to feed and clothe twenty million +people. Beneath these prairies were hidden millions of ages ago, by +that old miser, the sun, thirty-six thousand square miles of coal. The +aggregate thickness of these veins is at least fifteen feet. Think of a +column of coal one mile square and one hundred miles high! All this +came from the sun. What a sunbeam such a column would be! Think of the +engines and machines this coal will run and turn and whirl! Think of +all this force, willed and left to us by the dead morning of the world! +Think of the firesides of the future around which will sit the fathers, +mothers and children of the years to be! Think of the sweet and happy +faces, the loving and tender eyes that will glow and gleam in the sacred +light of all these flames! + +We have the best country in the world, and Illinois is the best State +in that country. Is there any reason that our farmers should not be +prosperous and happy men? They have every advantage, and within their +reach are all the comforts and conveniences of life. + +Do not get the land fever and think you must buy all that joins you. Get +out of debt as soon as you possibly can. A mortgage casts a shadow on +the sunniest field. There is no business under the sun that can pay ten +per cent. + +Ainsworth R. Spofford gives the following facts about interest: "One +dollar loaned for one hundred years at six per cent., with the interest +collected annually and added to the principal, will amount to three +hundred and forty dollars. At eight per cent, it amounts to two thousand +two hundred and three dollars. At three per cent, it amounts only to +nineteen dollars and twenty-five cents. At ten per cent, it is thirteen +thousand eight hundred and nine dollars, or about seven hundred times +as much. At twelve per cent, it amounts to eighty-four thousand and +seventy-five dollars, or more than four thousand times as much. At +eighteen per cent, it amounts to fifteen million one hundred and +forty-five thousand and seven dollars. At twenty-four per cent, (which +we sometimes hear talked of) it reaches the enormous sum of two billion +five hundred and fifty-one million seven hundred and ninety-nine +thousand four hundred and four dollars." + +One dollar at compound interest, at twenty-four per cent., for one +hundred years, would produce a sum equal to our national debt. + +Interest eats night and day, and the more it eats the hungrier it grows. +The farmer in debt, lying awake at night, can, if he listens, hear it +gnaw. If he owes nothing, he can hear his corn grow. Get out of debt +as soon as you possibly can. You have supported idle avarice and lazy +economy long enough. + +Above all let every farmer treat his wife and children with infinite +kindness. Give your sons and daughters every advantage within your +power. In the air of kindness they will grow about you like flowers. +They will fill your homes with sunshine and all your years with joy. +Do not try to rule by force. A blow from a parent leaves a scar on the +soul. I should feel ashamed to die surrounded by children I had whipped. +Think of feeling upon your dying lips the kiss of a child you had +struck. + +See to it that your wife has every convenience. Make her life worth +living. Never allow her to become a servant. Wives, weary and worn, +mothers, wrinkled and bent before their time, fill homes with grief +and shame. If you are not able to hire help for your wives, help them +yourselves. See that they have the best utensils to work with. + +Women cannot create things by magic. Have plenty of wood and coal--good +cellars and plenty in them. Have cisterns, so that you can have plenty +of rain water for washing. Do not rely on a barrel and a board. When the +rain comes the board will be lost or the hoops will be off the barrel. + +Farmers should live like princes. Eat the best things you raise and sell +the rest. Have good things to cook and good things to cook with. Of all +people in our country, you should live the best. Throw your miserable +little stoves out of the window. Get ranges, and have them so built that +your wife need not burn her face off to get you a breakfast. Do not make +her cook in a kitchen hot as the orthodox perdition. The beef, not the +cook, should be roasted. It is just as easy to have things convenient +and right as to have them any other way. + +Cooking is one of the fine arts. Give your wives and daughters things to +cook, and things to cook with, and they will soon become most excellent +cooks. Good cooking is the basis of civilization. The man whose arteries +and veins are filled with rich blood made of good and well cooked food, +has pluck, courage, endurance and and noble impulses. The inventor of +a good soup did more for his race than the maker of any creed. The +doctrines of total depravity and endless punishment were born of bad +cooking and dyspepsia. Remember that your wife should have the things to +cook with. + +In the good old days there would be eleven children in the family and +only one skillet. Everything was broken or cracked or loaned or lost. + +There ought to be a law making it a crime, punishable by imprisonment, +to fry beefsteak. Broil it; it is just as easy, and when broiled it is +delicious. Fried beefsteak is not fit for a wild beast. You can broil +even on a stove. Shut the front damper--open the back one--then take off +a griddle. There will then be a draft downwards through this opening. +Put on your steak, using a wire broiler, and not a particle of smoke +will touch it, for the reason that the smoke goes down. If you try to +broil it with the front damper open, the smoke will rise. For broiling, +coal, even soft coal, makes a better fire than wood. + +There is no reason why farmers should not have fresh meat all the year +round. There is certainly no sense in stuffing yourself full of salt +meat every morning, and making a well or a cistern of your stomach for +the rest of the day. Every farmer should have an ice house. Upon or near +every farm is some stream from which plenty of ice can be obtained, and +the long summer days made delightful. Dr. Draper, one of the world's +greatest scientists, says that ice water is healthy, and that it has +done away with many of the low forms of fever in the great cities. Ice +has become one of the necessaries of civilized life, and without it +there is very little comfort. + +Make your homes pleasant. Have your houses warm and comfortable for the +winter. Do not build a story-and-a-half house. The half story is simply +an oven in which, during the summer, you will bake every night, and feel +in the morning as though only the rind of yourself was left. + +Decorate your rooms, even if you do so with cheap engravings. The +cheapest are far better than none. Have books--have papers, and read +them. You have more leisure than the dwellers in cities. Beautify your +grounds with plants and flowers and vines. Have good gardens. Remember +that everything of beauty tends to the elevation of man. Every little +morning-glory whose purple bosom is thrilled with the amorous kisses of +the sun, tends to put a blossom in your heart. Do not judge of the +value of everything by the market reports. Every flower about a house +certifies to the refinement of somebody. Every vine climbing and +blossoming, tells of love and joy. + +Make your houses comfortable. Do not huddle together in a little room +around a red-hot stove, with every window fastened down. Do not live in +this poisoned atmosphere, and then, when one of your children dies, put +a piece in the papers commencing with, "Whereas, it has pleased divine +Providence to remove from our midst--." Have plenty of air, and plenty +of warmth. Comfort is health. Do not imagine anything is unhealthy +simply because it is pleasant. That is an old and foolish idea. + +Let your children sleep. Do not drag them from their beds in the +darkness of night. Do not compel them to associate all that is tiresome, +irksome and dreadful with cultivating the soil. In this way you bring +farming into hatred and disrepute. Treat your children with infinite +kindness--treat them as equals. There is no happiness in a home not +filled with love. Where the husband hates his wife--where the wife hates +the husband; where children hate their parents and each other--there is +a hell upon earth. + +There is no reason why farmers should not be the kindest and most +cultivated of men. There is nothing in plowing the fields to make men +cross, cruel and crabbed. To look upon the sunny slopes covered with +daisies does not tend to make men unjust. Whoever labors for the +happiness of those he loves, elevates himself, no matter whether he +works in the dark and dreary shops, or in the perfumed fields. To work +for others is, in reality, the only way in which a man can work for +himself. Selfishness is ignorance. Speculators cannot make unless +somebody loses. In the realm of speculation, every success has at least +one victim. The harvest reaped by the farmer benefits all and injures +none. For him to succeed, it is not necessary that some one should fail. +The same is true of all producers--of all laborers. + +I can imagine no condition that carries with it such a promise of joy as +that of the farmer in the early winter. He has his cellar filled--he has +made every preparation for the days of snow and storm--he looks forward +to three months of ease and rest; to three months of fireside-content; +three months with wife and children; three months of long, delightful +evenings; three months of home; three months of solid comfort. + +When the life of the farmer is such as I have described, the cities and +towns will not be filled with want--the streets will not be crowded with +wrecked rogues, broken bankers, and bankrupt speculators. The fields +will be tilled, and country villages, almost hidden by trees and vines +and flowers, filled with industrious and happy people, will nestle in +every vale and gleam like gems on every plain. + +The idea must be done away with that there is something intellectually +degrading in cultivating the soil. Nothing can be nobler than to be +useful. Idleness should not be respectable. + +If farmers will cultivate well, and without waste; if they will so build +that their houses will be warm in winter and cool in summer; if they +will plant trees and beautify their homes; if they will occupy their +leisure in reading, in thinking, in improving their minds and in +devising ways and means to make their business profitable and pleasant; +if they will live nearer together and cultivate sociability; if they +will come together often; if they will have reading rooms and cultivate +music; if they will have bath-rooms, ice-houses and good gardens; if +their wives can have an easy time; if their sons and daughters can have +an opportunity to keep in line with the thoughts and discoveries of +the world; if the nights can be taken for sleep and the evenings for +enjoyment, everybody will be in love with the fields. Happiness should +be the object of life, and if life on the farm can be made really happy, +the children will grow up in love with the meadows, the streams, the +woods and the old home. Around the farm will cling and cluster the happy +memories of the delighful years. + +Remember, I pray you, that you are in partnership with all labor--that +you should join hands with all the sons and daughters of toil, and that +all who work belong to the same noble family. + +For my part, I envy the man who has lived on the same broad acres from +his boyhood, who cultivates the fields where in youth he played, and +lives where his father lived and died. + +I can imagine no sweeter way to end one's life + + + + +WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED? + + +PREFACE + +If what is known as the Christian Religion is true, nothing can be more +wonderful than the fact that Matthew, Mark and Luke say nothing about +"salvation by faith;" that they do not even hint at the doctrine of +the atonement, and are as silent as empty tombs as to the necessity of +believing anything to secure happiness in this world or another. + +For a good many years it has been claimed that the writers of these +gospels knew something about the teachings of Christ, and had, at least, +a general knowledge of the conditions of salvation. It now seems to +be substantiated that the early Christians did not place implicit +confidence in the gospels, and did not hesitate to make such changes and +additions as they thought proper. Such changes and additions are about +the only passages in the New Testament that the Evangelical Churches +now consider sacred. That portion of the last chapter of Mark, in which +unbelievers are so cheerfully and promptly damned, has been shown to be +an interpolation, and it is asserted that in the revised edition of the +New Testament, soon to be issued, the infamous passages will not appear. +With these expunged, there is not one word in Matthew, Mark, or Luke, +even tending to show that belief in Christ has, or can have, any effect +upon the destiny of the soul. + +The four gospels are the four corner-stones upon which rests the fabric +of orthodox Christianity. Three of these stones have crumbled, and the +fourth is not likely to outlast this generation. The gospel of John +cannot alone uphold the infinite absurdity of vicarious virtue and vice, +and it cannot, without the aid of "interpolation," sustain the illogical +and immoral dogma of salvation by faith. These frightful doctrines must +be abandoned; the miraculous must be given up, the wonderful stories +must be expunged, and from the creed of noble deeds the forgeries +of superstition must be blotted out. From the temple of Morality +and Truth--from the great windows towards the sun--the parasitic and +poisonous vines of faith and fable must be torn. + +The church will be compelled at last to rest its case, not upon the +wonders Christ is said to have performed, but upon the system of +morality he taught. All the miracles, including the resurrection and +ascension, are, when compared with portions of the "Sermon on the +Mount," but dust and darkness. + +The careful reader of the New Testament will find three Christs +described:--One who wished to preserve Judaism--one who wished to +reform it, and one who built a system of his own. The apostles and their +disciples, utterly unable to comprehend a religion that did away with +sacrifices, churches, priests, and creeds, constructed a Christianity +for themselves, so that the orthodox churches of to-day rest--first, +upon what Christ endeavored to destroy--second, upon what he never said, +and, third, upon a misunderstanding of what he did say. + +If a certain belief is necessary to insure the salvation of the soul, +the church ought to explain, and without any unnecessary delay, why such +an infinitely important fact was utterly ignored by Matthew, Mark +and Luke. There are only two explanations possible. Either belief is +unnecessary, or the writers of these three gospels did not understand +the Christian system. The "sacredness" of the subject cannot longer hide +the absurdity of the "scheme of salvation," nor the failure of Matthew, +Mark and Luke to mention, what is now claimed to have been, the entire +mission of Christ. The church must take from the New Testament the +supernatural'; the idea that an intellectual conviction can subject an +honest man to eternal pain--the awful doctrine that the innocent can +justly suffer for the guilty, and allow the remainder to be discussed, +denied or believed without punishment and without reward. No one will +object to the preaching of kindness, honesty and justice. To preach less +is a crime, and to practice more is impossible. + +There is one thing that ought to be again impressed upon the average +theologian, and that is the utter futility of trying to answer arguments +with personal abuse. It should be understood once for all that these +questions are in no sense personal. If it should turn out that all the +professed Christians in the world are sinless saints, the question of +how Matthew, Mark, and Luke, came to say nothing about the atonement and +the scheme of salvation by faith, would still be asked. And if it should +then be shown that all the doubters, deists, and atheists, are vile and +vicious wretches, the question still would wait for a reply. + +The origin of all religions, creeds, and sacred books, is substantially +the same, and the history of one, is, in the main, the history of all. +Thus far these religions have been the mistaken explanations of our +surroundings. The appearances of nature have imposed upon the ignorance +and fear of man. But back of all honest creeds was, and is, the desire +to know, to understand, and to explain, and that desire will, as I +most fervently hope and earnestly believe, be gratified at last by +the discovery of the truth. Until then, let us bear with the theories, +hopes, dreams, mistakes, and honest thoughts of all. + +Robert G. Ingersoll. + +Washington, D. C., + +October, 1880. + + +WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED? + +"THE NUREMBERG MAN WAS OPERATED BY A COMBINATION OF PIPES AND LEVERS, +AND THOUGH HE COULD BREATHE AND DIGEST PERFECTLY, AND EVEN REASON AS +WELL AS MOST THEOLOGIANS, WAS MADE OF NOTHING BUT WOOD AND LEATHER." + +THE whole world has been filled with fear. + +Ignorance has been the refuge of the soul. For thousands of years the +intellectual ocean was ravaged by the buccaneers of reason. Pious souls +clung to the shore and looked at the lighthouse. The seas were filled +with monsters and the islands with sirens. The people were driven in the +middle of a narrow road while priests went before, beating the hedges on +either side to frighten the robbers from their lairs. The poor followers +seeing no robbers, thanked their brave leaders with all their hearts. + + + + +I. WHAT WE MUST DO TO BE SAVED + +Huddled in folds they listened with wide eyes while the shepherds told +of ravening wolves. With great gladness they exchanged their fleeces for +security. Shorn and shivering, they had the happiness of seeing their +protectors comfortable and warm. + +Through all the years, those who plowed divided with those who prayed. +Wicked industry supported pious idleness, the hut gave to the cathedral, +and frightened poverty gave even its rags to buy a robe for hypocrisy. + +Fear is the dungeon of the mind, and superstition is a dagger with which +hypocrisy assassinates the soul. Courage is liberty. I am in favor of +absolute freedom of thought. In the realm of mind every one is monarch; +every one is robed, sceptered, and crowned, and every one wears the +purple of authority. I belong to the republic of intellectual liberty, +and only those are good citizens of that republic who depend upon reason +and upon persuasion, and only those are traitors who resort to brute +force. + +Now, I beg of you all to forget just for a few moments that you are +Methodists or Baptists or Catholics or Presbyterians, and let us for an +hour or two remember only that we are men and women. And allow me to +say "man" and "woman" are the highest titles that can be bestowed upon +humanity. + +Let us, if possible, banish all fear from the mind. Do not imagine that +there is some being in the infinite expanse who is not willing that +every man and woman should think for himself and herself. Do not imagine +that there is any being who would give to his children the holy torch of +reason, and then damn them for following that sacred light. Let us have +courage. + +Priests have invented a crime called "blasphemy," and behind that +crime hypocrisy has crouched for thousands of years. There is but one +blasphemy, and that is injustice. There is but one worship, and that is +justice! + +You need not fear the anger of a god that you cannot injure. Rather +fear to injure your fellow-men. Do not be afraid of a crime you can not +commit. Rather be afraid of the one that you may commit. The reason that +you cannot injure God is that the Infinite is conditionless. You cannot +increase or diminish the happiness of any being without changing that +being's condition. If God is conditionless, you can neither injure nor +benefit him. + +There was a Jewish gentleman went into a restaurant to get his dinner, +and the devil of temptation whispered in his ear: "Eat some bacon." +He knew if there was anything in the universe calculated to excite the +wrath of an infinite being, who made every shining star, it was to see +a gentleman eating bacon. He knew it, and he knew the infinite being was +looking, that he was the eternal eavesdropper of the universe. But his +appetite got the better of his conscience, as it often has with us all, +and he ate that bacon. He knew it was wrong, and his conscience felt +the blood of shame in its cheek. When he went into that restaurant the +weather was delightful, the sky was as blue as June, and when he came +out the sky was covered with angry clouds, the lightning leaping +from one to the other, and the earth shaking beneath the voice of the +thunder. He went back into that restaurant with a face as white as milk, +and he said to one of the keepers: + +"My God, did you ever hear such a fuss about a little piece of bacon?" + +As long as we harbor such opinions of infinity; as long as we imagine +the heavens to be filled with such tyranny, just so long the sons of +men will be cringing, intellectual cowards. Let us think, and let us +honestly express our thought. + +Do not imagine for a moment that I think people who disagree with me +are bad people. I admit, and I cheerfully admit, that a very large +proportion of mankind, and a very large majority, a vast number are +reasonably honest. I believe that most Christians believe what they +teach; that most ministers are endeavoring to make this world better. +I do not pretend to be better than they are. It is an intellectual +question. It is a question, first, of intellectual liberty, and after +that, a question to be settled at the bar of human reason. I do not +pretend to be better than they are. Probably I am a good deal worse than +many of them, but that is not the question. The question is: Bad as +I am, have I the right to think? And I think I have for two reasons: +First, I cannot help it. And secondly, I like it. The whole question is +right at a point. If I have not a right to express my thoughts, who has? + +"Oh," they say, "we will allow you to think, we will not burn you." + +"All right; why won't you burn me?" + +"Because we think a decent man will allow others to think and to express +his thought." + +"Then the reason you do not persecute me for my thought is that you +believe it would be infamous in you?" + +"Yes." + +"And yet you worship a God who will, as you declare, punish me forever?" + +Surely an infinite God ought to be as just as man. Surely no God can +have the right to punish his children for being honest. He should not +reward hypocrisy with heaven, and punish candor with eternal pain. + +The next question then is: Can I commit a sin against God by thinking? +If God did not intend I should think, why did he give me a thinker? For +one, I am convinced, not only that I have the right to think, but that +it is my duty to express my honest thoughts. Whatever the gods may say +we must be true to ourselves. + +We have got what they call the Christian system of religion, and +thousands of people wonder how I can be wicked enough to attack that +system. + +There are many good things about it, and I shall never attack anything +that I believe to be good! I shall never fear to attack anything I +honestly believe to be wrong! We have what they call the Christian +religion, and I find, just in proportion that nations have been +religious, just in the proportion they have clung to the religion of +their founders, they have gone back to barbarism. I find that Spain, +Portugal, Italy, are the three worst nations in Europe. I find that the +nation nearest infidel is the most prosperous--France. + +And so I say there can be no danger in the exercise of absolute +intellectual freedom. I find among ourselves the men who think are at +least as good as those who do not. + +We have, I say, a Christian system, and that system is founded upon +what they are pleased to call the "New Testament." Who wrote the New +Testament? I do not know. Who does know? Nobody. We have found many +manuscripts containing portions of the New Testament. Some of these +manuscripts leave out five or six books--many of them. Others more; +others less. No two of these manuscripts agree. Nobody knows who wrote +these manuscripts. They are all written in Greek. The disciples of +Christ, so far as we know, knew only Hebrew. Nobody ever saw so far as +we know, one of the original Hebrew manuscripts. + +Nobody ever saw anybody who had seen anybody who had heard of anybody +that had ever seen anybody that had ever seen one of the original Hebrew +manuscripts. No doubt the clergy of your city have told you these facts +thousands of times, and they will be obliged to me for having repeated +them once more. These manuscripts are written in what are called capital +Greek letters. They are called Uncial manuscripts, and the New Testament +was not divided into chapters and verses, even, until the year of grace +1551. In the original the manuscripts and gospels are signed by nobody. +The epistles are addressed to nobody; and they are signed by the same +person. All the addresses, all the pretended ear-marks showing to +whom they were written, and by whom they were written, are simply +interpolations, and everybody who has studied the subject knows it. + +It is further admitted that even these manuscripts have not been +properly translated, and they have a syndicate now making a new +translation; and I suppose that I can not tell whether I really believe +the New Testament or not until I see that new translation. + +You must remember, also, one other thing. Christ never wrote a solitary +word of the New Testament--not one word. There is an account that he +once stooped and wrote something in the sand, but that has not been +preserved. He never told anybody to write a word. He never said: +"Matthew, remember this. Mark, do not forget to put that down. Luke, be +sure that in your gospel you have this. John, do not forget it." Not one +word. And it has always seemed to me that a being coming from another +world, with a message of infinite importance to mankind, should at least +have verified that message by his own signature. Is it not wonderful +that not one word was written by Christ? Is it not strange that he +gave no orders to have his words preserved--words upon which hung the +salvation of a world? + +Why was nothing written? I will tell you. In my judgment they expected +the end of the world in a few days. That generation was not to pass away +until the heavens should be rolled up as a scroll, and until the earth +should melt with fervent heat. That was their belief. They believed that +the world was to be destroyed, and that there was to be another coming, +and that the saints were then to govern the earth. And they even went so +far among the apostles, as we frequently do now before election, as to +divide out the offices in advance. This Testament, as it now is, was not +written for hundreds of years after the apostles were dust. Many of the +pretended facts lived in the open mouth of credulity. They were in the +wastebaskets of forgetfulness. They depended upon the inaccuracy of +legend, and for centuries these doctrines and stories were blown about +by the inconstant winds. And when reduced to writing, some gentleman +would write by the side of the passage his idea of it, and the next +copyist would put that in as a part of the text. And, when it was mostly +written, and the church got into trouble, and wanted a passage to help +it out, one was interpolated to order. So that now it is among +the easiest things in the world to pick out at least one hundred +interpolations in the Testament. And I will pick some of them out before +I get through. + +And let me say here, once for all, that for the man Christ I have +infinite respect. Let me say, once for all, that the place where man has +died for man is holy ground. And let me say, once for all, that to that +great and serene man I gladly pay, I gladly pay, the tribute of my +admiration and my tears. He was a reformer in his day. He was an infidel +in his time. He was regarded as a blasphemer, and his life was destroyed +by hypocrites, who have, in all ages, done what they could to trample +freedom and manhood out of the human mind. Had I lived at that time I +would have been his friend, and should he come again he will not find a +better friend than I will be. + +That is for the man. For the theological creation I have a different +feeling. If he was, in fact, God, he knew there was no such thing as +death. He knew that what we called death was but the eternal opening of +the golden gates of everlasting joy; and it took no heroism to face a +death that was eternal life. + +But when a man, when a poor boy sixteen years of age, goes upon the +field of battle to keep his flag in heaven, not knowing but that death +ends all; not knowing but that when the shadows creep over him, the +darkness will be eternal, there is heroism. For the man who, in the +darkness, said: "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"--for that man I +have nothing but respect, admiration, and love. Back of the theological +shreds, rags, and patches, hiding the real Christ, I see a genuine man. + +A while ago I made up my mind to find out what was necessary for me to +do in order to be saved. If I have got a soul, I want it saved. I do not +wish to lose anything that is of value. + +For thousands of years the world has been asking that question: + +"What must we do to be saved?" + +Saved from poverty? No. Saved from crime? No. Tyranny? No. But "What +must we do to be saved from the eternal wrath of the God who made us +all?" + +If God made us, he will not destroy us. Infinite wisdom never made a +poor investment. Upon all the works of an infinite God, a dividend must +finally be declared. Why should God make failures? Why should he waste +material? Why should he not correct his mistakes, instead of damning +them? The pulpit has cast a shadow over even the cradle. The doctrine +of endless punishment has covered the cheeks of this world with tears. I +despise it, and I defy it. + +I made up my mind, I say, to see what I had to do in order to save my +soul according to the Testament, and thereupon I read it. I read the +gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and found that the church had +been deceiving me. I found that the clergy did not understand their own +book; that they had been building upon passages that had been +interpolated; upon passages that were entirely untrue, and I will tell +you why I think so. + + + + +II. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW + + +ACCORDING to the church, the first gospel was written by Matthew. As a +matter of fact he never wrote a word of it--never saw it, never heard of +it and probably never will. But for the purposes of this lecture I admit +that he wrote years; that he was his constant companion; that he shared +his sorrows and his triumphs; that he heard his words by the lonely +lakes, the barren hills, in synagogue and street, and that he knew his +heart and became acquainted with his thoughts and aims. + +Now let us see what Matthew says we must do in order to be saved. And +I take it that, if this is true, Matthew is as good authority as any +minister in the world. + +I will admit that he was with Christ for three years. + +The first thing I find upon the subject of salvation is in the fifth +chapter of Matthew, and is embraced in what is commonly known as the +Sermon on the Mount. It is as follows: + +"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." +Good! + +"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Good! Whether +they belonged to any church or not; whether they believed the Bible or +not? + +"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Good! + +"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the +peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are +they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the +kingdom of heaven." Good! + +In the same sermon he says: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law +or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." And then he +makes use of this remarkable language, almost as applicable to-day as +it was then: "For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall +exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no +wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." Good! + +In the sixth chapter I find the following, and it comes directly after +the prayer known as the Lord's prayer: + +"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also +forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will +your father forgive your trespasses." + +I accept the condition. There is an offer; I accept it. If you will +forgive men that trespass against you, God will forgive your trespasses +against him. I accept the terms, and I never will ask any God to treat +me better than I treat my fellow-men. There is a square promise. There +is a contract. If you will forgive others God will forgive you. And it +does not say you must believe in the Old Testament, or be baptized, or +join the church, or keep Sunday; that you must count beads, or pray, or +become a nun, or a priest; that you must preach sermons or hear them, +build churches or fill them. Not one word is said about eating or +fasting, denying or believing. It simply says, if you forgive others God +will forgive you; and it must of necessity be true. No god could afford +to damn a forgiving man. Suppose God should damn to everlasting fire a +man so great and good, that he, looking from the abyss of hell, would +forgive God,--how would a god feel then? + +Now let me make myself plain upon one subject, perfectly plain. For +instance, I hate Presbyterianism, but I know hundreds of splendid +Presbyterians. Understand me. I hate Methodism, and yet I know hundreds +of splendid Methodists. I hate Catholicism, and like Catholics. I hate +insanity but not the insane. + +I do not war against men. I do not war against persons. I war against +certain doctrines that I believe to be wrong. But I give to every other +human being every right that I claim for myself. + +The next thing that I find is in the seventh chapter and the second +verse: "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with +what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Good! That +suits me! + +And in the twelfth chapter of Matthew: "For whosoever shall do the will +of my Father that is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and +mother. For the son of man shall come in the glory of his father with +his angels, and then he shall reward every man according.... To the +church he belongs to? No. To the manner in which he was baptized? No. +According to his creed? No. Then he shall reward every man according to +his works." Good! I subscribe to that doctrine. + +And in the eighteenth chapter: "And Jesus called a little child to him +and stood him in the midst; and said, 'Verily I say unto you, except ye +be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into +the kingdom of heaven.'" I do not wonder that in his day, surrounded by +scribes and Pharisees, he turned lovingly to little children. + +And yet, see what children the little children of God have been. What +an interesting dimpled darling John Calvin was. Think of that +prattling babe, Jonathan Edwards! Think of the infants that founded the +Inquisition, that invented instruments of torture to tear human flesh. +They were the ones who had become as little children. They were the +children of faith. + +So I find in the nineteenth chapter: "And behold, one came and said unto +him: 'Good master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal +life?' And he said unto him, 'Why callest thou me good? There is none +good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the +commandments.' He saith unto him, 'which?'" + +Now, there is a fair issue. Here is a child of God asking God what is +necessary for him to do in order to inherit eternal life. And God said +to him: Keep the commandments. And the child said to the Almighty: +"Which?" Now, if there ever has been an opportunity given to the +Almighty to furnish a man of an inquiring mind with the necessary +information upon that subject, here was the opportunity. "He said unto +him, which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder; thou shalt not +commit adultery; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false +witness; honor thy father and mother; and thou shalt love thy neighbor +as thyself." + +He did not say to him: "You must believe in me--that I am the only +begotten son of the living God." He did not say: "You must be born +again." He did not say: "You must believe the Bible." He did not say: +"You must remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." He simply said: +"Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt +not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy +mother; and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." And thereupon the +young man, who I think was mistaken, said unto him: "All these things +have I kept from my youth up." + +What right has the church to add conditions of salvation? Why should we +suppose that Christ failed to tell the young man all that was necessary +for him to do? Is it possible that he left out some important thing +simply to mislead? Will some minister tell us why he thinks that Christ +kept back the "scheme"? + +Now comes an interpolation. + +In the old times when the church got a little scarce of money, they +always put in a passage praising poverty. So they had this young man +ask: "What lack I yet? And Jesus said unto him: If thou wilt be perfect, +go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have +treasure in heaven." + +The church has always been willing to swap off treasures in heaven for +cash down. And when the next verse was written the church must have been +nearly bankrupt. "And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel +to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into +the kingdom of God." Did you ever know a wealthy disciple to unload on +account of that verse? + +And then comes another verse, which I believe is an interpolation: "And +everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, +or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall +receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life." + +Christ never said it. Never. "Whosoever shall forsake father and +mother." + +Why, he said to this man that asked him, "What shall I do to inherit +eternal life?" among other things, he said: "Honor thy father and thy +mother." And we turn over the page and he says again: "If you will +desert your father and mother you shall have everlasting life." It will +not do. If you will desert your wife and your little children, or your +lands--the idea of putting a house and lot on equality with wife and +children! Think of that! I do not accept the terms. I will never desert +the one I love for the promise of any god. + +It is far more important to love your wife than to love God, and I will +tell you why. You cannot help him, but you can help her. You can fill +her life with the perfume of perpetual joy. It is far more important +that you love your children than that you love Jesus Christ. And why? +If he is God you cannot help him, but you can plant a little flower of +happiness in every footstep of the child, from the cradle until you die +in that child's arms. Let me tell you to-day it is far more important +to build a home than to erect a church. The holiest temple beneath the +stars is a home that love has built. And the holiest altar in all the +wide world is the fireside around which gather father and mother and the +sweet babes. + +There was a time when people believed the infamy commanded in this +frightful passage. There was a time when they did desert fathers and +mothers and wives and children. St. Augustine says to the devotee: Fly +to the desert, and though your wife put her arms around your neck, tear +her hands away; she is a temptation of the devil. Though your father and +mother throw their bodies athwart your threshold, step over them; and +though your children pursue, and with weeping' eyes beseech you to +return, listen not. It is the temptation of the evil one. Fly to the +desert and save your soul. Think of such a soul being worth saving. +While I live I propose to stand by the ones I love. + +There is another condition of salvation. I find it in the twenty-fifth +chapter: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, +ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the +foundation of the world. For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I +was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in; +naked and ye clothed me; I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison +and ye came unto me." Good! + +I tell you to-night that God will not punish with eternal thirst the man +who has put the cup of cold water to the lips of his neighbor. God will +not leave in the eternal nakedness of pain the man who has clothed his +fellow-men. + +For instance, here is a shipwreck, and here is some brave sailor who +stands aside and allows a woman whom he never saw before to take his +place in the boat, and he stands there, grand and serene as the wide +sea, and he goes down. Do you tell me that there is any God who will +push the lifeboat from the shore of eternal life, when that man wishes +to step in? Do you tell me that God can be unpitying to the pitiful, +that he can be unforgiving to the forgiving? I deny it; and from the +aspersions of the pulpit I seek to rescue the reputation of the Deity. + +Now, I have read you substantially everything in Matthew on the subject +of salvation. That is all there is. Not one word about believing +anything. It is the gospel of deed, the gospel of charity, the gospel +of self-denial; and if only that gospel had been preached, persecution +never would have shed one drop of blood. Not one. + +According to the testimony Matthew was well acquainted with Christ. +According to the testimony, he had been with him, and his companion for +years, and if it was necessary to believe anything in order to get to +heaven, Matthew should have told us. But he forgot it, or he did not +believe it, or he never heard of it. You can take your choice. + +In Matthew, we find that heaven is promised, first, to the poor in +spirit. Second, to the merciful. Third, to the pure in heart. Fourth, to +the peacemakers. Fifth, to those who are persecuted for righteousness' +sake. Sixth, to those who keep and teach the commandments. Seventh, to +those who forgive men that trespass against them. Eighth, that we will +be judged as we judge others. Ninth, that they who receive prophets and +righteous men shall receive a prophet's reward. Tenth, to those who do +the will of God. Eleventh, that every man shall be rewarded according to +his works. Twelfth, to those who become as little children. Thirteenth, +to those who forgive the trespasses of others. Fourteenth, to the +perfect: they who sell all that they have and give to the poor. +Fifteenth, to them who forsake houses, and brethren, and sisters, and +father, and mother, and wife, and children, and lands for the sake of +Christ's name. Sixteenth, to those who feed the hungry, give drink to +the thirsty, shelter to the stranger, clothes to the naked, comfort to +the sick, and who visit the prisoner. + +Nothing else is said with regard to salvation in the gospel according to +St. Matthew. Not one word about believing the Old Testament to have been +inspired; not one word about being baptized or joining a church; not +one word about believing in any miracle; not even a hint that it was +necessary to believe that Christ was the son of God, or that he did any +wonderful or miraculous things, or that he was born of a virgin, or that +his coming had been foretold by the Jewish prophets. Not one word +about believing in the Trinity, or in foreordination or predestination. +Matthew had not understood from Christ that any such things were +necessary to ensure the salvation of the soul. + +According to the testimony, Matthew had been in the company of Christ, +some say three years and some say one, but at least he had been with him +long enough to find out some of his ideas upon this great subject. And +yet Matthew never got the impression that it was necessary to believe +something in order to get to heaven. He supposed that if a man forgave +others God would forgive him; he believed that God would show mercy +to the merciful; that he would not allow those who fed the hungry to +starve; that he would not put in the flames of hell those who had given +cold water to the thirsty; that he would not cast into the eternal +dungeon of his wrath those who had visited the imprisoned; and that he +would not damn men who forgave others. + +Matthew had it in his mind that God would treat us very much as we +treated other people; and that in the next world he would treat with +kindness those who had been loving and gentle in their lives. It may be +the apostle was mistaken; but evidently that was his opinion. + + + + +III. THE GOSPEL OF MARK + +ET us now see what Mark thought it necessary for a man to do to save his +soul. In the fourth chapter, after Jesus had given to the multitude by +the sea the parable of the sower, his disciples, when they were again +alone, asked him the meaning of the parable. Jesus replied: + +"Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but +unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: + +"That seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, +and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their +sins should be forgiven them." + +It is a little hard to understand why he should have preached to people +that he did not intend should know his meaning. Neither is it quite +clear why he objected to their being converted. This, I suppose, is one +of the mysteries that we should simply believe without endeavoring to +comprehend. + +With the above exception, and one other that I will mention hereafter, +Mark substantially agrees with Matthew, and says that God will be +merciful to the merciful, that he will be kind to the kind, that he +will pity the pitying, and love the loving. Mark upholds the religion +of Matthew until we come to the fifteenth and sixteenth verses of +the sixteenth chapter, and then I strike an interpolation put in by +hypocrisy, put in by priests who longed to grasp with bloody hands +the sceptre of universal power. Let me read it to you. It is the most +infamous passage in the Bible. Christ never said it. No sensible man +ever said it. + +"And He said unto them" (that is, unto his disciples), "go ye into all +the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and +is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." + +That passage was written so that fear would give alms to hypocrisy. Now, +I propose to prove to you that this is an interpolation. How will I do +it? In the first place, not one word is said about belief, in Matthew. +In the next place, not one word about belief, in Mark, until I come to +that verse, and where is that said to have been spoken? According to +Mark, it is a part of the last conversation of Jesus Christ,--just +before, according to the account, he ascended bodily before their eyes. +If there ever was any important thing happened in this world that was +it. If there is any conversation that people would be apt to recollect, +it would be the last conversation with a god before he rose visibly +through the air and seated himself upon the throne of the infinite. We +have in this Testament five accounts of the last conversation happening +between Jesus Christ and his apostles. Matthew gives it, and yet Matthew +does not state that in that conversation Christ said: "Whoso believeth +and is baptized shall be saved, and whoso believeth not shall be +damned." And if he did say those words they were the most important that +ever fell from lips. Matthew did not hear it, or did not believe it, or +forgot it. + +Then I turn to Luke, and he gives an account of this same last +conversation, and not one word does he say upon that subject. Luke does +not pretend that Christ said that whoso believeth not shall be damned. +Luke certainly did not hear it. May be he forgot it. Perhaps he did not +think that it was worth recording. Now, it is the most important thing, +if Christ said it, that he ever said. + +Then I turn to John, and he gives an account of the last conversation, +but not one solitary word on the subject of belief or unbelief. Not one +solitary word on the subject of damnation. Not one. John might not have +been listening. + +Then I turn to the first chapter of the Acts, and there I find an +account of the last conversation; and in that conversation there is not +one word upon this subject. This is a demonstration that the passage in +Mark is an interpolation. What other reason have I got? There is not one +particle of sense in it. Why? No man can control his belief. You hear +evidence for and against, and the integrity of the soul stands at the +scales and tells which side rises and which side falls. You can not +believe as you wish. You must believe as you must. And he might as well +have said: "Go into the world and preach the gospel, and whosoever has +red hair shall be saved, and whosoever hath not shall be damned." + +I have another reason. I am much obliged to the gentleman who +interpolated these passages. I am much obliged to him that he put in +some more--two more. Now hear: + +"And these signs shall follow them that believe." Good! + +"In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new +tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing +it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall +recover." + +Bring on your believer! Let him cast out a devil. I do not ask for a +large one. Just a little one for a cent. Let him take up serpents. "And +if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them." Let me mix up a +dose for the believer, and if it does not hurt him I will join a church. +"Oh! but," they say, "those things only lasted through the Apostolic +age." Let us see. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel, and +whosoever believes and is baptized shall be saved, and these signs shall +follow them that believe." + +How long? I think at least until they had gone into all the world. +Certainly those signs should follow until all the world had been +visited. And yet if that declaration was in the mouth of Christ, he then +knew that one-half of the world was unknown, and that he would be dead +fourteen hundred and fifty-nine years before his disciples would know +that there was another continent. And yet he said, "Go into all the +world and preach the gospel," and he knew then that it would be fourteen +hundred and fifty-nine years before anybody could go. Well, if it was +worth while to have signs follow believers in the Old World, surely it +was worth while to have signs follow believers in the New. And the very +reason that signs should follow would be to convince the unbeliever, +and there are as many unbelievers now as ever, and the signs are as +necessary to-day as they ever were. I would like a few myself. + +This frightful declaration, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be +saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned," has filled the world +with agony and crime. Every letter of this passage has been sword and +fagot; every word has been dungeon and chain. That passage made the +sword of persecution drip with innocent blood through centuries of agony +and crime. That passage made the horizon of a thousand years lurid with +the fagot's flames. That passage contradicts the Sermon on the Mount; +travesties the Lord's prayer; turns the splendid religion of deed +and duty into the superstition of creed and cruelty. I deny it. It is +infamous! Christ never said it! + + + + +IV. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. + +IT is sufficient to say that Luke agrees substantially with Matthew and +Mark. + +"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Good! + +"Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condemn not and ye shall not be +condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven." Good! + +"Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and +shaken together, and running over." Good! I like it. + +"For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to +you again." + +He agrees substantially with Mark; he agrees substantially with Matthew; +and I come at last to the nineteenth chapter. + +"And Zaccheus stood and said unto the Lord, 'Behold, Lord, the half of +my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man +by false accusation, I restore him four fold.' And Jesus said unto him, +'this day is salvation come to this house.'" + +That is good doctrine. He did not ask Zaccheus what he believed. He did +not ask him, "Do you believe in the Bible? Do you believe in the five +points? Have you ever been baptized--sprinkled? Or immersed?" "Half of +my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man +by false accusation, I restore him four fold." "And Christ said, this +day is salvation come to this house." Good! + +I read also in Luke that Christ when upon the cross forgave his +murderers, and that is considered the shining gem in the crown of his +mercy. He forgave his murderers. He forgave the men who drove the nails +in his hands, in his feet, that plunged a spear in his side; the soldier +that in the hour of death offered him in mockery the bitterness to +drink. He forgave them all freely, and yet, although he would forgive +them, he will in the nineteenth century, as we are told by the orthodox +church, damn to eternal fire a noble man for the expression of his +honest thoughts. That will not do. I find, too, in Luke, an account +of two thieves that were crucified at the same time. The other gospels +speak of them. One says they both railed upon him. Another says nothing +about it. In Luke we are told that one railed upon him, but one of the +thieves looked and pitied Christ, and Christ said to that thief: + +"To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Why did he say that? Because +the thief pitied him. God can not afford to trample beneath the feet +of his infinite wrath the smallest blossom of pity that ever shed its +perfume in the human heart! + +Who was this thief? To what church did he belong? I do not know. The +fact that he was a thief throws no light on that question. Who was he? +What did he believe? I do not know. Did he believe in the Old Testament? +In the miracles? I do not know. Did he believe that Christ was God? I +do not know. Why then was the promise made to him that he should meet +Christ in Paradise? Simply because he pitied suffering innocence upon +the cross. + +God can not afford to damn any man who is capable of pitying anybody. + + + + +V. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN + +AND now we come to John, and that is where the trouble commences. + +The other gospels teach that God will be merciful to the merciful, +forgiving to the forgiving, kind to the kind, loving to the loving, just +to the just, merciful to the good. + +Now we come to John, and here is another doctrine. And allow me to say +that John was not written until long after the others. John was mostly +written by the church. + +"Jesus answered and said unto him: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, +Except a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of God." + +Why did he not tell Matthew that? Why did he not tell Luke that? Why did +he not tell Mark that? They never heard of it, or forgot it, or they did +not believe it. + +"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into +the kingdom of God." Why? + +"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of +the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born +again." "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is +born of the Spirit is spirit," and he might have added, that which is +born of water is water. + +"Marvel not that I said unto thee, 'ye must be born again.'" And then +the reason is given, and I admit I did not understand it myself until I +read the reason, and when you hear the reason, you will understand it +as well as I do; and here it is: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and +thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and +whither it goeth." So, I find in the book of John the idea of the Real +Presence. + +"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the +Son of man be lifted up; That whosoever believeth in him should not +perish, but have eternal life." + +"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that +whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. + +"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that +the world through him might be saved. + +"He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is +condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only +begotten Son of God." + +"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that +believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth +on him." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and +believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come +into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. + +"Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when +the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear +shall live." + +"And shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection +of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of +damnation."-"And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone +which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; +and I will raise him up at the last day." + +"No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him; +and I will raise him up at the last day." + +"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath +everlasting life. + +"I am that bread of life. + +"Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. + +"This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat +thereof, and not die. + +"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of +this bread he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my +flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." + +"Then Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye +eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in +you. + +"Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I +will raise him up at the last day. + +"For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. + +"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I +in him. + +"As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that +eateth me, even he shall live by me. + +"This is that bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers +did eat manna, and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live +forever." + +"And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, +except it were given unto him of my Father." + +"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life; he that +believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. + +"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." + +"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in +this world, shall keep it unto life eternal." + +So I find in the book of John, that in order to be saved we must not +only believe in Jesus Christ, but we must eat the flesh and we must +drink the blood of Jesus Christ. If that gospel is true, the Catholic +Church is right. But it is not true. I can not believe it, and yet for +all that, it may be true. But I do not believe it. Neither do I +believe there is any god in the universe who will damn a man simply for +expressing his belief. + +"Why," they say to me, "suppose all this should turn out to be true, and +you should come to the day of judgment and find all these things to be +true. What would you do then?" I would walk up like a man, and say, "I +was mistaken." + +"And suppose God was about to pass judgment upon you, what would you +say?" I would say to him, "Do unto others as you would that others +should do unto you." Why not? + +I am told that I must render good for evil. I am told that if smitten +on one cheek I must turn the other. I am told that I must overcome evil +with good. I am told that I must love my enemies; and will it do for +this God who tells me to love my enemies to damn his? No, it will not +do. It will not do. + +In the book of John all these doctrines of regeneration--that it is +necessary to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; that salvation depends +upon belief--in this book of John all these doctrines find their +warrant; nowhere else. + +Read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and then read John, and you will agree +with me that the three first gospels teach that if we are kind and +forgiving to our fellows, God will be kind and forgiving to us. In John +we are told that another man can be good for us, or bad for us, and that +the only way to get to heaven is to believe something that we know is +not so. + +All these passages about believing in Christ, drinking his blood +and eating his flesh, are afterthoughts. They were written by the +theologians, and in a few years they will be considered unworthy of the +lips of Christ. + + + + +VI. THE CATHOLICS + +NOW, upon these gospels that I have read the churches rest; and out of +these things, mistakes and interpolations, they have made their +creeds. And the first church to make a creed, so far as I know, was the +Catholic. It was the first church that had any power. That is the church +that has preserved all these miracles for us. That is the church that +preserved the manuscripts for us. That is the church whose word we have +to take. That church is the first witness that Protestantism brought to +the bar of history to prove miracles that took place eighteen hundred +years ago; and while the witness is there Protestantism takes pains to +say: "You cannot believe one word that witness says, _now_." + +That church is the only one that keeps up a constant communication with +heaven through the instrumentality of a large number of decayed saints. +That church has an agent of God on earth, has a person who stands in +the place of deity; and that church is infallible. That church has +persecuted to the exact extent of her power--and always will. In Spain +that church stands erect, and is arrogant. In the United States that +church crawls; but the object in both countries is the same--and that is +the destruction of intellectual liberty. That church teaches us that we +can make God happy by being miserable ourselves; that a nun is holier in +the sight of God than a loving mother with her child in her thrilled and +thrilling arms; that a priest is better than a father; that celibacy is +better than that passion of love that has made everything of beauty in +this world. That church tells the girl of sixteen or eighteen years of +age, with eyes like dew and light; that girl with the red of health in +the white of her beautiful cheeks--tells that girl, "Put on the veil, +woven of death and night, kneel upon stones, and you will please God." + +I tell you that, by law, no girl should be allowed to take the veil and +renounce the joys and beauties of this life. + +I am opposed to allowing these spider-like priests to weave webs +to catch the loving maidens of the world. There ought to be a law +appointing commissioners to visit such places twice a year and release +every person who expresses a desire to be released. I do not believe in +keeping the penitentiaries of God. No doubt they are honest about it. +That is not the question. These ignorant superstitions fill millions of +lives with weariness and pain, with agony and tears. + +This church, after a few centuries of thought, made a creed, and that +creed is the foundation of the orthodox religion. Let me read it to you: + +"Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he +hold the Catholic faith; which faith except every one do keep entire and +inviolate, without doubt, he shall everlastingly perish." Now the faith +is this: "That we worship one God in trinity and trinity in unity." + +Of course you understand how that is done, and there is no need of +my explaining it. "Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the +substance." You see what a predicament that would leave the deity in if +you divided the substance. + +"For one is the person of the Father, another of the Son, and another +of the Holy Ghost; but the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of +the Holy Ghost is all one"--you know what I mean by Godhead. "In glory +equal, and in majesty coëternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, +such is the Holy Ghost. The Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, +the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father incomprehensible, the Son +incomprehensible, the Holy Ghost incomprehensible." And that is the +reason we know so much about the thing. "The Father is eternal, the Son +eternal, the Holy Ghost eternal, and yet there are not three eternals, +only one eternal, as also there are not three uncreated, nor three +incomprehensibles, only one uncreated, one incomprehensible." + +"In like manner, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy +Ghost almighty. Yet there are not three almighties, only one Almighty. +So the Father is God, the Son God, the Holy Ghost God, and yet not three +Gods; and so, likewise, the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy +Ghost is Lord, yet there are not three Lords, for as we are compelled by +the Christian truth to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and +Lord, so we are all forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there are +three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of no one; not created or +begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, not made, not created, but +begotten. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son, not made nor +begotten, but proceeding." + +You know what proceeding is. + +"So there is one Father, not three Fathers." Why should there be three +fathers, and only one Son? "One Son, and not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, +not three Holy Ghosts; and in this Trinity there is nothing before or +afterward, nothing greater or less, but the whole three persons are +coëternal with one another and coëqual, so that in all things the unity +is to be worshiped in Trinity, and the Trinity is to be worshiped +in unity. Those who will be saved must thus think of the Trinity. +Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also +believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now the right +of this thing is this: That we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus +Christ, the Son of God, is both God and man. He is God of the substance +of his Father begotten before the world was." + +That was a good while before his mother lived. "And he is man of the +substance of his mother, born in this world, perfect God and perfect +man, and the rational soul in human flesh, subsisting equal to the +Father according to his Godhead, but less than the Father according to +his manhood, who being both God and man is not two but one, one not +by conversion of God into flesh, but by the taking of the manhood into +God." You see that is a great deal easier than the other way would be. + +"One altogether, not by a confusion of substance but by unity of person, +for as the rational soul and the flesh is one man, so God and man is one +Christ, who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again +the third day from the dead, ascended into heaven, and he sitteth at the +right hand of God, the Father Almighty, and He shall come to judge the +living and the dead." In order to be saved it is necessary to believe +this. What a blessing that we do not have to understand it. And in order +to compel the human intellect to get upon its knees before that infinite +absurdity, thousands and millions have suffered agonies; thousands and +thousands have perished in dungeons and in fire; and if all the bones +of all the victims of the Catholic Church could be gathered together, +a monument higher than all the pyramids would rise, in the presence of +which the eyes even of priests would be wet with tears. + +That church covered Europe with cathedrals and dungeons, and robbed men +of the jewel of the soul. That church had ignorance upon its knees. That +church went in partnership with the tyrants of the throne, and between +those two vultures, the altar and the throne, the heart of man was +devoured. + +Of course I have met, and cheerfully admit that there are thousands +of good Catholics; but Catholicism is contrary to human liberty. +Catholicism bases salvation upon belief. Catholicism teaches man to +trample his reason under foot. And for that reason it is wrong. + +Thousands of volumes could not contain the crimes of the Catholic +Church. They could not contain even the names of her victims. With sword +and fire, with rack and chain, with dungeon and whip she endeavored to +convert the world. In weakness a beggar--in power a highwayman,--alms +dish or dagger--tramp or tyrant. + + + + +VII. THE EPISCOPALIANS + +THE next church I wish to speak of is the Episcopalian. That was +founded by Henry VIII., now in heaven. He cast off Queen Catherine and +Catholicism together, and he accepted Episcopalianism and Annie Boleyn +at the same time. That church, if it had a few more ceremonies, would be +Catholic. If it had a few less, nothing. We have an Episcopalian Church +in this country, and it has all the imperfections of a poor relation. It +is always boasting of its rich relative. In England the creed is made +by law, the same as we pass statutes here. And when a gentleman dies in +England, in order to determine whether he shall be saved or not, it is +necessary for the power of heaven to read the acts of Parliament. It +becomes a question of law, and sometimes a man is damned on a very nice +point. Lost on demurrer. + +A few years ago, a gentleman by the name of Seabury, Samuel Seabury, was +sent over to England to get some apostolic succession. We had not a drop +in the house. It was necessary for the bishops of the English Church +to put their hands upon his head. They refused. There was no act of +Parliament justifying it. He had then to go to the Scotch bishops; and, +had the Scotch bishops refused, we never would have had any apostolic +succession in the New World, and God would have been driven out of half +the earth, and the true church never could have been founded upon this +continent. But the Scotch bishops put their hands on his head, and now +we have an unbroken succession of heads and hands from St. Paul to the +last bishop. + +In this country the Episcopalians have done some good, and I want +to thank that church. Having on an average less religion than the +others--on an average you have done more good to mankind. You preserved +some of the humanities. You did not hate music; you did not absolutely +despise painting, and you did not altogether abhor architecture, and you +finally admitted that it was no worse to keep time with your feet than +with your hands. And some went so far as to say that people could play +cards, and that God would overlook it, or would look the other way. For +all these things accept my thanks. + +When I was a boy, the other churches looked upon dancing as probably the +mysterious sin against the Holy Ghost; and they used to teach that when +four boys got in a hay-mow, playing seven-up, that the eternal God stood +whetting the sword of his eternal wrath waiting to strike them down to +the lowest hell. That church has done some good. + +The Episcopal creed is substantially like the Catholic, containing a few +additional absurdities. The Episcopalians teach that it is easier to +get forgiveness for sin after you have been baptized. They seem to think +that the moment you are baptized you become a member of the firm, and as +such are entitled to wickedness at cost. This church is utterly unsuited +to a free people. Its government is tyrannical, supercilious and absurd. +Bishops talk as though they were responsible for the souls in their +charge. They wear vests that button on one side. Nothing is so essential +to the clergy of this denomination as a good voice. The Episcopalians +have persecuted just to the extent of their power. Their treatment of +the Irish has been a crime--a crime lasting for three hundred years. +That church persecuted the Puritans of England and the Presbyterians of +Scotland. In England the altar is the mistress of the throne, and this +mistress has always looked at honest wives with scorn. + + + + +VIII. THE METHODISTS + +ABOUT a hundred and fifty years ago, two men, John Wesley and George +Whitfield, said, If everybody is going to hell, somebody ought to +mention it. The Episcopal clergy said: Keep still; do not tear your +gown. Wesley and Whitfield said: This frightful truth ought to be +proclaimed from the housetop of every opportunity, from the highway +of every occasion. They were good, honest men. They believed their +doctrine. And they said: If there is a hell, and a Niagara of souls +pouring over an eternal precipice of ignorance, somebody ought to say +something. They were right; somebody ought, if such a thing is true. +Wesley was a believer in the Bible. He believed in the actual presence +of the Almighty. + +God used to do miracles for him; used to put off a rain several days to +give his meeting a chance; used to cure his horse of lameness; used to +cure Mr. Wesley's headaches. + +And Mr. Wesley also believed in the actual existence of the devil. He +believed that devils had possession of people. He talked to the devil +when he was in folks, and the devil told him that he was going to leave; +and that he was going into another person. That he would be there at a +certain time; and Wesley went to that other person, and there the devil +was, prompt to the minute. He regarded every conversion as warfare +between God and this devil for the possession of that human soul, and +that in the warfare God had gained the victory. Honest, no doubt. Mr. +Wesley did not believe in human liberty. Honest, no doubt. Was opposed +to the liberty of the colonies. Honestly so. Mr. Wesley preached a +sermon entitled: "The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes," in which he took +the ground that earthquakes were caused by sin; and the only way to stop +them was to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. No doubt an honest man. + +Wesley and Whitfield fell out on the question of predestination. Wesley +insisted that God invited everybody to the feast. Whitfield said he did +not invite those he knew would not come. Wesley said he did. Whitfield +said: Well, he did not put plates for them, anyway. Wesley said he did. +So that, when they were in hell he could show them that there was a +seat left for them. The church that they founded is still active. And +probably no church in the world has done so much preaching for as little +money as the Methodists. Whitfield believed in slavery, and advocated +the slave-trade. And it was of Whitfield that Whittier made the two +lines: + + "He bade the slave ships speed from coast to coast, + Fanned by the wings of the Holy Ghost." + +We have lately had a meeting of the Methodists, and I find by their +statistics that they believe that they have converted 130,000 folks in +a year. That, in order to do this, they have 26,000 preachers, 226,000 +Sunday school scholars, and about $100,000,000 invested in church +property. I find, in looking over the history of the world, that there +are 40,000,000 or 50,000,000 of people born a year, and if they are +saved at the rate of 130,000 a year, about how long will it take that +doctrine to save this world? Good, honest people; but they are mistaken. + +In old times they were very simple. Churches used to be like barns. They +used to have them divided--men on that side, and women on this. A little +barbarous. We have advanced since then, and we now find as a fact, +demonstrated by experience, that a man sitting by the woman he loves +can thank God as heartily as though sitting between two men that he has +never been introduced to. + +There is another thing the Methodists should remember, and that is that +the Episcopalians were the greatest enemies they ever had. And they +should remember that the Freethinkers have always treated them kindly +and well. + +There is one thing about the Methodist Church in the North that I like. +But I find that it is not Methodism that does that. I find that the +Methodist Church in the South is as much opposed to liberty as the +Methodist Church North is in favor of liberty. So it is not Methodism +that is in favor of liberty or slavery. They differ a little in their +creed from the rest. They do not believe that God does everything. They +believe that he does his part, and that you must do the rest, and that +getting to heaven is a partnership business. The Methodist Church is +adapted to new countries--its ministers are generally uncultured, and +with them zeal takes the place of knowledge. They convert people with +noise. In the silence that follows most of the converts backslide. + +In a little while a struggle will commence between the few who are +growing and the orthodox many. The few will be driven out, and the +church will be governed by those who believe without understanding. + + + + +IX. THE PRESBYTERIANS + +THE next church is the Presbyterian, and in my judgment the worst of +all, as far as creed is concerned. This church was founded by John +Calvin, a murderer! + +John Calvin, having power in Geneva, inaugurated human torture. Voltaire +abolished torture in France. The man who abolished torture, if the +Christian religion be true, God is now torturing in hell, and the man +who inaugurated torture, is now a glorified angel in heaven. It will not +do. + +John Knox started this doctrine in Scotland, and there is this +peculiarity about Presbyterianism--it grows best where the soil is +poorest. I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox +and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a famine! +Imagine a conversation between a block and an ax! As I read their +conversation it seemed to me as though John Knox and John Calvin were +made for each other; that they fitted each other like the upper and +lower jaws of a wild beast. They believed happiness was a crime; they +looked upon laughter as blasphemy; and they did all they could to +destroy every human feeling, and to fill the mind with the infinite +gloom of predestination and eternal death. They taught the doctrine that +God had a right to damn us because he made us. That is just the reason +that he has not a right to damn us. There is some dust. Unconscious +dust! What right has God to change that unconscious dust into a human +being, when he knows that human being will sin; when he knows that human +being will suffer eternal agony? Why not leave him in the unconscious +dust? What right has an infinite God to add to the sum of human agony? +Suppose I knew that I could change that piece of furniture into a +living, sentient human being, and I knew that that being would suffer +untold agony forever. If I did it, I would be a fiend. I would leave +that being in the unconscious dust. + +And yet we are told that we must believe such a doctrine or we are to be +eternally damned! It will not do. + +In 1839 there was a division in this church, and they had a lawsuit to +see which was the church of God. And they tried it by a judge and jury, +and the jury decided that the new school was the church of God, and then +they got a new trial, and the next jury decided that the old school +was the church of God, and that settled it. That church teaches that +infinite innocence was sacrificed for me! I do not want it! I do not +wish to go to heaven unless I can settle by the books, and go there +because I ought to go there. I have said, and I say again, I do not wish +to be a charity angel. I have no ambition to become a winged pauper of +the skies. + +The other day a young gentleman, a Presbyterian who had just been +converted, came to me and he gave me a tract, and he told me he was +perfectly happy. Said I, "Do you think a great many people are going to +hell?" "Oh, yes." "And you are perfectly happy?" Well, he did not know +as he was, quite. "Would not you be happier if they were all going to +heaven?" "Oh, yes." "Well, then, you are not perfectly happy?" No, +he did not think he was. "When you get to heaven, then you will be +perfectly happy?" "Oh, yes." "Now, when we are only going to hell, you +are not quite happy; but when we are in hell, and you in heaven, then +you will be perfectly happy? You will not be as decent when you get to +be an angel as you are now, will you?" "Well," he said, "that was not +exactly it." Said I, "Suppose your mother were in hell, would you be +happy in heaven then?" "Well," he says, "I suppose God would know the +best place for mother." And I thought to myself, then, if I was a woman, +I would like to have five or six boys like that. + +It will not do. Heaven is where those are we love, and those who love +us. And I wish to go to no world unless I can be accompanied by those +who love me here. Talk about the consolations of this infamous doctrine. +The consolations of a doctrine that makes a father say, "I can be happy +with my daughter in hell;" that makes a mother say, "I can be happy with +my generous, brave boy in hell;" that makes a boy say, "I can enjoy the +glory of heaven with the woman who bore me, the woman _who would have +died for me_, in eternal agony." And they call that tidings of great +joy. + +No church has done more to fill the world with gloom than the +Presbyterian. Its creed is frightful, hideous, and hellish. The +Presbyterian god is the monster of monsters. He is an eternal +executioner, jailer and turnkey. He will enjoy forever the shrieks +of the lost,--the wails of the damned. Hell is the festival of the +Presbyterian god. + + + + +X. THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. + +I HAVE not time to speak of the Baptists,--that Jeremy Taylor said +were as much to be rooted out as anything that is the greatest pest and +nuisance on the earth. He hated the Baptists because they represented, +in some little degree, the liberty of thought. Nor have I time to speak +of the Quakers, the best of all, and abused by all. + +I cannot forget that John Fox, in the year of grace 1640, was put in +the pillory and whipped from town to town, scarred, put in a dungeon, +beaten, trampled upon, and what for? Simply because he preached the +doctrine: "Thou shalt not resist evil with evil." "Thou shalt love thy +enemies." + +Think of what the church must have been that day to scar the flesh of +that loving man! Just think of it! I say I have not time to speak of all +these sects--the varieties of Presbyterians and Campbellites. There are +hundreds and hundreds of these sects, all founded upon this creed that I +read, differing simply in degree. + +Ah! but they say to me: You are fighting something that is dead. Nobody +believes this now. The preachers do not believe what they preach in the +pulpit. The people in the pews do not believe what they hear preached. +And they say to me: You are fighting something that is dead. This is all +a form, we do not believe a solitary creed in the world. We sign them +and swear that we believe them, but we do not. And none of us do. And +all the ministers, they say in private, admit that they do not believe +it, not quite. I do not know whether this is so or not. I take it +that they believe what they preach. I take it that when they meet and +solemnly agree to a creed, they are honest and really believe in that +creed. But let us see if I am waging a war against the ideas of the +dead. Let us see if I am simply storming a cemetery. + +The Evangelical Alliance, made up of all orthodox denominations of the +world, met only a few years ago, and here is their creed: They believe +in the divine inspiration, authority and sufficiency of the holy +Scriptures; the right and duty of private judgment in the interpretation +of the holy Scriptures, but if you interpret wrong you are damned. +They believe in the unity of the godhead and the Trinity of the persons +therein. They believe in the utter depravity of human nature. There can +be no more infamous doctrine than that. They look upon a little child as +a lump of depravity. I look upon it as a bud of humanity, that will, in +the air and light of love and joy, blossom into rich and glorious life. + +Total depravity of human nature! Here is a woman whose husband has been +lost at sea; the news comes that he has been drowned by the ever-hungry +waves, and she waits. There is something in her heart that tells her he +is alive. And she waits. And years afterward as she looks down toward +the little gate she sees him; he has been given back by the sea, and she +rushes to his arms, and covers his face with kisses and with tears. And +if that infamous doctrine is true every tear is a crime, and every kiss +a blasphemy. It will not do. According to that doctrine, if a man steals +and repents, and takes back the property, the repentance and the taking +back of the property are two other crimes. It is an infamy. What else +do they believe? "The justification of a sinner by faith alone," without +works--just faith. Believing something that you do not understand. Of +course God can not afford to reward a man for believing anything that +is reasonable. God rewards only for believing something that is +unreasonable. If you believe something that is improbable and +unreasonable, you are a Christian; but if you believe something that you +know is not so, then,--you are a saint. + +They believe in the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and in the +eternal punishment of the wicked. + +Tidings of great joy! They are so good that they will not associate with +Universalists. They will not associate with Unitarians; they will not +associate with scientists; they will only associate with those who +believe that God so loved the world that he made up his mind to damn the +most of us. + +The Evangelical Alliance reiterates the absurdities of the Dark +Ages--repeats the five points of Calvin--replenishes the fires of +hell--certifies to the mistakes and miracles of the Bible--maligns the +human race, and kneels to a god who accepted the agony of the innocent +as an atonement for the guilty. + + + + +XI. WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE? + +THEN they say to me: "What do you propose? You have torn this down, what +do you propose to give us in place of it?" + +I have not torn the good down. I have only endeavored to trample out the +ignorant, cruel fires of hell. I do not tear away the passage: "God will +be merciful to the merciful." I do not destroy the promise; "If you will +forgive others, God will forgive you." I would not for anything blot out +the faintest star that shines in the horizon of human despair, nor in +the sky of human hope; but I will do what I can to get that infinite +shadow out of the heart of man. + +"What do you propose in place of this?" + +Well, in the first place, I propose good fellowship--good friends all +around. No matter what we believe, shake hands and let it go. That is +your opinion; this is mine: let us be friends. Science makes friends; +religion, superstition, makes enemies. They say: Belief is important. +I say: No, actions are important. Judge by deed, not by creed. Good +fellowship--good friends--sincere men and women--mutual forbearance, +born of mutual respect. We have had too many of these solemn people. +Whenever I see an exceedingly solemn man, I know he is an exceedingly +stupid man. No man of any humor ever founded a religion--never. Humor +sees both sides. While reason is the holy light, humor carries the +lantern, and the man with a keen sense of humor is preserved from +the solemn stupidities of superstition. I like a man who has got good +feeling for everybody; good fellowship. One man said to another: + +"Will you take a glass of wine?" + +"I do not drink." + +"Will you smoke a cigar?" + +"I do not smoke." + +"Maybe you will chew something?" + +"I do not chew." + +"Let us eat some hay." + +"I tell you I do not eat hay." + +"Well, then, good-by, for you are no company for man or beast." + +I believe in the gospel of Cheerfulness, the gospel of Good Nature; the +gospel of Good Health. Let us pay some attention to our bodies. Take +care of our bodies, and our souls will take care of themselves. Good +health! And I believe the time will come when the public thought will be +so great and grand that it will be looked upon as infamous to perpetuate +disease. I believe the time will come when man will not fill the future +with consumption and insanity. I believe the time will come when we will +study ourselves, and understand the laws of health and then we will say: +We are under obligation to put the flags of health in the cheeks of our +children. Even if I got to heaven, and had a harp, I would hate to +look back upon my children and grandchildren, and see them diseased, +deformed, crazed--all suffering the penalties of crimes I had committed. + +I believe in the gospel of Good Living. You can not make any god happy +by fasting. Let us have good food, and let us have it well cooked--and +it is a thousand times better to know how to cook than it is to +understand any theology in the world. + +I believe in the gospel of good clothes; I believe in the gospel of +good houses; in the gospel of water and soap. I believe in the gospel +of intelligence; in the gospel of education. The school-house is +my cathedral. The universe is my Bible. I believe in that gospel of +justice, that we must reap what we sow. + +I do not believe in forgiveness as it is preached by the church. We do +not need the forgiveness of God, but of each other and of ourselves. If +I rob Mr. Smith and God forgives me, how does that help Smith? If I, by +slander, cover some poor girl with the leprosy of some imputed crime, +and she withers away like a blighted flower and afterward I get the +forgiveness of God, how does that help her? If there is another world, +we have got to settle with the people we have wronged in this. No +bankrupt court there. Every cent must be paid. + +The Christians say, that among the ancient Jews, if you committed a +crime you had to kill a sheep. Now they say "charge it." "Put it on the +slate." It will not do. For every crime you commit you must answer to +yourself and to the one you injure. And if you have ever clothed another +with woe, as with a garment of pain, you will never be quite as happy as +though you had not done that thing. No forgiveness by the gods. Eternal, +inexorable, everlasting justice, so far as Nature is concerned. You must +reap the result of your acts. Even when forgiven by the one you have +injured, it is not as though the injury had not been done. That is what +I believe in. And if it goes hard with me, I will stand it, and I will +cling to my logic, and I will bear it like a man. + +And I believe, too, in the gospel of Liberty, in giving to others what +we claim for ourselves. I believe there is room everywhere for thought, +and the more liberty you give away, the more you will have. In liberty +extravagance is economy. Let us be just. Let us be generous to each +other. + +I believe in the gospel of Intelligence. That is the only lever capable +of raising mankind. Intelligence must be the savior of this world. +Humanity is the grand religion, and no God can put a man in hell in +another world, who has made a little heaven in this. God cannot make a +man miserable if that man has made somebody else happy. God cannot hate +anybody who is capable of loving anybody. Humanity--that word embraces +all there is. + +So I believe in this great gospel of Humanity. + +"Ah! but," they say, "it will not do. You must believe." I say, No. My +gospel of health will bring life. My gospel of intelligence, my gospel +of good living, my gospel of good-fellowship will cover the world with +happy homes. My doctrine will put carpets upon your floors, pictures +upon your walls. My doctrine will put books upon your shelves, ideas in +your minds. My doctrine will rid the world of the abnormal monsters born +of ignorance and superstition. My doctrine will give us health, wealth +and happiness. That is what I want. That is what I believe in. Give us +intelligence. In a little while a man will find that he can not steal +without robbing himself. He will find that he cannot murder without +assassinating his own joy. He will find that every crime is a mistake. +He will find that only that man carries the cross who does wrong, and +that upon the man who does right the cross turns to wings that will bear +him upward forever. He will find that even intelligent self-love embraces +within its mighty arms all the human race. + +"Oh," but they say to me, "you take away immortality." I do not. If we +are immortal it is a fact in nature, and we are not indebted to priests +for it, nor to bibles for it, and it cannot be destroyed by unbelief. + +As long as we love we will hope to live, and when the one dies that we +love we will say: "Oh, that we could meet again," and whether we do or +not it will not be the work of theology. It will be a fact in nature. I +would not for my life destroy one star of human hope, but I want it +so that when a poor woman rocks the cradle and sings a lullaby to the +dimpled darling, she will not be compelled to believe that ninety-nine +chances in a hundred she is raising kindling wood for hell. + +One world at a time is my doctrine. + +It is said in this Testament, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil +thereof;" and I say: Sufficient unto each world is the evil thereof. + +And suppose after all that death does end all. Next to eternal joy, next +to being forever with those we love and those who have loved us, next to +that, is to be wrapt in the dreamless drapery of eternal peace. Next to +eternal life is eternal sleep. Upon the shadowy shore of death the +sea of trouble casts no wave. Eyes that have been curtained by the +everlasting dark, will never know again the burning touch of tears. Lips +touched by eternal silence will never speak again the broken words of +grief. Hearts of dust do not break. The dead do not weep. Within the +tomb no veiled and weeping sorrow sits, and in the ray-less gloom is +crouched no shuddering fear. + +I had rather think of those I have loved, and lost, as having returned +to earth, as having become a part of the elemental wealth of the +world--I would rather think of them as unconscious dust, I would rather +dream of them as gurgling in the streams, floating in the clouds, +bursting in the foam of light upon the shores of worlds, I would rather +think of them as the lost visions of a forgotten night, than to have +even the faintest fear that their naked souls have been clutched by an +orthodox god. I will leave my dead where nature leaves them. Whatever +flower of hope springs up in my heart I will cherish, I will give it +breath of sighs and rain of tears. But I can not believe that there +is any being in this universe who has created a human soul for eternal +pain. I would rather that every god would destroy himself; I +would rather that we all should go to eternal chaos, to black and +starless night, than that just one soul should suffer eternal agony. + +I have made up my mind that if there is a God, he will be merciful to +the merciful. + +Upon that rock I stand.-- + +That he will not torture the forgiving.-- + +Upon that rock I stand.-- + +That every man should be true to himself, and that there is no world, no +star, in which honesty is a crime. + +Upon that rock I stand. + +The honest man, the good woman, the happy child, have nothing to fear, +either in this world or the world to come. + +Upon that rock I stand. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. +1 (of 12), by Robert G. Ingersoll + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORKS OF INGERSOLL *** + +***** This file should be named 38801-8.txt or 38801-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/8/0/38801/ + +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. 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Ingersoll, Volume 1 (of 12) by Robert G. Ingersoll + </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; } + .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 The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 1 +(of 12), by Robert G. Ingersoll + +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: The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 1 (of 12) + Dresden Edition--Lectures + +Author: Robert G. Ingersoll + +Release Date: February 9, 2012 [EBook #38801] +Last Updated: November 15, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORKS OF INGERSOLL *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <a name="title" id="title"></a> + </p> + <h1> + THE WORKS OF ROBERT G. INGERSOLL + </h1> + <h2> + By Robert G. Ingersoll + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p> + "The Destroyer Of Weeds, Thistles And Thorns Is A Benefactor, Whether He + Soweth Grain Or Not." + </p> + </blockquote> + <h3> + IN TWELVE VOLUMES, VOLUME I. + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + LECTURES + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + 1901 + </h3> + <h4> + THE DRESDEN EDITION + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + TO EVA A. INGERSOLL, MY WIFE, A WOMAN WITHOUT SUPERSTITION, THIS VOLUME<br /> + IS DEDICATED. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. FOR THE USE OF MAN, + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <table summary="" border="3" cellpadding="4"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> + <big><big><a + href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38801/old/orig38801-h/main.htm">This + file has been formatted in a very plain format for use with tablet + readers. Those wishing to view this eBook in its normal more + appealing format for laptops and other computers may click on this + line to to view the original HTML file.</a></big></big> + </td> + <td></td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="Titlepage (64K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="Birthplace (64K)" src="images/Birthplace.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="Portrait (62K)" src="images/Portrait.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="Frontispiece (64K)" src="images/Frontispiece.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkTOC">CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0001">PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0002">THE GODS</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0003">HUMBOLDT.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0004">THOMAS PAINE</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0005">INDIVIDUALITY.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0006">HERETICS AND HERESIES.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0007">THE GHOSTS.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0009">THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0010">LIBERTY OF WOMAN.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0011">THE LIBERTY OF CHILDREN.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkCONC">CONCLUSION.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0013">ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0014">WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0016">I. WHAT WE MUST DO TO BE SAVED</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0017">II. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0018">III. THE GOSPEL OF MARK</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0019">IV. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0020">V. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0021">VI. THE CATHOLICS</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0022">VII. THE EPISCOPALIANS</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0023">VIII. THE METHODISTS</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0024">IX. THE PRESBYTERIANS</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0025">X. THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link0026">XI. WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE?</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linkTOC" id="linkTOC"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0002">THE GODS.</a> + </p> + <p> + THE GODS.<br /> (1872.)<br /> An Honest God is the Noblest Work of Man—Resemblance + of Gods to<br /> their Creators—Manufacture and Characteristics of + Deities—Their<br /> Amours—Deficient in many Departments of + Knowledge—Pleased with the<br /> Butchery of Unbelievers—A + Plentiful Supply—Visitations—One God's<br /> Laws of War—The + Book called the Bible—Heresy of Universalism—Faith<br /> an + unhappy mixture of Insanity and Ignorance—Fallen Gods, or<br /> + Devils—Directions concerning Human Slavery—The first + Appearance of<br /> the Devil—The Tree of Knowledge—Give me + the Storm and Tempest of<br /> Thought—Gods and Devils Natural + Productions—Personal Appearance<br /> of Deities—All Man's + Ideas suggested by his Surroundings—Phenomena<br /> Supposed to be + Produced by Intelligent Powers—Insanity and Disease<br /> + attributed to Evil Spirits—Origin of the Priesthood—Temptation + of<br /> Christ—Innate Ideas—Divine Interference—Special + Providence—The<br /> Crane and the Fish—Cancer as a proof of + Design—Matter and<br /> Force—Miracle—Passing the Hat + for just one Fact—Sir William Hamilton<br /> on Cause and Effect—The + Phenomena of Mind—Necessity and Free Will—The<br /> Dark Ages—The + Originality of Repetition—Of what Use have the Gods been<br /> to + Man?—Paley and Design—Make Good Health Contagious—Periodicity + of<br /> the Universe and the Commencement of Intellectual Freedom—Lesson + of<br /> the ineffectual attempt to rescue the Tomb of Christ from the<br /> + Mohammedans—The Cemetery of the Gods—Taking away Crutches—Imperial<br /> + Reason<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0003">HUMBOLDT.</a> + </p> + <p> + HUMBOLDT.<br /> (1869.)<br /> The Universe is Governed by Law—The + Self-made Man—Poverty generally<br /> an Advantage—Humboldt's + Birth-place—His desire for Travel—On what<br /> Humboldt's + Fame depends—His Companions and Friends—Investigations<br /> + in the New World—A Picture—Subjects of his Addresses—Victory + of the<br /> Church over Philosophy—Influence of the discovery that + the World is<br /> governed by Law—On the term Law—Copernicus—Astronomy—Aryabhatta—<br /> + Descartes—Condition of the World and Man when the morning of + Science<br /> Dawned—Reasons for Honoring Humboldt—The World + his Monument<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0004">THOMAS PAINE.</a> + </p> + <p> + THOMAS PAINE.<br /> (1870.)<br /> With his Name left out the History of + Liberty cannot be Written—Paine's<br /> Origin and Condition—His + arrival in America with a Letter of<br /> Introduction by Franklin—Condition + of the Colonies—"Common Sense"—A<br /> new Nation Born—Paine + the Best of Political Writers—The "Crisis"—War<br /> not to + the Interest of a trading Nation—Paine's Standing at the Close<br /> + of the Revolution—Close of the Eighteenth Century in France-The<br /> + "Rights of Man"—Paine Prosecuted in England—"The World is my<br /> + Country"—Elected to the French Assembly—Votes against the + Death of<br /> the King—Imprisoned—A look behind the Altar—The + "Age of Reason"—His<br /> Argument against the Bible as a + Revelation—Christianity of Paine's<br /> Day—A Blasphemy Law + in Force in Maryland—The Scotch "Kirk"—Hanging<br /> of + Thomas Aikenhead for Denying the Inspiration of the<br /> Scriptures—"Cathedrals + and Domes, and Chimes and Chants"—Science—"He<br /> Died in + the Land his Genius Defended,"<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0005">INDIVIDUALITY.</a> + </p> + <p> + INDIVIDUALITY.<br /> (1873.)<br /> "His Soul was like a Star and Dwelt + Apart"—Disobedience one of the<br /> Conditions of Progress.—Magellan—The + Monarch and the Hermit-Why<br /> the Church hates a Thinker—The + Argument from Grandeur and<br /> Prosperity-Travelers and Guide-boards—A + Degrading Saying—Theological<br /> Education—Scotts, Henrys + and McKnights—The Church the Great<br /> Robber—Corrupting + the Reason of Children—Monotony of Acquiescence: For<br /> God's + sake, say No—Protestant Intolerance: Luther and Calvin—Assertion<br /> + of Individual Independence a Step toward Infidelity—Salute to<br /> + Jupiter—The Atheistic Bug-Little Religious Liberty in America—God + in<br /> the Constitution, Man Out—Decision of the Supreme Court of + Illinois<br /> that an Unbeliever could not testify in any Court—Dissimulation—Nobody<br /> + in this Bed—The Dignity of a Unit<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0006">HERETICS AND HERESIES.</a> + </p> + <p> + HERETICS AND HERESIES.<br /> (1874.)<br /> Liberty, a Word without which + all other Words are Vain—The Church, the<br /> Bible, and + Persecution—Over the wild Waves of War rose and fell<br /> the + Banner of Jesus Christ—Highest Type of the Orthodox<br /> Christian—Heretics' + Tongues and why they should be Removed before<br /> Burning—The + Inquisition Established—Forms of Torture—Act of Henry<br /> + VIII for abolishing Diversity of Opinion—What a Good Christian was<br /> + Obliged to Believe—The Church has Carried the Black Flag—For + what Men<br /> and Women have been Burned—John Calvin's Advent into + the<br /> World—His Infamous Acts—Michael Servetus—Castalio—Spread + of<br /> Presbyterianism—Indictment of a Presbyterian Minister in + Illinois for<br /> Heresy—Specifications—The Real Bible<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0007">THE GHOSTS.</a> + </p> + <p> + THE GHOSTS.<br /> (1877.)<br /> Dedication to Ebon C. Ingersoll—Preface—Mendacity + of the Religious<br /> Press—"Materialism"—Ways of Pleasing + the Ghosts—The Idea of<br /> Immortality not Born of any Book—Witchcraft + and Demon-ology—Witch<br /> Trial before Sir Matthew Hale—John + Wesley a Firm Believer in<br /> Ghosts—"Witch-spots"—Lycanthropy—Animals + Tried and Convicted—The<br /> Governor of Minnesota and the + Grasshoppers—A Papal Bull against<br /> Witchcraft—Victims of + the Delusion—Sir William Blackstone's<br /> Affirmation—Trials + in Belgium—Incubi and Succubi—A Bishop<br /> Personated by + the Devil—The Doctrine that Diseases are caused by<br /> Ghosts—Treatment—Timothy + Dwight against Vaccination—Ghosts as<br /> Historians—The + Language of Eden—Leibnitz, Founder of the Science<br /> of Language—Cosmas + on Astronomy—Vagaries of Kepler and Tycho<br /> Brahe—Discovery + of Printing, Powder, and America—Thanks to the<br /> Inventors—The + Catholic Murderer and the Meat—Let the Ghosts Go<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0009">THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD.</a> + </p> + <p> + THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD.<br /> (1877.)<br /> Liberty sustains + the same Relation to Mind that Space does to<br /> Matter—The + History of Man a History of Slavery—The Infidel Our<br /> Fathers + in the good old Time—The iron Arguments that Christians<br /> Used—Instruments + of Torture—A Vision of the Inquisition—Models of<br /> Man's + Inventions—Weapons, Armor, Musical Instruments, Paintings,<br /> + Books, Skulls—The Gentleman in the Dug-out—Homage to Genius + and<br /> Intellect—Abraham Lincoln—What I mean by Liberty—The + Man who cannot<br /> afford to Speak his Thought is a Certificate of the + Meanness of the<br /> Community in which he Resides—Liberty of + Woman—Marriage and the<br /> Family—Ornaments the Souvenirs + of Bondage-The Story of the Garden of<br /> Eden—Adami and Heva—Equality + of the Sexes-The word "Boss"—The Cross<br /> Man-The Stingy Man—Wives + who are Beggars—How to Spend Money—By<br /> the Tomb of the + Old Napoleon—The Woman you Love will never Grow<br /> Old—Liberty + of Children—When your Child tells a Lie—Disowning<br /> + Children—Beating your own Flesh and Blood—Make Home Pleasant—Sunday<br /> + when I was a Boy—The Laugh of a Child—The doctrine of + Eternal<br /> Punishment—Jonathan Edwards on the Happiness of + Believing Husbands<br /> whose Wives are in Hell—The Liberty of + Eating and Sleeping—Water in<br /> Fever—Soil and Climate + necessary to the production of Genius—Against<br /> Annexing Santo + Domingo—Descent of Man—Conclusion<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0013">ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS.</a> + </p> + <p> + ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS.<br /> (1877.)<br /> To Plow is to Pray; to + Plant is to Prophesy, and the Harvest Answers and<br /> Fulfills—The + Old Way of Farming—Cooking an Unknown Art-Houses, Fuel,<br /> and + Crops—The Farmer's Boy—What a Farmer should Sell—Beautifying<br /> + the Home—Advantages of Illinois as a Farming State—Advantages + of the<br /> Farmer over the Mechanic—Farm Life too Lonely-On Early + Rising—Sleep<br /> the Best Doctor—Fashion—Patriotism + and Boarding Houses—The Farmer and<br /> the Railroads—Money + and Confidence—Demonetization of Silver-Area of<br /> Illinois—Mortgages + and Interest—Kindness to Wives and Children—How<br /> a + Beefsteak should be Cooked—Decorations and Comfort—Let the + Children<br /> Sleep—Old Age<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0014">WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?</a> + </p> + <p> + WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?<br /> (1880.)<br /> Preface—The + Synoptic Gospels—Only Mark Knew of the Necessity of<br /> Belief—Three + Christs Described—The Jewish Gentleman and the Piece of<br /> Bacon—Who + Wrote the New Testament?—Why Christ and the Apostles wrote<br /> + Nothing—Infinite Respect for the Man Christ—Different + Feeling for<br /> the Theological Christ—Saved from What?—Chapter + on the Gospel of<br /> Matthew—What this Gospel says we must do to + be Saved—Jesus and the<br /> Children—John Calvin and + Jonathan Edwards conceived of as Dimpled<br /> Darlings—Christ and + the Man who inquired what Good Thing he should<br /> do that he might + have Eternal Life—Nothing said about Belief—An<br /> + Interpolation—Chapter on the Gospel of Mark—The Believe or + be Damned<br /> Passage, and why it was written—The last + Conversation of Christ with<br /> his Disciples—The Signs that + Follow them that Believe—Chapter on<br /> the Gospel of Luke—Substantial + Agreement with Matthew and Mark—How<br /> Zaccheus achieved + Salvation—The two Thieves on the Cross—Chapter<br /> on the + Gospel of John—The Doctrine of Regeneration, or the New<br /> Birth—Shall + we Love our Enemies while God Damns His?—Chapter on the<br /> + Catholics—Communication with Heaven through Decayed Saints—Nuns + and<br /> Nunneries—Penitentiaries of God should be Investigated—The<br /> + Athanasian Creed expounded—The Trinity and its Members—Chapter + on the<br /> Episcopalians—Origin of the Episcopal Church—Apostolic + Succession<br /> an Imported Article—Episcopal Creed like the + Catholic, with a<br /> few Additional Absurdities—Chapter on the + Methodists—Wesley and<br /> Whitfield—Their Quarrel about + Predestination—Much Preaching for Little<br /> Money—Adapted + to New Countries—Chapter on the Presbyterians—John<br /> + Calvin, Murderer—Meeting between Calvin and Knox—The Infamy + of<br /> Calvinism—Division in the Church—The Young + Presbyterian's Resignation<br /> to the Fate of his Mother—A + Frightful, Hideous, and Hellish<br /> Creed—Chapter on the + Evangelical Alliance—Jeremy Taylor's Opinion of<br /> Baptists—Orthodoxy + not Dead—Creed of the Alliance—Total Depravity,<br /> Eternal + Damnation—What do You Propose?—The Gospel of + Good-fellowship,<br /> Cheerfulness, Health, Good Living, Justice—No + Forgiveness—God's<br /> Forgiveness Does not Pay my Debt to Smith—Gospel + of Liberty, of<br /> Intelligence, of Humanity—One World at a Time—"Upon + that Rock I<br /> Stand"<br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="link0001" id="link0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. + </h2> + <p> + IN presenting to the public this edition of the late Robert G. Ingersoll's + works, it has been the aim of the publisher to make it worthy of the + author and a pleasure to his friends and admirers. No one can be more + conscious than he of the magnitude of the task undertaken, or more keenly + feel how far short it must fall of adequate accomplishment. + </p> + <p> + When it is remembered that countless utterances of the author were never + caught from his eloquent lips, it is matter for congratulation that so + much has been preserved. The authorized addresses, arguments and articles + that have already appeared in print and passed the review of the authors + more or less careful inspection, will be readily recognized as accurate + and complete; but in this latest and fullest compilation are many + emanations from his heart and brain that have never had his scrutiny, were + not revised by him, and that yet, by general judgment, should not be lost + to the world. + </p> + <p> + These unedited sundries consist of fragments of speeches and incompleted + articles discovered amongst the authors literary remains and for unknown + reasons left in more or less unfinished form. It has been the publisher's + ambition to gather these fugitive pieces and place them in this edition by + the side of the saved treasures. Whether the work has been well or ill + done a generous public must decide, while the sole responsibility must + rest with, as it has been assumed by, the publisher. + </p> + <p> + In carrying out the design of the present edition, the publisher + gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Mr. Ingersoll's family, who have + freely placed at his disposal many papers, inscriptions, monographs, + memoranda and pages of valuable material. + </p> + <p> + Recognition is also here made of the kind courtesy of the press and of + publishers of magazines who have generously permitted the publication of + articles originally written for them. + </p> + <p> + Finally, the publisher gives his thanks to all the devoted friends of the + author who in many ways, by suggestion and unselfish labor, have aided in + getting out this work. Of these, none have been more unremitting in + service, and to none is the publisher more indebted, than to Mr. I. Newton + Baker, Mr. Ingersoll's former private secretary, to Dr. Edgar C. Beall, + and to Mr. George E. Macdonald for the fine Tables of Contents and the + very valuable Index to this edition. + </p> + <p> + C. P. FARRELL. + </p> + <p> + New York, July, 1900. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0002" id="link0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE GODS + </h2> + <h3> + An Honest God is the Noblest Work of Man. + </h3> + <p> + EACH nation has created a god, and the god has always resembled his + creators. He hated and loved what they hated and loved, and he was + invariably found on the side of those in power. Each god was intensely + patriotic, and detested all nations but his own. All these gods demanded + praise, flattery, and worship. Most of them were pleased with sacrifice, + and the smell of innocent blood has ever been considered a divine perfume. + All these gods have insisted upon having a vast number of priests, and the + priests have always insisted upon being supported by the people, and the + principal business of these priests has been to boast about their god, and + to insist that he could easily vanquish all the other gods put together. + </p> + <p> + These gods have been manufactured after numberless models, and according + to the most grotesque fashions. Some have a thousand arms, some a hundred + heads, some are adorned with necklaces of living snakes, some are armed + with clubs, some with sword and shield, some with bucklers, and some have + wings as a cherub; some were invisible, some would show themselves entire, + and some would only show their backs; some were jealous, some were + foolish, some turned themselves into men, some into swans, some into + bulls, some into doves, and some into Holy Ghosts, and made love to the + beautiful daughters of men. Some were married—all ought to have been—and + some were considered as old bachelors from all eternity. Some had + children, and the children were turned into gods and worshiped as their + fathers had been. Most of these gods were revengeful, savage, lustful, and + ignorant. As they generally depended upon their priests for information, + their ignorance can hardly excite our astonishment. + </p> + <p> + These gods did not even know the shape of the worlds they had created, but + supposed them perfectly flat Some thought the day could be lengthened by + stopping the sun, that the blowing of horns could throw down the walls of + a city, and all knew so little of the real nature of the people they had + created, that they commanded the people to love them. Some were so + ignorant as to suppose that man could believe just as he might desire, or + as they might command, and that to be governed by observation, reason, and + experience was a most foul and damning sin. None of these gods could give + a true account of the creation of this little earth. All were wofully + deficient in geology and astronomy. As a rule, they were most miserable + legislators, and as executives, they were far inferior to the average of + American presidents. + </p> + <p> + These deities have demanded the most abject and degrading obedience. In + order to please them, man must lay his very face in the dust Of course, + they have always been partial to the people who created them, and have + generally shown their partiality by assisting those people to rob and + destroy others, and to ravish their wives and daughters. + </p> + <p> + Nothing is so pleasing to these gods as the butchery of unbelievers. + Nothing so enrages them, even now, as to have some one deny their + existence. + </p> + <p> + Few nations have been so poor as to have but one god. Gods were made so + easily, and the raw material cost so little, that generally the god market + was fairly glutted, and heaven crammed with these phantoms. These gods not + only attended to the skies, but were supposed to interfere in all the + affairs of men. They presided over everybody and everything. They attended + to every department. All was supposed to be under their immediate control. + Nothing was too small—nothing too large; the falling of sparrows and + the motions of the planets were alike attended to by these industrious and + observing deities. From their starry thrones they frequently came to the + earth for the purpose of imparting information to man. It is related of + one that he came amid thunderings and lightnings in order to tell the + people that they should not cook a kid in its mother's milk. Some left + their shining abodes to tell women that they should, or should not, have + children, to inform a priest how to cut and wear his apron, and to give + directions as to the proper manner of cleaning the intestines of a bird. + </p> + <p> + When the people failed to worship one of these gods, or failed to feed and + clothe his priests, (which was much the same thing,) he generally visited + them with pestilence and famine. Sometimes he allowed some other nation to + drag them into slavery—to sell their wives and children; but + generally he glutted his vengeance by murdering their first-born. The + priests always did their whole duty, not only in predicting these + calamities, but in proving, when they did happen, that they were brought + upon the people because they had not given quite enough to them. + </p> + <p> + These gods differed just as the nations differed; the greatest and most + powerful had the most powerful gods, while the weaker ones were obliged to + content themselves with the very off-scourings of the heavens. Each of + these gods promised happiness here and hereafter to all his slaves, and + threatened to eternally punish all who either disbelieved in his existence + or suspected that some other god might be his superior; but to deny the + existence of all gods was, and is, the crime of crimes. Redden your hands + with human blood; blast by slander the fair fame of the innocent; strangle + the smiling child upon its mother's knees; deceive, ruin and desert the + beautiful girl who loves and trusts you, and your case is not hopeless. + For all this, and for all these you may be forgiven. For all this, and for + all these, that bankrupt court established by the gospel, will give you a + discharge; but deny the existence of these divine ghosts, of these gods, + and the sweet and tearful face of Mercy becomes livid with eternal hate. + Heaven's golden gates are shut, and you, with an infinite curse ringing in + your ears, with the brand of infamy upon your brow, commence your endless + wanderings in the lurid gloom of hell—an immortal vagrant—an + eternal outcast—a deathless convict. + </p> + <p> + One of these gods, and one who demands our love, our admiration and our + worship, and one who is worshiped, if mere heartless ceremony is worship, + gave to his chosen people for their guidance, the following laws of war: + "When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, <i>then proclaim + peace unto it</i>. And it shall be if it make thee answer of peace, and + open unto thee, then it shall be that all the people that is found therein + shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. And if it will + make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt + besiege it. + </p> + <p> + "And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thy hands, thou shalt + smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword. But the women and the + little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the + spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself, and thou shalt eat the spoil + of thine enemies which the Lord thy God hath given thee. Thus shalt thou + do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of + the cities of these nations. But of the cities of these people which the + Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, <i>thou shalt save alive + nothing that breatheth</i>" + </p> + <p> + Is it possible for man to conceive of anything more perfectly infamous? + Can you believe that such directions were given by any being except an + infinite fiend? Remember that the army receiving these instructions was + one of invasion. Peace was offered upon condition that the people + submitting should be the slaves of the invader; but if any should have the + courage to defend their homes, to fight for the love of wife and child, + then the sword was to spare none—not even the prattling, dimpled + babe. + </p> + <p> + And we are called upon to worship such a God; to get upon our knees and + tell him that he is good, that he is merciful, that he is just, that he is + love. We are asked to stifle every noble sentiment of the soul, and to + trample under foot all the sweet charities of the heart. Because we refuse + to stultify ourselves—refuse to become liars—we are denounced, + hated, traduced and ostracized here, and this same god threatens to + torment us in eternal fire the moment death allows him to fiercely clutch + our naked helpless souls. Let the people hate, let the god threaten—we + will educate them, and we will despise and defy him. + </p> + <p> + The book, called the Bible, is filled with passages equally horrible, + unjust and atrocious. This is the book to be read in schools in order to + make our children loving, kind and gentle! This is the book to be + recognized in our Constitution as the source of all authority and justice! + </p> + <p> + Strange! that no one has ever been persecuted by the church for believing + God bad, while hundreds of millions have been destroyed for thinking him + good. The orthodox church never will forgive the Universalist for saying + "God is love." It has always been considered as one of the very highest + evidences of true and undefiled religion to insist that all men, women and + children deserve eternal damnation. It has always been heresy to say, "God + will at last save all." + </p> + <p> + We are asked to justify these frightful passages, these infamous laws of + war, because the Bible is the word of God. As a matter of fact, there + never was, and there never can be, an argument, even tending to prove the + inspiration of any book whatever. In the absence of positive evidence, + analogy and experience, argument is simply impossible, and at the very + best, can amount only to a useless agitation of the air. + </p> + <p> + The instant we admit that a book is too sacred to be doubted, or even + reasoned about, we are mental serfs. It is infinitely absurd to suppose + that a god would address a communication to intelligent beings, and yet + make it a crime, to be punished in eternal flames, for them to use their + intelligence for the purpose of understanding his communication. If we + have the right to use our reason, we certainly have the right to act in + accordance with it, and no god can have the right to punish us for such + action. + </p> + <p> + The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is monstrous. It is + the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in Christ is to be rewarded + by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, observation, and + experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation, and can + be relieved only by that unhappy mixture of insanity and ignorance, called + "faith." What man, who ever thinks, can believe that blood can appease + God? And yet, our entire system of religion is based upon that belief. The + Jews pacified Jehovah with the blood of animals, and according to the + Christian system, the blood of Jesus softened the heart of God a little, + and rendered possible the salvation of a fortunate few. It is hard to + conceive how the human mind can give assent to such terrible ideas, or how + any sane man can read the Bible and still believe in the doctrine of + inspiration. + </p> + <p> + Whether the Bible is true or false, is of no consequence in comparison + with the mental freedom of the race. + </p> + <p> + Salvation through slavery is worthless. Salvation from slavery is + inestimable. + </p> + <p> + As long as man believes the Bible to be infallible, that book is his + master. The civilization of this century is not the child of faith, but of + unbelief—the result of free thought. + </p> + <p> + All that is necessary, as it seems to me, to convince any reasonable + person that the Bible is simply and purely of human invention—of + barbarian invention—is to read it Read it as you would any other + book; think of it as you would of any other; get the bandage of reverence + from your eyes; drive from your heart the phantom of fear; push from the + throne of your brain the cowled form of superstition—then read the + Holy Bible, and you will be amazed that you ever, for one moment, supposed + a being of infinite wisdom, goodness and purity, to be the author of such + ignorance and of such atrocity. + </p> + <p> + Our ancestors not only had their god-factories, but they made devils as + well. These devils were generally disgraced and fallen gods. Some had + headed unsuccessful revolts; some had been caught sweetly reclining in the + shadowy folds of some fleecy cloud, kissing the wife of the god of gods. + These devils generally sympathized with man. There is in regard to them a + most wonderful fact: In nearly all the theologies, mythologies and + religions, the devils have been much more humane and merciful than the + gods. No devil ever gave one of his generals an order to kill children and + to rip open the bodies of pregnant women. Such barbarities were always + ordered by the good gods. The pestilences were sent by the most merciful + gods. The frightful famine, during which the dying child with pallid lips + sucked the withered bosom of a dead mother, was sent by the loving gods. + No devil was ever charged with such fiendish brutality. + </p> + <p> + One of these gods, according to the account, drowned an entire world, with + the exception of eight persons. The old, the young, the beautiful and the + helpless were remorsely devoured by the shoreless sea. This, the most + fearful tragedy that the imagination of ignorant priests ever conceived, + was the act, not of a devil, but of a god, so-called, whom men ignorantly + worship unto this day. What a stain such an act would leave upon the + character of a devil! One of the prophets of one of these gods, having in + his power a captured king, hewed him in pieces in the sight of all the + people. Was ever any imp of any devil guilty of such savagery? + </p> + <p> + One of these gods is reported to have given the following directions + concerning human slavery: "If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years shall + he serve, and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came + in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he were married, then his + wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and she + have borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her + master's, and he shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall plainly + say, I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out free. + Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him + unto the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear + through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever." + </p> + <p> + According to this, a man was given liberty upon condition that he would + desert forever his wife and children. Did any devil ever force upon a + husband, upon a father, so cruel and so heartless an alternative? Who can + worship such a god? Who can bend the knee to such a monster? Who can pray + to such a fiend? + </p> + <p> + All these gods threatened to torment forever the souls of their enemies. + Did any devil ever make so infamous a threat? The basest thing recorded of + the devil, is what he did concerning Job and his family, and that was done + by the express permission of one of these gods, and to decide a little + difference of opinion between their serene highnesses as to the character + of "my servant Job." The first account we have of the devil is found in + that purely scientific book called Genesis, and is as follows: "Now the + serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God + had made, and he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat + of the fruit of the trees of the garden? And the woman said unto the + serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the + fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath said, Ye + shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the + serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know + that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye + shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the + tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree + to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, + and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.... And the Lord + God said, Behold the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; + and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life and + eat, and live forever. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the + Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So he drove out + the man, and he placed at the east of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a + flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of + life." + </p> + <p> + According to this account the promise of the devil was fulfilled to the + very letter. Adam and Eve did not die, and they did become as gods, + knowing good and evil. + </p> + <p> + The account shows, however, that the gods dreaded education and knowledge + then just as they do now. The church still faithfully guards the dangerous + tree of knowledge, and has exerted in all ages her utmost power to keep + mankind from eating the fruit thereof. The priests have never ceased + repeating the old falsehood and the old threat: "Ye shall not eat of it, + neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." From every pulpit comes the same + cry, born of the same fear: "Lest they eat and become as gods, knowing + good and evil." For this reason, religion hates science, faith detests + reason, theology is the sworn enemy of philosophy, and the church with its + flaming sword still guards the hated tree, and like its supposed founder, + curses to the lowest depths the brave thinkers who eat and become as gods. + </p> + <p> + If the account given in Genesis is really true, ought we not, after all, + to thank this serpent? He was the first schoolmaster, the first advocate + of learning, the first enemy of ignorance, the first to whisper in human + ears the sacred word liberty, the creator of ambition, the author of + modesty, of inquiry, of doubt, of investigation, of progress and of + civilization. + </p> + <p> + Give me the storm and tempest of thought and action, rather than the dead + calm of ignorance and faith! Banish me from Eden when you will; but first + let me eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge! + </p> + <p> + Some nations have borrowed their gods; of this number, we are compelled to + say, is our own. The Jews having ceased to exist as a nation, and having + no further use for a god, our ancestors appropriated him and adopted their + devil at the same time. This borrowed god is still an object of some + adoration, and this adopted devil still excites the apprehensions of our + people. He is still supposed to be setting his traps and snares for the + purpose of catching our unwary souls, and is still, with reasonable + success, waging the old war against our God. + </p> + <p> + To me, it seems easy to account for these ideas concerning gods and + devils. They are a perfectly natural production. Man has created them all, + and under the same circumstances would create them again. Man has not only + created all these gods, but he has created them out of the materials by + which he has been surrounded. Generally he has modeled them after himself, + and has given them hands, heads, feet, eyes, ears, and organs of speech. + Each nation made its gods and devils speak its language not only, but put + in their mouths the same mistakes in history, geography, astronomy, and in + all matters of fact, generally made by the people. No god was ever in + advance of the nation that created him. The negroes represented their + deities with black skins and curly hair. The Mongolian gave to his a + yellow complexion and dark almond-shaped eyes. The Jews were not allowed + to paint theirs, or we should have seen Jehovah with a full beard, an oval + face, and an aquiline nose. Zeus was a perfect Greek, and Jove looked as + though a member of the Roman senate. The gods of Egypt had the patient + face and placid look of the loving people who made them. The gods of + northern countries were represented warmly clad in robes of fur; those of + the tropics were naked. The gods of India were often mounted upon + elephants; those of some islanders were great swimmers, and the deities of + the Arctic zone were passionately fond of whale's blubber. Nearly all + people have carved or painted representations of their gods, and these + representations were, by the lower classes, generally treated as the real + gods, and to these images and idols they addressed prayers and offered + sacrifice. + </p> + <p> + In some countries? even at this day, if the people after long praying do + not obtain their desires, they turn their images off as impotent gods, or + upbraid them in a most reproachful manner, loading them with blows and + curses. 'How now, dog of a spirit,' they say, 'we give you lodging in a + magnificent temple, we gild you with gold, feed you with the choicest + food, and offer incense to you; yet, after all this care, you are so + ungrateful as to refuse us what we ask.' + </p> + <p> + Hereupon they will pull the god down and drag him through the filth of the + street. If, in the meantime, it happens that they obtain their request, + then, with a great deal of ceremony, they wash him clean, carry him back + and place him in his temple again, where they fall down and make excuses + for what they have done. 'Of a truth,' they say, 'we were a little too + hasty, and you were a little too long in your grant. Why should you bring + this beating on yourself. But what is done cannot be undone. Let us not + think of it any more. If you will forget what is past, we will gild you + over brighter again than before. + </p> + <p> + Man has never been at a loss for gods. He has worshiped almost everything, + including the vilest and most disgusting beasts. He has worshiped fire, + earth, air, water, light, stars, and for hundreds of ages prostrated + himself before enormous snakes. Savage tribes often make gods of articles + they get from civilized people. The Todas worship a cow-bell. The Kotas + worship two silver plates, which they regard as husband and wife, and + another tribe manufactured a god out of a king of hearts. + </p> + <p> + Man, having always been the physical superior of woman, accounts for the + fact that most of the high gods have been males. Had woman been the + physical superior, the powers supposed to be the rulers of Nature would + have been women, and instead of being represented in the apparel of man, + they would have luxuriated in trains, lownecked dresses, laces and + back-hair. + </p> + <p> + Nothing can be plainer than that each nation gives to its god its peculiar + characteristics, and that every individual gives to his god his personal + peculiarities. + </p> + <p> + Man has no ideas, and can have none, except those suggested by his + surroundings. He cannot conceive of anything utterly unlike what he has + seen or felt. He can exaggerate, diminish, combine, separate, deform, + beautify, improve, multiply and compare what he sees, what he feels, what + he hears, and all of which he takes cognizance through the medium of the + senses; but he cannot create. Having seen exhibitions of power, he can + say, omnipotent. Having lived, he can say, immortality. Knowing something + of time, he can say, eternity. Conceiving something of intelligence, he + can say, God. Having seen exhibitions of malice, he can say, devil. A few + gleams of happiness having fallen athwart the gloom of his life, he can + say, heaven. Pain, in its numberless forms, having been experienced, he + can say, hell. Yet all these ideas have a foundation in fact, and only a + foundation. The superstructure has been reared by exaggerating, + diminishing, combining, separating, deforming, beautifying, improving or + multiplying realities, so that the edifice or fabric is but the + incongruous grouping of what man has perceived through the medium of the + senses. It is as though we should give to a lion the wings of an eagle, + the hoofs of a bison, the tail of a horse, the pouch of a kangaroo, and + the trunk of an elephant. We have in imagination created an impossible + monster. And yet the various parts of this monster really exist So it is + with all the gods that man has made. + </p> + <p> + Beyond nature man cannot go even in thought—above nature he cannot + rise—below nature he cannot fall. + </p> + <p> + Man, in his ignorance, supposed that all phenomena were produced by some + intelligent powers, and with direct reference to him. To preserve friendly + relations with these powers was, and still is, the object of all + religions. Man knelt through fear and to implore assistance, or through + gratitude for some favor which he supposed had been rendered. He + endeavored by supplication to appease some being who, for some reason, + had, as he believed, become enraged. The lightning and thunder terrified + him. In the presence of the volcano he sank upon his knees. The great + forests filled with wild and ferocious beasts, the monstrous serpents + crawling in mysterious depths, the boundless sea, the flaming comets, the + sinister eclipses, the awful calmness of the stars, and, more than all, + the perpetual presence of death, convinced him that he was the sport and + prey of unseen and malignant powers. The strange and frightful diseases to + which he was subject, the freezings and burnings of fever, the contortions + of epilepsy, the sudden palsies, the darkness of night, and the wild, + terrible and fantastic dreams that filled his brain, satisfied him that he + was haunted and pursued by countless spirits of evil. For some reason he + supposed that these spirits differed in power—that they were not all + alike malevolent—that the higher controlled the lower, and that his + very existence depended upon gaining the assistance of the more powerful. + For this purpose he resorted to prayer, to flattery, to worship and to + sacrifice. + </p> + <p> + These ideas appear to have been almost universal in savage man. + </p> + <p> + For ages all nations supposed that the sick and insane were possessed by + evil spirits. For thousands of years the practice of medicine consisted in + frightening these spirits away. Usually the priests would make the loudest + and most discordant noises possible. They would blow horns, beat upon rude + drums, clash cymbals, and in the meantime utter the most unearthly yells. + If the noise-remedy failed, they would implore the aid of some more + powerful spirit. + </p> + <p> + To pacify these spirits was considered of infinite importance. The poor + barbarian, knowing that men could be softened by gifts, gave to these + spirits that which to him seemed of the most value. With bursting heart he + would offer the blood of his dearest child. It was impossible for him to + conceive of a god utterly unlike himself, and he naturally supposed that + these powers of the air would be affected a little at the sight of so + great and so deep a sorrow. It was with the barbarian then as with the + civilized now—one class lived upon and made merchandise of the fears + of another. Certain persons took it upon themselves to appease the gods, + and to instruct the people in their duties to these unseen powers. This + was the origin of the priesthood. The priest pretended to stand between + the wrath of the gods and the helplessness of man. He was man's attorney + at the court of heaven. He carried to the invisible world a flag of truce, + a protest and a request. He came back with a command, with authority and + with power. Man fell upon his knees before his own servant, and the + priest, taking advantage of the awe inspired by his supposed influence + with the gods, made of his fellow-man a cringing hypocrite and slave. Even + Christ, the supposed son of God, taught that persons were possessed of + evil spirits, and frequently, according to the account, gave proof of his + divine origin and mission by frightening droves of devils out of his + unfortunate countrymen. Casting out devils was his principal employment, + and the devils thus banished generally took occasion to acknowledge him as + the true Messiah; which was not only very kind of them, but quite + fortunate for him. The religious people have always regarded the testimony + of these devils as perfectly conclusive, and the writers of the New + Testament quote the words of these imps of darkness with great + satisfaction. + </p> + <p> + The fact that Christ could withstand the temptations of the devil was + considered as conclusive evidence that he was assisted by some god, or at + least by some being superior to man. St. Matthew gives an account of an + attempt made by the devil to tempt the supposed son of God; and it has + always excited the wonder of Christians that the temptation was so nobly + and heroically withstood. The account to which I refer is as follows: + </p> + <p> + "Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of + the devil. And when the tempter came to him, he said: 'If thou be the son + of God, command that these stones be made bread.' But he answered, and + said: 'It is written: man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word + that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.' Then the devil taketh him up + into the holy city and setteth him upon a pinnacle of the temple and saith + unto him: 'If thou be the son of God, cast thyself down; for it is + written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, lest at any time + thou shalt dash thy foot against a stone,'Jesus said unto him: 'It is + written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.' Again the devil + taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and sheweth him all the + kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and saith unto him: 'All + these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me.'" + </p> + <p> + The Christians now claim that Jesus was God. If he was God, of course the + devil knew that fact, and yet, according to this account, the devil took + 'the omnipotent God and placed him upon a pinnacle of the temple, and + endeavored to induce him to dash himself against the earth. Failing in + that, he took the creator, owner and governor of the universe up into an + exceeding high mountain, and offered him this world—this grain of + sand—if he, the God of all the worlds, would fall down and worship + him, a poor devil, without even a tax title to one foot of dirt! Is it + possible the devil was such an idiot? Should any great credit be given to + this deity for not being caught with such chaff? Think of it! The devil—the + prince of sharpers—the king of cunning—the master of finesse, + trying to bribe God with a grain of sand that belonged to God! + </p> + <p> + Is there in all the religious literature of the world anything more + grossly absurd than this? + </p> + <p> + These devils, according to the Bible, were of various kinds—some + could speak and hear, others were deaf and dumb. All could not be cast out + in the same way. The deaf and dumb spirits were quite difficult to deal + with. St. Mark tells of a gentleman who brought his son to Christ. The + boy, it seems, was possessed of a dumb spirit, over which the disciples + had no control. "Jesus said unto the spirit: 'Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I + charge thee come out of him, and enter no more into him.'" Whereupon, the + deaf spirit (having heard what was said) cried out (being dumb) and + immediately vacated the premises. The ease with which Christ controlled + this deaf and dumb spirit excited the wonder of his disciples, and they + asked him privately why they could not cast that spirit out. To whom he + replied: "This kind can come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting." Is + there a Christian in the whole world who would believe such a story if + found in any other book? The trouble is, these pious people shut up their + reason, and then open their Bible. + </p> + <p> + In the olden times the existence of devils was universally admitted. The + people had no doubt upon that subject, and from such belief it followed as + a matter of course, that a person, in order to vanquish these devils, had + either to be a god, or to be assisted by one. All founders of religions + have established their claims to divine origin by controlling evil spirits + and suspending the laws of nature. Casting out devils was a certificate of + divinity. A prophet, unable to cope with the powers of darkness was + regarded with contempt The utterance of the highest and noblest + sentiments, the most blameless and holy life, commanded but little + respect, unless accompanied by power to work miracles and command spirits. + </p> + <p> + This belief in good and evil powers had its origin in the fact that man + was surrounded by what he was pleased to call good and evil phenomena. + Phenomena affecting man pleasantly were ascribed to good spirits, while + those affecting him unpleasantly or injuriously, were ascribed to evil + spirits. It being admitted that all phenomena were produced by spirits, + the spirits were divided according to the phenomena, and the phenomena + were good or bad as they affected man. + </p> + <p> + Good spirits were supposed to be the authors of good phenomena, and evil + spirits of the evil—so that the idea of a devil has been as + universal as the idea of a god. + </p> + <p> + Many writers maintain that an idea to become universal must be true; that + all universal ideas are innate, and that innate ideas cannot be false. If + the fact that an idea has been universal proves that it is innate, and if + the fact that an idea is innate proves that it is correct, then the + believers in innate ideas must admit that the evidence of a god superior + to nature, and of a devil superior to nature, is exactly the same, and + that the existence of such a devil must be as self-evident as the + existence of such a god. The truth is, a god was inferred from good, and a + devil from bad, phenomena. And it is just as natural and logical to + suppose that a devil would cause happiness as to suppose that a god would + produce misery. Consequently, if an intelligence, infinite and supreme, is + the immediate author of all phenomena, it is difficult to determine + whether such intelligence is the friend or enemy of man. If phenomena were + all good, we might say they were all produced by a perfectly beneficent + being. If they were all bad, we might say they were produced by a + perfectly malevolent power; but, as phenomena are, as they affect man, + both good and bad, they must be produced by different and antagonistic + spirits; by one who is sometimes actuated by kindness, and sometimes by + malice; or all must be produced of necessity, and without reference to + their consequences upon man. + </p> + <p> + The foolish doctrine that all phenomena can be traced to the interference + of good and evil spirits, has been, and still is, almost universal. That + most people still believe in some spirit that can change the natural order + of events, is proven by the fact that nearly all resort to prayer. + Thousands, at this very moment, are probably imploring some supposed power + to interfere in their behalf. Some want health restored; some ask that the + loved and absent be watched over and protected, some pray for riches, some + for rain, some want diseases stayed, some vainly ask for food, some ask + for revivals, a few ask for more wisdom, and now and then one tells the + Lord to do as he may think best. Thousands ask to be protected from the + devil; some, like David, pray for revenge, and some implore even God, not + to lead them into temptation. All these prayers rest upon, and are + produced by, the idea that some power not only can, but probably will, + change the order of the universe. This belief has been among the great + majority of tribes and nations. All sacred books are filled with the + accounts of such interferences, and our own Bible is no exception to this + rule. + </p> + <p> + If we believe in a power superior to nature, it is perfectly natural to + suppose that such power can and will interfere in the affairs of this + world. If there is no interference, of what practical use can such power + be? The Scriptures give us the most wonderful accounts of divine + interference: Animals talk like men; springs gurgle from dry bones; the + sun and moon stop in the heavens in order that General Joshua may have + more time to murder; the shadow on a dial goes back ten degrees to + convince a petty king of a barbarous people that he is not going to die of + a boil; fire refuses to burn; water positively declines to seek its level, + but stands up like a wall; grains of sand become lice; common + walking-sticks, to gratify a mere freak, twist themselves into serpents, + and then swallow each other by way of exercise; murmuring streams, + laughing at the attraction of gravitation, run up hill for years, + following wandering tribes from a pure love of frolic; prophecy becomes + altogether easier than history; the sons of God become enamored of the + world's girls; women are changed into salt for the purpose of keeping a + great event fresh in the minds of men; an excellent article of brimstone + is imported from heaven free of duty; clothes refuse to wear out for forty + years; birds keep restaurants and feed wandering prophets free of expense; + bears tear children in pieces for laughing at old men without wigs; + muscular development depends upon the length of one's hair; dead people + come to life, simply to get a joke on their enemies and heirs; witches and + wizards converse freely with the souls of the departed, and God himself + becomes a stone-cutter and engraver, after having been a tailor and + dressmaker. + </p> + <p> + The veil between heaven and earth was always rent or lifted. The shadows + of this world, the radiance of heaven, and the glare of hell mixed and + mingled until man became uncertain as to which country he really + inhabited. Man dwelt in an unreal world. He mistook his ideas, his dreams, + for real things. His fears became terrible and malicious monsters. He + lived in the midst of furies and fairies, nymphs and naiads, goblins and + ghosts, witches and wizards, sprites and spooks, deities and devils. The + obscure and gloomy depths were filled with claw and wing—with beak + and hoof—with leering looks and sneering mouths—with the + malice of deformity—with the cunning of hatred, and with all the + slimy forms that fear can draw and paint upon the shadowy canvas of the + dark. + </p> + <p> + It is enough to make one almost insane with pity to think what man in the + long night has suffered; of the tortures he has endured, surrounded, as he + supposed, by malignant powers and clutched by the fierce phantoms of the + air. No wonder that he fell upon his trembling knees—that he built + altars and reddened them even with his own blood. No wonder that he + implored ignorant priests and impudent magicians for aid. No wonder that + he crawled groveling in the dust to the temple's door, and there, in the + insanity of despair, besought the deaf gods to hear his bitter cry of + agony and fear. + </p> + <p> + The savage as he emerges from a state of barbarism, gradually loses faith + in his idols of wood and stone, and in their place puts a multitude of + spirits. As he advances in knowledge, he generally discards the petty + spirits, and in their stead believes in one, whom he supposes to be + infinite and supreme. Supposing this great spirit to be superior to + nature, he offers worship or flattery in exchange for assistance. At last, + finding that he obtains no aid from this supposed deity—: finding + that every search after the absolute must of necessity end in failure—finding + that man cannot by any possibility conceive of the conditionless—he + begins to investigate the facts by which he is surrounded, and to depend + upon himself. + </p> + <p> + The people are beginning to think, to reason and to investigate. Slowly, + painfully, but surely, the gods are being driven from the earth. Only upon + rare occasions are they, even by the most religious, supposed to interfere + in the affairs of men. In most matters we are at last supposed to be free. + Since the invention of steamships and railways, so that the products of + all countries can be easily interchanged, the gods have quit the business + of producing famine. Now and then they kill a child because it is idolized + by its parents. As a rule they have given up causing accidents on + railroads, exploding boilers, and bursting kerosene lamps. Cholera, yellow + fever, and small-pox are still considered heavenly weapons; but measles, + itch and ague are now attributed to natural causes. As a general thing, + the gods have stopped drowning children, except as a punishment for + violating the Sabbath. They still pay some attention to the affairs of + kings, men of genius and persons of great wealth; but ordinary people are + left to shirk for themselves as best they may. In wars between great + nations, the gods still interfere; but in prize fights, the best man with + an honest referee, is almost sure to win. + </p> + <p> + The church cannot abandon the idea of special providence. To give up that + doctrine is to give up all. The church must insist that prayer is answered—that + some power superior to nature hears and grants the request of the sincere + and humble Christian, and that this same power in some mysterious way + provides for all. + </p> + <p> + A devout clergyman sought every opportunity to impress upon the mind of + his son the fact, that God takes care of all his creatures; that the + falling sparrow attracts his attention, and that his loving kindness is + over all his works. Happening, one day, to see a crane wading in quest of + food, the good man pointed out to his son the perfect adaptation of the + crane to get his living in that manner. "See," said he, "how his legs are + formed for wading! What a long slender bill he has! Observe how nicely he + folds his feet when putting them in or drawing them out of the water! He + does not cause the slightest ripple. He is thus enabled to approach the + fish without giving them any notice of his arrival." "My son," said he, + "it is impossible to look at that bird without recognizing the design, as + well as the goodness of God, in thus providing the means of subsistence." + "Yes," replied the boy, "I think I see the goodness of God, at least so + far as the crane is concerned; but after all, father, don't you think the + arrangement a little tough on the fish?" + </p> + <p> + Even the advanced religionist, although disbelieving in any great amount + of interference by the gods in this age of the world, still thinks, that + in the beginning, some god made the laws governing the universe. He + believes that in consequence of these laws a man can lift a greater weight + with, than without, a lever; that this god so made matter, and so + established the order of things, that two bodies cannot occupy the same + space at the same time; so that a body once put in motion will keep moving + until it is stopped; so that it is a greater distance around, than across + a circle; so that a perfect square has four equal sides, instead of five + or seven. He insists that it took a direct interposition of Providence to + make the whole greater than a part, and that had it not been for this + power superior to nature, twice one might have been more than twice two, + and sticks and strings might have had only one end apiece. Like the old + Scotch divine, he thanks God that Sunday comes at the end instead of in + the middle of the week, and that death comes at the close instead of at + the commencement of life, thereby giving us time to prepare for that holy + day and that most solemn event These religious people see nothing but + design everywhere, and personal, intelligent interference in everything. + They insist that the universe has been created, and that the adaptation of + means to ends is perfectly apparent. They point us to the sunshine, to the + flowers, to the April rain, and to all there is of beauty and of use in + the world. Did it ever occur to them that a cancer is as beautiful in its + development as is the reddest rose? That what they are pleased to call the + adaptation of means to ends, is as apparent in the cancer as in the April + rain? How beautiful the process of digestion! By what ingenious methods + the blood is poisoned so that the cancer shall have food! By what + wonderful contrivances the entire system of man is made to pay tribute to + this divine and charming cancer! See by what admirable instrumentalities + it feeds itself from the surrounding quivering, dainty flesh! See how it + gradually but surely expands and grows! By what marvelous mechanism it is + supplied with long and slender roots that reach out to the most secret + nerves of pain for sustenance and life! What beautiful colors it presents! + Seen through the microscope it is a miracle of order and beauty. All the + ingenuity of man cannot stop its growth. Think of the amount of thought it + must have required to invent a way by which the life of one man might be + given to produce one cancer? Is it possible to look upon it and doubt that + there is design in the universe, and that the inventor of this wonderful + cancer must be infinitely powerful, ingenious and good? + </p> + <p> + We are told that the universe was designed and created, and that it is + absurd to suppose that matter has existed from eternity, but that it is + perfectly self-evident that a god has. + </p> + <p> + If a god created the universe, then, there must have been a time when he + commenced to create. Back of that time there must have been an eternity, + during which there had existed nothing—absolutely nothing—except + this supposed god. According to this theory, this god spent an eternity, + so to speak, in an infinite vacuum, and in perfect idleness. + </p> + <p> + Admitting that a god did create the universe, the question then arises, of + what did he create it? It certainly was not made of nothing. Nothing, + considered in the light of a raw material, is a most decided failure. It + follows, then, that the god must have made the universe out of himself, he + being the only existence. The universe is material, and if it was made of + god, the god must have been material. With this very thought in his mind, + Anaximander of Miletus said: "Creation is the decomposition of the + infinite." + </p> + <p> + It has been demonstrated that the earth would fall to the sun, only for + the fact, that it is attracted by other worlds, and those worlds must be + attracted by other worlds still beyond them, and so on, without end. This + proves the material universe to be infinite. If an infinite universe has + been made out of an infinite god, how much of the god is left? + </p> + <p> + The idea of a creative deity is gradually being abandoned, and nearly all + truly scientific minds admit that matter must have existed from eternity. + It is indestructible, and the indestructible cannot be created. It is the + crowning glory of our century to have demonstrated the indestructibility + and the eternal persistence of force. Neither matter nor force can be + increased nor diminished. Force cannot exist apart from matter. Matter + exists only in connection with force, and consequently, a force apart from + matter, and superior to nature, is a demonstrated impossibility. + </p> + <p> + Force, then, must have also existed from eternity, and could not have been + created. Matter in its countless forms, from dead earth to the eyes of + those we love, and force, in all its manifestations, from simple motion to + the grandest thought, deny creation and defy control. + </p> + <p> + Thought is a form of force. We walk with the same force with which we + think. Man is an organism, that changes several forms of force into + thought-force. Man is a machine into which we put what we call food, and + produce what we call thought. Think of that wonderful chemistry by which + bread was changed into the divine tragedy of Hamlet! + </p> + <p> + A god must not only be material, but he must be an organism, capable of + changing other forms of force into thought-force. This is what we call + eating. Therefore, if the god thinks, he must eat, that is to say, he must + of necessity have some means of supplying the force with which to think. + It is impossible to conceive of a being who can eternally impart force to + matter, and yet have no means of supplying the force thus imparted. + </p> + <p> + If neither matter nor force were created, what evidence have we, then, of + the existence of a power superior to nature? The theologian will probably + reply, "We have law and order, cause and effect, and beside all this, + matter could not have put itself in motion." + </p> + <p> + Suppose, for the sake of the argument, that there is no being superior to + nature, and that matter and force have existed from eternity. Now, suppose + that two atoms should come together, would there be an effect? Yes. + Suppose they came in exactly opposite directions with equal force, they + would be stopped, to say the least. This would be an effect. If this is + so, then you have matter, force and effect without a being superior to + nature. Now, suppose that two other atoms, just like the first two, should + come together under precisely the same circumstances, would not the effect + be exactly the same? Yes. Like causes, producing like effects, is what we + mean by law and order. Then we have matter, force, effect, law and order + without a being superior to nature. Now, we know that every effect must + also be a cause, and that every cause must be an effect. The atoms coming + together did produce an effect, and as every effect must also be a cause, + the effect produced by the collision of the atoms, must as to something + else have been a cause. Then we have matter, force, law, order, cause and + effect without a being superior to nature. Nothing is left for the + supernatural but empty space. His throne is a void, and his boasted realm + is without matter, without force, without law, without cause, and without + effect. + </p> + <p> + But what put all this matter in motion? If matter and force have existed + from eternity, then matter must have always been in motion. There can be + no force without motion. Force is forever active, and there is, and there + can be no cessation. If, therefore, matter and force have existed from + eternity, so has motion. In the whole universe there is not even one atom + in a state of rest. + </p> + <p> + A deity outside of nature exists in nothing, and is nothing. Nature + embraces with infinite arms all matter and all force. That which is beyond + her grasp is destitute of both, and can hardly be worth the worship and + adoration even of a man. + </p> + <p> + There is but one way to demonstrate the existence of a power independent + of and superior to nature, and that is by breaking, if only for one + moment, the continuity of cause and effect Pluck from the endless chain of + existence one little link; stop for one instant the grand procession, and + you have shown beyond all contradiction that nature has a master. Change + the fact, just for one second, that matter attracts matter, and a god + appears. + </p> + <p> + The rudest savage has always known this fact, and for that reason always + demanded the evidence of miracle. The founder of a religion must be able + to turn water into wine—cure with a word the blind and lame, and + raise with a simple touch the dead to life. It was necessary for him to + demonstrate to the satisfaction of his barbarian disciple, that he was + superior to nature. In times of ignorance this was easy to do. The + credulity of the savage was almost boundless. To him the marvelous was the + beautiful, the mysterious was the sublime. Consequently, every religion + has for its foundation a miracle—that is to say, a violation of + nature—that is to say, a falsehood. + </p> + <p> + No one, in the world's whole history, ever attempted to substantiate a + truth by a miracle. Truth scorns the assistance of miracle. Nothing but + falsehood ever attested itself by signs and wonders. No miracle ever was + performed, and no sane man ever thought he had performed one, and until + one is performed, there can be no evidence of the existence of any power + superior to and independent of nature. + </p> + <p> + The church wishes us to believe. Let the church, or one of its + intellectual saints, perform a miracle, and we will believe. We are told + that nature has a superior. Let this superior, for one single instant, + control nature, and we will admit the truth of your assertions. + </p> + <p> + We have heard talk enough. We have listened to all the drowsy, idealess, + vapid sermons that we wish to hear. We have read your Bible and the works + of your best minds. We have heard your prayers, your solemn groans and + your reverential amens. All these amount to less than nothing. We want one + fact. We beg at the doors of your churches for just one little fact We + pass our hats along your pews and under your pulpits and implore you for + just one fact We know all about your mouldy wonders and your stale + miracles. We want a this year's fact. We ask only one. Give us one fact + for charity. Your miracles are too ancient. The witnesses have been dead + for nearly two thousand years. Their reputation for "truth and veracity" + in the neighborhood where they resided is wholly unknown to us. Give us a + new miracle, and substantiate it by witnesses who still have the cheerful + habit of living in this world. Do not send us to Jericho to hear the + winding horns, nor put us in the fire with Shadrach, Meshech, and + Abednego. Do not compel us to navigate the sea with Captain Jonah, nor + dine with Mr. Ezekiel. There is no sort of use in sending us fox-hunting + with Samson. We have positively lost all interest in that little speech so + eloquently delivered by Balaam's inspired donkey. It is worse than useless + to show us fishes with money in their mouths, and call our attention to + vast multitudes stuffing themselves with five crackers and two sardines. + We demand a new miracle, and we demand it now. Let the church furnish at + least one, or forever after hold her peace. + </p> + <p> + In the olden time, the church, by violating the order of nature, proved + the existence of her God. At that time miracles were performed with the + most astonishing ease. They became so common that the church ordered her + priests to desist. And now this same church—the people having found + some little sense—admits, not only, that she cannot perform a + miracle, but insists that the absence of miracle—the steady, + unbroken march of cause and effect, proves the existence of a power + superior to nature. The fact is, however, that the indissoluble chain of + cause and effect proves exactly the contrary. + </p> + <p> + Sir William Hamilton, one of the pillars of modern theology, in discussing + this very subject, uses the following language: "The phenomena of matter + taken by themselves, so far from warranting any inference to the existence + of a god, would on the contrary ground even an argument to his negation. + The phenomena of the material world are subjected to immutable laws; are + produced and reproduced in the same invariable succession, and manifest + only the blind force of a mechanical necessity." + </p> + <p> + Nature is but an endless series of efficient causes. She cannot create, + but she eternally transforms. There was no beginning, and there can be no + end. + </p> + <p> + The best minds, even in the religious world, admit that in material nature + there is no evidence of what they are pleased to call a god. They find + their evidence in the phenomena of intelligence, and very innocently + assert that intelligence is above, and in fact, opposed to nature. They + insist that man, at least, is a special creation; that he has somewhere in + his brain a divine spark, a little portion of the "Great First Cause." + They say that matter cannot produce thought; but that thought can produce + matter. They tell us that man has intelligence, and therefore there must + be an intelligence greater than his. Why not say, God has intelligence, + therefore there must be an intelligence greater than his? So far as we + know, there is no intelligence apart from matter. We cannot conceive of + thought, except as produced within a brain. + </p> + <p> + The science, by means of which they demonstrate the existence of an + impossible intelligence, and an incomprehensible power is called, + metaphysics or theology. The theologians admit that the phenomena of + matter tend, at least, to disprove the existence of any power superior to + nature, because in such phenomena we see nothing but an endless chain of + efficient causes—nothing but the force of a mechanical necessity. + They therefore appeal to what they denominate the phenomena of mind to + establish this superior power. + </p> + <p> + The trouble is, that in the phenomena of mind we find the same endless + chain of efficient causes; the same mechanical necessity. Every thought + must have had an efficient cause. Every motive, every desire, every fear, + hope and dream must have been necessarily produced. There is no room in + the mind of man for providence or chance. The facts and forces governing + thought are as absolute as those governing the motions of the planets. A + poem is produced by the forces of nature, and is as necessarily and + naturally produced as mountains and seas. You will seek in vain for a + thought in man's brain without its efficient cause. Every mental operation + is the necessary result of certain facts and conditions. Mental phenomena + are considered more complicated than those of matter, and consequently + more mysterious. Being more mysterious, they are considered better + evidence of the existence of a god. No one infers a god from the simple, + from the known, from what is understood, but from the complex, from the + unknown, and, incomprehensible. Our ignorance is God; what we know is + science. + </p> + <p> + When we abandon the doctrine that some infinite being created matter and + force, and enacted a code of laws for their government, the idea of + interference will be lost. The real priest will then be, not the + mouth-piece of some pretended deity, but the interpreter of nature. From + that moment the church ceases to exist. The tapers will die out upon the + dusty altar; the moths will eat the fading velvet of pulpit and pew; the + Bible will take its place with the Shastras, Puranas, Vedas, Eddas, Sagas + and Korans, and the fetters of a degrading faith will fall from the minds + of men. + </p> + <p> + "But," says the religionist, "you cannot explain everything; you cannot + understand everything; and that which you cannot explain, that which you + do not comprehend, is my God." + </p> + <p> + We are explaining more every day. We are understanding more every day; + consequently your God is growing smaller every day. + </p> + <p> + Nothing daunted, the religionist then insists that nothing can exist + without a cause, except cause, and that this uncaused cause is God. + </p> + <p> + To this we again reply: Every cause must produce an effect, because until + it does produce an effect, it is not a cause. Every effect must in its + turn become a cause. Therefore, in the nature of things, there cannot be a + last cause, for the reason that a so-called last cause would necessarily + produce an effect, and that effect must of necessity becomes a cause. The + converse of these propositions must be true. Every effect must have had a + cause, and every cause must have been an effect. Therefore there could + have been no first cause. A first cause is just as impossible as a last + effect. + </p> + <p> + Beyond the universe there is nothing, and within the universe the + supernatural does not and cannot exist. + </p> + <p> + The moment these great truths are understood and admitted, a belief in + general or special providence become impossible. From that instant men + will cease their vain efforts to please an imaginary being, and will give + their time and attention to the affairs of this world. They will abandon + the idea of attaining any object by prayer and supplication. The element + of uncertainty will, in a great measure, be removed from the domain of the + future, and man, gathering courage from a succession of victories over the + obstructions of nature, will attain a serene grandeur unknown to the + disciples of any superstition. The plans of mankind will no longer be + interfered with by the finger of a supposed omnipotence, and no one will + believe that nations or individuals are protected or destroyed by any + deity whatever. Science, freed from the chains of pious custom and + evangelical prejudice, will, within her sphere, be supreme. The mind will + investigate without reverence, and publish its conclusions without fear. + Agassiz will no longer hesitate to declare the Mosaic cosmogony utterly + inconsistent with the demonstrated truths of geology, and will cease + pretending any reverence for the Jewish Scriptures. The moment science + succeeds in rendering the church powerless for evil, the real thinkers + will be outspoken. The little flags of truce carried by timid philosophers + will disappear, and the cowardly parley will give place to victory—lasting + and universal. + </p> + <p> + If we admit that some infinite being has controlled the destinies of + persons and peoples, history becomes a most cruel and bloody farce. Age + after age, the strong have trampled upon the weak; the crafty and + heartless have ensnared and enslaved the simple and innocent, and nowhere, + in all the annals of mankind, has any god succored the oppressed. + </p> + <p> + Man should cease to expect aid from on high. By this time he should know + that heaven has no ear to hear, and no hand to help. The present is the + necessary child of all the past. There has been no chance, and there can + be no interference. + </p> + <p> + If abuses are destroyed, man must destroy them. If slaves are freed, man + must free them. If new truths are discovered, man must discover them. If + the naked are clothed; if the hungry are fed; if justice is done; if labor + is rewarded; if superstition is driven from the mind; if the defenceless + are protected and if the right finally triumphs, all must be the work of + man. The grand victories of the future must be won by man, and by man + alone. + </p> + <p> + Nature, so far as we can discern, without passion and without intention, + forms, transforms, and retransforms forever. She neither weeps nor + rejoices. She produces man without purpose, and obliterates him without + regret. She knows no distinction between the beneficial and the hurtful. + Poison and nutrition, pain and joy, life and death, smiles and tears are + alike to her. She is neither merciful nor cruel. She cannot be flattered + by worship nor melted by tears. She does not know even the attitude of + prayer. She appreciates no difference between poison in the fangs of + snakes and mercy in the hearts of men. Only through man does nature take + cognizance of the good, the true, and the beautiful; and, so far as we + know, man is the highest intelligence. + </p> + <p> + And yet man continues to believe that there is some power independent of + and superior to nature, and still endeavors, by form, ceremony, + supplication, hypocrisy and sacrifice, to obtain its aid. His best + energies have been wasted in the service of this phantom. The horrors of + witchcraft were all born of an ignorant belief in the existence of a + totally depraved being superior to nature, acting in perfect independence + of her laws; and all religious superstition has had for its basis a belief + in at least two beings, one good and the other bad, both of whom could + arbitrarily change the order of the universe. The history of religion is + simply the story of man's efforts in all ages to avoid one of these + powers, and to pacify the other. Both powers have inspired little else + than abject fear. The cold, calculating sneer of the devil, and the frown + of God, were equally terrible. In any event, man's fate was to be + arbitrarily fixed forever by an unknown power superior to all law, and to + all fact. Until this belief is thrown aside, man must consider himself the + slave of phantom masters—neither of whom promise liberty in this + world nor in the next. + </p> + <p> + Man must learn to rely upon himself. Reading bibles will not protect him + from the blasts of winter, but houses, fires, and clothing will. To + prevent famine, one plow is worth a million sermons, and even patent + medicines will cure more diseases than all the prayers uttered since the + beginning of the world. + </p> + <p> + Although many eminent men have endeavored to harmonize necessity and free + will, the existence of evil, and the infinite power and good ness of God, + they have succeeded only in producing learned and ingenious failures. + Immense efforts have been made to reconcile ideas utterly inconsistent + with the facts by which we are surrounded, and all persons who have failed + to perceive the pretended reconciliation, have been denounced as infidels, + atheists and scoffers. The whole power of the church has been brought to + bear against philosophers and scientists in order to compel a denial of + the authority of demonstration, and to induce some Judas to betray Reason, + one of the saviors of mankind. + </p> + <p> + During that frightful period known as the "Dark Ages," Faith reigned, with + scarcely a rebellious subject. Her temples were "carpeted with knees," and + the wealth of nations adorned her countless shrines. The great painters + prostituted their genius to immortalize her vagaries, while the poets + enshrined them in song. At her bidding, man covered the earth with blood. + The scales of Justice were turned with her gold, and for her use were + invented all the cunning instruments of pain. She built cathedrals for + God, and dungeons for men. She peopled the clouds with angels and the + earth with slaves. For centuries the world was retracing its steps—going + steadily back toward barbaric night! A few infidels—a few heretics + cried, "Halt!" to the great rabble of ignorant devotion, and made it + possible for the genius of the nineteenth century to revolutionize the + cruel creeds and superstitions of mankind. + </p> + <p> + The thoughts of man, in order to be of any real worth, must be free. Under + the influence of fear the brain is paralyzed, and instead of bravely + solving a problem for itself, tremblingly adopts the solution of another. + As long as a majority of men will cringe to the very earth before some + petty prince or king, what must be the infinite abjectness of their little + souls in the presence of their supposed creator and God? Under such + circumstances, what can their thoughts be worth? + </p> + <p> + The originality of repetition, and the mental vigor of acquiescence, are + all that we have any right to expect from the Christian world. As long as + every question is answered by the word "God," scientific inquiry is simply + impossible. As fast as phenomena are satisfactorily explained the domain + of the power, supposed to be superior to nature must decrease, while the + horizon of the known must as constantly continue to enlarge. + </p> + <p> + It is no longer satisfactory to account for the fall and rise of nations + by saying, "It is the will of God." Such an explanation puts ignorance and + education upon an exact equality, and does away with the idea of really + accounting for anything whatever. + </p> + <p> + Will the religionist pretend that the real end of science is to ascertain + how and why God acts? Science, from such a standpoint would consist in + investigating the law of arbitrary action, and in a grand endeavor to + ascertain the rules necessarily obeyed by infinite caprice. + </p> + <p> + From a philosophical point of view, science is knowledge of the laws of + life; of the conditions of happiness; of the facts by which we are + surrounded, and the relations we sustain to men and things—by means + of which, man, so to speak, subjugates nature and bends the elemental + powers to his will, making blind force the servant of his brain. + </p> + <p> + A belief in special providence does away with the spirit of investigation, + and is inconsistent with personal effort. Why should man endeavor to + thwart the designs of God? Which of you, by taking thought, can add one + cubit to his stature? Under the influence of this belief, man, basking in + the sunshine of a delusion, considers the lilies of the field and refuses + to take any thought for the morrow. Believing himself in the power of an + infinite being, who can, at any moment, dash him to the lowest hell or + raise him to the highest heaven, he necessarily abandons the idea of + accomplishing anything by his own efforts. As long as this belief was + general, the world was filled with ignorance, superstition and misery. The + energies of man were wasted in a vain effort to obtain the aid of this + power, supposed to be superior to nature. For countless ages, even men + were sacrificed upon the altar of this impossible god. To please him, + mothers have shed the blood of their own babes; martyrs have chanted + triumphant songs in the midst of flame; priests have gorged themselves + with blood; nuns have forsworn the ecstasies of love; old men have + tremblingly implored; women have sobbed and entreated; every pain has been + endured, and every horror has been perpetrated. + </p> + <p> + Through the dim long years that have fled, humanity has suffered more than + can be conceived. Most of the misery has been endured by the weak, the + loving and the innocent Women have been treated like poisonous beasts, and + little children trampled upon as though they had been vermin. Numberless + altars have been reddened, even with the blood of babes; beautiful girls + have been given to slimy serpents; whole races of men doomed to centuries + of slavery, and everywhere there has been outrage beyond the power of + genius to express. During all these years the suffering have supplicated; + the withered lips of famine have prayed; the pale victims have implored, + and Heaven has been deaf and blind. + </p> + <p> + Of what use have the gods been to man? + </p> + <p> + It is no answer to say that some god created the world, established + certain laws, and then turned his attention to other matters, leaving his + children weak, ignorant and unaided, to fight the battle of life alone. It + is no solution to declare that in some, other world this god will render a + few, or even all, his subjects happy. What right have we to expect that a + perfectly wise, good and powerful being will ever do better than he has + done, and is doing? The world is filled with imperfections. If it was made + by an infinite being, what reason have we for saying that he will render + it nearer perfect than it now is? If the infinite "Father" allows a + majority of his children to live in ignorance and wretchedness now, what + evidence is there that he will ever improve their condition? Will God have + more power? Will he become more merciful? Will his love for his poor + creatures increase? Can the conduct of infinite wisdom, power and love + ever change? Is the infinite capable of any improvement whatever? + </p> + <p> + We are informed by the clergy that this world is a kind of school; that + the evils by which we are surrounded are for the purpose of developing our + souls, and that only by suffering can men become pure, strong, virtuous + and grand. + </p> + <p> + Supposing this to be true, what is to become of those who die in infancy? + The little children, according to this philosophy, can never be developed. + They were so unfortunate as to escape the ennobling influences of pain and + misery, and as a consequence, are doomed to an eternity of mental + inferiority. If the clergy are right on this question, none are so + unfortunate as the happy, and we should envy only the suffering and + distressed. If evil is necessary to the development of man, in this life, + how is it possible for the soul to improve in the perfect joy of Paradise? + </p> + <p> + Since Paley found his watch, the argument of "design" has been relied upon + as unanswerable. The church teaches that this world, and all that it + contains, were created substantially as we now see them; that the grasses, + the flowers, the trees, and all animals, including man, were special + creations, and that they sustain no necessary relation to each other. The + most orthodox will admit that some earth has been washed into the sea; + that the sea has encroached a little upon the land, and that some + mountains may be a trifle lower than in the morning of creation. The + theory of gradual development was unknown to our fathers; the idea of + evolution did not occur to them. Our fathers looked upon the then + arrangement of things as the primal arrangement. The earth appeared to + them fresh from the hands of a deity. They knew nothing of the slow + evolutions of countless years, but supposed that the almost infinite + variety of vegetable and animal forms had existed from the first. + </p> + <p> + Suppose that upon some island we should find a man a million years of age, + and suppose that we should find him in the possession of a most beautiful + carriage, constructed upon the most perfect model. And suppose, further, + that he should tell us that it was the result of several hundred thousand + years of labor and of thought; that for fifty thousand years he used as + flat a log as he could find, before it occurred to him, that by splitting + the log, he could have the same surface with only half the weight; that it + took him many thousand years to invent wheels for this log; that the + wheels he first used were solid, and that fifty thousand years of thought + suggested the use of spokes and tire; that for many centuries he used the + wheels without linch-pins; that it took a hundred thousand years more to + think of using four wheels, instead of two; that for ages he walked behind + the carriage, when going down hill, in order to hold it back, and that + only by a lucky chance he invented the tongue; would we conclude that this + man, from the very first, had been an infinitely ingenious and perfect + mechanic? Suppose we found him living in an elegant mansion, and he should + inform us that he lived in that house for five hundred thousand years + before he thought of putting on a roof, and that he had but recently + invented windows and doors; would we say that from the beginning he had + been an infinitely accomplished and scientific architect? + </p> + <p> + Does not an improvement in the things created, show a corresponding + improvement in the creator? + </p> + <p> + Would an infinitely wise, good and powerful God, intending to produce man, + commence with the lowest possible forms of life; with the simplest + organism that can be imagined, and during immeasurable periods of time, + slowly and almost imperceptibly improve upon the rude beginning, until man + was evolved? Would countless ages thus be wasted in the production of + awkward forms, afterwards abandoned? Can the intelligence of man discover + the least wisdom in covering the earth with crawling, creeping horrors, + that live only upon the agonies and pangs of others? Can we see the + propriety of so constructing the earth, that only an insignificant portion + of its surface is capable of producing an intelligent man? Who can + appreciate the mercy of so making the world that all animals devour + animals; so that every mouth is a slaughterhouse, and every stomach a + tomb? Is it possible to discover infinite intelligence and love in + universal and eternal carnage? + </p> + <p> + What would we think of a father, who should give a farm to his children, + and before giving them possession should plant upon it thousands of deadly + shrubs and vines; should stock it with ferocious beasts, and poisonous + reptiles; should take pains to put a few swamps in the neighborhood to + breed malaria; should so arrange matters, that the ground would + occasionally open and swallow a few of his darlings, and besides all this, + should establish a few volcanoes in the immediate vicinity, that might at + any moment overwhelm his children with rivers of fire? Suppose that this + father neglected to tell his children which of the plants were deadly; + that the reptiles were poisonous; failed to say anything about the + earthquakes, and kept the volcano business a profound secret; would we + pronounce him angel or fiend? + </p> + <p> + And yet this is exactly what the orthodox God has done. + </p> + <p> + According to the theologians, God prepared this globe expressly for the + habitation of his loved children, and yet he filled the forests with + ferocious beasts; placed serpents in every path; stuffed the world with + earthquakes, and adorned its surface with mountains of flame. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding all this, we are told that the world is perfect; that it + was created by a perfect being, and is therefore necessarily perfect. The + next moment, these same persons will tell us that the world was cursed; + covered with brambles, thistles and thorns, and that man was doomed to + disease and death, simply because our poor, dear mother ate an apple + contrary to the command of an arbitrary God. + </p> + <p> + A very pious friend of mine, having heard that I had said the world was + full of imperfections, asked me if the report was true. Upon being + informed that it was, he expressed great surprise that any one could be + guilty of such presumption. He said that, in his judgment, it was + impossible to point out an imperfection. "Be kind enough," said he, "to + name even one improvement that you could make, if you had the power." + "Well," said I, "I would make good health catching, instead of disease." + The truth is, it is impossible to harmonize all the ills, and pains, and + agonies of this world with the idea that we were created by, and are + watched over and protected by an infinitely wise, powerful and beneficent + God, who is superior to and independent of nature. + </p> + <p> + The clergy, however, balance all the real ills of this life with the + expected joys of the next. We are assured that all is perfection in heaven—there + the skies are cloudless—there all is serenity and peace. Here + empires may be overthrown; dynasties may be extinguished in blood; + millions of slaves may toil 'neath the fierce rays of the sun, and the + cruel strokes of the lash; yet all is happiness in heaven. Pestilences may + strew the earth with corpses of the loved; the survivors may bend above + them in agony—yet the placid bosom of heaven is unruffled. Children + may expire vainly asking for bread; babes may be devoured by serpents, + while the gods sit smiling in the clouds. The innocent may languish unto + death in the obscurity of dungeons; brave men and heroic women may be + changed to ashes at the bigot's stake, while heaven is filled with song + and joy. Out on the wide sea, in darkness and in storm, the shipwrecked + struggle with the cruel waves while the angels play upon their golden + harps. The streets of the world are filled with the diseased, the deformed + and the helpless; the chambers of pain are crowded with the pale forms of + the suffering, while the angels float and fly in the happy realms of day. + In heaven they are too happy to have sympathy; too busy singing to aid the + imploring and distressed. Their eyes are blinded; their ears are stopped + and their hearts are turned to stone by the infinite selfishness of joy. + The saved mariner is too happy when he touches the shore to give a + moment's thought to his drowning brothers. With the indifference of + happiness, with the contempt of bliss, heaven barely glances at the + miseries of earth. Cities are devoured by the rushing lava; the earth + opens and thousands perish; women raise their clasped hands towards + heaven, but the gods are too happy to aid their children. The smiles of + the deities are unacquainted with the tears of men. The shouts of heaven + drown the sobs of earth. + </p> + <p> + Having shown how man created gods, and how he became the trembling slave + of his own creation, the questions naturally arise: How did he free + himself even a little, from these monarchs of the sky, from these despots + of the clouds, from this aristocracy of the air? How did he, even to the + extent that he has, outgrow his ignorant, abject terror, and throw off the + yoke of superstition? + </p> + <p> + Probably, the first thing that tended to disabuse his mind was the + discovery of order, of regularity, of periodicity in the universe. From + this he began to suspect that everything did not happen purely with + reference to him. He noticed, that whatever he might do, the motions of + the planets were always the same; that eclipses were periodical, and that + even comets came at certain intervals. This convinced him that eclipses + and comets had nothing to do with him, and that his conduct had nothing to + do with them. He perceived that they were not caused for his benefit or + injury. He thus learned to regard them with admiration instead of fear. He + began to suspect that famine was not sent by some enraged and revengeful + deity, but resuited often from the neglect and ignorance of man. He + learned that diseases were not produced by evil spirits. He found that + sickness was occasioned by natural causes, and could be cured by natural + means. He demonstrated, to his own satisfaction at least, that prayer is + not a medicine. He found by sad experience that his gods were of no + practical use, as they never assisted him, except when he was perfectly + able to help himself. At last, he began to discover that his individual + action had nothing whatever to do with strange appearances in the heavens; + that it was impossible for him to be bad enough to cause a whirlwind, or + good enough to stop one. After many centuries of thought, he about half + concluded that making mouths at a priest would not necessarily cause an + earthquake. He noticed, and no doubt with considerable astonishment, that + very good men were occasionally struck by lightning, while very bad ones + escaped. He was frequently forced to the painful conclusion (and it is the + most painful to which any human being ever was forced) that the right did + not always prevail. He noticed that the gods did not interfere in behalf + of the weak and innocent. He was now and then astonished by seeing an + unbeliever in the enjoyment of most excellent health. He finally + ascertained that there could be no possible connection between an + unusually severe winter and his failure to give a sheep to a priest. He + began to suspect that the order of the universe was not constantly being + changed to assist him because he repeated a creed. He observed that some + children would steal after having been regularly baptized. He noticed a + vast difference between religion and justice, and that the worshipers of + the same god, took delight in cutting each other's throats. He saw that + these religious disputes filled the world with hatred and slavery. At last + he had the courage to suspect, that no god at any time interferes with the + order of events. He learned a few facts, and these facts positively + refused to harmonize with the ignorant superstitions of his fathers. + Finding his sacred books incorrect and false in some particulars, his + faith in their authenticity began to be shaken; finding his priests + ignorant upon some points, he began to lose respect for the cloth. This + was the commencement of intellectual freedom. + </p> + <p> + The civilization of man has increased just to the same extent that + religious power has decreased. The intellectual advancement of man depends + upon how often he can exchange an old superstition for a new truth. The + church never enabled a human being to make even one of these exchanges; on + the contrary, all her power has been used to prevent them. In spite, + however, of the church, man found that some of his religious conceptions + were wrong. By reading his Bible, he found that the ideas of his God were + more cruel and brutal than those of the most depraved savage. He also + discovered that this holy book was filled with ignorance, and that it must + have been written by persons wholly unacquainted with the nature of the + phenomena by which we are surrounded; and now and then, some man had the + goodness and courage to speak his honest thoughts. In every age some + thinker, some doubter, some investigator, some hater of hypocrisy, some + despiser of sham, some brave lover of the right, has gladly, proudly and + heroically braved the ignorant fury of superstition for the sake of man + and truth. These divine men were generally torn in pieces by the + worshipers of the gods. Socrates was poisoned because he lacked reverence + for some of the deities. Christ was crucified by a religious rabble for + the crime of blasphemy. Nothing is more gratifying to a religionist than + to destroy his enemies at the command of God. Religious persecution + springs from a due admixture of love towards God and hatred towards man. + </p> + <p> + The terrible religious wars that inundated the world with blood tended at + least to bring all religion into disgrace and hatred. Thoughtful people + began to question the divine origin of a religion that made its believers + hold the rights of others in absolute contempt. A few began to compare + Christianity with the religions of heathen people, and were forced to + admit that the difference was hardly worth dying for. They also found that + other nations were even happier and more prosperous than their own. They + began to suspect that their religion, after all, was not of much real + value. + </p> + <p> + For three hundred years the Christian world endeavored to rescue from the + "Infidel" the empty sepulchre of Christ. For three hundred years the + armies of the cross were baffled and beaten by the victorious hosts of an + impudent impostor. This immense fact sowed the seeds of distrust + throughout all Christendom, and millions began to lose confidence in a God + who had been vanquished by Mohammed. The people also found that commerce + made friends where religion made enemies, and that religious zeal was + utterly incompatible with peace between nations or individuals. They + discovered that those who loved the gods most were apt to love men least; + that the arrogance of universal forgiveness was amazing; that the most + malicious had the effrontery to pray for their enemies, and that humility + and tyranny were the fruit of the same tree. + </p> + <p> + For ages, a deadly conflict has been waged between a few brave men and + women of thought and genius upon the one side, and the great ignorant + religious mass on the other. This is the war between Science and Faith. + The few have appealed to reason, to honor, to law, to freedom, to the + known, and to happiness here in this world. The many have appealed to + prejudice, to fear, to miracle, to slavery, to the unknown, and to misery + hereafter. The few have said, "Think!" The many have said, "Believe!" + </p> + <p> + The first doubt was the womb and cradle of progress, and from the first + doubt, man has continued to advance. Men began to investigate, and the + church began to oppose. The astronomer scanned the heavens, while the + church branded his grand forehead with the word, "Infidel;" and now, not a + glittering star in all the vast expanse bears a Christian name. In spite + of all religion, the geologist penetrated the earth, read her history in + books of stone, and found, hidden within her bosom, souvenirs of all the + ages. Old ideas perished in the retort of the chemist, and useful truths + took their places. One by one religious conceptions have been placed in + the crucible of science, and thus far, nothing but dross has been found. A + new world has been discovered by the microscope; everywhere has been found + the infinite; in every direction man has investigated and explored and + nowhere, in earth or stars, has been found the footstep of any being + superior to or independent of nature. Nowhere has been discovered the + slightest evidence of any interference from without. + </p> + <p> + These are the sublime truths that enabled man to throw off the yoke of + superstition. These are the splendid facts that snatched the sceptre of + authority from the hands of priests. + </p> + <p> + In that vast cemetery, called the past, are most of the religions of men, + and there, too, are nearly all their gods. The sacred temples of India + were ruins long ago. Over column and cornice; over the painted and + pictured walls, cling and creep the trailing vines. Brahma, the golden, + with four heads and four arms; Vishnu, the sombre, the punisher of the + wicked, with his three eyes, his crescent, and his necklace of skulls; + Siva, the destroyer, red with seas of blood; Kali, the goddess; Draupadi, + the white-armed, and Chrishna, the Christ, all passed away and left the + thrones of heaven desolate. Along the banks of the sacred Nile, Isis no + longer wandering weeps, searching for the dead Osiris. The shadow of + Typhons scowl falls no more upon the waves. The sun rises as of yore, and + his golden beams still smite the lips of Memnon, but Mem-non is as + voiceless as the Sphinx. The sacred fanes are lost in desert sands; the + dusty mummies are still waiting for the resurrection promised by their + priests, and the old beliefs, wrought in curiously sculptured stone, sleep + in the mystery of a language lost and dead. Odin, the author of life and + soul, Vili and Ve, and the mighty giant Ymir, strode long ago from the icy + halls of the North; and Thor, with iron glove and glittering hammer, + dashes mountains to the earth no more. Broken are the circles and + cromlechs of the ancient Druids; fallen upon the summits of the hills, and + covered with the centuries' moss, are the sacred cairns. The divine fires + of Persia and of the Aztecs, have died out in the ashes of the past, and + there is none to rekindle, and none to feed the holy flames. The harp of + Orpheus is still; the drained cup of Bacchus has been thrown aside; Venus + lies dead in stone, and her white bosom heaves no more with love. The + streams still murmur, but no naiads bathe; the trees still wave, but in + the forest aisles no dryads dance. The gods have flown from high Olympus. + Not even the beautiful women can lure them back, and Danæ lies + unnoticed, naked to the stars. Hushed forever are the thunders of Sinai; + lost are the voices of the prophets, and the land once flowing with milk + and honey, is but a desert waste. One by one, the myths have faded from + the clouds: one by one, the phantom host has disappeared, and one by one, + facts, truths and realities have taken their places. The supernatural has + almost gone, but the natural remains. The gods have fled, but man is here. + </p> + <p> + Nations, like individuals, have their periods of youth, of manhood and + decay. Religions are the same. The same inexorable destiny awaits them + all. The gods created by the nations must perish with their creators. They + were created by men, and like men, they must pass away. The deities of one + age are the by-words of the next The religion of our day, and country, is + no more exempt from the sneer of the future than the others have been. + When India was supreme, Brahma sat upon the world's throne. When the + sceptre passed to Egypt, Isis and Osiris received the homage of mankind. + Greece, with her fierce valor, swept to empire, and Zeus put on the purple + of authority. The earth trembled with the tread of Rome's intrepid sons, + and Jove grasped with mailed hand the thunderbolts of heaven. Rome fell, + and Christians from her territory, with the red sword of war, carved out + the ruling nations of the world, and now Christ sits upon the old throne. + Who will be his successor? + </p> + <p> + Day by day, religious conceptions grow less and less intense. Day by day, + the old spirit dies out of book and creed. The burning enthusiasm, the + quenchless zeal of the early church have gone, never, never to return. The + ceremonies remain, but the ancient faith is fading out of the human heart. + The worn-out arguments fail to convince, and denunciations that once + blanched the faces of a race, excite in us only derision and disgust. As + time rolls on, the miracles grow mean and small, and the evidences our + fathers thought conclusive utterly fail to satisfy us. There is an + "irrepressible conflict" between religion and science, and they cannot + peaceably occupy the same brain nor the same world. + </p> + <p> + While utterly discarding all creeds, and denying the truth of all + religions, there is neither in my heart nor upon my lips a sneer for the + hopeful, loving and tender souls who believe that from all this discord + will result a perfect harmony; that every evil will in some mysterious way + become a good, and that above and over all there is a being who, in some + way, will reclaim and glorify every one of the children of men; but for + those who heartlessly try to prove that salvation is almost impossible; + that damnation is almost certain; that the highway of the universe leads + to hell; who fill life with fear and death with horror; who curse the + cradle and mock the tomb, it is impossible to entertain other than + feelings of pity, contempt and scorn. + </p> + <p> + Reason, Observation and Experience—the Holy Trinity of Science—have + taught us that happiness is the only good; that the time to be happy is + now, and the way to be happy is to make others so. This is enough for us. + In this belief we are content to live and die. If by any possibility the + existence of a power superior to, and independent of, nature shall be + demonstrated, there will then be time enough to kneel. Until then, let us + stand erect. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding the fact that infidels in all ages have battled for the + rights of man, and have at all times been the fearless advocates of + liberty and justice, we are constantly charged by the church with tearing + down without building again. The church should by this time know that it + is utterly impossible to rob men of their opinions. The history of + religious persecution fully establishes the fact that the mind necessarily + resists and defies every attempt to control it by violence. The mind + necessarily clings to old ideas until prepared for the new. The moment we + comprehend the truth, all erroneous ideas are of necessity cast aside. + </p> + <p> + A surgeon once called upon a poor cripple and kindly offered to render him + any assistance in his power. The surgeon began to discourse very learnedly + upon the nature and origin of disease; of the curative properties of + certain medicines; of the advantages of exercise, air and light, and of + the various ways in which health and strength could be restored. These + remarks were so full of good sense, and discovered so much profound + thought and accurate knowledge, that the cripple, becoming thoroughly + alarmed, cried out, "Do not, I pray you, take away my crutches. They are + my only support, and without them I should be miserable indeed!" "I am not + going," said the surgeon, "to take away your crutches. I am going to cure + you, and then you will throw the crutches away yourself." + </p> + <p> + For the vagaries of the clouds the infidels propose to substitute the + realities of earth; for superstition, the splendid demonstrations and + achievements of science; and for theological tyranny, the chainless + liberty of thought. + </p> + <p> + We do not say that we have discovered all; that our doctrines are the all + in all of truth. We know of no end to the development of man. We cannot + unravel the infinite complications of matter and force. The history of one + monad is as unknown as that of the universe; one drop of water is as + wonderful as all the seas; one leaf, as all the forests; and one grain of + sand, as all the stars. + </p> + <p> + We are not endeavoring to chain the future, but to free the present. We + are not forging fetters for our children, but we are breaking those our + fathers made for us. We are the advocates of inquiry, of investigation and + thought This of itself, is an admission that we are not perfectly + satisfied with all our conclusions. Philosophy has not the egotism of + faith. While superstition builds walls and creates obstructions, science + opens all the highways of thought. We do not pretend to have + circumnavigated everything, and to have solved all difficulties, but we do + believe that it is better to love men than to fear gods; that it is + grander and nobler to think and investigate for yourself than to repeat a + creed. We are satisfied that there can be but little liberty on earth + while men worship a tyrant in heaven. We do not expect to accomplish + everything in our day; but we want to do what good we can, and to render + all the service possible in the holy cause of human progress. We know that + doing away with gods and supernatural persons and powers is not an end. It + is a means to an end: the real end being the happiness of man. + </p> + <p> + Felling forests is not the end of agriculture. Driving pirates from the + sea is not all there is of commerce. + </p> + <p> + We are laying the foundations of the grand temple of the future—not + the temple of all the gods, but of all the people—wherein, with + appropriate rites, will be celebrated the religion of Humanity. We are + doing what little we can to hasten the coming of the day when society + shall cease producing millionaires and mendicants—gorged indolence + and famished industry—truth in rags, and superstition robed and + crowned. We are looking for the time when the useful shall be the + honorable; and when Reason, throned upon the world's brain, shall be the + King of Kings, and God of Gods. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0003" id="link0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + HUMBOLDT. + </h2> + <h3> + The Universe is Governed by Law. + </h3> + <p> + GREAT men seem to be a part of the infinite—brothers of the + mountains and the seas. + </p> + <p> + Humboldt was one of these. He was one of those serene men, in some + respects like our own Franklin, whose names have all the lustre of a star. + He was one of the few, great enough to rise above the superstition and + prejudice of his time, and to know that experience, observation, and + reason are the only basis of knowledge. + </p> + <p> + He became one of the greatest of men in spite of having been born rich and + noble—in spite of position. I say in spite of these things, because + wealth and position are generally the enemies of genius, and the + destroyers of talent. + </p> + <p> + It is often said of this or that man, that he is a self-made man—that + he was born of the poorest and humblest parents, and that with every + obstacle to overcome he became great. This is a mistake. Poverty is + generally an advantage. Most of the intellectual giants of the world have + been nursed at the sad and loving breast of poverty. Most of those who + have climbed highest on the shining ladder of fame commenced at the lowest + round. They were reared in the straw-thatched cottages of Europe; in the + log-houses of America; in the factories of the great cities; in the midst + of toil; in the smoke and din of labor, and on the verge of want. They + were rocked by the feet of mothers whose hands, at the same time, were + busy with the needle or the wheel. + </p> + <p> + It is hard for the rich to resist the thousand allurements of pleasure, + and so I say, that Humboldt, in spite of having been born to wealth and + high social position, became truly and grandly great. + </p> + <p> + In the antiquated and romantic castle of Tegel, by the side of the pine + forest, on the shore of the charming lake, near the beautiful city of + Berlin, the great Humboldt, one hundred years ago to-day, was born, and + there he was educated after the method suggested by Rousseau,—Campe, + the philologist and critic, and the intellectual Kunth being his tutors. + There he received the impressions that determined his career; there the + great idea that the universe is governed by law, took possession of his + mind, and there he dedicated his life to the demonstration of this sublime + truth. + </p> + <p> + He came to the conclusion that the source of man's unhappiness is his + ignorance of nature. + </p> + <p> + After having received the most thorough education at that time possible, + and having determined to what end he would devote the labors of his life, + he turned his attention to the sciences of geology, mining, mineralogy, + botany, the distribution of plants, the distribution of animals, and the + effect of climate upon man. All grand physical phenomena were investigated + and explained. From his youth he had felt a great desire for travel. He + felt, as he says, a violent passion for the sea, and longed to look upon + nature in her wildest and most rugged forms. He longed to give a physical + description of the universe—a grand picture of nature; to account + for all phenomena; to discover the laws governing the world; to do away + with that splendid delusion called special providence, and to establish + the fact that the universe is governed by law. + </p> + <p> + To establish this truth was, and is, of infinite importance to mankind. + That fact is the death-knell of superstition; it gives liberty to every + soul, annihilates fear, and ushers in the Age of Reason. + </p> + <p> + The object of this illustrious man was to comprehend the phenomena of + physical objects in their general connection, and to represent nature as + one great whole, moved and animated by internal forces. + </p> + <p> + For this purpose he turned his attention to descriptive botany, traversing + distant lands and mountain ranges to ascertain with certainty the + geographical distribution of plants. He investigated the laws regulating + the differences of temperature and climate, and the changes of the + atmosphere. He studied the formation of the earth's crust, explored the + deepest mines, ascended the highest mountains, and wandered through the + craters of extinct volcanoes. + </p> + <p> + He became thoroughly acquainted with chemistry, with astronomy, with + terrestrial magnetism; and as the investigation of one subject leads to + all others, for the reason that there is a mutual dependence and a + necessary connection between all facts, so Humboldt became acquainted with + all the known sciences. + </p> + <p> + His fame does not depend so much upon his discoveries (although he + discovered enough to make hundreds of reputations) as upon his vast and + splendid generalizations. + </p> + <p> + He was to science what Shakespeare was to the drama. + </p> + <p> + He found, so to speak, the world full of unconnected facts—all + portions of a vast system—parts of a great machine; he discovered + the connection that each bears to all; put them together, and demonstrated + beyond all contradiction that the earth is governed by law. + </p> + <p> + He knew that to discover the connection of phenomena is the primary aim of + all natural investigation. He was infinitely practical. + </p> + <p> + Origin and destiny were questions with which he had nothing to do. + </p> + <p> + His surroundings made him what he was. + </p> + <p> + In accordance with a law not fully comprehended, he was a production of + his time. + </p> + <p> + Great men do not live alone; they are surrounded by the great; they are + the instruments used to accomplish the tendencies of their generation; + they fulfill the prophecies of their age. + </p> + <p> + Nearly all of the scientific men of the eighteenth century had the same + idea entertained by Humboldt, but most of them in a dim and confused way. + There was, however, a general belief among the intelligent that the world + is governed by law, and that there really exists a connection between all + facts, <i>or that all facts are simply the different aspects of a general + fact</i>, and that the task of science is to discover this connection; to + comprehend this general fact or to announce the laws of things. + </p> + <p> + Germany was full of thought, and her universities swarmed with + philosophers and grand thinkers in every department of knowledge. + </p> + <p> + Humboldt was the friend and companion of the greatest poets, historians, + philologists, artists, statesmen, critics, and logicians of his time. + </p> + <p> + He was the companion of Schiller, who believed that man would be + regenerated through the influence of the Beautiful; of Goethe, the grand + patriarch of German literature; of Weiland, who has been called the + Voltaire of Germany; of Herder, who wrote the outlines of a philosophical + history of man; of Kotzebue, who lived in the world of romance; of + Schleiermacher, the pantheist; of Schlegel, who gave to his countrymen the + enchanted realm of Shakespeare; of the sublime Kant, author of the first + work published in Germany on Pure Reason; of Fichte, the infinite + idealist; of Schopenhauer, the European Buddhist who followed the great + Gautama to the painless and dreamless Nirwana, and of hundreds of others, + whose names are familiar to and honored by the scientific world. + </p> + <p> + The German mind had been grandly roused from the long lethargy of the dark + ages of ignorance, fear, and faith. Guided by the holy light of reason, + every department of knowledge was investigated, enriched and illustrated. + </p> + <p> + Humboldt breathed the atmosphere of investigation; old ideas were + abandoned; old creeds, hallowed by centuries, were thrown aside; thought + became courageous; the athlete, Reason, challenged to mortal combat the + monsters of superstition. + </p> + <p> + No wonder that under these influences Humboldt formed the great purpose of + presenting to the world a picture of Nature, in order that men might, for + the first time, behold the face of their Mother. + </p> + <p> + Europe becoming too small for his genius, he visited the tropics in the + new world, where in the most circumscribed limits he could find the + greatest number of plants, of animals, and the greatest diversity of + climate, that he might ascertain the laws governing the production and + distribution of plants, animals and men, and the effects of climate upon + them all. He sailed along the gigantic Amazon—the mysterious Orinoco—traversed + the Pampas—climbed the Andes until he stood upon the crags of + Chimborazo, more than eighteen thousand feet above the level of the sea, + and climbed on until blood flowed from his eyes and lips. For nearly five + years he pursued his investigations in the new world, accompanied by the + intrepid Bonpland. Nothing escaped his attention. He was the best + intellectual organ of these new revelations of science. He was calm, + reflective and eloquent; filled with a sense of the beautiful, and the + love of truth. His collections were immense, and valuable beyond + calculation to every science. He endured innumerable hardships, braved + countless dangers in unknown and savage lands, and exhausted his fortune + for the advancement of true learning. + </p> + <p> + Upon his return to Europe he was hailed as the second Columbus; as the + scientific discoverer of America; as the revealer of a new world; as the + great demonstrator of the sublime truth, that the universe is governed by + law. + </p> + <p> + I have seen a picture of the old man, sitting upon a mountain side—above + him the eternal snow—below, the smiling valley of the tropics, + filled with vine and palm; his chin upon his breast, his eyes deep, + thoughtful and calm—his forehead majestic—grander than the + mountain upon which he sat—crowned with the snow of his whitened + hair, he looked the intellectual autocrat of this world. + </p> + <p> + Not satisfied with his discoveries in America, he crossed the steppes of + Asia, the wastes of Siberia, the great Ural range, adding to the knowledge + of mankind at every step. His energy acknowledged no obstacle, his life + knew no leisure; every day was filled with labor and with thought. + </p> + <p> + He was one of the apostles of science, and he served his divine master + with a self-sacrificing zeal that knew no abatement; with an ardor that + constantly increased, and with a devotion unwavering and constant as the + polar star. + </p> + <p> + In order that the people at large might have the benefit of his numerous + discoveries, and his vast knowledge, he delivered at Berlin a course of + lectures, consisting of sixty-one free addresses, upon the following + subjects: + </p> + <p> + Five, upon the nature and limits of physical geography. + </p> + <p> + Three, were devoted to a history of science. + </p> + <p> + Two, to inducements to a study of natural science. + </p> + <p> + Sixteen, on the heavens. + </p> + <p> + Five, on the form, density, latent heat, and magnetic power of the earth, + and to the polar light. + </p> + <p> + Four, were on the nature of the crust of the earth, on hot springs + earthquakes, and volcanoes. + </p> + <p> + Two, on mountains and the type of their formation. + </p> + <p> + Two, on the form of the earth's surface, on the connection of continents, + and the elevation of soil over ravines. + </p> + <p> + Three, on the sea as a globular fluid surrounding the earth. + </p> + <p> + Ten, on the atmosphere as an elastic fluid surrounding the earth, and on + the distribution of heat. + </p> + <p> + One, on the geographic distribution of organ ized matter in general. + </p> + <p> + Three, on the geography of plants. + </p> + <p> + Three, on the geography of animals, and + </p> + <p> + Two, on the races of men. + </p> + <p> + These lectures are what is known as the Cosmos, and present a scientific + picture of the world—of infinite diversity in unity—of + ceaseless motion in the eternal grasp of law. + </p> + <p> + These lectures contain the result of his investigation, observation, and + experience; they furnish the connection between phenomena; they disclose + some of the changes through which the earth has passed in the countless + ages; the history of vegetation, animals and men, the effects of climate + upon individuals and nations, the relation we sustain to other worlds, and + demonstrate that all phenomena, whether insignificant or grand, exist in + accordance with inexorable law. + </p> + <p> + There are some truths, however, that we never should forget: Superstition + has always been the relentless enemy of science; faith has been a hater of + demonstration; hypocrisy has been sincere only in its dread of truth, and + all religions are inconsistent with mental freedom. + </p> + <p> + Since the murder of Hypatia in the fifth century, when the polished blade + of Greek philosophy was broken by the club of ignorant Catholicism, until + to-day, superstition has detested every effort of reason. + </p> + <p> + It is almost impossible to conceive of the completeness of the victory + that the church achieved over philosophy. For ages science was utterly + ignored; thought was a poor slave; an ignorant priest was master of the + world; faith put out the eyes of the soul; the reason was a trembling + coward; the imagination was set on fire of hell; every human feeling was + sought to be suppressed; love was considered infinitely sinful; pleasure + was the road to eternal fire, and God was supposed to be happy only when + his children were miserable. The world was governed by an Almighty's whim; + prayers could change the order of things, halt the grand procession of + nature, could produce rain, avert pestilence, famine and death in all its + forms. There was no idea of the certain; all depended upon divine pleasure + or displeasure rather; heaven was full of inconsistent malevolence, and + earth of ignorance. Everything was done to appease the divine wrath; every + public calamity was caused by the sins of the people; by a failure to pay + tithes, or for having, even in secret, felt a disrespect for a priest. To + the poor multitude, the earth was a kind of enchanted forest, full of + demons ready to devour, and theological serpents lurking with infinite + power to fascinate and torture the unhappy and impotent soul. Life to them + was a dim and mysterious labyrinth, in which they wandered weary, and + lost, guided by priests as bewildered as themselves, without knowing that + at every step the Ariadne of reason offered them the long lost clue. + </p> + <p> + The very heavens were full of death; the lightning was regarded as the + glittering vengeance of God, and the earth was thick with snares for the + unwary feet of man. The soul was supposed to be crowded with the wild + beasts of desire; the heart to be totally corrupt, prompting only to + crime; virtues were regarded as deadly sins in disguise; there was a + continual warfare being waged between the Deity and the Devil, for the + possession of every soul; the latter generally being considered + victorious. The flood, the tornado, the volcano, were all evidences of the + displeasure of heaven, and the sinfulness of man. The blight that + withered, the frost that blackened, the earthquake that devoured, were the + messengers of the Creator. + </p> + <p> + The world was governed by Fear. + </p> + <p> + Against all the evils of nature, there was known only the defence of + prayer, of fasting, of credulity, and devotion. <i>Man in his helplessness + endeavored to soften the heart of God</i>. The faces of the multitude were + blanched with fear, and wet with tears; they were the prey of hypocrites, + kings and priests. + </p> + <p> + My heart bleeds when I contemplate the sufferings endured by the millions + now dead; of those who lived when the world appeared to be insane; when + the heavens were filled with an infinite Horror who snatched babes with + dimpled hands and rosy cheeks from the white breasts of mothers, and + dashed them into an abyss of eternal flame. + </p> + <p> + Slowly, beautifully, like the coming of the dawn, came the grand truth, + that the universe is governed by law; that disease fastens itself upon the + good and upon the bad; that the tornado cannot be stopped by counting + beads; that the rushing lava pauses not for bended knees, the lightning + for clasped and uplifted hands, nor the cruel waves of the sea for prayer; + that paying tithes causes, rather than prevents famine; that pleasure is + not sin; that happiness is the only good; that demons and gods exist only + in the imagination; that faith is a lullaby sung to put the soul to sleep; + that devotion is a bribe that fear offers to supposed power; that offering + rewards in another world for obedience in this, is simply buying a soul on + credit; that knowledge consists in ascertaining the laws of nature, and + that wisdom is the science of happiness. Slowly, grandly, beautifully, + these truths are dawning upon mankind. + </p> + <p> + From Copernicus we learned that this earth is only a grain of sand on the + infinite shore of the universe; that everywhere we are surrounded by + shining worlds vastly greater than our own, all moving and existing in + accordance with law. True, the earth began to grow small, but man began to + grow great. + </p> + <p> + The moment the fact was, established that other worlds are governed by + law, it was only natural to conclude that our little world was also under + its dominion. The old theological method of accounting for physical + phenomena by the pleasure and displeasure of the Deity was, by the + intellectual, abandoned. They found that disease, death, life, thought, + heat, cold, the seasons, the winds, the dreams of man, the instinct of + animals,—in short, that all physical and mental phenomena are + governed by law, absolute, eternal and inexorable. + </p> + <p> + Let it be understood that by the term Law is meant the same invariable + relations of succession and resemblance predicated of all facts springing + from like conditions. Law is a fact—not a cause. It is a fact, that + like conditions produce like results: this fact is Law. When we say that + the universe is governed by law, we mean that this fact, called law, is + incapable of change; that it is, has been, and forever will be, the same + inexorable, immutable Fact, inseparable from all phenomena. Law, in this + sense, was not enacted or made. It could not have been otherwise than as + it is. That which necessarily exists has no creator. + </p> + <p> + Only a few years ago this earth was considered the real center of the + universe; all the stars were supposed to revolve around this insignificant + atom. The German mind, more than any other, has done away with this piece + of egotism. Purbach and Mullerus, in the fifteenth century, contributed + most to the advancement of astronomy in their day. To the latter, the + world is indebted for the introduction of decimal fractions, which + completed our arithmetical notation, and formed the second of the three + steps by which, in modern times, the science of numbers has been so + greatly improved; and yet, both of these men believed in the most childish + absurdities, at least in enough of them, to die without their orthodoxy + having ever been suspected. + </p> + <p> + Next came the great Copernicus, and he stands at the head of the heroic + thinkers of his time, who had the courage and the mental strength to break + the chains of prejudice, custom, and authority, and to establish truth on + the basis of experience, observation and reason. He removed the earth, so + to speak, from the centre of the universe, and ascribed to it a two-fold + motion, and demonstrated the true position which it occupies in the solar + system. + </p> + <p> + At his bidding the earth began to revolve. At the command of his genius it + commenced its grand flight mid the eternal constellations round the sun. + </p> + <p> + For fifty years his discoveries were disregarded. All at once, by the + exertions of Galileo, they were kindled into so grand a conflagration as + to consume the philosophy of Aristotle, to alarm the hierarchy of Rome, + and to threaten the existence of every opinion not founded upon + experience, observation, and reason. + </p> + <p> + The earth was no longer considered a universe, governed by the caprices of + some revengeful Deity, who had made the stars out of what he had left + after completing the world, and had stuck them in the sky simply to adorn + the night. + </p> + <p> + I have said this much concerning astronomy because it was the first + splendid step forward! The first sublime blow that shattered the lance and + shivered the shield of superstition; the first real help that man received + from heaven; because it was the first great lever placed beneath the altar + of a false religion; the first revelation of the infinite to man; the + first authoritative declaration, that the universe is governed by law; the + first science that gave the lie direct to the cosmogony of barbarism, and + because it is the sublimest victory that the reason has achieved. + </p> + <p> + In speaking of astronomy, I have confined myself to the discoveries made + since the revival of learning. Long ago, on the banks of the Ganges, ages + before Copernicus lived, Aryabhatta taught that the earth is a sphere, and + revolves on its own axis. This, however, does not detract from the glory + of the great German. The discovery of the Hindu had been lost in the + midnight of Europe—in the age of faith, and Copernicus was as much a + discoverer as though Aryabhatta had never lived. + </p> + <p> + In this short address there is no time to speak of other sciences, and to + point out the particular evidence furnished by each, to establish the + dominion of law, nor to more than mention the name of Descartes, the first + who undertook to give an explanation of the celestial motions, or who + formed the vast and philosophic conception of reducing all the phenomena + of the universe to the same law; of Montaigne, one of the heroes of common + sense; of Galvani, whose experiments gave the telegraph to the world; of + Voltaire, who contributed more than any other of the sons of men to the + destruction of religious intolerance; of August Comte, whose genius + erected to itself a monument that still touches the stars; of Guttenberg, + Watt, Stephenson, Arkwright, all soldiers of science, in the grand army of + the dead kings. + </p> + <p> + The glory of science is, that it is freeing the soul—breaking the + mental manacles—getting the brain out of bondage—giving + courage to thought—filling the world with mercy, justice, and joy. + </p> + <p> + Science found agriculture plowing with a stick reaping with a sickle—commerce + at the mercy of the treacherous waves and the inconstant winds—a + world without books—without schools man denying the authority of + reason, employing his ingenuity in the manufacture of instruments of + torture, in building inquisitions and cathedrals. It found the land filled + with malicious monks—with persecuting Protestants, and the burners + of men. It found a world full of fear; ignorance upon its knees; credulity + the greatest virtue; women treated like beasts of burden; cruelty the only + means of reformation. + </p> + <p> + It found the world at the mercy of disease and famine; men trying to read + their fates in the stars, and to tell their fortunes by signs and wonders; + generals thinking to conquer their enemies by making the sign of the + cross, or by telling a rosary. It found all history full of petty and + ridiculous falsehood, and the Almighty was supposed to spend most of his + time turning sticks into snakes, drowning boys for swimming on Sunday, and + killing little children for the purpose of converting their parents. It + found the earth filled with slaves and tyrants, the people in all + countries downtrodden, half naked, half starved, without hope, and without + reason in the world. + </p> + <p> + Such was the condition of man when the morning of science dawned upon his + brain, and before he had heard the sublime declaration that the universe + is governed by law. + </p> + <p> + For the change that has taken place we are indebted solely to science—the + only lever capable of raising mankind. Abject faith is barbarism; reason + is civilization. To obey is slavish; to act from a sense of obligation + perceived by the reason, is noble. Ignorance worships mystery; Reason + explains it: the one grovels, the other soars. + </p> + <p> + No wonder that fable is the enemy of knowledge. A man with a false diamond + shuns the society of lapidaries, and it is upon this principle that + superstition abhors science. + </p> + <p> + In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. They have + worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most gigantic liars, + and buried the great thieves in marble and gold. Under the loftiest + monuments sleeps the dust of murder. + </p> + <p> + Imposture has always worn a crown. + </p> + <p> + The world is beginning to change because the people are beginning to + think. To think is to advance. Everywhere the great minds are + investigating the creeds and the superstitions of men—the phenomena + of nature, and the laws of things. At the head of this great army of + investigators stood Humboldt—the serene leader of an intellectual + host—a king by the suffrage of Science, and the divine right of + Genius. + </p> + <p> + And to-day we are not honoring some butcher called a soldier—some + wily politician called a statesman—some robber called a king, nor + some malicious metaphysician called a saint We are honoring the grand + Humboldt, whose victories were all achieved in the arena of thought; who + destroyed prejudice, ignorance and error—not men; who shed light—not + blood, and who contributed to the knowledge, the wealth, and the happiness + of all mankind. + </p> + <p> + His life was pure, his aims lofty, his learning varied and profound, and + his achievements vast. + </p> + <p> + We honor him because he has ennobled our race, because he has contributed + as much as any man living or dead to the real prosperity of the world. We + honor him because he honored us—because he labored for others—because + he was the most learned man of the most learned nation—because he + left a legacy of glory to every human being. For these reasons he is + honored throughout the world. Millions are doing homage to his genius at + this moment, and millions are pronouncing his name with reverence and + recounting what he accomplished. + </p> + <p> + We associate the name of Humboldt with oceans, continents, mountains, and + volcanoes—with the great palms—the wide deserts—the + snow-lipped craters of the Andes—with primeval forests and European + capitals—with wildernesses and universities—with savages and + savans—with the lonely rivers of unpeopled wastes—with peaks + and pampas, and steppes, and cliffs and crags—with the progress of + the world—with every science known to man, and with every star + glittering in the immensity of space. + </p> + <p> + Humboldt adopted none of the soul-shrinking creeds of his day; wasted none + of his time in the stupidities, inanities and contradictions of + theological metaphysics; he did not endeavor to harmonize the astronomy + and geology of a barbarous people with the science of the nineteenth + century. Never, for one moment, did he abandon the sublime standard of + truth; he investigated, he studied, he thought, he separated the gold from + the dross in the crucible of his grand brain. He was never found on his + knees before the altar of superstition. He stood erect by the grand + tranquil column of Reason. He was an admirer, a lover, an adorer of + Nature, and at the age of ninety, bowed by the weight of nearly a century, + covered with the insignia of honor, loved by a nation, respected by a + world, with kings for his servants, he laid his weary head upon her bosom—upon + the bosom of the universal Mother—and with her loving arms around + him, sank into that slumber called Death. + </p> + <p> + History added another name to the starry scroll of the immortals. + </p> + <p> + The world is his monument; upon the eternal granite of her hills he + inscribed his name, and there upon everlasting stone his genius wrote + this, the sublimest of truths: + </p> + <p> + "The Universe is Governed by Law!" + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0004" id="link0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + THOMAS PAINE + </h2> + <h3> + With His Name Left Out, the History of Liberty Cannot be Written. + </h3> + <p> + TO speak the praises of the brave and thoughtful dead, is to me a labor of + gratitude and love. + </p> + <p> + Through all the centuries gone, the mind of man has been beleaguered by + the mailed hosts of superstition. Slowly and painfully has advanced the + army of deliverance. Hated by those they wished to rescue, despised by + those they were dying to save, these grand soldiers, these immortal + deliverers, have fought without thanks, labored without applause, suffered + without pity, and they have died execrated and abhorred. For the good of + mankind they accepted isolation, poverty, and calumny. They gave up all, + sacrificed all, lost all but truth and self-respect. + </p> + <p> + One of the bravest soldiers in this army was Thomas Paine; and for one, I + feel indebted to him for the liberty we are enjoying this day. Born among + the poor, where children are burdens; in a country where real liberty was + unknown; where the privileges of class were guarded with infinite + jealousy, and the rights of the individual trampled beneath the feet of + priests and nobles; where to advocate justice was treason; where + intellectual freedom was Infidelity, it is wonderful that the idea of true + liberty ever entered his brain. . + </p> + <p> + Poverty was his mother—Necessity his master. + </p> + <p> + He had more brains than books; more sense than education; more courage + than politeness; more strength than polish. He had no veneration for old + mistakes—no admiration for ancient lies. He loved the truth for the + truth's sake, and for man's sake. He saw oppression on every hand; + injustice everywhere; hypocrisy at the altar, venality on the bench, + tyranny on the throne; and with a splendid courage he espoused the cause + of the weak against the strong—of the enslaved many against the + titled few. + </p> + <p> + In England he was nothing. He belonged to the lower classes. There was no + avenue open for him. The people hugged their chains, and the whole power + of the government was ready to crush any man who endeavored to strike a + blow for the right. + </p> + <p> + At the age of thirty-seven, Thomas Paine left England for America, with + the high hope of being instrumental in the establishment of a free + government. In his own country he could accomplish nothing. Those two + vultures—Church and State—were ready to tear in pieces and + devour the heart of any one who might deny their divine right to enslave + the world. + </p> + <p> + Upon his arrival in this country, he found himself possessed of a letter + of introduction, signed by another Infidel, the illustrious Franklin. + This, and his native genius, constituted his entire capital; and he needed + no more. He found the colonies clamoring for justice; whining about their + grievances; upon their knees at the foot of the throne, imploring that + mixture of idiocy and insanity, George the III., by the grace of God, for + a restoration of their ancient privileges. They were not endeavoring to + become free men, but were trying to soften the heart of their master. They + were perfectly willing to make brick if Pharaoh would furnish the straw. + The colonists wished for, hoped for, and prayed for reconciliation They + did not dream of independence. + </p> + <p> + Paine gave to the world his "Common Sense." It was the first argument for + separation, the first assault upon the British form of government, the + first blow for a republic, and it aroused our fathers like a trumpet's + blast. + </p> + <p> + He was the first to perceive the destiny of the New World. + </p> + <p> + No other pamphlet ever accomplished such wonderful results. It was filled + with argument, reason, persuasion, and unanswerable logic. It opened a new + world. It filled the present with hope and the future with honor. + Everywhere the people responded, and in a few months the Continental + Congress declared the colonies free and independent States. + </p> + <p> + A new nation was born. + </p> + <p> + It is simple justice to say that Paine did more to cause the Declaration + of Independence than any other man. Neither should it be forgotten that + his attacks upon Great Britain were also attacks upon monarchy; and while + he convinced the people that the colonies ought to separate from the + mother country, he also proved to them that a free government is the best + that can be instituted among men. + </p> + <p> + In my judgment, Thomas Paine was the best political writer that ever + lived. "What he wrote was pure nature, and his soul and his pen ever went + together." Ceremony, pageantry, and all the paraphernalia of power, had no + effect upon him. He examined into the why and wherefore of things. He was + perfectly radical in his mode of thought. Nothing short of the bed-rock + satisfied him. His enthusiasm for what he believed to be right knew no + bounds. During all the dark scenes of the Revolution, never for one moment + did he despair. Year after year his brave words were ringing through the + land, and by the bivouac fires the weary soldiers read the inspiring words + of "Common Sense," filled with ideas sharper than their swords, and + consecrated themselves anew to the cause of Freedom. + </p> + <p> + Paine was not content with having aroused the spirit of independence, but + he gave every energy of his soul to keep that spirit alive. He was with + the army. He shared its defeats, its dangers, and its glory. When the + situation became desperate, when gloom settled upon all, he gave them the + "Crisis." It was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, leading the + way to freedom, honor, and glory. He shouted to them, "These are the times + that try men's souls. The summer soldier, and the sunshine patriot, will, + in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands + it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." + </p> + <p> + To those who wished to put the war off to some future day, with a lofty + and touching spirit of self-sacrifice he said: "Every generous parent + should say, 'If there must be war let it be in my day, that my child may + have peace.'" To the cry that Americans were rebels, he replied: "He that + rebels against reason is a real rebel; but he that in defence of reason + rebels against tyranny, has a better title to 'Defender of the Faith' than + George the Third." + </p> + <p> + Some said it was not to the interest of the colonies to be free. Paine + answered this by saying, "To know whether it be the interest of the + continent to be independent, we need ask only this simple, easy question: + 'Is it the interest of a man to be a boy all his life?'" He found many who + would listen to nothing, and to them he said, "That to argue with a man + who has renounced his reason is like giving medicine to the dead." This + sentiment ought to adorn the walls of every orthodox church. + </p> + <p> + There is a world of political wisdom in this: "England lost her liberty in + a long chain of right reasoning from wrong principles"; and there is real + discrimination in saying, "The Greeks and Romans were strongly possessed + of the spirit of liberty, but not the principles, for at the time that + they were determined not to be slaves themselves, they employed their + power to enslave the rest of mankind." + </p> + <p> + In his letter to the British people, in which he tried to convince them + that war was not to their interest, occurs the following passage brimful + of common sense: "War never can be the interest of a trading nation any + more than quarreling can be profitable to a man in business. But to make + war with those who trade with us is like setting a bull-dog upon a + customer at the shop-door." + </p> + <p> + The writings of Paine fairly glitter with simple, compact, logical + statements, that carry conviction to the dullest and most prejudiced. He + had the happiest possible way of putting the case; in asking questions in + such a way that they answer themselves, and in stating his premises so + clearly that the deduction could not be avoided. + </p> + <p> + Day and night he labored for America; month after month, year after year, + he gave himself to the Great Cause, until there was "a government of the + people and for the people," and until the banner of the stars floated over + a continent redeemed, and consecrated to the happiness of mankind. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the Revolution, no one stood higher in America than Thomas + Paine. The best, the wisest, the most patriotic, were his friends and + admirers; and had he been thinking only of his own good he might have + rested from his toils and spent the remainder of his life in comfort and + in ease. He could have been what the world is pleased to call + "respectable." He could have died surrounded by clergymen, warriors and + statesmen. At his death there would have been an imposing funeral, miles + of carriages, civic societies, salvos of artillery, a nation in mourning, + and, above all, a splendid monument covered with lies. + </p> + <p> + He chose rather to benefit mankind. + </p> + <p> + At that time the seeds sown by the great Infidels were beginning to bear + fruit in France. The people were beginning to think. + </p> + <p> + The Eighteenth Century was crowning its gray hairs with the wreath of + Progress. + </p> + <p> + On every hand Science was bearing testimony against the Church. Voltaire + had filled Europe with light; D'Holbach was giving to the <i>élite</i> + of Paris the principles contained in his "System of Nature." The + Encyclopedists had attacked superstition with information for the masses. + The foundation of things began to be examined. A few had the courage to + keep their shoes on and let the bush burn. Miracles began to get scarce. + Everywhere the people began to inquire. America had set an example to the + world. The word Liberty was in the mouths of men, and they began to wipe + the dust from their knees. + </p> + <p> + The dawn of a new day had appeared. + </p> + <p> + Thomas Paine went to France. Into the new movement he threw all his + energies. His fame had gone before him, and he was welcomed as a friend of + the human race, and as a champion of free government. + </p> + <p> + He had never relinquished his intention of pointing out to his countrymen + the defects, absurdities and abuses of the English government For this + purpose he composed and published his greatest political work, "The Rights + of Man." This work should be read by every man and woman. It is concise, + accurate, natural, convincing, and unanswerable. It shows great thought; + an intimate knowledge of the various forms of government; deep insight + into the very springs of human action, and a courage that compels respect + and admiration. The most difficult political problems are solved in a few + sentences. The venerable arguments in favor of wrong are refuted with a + question—answered with a word. For forcible illustration, apt + comparison, accuracy and clearness of statement, and absolute + thoroughness, it has never been excelled. + </p> + <p> + The fears of the administration were aroused, and Paine was prosecuted for + libel and found guilty; and yet there is not a sentiment in the entire + work that will not challenge the admiration of every civilized man. It is + a magazine of political wisdom, an arsenal of ideas, and an honor, not + only to Thomas Paine, but to human nature itself. It could have been + written only by the man who had the generosity, the exalted patriotism, + the goodness to say, "The world is my country, and to do good my + religion." + </p> + <p> + There is in all the utterances of the world no grander, no sublimer + sentiment. There is no creed that can be compared with it for a moment. It + should be wrought in gold, adorned with jewels, and impressed upon every + human heart: "The world is my country, and to do good my religion." + </p> + <p> + In 1792, Paine was elected by the department of Calais as their + representative in the National Assembly. So great was his popularity in + France that he was selected about the same time by the people of no less + than four departments. + </p> + <p> + Upon taking his place in the Assembly he was appointed as one of a + committee to draft a constitution for France. Had the French people taken + the advice of Thomas Paine there would have been no "reign of terror." The + streets of Paris would not have been filled with blood The Revolution + would have been the grandest success of the world. The truth is that Paine + was too conservative to suit the leaders of the French Revolution. They, + to a great extent, were carried away by hatred, and a desire to destroy. + They had suffered so long, they had borne so much, that it was impossible + for them to be moderate in the hour of victory. + </p> + <p> + Besides all this, the French people had been so robbed by the government, + so degraded by the church, that they were not fit material with which to + construct a republic. Many of the leaders longed to establish a beneficent + and just government, but the people asked for revenge. + </p> + <p> + Paine was filled with a real love for mankind. His philanthropy was + boundless. He wished to destroy monarchy—not the monarch. He voted + for the destruction of tyranny, and against the death of the king. He + wished to establish a government on a new basis; one that would forget the + past; one that would give privileges to none, and protection to all. + </p> + <p> + In the Assembly, where nearly all were demanding the execution of the king—where + to differ from the majority was to be suspected, and, where to be + suspected was almost certain death Thomas Paine had the courage, the + goodness and the justice to vote against death. To vote against the + execution of the king was a vote against his own life. This was the + sublimity of devotion to principle. For this he was arrested, imprisoned, + and doomed to death. + </p> + <p> + Search the records of the world and you will find but few sublimer acts + than that of Thomas Paine voting against the kings death. He, the hater of + despotism, the abhorrer of monarchy, the champion of the rights of man, + the republican, accepting death to save the life of a deposed tyrant—of + a throneless king. This was the last grand act of his political life—the + sublime conclusion of his political career. + </p> + <p> + All his life he had been the disinterested friend of man. He had labored—not + for money, not for fame, but for the general good. He had aspired to no + office; had asked no recognition of his services, but had ever been + content to labor as a common soldier in the army of Progress. Confining + his efforts to no country, looking upon the world as his field of action, + filled with a genuine love for the right, he found himself imprisoned by + the very people he had striven to save. + </p> + <p> + Had his enemies succeeded in bringing him to the block, he would have + escaped the calumnies and the hatred of the Christian world. In this + country, at least, he would have ranked with the proudest names. On the + anniversary of the Declaration his name would have been upon the lips of + all the orators, and his memory in the hearts of all the people. + </p> + <p> + Thomas Paine had not finished his career. + </p> + <p> + He had spent his life thus far in destroying the power of kings, and now + he turned his attention to the priests. He knew that every abuse had been + embalmed in Scripture—that every outrage was in partnership with + some holy text. He knew that the throne skulked behind the altar, and both + behind a pretended revelation from God. By this time he had found that it + was of little use to free the body and leave the mind in chains. He had + explored the foundations of despotism, and had found them infinitely + rotten. He had dug under the throne, and it occurred to him that he would + take a look behind the altar. + </p> + <p> + The result of his investigations was given to the world in the "Age of + Reason." From the moment of its publication he became infamous. He was + calumniated beyond measure. To slander him was to secure the thanks of the + church. All his services were instantly forgotten, disparaged or denied. + He was shunned as though he had been a pestilence. Most of his old friends + forsook him. He was regarded as a moral plague, and at the bare mention of + his name the bloody hands of the church were raised in horror. He was + denounced as the most despicable of men. + </p> + <p> + Not content with following him to his grave, they pursued him after death + with redoubled fury, and recounted with infinite gusto and satisfaction + the supposed horrors of his death-bed; gloried in the fact that he was + forlorn and friendless, and gloated like fiends over what they supposed to + be the agonizing remorse of his lonely death. + </p> + <p> + It is wonderful that all his services were thus forgotten. It is amazing + that one kind word did not fall from some pulpit; that some one did not + accord to him, at least—honesty. Strange, that in the general + denunciation some one did not remember his labor for liberty, his devotion + to principle, his zeal for the rights of his fellow-men. He had, by brave + and splendid effort, associated his name with the cause of Progress. He + had made it impossible to write the history of political freedom with his + name left out He was one of the creators of light; one of the heralds of + the dawn. He hated tyranny in the name of kings, and in the name of God, + with every drop of his noble blood. He believed in liberty and justice, + and in the sacred doctrine of human equality. Under these divine banners + he fought the battle of his life. In both worlds he offered his blood for + the good of man. In the wilderness of America, in the French Assembly, in + the sombre cell waiting for death, he was the same unflinching, unwavering + friend of his race; the same undaunted champion of universal freedom. And + for this he has been hated; for this the church has violated even his + grave. + </p> + <p> + This is enough to make one believe that nothing is more natural than for + men to devour their benefactors. The people in all ages have crucified and + glorified. Whoever lifts his voice against abuses, whoever arraigns the + past at the bar of the present, whoever asks the king to show his + commission, or questions the authority of the priest, will be denounced as + the enemy of man and God. In all ages reason has been regarded as the + enemy of religion. Nothing has been considered so pleasing to the Deity as + a total denial of the authority of your own mind. Self-reliance has been + thought a deadly sin; and the idea of living and dying without the aid and + consolation of superstition has always horrified the church. By some + unaccountable infatuation, belief has been and still is considered of + immense importance. All religions have been based upon the idea that God + will forever reward the true believer, and eternally damn the man who + doubts or denies. Belief is regarded as the one essential thing. To + practice justice, to love mercy, is not enough. You must believe in some + incomprehensible creed. You must say, "Once one is three, and three times + one is one." The man who practiced every virtue, but failed to believe, + was execrated. Nothing so outrages the feelings of the church as a moral + unbeliever—nothing so horrible as a charitable Atheist. + </p> + <p> + When Paine was born, the world was religious, the pulpit was the real + throne, and the churches were making every effort to crush out of the + brain the idea that it had the right to think. + </p> + <p> + The splendid saying of Lord Bacon, that "the inquiry of truth, which is + the love-making or wooing of it, the knowledge of truth, which is the + presence of it, and the belief of truth, which is the enjoying of it, are + the sovereign good of human nature," has been, and ever will be, rejected + by religionists. Intellectual liberty, as a matter of necessity, forever + destroys the idea that belief is either praise or blame-worthy, and is + wholly inconsistent with every creed in Christendom. Paine recognized this + truth. He also saw that as long as the Bible was considered inspired, this + infamous doctrine of the virtue of belief would be believed and preached. + He examined the Scriptures for himself, and found them filled with + cruelty, absurdity and immorality. + </p> + <p> + He again made up his mind to sacrifice himself for the good of his + fellow-men. + </p> + <p> + He commenced with the assertion, "That any system of religion that has + anything in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system." + What a beautiful, what a tender sentiment! No wonder the church began to + hate him. He believed in one God, and no more. After this life he hoped + for happiness. He believed that true religion consisted in doing justice, + loving mercy, in endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy, and in + offering to God the fruit of the heart. He denied the inspiration of the + Scriptures. This was his crime. + </p> + <p> + He contended that it is a contradiction in terms to call anything a + revelation that comes to us second-hand, either verbally or in writing. He + asserted that revelation is necessarily limited to the first + communication, and that after that it is only an account of something + which another person says was a revelation to him. We have only his word + for it, as it was never made to us. This argument never has been and + probably never will be answered. He denied the divine origin of Christ, + and showed conclusively that the pretended prophecies of the Old Testament + had no reference to him whatever; and yet he believed that Christ was a + virtuous and amiable man; that the morality he taught and practiced was of + the most benevolent and elevated character, and that it had not been + exceeded by any. Upon this point he entertained the same sentiments now + held by the Unitarians, and in fact by all the most enlightened + Christians. + </p> + <p> + In his time the church believed and taught that every word in the Bible + was absolutely true. Since his day it has been proven false in its + cosmogony, false in its astronomy, false in its chronology, false in its + history, and so far as the Old Testament is concerned, false in almost + everything. There are but few, if any, scientific men who apprehend that + the Bible is literally true. Who on earth at this day would pretend to + settle any scientific question by a text from the Bible? The old belief is + confined to the ignorant and zealous. The church itself will before long + be driven to occupy the position of Thomas Paine. The best minds of the + orthodox world, to-day, are endeavoring to prove the existence of a + personal Deity. All other questions occupy a minor place. You are no + longer asked to swallow the Bible whole, whale, Jonah and all; you are + simply required to believe in God, and pay your pew-rent. There is not now + an enlightened minister in the world who will seriously contend that + Samson's strength was in his hair, or that the necromancers of Egypt could + turn water into blood, and pieces of wood into serpents. These follies + have passed away, and the only reason that the religious world can now + have for disliking Paine is that they have been forced to adopt so many of + his opinions. + </p> + <p> + Paine thought the barbarities of the Old Testament inconsistent with what + he deemed the real character of God. He believed that murder, massacre and + indiscriminate slaughter had never been commanded by the Deity. He + regarded much of the Bible as childish, unimportant and foolish The + scientific world entertains the same opinion. Paine attacked the Bible + precisely in the same spirit in which he had attacked the pretensions of + kings. He used the same weapons. All the pomp in the world could not make + him cower. His reason knew no "Holy of Holies," except the abode of Truth. + The sciences were then in their infancy. The attention of the really + learned had not been directed to an impartial examination of our pretended + revelation. It was accepted by most as a matter of course. The church was + all-powerful, and no one, unless thoroughly imbued with the spirit of + self-sacrifice, thought for a moment of disputing the fundamental + doctrines of Christianity. The infamous doctrines that salvation depends + upon belief—upon a mere intellectual conviction—was then + believed and preached. To doubt was to secure the damnation of your soul. + This absurd and devilish doctrine shocked the common sense of Thomas + Paine, and he denounced it with the fervor of honest indignation. This + doctrine, although infinitely ridiculous, has been nearly universal, and + has been as hurtful as senseless. For the overthrow of this infamous + tenet, Paine exerted all his strength. He left few arguments to be used by + those who should come after him, and he used none that have been refuted. + The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of + an argument against liberty of thought. Neither can they show why any one + should be punished, either in this world or another, for acting honestly + in accordance with reason; and yet a doctrine with every possible argument + against it has been, and still is, believed and defended by the entire + orthodox world. Can it be possible that we have been endowed with reason + simply that our souls may be caught in its toils and snares, that we may + be led by its false and delusive glare out of the narrow path that leads + to joy into the broad way of everlasting death? Is it possible that we + have been given reason simply that we may through faith ignore its + deductions, and avoid its conclusions? Ought the sailor to throw away his + compass and depend entirely upon the fog? If reason is not to be depended + upon in matters of religion, that is to say, in respect of our duties to + the Deity, why should it be relied upon in matters respecting the rights + of our fellows? Why should we throw away the laws given to Moses by God + himself and have the audacity to make some of our own? How dare we drown + the thunders of Sinai by calling the ayes and noes in a petty legislature? + If reason can determine what is merciful, what is just, the duties of man + to man, what more do we want either in time or eternity? + </p> + <p> + Down, forever down, with any religion that requires upon its ignorant + altar the sacrifice of the goddess Reason, that compels her to abdicate + forever the shining throne of the soul, strips from her form the imperial + purple, snatches from her hand the sceptre of thought and makes her the + bond-woman of a senseless faith! + </p> + <p> + If a man should tell you that he had the most beautiful painting in the + world, and after taking you where it was should insist upon having your + eyes shut, you would likely suspect, either that he had no painting or + that it was some pitiable daub. Should he tell you that he was a most + excellent performer on the violin, and yet refuse to play unless your ears + were stopped, you would think, to say the least of it, that he had an odd + way of convincing you of his musical ability. But would his conduct be any + more wonderful than that of a religionist who asks that before examining + his creed you will have the kindness to throw away your reason? The first + gentleman says, "Keep your eyes shut, my picture will bear everything but + being seen;" "Keep your ears stopped, my music objects to nothing but + being heard." The last says, "Away with your reason, my religion dreads + nothing but being understood." + </p> + <p> + So far as I am concerned, I most cheerfully admit that most Christians are + honest, and most ministers sincere. We do not attack them; we attack their + creed. We accord to them the same rights that we ask for ourselves. We + believe that their doctrines are hurtful. We believe that the frightful + text, "He that believes shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be + damned," has covered the earth with blood. It has filled the heart with + arrogance, cruelty and murder. It has caused the religious wars; bound + hundreds of thousands to the stake; founded inquisitions; filled dungeons; + invented instruments of torture; taught the mother to hate her child; + imprisoned the mind; filled the world with ignorance; persecuted the + lovers of wisdom; built the monasteries and convents; made happiness a + crime, investigation a sin, and self-reliance a blasphemy. It has poisoned + the springs of learning; misdirected the energies of the world; filled all + countries with want; housed the people in hovels; fed them with famine; + and but for the efforts of a few brave Infidels it would have taken the + world back to the midnight of barbarism, and left the heavens without a + star. + </p> + <p> + The maligners of Paine say that he had no right to attack this doctrine, + because he was unacquainted with the dead languages; and for this reason, + it was a piece of pure impudence in him to investigate the Scriptures. + </p> + <p> + Is it necessary to understand Hebrew in order to know that cruelty is not + a virtue, that murder is inconsistent with infinite goodness, and that + eternal punishment can be inflicted upon man only by an eternal fiend? Is + it really essential to conjugate the Greek verbs before you can make up + your mind as to the probability of dead people getting out of their + graves? Must one be versed in Latin before he is entitled to express his + opinion as to the genuineness of a pretended revelation from God? Common + sense belongs exclusively to no tongue. Logic is not confined to, nor has + it been buried with, the dead languages. Paine attacked the Bible as it is + translated. If the translation is wrong, let its defenders correct it. + </p> + <p> + The Christianity of Paine's day is not the Christianity of our time. There + has been a great improvement since then. One hundred and fifty years ago + the foremost preachers of our time would have perished at the stake. A + Universalist would have been torn in pieces in England, Scotland, and + America. Unitarians would have found themselves in the stocks, pelted by + the rabble with dead cats, after which their ears would have been cut off, + their tongues bored, and their foreheads branded. Less than one hundred + and fifty years ago the following law was in force in Maryland: + </p> + <p> + "Be it enacted by the Right Honorable, the Lord Proprietor, by and with + the advice and consent of his Lordship's governor, and the upper and lower + houses of the Assembly, and the authority of the same: + </p> + <p> + "That if any person shall hereafter, within this province, wittingly, + maliciously, and advisedly, by writing or speaking, blaspheme or curse + God, or deny our Saviour, Jesus Christ, to be the Son of God, or shall + deny the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, or the Godhead of + any of the three persons, or the unity of the Godhead, or shall utter any + profane words concerning the Holy Trinity, or any of the persons thereof, + and shall thereof be convict by verdict, shall, for the first offence, be + bored through the tongue, and fined twenty pounds to be levied of his + body. And for the second offence, the offender shall be stigmatized by + burning in the forehead with the letter B, and fined forty pounds. And + that for the third offence the offender shall suffer death without the + benefit of clergy." + </p> + <p> + The strange thing about this law is, that it has never been repealed, and + is still in force in the District of Columbia. Laws like this were in + force in most of the colonies, and in all countries where the church had + power. + </p> + <p> + In the Old Testament, the death penalty is attached to hundreds of + offences. It has been the same in all Christian countries. To-day, in + civilized governments, the death penalty is attached only to murder and + treason; and in some it has been entirely abolished. What a commentary + upon the divine systems of the world! + </p> + <p> + In the day of Thomas Paine, the church was ignorant, bloody and + relentless. In Scotland the "Kirk" was at the summit of its power. It was + a full sister of the Spanish Inquisition. It waged war upon human nature. + It was the enemy of happiness, the hater of joy, and the despiser of + religious liberty. It taught parents to murder their children rather than + to allow them to propagate error. If the mother held opinions of which the + infamous "Kirk" disapproved, her children were taken from her arms, her + babe from her very bosom, and she was not allowed to see them, or to write + them a word. It would not allow shipwrecked sailors to be rescued from + drowning on Sunday. It sought to annihilate pleasure, to pollute the heart + by filling it with religious cruelty and gloom, and to change mankind into + a vast horde of pious, heartless fiends. One of the most famous Scotch + divines said: "The Kirk holds that religious toleration is not far from + blasphemy." And this same Scotch Kirk denounced, beyond measure, the man + who had the moral grandeur to say, "The world is my country, and to do + good my religion." And this same Kirk abhorred the man who said, "Any + system of religion that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true + system." + </p> + <p> + At that time nothing so delighted the church as the beauties of endless + torment, and listening to the weak wailings of damned infants struggling + in the slimy coils and poison-folds of the worm that never dies. + </p> + <p> + About the beginning of the nineteenth century, a boy by the name of Thomas + Aikenhead, was indicted and tried at Edinburgh for having denied the + inspiration of the Scriptures, and for having, on several occasions, when + cold, wished himself in hell that he might get warm. Notwithstanding the + poor boy recanted and begged for mercy, he was found guilty and hanged. + His body was thrown in a hole at the foot of the scaffold and covered with + stones. + </p> + <p> + Prosecutions and executions like this were common in every Christian + country, and all of them were based upon the belief that an intellectual + conviction is a crime. + </p> + <p> + No wonder the church hated and traduced the author of the "Age of Reason." + </p> + <p> + England was filled with Puritan gloom and Episcopal ceremony. All + religious conceptions were of the grossest nature. The ideas of crazy + fanatics and extravagant poets were taken as sober facts. Milton had + clothed Christianity in the soiled and faded finery of the gods—had + added to the story of Christ the fables of Mythology. He gave to the + Protestant Church the most outrageously material ideas of the Deity. He + turned all the angels into soldiers—made heaven a battlefield, put + Christ in uniform, and described God as a militia general. His works were + considered by the Protestants nearly as sacred as the Bible itself, and + the imagination of the people was thoroughly polluted by the horrible + imagery, the sublime absurdity of the blind Milton. + </p> + <p> + Heaven and hell were realities—the judgment-day was expected—books + of account would be opened. Every man would hear the charges against him + read. God was supposed to sit on a golden throne, surrounded by the + tallest angels, with harps in their hands and crowns on their heads. The + goats would be thrust into eternal fire on the left, while the orthodox + sheep, on the right, were to gambol on sunny slopes forever and forever. + </p> + <p> + The nation was profoundly ignorant, and consequently extremely religious, + so far as belief was concerned. + </p> + <p> + In Europe, Liberty was lying chained in the Inquisition—her white + bosom stained with blood. In the New World the Puritans had been hanging + and burning in the name of God, and selling white Quaker children into + slavery in the name of Christ, who said, "Suffer little children to come + unto me." + </p> + <p> + Under such conditions progress was impossible. Some one had to lead the + way. The church is, and always has been, incapable of a forward movement. + Religion always looks back. The church has already reduced Spain to a + guitar, Italy to a hand-organ, and Ireland to exile. + </p> + <p> + Some one not connected with the church had to attack the monster that was + eating out the heart of the world. Some one had to sacrifice himself for + the good of all. The people were in the most abject slavery; their manhood + had been taken from them by pomp, by pageantry and power. Progress is born + of doubt and inquiry. + </p> + <p> + The church never doubts—never inquires. To doubt is heresy—to + inquire is to admit that you do not know—the church does neither. + </p> + <p> + More than a century ago Catholisism, wrapped in robes red with the + innocent blood of millions, holding in her frantic clutch crowns and + scepters, honors and gold, the keys of heaven and hell, trampling beneath + her feet the liberties of nations, in the proud moment of almost universal + dominion, felt within her heartless breast the deadly dagger of Voltaire. + From that blow the church never can recover. Livid with hatred she + launched her eternal anathema at the great destroyer, and ignorant + Protestants have echoed the curse of Rome. + </p> + <p> + In our country the church was all-powerful, and although divided into many + sects, would instantly unite to repel a common foe. + </p> + <p> + Paine struck the first grand blow. + </p> + <p> + The "Age of Reason" did more to undermine the power of the Protestant + Church than all other books then known. It furnished an immense amount of + food for thought. It was written for the average mind, and is a + straightforward, honest investigation of the Bible, and of the Christian + system. + </p> + <p> + Paine did not falter, from the first page to the last. He gives you his + candid thought, and candid thoughts are always valuable. + </p> + <p> + The "Age of Reason" has liberalized us all. It put arguments in the mouths + of the people; it put the church on the defensive; it enabled somebody in + every village to corner the parson; it made the world wiser, and the + church better; it took power from the pulpit and divided it among the + pews. + </p> + <p> + Just in proportion that the human race has advanced, the church has lost + power. There is no exception to this rule. + </p> + <p> + No nation ever materially advanced that held strictly to the religion of + its founders. + </p> + <p> + No nation ever gave itself wholly to the control of the church without + losing its power, its honor, and existence. + </p> + <p> + Every church pretends to have found the exact truth. This is the end of + progress. Why pursue that which you have? Why investigate when you know? + </p> + <p> + Every creed is a rock in running water: humanity sweeps by it. Every creed + cries to the universe, "Halt!" A creed is the ignorant Past bullying the + enlightened Present. + </p> + <p> + The ignorant are not satisfied with what can be demonstrated. Science is + too slow for them, and so they invent creeds. They demand completeness. A + sublime segment, a grand fragment, are of no value to them. They demand + the complete circle—the entire structure. + </p> + <p> + In music they want a melody with a recurring accent at measured periods. + In religion they insist upon immediate answers to the questions of + creation and destiny. The alpha and omega of all things must be in the + alphabet of their superstition. A religion that cannot answer every + question, and guess every conundrum is, in their estimation, worse than + worthless. They desire a kind of theological dictionary—a religious + ready reckoner, together with guide-boards at all crossings and turns. + They mistake impudence for authority, solemnity for wisdom, and bathos for + inspiration. The beginning and the end are what they demand. The grand + flight of the eagle is nothing to them. They want the nest in which he was + hatched, and especially the dry limb upon which he roosts. Anything that + can be learned is hardly worth knowing. The present is considered of no + value in itself. Happiness must not be expected this side of the clouds, + and can only be attained by self-denial and faith; not selfdenial for the + good of others, but for the salvation of your own sweet self. + </p> + <p> + Paine denied the authority of bibles and creeds; this was his crime, and + for this the world shut the door in his face, and emptied its slops upon + him from the windows. + </p> + <p> + I challenge the world to show that Thomas Paine ever wrote one line, one + word in favor of tyranny—in favor of immorality; one line, one word + against what he believed to be for the highest and best interest of + mankind; one line, one word against justice, charity, or liberty, and yet + he has been pursued as though he had been a fiend from hell. His memory + has been execrated as though he had murdered some Uriah for his wife; + driven some Hagar into the desert to starve with his child upon her bosom; + defiled his own daughters; ripped open with the sword the sweet bodies of + loving and innocent women; advised one brother to assassinate another; + kept a harem with seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, or had + persecuted Christians even unto strange cities. + </p> + <p> + The church has pursued Paine to deter others. No effort has been in any + age of the world spared to crush out opposition. The church used painting, + music and architecture, simply to degrade mankind. But there are men that + nothing can awe. There have been at all times brave spirits that dared + even the gods. Some proud head has always been above the waves. In every + age some Diogenes has sacrificed to all the gods. True genius never + cowers, and there is always some Samson feeling for the pillars of + authority. + </p> + <p> + Cathedrals and domes, and chimes and chants.—temples frescoed and + groined and carved, and gilded with gold—altars and tapers, and + paintings of virgin and babe—censer and chalice—chasuble, + paten and alb—organs, and anthems and incense rising to the winged + and blest—maniple, amice and stole—crosses and crosiers, + tiaras and crowns—mitres and missals and masses—rosaries, + relics and robes—martyrs and saints, and windows stained as with the + blood of Christ—never, never for one moment awed the brave, proud + spirit of the Infidel. He knew that all the pomp and glitter had been + purchased with Liberty—that priceless jewel of the soul. In looking + at the cathedral he remembered the dungeon. The music of the organ was not + loud enough to drown the clank of fetters. He could not forget that the + taper had lighted the fagot. He knew that the cross adorned the hilt of + the sword, and so where others worshiped, he wept and scorned. + </p> + <p> + The doubter, the investigator, the Infidel, have been the saviors of + liberty. This truth is beginning to be realized, and the truly + intellectual are honoring the brave thinkers of the past. + </p> + <p> + But the church is as unforgiving as ever, and still wonders why any + Infidel should be wicked enough to endeavor to destroy her power. + </p> + <p> + I will tell the church why. + </p> + <p> + You have imprisoned the human mind; you have been the enemy of liberty; + you have burned us at the stake—wasted us upon slow fires—torn + our flesh with iron; you have covered us with chains—treated us as + outcasts; you have filled the world with fear; you have taken our wives + and children from our arms; you have confiscated our property; you have + denied us the right to testify in courts of justice; you have branded us + with infamy; you have torn out our tongues; you have refused us burial. In + the name of your religion, you have robbed us of every right; and after + having inflicted upon us every evil that can be inflicted in this world, + you have fallen upon your knees, and with clasped hands implored your God + to torment us forever. + </p> + <p> + Can you wonder that we hate your doctrines—that we despise your + creeds—that we feel proud to know that we are beyond your power—that + we are free in spite of you—that we can express our honest thought, + and that the whole world is grandly rising into the blessed light? + </p> + <p> + Can you wonder that we point with pride to the fact that Infidelity has + ever been found battling for the rights of man, for the liberty of + conscience, and for the happiness of all? + </p> + <p> + Can you wonder that we are proud to know that we have always been + disciples of Reason, and soldiers of Freedom; that we have denounced + tyranny and superstition, and have kept our hands unstained with human + blood? + </p> + <p> + We deny that religion is the end or object of this life. When it is so + considered it becomes destructive of happiness—the real end of life. + It becomes a hydra-headed monster, reaching in terrible coils from the + heavens, and thrusting its thousand fangs into the bleeding, quivering + hearts of men. It devours their substance, builds palaces for God, (who + dwells not in temples made with hands,) and allows his children to die in + huts and hovels. It fills the earth with mourning, heaven with hatred, the + present with fear, and all the future with despair. + </p> + <p> + Virtue is a subordination of the passions to the intellect. It is to act + in accordance with your highest convictions. It does not consist in + believing, but in doing. This is the sublime truth that the Infidels in + all ages have uttered. They have handed the torch from one to the other + through all the years that have fled. Upon the altar of Reason they have + kept the sacred fire, and through the long midnight of faith they fed the + divine flame. + </p> + <p> + Infidelity is liberty; all religion is slavery. In every creed man is the + slave of God—woman is the slave of man and the sweet children are + the slaves of all. + </p> + <p> + We do not want creeds; we want knowledge—we want happiness. + </p> + <p> + And yet we are told by the church that we have accomplished nothing; that + we are simply destroyers; that we tear down without building again. + </p> + <p> + Is it nothing to free the mind? Is it nothing to civilize mankind? Is it + nothing to fill the world with light, with discovery, with science? Is it + nothing to dignify man and exalt the intellect? Is it nothing to grope + your way into the dreary prisons, the damp and dropping dungeons, the dark + and silent cells of superstition, where the souls of men are chained to + floors of stone; to greet them like a ray of light, like the song of a + bird, the murmur of a stream; to see the dull eyes open and grow slowly + bright; to feel yourself grasped by the shrunken and unused hands, and + hear yourself thanked by a strange and hollow voice? + </p> + <p> + Is it nothing to conduct these souls gradually into the blessed light of + day—to let them see again the happy fields, the sweet, green earth, + and hear the everlasting music of the waves? Is it nothing to make men + wipe the dust from their swollen knees, the tears from their blanched and + furrowed cheeks? Is it a small thing to reave the heavens of an insatiate + monster and write upon the eternal dome, glittering with stars, the grand + word—Freedom? + </p> + <p> + Is it a small thing to quench the flames of hell with the holy tears of + pity—to unbind the martyr from the stake—break all the chains—put + out the fires of civil war—stay the sword of the fanatic, and tear + the bloody hands of the Church from the white throat of Science? + </p> + <p> + Is it a small thing to make men truly free—to destroy the dogmas of + ignorance, prejudice and power—the poisoned fables of superstition, + and drive from the beautiful face of the earth the fiend of Fear? + </p> + <p> + It does seem as though the most zealous Christian must at times entertain + some doubt as to the divine origin of his religion. For eighteen hundred + years the doctrine has been preached. For more than a thousand years the + church had, to a great extent, the control of the civilized world, and + what has been the result? Are the Christian nations patterns of charity + and forbearance? On the contrary, their principal business is to destroy + each other. More than five millions of Christians are trained, educated, + and drilled to murder their fellow-christians. Every nation is groaning + under a vast debt incurred in carrying on war against other Christians, or + defending itself from Christian assault. The world is covered with forts + to protect Christians from Christians, and every sea is covered with iron + monsters ready to blow Christian brains into eternal froth. Millions upon + millions are annually expended in the effort to construct still more + deadly and terrible engines of death. Industry is crippled, honest toil is + robbed, and even beggary is taxed to defray the expenses of Christian + warfare. There must be some other way to reform this world. We have tried + creed, and dogma and fable, and they have failed; and they have failed in + all the nations dead. + </p> + <p> + The people perish for the lack of knowledge. + </p> + <p> + Nothing but education—scientific education—can benefit + mankind. We must find out the laws of nature and conform to them. + </p> + <p> + We need free bodies and free minds,—free labor and free thought,—chainless + hands and fetterless brains. Free labor will give us wealth. Free thought + will give us truth. + </p> + <p> + We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real thoughts, and + to stand by their convictions, even to the very death. We need have no + fear of being too radical. The future will verify all grand and brave + predictions. Paine was splendidly in advance of his time; but he was + orthodox compared with the Infidels of to-day. + </p> + <p> + Science, the great Iconoclast, has been busy since 1809, and by the + highway of Progress are the broken images of the Past. + </p> + <p> + On every hand the people advance. The Vicar of God has been pushed from + the throne of the Caesars, and upon the roofs of the Eternal City falls + once more the shadow of the Eagle. + </p> + <p> + All has been accomplished by the heroic few. The men of science have + explored heaven and earth, and with infinite patience have furnished the + facts. The brave thinkers have used them. The gloomy caverns of + superstition have been transformed into temples of thought, and the demons + of the past are the angels of to-day. + </p> + <p> + Science took a handful of sand, constructed a telescope, and with it + explored the starry depths of heaven. Science wrested from the gods their + thunderbolts; and now, the electric spark, freighted with thought and + love, flashes under all the waves of the sea. Science took a tear from the + cheek of unpaid labor, converted it into steam, created a giant that turns + with tireless arm, the countless wheels of toil. + </p> + <p> + Thomas Paine was one of the intellectual heroes—one of the men to + whom we are indebted. His name is associated forever with the Great + Republic. As long as free government exists he will be remembered, admired + and honored. + </p> + <p> + He lived a long, laborious and useful life. The world is better for his + having lived. For the sake of truth he accepted hatred and reproach for + his portion. He ate the bitter bread of sorrow. His friends were untrue to + him because he was true to himself, and true to them. He lost the respect + of what is called society, but kept his own. His life is what the world + calls failure and what history calls success. + </p> + <p> + If to love your fellow-men more than self is goodness, Thomas Paine was + good. + </p> + <p> + If to be in advance of your time—to be a pioneer in the direction of + right—is greatness, Thomas Paine was great. + </p> + <p> + If to avow your principles and discharge your duty in the presence of + death is heroic, Thomas Paine was a hero. + </p> + <p> + At the age of seventy-three, death touched his tired heart. He died in the + land his genius defended—under the flag he gave to the skies. + Slander cannot touch him now—hatred cannot reach him more. He sleeps + in the sanctuary of the tomb, beneath the quiet of the stars. + </p> + <p> + A few more years—a few more brave men—a few more rays of + light, and mankind will venerate the memory of him who said: + </p> + <p> + "ANY SYSTEM OF RELIGION THAT SHOCKS THE MIND OF A CHILD CANNOT BE A TRUE + SYSTEM;" + </p> + <p> + "The world is my Country, and to do good my Religion." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0005" id="link0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + INDIVIDUALITY. + </h2> + <h3> + "His Soul was like a Star and dwelt apart." + </h3> + <p> + ON every hand are the enemies of individuality and mental freedom. Custom + meets us at the cradle and leaves us only at the tomb. Our first questions + are answered by ignorance, and our last by superstition. We are pushed and + dragged by countless hands along the beaten track, and our entire training + can be summed up in the word—suppression. Our desire to have a thing + or to do a thing is considered as conclusive evidence that we ought not to + have it, and ought not to do it. At every turn we run against cherubim and + a flaming sword guarding some entrance to the Eden of our desire. We are + allowed to investigate all subjects in which we feel no particular + interest, and to express the opinions of the majority with the utmost + freedom. We are taught that liberty of speech should never be carried to + the extent of contradicting the dead witnesses of a popular superstition. + Society offers continual rewards for self-betrayal, and they are nearly + all earned and claimed, and some are paid. + </p> + <p> + We have all read accounts of Christian gentlemen remarking, when about to + be hanged, how much better it would have been for them if they had only + followed a mother's advice. But after all, how fortunate it is for the + world that the maternal advice has not always been followed. How fortunate + it is for us all that it is somewhat unnatural for a human being to obey. + Universal obedience is universal stagnation; disobedience is one of the + conditions of progress. Select any age of the world and tell me what would + have been the effect of implicit obedience. Suppose the church had had + absolute control of the human mind at any time, would not the words + liberty and progress have been blotted from human speech? In defiance of + advice, the world has advanced. + </p> + <p> + Suppose the astronomers had controlled the science of astronomy; suppose + the doctors had controlled the science of medicine; suppose kings had been + left to fix the forms of government; suppose our fathers had taken the + advice of Paul, who said, "be subject to the powers that be, because they + are ordained of God;" suppose the church could control the world to-day, + we would go back to chaos and old night. Philosophy would be branded as + infamous; Science would again press its pale and thoughtful face against + the prison bars, and round the limbs of liberty would climb the bigot's + flame. + </p> + <p> + It is a blessed thing that in every age some one has had individuality + enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions,—some one + who had the grandeur to say his say. I believe it was Magellan who said, + "The church says the earth is flat; but I have seen its shadow on the + moon, and I have more confidence even in a shadow than in the church." On + the prow of his ship were disobedience, defiance, scorn, and success. + </p> + <p> + The trouble with most people is, they bow to what is called authority; + they have a certain reverence for the old because it is old. They think a + man is better for being dead, especially if he has been dead a long time. + They think the fathers of their nation were the greatest and best of all + mankind. All these things they implicitly believe because it is popular + and patriotic, and because they were told so when they were very small, + and remember distinctly of hearing mother read it out of a book. It is + hard to over-estimate the influence of early training in the direction of + superstition. You first teach children that a certain book is true—that + it was written by God himself—that to question its truth is a sin, + that to deny it is a crime, and that should they die without believing + that book they will be forever damned without benefit of clergy. The + consequence is, that long before they read that book, they believe it to + be true. When they do read it their minds are wholly unfitted to + investigate its claims. They accept it as a matter of course. + </p> + <p> + In this way the reason is overcome, the sweet instincts of humanity are + blotted from the heart, and while reading its infamous pages even justice + throws aside her scales, shrieking for revenge, and charity, with bloody + hands, applauds a deed of murder. In this way we are taught that the + revenge of man is the justice of God; that mercy is not the same + everywhere. In this way the ideas of our race have been subverted. In this + way we have made tyrants, bigots, and inquisitors. In this way the brain + of man has become a kind of palimpsest upon which, and over the writings + of nature, superstition has scrawled her countless lies. One great trouble + is that most teachers are dishonest. They teach as certainties those + things concerning which they entertain doubts. They do not say, "we <i>think</i> + this is so," but "we <i>know</i> this is so." They do not appeal to the + reason of the pupil, but they command his faith. They keep all doubts to + themselves; they do not explain, they assert. All this is infamous. In + this way you may make Christians, but you cannot make men; you cannot make + women. You can make followers, but no leaders; disciples, but no Christs. + You may promise power, honor, and happiness to all those who will blindly + follow, but you cannot keep your promise. + </p> + <p> + A monarch said to a hermit, "Come with me and I will give you power." + </p> + <p> + "I have all the power that I know how to use" replied the hermit. + </p> + <p> + "Come," said the king, "I will give you wealth." + </p> + <p> + "I have no wants that money can supply," said the hermit. + </p> + <p> + "I will give you honor," said the monarch. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, honor cannot be given, it must be earned," was the hermit's answer. + </p> + <p> + "Come," said the king, making a last appeal, "and I will give you + happiness." + </p> + <p> + "No," said the man of solitude, "there is no happiness without liberty, + and he who follows cannot be free." + </p> + <p> + "You shall have liberty too," said the king. + </p> + <p> + "Then I will stay where I am," said the old man. + </p> + <p> + And all the king's courtiers thought the hermit a fool. + </p> + <p> + Now and then somebody examines, and in spite of all keeps his manhood, and + has the courage to follow where his reason leads. Then the pious get + together and repeat wise saws, and exchange knowing nods and most + prophetic winks. The stupidly wise sit owl-like on the dead limbs of the + tree of knowledge, and solemnly hoot. Wealth sneers, and fashion laughs, + and respectability passes by on the other side, and scorn points with all + her skinny fingers, and all the snakes of superstition writhe and hiss, + and slander lends her tongue, and infamy her brand, and perjury her oath, + and the law its power, and bigotry tortures, and the church kills. + </p> + <p> + The church hates a thinker precisely for the same reason a robber dislikes + a sheriff, or a thief despises the prosecuting witness. Tyranny likes + courtiers, flatterers, followers, fawners, and superstition wants + believers, disciples, zealots, hypocrites, and subscribers. The church + demands worship—the very thing that man should give to no being, + human or divine. To worship another is to degrade yourself. Worship is awe + and dread and vague fear and blind hope. It is the spirit of worship that + elevates the one and degrades the many; that builds palaces for robbers, + erects monuments to crime, and forges manacles even for its own hands. The + spirit of worship is the spirit of tyranny. The worshiper always regrets + that he is not the worshiped. We should all remember that the intellect + has no knees, and that whatever the attitude of the body may be, the brave + soul is always found erect. Whoever worships, abdicates. Whoever believes + at the command of power, tramples his own individuality beneath his feet, + and voluntarily robs himself of all that renders man superior to the + brute. + </p> + <p> + The despotism of faith is justified upon the ground that Christian + countries are the grandest and most prosperous of the world. At one time + the same thing could have been truly said in India, in Egypt, in Greece, + in Rome, and in every other country that has, in the history of the world, + swept to empire. This argument proves too much not only, but the + assumption upon which it is based is utterly false. Numberless + circumstances and countless conditions have produced the prosperity of the + Christian world. The truth is, we have advanced in spite of religious + zeal, ignorance, and opposition. The church has won no victories for the + rights of man. Luther labored to reform the church—Voltaire, to + reform men. Over every fortress of tyranny has waved, and still waves, the + banner of the church. Wherever brave blood has been shed, the sword of the + church has been wet. On every chain has been the sign of the cross. The + altar and throne have leaned against and supported each other. + </p> + <p> + All that is good in our civilization is the result of commerce, climate, + soil, geographical position, industry, invention, discovery, art, and + science. The church has been the enemy of progress, for the reason that it + has endeavored to prevent man thinking for himself. To prevent thought is + to prevent all advancement except in the direction of faith. + </p> + <p> + Who can imagine the infinite impudence of a church assuming to think for + the human race? Who can imagine the infinite impudence of a church that + pretends to be the mouthpiece of God, and in his name threatens to inflict + eternal punishment upon those who honestly reject its claims and scorn its + pretensions? By what right does a man, or an organization of men, or a + god, claim to hold a brain in bondage? When a fact can be demonstrated, + force is unnecessary; when it cannot be demonstrated, an appeal to force + is infamous. In the presence of the unknown all have an equal right to + think. + </p> + <p> + Over the vast plain, called life, we are all travelers, and not one + traveler is perfectly certain that he is going in the right direction. + True it is that no other plain is so well supplied with guide-boards. At + every turn and crossing you will find them, and upon each one is written + the exact direction and distance. One great trouble is, however, that + these boards are all different, and the result is that most travelers are + confused in proportion to the number they read. Thousands of people are + around each of these signs, and each one is doing his best to convince the + traveler that his particular board is the only one upon which the least + reliance can be placed, and that if his road is taken the reward for so + doing will be infinite and eternal, while all the other roads are said to + lead to hell, and all the makers of the other guide-boards are declared to + be heretics, hypocrites and liars. "Well," says a traveler, "you may be + right in what you say, but allow me at least to read some of the other + directions and examine a little into their claims. I wish to rely a little + upon my own judgment in a matter of so great importance." "No, sir," + shouts the zealot, "that is the very thing you are not allowed to do. You + must go my way without investigation, or you are as good as damned + already." "Well," says the traveler, "if that is so, I believe I had + better go your way." And so most of them go along, taking the word of + those who know as little as themselves. Now and then comes one who, in + spite of all threats, calmly examines the claims of all, and as calmly + rejects them all. These travelers take roads of their own, and are + denounced by all the others, as infidels and atheists. + </p> + <p> + Around all of these guide-boards, as far as the eye can reach, the ground + is covered with mountains of human bones, crumbling and bleaching in the + rain and sun. They are the bones of murdered men and women—fathers, + mothers and babes. + </p> + <p> + In my judgment, every human being should take a road of his own. Every + mind should be true to itself—should think, investigate and conclude + for itself. This is a duty alike incumbent upon pauper and prince. Every + soul should repel dictation and tyranny, no matter from what source they + come—from earth or heaven, from men or gods. Besides, every traveler + upon this vast plain should give to every other traveler his best idea as + to the road that should be taken. Each is entitled to the honest opinion + of all. And there is but one way to get an honest opinion upon any subject + whatever. The person giving the opinion must be free from fear. The + merchant must not fear to lose his custom, the doctor his practice, nor + the preacher his pulpit There can be no advance without liberty. + Suppression of honest inquiry is retrogression, and must end in + intellectual night. The tendency of orthodox religion to-day is toward + mental slavery and barbarism. Not one of the orthodox ministers dare + preach what he thinks if he knows a majority of his congregation think + otherwise. He knows that every member of his church stands guard over his + brain with a creed, like a club, in his hand. He knows that he is not + expected to search after the truth, but that he is employed to defend the + creed. Every pulpit is a pillory, in which stands a hired culprit, + defending the justice of his own imprisonment. + </p> + <p> + Is it desirable that all should be exactly alike in their religious + convictions? Is any such thing possible? Do we not know that there are no + two persons alike in the whole world? No two, trees, no two leaves, no two + anythings that are alike? Infinite diversity is the law. Religion tries to + force all minds into one mould. Knowing that all cannot believe, the + church endeavors to make all say they believe. She longs for the unity of + hypocrisy, and detests the splendid diversity of individuality and + freedom. + </p> + <p> + Nearly all people stand in great horror of annihilation, and yet to give + up your individuality is to annihilate yourself. Mental slavery is mental + death, and every man who has given up his intellectual freedom is the + living coffin of his dead soul. In this sense, every church is a cemetery + and every creed an epitaph. + </p> + <p> + We should all remember that to be like other people is to be unlike + ourselves, and that nothing can be more detestable in character than + servile imitation. The great trouble with imitation is, that we are apt to + ape those who are in reality far below us. After all, the poorest bargain + that a human being can make, is to give his individuality for what is + called respectability. + </p> + <p> + There is no saying more degrading than this: "It is better to be the tail + of a lion than the head of a dog." It is a responsibility to think and act + for yourself. Most people hate responsibility; therefore they join + something and become the tail of some lion. They say, "My party can act + for me—my church can do my thinking. It is enough for me to pay + taxes and obey the lion to which I belong, without troubling myself about + the right, the wrong, or the why or the wherefore of anything whatever." + These people are respectable. They hate reformers, and dislike exceedingly + to have their minds disturbed. They regard convictions as very + disagreeable things to have. They love forms, and enjoy, beyond everything + else, telling what a splendid tail their lion has, and what a troublesome + dog their neighbor is. Besides this natural inclination to avoid personal + responsibility, is and always has been, the fact, that every religionist + has warned men against the presumption and wickedness of thinking for + themselves. The reason has been denounced by all Christendom as the only + unsafe guide. The church has left nothing undone to prevent man following + the logic of his brain. The plainest facts have been covered with the + mantle of mystery. The grossest absurdities have been declared to be + self-evident facts. The order of nature has been, as it were, reversed, + that the hypocritical few might govern the honest many. The man who stood + by the conclusion of his reason was denounced as a scorner and hater of + God and his holy church. From the organization of the first church until + this moment, to think your own thoughts has been inconsistent with + membership. Every member has borne the marks of collar, and chain, and + whip. No man ever seriously attempted to reform a church without being + cast out and hunted down by the hounds of hypocrisy. The highest crime + against a creed is to change it. Reformation is treason. + </p> + <p> + Thousands of young men are being educated at this moment by the various + churches. What for? In order that they may be prepared to investigate the + phenomena by which we are surrounded? No! The object, and the only object, + is that they may be prepared to defend a creed; that they may learn the + arguments of their respective churches, and repeat them in the dull ears + of a thoughtless congregation. If one, after being thus trained at the + expense of the Methodists, turns Presbyterian or Baptist, he is denounced + as an ungrateful wretch. Honest investigation is utterly impossible within + the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is + right you will not investigate, and if you think it wrong, the church will + investigate you. The consequence of this is, that most of the theological + literature is the result of suppression, of fear, tyranny and hypocrisy. + </p> + <p> + Every orthodox writer necessarily said to himself, "If I write that, my + wife and children may want for bread. I will be covered with shame and + branded with infamy; but if I write this, I will gain position, power, and + honor. My church rewards defenders, and burns reformers." + </p> + <p> + Under these conditions all your Scotts, Hen-rys, and McKnights have + written; and weighed in these scales, what are their commentaries worth? + They are not the ideas and decisions of honest judges, but the sophisms of + the paid attorneys of superstition. Who can tell what the world has lost + by this infamous system of suppression? How many grand thinkers have died + with the mailed hand of superstition upon their lips? How many splendid + ideas have perished in the cradle of the brain, strangled in the + poison-coils of that python, the Church! + </p> + <p> + For thousands of years a thinker was hunted down like an escaped convict. + To him who had braved the church, every door was shut, every knife was + open. To shelter him from the wild storm, to give him a crust when dying, + to put a cup of water to his cracked and bleeding lips; these were all + crimes, not one of which the church ever did forgive; and with the justice + taught of her God, his helpless children were exterminated as scorpions + and vipers. + </p> + <p> + Who at the present day can imagine the courage, the devotion to principle, + the intellectual and moral grandeur it once required to be an infidel, to + brave the church, her racks, her fagots, her dungeons, her tongues of + fire,—to defy and scorn her heaven and her hell—her devil and + her God? They were the noblest sons of earth. They were the real saviors + of our race, the destroyers of superstition and the creators of Science. + They were the real Titans who bared their grand foreheads to all the + thunderbolts of all the gods. + </p> + <p> + The church has been, and still is, the great robber. She has rifled not + only the pockets but the brains of the world. She is the stone at the + sepulchre of liberty; the upas tree, in whose shade the intellect of man + has withered; the Gorgon beneath whose gaze the human heart has turned to + stone. Under her influence even the Protestant mother expects to be happy + in heaven, while her brave boy, who fell fighting for the rights of man, + shall writhe in hell. + </p> + <p> + It is said that some of the Indian tribes place the heads of their + children between pieces of bark until the form of the skull is permanently + changed. To us this seems a most shocking custom; and yet, after all, is + it as bad as to put the souls of our children in the strait-jacket of a + creed? to so utterly deform their minds that they regard the God of the + Bible as a being of infinite mercy, and really consider it a virtue to + believe a thing just because it seems unreasonable? Every child in the + Christian world has uttered its wondering protest against this outrage. + All the machinery of the church is constantly employed in corrupting the + reason of children. In every possible way they are robbed of their own + thoughts and forced to accept the statements of others. Every Sunday + school has for its object the crushing out of every germ of individuality. + The poor children are taught that nothing can be more acceptable to God + than unreasoning obedience and eyeless faith, and that to believe God did + an impossible act, is far better than to do a good one yourself. They are + told that all religions have been simply the John-the-Baptists of ours; + that all the gods of antiquity have withered and shrunken into the Jehovah + of the Jews; that all the longings and aspirations of the race are + realized in the motto of the Evangelical Alliance, "Liberty in + non-essentials", that all there is, or ever was, of religion can be found + in the apostles' creed; that there is nothing left to be discovered; that + all the thinkers are dead, and all the living should simply be believers; + that we have only to repeat the epitaph found on the grave of wisdom; that + grave-yards are the best possible universities, and that the children must + be forever beaten with the bones of the fathers. + </p> + <p> + It has always seemed absurd to suppose that a god would choose for his + companions, during all eternity, the dear souls whose highest and only + ambition is to obey. He certainly would now and then be tempted to make + the same remark made by an English gentleman to his poor guest. The + gentleman had invited a man in humble circumstances to dine with him. The + man was so overcome with the honor that to everything the gentleman said + he replied "Yes." Tired at last with the monotony of acquiescence, the + gentleman cried out, "For God's sake, my good man, say 'No,' just once, so + there will be two of us." + </p> + <p> + Is it possible that an infinite God created this world simply to be the + dwelling-place of slaves and serfs? simply for the purpose of raising + orthodox Christians? That he did a few miracles to astonish them; that all + the evils of life are simply his punishments, and that he is finally going + to turn heaven into a kind of religious museum filled with Baptist + barnacles, petrified Presbyterians and Methodist mummies? I want no heaven + for which I must give my reason; no happiness in exchange for my liberty, + and no immortality that demands the surrender of my individuality. Better + rot in the windowless tomb, to which there is no door but the red mouth of + the pallid worm, than wear the jeweled collar even of a god. + </p> + <p> + Religion does not, and cannot, contemplate man as free. She accepts only + the homage of the prostrate, and scorns the offerings of those who stand + erect. She cannot tolerate the liberty of thought. The wide and sunny + fields belong not to her domain. The star-lit heights of genius and + individuality are above and beyond her appreciation and power. Her + subjects cringe at her feet, covered with the dust of obedience. + </p> + <p> + They are not athletes standing posed by rich life and brave endeavor like + antique statues, but shriveled deformities, studying with furtive glance + the cruel face of power. + </p> + <p> + No religionist seems capable of comprehending this plain truth. There is + this difference between thought and action: for our actions we are + responsible to ourselves and to those injuriously affected; for thoughts, + there can, in the nature of things, be no responsibility to gods or men, + here or hereafter. And yet the Protestant has vied with the Catholic in + denouncing freedom of thought; and while I was taught to hate Catholicism + with every drop of my blood, it is only justice to say, that in all + essential particulars it is precisely the same as every other religion. + Luther denounced mental liberty with all the coarse and brutal vigor of + his nature; Calvin despised, from the very bottom of his petrified heart, + anything that even looked like religious toleration, and solemnly declared + that to advocate it was to crucify Christ afresh. All the founders of all + the orthodox churches have advocated the same infamous tenet. The truth + is, that what is called religion is necessarily inconsistent with free + thought A believer is a bird in a cage, a Freethinker is an eagle parting + the clouds with tireless wing. + </p> + <p> + At present, owing to the inroads that have been made by liberals and + infidels, most of the churches pretend to be in favor of religious + liberty. Of these churches, we will ask this question: How can a man, who + conscientiously believes in religious liberty, worship a God who does not? + They say to us: "We will not imprison you on account of your belief, but + our God will." "We will not burn you because you throw away the sacred + Scriptures, but their author will." "We think it an infamous crime to + persecute our brethren for opinion's sake,—but the God, whom we + ignorantly worship, will on that account, damn his own children forever." + </p> + <p> + Why is it that these Christians not only detest the infidels, but + cordially despise each other? Why do they refuse to worship in the temples + of each other? Why do they care so little for the damnation of men, and so + much for the baptism of children? Why will they adorn their churches with + the money of thieves and flatter vice for the sake of subscriptions? Why + will they attempt to bribe Science to certify to the writings of God? Why + do they torture the words of the great into an acknowledgment of the truth + of Christianity? Why do they stand with hat in hand before presidents, + kings, emperors, and scientists, begging, like Lazarus, for a few crumbs + of religious comfort? Why are they so delighted to find an allusion to + Providence in the message of Lincoln? Why are they so afraid that some one + will find out that Paley wrote an essay in favor of the Epicurean + philosophy, and that Sir Isaac Newton was once an infidel? Why are they so + anxious to show that Voltaire recanted; that Paine died palsied with fear; + that the Emperor Julian cried out "Galilean, thou hast conquered"; that + Gibbon died a Catholic; that Agassiz had a little confidence in Moses; + that the old Napoleon was once complimentary enough to say that he thought + Christ greater than himself or Cæsar; that Washington was caught on + his knees at Valley Forge; that blunt old Ethan Allen told his child to + believe the religion of her mother; that Franklin said, "Don't unchain the + tiger," and that Volney got frightened in a storm at sea? + </p> + <p> + Is it because the foundation of their temple is crumbling, because the + walls are cracked, the pillars leaning, the great dome swaying to its + fall, and because Science has written over the high altar its mene, mene, + tekel, upharsin—the old words, destined to be the epitaph of all + religions? + </p> + <p> + Every assertion of individual independence has been a step toward + infidelity. Luther started toward Humboldt,—Wesley, toward John + Stuart Mill. To really reform the church is to destroy it. Every new + religion has a little less superstition than the old, so that the religion + of Science is but a question of time. + </p> + <p> + I will not say the church has been an unmitigated evil in all respects. + Its history is infamous and glorious. It has delighted in the production + of extremes. It has furnished murderers for its own martyrs. It has + sometimes fed the body, but has always starved the soul. It has been a + charitable highwayman—a profligate beggar—a generous pirate. + It has produced some angels and a multitude of devils. It has built more + prisons than asylums. It made a hundred orphans while it cared for one. In + one hand it has carried the alms-dish and in the other a sword. It has + founded schools and endowed universities for the purpose of destroying + true learning. It filled the world with hypocrites and zealots, and upon + the cross of its own Christ it crucified the individuality of man. It has + sought to destroy the independence of the soul and put the world upon its + knees. This is its crime. The commission of this crime was necessary to + its existence. In order to compel obedience it declared that it had the + truth, and all the truth; that God had made it the keeper of his secrets; + his agent and his vicegerent. It declared that all other religions were + false and infamous. It rendered all compromise impossible and all thought + superfluous. Thought was its enemy, obedience was its friend. + Investigation was fraught with danger; therefore investigation was + suppressed. The holy of holies was behind the curtain. All this was upon + the principle that forgers hate to have the signature examined by an + expert, and that imposture detests curiosity. + </p> + <p> + "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," has always been the favorite + text of the church. + </p> + <p> + In short, Christianity has always opposed every forward movement of the + human race. Across the highway of progress it has always been building + breastworks of Bibles, tracts, commentaries, prayer-books, creeds, dogmas + and platforms, and at every advance the Christians have gathered together + behind these heaps of rubbish and shot the poisoned arrows of malice at + the soldiers of freedom. + </p> + <p> + And even the liberal Christian of to-day has his holy of holies, and in + the niche of the temple of his heart has his idol. He still clings to a + part of the old superstition, and all the pleasant memories of the old + belief linger in the horizon of his thoughts like a sunset. We associate + the memory of those we love with the religion of our childhood. It seems + almost a sacrilege to rudely destroy the idols that our fathers worshiped, + and turn their sacred and beautiful truths into the fables of barbarism. + Some throw away the Old Testament and cling to the New, while others give + up everything except the idea that there is a personal God, and that in + some wonderful way we are the objects of his care. + </p> + <p> + Even this, in my opinion, as Science, the great iconoclast, marches + onward, will have to be abandoned with the rest. The great ghost will + surely share the fate of the little ones. They fled at the first + appearance of the dawn, and the other will vanish with the perfect day. + Until then the independence of man is little more than a dream. + Overshadowed by an immense personality, in the presence of the + irresponsible and the infinite, the individuality of man is lost, and he + falls prostrate in the very dust of fear. Beneath the frown of the + absolute, man stands a wretched, trembling slave,—beneath his smile + he is at best only a fortunate serf. Governed by a being whose arbitrary + will is law, chained to the chariot of power, his destiny rests in the + pleasure of the unknown. Under these circumstances, what wretched object + can he have in lengthening out his aimless life? + </p> + <p> + And yet, in most minds, there is a vague fear of the gods—a + shrinking from the malice of the skies. Our fathers were slaves, and + nearly all their children are mental serfs. The enfranchisement of the + soul is a slow and painful process. Superstition, the mother of those + hideous twins, Fear and Faith, from her throne of skulls, still rules the + world, and will until the mind of woman ceases to be the property of + priests. + </p> + <p> + When women reason, and babes sit in the lap of philosophy, the victory of + reason over the shadowy host of darkness will be complete. + </p> + <p> + In the minds of many, long after the intellect has thrown aside as utterly + fabulous the legends of the church, there still remains a lingering + suspicion, born of the mental habits contracted in childhood, that after + all there may be a grain of truth in these mountains of theological mist, + and that possibly the superstitious side is the side of safety. + </p> + <p> + A gentleman, walking among the ruins of Athens, came upon a fallen statue + of Jupiter; making an exceedingly low bow he said: "O Jupiter! I salute + thee." He then added: "Should you ever sit upon the throne of heaven + again, do not, I pray you, forget that I treated you politely when you + were prostrate." + </p> + <p> + We have all been taught by the church that nothing is so well calculated + to excite the ire of the Deity as to express a doubt as to his existence, + and that to deny it is an unpardonable sin. Numerous well-attested + instances are referred to of atheists being struck dead for denying the + existence of God. According to these religious people, God is infinitely + above us in every respect, infinitely merciful, and yet he cannot bear to + hear a poor finite man honestly question his existence. Knowing, as he + does, that his children are groping in darkness and struggling with doubt + and fear; knowing that he could enlighten them if he would, he still holds + the expression of a sincere doubt as to his existence, the most infamous + of crimes. According to orthodox logic, God having furnished us with + imperfect minds, has a right to demand a perfect result. + </p> + <p> + Suppose Mr. Smith should overhear a couple of small bugs holding a + discussion as to the existence of Mr. Smith, and suppose one should have + the temerity to declare, upon the honor of a bug, that he had examined the + whole question to the best of his ability, including the argument based + upon design, and had come to the conclusion that no man by the name of + Smith had ever lived. Think then of Mr. Smith flying into an ecstasy of + rage, crushing the atheist bug beneath his iron heel, while he exclaimed, + "I will teach you, blasphemous wretch, that Smith is a diabolical fact!" + What then can we think of a God who would open the artillery of heaven + upon one of his own children for simply expressing his honest thought? And + what man who really thinks can help repeating the words of Ennius: "If + there are gods they certainly pay no attention to the affairs of man." + </p> + <p> + Think of the millions of men and women who have been destroyed simply for + loving and worshiping this God. Is it possible that this God, having + infinite power, saw his loving and heroic children languishing in the + darkness of dungeons; heard the clank of their chains when they lifted + their hands to him in the agony of prayer; saw them stretched upon the + bigot's rack, where death alone had pity; saw the serpents of flame crawl + hissing round their shrinking forms—-saw all this for sixteen + hundred years, and sat as silent as a stone? + </p> + <p> + From such a God, why should man expect assistance? Why should he waste his + days in fruitless prayer? Why should he fall upon his knees and implore a + phantom—a phantom that is deaf, and dumb, and blind? + </p> + <p> + Although we live in what is called a free government,—and + politically we are free,—there is but little religious liberty in + America. Society demands, either that you belong to some church, or that + you suppress your opinions. It is contended by many that ours is a + Christian government, founded upon the Bible, and that all who look upon + that book as false or foolish are destroying the foundation of our + country. The truth is, our government is not founded upon the rights of + gods, but upon the rights of men. Our Constitution was framed, not to + declare and uphold the deity of Christ, but the sacredness of humanity. + Ours is the first government made by the people and for the people. It is + the only nation with which the gods have had nothing to do. And yet there + are some judges dishonest and cowardly enough to solemnly decide that this + is a Christian country, and that our free institutions are based upon the + infamous laws of Jehovah. Such judges are the Jeffries of the church. They + believe that decisions, made by hirelings at the bidding of kings, are + binding upon man forever. They regard old law as far superior to modern + justice. They are what might be called orthodox judges. They spend their + days in finding out, not what ought to be, but what has been. With their + backs to the sunrise they worship the night. There is only one future + event with which they concern themselves, and that is their reelection. No + honest court ever did, or ever will, decide that our Constitution is + Christian. The Bible teaches that the powers that be, are ordained of God. + The Bible teaches that God is the source of all authority, and that all + kings have obtained their power from him. Every tyrant has claimed to be + the agent of the Most High. The Inquisition was founded, not in the name + of man, but in the name of God. All the governments of Europe recognize + the greatness of God, and the littleness of the people. In all ages, + hypocrites, called priests, have put crowns upon the heads of thieves, + called kings. + </p> + <p> + The Declaration of Independence announces the sublime truth, that all + power comes from the people. This was a denial, and the first denial of a + nation, of the infamous dogma that God confers the right upon one man to + govern others. It was the first grand assertion of the dignity of the + human race. It declared the governed to be the source of power, and in + fact denied the authority of any and all gods. Through the ages of slavery—through + the weary centuries of the lash and chain, God was the acknowledged ruler + of the world. To enthrone man, was to dethrone him. + </p> + <p> + To Paine, Jefferson, and Franklin, are we indebted, more than to all + others, for a human government, and for a Constitution in which no God is + recognized superior to the legally expressed will of the people. + </p> + <p> + They knew that to put God in the Constitution was to put man out. They + knew that the recognition of a Deity would be seized upon by fanatics and + zealots as a pretext for destroying the liberty of thought. They knew the + terrible history of the church too well to place in her keeping, or in the + keeping of her God, the sacred rights of man. They intended that all + should have the right to worship, or not to worship; that our laws should + make no distinction on account of creed. They intended to found and frame + a government for man, and for man alone. They wished to preserve the + individuality and liberty of all; to prevent the few from governing the + many, and the many from persecuting and destroying the few. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding all this, the spirit of persecution still lingers in our + laws. In many of the States, only those who believe in the existence of + some kind of God, are under the protection of the law. + </p> + <p> + The supreme court of Illinois decided, in the year of grace 1856, that an + unbeliever in the existence of an intelligent First Cause could not be + allowed to testify in any court. His wife and children might have been + murdered before his very face, and yet in the absence of other witnesses, + the murderer could not have even been indicted. The atheist was a legal + outcast. To him, Justice was not only blind, but deaf. He was liable, like + other men, to support the Government, and was forced to contribute his + share towards paying the salaries of the very judges who decided that + under no circumstances could his voice be heard in any court. This was the + law of Illinois, and so remained until the adoption of the new + Constitution. By such infamous means has the church endeavored to chain + the human mind, and protect the majesty of her God. The fact is, we have + no national religion, and no national God; but every citizen is allowed to + have a religion and a God of his own, or to reject all religions and deny + the existence of all gods. The church, however, never has, and never will + understand and appreciate the genius of our Government. + </p> + <p> + Last year, in a convention of Protestant bigots, held in the city of New + York for the purpose of creating public opinion in favor of a religious + amendment to the Federal Constitution, a reverend doctor of divinity, + speaking of atheists, said: "What are the rights of the atheist? I would + tolerate him as I would tolerate a poor lunatic. I would tolerate him as I + would tolerate a conspirator. He may live and go free, hold his lands and + enjoy his home—he may even vote; but for any higher or more advanced + citizenship, he is, as I hold, utterly disqualified." These are the + sentiments of the church to-day. + </p> + <p> + Give the church a place in the Constitution, let her touch once more the + sword of power, and the priceless fruit of all the ages will turn to ashes + on the lips of men. + </p> + <p> + In religious ideas and conceptions there has been for ages a slow and + steady development At the bottom of the ladder (speaking of modern times) + is Catholicism, and at the top is Science. The intermediate rounds of this + ladder are occupied by the various sects, whose name is legion. + </p> + <p> + But whatever may be the truth upon any subject has nothing to do with-our + right to investigate that subject, and express any opinion we may form. + All that I ask, is the same right I freely accord to all others. + </p> + <p> + A few years ago a Methodist clergyman took it upon himself to give me a + piece of friendly advice. "Although you may disbelieve the Bible," said + he, "you ought not to say so. That, you should keep to yourself." + </p> + <p> + "Do you believe the Bible," said I. + </p> + <p> + He replied, "Most assuredly". + </p> + <p> + To which I retorted, "Your answer conveys no information to me. You may be + following your own advice. You told me to suppress my opinions. Of course + a man who will advise others to dissimulate will not always be particular + about telling the truth himself." + </p> + <p> + There can be nothing more utterly subversive of all that is really + valuable than the suppression of honest thought. No man, worthy of the + form he bears, will at the command of church or state solemnly repeat a + creed his reason scorns. + </p> + <p> + It is the duty of each and every one to maintain his individuality. "This + above all, to thine ownself be true, and it must follow as the night the + day, thou canst not then be false to any man." It is a magnificent thing + to be the sole proprietor of yourself. It is a terrible thing to wake up + at night and say, "There is nobody in this bed." It is humiliating to know + that your ideas are all borrowed; that you are indebted to your memory for + your principles; that your religion is simply one of your habits, and that + you would have convictions if they were only contagious. It is mortifying + to feel that you belong to a mental mob and cry "crucify him," because the + others do; that you reap what the great and brave have sown, and that you + can benefit the world only by leaving it. + </p> + <p> + Surely every human being ought to attain to the dignity of the unit. + Surely it is worth something to be one, and to feel that the census of the + universe would be incomplete without counting you. Surely there is + grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought, at least, you are + without a chain; that you have the right to explore all heights and all + depths; that there are no walls nor fences, nor prohibited places, nor + sacred corners in all the vast expanse of thought; that your intellect + owes no allegiance to any being, human or divine; that you hold all in fee + and upon no condition and by no tenure whatever; that in the world of mind + you are relieved from all personal dictation, and from the ignorant + tyranny of majorities. Surely it is worth something to feel that there are + no priests, no popes, no parties, no governments, no kings, no gods, to + whom your intellect can be compelled to pay a reluctant homage. Surely it + is a joy to know that all the cruel ingenuity of bigotry can devise no + prison, no dungeon, no cell in which for one instant to confine a thought; + that ideas cannot be dislocated by racks, nor crushed in iron boots, nor + burned with fire. Surely it is sublime to think that the brain is a + castle, and that within its curious bastions and winding halls the soul, + in spite of all worlds and all beings, is the supreme sovereign of itself. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0006" id="link0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + HERETICS AND HERESIES. + </h2> + <h3> + Liberty, a Word without which all other Words are Vain. + </h3> + <p> + WHOEVER has an opinion of his own, and honestly expresses it, will be + guilty of heresy. Heresy is what the minority believe; it is the name + given by the powerful to the doctrine of the weak. This word was born of + the hatred, arrogance and cruelty of those who love their enemies, and + who, when smitten on one cheek, turn the other. This word was born of + intellectual slavery in the feudal ages of thought It was an epithet used + in the place of argument. From the commencement of the Christian era, + every art has been exhausted and every conceivable punishment inflicted to + force all people to hold the same religious opinions. This effort was born + of the idea that a certain belief was necessary to the salvation of the + soul. Christ taught, and the church still teaches, that unbelief is the + blackest of crimes. God is supposed to hate with an infinite and + implacable hatred, every heretic upon the earth, and the heretics who have + died are supposed at this moment to be suffering the agonies of the + damned. The church persecutes the living and her God burns the dead. + </p> + <p> + It is claimed that God wrote a book called the Bible, and it is generally + admitted that this book is somewhat difficult to understand. As long as + the church had all the copies of this book, and the people were not + allowed to read it, there was comparatively little heresy in the world; + but when it was printed and read, people began honestly to differ as to + its meaning. A few were independent and brave enough to give the world + their real thoughts, and for the extermination of these men the church + used all her power. Protestants and Catholics vied with each other in the + work of enslaving the human mind. For ages they were rivals in the + infamous effort to rid the earth of honest people. They infested every + country, every city, town, hamlet and family. They appealed to the worst + passions of the human heart They sowed the seeds of discord and hatred in + every land. Brother denounced brother, wives informed against their + husbands, mothers accused their children, dungeons were crowded with the + innocent; the flesh of the good and true rotted in the clasp of chains; + the flames devoured the heroic, and in the name of the most merciful God, + his children were exterminated with famine, sword, and fire. Over the wild + waves of battle rose and fell the banner of Jesus Christ. For sixteen + hundred years the robes of the church were red with innocent blood. The + ingenuity of Christians was exhausted in devising punishment severe enough + to be inflicted upon other Christians who honestly and sincerely differed + with them upon any point whatever. + </p> + <p> + Give any orthodox church the power, and to-day they would punish heresy + with whip, and chain, and fire. As long as a church deems a certain belief + essential to salvation, just so long it will kill and burn if it has the + power. Why should the church pity a man whom her God hates? Why should she + show mercy to a kind and noble heretic whom her God will burn in eternal + fire? Why should a Christian be better than his God? It is impossible for + the imagination to conceive of a greater atrocity than has been + perpetrated by the church. Every nerve in the human body capable of pain + has been sought out and touched by the church. + </p> + <p> + Let it be remembered that all churches have persecuted heretics to the + extent of their power. Toleration has increased only when and where the + power of the church has diminished. From Augustine until now the spirit of + the Christians has remained the same. There has been the same intolerance, + the same undying hatred of all who think for themselves, and the same + determination to crush out of the human brain all knowledge inconsistent + with an ignorant creed. + </p> + <p> + Every church pretends that it has a revelation from God, and that this + revelation must be given to the people through the church; that the church + acts through its priests, and that ordinary mortals must be content with a + revelation—not from God—but from the church. Had the people + submitted to this preposterous claim, of course there could have been but + one church, and that church never could have advanced. It might have + retrograded, because it is not necessary to think or investigate in order + to forget. Without heresy there could have been no progress. + </p> + <p> + The highest type of the orthodox Christian does not forget; neither does + he learn. He neither advances nor recedes. He is a living fossil embedded + in that rock called faith. He makes no effort to better his condition, + because all his strength is exhausted in keeping other people from + improving theirs. The supreme desire of his heart is to force all others + to adopt his creed, and in order to accomplish this object he denounces + free thinking as a crime, and this crime he calls heresy. When he had + power, heresy was the most terrible and formidable of words. It meant + confiscation, exile, imprisonment, torture, and death. + </p> + <p> + In those days the cross and rack were inseparable companions. Across the + open Bible lay the sword and fagot. Not content with burning such heretics + as were alive, they even tried the dead, in order that the church might + rob their wives and children. The property of all heretics was + confiscated, and on this account they charged the dead with being + heretical—indicted, as it were, their dust—to the end that the + church might clutch the bread of orphans. Learned divines discussed the + propriety of tearing out the tongues of heretics before they were burned, + and the general opinion was, that this ought to be done so that the + heretics should not be able, by uttering blasphemies, to shock the + Christians who were burning them. With a mixture of ferocity and + Christianity, the priests insisted that heretics ought to be burned at a + slow fire, giving as a reason that more time was given them for + repentance. + </p> + <p> + No wonder that Jesus Christ said, "I came not to bring peace, but a + sword." + </p> + <p> + Every priest regarded himself as the agent of God. He answered all + questions by authority, and to treat him with disrespect was an insult + offered to God. No one was asked to think, but all were commanded to obey. + </p> + <p> + In 1208 the Inquisition was established. Seven years afterward, the fourth + council of the Lateran enjoined all kings and rulers to swear an oath that + they would exterminate heretics from their dominions. The sword of the + church was unsheathed, and the world was at the mercy of ignorant and + infuriated priests, whose eyes feasted upon the agonies they inflicted. + Acting, as they believed, or pretended to believe, under the command of + God; stimulated by the hope of infinite reward in another world—hating + heretics with every drop of their bestial blood; savage beyond + description; merciless beyond conception,—these infamous priests, in + a kind of frenzied joy, leaped upon the helpless victims of their rage. + They crushed their bones in iron boots; tore their quivering flesh with + iron hooks and pincers; cut off their lips and eyelids; pulled out their + nails, and into the bleeding quick thrust needles; tore out their tongues; + extinguished their eyes; stretched them upon racks; flayed them alive; + crucified them with their heads downward; exposed them to wild beasts; + burned them at the stake; mocked their cries and groans; ravished their + wives; robbed their children, and then prayed God to finish the holy work + in hell. + </p> + <p> + Millions upon millions were sacrificed upon the altars of bigotry. The + Catholic burned the Lutheran, the Lutheran burned the Catholic, the + Episcopalian tortured the Presbyterian, the Presbyterian tortured the + Episcopalian. Every denomination killed all it could of every other; and + each Christian felt in duty bound to exterminate every other Christian who + denied the smallest fraction of his creed. + </p> + <p> + In the reign of Henry VIII.—that pious and moral founder of the + apostolic Episcopal Church,—there was passed by the parliament of + England an act entitled "An act for abolishing of diversity of opinion." + And in this act was set forth what a good Christian was obliged to + believe: First, That in the sacrament was the real body and blood of Jesus + Christ. + </p> + <p> + Second, That the body and blood of Jesus Christ was in the bread, and the + blood and body of Jesus Christ was in the wine. + </p> + <p> + Third, That priests should not marry. + </p> + <p> + Fourth, That vows of chastity were of perpetual obligation. + </p> + <p> + Fifth, That private masses ought to be continued; and, + </p> + <p> + Sixth, That auricular confession to a priest must be maintained. + </p> + <p> + This creed was made by law, in order that all men might know just what to + believe by simply reading the statute. The church hated to see the people + wearing out their brains in thinking upon these subjects. It was thought + far better that a creed should be made by parliament, so that whatever + might be lacking in evidence might be made up in force. The punishment for + denying the first article was death by fire. For the denial of any other + article, imprisonment, and for the second offence—death. + </p> + <p> + Your attention is called to these six articles, established during the + reign of Henry VIII., and by the Church of England, simply because not one + of these articles is believed by that church to-day. If the law then made + by the church could be enforced now, every Episcopalian would be burned at + the stake. + </p> + <p> + Similar laws were passed in most Christian countries, as all orthodox + churches firmly believed that mankind could be legislated into heaven. + According to the creed of every church, slavery leads to heaven, liberty + leads to hell. It was claimed that God had founded the church, and that to + deny the authority of the church was to be a traitor to God, and + consequently an ally of the devil. To torture and destroy one of the + soldiers of Satan was a duty no good Christian cared to neglect. Nothing + can be sweeter than to earn the gratitude of God by killing your own + enemies. Such a mingling of profit and revenge, of heaven for yourself and + damnation for those you dislike, is a temptation that your ordinary + Christian never resists. + </p> + <p> + According to the theologians, God, the Father of us all, wrote a letter to + his children. The children have always differed somewhat as to the meaning + of this letter. In consequence of these honest differences, these brothers + began to cut out each other's hearts. In every land, where this letter + from God has been read, the children to whom and for whom it was written + have been filled with hatred and malice. They have imprisoned and murdered + each other, and the wives and children of each other. In the name of God + every possible crime has been committed, every conceivable outrage has + been perpetrated. Brave men, tender and loving women, beautiful girls, and + prattling babes have been exterminated in the name of Jesus Christ. For + more than fifty generations the church has carried the black flag. Her + vengeance has been measured only by her power. During all these years of + infamy no heretic has ever been forgiven. With the heart of a fiend she + has hated; with the clutch of avarice she has grasped; with the jaws of a + dragon she has devoured; pitiless as famine, merciless as fire, with the + conscience of a serpent: such is the history of the Church of God. + </p> + <p> + I do not say, and I do not believe, that Christians are as bad as their + creeds. In spite of church and dogma, there have been millions and + millions of men and women true to the loftiest and most generous + promptings of the human heart. They have been true to their convictions, + and, with a self-denial and fortitude excelled by none, have labored and + suffered for the salvation of men. Imbued with the spirit of + self-sacrifice, believing that by personal effort they could rescue at + least a few souls from the infinite shadow of hell, they have cheerfully + endured every hardship and scorned every danger. And yet, notwithstanding + all this, they believed that honest error was a crime. They knew that the + Bible so declared, and they believed that all unbelievers would be + eternally lost. They believed that religion was of God, and all heresy of + the devil. They killed heretics in defence of their own souls and the + souls of their children. They killed them because, according to their + idea, they were the enemies of God, and because the Bible teaches that the + blood of the unbeliever is a most acceptable sacrifice to heaven. + </p> + <p> + Nature never prompted a loving mother to throw her child into the Ganges. + Nature never prompted men to exterminate each other for a difference of + opinion concerning the baptism of infants. These crimes have been produced + by religions filled with all that is illogical, cruel and hideous. These + religions were produced for the most part by ignorance, tyranny and + hypocrisy. Under the impression that the infinite ruler and creator of the + universe had commanded the destruction of heretics and infidels, the + church perpetrated all these crimes. + </p> + <p> + Men and women have been burned for thinking there is but one God; that + there was none; that the Holy Ghost is younger than God; that God was + somewhat older than his son; for insisting that good works will save a man + without faith; that faith will do without good works; for declaring that a + sweet babe will not be burned eternally, because its parents failed to + have its head wet by a priest; for speaking of God as though he had a + nose; for denying that Christ was his own father; for contending that + three persons, rightly added together, make more than one; for believing + in purgatory; for denying the reality of hell; for pretending that priests + can forgive sins; for preaching that God is an essence; for denying that + witches rode through the air on sticks; for doubting the total depravity + of the human heart; for laughing at irresistible grace, predestination and + particular redemption; for denying that good bread could be made of the + body of a dead man; for pretending that the pope was not managing this + world for God, and in the place of God; for disputing the efficacy of a + vicarious atonement; for thinking the Virgin Mary was born like other + people; for thinking that a man's rib was hardly sufficient to make a + good-sized woman; for denying that God used his finger for a pen; for + asserting that prayers are not answered, that diseases are not sent to + punish unbelief; for denying the authority of the Bible; for having a + Bible in their possession; for attending mass, and for refusing to attend; + for wearing a surplice; for carrying a cross, and for refusing; for being + a Catholic, and for being a Protestant; for being an Episcopalian, a + Presbyterian, a Baptist, and for being a Quaker. In short, every virtue + has been a crime, and every crime a virtue. The church has burned honesty + and rewarded hypocrisy. And all this, because it was commanded by a book—a + book that men had been taught implicitly to believe, long, before they + knew one word that was in it They had been taught that to doubt the truth + of this book—to examine it, even—was a crime of such enormity + that it could not be forgiven, either in this world or in the next The + Bible was the real persecutor. The Bible burned heretics, built dungeons, + founded the Inquisition, and trampled upon all the liberties of men. + </p> + <p> + How long, O how long will mankind worship a book? How long will they + grovel in the dust before the ignorant legends of the barbaric past? How + long, O how long will they pursue phantoms in a darkness deeper than + death? + </p> + <p> + Unfortunately for the world, about the beginning of the sixteenth century, + a man by the name of Gerard Chauvin was married to Jeanne Lefranc, and + still more unfortunately for the world, the fruit of this marriage was a + son, called John Chauvin, who afterwards became famous as John Calvin, the + founder of the Presbyterian Church. + </p> + <p> + This man forged five fetters for the brain. These fetters he called + points. That is to say, predestination, particular redemption, total + depravity, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. About + the neck of each follower he put a collar bristling with these five iron + points. The presence of all these points on the collar is still the test + of orthodoxy in the church he founded. This man, when in the flush of + youth, was elected to the office of preacher in Geneva. He at once, in + union with Farel, drew up a condensed statement of the Presbyterian + doctrine, and all the citizens of Geneva, on pain of banishment, were + compelled to take an oath that they believed this statement. Of this + proceeding Calvin very innocently remarked that it produced great + satisfaction. A man named Caroli had the audacity to dispute with Calvin. + For this outrage he was banished. + </p> + <p> + To show you what great subjects occupied the attention of Calvin, it is + only necessary to state that he furiously discussed the question as to + whether the sacramental bread should be leavened or unleavened. He drew up + laws regulating the cut of the citizens' clothes, and prescribing their + diet, and all those whose garments were not in the Calvin fashion were + refused the sacrament. At last, the people becoming tired of this petty + theological tyranny, banished Calvin. In a few years, however, he was + recalled and received with great enthusiasm. After this he was supreme, + and the will of Calvin became the law of Geneva. + </p> + <p> + Under his benign administration, James Gruet was beheaded because he had + written some profane verses. The slightest word against Calvin or his + absurd doctrines was punished as a crime. + </p> + <p> + In 1553 a man was tried at Vienne by the Catholic Church for heresy. He + was convicted and sentenced to death by burning. It was apparently his + good fortune to escape. Pursued by the sleuth hounds of intolerance he + fled to Geneva for protection. A dove flying from hawks, sought safety in + the nest of a vulture. This fugitive from the cruelty of Rome asked + shelter from John Calvin, who had written a book in favor of religious + toleration. Servetus had forgotten that this book was written by Calvin + when in the minority; that it was written in weakness to be forgotten in + power; that it was produced by fear instead of principle. He did not know + that Calvin had caused his arrest at Vienne, in France, and had sent a + copy of his work, which was claimed to be blasphemous, to the archbishop. + He did not then know that the Protestant Calvin was acting as one of the + detectives of the Catholic Church, and had been instrumental in procuring + his conviction for heresy. Ignorant of all this unspeakable infamy, he put + himself in the power of this very Calvin. The maker of the Presbyterian + creed caused the fugitive Serve-tus to be arrested for blasphemy. He was + tried. Calvin was his accuser. He was convicted and condemned to death by + fire. On the morning of the fatal day, Calvin saw him, and Servetus, the + victim, asked forgiveness of Calvin, the murderer. Servetus was bound to + the stake, and the fagots were lighted. The wind carried the flames + somewhat away from his body, so that he slowly roasted for hours. Vainly + he implored a speedy death. At last the flames climbed round his form; + through smoke and fire his murderers saw a white heroic face. And there + they watched until a man became a charred and shriveled mass. + </p> + <p> + Liberty was banished from Geneva, and nothing but Presbyterianism was + left. Honor, justice, mercy, reason and charity were all exiled, but the + five points of predestination, particular redemption, irresistible grace, + total depravity, and the certain perseverance of the saints remained + instead. + </p> + <p> + Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and + succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, + except the one from which it was copied. + </p> + <p> + Against all this intolerance, one man, a minister, raised his voice. The + name of this man should never be forgotten. It was Castalio. This brave + man had the goodness and the courage to declare the innocence of honest + error. He was the first of the so-called reformers to take this noble + ground. I wish I had the genius to pay a fitting tribute to his memory. + Perhaps it would be impossible to pay him a grander compliment than to + say, Castalio was in all things the opposite of Calvin. To plead for the + right of individual judgment was considered a crime, and Castalio was + driven from Geneva by John Calvin. By him he was denounced as a child of + the devil, as a dog of Satan, as a beast from hell, and as one who, by + this horrid blasphemy of the innocence of honest error, crucified Christ + afresh, and by him he was pursued until rescued by the hand of death. + </p> + <p> + Upon the name of Castalio, Calvin heaped every epithet, until his malice + was nearly satisfied and his imagination entirely exhausted. It is + impossible to conceive how human nature can become so frightfully + perverted as to pursue a fellow-man with the malignity of a fiend, simply + because he is good, just, and generous. + </p> + <p> + Calvin was of a pallid, bloodless complexion, thin, sickly, irritable, + gloomy, impatient, egotistic, tyrannical, heartless, and infamous. He was + a strange compound of revengeful morality, malicious forgiveness, + ferocious charity, egotistic humility, and a kind of hellish justice. In + other words, he was as near like the God of the Old Testament as his + health permitted. + </p> + <p> + The best thing, however, about the Presbyterians of Geneva was, that they + denied the power of the Pope, and the best thing about the Pope was, that + he was not a Presbyterian. + </p> + <p> + The doctrines of Calvin spread rapidly, and were eagerly accepted by + multitudes on the continent; but Scotland, in a few years, became the real + fortress of Presbyterianism. The Scotch succeeded in establishing the same + kind of theocracy that flourished in Geneva. The clergy took possession + and control of everybody and everything. It is impossible to exaggerate + the mental degradation, the abject superstition of the people of Scotland + during the reign of Presbyterianism. Heretics were hunted and devoured as + though they had been wild beasts. The gloomy insanity of Presbyterianism + took possession of a great majority of the people. They regarded their + ministers as the Jews did Moses and Aaron. They believed that they were + the especial agents of God, and that whatsoever they bound in Scotland + would be bound in heaven. There was not one particle of intellectual + freedom. No man was allowed to differ with the church, or to even + contradict a priest. Had Presbyterianism maintained its ascendency, + Scotland would have been peopled by savages to-day. + </p> + <p> + The revengeful spirit of Calvin took possession of the Puritans, and + caused them to redden the soil of the New World with the brave blood of + honest men. Clinging to the five points of Calvin, they too established + governments in accordance with the teachings of the Old Testament. They + too attached the penalty of death to the expression of honest thought. + They too believed their church supreme, and exerted all their power to + curse this continent with a spiritual despotism as infamous as it was + absurd. They believed with Luther that universal toleration is universal + error, and universal error is universal hell. Toleration was denounced as + a crime. + </p> + <p> + Fortunately for us, civilization has had a softening effect even upon the + Presbyterian Church. To the ennobling influence of the arts and sciences + the savage spirit of Calvinism has, in some slight degree, succumbed. + True, the old creed remains substantially as it was written, but by a kind + of tacit understanding it has come to be regarded as a relic of the past. + The cry of "heresy" has been growing fainter and fainter, and, as a + consequence, the ministers of that denomination have ventured, now and + then, to express doubts as to the damnation of infants, and the doctrine + of total depravity. The fact is, the old ideas became a little monotonous + to the people. The fall of man, the scheme of redemption and irresistible + grace, began to have a familiar sound. The preachers told the old stories + while the congregations slept Some of the ministers became tired of these + stories themselves. The five points grew dull, and they felt that nothing + short of irresistible grace could bear this endless repetition. The + outside world was full of progress, and in every direction men advanced, + while this church, anchored to a creed, idly rotted at the shore. Other + denominations, imbued some little with the spirit of investigation, were + springing up on every side, while the old Presbyterian ark rested on the + Ararat of the past, filled with the theological monsters of another age. + </p> + <p> + Lured by the splendors of the outer world, tempted by the achievements of + science, longing to feel the throb and beat of the mighty march of the + human race, a few of the ministers of this conservative denomination were + compelled, by irresistible sense, to say a few words in harmony with the + splendid ideas of to-day. + </p> + <p> + These utterances have upon several occasions so nearly wakened some of the + members that, rubbing their eyes, they have feebly inquired whether these + grand ideas were not somewhat heretical. These ministers found that just + in the proportion that their orthodoxy decreased, their congregations + increased. Those who dealt in the pure unadulterated article found + themselves demonstrating the five points to a less number of hearers than + they had points. Stung to madness by this bitter truth, this galling + contrast, this harassing fact, the really orthodox have raised the cry of + heresy, and expect with this cry to seal the lips of honest men. One of + the Presbyterian ministers, and one who has been enjoying the luxury of a + little honest thought, and the real rapture of expressing it, has already + been indicted, and is about to be tried by the Presbytery of Illinois. He + is charged— + </p> + <p> + <i>First</i>. With having neglected to preach that most comforting and + consoling truth, the eternal damnation of the soul. + </p> + <p> + Surely, that man must be a monster who could wish to blot this blessed + doctrine out and rob earth's wretched children of this blissful hope! + </p> + <p> + Who can estimate the misery that has been caused by this most infamous + doctrine of eternal punishment? Think of the lives it has blighted—of + the tears it has caused—of the agony it has produced. Think of the + millions who have been driven to insanity by this most terrible of dogmas. + This doctrine renders God the basest and most cruel being in the universe. + Compared with him, the most frightful deities of the most barbarous and + degraded tribes are miracles of goodness and mercy. There is nothing more + degrading than to worship such a god. Lower than this the soul can never + sink. If the doctrine of eternal damnation is true, let me share the fate + of the unconverted; let me have my portion in hell, rather than in heaven + with a god infamous enough to inflict eternal misery upon any of the sons + of men. + </p> + <p> + <i>Second</i>. With having spoken a few kind words of Robert Collyer and + John Stuart Mill. + </p> + <p> + I have the honor of a slight acquaintance with Robert Collyer. I have read + with pleasure some of his exquisite productions. He has a brain full of + the dawn, the head of a philosopher, the imagination of a poet and the + sincere heart of a child. + </p> + <p> + Is a minister to be silenced because he speaks fairly of a noble and + candid adversary? Is it a crime to compliment a lover of justice, an + advocate of liberty; one who devotes his life to the elevation of man, the + discovery of truth, and the promulgation of what he believes to be right? + </p> + <p> + Can that tongue be palsied by a presbytery that praises a self-denying and + heroic life? Is it a sin to speak a charitable word over the grave of John + Stuart Mill? Is it heretical to pay a just and graceful tribute to + departed worth? Must the true Presbyterian violate the sanctity of the + tomb, dig open the grave and ask his God to curse the silent dust? Is + Presbyterianism so narrow that it conceives of no excellence, of no purity + of intention, of no spiritual and moral grandeur outside of its barbaric + creed? Does it still retain within its stony heart all the malice of its + founder? Is it still warming its fleshless hands at the flames that + consumed Servetus? Does it still glory in the damnation of infants, and + does it still persist in emptying the cradle in order that perdition may + be filled? Is it still starving the soul and famishing the heart? Is it + still trembling and shivering, crouching and crawling before its ignorant + Confession of Faith? + </p> + <p> + Had such men as Robert Collyer and John Stuart Mill been present at the + burning of Servetus, they would have extinguished the flames with their + tears. Had the presbytery of Chicago been there, they would have quietly + turned their backs, solemnly divided their coat tails, and warmed + themselves. + </p> + <p> + <i>Third</i>. With having spoken disparagingly of the doctrine of + predestination. + </p> + <p> + If there is any dogma that ought to be protected by law, predestination is + that doctrine. Surely it is a cheerful, joyous thing, to one who is + laboring, struggling, and suffering in this weary world, to think that + before he existed; before the earth was; before a star had glittered in + the heavens; before a ray of light had left the quiver of the sun, his + destiny had been irrevocably fixed, and that for an eternity before his + birth he had been doomed to bear eternal pain. + </p> + <p> + <i>Fourth.</i> With failing to preach the efficacy of a "vicarious + sacrifice." + </p> + <p> + Suppose a man had been convicted of murder, and was about to be hanged—the + governor acting as the executioner; and suppose that just as the doomed + man was about to suffer death some one in the crowd should step forward + and say, "I am willing to die in the place of that murderer. He has a + family, and I have none." And suppose further, that the governor should + reply, "Come forward, young man, your offer is accepted. A murder has been + committed and somebody must be hung, and your death will satisfy the law + just as well as the death of the murderer." What would you then think of + the doctrine of "vicarious sacrifice"? + </p> + <p> + This doctrine is the consummation of two outrages—forgiving one + crime and committing another. + </p> + <p> + <i>Fifth</i>. With having inculcated a phase of the doctrine commonly + known as "evolution," or "development". + </p> + <p> + The church believes and teaches the exact opposite of this doctrine. + According to the philosophy of theology, man has continued to degenerate + for six thousand years. To teach that there is that in nature which impels + to higher forms and grander ends, is heresy, of course. The Deity will + damn Spencer and his "Evolution," Darwin and his "Origin of Species," + Bastian and his "Spontaneous Generation," Huxley and his "Protoplasm," + Tyndall and his "Prayer Gauge," and will save those, and those only, who + declare that the universe has been cursed, from the smallest atom to the + grandest star; that everything tends to evil and to that only, and that + the only perfect thing in nature is the Presbyterian Confession of Faith. + </p> + <p> + <i>Sixth</i>. With having intimated that the reception of Socrates and + Penelope at heaven's gate was, to say the least, a trifle more cordial + than that of Catharine II. + </p> + <p> + Penelope, waiting patiently and trustfully for her lord's return, delaying + her suitors, while sadly weaving and unweaving the shroud of Laertes, is + the most perfect type of wife and woman produced by the civilization of + Greece. + </p> + <p> + Socrates, whose life was above reproach and whose death was beyond all + praise, stands to-day, in the estimation of every thoughtful man, at least + the peer of Christ. + </p> + <p> + Catharine II. assassinated her husband. Stepping upon his corpse, she + mounted the throne. She was the murderess of Prince Iwan, grand nephew of + Peter the Great, who was imprisoned for eighteen years, and who during all + that time saw the sky but once. Taken all in all, Catharine was probably + one of the most intellectual beasts that ever wore a crown. + </p> + <p> + Catharine, however, was the head of the Greek Church, Socrates was a + heretic and Penelope lived and died without having once heard of + "particular redemption" or of "irresistible grace." + </p> + <p> + <i>Seventh</i>. With repudiating the idea of a "call" to the ministry, and + pretending that men were "called" to preach as they were to the other + avocations of life. + </p> + <p> + If this doctrine is true, God, to say the least of it, is an exceedingly + poor judge of human nature. It is more than a century since a man of true + genius has been found in an orthodox pulpit. Every minister is heretical + just to the extent that intellect is above the average. The Lord seems to + be satisfied with mediocrity; but the people are not. + </p> + <p> + An old deacon, wishing to get rid of an unpopular preacher, advised him to + give up the ministry and turn his attention to something else. The + preacher replied that he could not conscientiously desert the pulpit, as + he had had a "call" to the ministry. To which the deacon replied, "That + may be so, but it's very unfortunate for you, that when God called you to + preach, he forgot to call anybody to hear you." + </p> + <p> + There is nothing more stupidly egotistic than the claim of the clergy that + they are, in some divine sense set apart to the service of the Lord; that + they have been chosen, and sanctified; that there is an infinite + difference between them and persons employed in secular affairs. They + teach us that all other professions must take care of themselves; that God + allows anybody to be a doctor, a lawyer, statesman, soldier, or artist; + that the Motts and Coopers—the Mansfields and Marshalls—the + Wilberforces and Sumners—the Angelos and Raphaels, were never + honored by a "call." They chose their professions and won their laurels + without the assistance of the Lord. All these men were left free to follow + their own inclinations, while God was busily engaged selecting and + "calling" priests, rectors, elders, ministers and exhorters. + </p> + <p> + <i>Eighth</i>. With having doubted that God was the author of the 109th + Psalm. + </p> + <p> + The portion of that psalm which carries with it the clearest and most + satisfactory evidences of inspiration, and which has afforded almost + unspeakable consolation to the Presbyterian Church, is as follows: + </p> + <p> + Set thou a wicked man over him; and let Satan stand at his right hand. + </p> + <p> + When he shall be judged, let him be condemned; and let his prayer become + sin. + </p> + <p> + Let his days be few; and let another take his office. + </p> + <p> + Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. + </p> + <p> + Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg; let them seek their + bread also out of their desolate places. + </p> + <p> + Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the stranger spoil his + labor. + </p> + <p> + Let there be none to extend mercy unto him; neither let there be any to + favor his fatherless children. + </p> + <p> + Let his posterity be cut off: and in the generation following let their + name be blotted out. + </p> + <p> + But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for Thy name's sake; because Thy mercy + is good, deliver Thou me.... I will greatly praise the Lord with my <i>mouth</i>. + </p> + <p> + Think of a God wicked and malicious enough to inspire this prayer. Think + of one infamous enough to answer it. + </p> + <p> + Had this inspired psalm been found in some temple erected for the worship + of snakes, or in the possession of some cannibal king, written with blood + upon the dried skins of babes, there would have been a perfect harmony + between its surroundings and its sentiments. + </p> + <p> + No wonder that the author of this inspired psalm coldly received Socrates + and Penelope, and reserved his sweetest smiles for Catharine the Second. + </p> + <p> + <i>Ninth.</i> With having said that the battles in which the Israelites + engaged, with the approval and command of Jehovah, surpassed in cruelty + those of Julius Cæsar. + </p> + <p> + Was it Julius Cæsar who said, "And the Lord our God delivered him + before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. And we took + all his cities, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the + little ones, of every city, we left none to remain"? + </p> + <p> + Did Julius Cæsar send the following report to the Roman senate? "And + we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took + not from them, three-score cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of + Og in Bashan. All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and + bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. And we utterly destroyed them, + as we did unto Sihon, king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, + and children of every city." + </p> + <p> + Did Cæsar take the city of Jericho "and utterly destroy all that was + in the city, both men and women, young and old"? Did he smite "all the + country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the + springs, and all their kings, and leave none remaining that breathed, as + the Lord God had commanded"? + </p> + <p> + Search the records of the whole world, find out the history of every + barbarous tribe, and you can find no crime that touched a lower depth of + infamy than those the Bible's God commanded and approved. For such a God I + have no words to express my loathing and contempt, and all the words in + all the languages of man would scarcely be sufficient. Away with such a + God! Give me Jupiter rather, with Io and Europa, or even Siva with his + skulls and snakes. + </p> + <p> + <i>Tenth</i>. With having repudiated the doctrine of "total depravity." + </p> + <p> + What a precious doctrine is that of the total depravity of the human + heart! How sweet it is to believe that the lives of all the good and great + were continual sins and perpetual crimes; that the love a mother bears her + child is, in the sight of God, a sin; that the gratitude of the natural + heart is simple meanness; that the tears of pity are impure; that for the + unconverted to live and labor for others is an offence to heaven; that the + noblest aspirations of the soul are low and groveling in the sight of God; + that man should fall upon his knees and ask forgiveness, simply for loving + his wife and child, and that even the act of asking forgiveness is in fact + a crime! + </p> + <p> + Surely it is a kind of bliss to feel that every woman and child in the + wide world, with the exception of those who believe the five points, or + some other equally cruel creed, and such children as have been baptized, + ought at this very moment to be dashed down to the lowest glowing gulf of + hell. + </p> + <p> + Take from the Christian the history of his own church—leave that + entirely out of the question—and he has no argument left with which + to substantiate the total depravity of man. + </p> + <p> + <i>Eleventh</i>. With having doubted the "perseverance of the saints." + </p> + <p> + I suppose the real meaning of this doctrine is, that Presbyterians are + just as sure of going to heaven as all other folks are of going to hell. + The real idea being, that it all depends upon the will of God, and not + upon the character of the person to be damned or saved; that God has the + weakness to send Presbyterians to Paradise, and the justice to doom the + rest of mankind to eternal fire. + </p> + <p> + It is admitted that no unconverted brain can see the least particle of + sense in this doctrine; that it is abhorrent to all who have not been the + recipients of a "new heart;" that only the perfectly good can justify the + perfectly infamous. + </p> + <p> + It is contended that the saints do not persevere of their own free will—that + they are entitled to no credit for persevering; but that God forces them + to persevere, while on the other hand, every crime is committed in + accordance with the secret will of God, who does all things for his own + glory. + </p> + <p> + Compared with this doctrine, there is no other idea, that has ever been + believed by man, that can properly be called absurd. + </p> + <p> + <i>Twelfth</i>. With having spoken and written somewhat lightly of the + idea of converting the heathen with doctrinal sermons. + </p> + <p> + Of all the failures of which we have any history or knowledge, the + missionary effort is the most conspicuous. The whole question has been + decided here, in our own country, and conclusively settled. We have nearly + exterminated the Indians, but we have converted none. From the days of + John Eliot to the execution of the last Modoc, not one Indian has been the + subject of irresistible grace or particular redemption. The few red men + who roam the western wilderness have no thought or care concerning the + five points of Calvin. They are utterly oblivious to the great and vital + truths contained in the Thirty-nine Articles, the Saybrook platform, and + the resolutions of the Evangelical Alliance. No Indian has ever scalped + another on account of his religious belief. This of itself shows + conclusively that the missionaries have had no effect Why should we + convert the heathen of China and kill our own? Why should we send + missionaries across the seas, and soldiers over the plains? Why should we + send Bibles to the east and muskets to the west? If it is impossible to + convert Indians who have no religion of their own; no prejudice for or + against the "eternal procession of the Holy Ghost," how can we expect to + convert a heathen who has a religion; who has plenty of gods and Bibles + and prophets and Christs, and who has a religious literature far grander + than our own? Can we hope with the story of Daniel in the lions' den to + rival the stupendous miracles of India? Is there anything in our Bible as + lofty and loving as the prayer of the Buddhist? Compare your "Confession + of Faith" with the following: "Never will I seek nor receive private + individual salvation—never enter into final peace alone; but forever + and everywhere will I live and strive for the universal redemption of + every creature throughout all worlds. Until all are delivered, never will + I leave the world of sin, sorrow, and struggle, but will remain where I + am." + </p> + <p> + Think of sending an average Presbyterian to convert a man who daily offers + this tender, this infinitely generous, this incomparable prayer. Think of + reading the 109th Psalm to a heathen who has a Bible of his own in which + is found this passage: "Blessed is that man and beloved of all the gods, + who is afraid of no man, and of whom no man is afraid." + </p> + <p> + Why should you read even the New Testament to a Hindu, when his own + Chrishna has said, "If a man strike thee, and in striking drop his staff, + pick it up and hand it to him again"? Why send a Presbyterian to a Sufi, + who says, "Better one moment of silent contemplation and inward love, than + seventy thousand years of outward worship"? "Whoso would carelessly tread + one worm that crawls on earth, that heartless one is darkly alienate from + God; but he that, living, embraceth all things in his love, to live with + him God bursts all bounds above, below." Why should we endeavor to thrust + our cruel and heartless theology upon one who prays this prayer: "O God, + show pity toward the wicked; for on the good thou hast already bestowed + thy mercy by having created them virtuous"? + </p> + <p> + Compare this prayer with the curses and cruelties of the Old Testament—with + the infamies commanded and approved by the being whom we are taught to + worship as a God—and with the following tender product of + Presbyterianism: "It may seem absurd to human wisdom that God should + harden, blind, and deliver up some men to a reprobate sense; that he + should first deliver them over to evil, and then condemn them for that + evil; but the believing spiritual man sees no absurdity in all this, + knowing that God would be never a whit less good even though he should + destroy all men." + </p> + <p> + Of all the religions that have been produced by the egotism, the malice, + the ignorance and ambition of man, Presbyterianism is the most hideous. + </p> + <p> + But what shall I say more, for the time would fail me to tell of + Sabellianism, of a "Modal Trinity," and the "Eternal Procession of the + Holy Ghost"? + </p> + <p> + Upon these charges, a minister is to be tried, here in Chicago; in this + city of pluck and progress—this marvel of energy—this miracle + of nerve. The cry of "heresy," here, sounds like a wail from the Dark Ages—a + shriek from the Inquisition, or a groan from the grave of Calvin. + </p> + <p> + Another effort is being made to enslave a man. + </p> + <p> + It is claimed that every member of the church has solemnly agreed never to + outgrow the creed; that he has pledged himself to remain an intellectual + dwarf. Upon this condition the church agrees to save his soul, and he + hands over his brains to bind the bargain. Should a fact be found + inconsistent with the creed, he binds himself to deny the fact and curse + the finder. With scraps of dogmas and crumbs of doctrine, he agrees that + his soul shall be satisfied forever. What an intellectual feast the + Confession of Faith must be! It reminds one of the dinner described by + Sydney Smith, where everything was cold except the water, and everything + sour except the vinegar. + </p> + <p> + Every member of a church promises to remain orthodox, that is to say—stationary. + Growth is heresy. Orthodox ideas are the feathers that have been moulted + by the eagle of progress. They are the dead leaves under the majestic + palm, while heresy is the bud and blossom at the top. + </p> + <p> + Imagine a vine that grows at one end and decays at the other. The end that + grows is heresy, the end that rots is orthodox The dead are orthodox, and + your cemetery is the most perfect type of a well regulated church. No + thought, no progress, no heresy there. Slowly and silently, side by side, + the satisfied members peacefully decay. There is only this difference—the + dead do not persecute. + </p> + <p> + And what does a trial for heresy mean? It means that the church says to a + heretic, "Believe as I do, or I will withdraw my support. I will not + employ you. I will pursue you until your garments are rags; until your + children cry for bread; until your cheeks are furrowed with tears. I will + hunt you to the very portals of the tomb, and then my God will do the rest + I will not imprison you. I will not burn you. The law prevents my doing + that. I helped make the law, not however to protect you, nor to deprive me + of the right to exterminate you but in order to keep other churches from + exterminating me." A trial for heresy means that the spirit of persecution + still lingers in the church; that it still denies the right of private + judgment; that it still thinks more of creed than truth, and that it is + still determined to prevent the intellectual growth of man. It means that + churches are shambles in which are bought and sold the souls of men. It + means that the church is still guilty of the barbarity of opposing thought + with force. It means that if it had the power, the mental horizon would be + bounded by a creed; that it would bring again the whips and chains and + dungeon keys, the rack and fagot of the past. + </p> + <p> + But let me tell the church it lacks the power. There have been, and still + are, too many men who own themselves—too much thought, too much + knowledge for the church to grasp again the sword of power. The church + must abdicate. For the Eglon of superstition Science has a message from + Truth. + </p> + <p> + The heretics have not thought and suffered and died in vain. Every heretic + has been, and is, a ray of light. Not in vain did Voltaire, that great + man, point from the foot of the Alps the finger of scorn at every + hypocrite in Europe. Not in vain were the splendid utterances of the + infidels, while beyond all price are the discoveries of science. + </p> + <p> + The church has impeded, but it has not and it cannot stop the onward march + of the human race. Heresy cannot be burned, nor imprisoned, nor starved. + It laughs at presbyteries and synods, at ecumenical councils and the + impotent thunders of Sinai. Heresy is the eternal dawn, the morning star, + the glittering herald of the day. Heresy is the last and best thought. It + is the perpetual New World, the unknown sea, toward which the brave all + sail. It is the eternal horizon of progress. + </p> + <p> + Heresy extends the hospitalities of the brain to a new thought. + </p> + <p> + Heresy is a cradle; orthodoxy, a coffin. + </p> + <p> + Why should man be afraid to think, and why should he fear to express his + thoughts? + </p> + <p> + Is it possible that an infinite Deity is unwilling that a man should + investigate the phenomena by which he is surrounded? Is it possible that a + god delights in threatening and terrifying men? What glory, what honor and + renown a god must win on such a field! The ocean raving at a drop; a star + envious of a candle; the sun jealous of a fire-fly. + </p> + <p> + Go on, presbyteries and synods, go on! Thrust the heretics out of the + church—that is to say, throw away your brains,—put out your + eyes. The infidels will thank you. They are willing to adopt your exiles. + Every deserter from your camp is a recruit for the army of progress. Cling + to the ignorant dogmas of the past; read the 109th Psalm; gloat over the + slaughter of mothers and babes; thank God for total depravity; shower your + honors upon hypocrites, and silence every minister who is touched with + that heresy called genius. + </p> + <p> + Be true to your history. Turn out the astronomers, the geologists, the + naturalists, the chemists, and all the honest scientists. With a whip of + scorpions, drive them all out. We want them all. Keep the ignorant, the + superstitious, the bigoted, and the writers of charges and specifications. + </p> + <p> + Keep them, and keep them all. Repeat your pious platitudes in the drowsy + ears of the faithful, and read your Bible to heretics, as kings read some + forgotten riot-act to stop and stay the waves of revolution. You are too + weak to excite anger. We forgive your efforts as the sun forgives a cloud—as + the air forgives the breath you waste. + </p> + <p> + How long, O how long, will man listen to the threats of God, and shut his + eyes to the splendid possibilities of Nature? How long, O how long will + man remain the cringing slave of a false and cruel creed? + </p> + <p> + By this time the whole world should know that the real Bible has not yet + been written, but is being written, and that it will never be finished + until the race begins its downward march, or ceases to exist. + </p> + <p> + The real Bible is not the work of inspired men, nor prophets, nor + apostles, nor evangelists, nor of Christs. Every man who finds a fact, + adds, as it were, a word to this great book. It is not attested by + prophecy, by miracles or signs. It makes no appeal to faith, to ignorance, + to credulity or fear. It has no punishment for unbelief, and no reward for + hypocrisy. It appeals to man in the name of demonstration. It has nothing + to conceal. It has no fear of being read, of being contradicted, of being + investigated and understood. It does not pretend to be holy, or sacred; it + simply claims to be true. It challenges the scrutiny of all, and implores + every reader to verify every line for himself. It is incapable of being + blasphemed. This book appeals to all the surroundings of man. Each thing + that exists testifies of its perfection. The earth, with its heart of fire + and crowns of snow; with its forests and plains, its rocks and seas; with + its every wave and cloud; with its every leaf and bud and flower, confirms + its every word, and the solemn stars, shining in the infinite abysses, are + the eternal witnesses of its truth. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0007" id="link0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE GHOSTS. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + TO + EBON C. INGERSOLL, + MY BROTHER, + FROM WHOSE LIPS I HEARD THE FIRST APPLAUSE, + AND WITH WHOSE NAME I WISH MY OWN + ASSOCIATED UNTIL BOTH ARE FORGOTTEN, + THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED. +</pre> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + These lectures have been so maimed and mutilated by orthodox malice; have + been made to appear so halt, crutched and decrepit by those who mistake + the pleasures of calumny for the duties of religion, that in simple + justice to myself I concluded to publish them. + </p> + <p> + Most of the clergy are, or seem to be, utterly incapable of discussing + anything in a fair and catholic spirit. They appeal, not to reason, but to + prejudice; not to facts, but to passages of Scripture. They can conceive + of no goodness, of no spiritual exaltation beyond the horizon of their + creed. Whoever differs with them upon what they are pleased to call + "fundamental truths," is, in their opinion, a base and infamous man. To + re-enact the tragedies of the sixteenth century, they lack only the power. + Bigotry in all ages has been the same. Christianity simply transferred the + brutality of the Colosseum to the Inquisition. For the murderous combat of + the gladiators, the saints substituted the <i>auto de fe</i>. What has + been called religion is, after all, but the organization of the wild beast + in man. The perfumed blossom of arrogance is heaven. Hell is the + consummation of revenge. + </p> + <p> + The chief business of the clergy has always been to destroy the joy of + life, and multiply and magnify the terrors and tortures of death and + perdition. They have polluted the heart and paralyzed the brain; and upon + the ignorant altars of the Past and the Dead, they have endeavored to + sacrifice the Present and the Living. + </p> + <p> + Nothing can exceed the mendacity of the religious press. I have had some + little experience with political editors, and am forced to say, that until + I read the religious papers, I did not know what malicious and slimy + falsehoods could be constructed from ordinary words. The ingenuity with + which the real and apparent meaning can be tortured out of language, is + simply amazing. The average religious editor is intolerant and insolent; + he knows nothing of affairs; he has the envy of failure, the malice of + impotence, and always accounts for the brave and generous actions of + unbelievers, by low, base and unworthy motives. + </p> + <p> + By this time, even the clergy should know that the intellect of the + nineteenth century needs no guardian. They should cease to regard + themselves as shepherds defending flocks of weak, silly and fearful sheep + from the claws and teeth of ravening wolves. By this time they should know + that the religion of the ignorant and brutal Past no longer satisfies the + heart and brain; that the miracles have become contemptible; that the + "evidences" have ceased to convince; that the spirit of investigation + cannot be stopped nor stayed; that the church is losing her power; that + the young are holding in a kind of tender contempt the sacred follies of + the old; that the pulpit and pews no longer represent the culture and + morality of the world, and that the brand of intellectual inferiority is + upon the orthodox brain. + </p> + <p> + Men should be liberated from the aristocracy of the air. Every chain of + superstition should be broken. The rights of men and women should be equal + and sacred—marriage should be a perfect partnership—children + should be governed by kindness,—every family should be a republic—every + fireside a democracy. + </p> + <p> + It seems almost impossible for religious people to really grasp the idea + of intellectual freedom. They seem to think that man is responsible for + his honest thoughts; that unbelief is a crime; that investigation is + sinful; that credulity is a virtue, and that reason is a dangerous guide. + They cannot divest themselves of the idea that in the realm of thought + there must be government—authority and obedience—laws and + penalties—rewards and punishments, and that somewhere in the + universe there is a penitentiary for the soul. + </p> + <p> + In the republic of mind, <i>one</i> is a majority. There, all are + monarchs, and all are equals. The tyranny of a majority even is unknown. + Each one is crowned, sceptered and throned. Upon every brow is the tiara, + and around every form is the imperial purple. Only those are good citizens + who express their honest thoughts, and those who persecute for opinion's + sake, are the only traitors. There, nothing is considered infamous except + an appeal to brute force, and nothing sacred but love, liberty, and joy. + The church contemplates this republic with a sneer. From the teeth of + hatred she draws back the lips of scorn. She is filled with the spite and + spleen born of intellectual weakness. Once she was egotistic; now she is + envious. + </p> + <p> + Once she wore upon her hollow breast false gems, supposing them to be + real. They have been shown to be false, but she wears them still. She has + the malice of the caught, the hatred of the exposed. + </p> + <p> + We are told to investigate the Bible for ourselves, and at the same time + informed that if we come to the conclusion that it is not the inspired + word of God, we will most assuredly be damned. Under such circumstances, + if we believe this, investigation is impossible. Whoever is held + responsible for his conclusions cannot weigh the evidence with impartial + scales. Fear stands at the balance, and gives to falsehood the weight of + its trembling hand. + </p> + <p> + I oppose the church because she is the enemy of liberty; because her + dogmas are infamous and cruel; because she humiliates and degrades woman; + because she teaches the doctrines of eternal torment and the natural + depravity of man; because she insists upon the absurd, the impossible, and + the senseless; because she resorts to falsehood and slander; because she + is arrogant and revengeful; because she allows men to sin on a credit; + because she discourages self-reliance, and laughs at good works; because + she believes in vicarious virtue and vicarious vice—vicarious + punishment and vicarious reward; because she regards repentance of more + importance than restitution, and because she sacrifices the world we have + to one we know not of. + </p> + <p> + The free and generous, the tender and affectionate, will understand me. + Those who have escaped from the grated cells of a creed will appreciate my + motives. The sad and suffering wives, the trembling and loving children + will thank me: This is enough. + </p> + <p> + Robert G. Ingersoll. + </p> + <p> + Washington, D. C., + </p> + <p> + April 13, 1878. + </p> + <p> + THE GHOSTS, + </p> + <p> + LET THEM COVER THEIR EYELESS SOCKETS WITH THEIR FLESHLESS HANDS AND FADE + FOREVER FROM THE IMAGINATION OF MEN. + </p> + <p> + HERE are three theories by which men account for all phenomena, for + everything that happens: First, the Supernatural; Second, the Supernatural + and Natural; Third, the Natural. Between these theories there has been, + from the dawn of civilization, a continual conflict. In this great war, + nearly all the soldiers have been in the ranks of the supernatural. The + believers in the supernatural insist that matter is controlled and + directed entirely by powers from without; while naturalists maintain that + Nature acts from within; that Nature is not acted upon; that the universe + is all there is; that Nature with infinite arms embraces everything that + exists, and that all supposed powers beyond the limits of the material are + simply ghosts. You say, "Oh, this is materialism!" What is matter? I take + in my hand some earth:—in this dust put seeds. Let the arrows of + light from the quiver of the sun smite upon it; let the rain fall upon it. + The seeds will grow and a plant will bud and blossom. Do you understand + this? Can you explain it better than you can the production of thought? + Have you the slightest conception of what it really is? And yet you speak + of matter as though acquainted with its origin, as though you had torn + from the clenched hands of the rocks the secrets of material existence. Do + you know what force is? Can you account for molecular action? Are you + really familiar with chemistry, and can you account for the loves and + hatreds of the atoms? Is there not something in matter that forever + eludes? After all, can you get beyond, above or below appearances? Before + you cry "materialism!" had you not better ascertain what matter really is? + Can you think even of anything without a material basis? Is it possible to + imagine the annihilation of a single atom? Is it possible for you to + conceive of the creation of an atom? Can you have a thought that was not + suggested to you by what you call matter? + </p> + <p> + Our fathers denounced materialism, and accounted for all phenomena by the + caprice of gods and devils. + </p> + <p> + For thousands of years it was believed that ghosts, good and bad, + benevolent and malignant, weak and powerful, in some mysterious way, + produced all phenomena; that disease and health, happiness and misery, + fortune and misfortune, peace and war, life and death, success and + failure, were but arrows from the quivers of these ghosts; that shadowy + phantoms rewarded and punished mankind; that they were pleased and + displeased by the actions of men; that they sent and withheld the snow, + the light, and the rain; that they blessed the earth with harvests or + cursed it with famine; that they fed or starved the children of men; that + they crowned and uncrowned kings; that they took sides in war; that they + controlled the winds; that they gave prosperous voyages, allowing the + brave mariner to meet his wife and child inside the harbor bar, or sent + the storms, strewing the sad shores with wrecks of ships and the bodies of + men. + </p> + <p> + Formerly, these ghosts were believed to be almost innumerable. Earth, air, + and water were filled with these phantom hosts. In modern times they have + greatly decreased in number, because the second theory,—a mingling + of the supernatural and natural,—has generally been adopted. The + remaining ghosts, however, are supposed to perform the same offices as the + hosts of yore. + </p> + <p> + It has always been believed that these ghosts could in some way be + appeased; that they could be flattered by sacrifices, by prayer, by + fasting, by the building of temples and cathedrals, by the blood of men + and beasts, by forms and ceremonies, by chants, by kneelings and + prostrations, by flagellations and maimings, by renouncing the joys of + home, by living alone in the wide desert, by the practice of celibacy, by + inventing instruments of torture, by destroying men, women and children, + by covering the earth with dungeons, by burning unbelievers, by putting + chains upon the thoughts and manacles upon the limbs of men, by believing + things without evidence and against evidence, by disbelieving and denying + demonstration, by despising facts, by hating reason, by denouncing + liberty, by maligning heretics, by slandering the dead, by subscribing to + senseless and cruel creeds, by discouraging investigation, by worshiping a + book, by the cultivation of credulity, by observing certain times and + days, by counting beads, by gazing at crosses, by hiring others to repeat + verses and prayers, by burning candles and ringing bells, by enslaving + each other and putting out the eyes of the soul. All this has been done to + appease and flatter these monsters of the air. + </p> + <p> + In the history of our poor world, no horror has been omitted, no infamy + has been left undone by the believers in ghosts,—by the worshipers + of these fleshless phantoms. And yet these shadows were born of cowardice + and malignity. They were painted by the pencil of fear upon the canvas of + ignorance by that artist called superstition. + </p> + <p> + From these ghosts, our fathers received information. They were the + schoolmasters of our ancestors. They were the scientists and philosophers, + the geologists, legislators, astronomers, physicians, metaphysicians and + historians of the past. For ages these ghosts were supposed to be the only + source of real knowledge. They inspired men to write books, and the books + were considered sacred. If facts were found to be inconsistent with these + books, so much the worse for the facts, and especially for their + discoverers. It was then, and still is, believed that these books are the + basis of the idea of immortality; that to give up these volumes, or rather + the idea that they are inspired, is to renounce the idea of immortality. + This I deny. + </p> + <p> + The idea of immortality, that like a sea has ebbed and flowed in the human + heart, with its countless waves of hope and fear, beating against the + shores and rocks of time and fate, was not born of any book, nor of any + creed, nor of any religion. It was born of human affection, and it will + continue to ebb and flow beneath the mists and clouds of doubt and + darkness as long as love kisses the lips of death. It is the rainbow—Hope + shining upon the tears of grief. + </p> + <p> + From the books written by the ghosts we have at last ascertained that they + knew nothing about the world in which we live. Did they know anything + about the next? Upon every point where contradiction is possible, they + have been contradicted. + </p> + <p> + By these ghosts, by these citizens of the air, the affairs of government + were administered; all authority to govern came from them. The emperors, + kings and potentates all had commissions from these phantoms. Man was not + considered as the source of any power whatever. To rebel against the king + was to rebel against the ghosts, and nothing less than the blood of the + offender could appease the invisible phantom or the visible tyrant. + Kneeling was the proper position to be assumed by the multitude. The + prostrate were the good. Those who stood erect were infidels and traitors. + In the name and by the authority of the ghosts, man was enslaved, crushed, + and plundered. The many toiled wearily in the storm and sun that the few + favorites of the ghosts might live in idleness. The many lived in huts, + and caves, and dens, that the few might dwell in palaces. The many covered + themselves with rags, that the few might robe themselves in purple and in + gold. The many crept, and cringed, and crawled, that the few might tread + upon their flesh with iron feet. + </p> + <p> + From the ghosts men received, not only authority, but information of every + kind. They told us the form of this earth. They informed us that eclipses + were caused by the sins of man; that the universe was made in six days; + that astronomy, and geology were devices of wicked men, instigated by + wicked ghosts; that gazing at the sky with a telescope was a dangerous + thing; that digging into the earth was sinful curiosity; that trying to be + wise above what they had written was born of a rebellious and irreverent + spirit. + </p> + <p> + They told us there was no virtue like belief, and no crime like doubt; + that investigation was pure impudence, and the punishment therefor, + eternal torment. They not only told us all about this world, but about two + others; and if their statements about the other worlds are as true as + about this, no one can estimate the value of their information. + </p> + <p> + For countless ages the world was governed by ghosts, and they spared no + pains to change the eagle of the human intellect into a bat of darkness. + To accomplish this infamous purpose; to drive the love of truth from the + human heart; to prevent the advancement of mankind; to shut out from the + world every ray of intellectual light; to pollute every mind with + superstition, the power of kings, the cunning and cruelty of priests, and + the wealth of nations were exhausted. + </p> + <p> + During these years of persecution, ignorance, superstition and slavery, + nearly all the people, the kings, lawyers, doctors, the learned and the + unlearned, believed in that frightful production of ignorance, fear, and + faith, called witchcraft. They believed that man was the sport and prey of + devils. They really thought that the very air was thick with these enemies + of man. With few exceptions, this hideous and infamous belief was + universal. Under these conditions, progress was almost impossible. + </p> + <p> + Fear paralyzes the brain. Progress is born of courage. Fear believes—courage + doubts. Fear falls upon the earth and prays—courage stands erect and + thinks. Fear retreats—courage advances. Fear is barbarism—courage + is civilization. Fear believes in witchcraft, in devils and in ghosts. + Fear is religion—courage is science. + </p> + <p> + The facts, upon which this terrible belief rested, were proved over and + over again in every court of Europe. Thousands confessed themselves guilty—admitted + that they had sold themselves to the devil. They gave the particulars of + the sale; told what they said and what the devil replied. They confessed + this, when they knew that confession was death; knew that their property + would be confiscated, and their children left to beg their bread. This is + one of the miracles of history—one of the strangest contradictions + of the human mind. Without doubt, they really believed themselves guilty. + In the first place, they believed in witchcraft as a fact, and when + charged with it, they probably became insane. In their insanity they + confessed their guilt. They found themselves abhorred and deserted—charged + with a crime that they could not disprove. Like a man in quicksand, every + effort only sunk them deeper. Caught in this frightful web, at the mercy + of the spiders of superstition, hope fled, and nothing remained but the + insanity of confession. The whole world appeared to be insane. + </p> + <p> + In the time of James the First, a man was executed for causing a storm at + sea with the intention of drowning one of the royal family. How could he + disprove it? How could he show that he did not cause the storm? All storms + were at that time generally supposed to be caused by the devil—the + prince of the power of the air—and by those whom he assisted. + </p> + <p> + I implore you to remember that the believers in such impossible things + were the authors of our creeds and confessions of faith. + </p> + <p> + A woman was tried and convicted before Sir Matthew Hale, one of the great + judges and lawyers of England, for having caused children to vomit crooked + pins. She was also charged with having nursed devils. The learned judge + charged the intelligent jury that there was no doubt as to the existence + of witches; that it was established by all history, and expressly taught + by the Bible. + </p> + <p> + The woman was hanged and her body burned. + </p> + <p> + Sir Thomas More declared that to give up witchcraft was to throw away the + sacred Scriptures. In my judgment, he was right. + </p> + <p> + John Wesley was a firm believer in ghosts and witches, and insisted upon + it, years after all laws upon the subject had been repealed in England. I + beg of you to remember that John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist + Church. + </p> + <p> + In New England, a woman was charged with being a witch, and with having + changed herself into a fox. While in that condition she was attacked and + bitten by some dogs. A committee of three men, by order of the court, + examined this woman. They removed her clothing and searched for "witch + spots." That is to say, spots into which needles could be thrust without + giving her pain. They reported to the court that such spots were found. + She denied, however, that she ever had changed herself into a fox. Upon + the report of the committee she was found guilty and actually executed. + This was done by our Puritan fathers, by the gentlemen who braved the + dangers of the deep for the sake of worshiping God and persecuting their + fellow-men. + </p> + <p> + In those days people believed in what was known as lycanthropy—that + is, that persons, with the assistance of the devil, could assume the form + of wolves. An instance is given where a man was attacked by a wolf. He + defended himself, and succeeded in cutting off one of the animal's paws. + The wolf ran away. The man picked up the paw, put it in his pocket and + carried it home. There he found his wife with one of her hands gone. He + took the paw from his pocket. It had changed to a human hand. He charged + his wife with being a witch. She was tried. She confessed her guilt, and + was burned. + </p> + <p> + People were burned for causing frosts in summer—for destroying crops + with hail—for causing storms—for making cows go dry, and even + for souring beer. There was no impossibility for which some one was not + tried and convicted. The life of no one was secure. To be charged, was to + be convicted. Every man was at the mercy of every other. This infamous + belief was so firmly seated in the minds of the people, that to express a + doubt as to its truth was to be suspected. Whoever denied the existence of + witches and devils was denounced as an infidel. + </p> + <p> + They believed that animals were often taken possession of by devils, and + that the killing of the animal would destroy the devil. They absolutely + tried, convicted, and executed dumb beasts. + </p> + <p> + At Basle, in 1470, a rooster was tried upon the charge of having laid an + egg. Rooster eggs were used only in making witch ointment,—this + everybody knew. The rooster was convicted and with all due solemnity was + burned in the public square. So a hog and six pigs were tried for having + killed and partially eaten a child. The hog was convicted,—but the + pigs, on account probably of their extreme youth, were acquitted. As late + as 1740, a cow was tried and convicted of being possessed by a devil. + </p> + <p> + They used to exorcise rats, locusts, snakes and vermin. They used to go + through the alleys, streets, and fields, and warn them to leave within a + certain number of days. In case they disobeyed, they were threatened with + pains and penalties. + </p> + <p> + But let us be careful how we laugh at these things. Let us not pride + ourselves too much on the progress of our age. We must not forget that + some of our people are yet in the same intelligent business. Only a little + while ago, the governor of Minnesota appointed a day of fasting and + prayer, to see if some power could not be induced to kill the + grasshoppers, or send them into some other state. + </p> + <p> + About the close of the fifteenth century, so great was the excitement with + regard to the existence of witchcraft that Pope Innocent VIII. issued a + bull directing the inquisitors to be vigilant in searching out and + punishing all guilty of this crime. Forms for the trial were regularly + laid down in a book or a pamphlet called the "Malleus Maleficorum" (Hammer + of Witches), which was issued by the Roman See. Popes Alexander, Leo, and + Adrian, issued like bulls. For two hundred and fifty years the church was + busy in punishing the impossible crime of witchcraft; in burning, hanging + and torturing men, women, and children. Protestants were as active as + Catholics, and in Geneva five hundred witches were burned at the stake in + a period of three months. About one thousand were executed in one year in + the diocese of Como. At least one hundred thousand victims suffered in + Germany alone: the last execution (in Wurtzburg) taking place as late as + 1749. Witches were burned in Switzerland as late as 1780. + </p> + <p> + In England the same frightful scenes were enacted. Statutes were passed + from Henry VI. to James I., defining the crime and its punishment. The + last act passed by the British parliament was when Lord Bacon was a member + of the House of Commons; and this act was not repealed until 1736. + </p> + <p> + Sir William Blackstone, in his Commentaries on the Laws of England, says: + "To deny the possibility, nay, actual existence of witchcraft and sorcery, + is at once flatly to contradict the word of God in various passages both + of the Old and New Testament; and the thing itself is a truth to which + every nation in the world hath in its turn borne testimony, either by + examples seemingly well attested, or by prohibitory laws, which at least + suppose the possibility of a commerce with evil spirits." + </p> + <p> + In Brown's Dictionary of the Bible, published at Edinburg, Scotland, in + 1807, it is said that: "A witch is a woman that has dealings with Satan. + That such persons are among men is abundantly plain from Scripture, and + that they ought to be put to death." + </p> + <p> + This work was re-published in Albany, New York, in 1816. No wonder the + clergy of that city are ignorant and bigoted even unto this day. + </p> + <p> + In 1716, Mrs. Hicks and her daughter, nine years of age, were hanged for + selling their souls to the devil, and raising a storm by pulling off their + stockings and making a lather of soap. + </p> + <p> + In England it has been estimated that at least thirty thousand were hanged + and burned. The last victim executed in Scotland, perished in 1722. "She + was an innocent old woman, who had so little idea of her situation as to + rejoice at the sight of the fire which was destined to consume her. She + had a daughter, lame both of hands and of feet—a circumstance + attributed to the witch having been used to transform her daughter into a + pony and getting her shod by the devil." + </p> + <p> + In 1692, nineteen persons were executed and one pressed to death in Salem, + Massachusetts, for the crime of witchcraft. + </p> + <p> + It was thought in those days that men and women made compacts with the + devil, orally and in writing. That they abjured God and Jesus Christ, and + dedicated themselves wholly to the devil. The contracts were confirmed at + a general meeting of witches and ghosts, over which the devil himself + presided; and the persons generally signed the articles of agreement with + their own blood. These contracts were, in some instances, for a few years; + in others, for life. General assemblies of the witches were held at least + once a year, at which they appeared entirely naked, besmeared with an + ointment made from the bodies of unbaptized infants. "To these meetings + they rode from great distances on broomsticks, pokers, goats, hogs, and + dogs. Here they did homage to the prince of hell, and offered him + sacrifices of young children, and practiced all sorts of license until the + break of day." + </p> + <p> + "As late as 1815, Belgium was disgraced by a witch trial; and guilt was + established by the water ordeal." "In 1836, the populace of Hela, near + Dantzic, twice plunged into the sea a woman reputed to be a sorceress; and + as the miserable creature persisted in rising to the surface, she was + pronounced guilty, and beaten to death." + </p> + <p> + "It was believed that the bodies of devils are not like those of men and + animals, cast in an unchangeable mould. It was thought they were like + clouds, refined and subtle matter, capable of assuming any form and + penetrating into any orifice. The horrible tortures they endured in their + place of punishment rendered them extremely sensitive to suffering, and + they continually sought a temperate and somewhat moist warmth in order to + allay their pangs. It was for this reason they so frequently entered into + men and women." + </p> + <p> + The devil could transport men, at his will, through the air. He could + beget children; and Martin Luther himself had come in contact with one of + these children. He recommended the mother to throw the child into the + river, in order to free their house from the presence of a devil. + </p> + <p> + It was believed that the devil could transform people into any shape he + pleased. + </p> + <p> + Whoever denied these things was denounced as an infidel. All the believers + in witchcraft confidently appealed to the Bible. Their mouths were filled + with passages demonstrating the existence of witches and their power Over + human beings. By the Bible they proved that innumerable evil spirits were + ranging over the world endeavoring to ruin mankind; that these spirits + possessed a power and wisdom far transcending the limits of human + faculties; that they delighted in every misfortune that could befall the + world; that their malice was superhuman. That they caused tempests was + proved by the action of the devil toward Job; by the passage in the book + of Revelation describing the four angels who held the four winds, and to + whom it was given to afflict the earth. They believed the devil could + carry persons hundreds of miles, in a few seconds, through the air. They + believed this, because they knew that Christ had been carried by the devil + in the same manner and placed on a pinnacle of the temple. "The prophet + Habakkuk had been transported by a spirit from Judea to Babylon; and + Philip, the evangelist, had been the object of a similar miracle; and in + the same way Saint Paul had been carried in the body into the third + heaven." + </p> + <p> + "In those pious days, they believed that <i>Incubi</i> and <i>Succubi</i> + were forever wandering among mankind, alluring, by more than human charms, + the unwary to their destruction, and laying plots, which were too often + successful, against the virtue of the saints. Sometimes the witches + kindled in the monastic priest a more terrestrial fire. People told, with + bated breath, how, under the spell of a vindictive woman, four successive + abbots in a German monastery had been wasted away by an unholy flame." + </p> + <p> + An instance is given in which the devil not only assumed the appearance of + a holy man, in order to pay his addresses to a lady, but when discovered, + crept under the bed, suffered himself to be dragged out, and was impudent + enough to declare that he was the veritable bishop. So perfectly had he + assumed the form and features of the prelate that those who knew the + bishop best were deceived. + </p> + <p> + One can hardly imagine the frightful state of the human mind during these + long centuries of darkness and superstition. To them, these things were + awful and frightful realities. Hovering above them in the air, in their + houses, in the bosoms of friends, in their very bodies, in all the + darkness of night, everywhere, around, above and below, were innumerable + hosts of unclean and malignant devils. + </p> + <p> + From the malice of those leering and vindictive vampires of the air, the + church pretended to defend mankind. Pursued by these phantoms, the + frightened multitudes fell upon their faces and implored the aid of robed + hypocrisy and sceptered theft. + </p> + <p> + Take from the orthodox church of to-day the threat and fear of hell, and + it becomes an extinct volcano. + </p> + <p> + Take from the church the miraculous, the supernatural, the + incomprehensible, the unreasonable, the impossible, the unknowable, and + the absurd, and nothing but a vacuum remains. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding all the infamous things justly laid to the charge of the + church, we are told that the civilization of to-day is the child of what + we are pleased to call the superstition of the past. + </p> + <p> + Religion has not civilized man—man has civilized religion. God + improves as man advances. + </p> + <p> + Let me call your attention to what we have received from the followers of + the ghosts. Let me give you an outline of the sciences as taught by these + philosophers of the clouds. + </p> + <p> + All diseases were produced, either as a punishment by the good ghosts, or + out of pure malignity by the bad ones. There were, properly speaking, no + diseases. The sick were possessed by ghosts. The science of medicine + consisted in knowing how to persuade these ghosts to vacate the premises. + For thousands of years the diseased were treated with incantations, with + hideous noises, with drums and gongs. Everything was done to make the + visit of the ghost as unpleasant as possible, and they generally succeeded + in making things so disagreeable that if the ghost did not leave, the + patient did. These ghosts were supposed to be of different rank, power and + dignity. Now and then a man pretended to have won the favor of some + powerful ghost, and that gave him power over the little ones. Such a man + became an eminent physician. + </p> + <p> + It was found that certain kinds of smoke, such as that produced by burning + the liver of a fish, the dried skin of a serpent, the eyes of a toad, or + the tongue of an adder, were exceedingly offensive to the nostrils of an + ordinary ghost. With this smoke, the sick room would be filled until the + ghost vanished or the patient died. + </p> + <p> + It was also believed that certain words,—the names of the most + powerful ghosts,—when properly pronounced, were very effective + weapons. It was for a long time thought that Latin words were the best,—Latin + being a dead language, and known by the clergy. Others thought that two + sticks laid across each other and held before the wicked ghost would cause + it instantly to flee in dread away. + </p> + <p> + For thousands of years, the practice of medicine consisted in driving + these evil spirits out of the bodies of men. + </p> + <p> + In some instances, bargains and compromises were made with the ghosts. One + case is given where a multitude of devils traded a man for a herd of + swine. In this transaction the devils were the losers, as the swine + immediately drowned themselves in the sea. This idea of disease appears to + have been almost universal, and is by no means yet extinct. + </p> + <p> + The contortions of the epileptic, the strange twitchings of those + afflicted with chorea, the shakings of palsy, dreams, trances, and the + numberless frightful phenomena produced by diseases of the nerves, were + all seized upon as so many proofs that the bodies of men were filled with + unclean and malignant ghosts. + </p> + <p> + Whoever endeavored to account for these things by natural causes, whoever + attempted to cure diseases by natural means, was denounced by the church + as an infidel. To explain anything was a crime. It was to the interest of + the priest that all phenomena should be accounted for by the will and + power of gods and devils. The moment it is admitted that all phenomena are + within the domain of the natural, the necessity for a priest has + disappeared. Religion breathes the air of the supernatural. Take from the + mind of man the idea of the supernatural, and religion ceases to exist. + For this, reason, the church has always despised the man who explained the + wonderful. Upon this principle, nothing was left undone to stay the + science of medicine. As long as plagues and pestilences could be stopped + by prayer, the priest was useful. The moment the physician found a cure, + the priest became an extravagance. The moment it began to be apparent that + prayer could do nothing for the body, the priest shifted his ground and + began praying for the soul. + </p> + <p> + Long after the devil idea was substantially abandoned in the practice of + medicine, and when it was admitted that God had nothing to do with + ordinary coughs and colds, it was still believed that all the frightful + diseases were sent by him as punishments for the wickedness of the people. + It was thought to be a kind of blasphemy to even try, by any natural + means, to stay the ravages of pestilence. Formerly, during the prevalence + of plague and epidemics, the arrogance of the priest was boundless. He + told the people that they had slighted the clergy, that they had refused + to pay tithes, that they had doubted some of the doctrines of the church, + and that God was now taking his revenge. The people for the most part, + believed this infamous tissue of priestcraft. They hastened to fall upon + their knees; they poured out their wealth upon the altars of hypocrisy; + they abased and debased themselves; from their minds they banished all + doubts, and made haste to crawl in the very dust of humility. + </p> + <p> + The church never wanted disease to be under the control of man. Timothy + Dwight, president of Yale College, preached a sermon against vaccination. + His idea was, that if God had decreed from all eternity that a certain man + should die with the small-pox, it was a frightful sin to avoid and annul + that decree by the trick of vaccination. Small-pox being regarded as one + of the heaviest guns in the arsenal of heaven, to spike it was the height + of presumption. Plagues and pestilences were instrumentalities in the + hands of God with which to gain the love and worship of mankind. To find a + cure for disease was to take a weapon from the church. No one tries to + cure the ague with prayer. Quinine has been found altogether more + reliable. Just as soon as a specific is found for a disease, that disease + will be left out of the list of prayer. The number of diseases with which + God from time to time afflicts mankind, is continually decreasing. In a + few years all of them will be under the control of man, the gods will be + left unarmed, and the threats of their priests will excite only a smile. + </p> + <p> + The science of medicine has had but one enemy—religion. Man was + afraid to save his body for fear he might lose his soul. + </p> + <p> + Is it any wonder that the people in those days believed in and taught the + infamous doctrine of eternal punishment—a doctrine that makes God a + heartless monster and man a slimy hypocrite and slave? + </p> + <p> + The ghosts were historians, and their histories were the grossest + absurdities. "Tales told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying + nothing." In those days the histories were written by the monks, who, as a + rule, were almost as superstitious as they were dishonest. They wrote as + though they had been witnesses of every occurrence they related. They + wrote the history of every country of importance. They told all the past + and predicted all the future with an impudence that amounted to sublimity. + "They traced the order of St. Michael, in France, to the archangel + himself, and alleged that he was the founder of a chivalric order in + heaven itself. They said that Tartars originally came from hell, and that + they were called Tartars because Tartarus was one of the names of + perdition. They declared that Scotland was so named after Scota, a + daughter of Pharaoh, who landed in Ireland, invaded Scotland, and took it + by force of arms. This statement was made in a letter addressed to the + Pope in the fourteenth century, and was alluded to as a well-known fact. + The letter was written by some of the highest dignitaries, and by the + direction of the King himself." + </p> + <p> + These gentlemen accounted for the red on the breasts of robins, from the + fact that these birds carried water to unbaptized infants in hell. + </p> + <p> + Matthew, of Paris, an eminent historian of the fourteenth century, gave + the world the following piece of information: "It is well known that + Mohammed was once a cardinal, and became a heretic because he failed in + his effort to be elected pope;" and that having drank to excess, he fell + by the roadside, and in this condition was killed by swine. "And for that + reason, his followers abhor pork even unto this day." + </p> + <p> + Another eminent historian informs us that Nero was in the habit of + vomiting frogs. When I read this, I said to myself: Some of the croakers + of the present day against Progress would be the better for such a vomit. + </p> + <p> + The history of Charlemagne was written by Turpin, of Rheims. He was a + bishop. He assures us that the walls of a city fell down in answer to + prayer. That there were giants in those days who could take fifty ordinary + men under their arms and walk away with them. "With the greatest of these, + a direct descendant of Goliath, one Orlando had a theological discussion, + and that in the heat of the debate, when the giant was overwhelmed with + the argument, Orlando rushed forward and inflicted a fatal stab." + </p> + <p> + The history of Britain, written by the archdeacons of Monmouth and Oxford, + was wonderfully popular. According to them, Brutus conquered England and + built the city of London. During his time, it rained pure blood for three + days. At another time, a monster came from the sea, and, after having + devoured great multitudes of people, swallowed the king and disappeared. + They tell us that King Arthur was not born like other mortals, but was the + result of a magical contrivance; that he had great luck in killing giants; + that he killed one in France that had the cheerful habit of eating some + thirty men a day. That this giant had clothes woven of the beards of the + kings he had devoured. To cap the climax, one of the authors of this book + was promoted for having written the only reliable history of his country. + </p> + <p> + In all the histories of those days there is hardly a single truth. Facts + were considered unworthy of preservation. Anything that really happened + was not of sufficient interest or importance to be recorded. The great + religious historian, Eusebius, ingenuously remarks that in his history he + carefully omitted whatever tended to discredit the church, and that he + piously magnified all that conduced to her glory. + </p> + <p> + The same glorious principle was scrupulously adhered to by all the + historians of that time. + </p> + <p> + They wrote, and the people believed, that the tracks of Pharoah's chariots + were still visible on the sands of the Red Sea, and that they had been + miraculously preserved from the winds and waves as perpetual witnesses of + the great miracle there performed. + </p> + <p> + It is safe to say that every truth in the histories of those times is the + result of accident or mistake. + </p> + <p> + They accounted for everything as the work of good and evil spirits. With + cause and effect they had nothing to do. Facts were in no way related to + each other. God, governed by infinite caprice, filled the world with + miracles and disconnected events. From the quiver of his hatred came the + arrows of famine, pestilence, and death. + </p> + <p> + The moment that the idea is abandoned that all is natural; that all + phenomena are the necessary links in the endless chain of being, the + conception of history becomes impossible. With the ghosts, the present is + not the child of the past, nor the mother of the future. In the domain of + religion all is chance, accident, and caprice. + </p> + <p> + Do not forget, I pray you, that our creeds were written by the + cotemporaries of these historians. + </p> + <p> + The same idea was applied to law. It was believed by our intelligent + ancestors that all law derived its sacredness and its binding force from + the fact that it had been communicated to man by the ghosts. Of course it + was not pretended that the ghosts told everybody the law; but they told it + to a few, and the few told it to the people, and the people, as a rule, + paid them exceedingly well for their trouble. It was thousands of ages + before the people commenced making laws for themselves, and strange as it + may appear, most of these laws were vastly superior to the ghost article. + Through the web and woof of human legislation began to run and shine and + glitter the golden thread of justice. + </p> + <p> + During these years of darkness it was believed that rather than see an act + of injustice done; rather than see the innocent suffer; rather than see + the guilty triumph, some ghost would interfere. This belief, as a rule, + gave great satisfaction to the victorious party, and as the other man was + dead, no complaint was heard from him. + </p> + <p> + This doctrine was the sanctification of brute force and chance. They had + trials by battle, by fire, by water, and by lot. Persons were made to + grasp hot iron, and if it burned them their guilt was established. Others, + with tied hands and feet, were cast into the sea, and if they sank, the + verdict of guilty was unanimous,—if they did not sink, they were in + league with devils. + </p> + <p> + So in England, persons charged with crime could appeal to the corsned. The + corsned was a piece of the sacramental bread. If the defendant could + swallow this piece he went acquit. Godwin, Earl of Kent, in the time of + Edward the Confessor, appealed to the corsned. He failed to swallow it and + was choked to death. + </p> + <p> + The ghosts and their followers always took delight in torture, in cruel + and unusual punishments. For the infraction of most of their laws, death + was the penalty—death produced by stoning and by fire. Sometimes, + when man committed only murder, he was allowed to flee to some city of + refuge. Murder was a crime against man. But for saying certain words, or + denying certain doctrines, or for picking up sticks on certain days, or + for worshiping the wrong ghost, or for failing to pray to the right one, + or for laughing at a priest, or for saying that wine was not blood, or + that bread was not flesh, or for failing to regard ram's horns as + artillery, or for insisting that a dry bone was scarcely sufficient to + take the place of water works, or that a raven, as a rule, made a poor + landlord:—death, produced by all the ways that the ingenuity of + hatred could devise, was the penalty. + </p> + <p> + Law is a growth—it is a science. Right and wrong exist in the nature + of things. Things are not right because they are commanded, nor wrong + because they are prohibited. There are real crimes enough without creating + artificial ones. All progress in legislation has for centuries consisted + in repealing the laws of the ghosts. + </p> + <p> + The idea of right and wrong is born of man's capacity to enjoy and suffer. + If man could not suffer, if he could not inflict injury upon his fellow, + if he could neither feel nor inflict pain, the idea of right and wrong + never would have entered his brain. But for this, the word conscience + never would have passed the lips of man. + </p> + <p> + There is one good—happiness. There is but one sin—selfishness. + All law should be for the preservation of the one and the destruction of + the other. + </p> + <p> + Under the regime of the ghosts, laws were not supposed to exist in the + nature of things. They were supposed to be simply the irresponsible + command of a ghost. These commands were not supposed to rest upon reason, + they were the product of arbitrary will. + </p> + <p> + The penalties for the violation of these laws were as cruel as the laws + were senseless and absurd. Working on the Sabbath and murder were both + punished with death. The tendency of such laws is to blot from the human + heart the sense of justice. + </p> + <p> + To show you how perfectly every department of knowledge, or ignorance + rather, was saturated with superstition, I will for a moment refer to the + science of language. + </p> + <p> + It was thought by our fathers, that Hebrew was the original language; that + it was taught to Adam in the Garden of Eden by the Almighty, and that + consequently all languages came from, and could be traced to, the Hebrew. + Every fact inconsistent with that idea was discarded. According to the + ghosts, the trouble at the tower of Babel accounted for the fact that all + people did not speak Hebrew. The Babel business settled all questions in + the science of language. + </p> + <p> + After a time, so many facts were found to be inconsistent with the Hebrew + idea that it began to fall into disrepute, and other languages began to + compete for the honor of being the original. + </p> + <p> + Andre Kempe, in 1569, published a work on the language of Paradise, in + which he maintained that God spoke to Adam in Swedish; that Adam answered + in Danish; and that the serpent—which appears to me quite probable—spoke + to Eve in French. Erro, in a work published at Madrid, took the ground + that Basque was the language spoken in the Garden of Eden; but in 1580 + Goropius published his celebrated work at Antwerp, in which he put the + whole matter at rest by showing, beyond all doubt, that the language + spoken in Paradise was neither more nor less than plain Holland Dutch. + </p> + <p> + The real founder of the science of language was Liebnitz, a cotemporary of + Sir Isaac Newton. He discarded the idea that all languages could be traced + to one language. He maintained that language was a natural growth. + Experience teaches us that this must be so. Words are continually dying + and continually being born. Words are naturally and necessarily produced. + Words are the garments of thought, the robes of ideas. Some are as rude as + the skins of wild beasts, and others glisten and glitter like silk and + gold. They have been born of hatred and revenge; of love and + self-sacrifice; of hope and fear, of agony and joy. These words are born + of the terror and beauty of nature. The stars have fashioned them. In them + mingle the darkness and the dawn. From everything they have taken + something. Words are the crystalizations of human history, of all that man + has enjoyed and suffered—his victories and defeats—all that he + has lost and won. Words are the shadows of all that has been—the + mirrors of all that is. + </p> + <p> + The ghosts also enlightened our fathers in astronomy and geology. + According to them the earth was made out of nothing, and a little more + nothing having been taken than was used in the construction of this world, + the stars were made out of what was left over. Cosmas, in the sixth + century, taught that the stars were impelled by angels, who either carried + them on their shoulders, rolled them in front of them, or drew them after. + He also taught that each angel that pushed a star took great pains to + observe what the other angels were doing, so that the relative distances + between the stars might always remain the same. He also gave his idea as + to the form of the world. + </p> + <p> + He stated that the world was a vast parallelogram; that on the outside was + a strip of land, like the frame of a common slate; that then there was a + strip of water, and in the middle a great piece of land; that Adam and Eve + lived on the outer strip; that their descendants, with the exception of + the Noah family, were drowned by a flood on this outer strip; that the ark + finally rested on the middle piece of land where we now are. He accounted + for night and day by saying that on the outside strip of land there was a + high mountain, around which the sun and moon revolved, and that when the + sun was on the other side of the mountain, it was night; and when on this + side, it was day. + </p> + <p> + He also declared that the earth was flat. This he proved by many passages + from the Bible. Among other reasons for believing the earth to be flat, he + brought forward the following: We are told in the New Testament that + Christ shall come again in glory and power, and all the world shall see + him. Now, if the world is round, how are the people on the other side + going to see Christ when he comes? That settled the question, and the + church not only endorsed the book, but declared that whoever believed less + or more than stated by Cosmas, was a heretic. + </p> + <p> + In those blessed days, Ignorance was a king and Science an outcast. + </p> + <p> + They knew the moment this earth ceased to be the centre of the universe, + and became a mere speck in the starry heaven of existence, that their + religion would become a childish fable of the past. + </p> + <p> + In the name and by the authority of the ghosts, men enslaved their + fellow-men; they trampled upon the rights of women and children. In the + name and by the authority of ghosts, they bought and sold and destroyed + each other; they filled heaven with tyrants and earth with slaves, the + present with despair and the future with horror. In the name and by the + authority of the ghosts, they imprisoned the human mind, polluted the + conscience, hardened the heart, subverted justice, crowned robbery, + sainted hypocrisy, and extinguished for a thousand years the torch of + reason. + </p> + <p> + I have endeavored, in some faint degree, to show you what has happened, + and what always will happen when men are governed by superstition and + fear; when they desert the sublime standard of reason; when they take the + words of others and do not investigate for themselves. + </p> + <p> + Even the great men of those days were nearly as weak in this matter as the + most ignorant. Kepler, one of the greatest men of the world, an astronomer + second to none, although he plucked from the stars the secrets of the + universe, was an astrologer, and really believed that he could predict the + career of a man by finding what star was in the ascendant at his birth. + This great man breathed, so to speak, the atmosphere of his time. He + believed in the music of the spheres, and assigned alto, bass, tenor, and + treble to certain stars. + </p> + <p> + Tycho Brahe, another astronomer, kept an idiot, whose disconnected and + meaningless words he carefully set down, and then put them together in + such manner as to make prophecies, and then waited patiently to see them + fulfilled. Luther believed that he had actually seen the devil, and had + discussed points of theology with him. The human mind was in chains. Every + idea almost was a monster. Thought was deformed. Facts were looked upon as + worthless. Only the wonderful was worth preserving. Things that actually + happened were not considered worth recording;—real occurrences were + too common. Everybody expected the miraculous. + </p> + <p> + The ghosts were supposed to be busy; devils were thought to be the most + industrious things in the universe, and with these imps, every occurrence + of an unusual character was in some way connected. There was no order, no + serenity, no certainty in anything. Everything depended upon ghosts and + phantoms. Man was, for the most part, at the mercy of malevolent spirits. + He protected himself as best he could with holy water and tapers and + wafers and cathedrals. He made noises and rung bells to frighten the + ghosts, and he made music to charm them. He used smoke to choke them, and + incense to please them. He wore beads and crosses. He said prayers, and + hired others to say them. He fasted when he was hungry, and feasted when + he was not. He believed everything that seemed unreasonable, just to + appease the ghosts. He humbled himself. He crawled in the dust. He shut + the doors and windows, and excluded every ray of light from the temple of + the soul. He debauched and polluted his own mind, and toiled night and day + to repair the walls of his own prison. From the garden of his heart he + plucked and trampled upon the holy flowers of pity. + </p> + <p> + The priests reveled in horrible descriptions of hell. Concerning the wrath + of God, they grew eloquent. They denounced man as totally depraved. They + made reason blasphemy, and pity a crime. Nothing so delighted them as + painting the torments and sufferings of the lost. Over the worm that never + dies they grew poetic; and the second death filled them with a kind of + holy delight. According to them, the smoke and cries ascending from hell + were the perfume and music of heaven. + </p> + <p> + At the risk of being tiresome, I have said what I have to show you the + productions of the human mind, when enslaved; the effects of wide-spread + ignorance—the results of fear. I want to convince you that every + form of slavery is a viper, that, sooner or later, will strike its poison + fangs into the bosoms of men. + </p> + <p> + The first great step towards progress, is, for man to cease to be the + slave of man; the second, to cease to be the slave of the monsters of his + own creation—of the ghosts and phantoms of the air. + </p> + <p> + For ages the human race was imprisoned. + </p> + <p> + Through the bars and grates came a few struggling rays of light. Against + these grates and bars Science pressed its pale and thoughtful face, wooed + by the holy dawn of human advancement. + </p> + <p> + Men found that the real was the useful; that what a man knows is better + than what a ghost says; that an event is more valuable than a prophecy. + They found that diseases were not produced by spirits, and could not be + cured by frightening them away. They found that death was as natural as + life. They began to study the anatomy and chemistry of the human body, and + found that all was natural and within the domain of law. + </p> + <p> + The conjurer and sorcerer were discarded, and the physician and surgeon + employed. They found that the earth was not flat; that the stars were not + mere specks. They found that being born under a particular planet had + nothing to do with the fortunes of men. + </p> + <p> + The astrologer was discharged and the astronomer took his place. + </p> + <p> + They found that the earth had swept through the constellations for + millions of ages. They found that good and evil were produced by natural + causes, and not by ghosts; that man could not be good enough or bad enough + to stop or cause a rain; that diseases were produced as naturally as + grass, and were not sent as punishments upon man for failing to believe a + certain creed. They found that man, through intelligence, could take + advantage of the forces of nature—that he could make the waves, the + winds, the flames, and the lightnings of heaven do his bidding and + minister to his wants. They found that the ghosts knew nothing of benefit + to man; that they were utterly ignorant of geology—of astronomy—of + geography;—that they knew nothing of history;—that they were + poor doctors and worse surgeons;—that they knew nothing of law and + less of justice; that they were without brains, and utterly destitute of + hearts; that they knew nothing of the rights of men; that they were + despisers of women, the haters of progress, the enemies of science, and + the destroyers of liberty. + </p> + <p> + The condition of the world during the Dark Ages shows exactly the result + of enslaving the bodies and souls of men. In those days there was no + freedom. Labor was despised, and a laborer was considered but little above + a beast. Ignorance, like a vast cowl, covered the brain of the world, and + superstition ran riot with the imagination of man. The air was filled with + angels, with demons and monsters. Credulity sat upon the throne of the + soul, and Reason was an exiled king. A man to be distinguished must be a + soldier or a monk. War and theology, that is to say, murder and hypocrisy, + were the principal employments of man. Industry was a slave, theft was + commerce; murder was war, hypocrisy was religion. + </p> + <p> + Every Christian country maintained that it was no robbery to take the + property of Mohammedans by force, and no murder to kill the owners. Lord + Bacon was the first man of note who maintained that a Christian country + was bound to keep its plighted faith with an infidel nation. Reading and + writing were considered dangerous arts. Every layman who could read and + write was suspected of being a heretic. All thought was discouraged. They + forged chains of superstition for the minds, and manacles of iron for the + bodies of men. The earth was ruled by the cowl and sword,—by the + mitre and scepter,—by the altar and throne,—by Fear and Force,—by + Ignorance and Faith,—by ghouls and ghosts. + </p> + <p> + In the fifteenth century the following law was in force in England: + </p> + <p> + "That whosoever reads the Scriptures in the mother tongue, shall forfeit + land, cattle, life, and goods from their heirs forever, and so be + condemned for heretics to God, enemies to the crown, and most arrant + traitors to the land." + </p> + <p> + During the first year this law was in force thirty-nine were hanged for + its violation and their bodies burned. + </p> + <p> + In the sixteenth century men were burned because they failed to kneel to a + procession of monks. + </p> + <p> + The slightest word uttered against the superstition of the time was + punished with death. + </p> + <p> + Even the reformers, so-called, of those days, had no idea of intellectual + liberty—no idea even of toleration. Luther, Knox, Calvin, believed + in religious liberty only when they were in the minority. The moment they + were clothed with power they began to exterminate with fire and sword. + </p> + <p> + Castalio was the first minister who advocated the liberty of the soul. He + was regarded by the reformers as a criminal, and treated as though he had + committed the crime of crimes. + </p> + <p> + Bodinus, a lawyer of France, about the same time, wrote a few words in + favor of the freedom of conscience, but public opinion was overwhelmingly + against him. The people were ready, anxious, and willing, with whip, and + chain, and fire, to drive from the mind of man the heresy that he had a + right to think. + </p> + <p> + Montaigne, a man blest with so much common sense that he was the most + uncommon man of his time, was the first to raise a voice against torture + in France. But what was the voice of one man against the terrible cry of + ignorant, infatuated, superstitious and malevolent millions? It was the + cry of a drowning man in the wild roar of the cruel sea. + </p> + <p> + In spite of the efforts of the brave few the infamous war against the + freedom of the soul was waged until at least one hundred millions of human + beings—fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters—with hopes, loves, + and aspirations like ourselves, were sacrificed upon the cruel altar of an + ignorant faith. They perished in every way by which death can be produced. + Every nerve of pain was sought out and touched by the believers in ghosts. + </p> + <p> + For my part I glory in the fact, that here in the New World,—in the + United States,—liberty of conscience was first guaranteed to man, + and that the Constitution of the United States was the first great decree + entered in the high court of human equity forever divorcing church and + state,—the first injunction granted against the interference of the + ghosts. This was one of the grandest steps ever taken by the human race in + the direction of Progress. + </p> + <p> + You will ask what has caused this wonderful change in three hundred years. + And I answer—the inventions and discoveries of the few;—the + brave thoughts, the heroic utterances of the few;—the acquisition of + a few facts. + </p> + <p> + Besides, you must remember that every wrong in some way tends to abolish + itself. It is hard to make a lie stand always. A lie will not fit a fact. + It will only fit another lie made for the purpose. The life of a lie is + simply a question of time. Nothing but truth is immortal. The nobles and + kings quarreled;—the priests began to dispute;—the ideas of + government began to change. + </p> + <p> + In 1441 printing was discovered. At that time the past was a vast cemetery + with hardly an epitaph. The ideas of men had mostly perished in the brain + that produced them. The lips of the human race had been sealed. Printing + gave pinions to thought. It preserved ideas. It made it possible for man + to bequeath to the future the riches of his brain, the wealth of his soul. + At first, it was used to flood the world with the mistakes of the + ancients, but since that time it has been flooding the world with light. + </p> + <p> + When people read they begin to reason, and when they reason they progress. + This was another grand step in the direction of Progress. + </p> + <p> + The discovery of powder, that put the peasant almost upon a par with the + prince;—that put an end to the so-called age of chivalry;—that + released a vast number of men from the armies;—that gave pluck and + nerve a chance with brute strength. + </p> + <p> + The discovery of America, whose shores were trod by the restless feet of + adventure;—that brought people holding every shade of superstition + together;—that gave the world an opportunity to compare notes, and + to laugh at the follies of each other. Out of this strange mingling of all + creeds, and superstitions, and facts, and theories, and countless + opinions, came the Great Republic. + </p> + <p> + Every fact has pushed a superstition from the brain and a ghost from the + clouds. Every mechanic art is an educator. Every loom, every reaper and + mower, every steamboat, every locomotive, every engine, every press, every + telegraph, is a missionary of Science and an apostle of Progress. Every + mill, every furnace, every building with its wheels and levers, in which + something is made for the convenience, for the use, and for the comfort + and elevation of man, is a church, and every school-house is a temple. + </p> + <p> + Education is the most radical thing in the world. + </p> + <p> + To teach the alphabet is to inaugurate a revolution. + </p> + <p> + To build a schoolhouse is to construct a fort. + </p> + <p> + Every library is an arsenal filled with the weapons and ammunition of + Progress, and every fact is a monitor with sides of iron and a turret of + steel. + </p> + <p> + I thank the inventors, the discoverers, the thinkers. I thank Columbus and + Magellan. I thank Galileo, and Copernicus, and Kepler, and Descartes, and + Newton, and Laplace. I thank Locke, and Hume, and Bacon, and Shakespeare, + and Kant, and Fichte, and Leibnitz, and Goethe. I thank Fulton, and Watts, + and Volta, and Galvani, and Franklin, and Morse, who made lightning the + messenger of man. I thank Humboldt, the Shakespeare of science. I thank + Crompton and Arkwright, from whose brains leaped the looms and spindles + that clothe the world. I thank Luther for protesting against the abuses of + the church, and I denounce him because he was the enemy of liberty. I + thank Calvin for writing a book in favor of religious freedom, and I abhor + him because he burned Servetus. I thank Knox for resisting Episcopal + persecution, and I hate him because he persecuted in his turn. I thank the + Puritans for saying "Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God," and yet I + am compelled to say that they were tyrants themselves. I thank Thomas + Paine because he was a believer in liberty, and because he did as much to + make my country free as any other human being. I thank Voltaire, that + great man who, for half a century, was the intellectual emperor of Europe, + and who, from his throne at the foot of the Alps, pointed the finger of + scorn at every hypocrite in Christendom. I thank Darwin, Haeckel and Büchner, + Spencer, Tyndall and Huxley, Draper, Lecky and Buckle. + </p> + <p> + I thank the inventors, the discoverers, the thinkers, the scientists, the + explorers, I thank the honest millions who have toiled. + </p> + <p> + I thank the brave men with brave thoughts. They are the Atlases upon whose + broad and mighty shoulders rests the grand fabric of civilization. They + are the men who have broken, and are still breaking, the chains of + Superstition. They are the Titans who carried Olympus by assault, and who + will soon stand victors upon Sinai's crags. + </p> + <p> + We are beginning to learn that to exchange a mistake for the truth—a + superstition for a fact—to ascertain the real—is to progress. + </p> + <p> + Happiness is the only possible good, and all that tends to the happiness + of man is right, and is of value. All that tends to develop the bodies and + minds of men; all that gives us better houses, better clothes, better + food, better pictures, grander music, better heads, better hearts; all + that renders us more intellectual and more loving, nearer just; that makes + us better husbands and wives, better children, better citizens—all + these things combined produce what I call Progress. + </p> + <p> + Man advances only as he overcomes the obstructions of Nature, and this can + be done only by labor and by thought. Labor is the foundation of all. + Without labor, and without great labor, progress is impossible. The + progress of the world depends upon the men who walk in the fresh furrows + and through the rustling corn; upon those who sow and reap; upon those + whose faces are radiant with the glare of furnace fires; upon the delvers + in the mines, and the workers in shops; upon those who give to the winter + air the ringing music of the axe; upon those who battle with the + boisterous billows of the sea; upon the inventors and discoverers; upon + the brave thinkers. + </p> + <p> + From the surplus produced by labor, schools and universities are built and + fostered. From this surplus the painter is paid for the productions of the + pencil; the sculptor for chiseling shapeless rock into forms divinely + beautiful, and the poet for singing the hopes, the loves, the memories, + and the aspirations of the world. This surplus has given us the books in + which we converse with the dead and living kings of the human race. It has + given us all there is of beauty, of elegance, and of refined happiness. + </p> + <p> + I am aware that there is a vast difference of opinion as to what progress + really is; that many denounce the ideas of to-day as destructive of all + happiness—of all good, I know that there are many worshipers of the + past. They venerate the ancient because it is ancient. They see no beauty + in anything from which they do not blow the dust of ages with the breath + of praise. They say, no masters like the old; no religion, no governments + like the ancient; no orators, no poets, no statesmen like those who have + been dust for two thousand years. Others love the modern simply because it + is modern. + </p> + <p> + We should have gratitude enough to acknowledge the obligations we are + under to the great and heroic of antiquity, and independence enough not to + believe what they said simply because they said it. + </p> + <p> + With the idea that labor is the basis of progress goes the truth that + labor must be free. The laborer must be a free man. + </p> + <p> + The free man, working for wife and child, gets his head and hands in + partnership. + </p> + <p> + To do the greatest amount of work in the shortest space of time, is the + problem of free labor. + </p> + <p> + Slavery does the least work in the longest space of time. + </p> + <p> + Free labor will give us wealth. Free thought will give us truth. + </p> + <p> + Slowly but surely man is freeing his imagination of these sexless + phantoms, of these cruel ghosts. Slowly but surely he is rising above the + superstitions of the past. He is learning to rely upon himself. He is + beginning to find that labor is the only prayer that ought to be answered, + and that hoping, toiling, aspiring, suffering men and women are of more + importance than all the ghosts that ever wandered through the fenceless + fields of space. + </p> + <p> + The believers in ghosts claim still, that they are the only wise and + virtuous people upon the earth; claim still, that there is a difference + between them and unbelievers so vast, that they will be infinitely + rewarded, and the others infinitely punished. + </p> + <p> + I ask you to-night, do the theories and doctrines of the theologians + satisfy the heart or brain of the nineteenth century? + </p> + <p> + Have the churches the confidence of mankind? + </p> + <p> + Does the merchant give credit to a man because he belongs to a church? + </p> + <p> + Does the banker loan money to a man because he is a Methodist or Baptist? + </p> + <p> + Will a certificate of good standing in any church be taken as collateral + security for one dollar? + </p> + <p> + Will you take the word of a church member, or his note, or his oath, + simply because he is a church member? + </p> + <p> + Are the clergy, as a class, better, kinder and more generous to their + families—to their fellow-men—than doctors, lawyers, merchants + and farmers? + </p> + <p> + Does a belief in ghosts and unreasonable things necessarily make people + honest? + </p> + <p> + When a man loses confidence in Moses, must the people lose confidence in + him? + </p> + <p> + Does not the credit system in morals breed extravagance in sin? + </p> + <p> + Why send missionaries to other lands while every penitentiary in ours is + filled with criminals? + </p> + <p> + Is it philosophical to say that they who do right carry a cross? + </p> + <p> + Is it a source of joy to think that perdition is the destination of nearly + all of the children of men? + </p> + <p> + Is it worth while to quarrel about original sin—when there is so + much copy? + </p> + <p> + Does it pay to dispute about baptism, and the Trinity, and predestination, + and apostolic succession and the infallibility of churches, of popes and + of books? Does all this do any good? + </p> + <p> + Are the theologians welcomers of new truths? Are they noted for their + candor? Do they treat an opponent with common fairness? Are they + investigators? Do they pull forward, or do they hold back? + </p> + <p> + Is science indebted to the church for a solitary fact? + </p> + <p> + What church is an asylum for a persecuted truth? + </p> + <p> + What great reform has been inaugurated by the church? + </p> + <p> + Did the church abolish slavery? + </p> + <p> + Has the church raised its voice against war? + </p> + <p> + I used to think that there was in religion no real restraining force. Upon + this point my mind has changed. Religion will prevent man from committing + artificial crimes and offences. + </p> + <p> + A man committed murder. The evidence was so conclusive that he confessed + his guilt. + </p> + <p> + He was asked why he killed his fellow-man. + </p> + <p> + He replied: "For money." + </p> + <p> + "Did you get any?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + "How much?" + </p> + <p> + "Fifteen cents." + </p> + <p> + "What did you do with this money?" + </p> + <p> + "Spent it." + </p> + <p> + "What for?" + </p> + <p> + "Liquor." + </p> + <p> + "What else did you find upon the dead man?" "He had his dinner in a bucket—some + meat and bread." + </p> + <p> + "What did you do with that?" + </p> + <p> + "I ate the bread." + </p> + <p> + "What did you do with the meat?" + </p> + <p> + "I threw it away." + </p> + <p> + "Why?" + </p> + <p> + "It was Friday." + </p> + <p> + Just to the extent that man has freed himself from the dominion of ghosts + he has advanced. Just to the extent that he has freed himself from the + tyrants of his own creation he has progressed. Just to the extent that he + has investigated for himself he has lost confidence in superstition. + </p> + <p> + With knowledge obedience becomes intelligent acquiescence—it is no + longer degrading. Acquiescence in the understood—in the known—is + the act of a sovereign, not of a slave. It ennobles, it does not degrade. + </p> + <p> + Man has found that he must give liberty to others in order to have it + himself. He has found that a master is also a slave;—that a tyrant + is himself a serf. He has found that governments should be founded and + administered by man and for man; that the rights of all are equal; that + the powers that be are not ordained by God; that woman is at least the + equal of man; that men existed before books; that religion is one of the + phases of thought through which the world is passing; that all creeds were + made by man; that everything is natural; that a miracle is an + impossibility; that we know nothing of origin and destiny; that concerning + the unknown we are all equally ignorant; that the pew has the right to + contradict what the pulpit asserts; that man is responsible only to + himself and those he injures, and that all have a right to think. + </p> + <p> + True religion must be free. Without perfect liberty of the mind there can + be no true religion. Without liberty the brain is a dungeon—the mind + a convict. The slave may bow and cringe and crawl, but he cannot adore—he + cannot love. + </p> + <p> + True religion is the perfume of a free and grateful heart. True religion + is a subordination of the passions to the perceptions of the intellect. + True religion is not a theory—it is a practice. It is not a creed—it + is a life. + </p> + <p> + A theory that is afraid of investigation is undeserving a place in the + human mind. + </p> + <p> + I do not pretend to tell what all the truth is. I do not pretend to have + fathomed the abyss, nor to have floated on outstretched wings level with + the dim heights of thought. I simply plead for freedom. I denounce the + cruelties and horrors of slavery. I ask for light and air for the souls of + men. I say, take off those chains—break those manacles—free + those limbs—release that brain! I plead for the right to think—to + reason—to investigate. I ask that the future may be enriched with + the honest thoughts of men. I implore every human being to be a soldier in + the army of progress. + </p> + <p> + I will not invade the rights of others. You have no right to erect your + toll-gate upon the highways of thought. You have no right to leap from the + hedges of superstition and strike down the pioneers of the human race. You + have no right to sacrifice the liberties of man upon the altars of ghosts. + Believe what you may; preach what you desire; have all the forms and + ceremonies you please; exercise your liberty in your own way but extend to + all others the same right. + </p> + <p> + I will not attack your doctrines nor your creeds if they accord liberty to + me. If they hold thought to be dangerous—if they aver that doubt is + a crime, then I attack them one and all, because they enslave the minds of + men. + </p> + <p> + I attack the monsters, the phantoms of imagination that have ruled the + world. I attack slavery. I ask for room—room for the human mind. + </p> + <p> + Why should we sacrifice a real world that we have, for one we know not of? + Why should we enslave ourselves? Why should we forge fetters for our own + hands? Why should we be the slaves of phantoms. The darkness of barbarism + was the womb of these shadows. In the light of science they cannot cloud + the sky forever. They have reddened the hands of man with innocent blood. + They made the cradle a curse, and the grave a place of torment. + </p> + <p> + They blinded the eyes and stopped the ears of the human race. They + subverted all ideas of justice by promising infinite rewards for finite + virtues, and threatening infinite punishment for finite offences. + </p> + <p> + They filled the future with heavens and with hells, with the shining peaks + of selfish joy and the lurid abysses of flame. For ages they kept the + world in ignorance and awe, in want and misery, in fear and chains. + </p> + <p> + I plead for light, for air, for opportunity. I plead for individual + independence. I plead for the rights of labor and of thought. I plead for + a chainless future. Let the ghosts go—justice remains. Let them + disappear—men and women and children are left. Let the monsters fade + away—the world is here with its hills and seas and plains, with its + seasons of smiles and frowns, its spring of leaf and bud, its summer of + shade and flower and murmuring stream; its autumn with the laden boughs, + when the withered banners of the corn are still, and gathered fields are + growing strangely wan; while death, poetic death, with hands that color + what they touch, weaves in the Autumn wood her tapestries of gold and + brown. + </p> + <p> + The world remains with its winters and homes and firesides, where grow and + bloom the virtues of our race. All these are left; and music, with its sad + and thrilling voice, and all there is of art and song and hope and love + and aspiration high. All these remain. Let the ghosts go—we will + worship them no more. + </p> + <p> + Man is greater than these phantoms. Humanity is grander than all the + creeds, than all the books. Humanity is the great sea, and these creeds, + and books, and religions, are but the waves of a day. Humanity is the sky, + and these religions and dogmas and theories are but the mists and clouds + changing continually, destined finally to melt away. + </p> + <p> + That which is founded upon slavery, and fear, and ignorance, cannot + endure. In the religion of the future there will be men and women and + children, all the aspirations of the soul, and all the tender humanities + of the heart. + </p> + <p> + Let the ghosts go. We will worship them no more. Let them cover their + eyeless sockets with their fleshless hands and fade forever from the + imaginations of men. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0009" id="link0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD. + </h2> + <h3> + Liberty sustains the same Relation to Mind that Space does to Matter. + </h3> + <p> + THERE is no slavery but ignorance. Liberty is the child of intelligence. + </p> + <p> + The history of man is simply the history of slavery, of injustice and + brutality, together with the means by which he has, through the dead and + desolate years, slowly and painfully advanced. He has been the sport and + prey of priest and king, the food of superstition and cruel might. Crowned + force has governed ignorance through fear. Hypocrisy and tyranny—two + vultures—have fed upon the liberties of man. From all these there + has been, and is, but one means of escape—intellectual development. + Upon the back of industry has been the whip. Upon the brain have been the + fetters of superstition. Nothing has been left undone by the enemies of + freedom. Every art and artifice, every cruelty and outrage has been + practiced and perpetrated to destroy the rights of man. In this great + struggle every crime has been rewarded and every virtue has been punished. + Reading, writing, thinking and investigating have all been crimes. + </p> + <p> + Every science has been an outcast. + </p> + <p> + All the altars and all the thrones united to arrest the forward march of + the human race. The king said that mankind must not work for themselves. + The priest said that mankind must not think for themselves. One forged + chains for the hands, the other for the soul. Under this infamous <i>regime</i> + the eagle of the human intellect was for ages a slimy serpent of + hypocrisy. + </p> + <p> + The human race was imprisoned. Through some of the prison bars came a few + struggling rays of light. Against these bars Science pressed its pale and + thoughtful face, wooed by the holy dawn of human advancement. Bar after + bar was broken away. A few grand men escaped and devoted their lives to + the liberation of their fellows. + </p> + <p> + Only a few years ago there was a great awakening of the human mind. Men + began to inquire by what right a crowned robber made them work for him? + The man who asked this question was called a traitor. Others asked by what + right does a robed hypocrite rule my thought? Such men were called + infidels. The priest said, and the king said, where is this spirit of + investigation to stop? They said then and they say now, that it is + dangerous for man to be free. I deny it. Out on the intellectual sea there + is room enough for every sail. In the intellectual air there is space + enough for every wing. + </p> + <p> + The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a traitor to + himself and to his fellow-men. + </p> + <p> + Every man should stand under the blue and stars, under the infinite flag + of nature, the peer of every other man. + </p> + <p> + Standing in the presence of the Unknown, all have the same right to think, + and all are equally interested in the great questions of origin and + destiny. All I claim, all I plead for, is liberty of thought and + expression. That is all. I do not pretend to tell what is absolutely true, + but what I think is true. I do not pretend to tell all the truth. + </p> + <p> + I do not claim that I have floated level with the heights of thought, or + that I have descended to the very depths of things. I simply claim that + what ideas I have, I have a right to express; and that any man who denies + that right to me is an intellectual thief and robber. That is all. + </p> + <p> + Take those chains from the human soul. Break those fetters. If I have no + right to think, why have I a brain? If I have no such right, have three or + four men, or any number, who may get together, and sign a creed, and build + a house, and put a steeple upon it, and a bell in it—have they the + right to think? The good men, the good women are tired of the whip and + lash in the realm of thought. They remember the chain and fagot with a + shudder. They are free, and they give liberty to others. Whoever claims + any right that he is unwilling to accord to his fellow-men is dishonest + and infamous. + </p> + <p> + In the good old times, our fathers had the idea that they could make + people believe to suit them. Our ancestors, in the ages that are gone, + really believed that by force you could convince a man. You cannot change + the conclusion of the brain by torture; nor by social ostracism. But I + will tell you what you can do by these, and what you have done. You can + make hypocrites by the million. You can make a man say that he has changed + his mind; but he remains of the same opinion still. Put fetters all over + him; crush his feet in iron boots; stretch him to the last gasp upon the + holy rack; burn him, if you please, but his ashes will be of the same + opinion still. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers in the good old times—and the best thing I can say about + them is, that they have passed away—had an idea that they could + force men to think their way. That idea is still prevalent in many parts, + even of this country. Even in our day some extremely religious people say, + "We will not trade with that man; we will not vote for him; we will not + hire him if he is a lawyer; we will die before we will take his medicine + if he is a doctor; we will not invite him to dinner; we will socially + ostracise him; he must come to our church; he must believe our doctrines; + he must worship our god or we will not in any way contribute to his + support." + </p> + <p> + In the old times of which I have spoken, they desired to make all men + think exactly alike. All the mechanical ingenuity of the world cannot make + two clocks run exactly alike, and how are you going to make hundreds of + millions of people, differing in brain and disposition, in education and + aspiration, in conditions and surroundings, each clad in a living robe of + passionate flesh—how are you going to make them think and feel + alike? If there is an infinite god, one who made us, and wishes us to + think alike, why did he give a spoonful of brains to one, and a + magnificent intellectual development to another? Why is it that we have + all degrees of intelligence, from orthodoxy to genius, if it was intended + that all should think and feel alike? + </p> + <p> + I used to read in books how our fathers persecuted mankind. But I never + appreciated it. I read it, but it did not burn itself into my soul. I did + not really appreciate the infamies that have been committed in the name of + religion, until I saw the iron arguments that Christians used. I saw the + Thumbscrew—two little pieces of iron, armed on the inner surfaces + with protuberances, to prevent their slipping; through each end a screw + uniting the two pieces. And when some man denied the efficacy of baptism, + or may be said, "I do not believe that a fish ever swallowed a man to keep + him from drowning," then they put his thumb between these pieces of iron + and in the name of love and universal forgiveness, began to screw these + pieces together. When this was done most men said, "I will recant." + Probably I should have done the same. Probably I would have said: "Stop; I + will admit anything that you wish; I will admit that there is one god or a + million, one hell or a billion; suit yourselves; but stop." + </p> + <p> + But there was now and then a man who would not swerve the breadth of a + hair. There was now and then some sublime heart, willing to die for an + intellectual conviction. Had it not been for such men, we would be savages + to-night. Had it not been for a few brave, heroic souls in every age, we + would have been cannibals, with pictures of wild beasts tattooed upon our + flesh, dancing around some dried snake fetich. + </p> + <p> + Let us thank every good and noble man who stood so grandly, so proudly, in + spite of opposition, of hatred and death, for what he believed to be the + truth. + </p> + <p> + Heroism did not excite the respect of our fathers. The man who would not + recant was not forgiven. They screwed the thumbscrews down to the last + pang, and then threw their victim into some dungeon, where, in the + throbbing silence and darkness, he might suffer the agonies of the fabled + damned. This was done in the name of love—in the name of mercy—in + the name of the compassionate Christ. + </p> + <p> + I saw, too, what they called the Collar of Torture. Imagine a circle of + iron, and on the inside a hundred points almost as sharp as needles. This + argument was fastened about the throat of the sufferer. Then he could not + walk, nor sit down, nor stir without the neck being punctured, by these + points. In a little while the throat would begin to swell, and suffocation + would end the agonies of that man. This man, it may be, had committed the + crime of saying, with tears upon his cheeks, "I do not believe that God, + the father of us all, will damn to eternal perdition any of the children + of men." + </p> + <p> + I saw another instrument, called the Scavenger's Daughter. Think of a pair + of shears with handles, not only where they now are, but at the points as + well, and just above the pivot that unites the blades, a circle of iron. + In the upper handles the hands would be placed; in the lower, the feet; + and through the iron ring, at the centre, the head of the victim would be + forced. In this condition, he would be thrown prone upon the earth, and + the strain upon the muscles produced such agony that insanity would in + pity end his pain. + </p> + <p> + This was done by gentlemen who said: "Whosoever smiteth thee upon one + cheek turn to him the other also." + </p> + <p> + I saw the Rack. This was a box like the bed of a wagon, with a windlass at + each end, with levers, and ratchets to prevent slipping; over each + windlass went chains; some were fastened to the ankles of the sufferer; + others to his wrists. And then priests, clergymen, divines, saints, began + turning these windlasses, and kept turning, until the ankles, the knees, + the hips, the shoulders, the elbows, the wrists of the victim were all + dislocated, and the sufferer was wet with the sweat of agony. And they had + standing by a physician to feel his pulse. What for? To save his life? + Yes. In mercy? No; simply that they might rack him once again. + </p> + <p> + This was done, remember, in the name of civilization; in the name of law + and order; in the name of mercy; in the name of religion; in the name of + the most merciful Christ. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes, when I read and think about these frightful things, it seems to + me that I have suffered all these horrors myself. It seems sometimes, as + though I had stood upon the shore of exile and gazed with tearful eyes + toward home and native land; as though my nails had been torn from my + hands, and into the bleeding quick needles had been thrust; as though my + feet had been crushed in iron boots; as though I had been chained in the + cell of the Inquisition and listened with dying ears for the coming + footsteps of release; as though I had stood upon the scaffold and had seen + the glittering axe fall upon me; as though I had been upon the rack and + had seen, bending above me, the white faces of hypocrite priests; as + though I had been taken from my fireside, from my wife and children, taken + to the public square, chained; as though fagots had been piled about me; + as though the flames had climbed around my limbs and scorched my eyes to + blindness, and as though my ashes had been scattered to the four winds, by + all the countless hands of hate. And when I so feel, I swear that while I + live I will do what little I can to preserve and to augment the liberties + of man, woman, and child. + </p> + <p> + It is a question of justice, of mercy, of honesty, of intellectual + development. If there is a man in the world who is not willing to give to + every human being every right he claims for himself, he is just so much + nearer a barbarian than I am. It is a question of honesty. The man who is + not willing to give to every other the same intellectual rights he claims + for himself, is dishonest, selfish, and brutal. + </p> + <p> + It is a question of intellectual development. Whoever holds another man + responsible for his honest thought, has a deformed and distorted brain. It + is a question of intellectual development. + </p> + <p> + A little while ago I saw models of nearly everything that man has made. I + saw models of all the water craft, from the rude dug-out in which floated + a naked savage—one of our ancestors—a naked savage, with teeth + two inches in length, with a spoonful of brains in the back of his head—I + saw models of all the water craft of the world, from that dug-out up to a + man-of-war, that carries a hundred guns and miles of canvas—from + that dug-out to the steamship that turns its brave prow from the port of + New York, with a compass like a conscience, crossing three thousand miles + of billows without missing a throb or beat of its mighty iron heart. + </p> + <p> + I saw at the same time the weapons that man has made, from a club, such as + was grasped by that same savage, when he crawled from his den in the + ground and hunted a snake for his dinner; from that club to the boomerang, + to the sword, to the cross-bow, to the blunderbuss, to the flint-lock, to + the cap-lock, to the needle-gun, up to a cannon cast by Krupp, capable of + hurling a ball weighing two thousand pounds through eighteen inches of + solid steel. + </p> + <p> + I saw, too, the armor from the shell of a turtle, that one of our brave + ancestors lashed upon his breast when he went to fight for his country; + the skin of a porcupine, dried with the quills on, which this same savage + pulled over his orthodox head, up to the shirts of mail, that were worn in + the Middle Ages, that laughed at the edge of the sword and defied the + point of the spear; up to a monitor clad in complete steel. + </p> + <p> + I saw at the same time, their musical instruments, from the tom-tom—that + is, a hoop with a couple of strings of raw hide drawn across it—from + that tom-tom, up to the instruments we have to-day, that make the common + air blossom with melody. + </p> + <p> + I saw, too, their paintings, from a daub of yellow mud, to the great works + which now adorn the galleries of the world. I saw also their sculpture, + from the rude god with four legs, a half dozen arms, several noses, and + two or three rows of ears, and one little, contemptible, brainless head, + up to the figures of to-day—to the marbles that genius has clad in + such a personality that it seems almost impudent to touch them without an + introduction. + </p> + <p> + I saw their books—books written upon skins of wild beasts—upon + shoulder-blades of sheep—books written upon leaves, upon bark, up to + the splendid volumes that enrich the libraries of our day. When I speak of + libraries, I think of the remark of Plato: "A house that has a library in + it has a soul." + </p> + <p> + I saw their implements of agriculture, from a crooked stick that was + attached to the horn of an ox by some twisted straw, to the agricultural + implements of this generation, that make it possible for a man to + cultivate the soil without being an ignoramus. + </p> + <p> + While looking upon these things I was forced to say that man advanced only + as he mingled his thought with his labor,—only as he got into + partnership with the forces of nature,—only as he learned to take + advantage of his surroundings—only as he freed himself from the + bondage of fear,—only as he depended upon himself—only as he + lost confidence in the gods. + </p> + <p> + I saw at the same time a row of human skulls, from the lowest skull that + has been found, the Neanderthal skull—skulls from Central Africa, + skulls from the Bushmen of Australia—skulls from the farthest isles + of the Pacific sea—up to the best skulls of the last generation;—and + I noticed that there was the same difference between those skulls that + there was between the products of those skulls, and I said to myself, + "After all, it is a simple question of intellectual development." There + was the same difference between those skulls, the lowest and highest + skulls, that there was between the dug-out and the man-of-war and the + steamship, between the club and the Krupp gun, between the yellow daub and + the landscape, between the tom-tom and an opera by Verdi. + </p> + <p> + The first and lowest skull in this row was the den in which crawled the + base and meaner instincts of mankind, and the last was a temple in which + dwelt joy, liberty, and love. + </p> + <p> + It is all a question of brain, of intellectual development. + </p> + <p> + If we are nearer free than were our fathers, it is because we have better + heads upon the average, and more brains in them. + </p> + <p> + Now, I ask you to be honest with me. It makes no difference to you what I + believe, nor what I wish to prove. I simply ask you to be honest. Divest + your minds, for a moment at least, of all religious prejudice. Act, for a + few moments, as though you were men and women. + </p> + <p> + Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, if there was one, at + the time this gentleman floated in the dug-out, and charmed his ears with + the music of the tom-tom, had said: "That dug-out is the best boat that + ever can be built by man; the pattern of that came from on high, from the + great god of storm and flood, and any man who says that he can improve it + by putting a mast in it, with a sail upon it, is an infidel, and shall be + burned at the stake;" what, in your judgment—honor bright—would + have been the effect upon the circumnavigation of the globe? + </p> + <p> + Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, if there was one—and + I presume there was a priest, because it was a very ignorant age—suppose + this king and priest had said: "That tom-tom is the most beautiful + instrument of music of which any man can conceive; that is the kind of + music they have in heaven; an angel sitting upon the edge of a fleecy + cloud, golden in the setting sun, playing upon that tom-tom, became so + enraptured, so entranced with her own music, that in a kind of ecstasy she + dropped it—that is how we obtained it; and any man who says that it + can be improved by putting a back and front to it, and four strings, and a + bridge, and getting a bow of hair with rosin, is a blaspheming wretch, and + shall die the death,"—I ask you, what effect would that have had + upon music? If that course had been pursued, would the human ears, in your + judgment, ever have been enriched with the divine symphonies of Beethoven? + </p> + <p> + Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, had said: "That + crooked stick is the best plow that can be invented: the pattern of that + plow was given to a pious farmer in a holy dream, and that twisted straw + is the <i>ne plus ultra</i> of all twisted things, and any man who says he + can make an improvement upon that plow, is an atheist;" what, in your + judgment, would have been the effect upon the science of agriculture? + </p> + <p> + But the people said, and the king and priest said: "We want better weapons + with which to kill our fellow-Christians; we want better plows, better + music, better paintings, and whoever will give us better weapons, and + better music, better houses to live in, better clothes, we will robe him + in wealth, and crown him with honor." Every incentive was held out to + every human being to improve these things. That is the reason the club has + been changed to a cannon, the dug-out to a steamship, the daub to a + painting; that is the reason that the piece of rough and broken stone + finally became a glorified statue. + </p> + <p> + You must not, however, forget that the gentleman in the dug-out, the + gentleman who was enraptured with the music of the tom-tom, and cultivated + his land with a crooked stick, had a religion of his own. That gentlemen + in the dug-out was orthodox. He was never troubled with doubts. He lived + and died settled in his mind. He believed in hell; and he thought he would + be far happier in heaven, if he could just lean over and see certain + people who expressed doubts as to the truth of his creed, gently but + everlastingly broiled and burned. + </p> + <p> + It is a very sad and unhappy fact that this man has had a great many + intellectual descendants. It is also an unhappy fact in nature, that the + ignorant multiply much faster than the intellectual. This fellow in the + dug-out believed in a personal devil. His devil had a cloven hoof, a long + tail, armed with a fiery dart; and his devil breathed brimstone. This + devil was at least the equal of God; not quite so stout but a little + shrewder. And do you know there has not been a patentable improvement made + upon that devil for six thousand years. + </p> + <p> + This gentleman in the dug-out believed that God was a tyrant; that he + would eternally damn the man who lived in accordance with his highest and + grandest ideal. He believed that the earth was flat. He believed in a + literal, burning, seething hell of fire and sulphur. He had also his idea + of politics; and his doctrine was, might makes right. And it will take + thousands of years before the world will reverse this doctrine, and + believingly say, "Right makes might." + </p> + <p> + All I ask is the same privilege to improve upon that gentleman's theology + as upon his musical instrument; the same right to improve upon his + politics as upon his dug-out. That is all. I ask for the human soul the + same liberty in every direction. That is the only crime I have committed. + I say, let us think. Let each one express his thought. Let us become + investigators, not followers, not cringers and crawlers. If there is in + heaven an infinite being, he never will be satisfied with the worship of + cowards and hypocrites. Honest unbelief, honest infidelity, honest + atheism, will be a perfume in heaven when pious hypocrisy, no matter how + religious it may be outwardly, will be a stench. + </p> + <p> + This is my doctrine: Give every other human being every right you claim + for yourself. Keep your mind open to the influences of nature. Receive new + thoughts with hospitality. Let us advance. + </p> + <p> + The religionist of to-day wants the ship of his soul to lie at the wharf + of orthodoxy and rot in the sun. He delights to hear the sails of old + opinions flap against the masts of old creeds. He loves to see the joints + and the sides open and gape in the sun, and it is a kind of bliss for him + to repeat again and again: "Do not disturb my opinions. Do not unsettle my + mind; I have it all made up, and I want no infidelity. Let me go backward + rather than forward." + </p> + <p> + As far as I am concerned I wish to be out on the high seas. I wish to take + my chances with wind, and wave, and star. And I had rather go down in the + glory and grandeur of the storm, than to rot in any orthodox harbor + whatever. + </p> + <p> + After all, we are improving from age to age. The most orthodox people in + this country two hundred years ago would have been burned for the crime of + heresy. The ministers who denounce me for expressing my thought would have + been in the Inquisition themselves. Where once burned and blazed the + bivouac fires of the army of progress, now glow the altars of the church. + The religionists of our time are occupying about the same ground occupied + by heretics and infidels of one hundred years ago. The church has advanced + in spite, as it were, of itself. It has followed the army of progress + protesting and denouncing, and had to keep within protesting and + denouncing distance. If the church had not made great progress I could not + express my thoughts. + </p> + <p> + Man, however, has advanced just exactly in the proportion with which he + has mingled his thought with his labor. The sailor, without control of the + wind and wave, knowing nothing or very little of the mysterious currents + and pulses of the sea, is superstitious. So also is the agriculturist, + whose prosperity depends upon something he cannot control. But the + mechanic, when a wheel refuses to turn, never thinks of dropping on his + knees and asking the assistance of some divine power. He knows there is a + reason. He knows that something is too large or too small; that there is + something wrong with his machine; and he goes to work and he makes it + larger or smaller, here or there, until the wheel will turn. Now, just in + proportion as man gets away from being, as it were, the slave of his + surroundings, the serf of the elements,—of the heat, the frost, the + snow, and the lightning,—just to the extent that he has gotten + control of his own destiny, just to the extent that he has triumphed over + the obstacles of nature, he has advanced physically and intellectually. As + man develops, he places a greater value upon his own rights. Liberty + becomes a grander and diviner thing. As he values his own rights, he + begins to value the rights of others. And when all men give to all others + all the rights they claim for themselves, this world will be civilized. + </p> + <p> + A few years ago the people were afraid to question the king, afraid to + question the priest, afraid to investigate a creed, afraid to deny a book, + afraid to denounce a dogma, afraid to reason, afraid to think. Before + wealth they bowed to the very earth, and in the presence of titles they + became abject. All this is slowly but surely changing. We no longer bow to + men simply because they are rich. Our fathers worshiped the golden calf. + The worst you can say of an American now is, he worships the gold of the + calf. Even the calf is beginning to see this distinction. + </p> + <p> + It no longer satisfies the ambition of a great man to be king or emperor. + The last Napoleon was not satisfied with being the emperor of the French. + He was not satisfied with having a circlet of gold about his head. He + wanted some evidence that he had something of value within his head. So he + wrote the life of Julius Cæsar, that he might become a member of the + French Academy. The emperors, the kings, the popes, no longer tower above + their fellows. Compare King William with the philosopher Haeckel. The king + is one of the anointed by the most high, as they claim—one upon + whose head has been poured the divine petroleum of authority. Compare this + king with Haeckel, who towers an intellectual colossus above the crowned + mediocrity. Compare George Eliot with Queen Victoria. The Queen is clothed + in garments given her by blind fortune and unreasoning chance, while + George Eliot wears robes of glory woven in the loom of her own genius. + </p> + <p> + The world is beginning to pay homage to intellect, to genius, to heart. + </p> + <p> + We have advanced. We have reaped the benefit of every sublime and heroic + self-sacrifice, of every divine and brave act; and we should endeavor to + hand the torch to the next generation, having added a little to the + intensity and glory of the flame. + </p> + <p> + When I think of how much this world has suffered; when I think of how long + our fathers were slaves, of how they cringed and crawled at the foot of + the throne, and in the dust of the altar, of how they abased themselves, + of how abjectly they stood in the presence of superstition robed and + crowned, I am amazed. + </p> + <p> + This world has not been fit for a man to live in fifty years. It was not + until the year 1808 that Great Britain abolished the slave trade. Up to + that time her judges, sitting upon the bench in the name of justice, her + priests, occupying her pulpits, in the name of universal love, owned stock + in the slave ships, and luxuriated upon the profits of piracy and murder. + It was not until the same year that the United States of America abolished + the slave trade between this and other countries, but carefully preserved + it as between the States. It was not until the 28th day of August, 1833, + that Great Britain abolished human slavery in her colonies; and it was not + until the 1st day of January, 1863, that Abraham Lincoln, sustained by the + sublime and heroic North, rendered our flag pure as the sky in which it + floats. + </p> + <p> + Abraham Lincoln was, in my judgment, in many respects, the grandest man + ever President of the United States. Upon his monument these words should + be written: "Here sleeps the only man in the history of the world, who, + having been clothed with almost absolute power, never abused it, except + upon the side of mercy." + </p> + <p> + Think how long we clung to the institution of human slavery, how long + lashes upon the naked back were a legal tender for labor performed. Think + of it. The pulpit of this country deliberately and willingly, for a + hundred years, turned the cross of Christ into a whipping post. + </p> + <p> + With every drop of my blood I hate and execrate every form of tyranny, + every form of slavery. I hate dictation. I love liberty. + </p> + <p> + What do I mean by liberty? By physical liberty I mean the right to do + anything which does not interfere with the happiness of another. By + intellectual liberty I mean the right to think right and the right to + think wrong. Thought is the means by which we endeavor to arrive at truth. + If we know the truth already, we need not think. All that can be required + is honesty of purpose. You ask my opinion about anything; I examine it + honestly, and when my mind is made up, what should I tell you? Should I + tell you my real thought? What should I do? There is a book put in my + hands. I am told this is the Koran; it was written by inspiration. I read + it, and when I get through, suppose that I think in my heart and in my + brain, that it is utterly untrue, and you then ask me, what do you think? + Now, admitting that I live in Turkey, and have no chance to get any office + unless I am on the side of the Koran, what should I say? Should I make a + clean breast and say, that upon my honor I do not believe it? What would + you think then of my fellow-citizens if they said: "That man is dangerous, + he is dishonest." + </p> + <p> + Suppose I read the book called the Bible, and when I get through I make up + my mind that it was written by men. A minister asks me, "Did you read the + Bible?" I answer, that I did. "Do you think it divinely inspired?" What + should I reply? Should I say to myself, "If I deny the inspiration of the + Scriptures, the people will never clothe me with power." What ought I to + answer? Ought I not to say like a man: "I have read it; I do not believe + it." Should I not give the real transcript of my mind? Or should I turn + hypocrite and pretend what I do not feel, and hate myself forever after + for being a cringing coward. For my part I would rather a man would tell + me what he honestly thinks. I would rather he would preserve his manhood. + I had a thousand times rather be a manly unbeliever than an unmanly + believer. And if there is a judgment day, a time when all will stand + before some supreme being, I believe I will stand higher, and stand a + better chance of getting my case decided in my favor, than any man + sneaking through life pretending to believe what he does not. + </p> + <p> + I have made up my mind to say my say. I shall do it kindly, distinctly; + but I am going to do it. I know there are thousands of men who + substantially agree with me, but who are not in a condition to express + their thoughts. They are poor; they are in business; and they know that + should they tell their honest thought, persons will refuse to patronize + them—to trade with them; they wish to get bread for their little + children; they wish to take care of their wives; they wish to have homes + and the comforts of life. Every such person is a certificate of the + meanness of the community in which he resides. And yet I do not blame + these people for not expressing their thought. I say to them: "Keep your + ideas to yourselves; feed and clothe the ones you love; I will do your + talking for you. The church can not touch, can not crush, can not starve, + cannot stop or stay me; I will express your thoughts." + </p> + <p> + As an excuse for tyranny, as a justification of slavery, the church has + taught that man is totally depraved. Of the truth of that doctrine, the + church has furnished the only evidence there is. The truth is, we are both + good and bad. The worst are capable of some good deeds, and the best are + capable of bad. The lowest can rise, and the highest may fall. That + mankind can be divided into two great classes, sinners and saints, is an + utter falsehood. In times of great disaster, called it may be, by the + despairing voices of women, men, denounced by the church as totally + depraved, rush to death as to a festival. By such men, deeds are done so + filled with self-sacrifice and generous daring, that millions pay to them + the tribute, not only of admiration, but of tears. Above all creeds, above + all religions, after all, is that divine thing,—Humanity; and now + and then in shipwreck on the wide, wild sea, or 'mid the rocks and + breakers of some cruel shore, or where the serpents of flame writhe and + hiss, some glorious heart, some chivalric soul does a deed that glitters + like a star, and gives the lie to all the dogmas of superstition. All + these frightful doctrines have been used to degrade and to enslave + mankind. + </p> + <p> + Away, forever away with the creeds and books and forms and laws and + religions that take from the soul liberty and reason. Down with the idea + that thought is dangerous! Perish the infamous doctrine that man can have + property in man. Let us resent with indignation every effort to put a + chain upon our minds. If there is no God, certainly we should not bow and + cringe and crawl. If there is a God, there should be no slaves. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0010" id="link0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + LIBERTY OF WOMAN. + </h2> + <p> + Women have been the slaves of slaves; and in my judgment it took millions + of ages for woman to come from the condition of abject slavery up to the + institution of marriage. Let me say right here, that I regard marriage as + the holiest institution among men. Without the fireside there is no human + advancement; without the family relation there is no life worth living. + Every good government is made up of good families. The unit of good + government is the family, and anything that tends to destroy the family is + perfectly devilish and infamous. I believe in marriage, and I hold in + utter contempt the opinions of those long-haired men and short-haired + women who denounce the institution of marriage. + </p> + <p> + The grandest ambition that any man can possibly have, is to so live, and + so improve himself in heart and brain, as to be worthy of the love of some + splendid woman; and the grandest ambition of any girl is to make herself + worthy of the love and adoration of some magnificent man. That is my idea. + There is no success in life without love and marriage. You had better be + the emperor of one loving and tender heart, and she the empress of yours, + than to be king of the world. The man who has really won the love of one + good woman in this world, I do not care if he dies in the ditch a beggar, + his life has been a success. + </p> + <p> + I say it took millions of years to come from the condition of abject + slavery up to the condition of marriage. Ladies, the ornaments you wear + upon your persons to-night are but the souvenirs of your mother's bondage. + The chains around your necks, and the bracelets clasped upon your white + arms by the thrilled hand of love, have been changed by the wand of + civilization from iron to shining, glittering gold. + </p> + <p> + But nearly every religion has accounted for all the devilment in this + world by the crime of woman. What a gallant thing that is! And if it is + true, I had rather live with the woman I love in a world full of trouble, + than to live in heaven with nobody but men. + </p> + <p> + I read in a book—and I will say now that I cannot give the exact + language, as my memory does not retain the words, but I can give the + substance—I read in a book that the Supreme Being concluded to make + a world and one man; that he took some nothing and made a world and one + man, and put this man in a garden. In a little while he noticed that the + man got lonesome; that he wandered around as if he was waiting for a + train. There was nothing to interest him; no news; no papers; no politics; + no policy; and, as the devil had not yet made his appearance, there was no + chance for reconciliation; not even for civil service reform. Well, he + wandered about the garden in this condition, until finally the Supreme + Being made up his mind to make him a companion. + </p> + <p> + Having used up all the nothing he originally took in making the world and + one man, he had to take a part of the man to start a woman with. So he + caused a sleep to fall on this man—now understand me, I do not say + this story is true. After the sleep fell upon this man, the Supreme Being + took a rib, or as the French would call it, a cutlet, out of this man, and + from that he made a woman. And considering the amount of raw material + used, I look upon it as the most successful job ever performed. Well, + after he got the woman done, she was brought to the man; not to see how + she liked him, but to see how he liked her. He liked her, and they started + housekeeping; and they were told of certain things they might do and of + one thing they could not do—and of course they did it. I would have + done it in fifteen minutes, and I know it. There wouldn't have been an + apple on that tree half an hour from date, and the limbs would have been + full of clubs. And then they were turned out of the park and extra + policemen were put on to keep them from getting back. + </p> + <p> + Devilment commenced. The mumps, and the measles, and the whooping-cough, + and the scarlet fever started in their race for man. They began to have + the toothache, roses began to have thorns, snakes began to have poisoned + teeth, and people began to divide about religion and politics, and the + world has been full of trouble from that day to this. + </p> + <p> + Nearly all of the religions of this world account for the existence of + evil by such a story as that! + </p> + <p> + I read in another book what appeared to be an account of the same + transaction. It was written about four thousand years before the other. + All commentators agree that the one that was written last was the + original, and that the one that was written first was copied from the one + that was written last. But I would advise you all not to allow your creed + to be disturbed by a little matter of four or five thousand years. In this + other story, Brahma made up his mind to make the world and a man and + woman. He made the world, and he made the man and then the woman, and put + them on the island of Ceylon. According to the account it was the most + beautiful island of which man can conceive. Such birds, such songs, such + flowers and such verdure! And the branches of the trees were so arranged + that when the wind swept through them every tree was a thousand �?olian + harps. + </p> + <p> + Brahma, when he put them there, said: "Let them have a period of + courtship, for it is my desire and will that true love should forever + precede marriage." When I read that, it was so much more beautiful and + lofty than the other, that I said to myself, "If either one of these + stories ever turns out to be true, I hope it will be this one." + </p> + <p> + Then they had their courtship, with the nightingale singing, and the stars + shining, and the flowers blooming, and they fell in love. Imagine that + courtship! No prospective fathers or mothers-in-law; no prying and + gossiping neighbors; nobody to say, "Young man, how do you expect to + support her?" Nothing of that kind. They were married by the Supreme + Brahma, and he said to them: "Remain here; you must never leave this + island." Well, after a little while the man—and his name was Adami, + and the woman's name was Heva—said to Heva: "I believe I'll look + about a little." He went to the northern extremity of the island where + there was a little narrow neck of land connecting it with the mainland, + and the devil, who is always playing pranks with us, produced a mirage, + and when he looked over to the mainland, such hills and vales, such dells + and dales, such mountains crowned with snow, such cataracts clad in bows + of glory did he see there, that he went back and told Heva: "The country + over there is a thousand times better than this; let us migrate." She, + like every other woman that ever lived, said: "Let well enough alone; we + have all we want; let us stay here." But he said "No, let us go;" so she + followed him, and when they came to this narrow neck of land, he took her + on his back like a gentleman, and carried her over. But the moment they + got over they heard a crash, and looking back, discovered that this narrow + neck of land had fallen into the sea. The mirage had disappeared, and + there were naught but rocks and sand; and then the Supreme Brahma cursed + them both to the lowest hell. + </p> + <p> + Then it was that the man spoke,—and I have liked him ever since for + it—"Curse me, but curse not her, it was not her fault, it was mine." + </p> + <p> + That's the kind of man to start a world with. + </p> + <p> + The Supreme Brahma said: "I will save her, but not thee." And then she + spoke out of her fullness of love, out of a heart in which there was love + enough to make all her daughters rich in holy affection, and said: "If + thou wilt not spare him, spare neither me; I do not wish to live without + him; I love him." Then the Supreme Brahma said—and I have liked him + ever since I read it—"I will spare you both and watch over you and + your children forever." + </p> + <p> + Honor bright, is not that the better and grander story? + </p> + <p> + And from that same book I want to show you what ideas some of these + miserable heathen had; the heathen we are trying to convert. We send + missionaries over yonder to convert heathen there, and we send soldiers + out on the plains to kill heathen here. If we can convert the heathen, why + not convert those nearest home? Why not convert those we can get at? Why + not convert those who have the immense advantage of the example of the + average pioneer? But to show you the men we are trying to convert: In this + book it says: "Man is strength, woman is beauty; man is courage, woman is + love. When the one man loves the one woman and the one woman loves the one + man, the very angels leave heaven and come and sit in that house and sing + for joy." + </p> + <p> + They are the men we are converting. Think of it! I tell you, when I read + these things, I say that love is not of any country; nobility does not + belong exclusively to any race, and through all the ages, there have been + a few great and tender souls blossoming in love and pity. + </p> + <p> + In my judgment, the woman is the equal of the man. She has all the rights + I have and one more, and that is the right to be protected. That is my + doctrine. You are married; try and make the woman you love happy. Whoever + marries simply for himself will make a mistake; but whoever loves a woman + so well that he says "I will make her happy," makes no mistake. And so + with the woman who says, "I will make him happy." There is only one way to + be happy, and that is to make somebody else so, and you cannot be happy by + going cross lots; you have got to go the regular turnpike road. + </p> + <p> + If there is any man I detest, it is the man who thinks he is the head of a + family—the man who thinks he is "boss!" The fellow in the dug-out + used that word "boss;" that was one of his favorite expressions. + </p> + <p> + Imagine a young man and a young woman courting, walking out in the + moonlight, and the nightingale singing a song of pain and love, as though + the thorn touched her heart—imagine them stopping there in the + moonlight and starlight and song, and saying, "Now, here, let us settle + who is 'boss!'" I tell you it is an infamous word and an infamous feeling—I + abhor a man who is "boss," who is going to govern in his family, and when + he speaks orders all the rest to be still as some mighty idea is about to + be launched from his mouth. Do you know I dislike this man unspeakably? + </p> + <p> + I hate above all things a cross man. What right has he to murder the + sunshine of a day? What right has he to assassinate the joy of life? + </p> + <p> + When you go home you ought to go like a ray of light—so that it + will, even in the night, bursty out of the doors and windows and + illuminate the darkness. Some men think their mighty brains have been in a + turmoil; they have been thinking about who will be alderman from the fifth + ward; they have been thinking about politics; great and mighty questions + have been engaging their minds; they have bought calico at five cents or + six, and want to sell it for seven. Think of the intellectual strain that + must have been upon that man, and when he gets home everybody else in the + house must look out for his comfort. A woman who has only taken care of + five or six children, and one or two of them sick, has been nursing them + and singing to them, and trying to make one yard of cloth do the work of + two, she, of course, is fresh and fine and ready to wait upon this + gentleman—the head of the family—the boss! + </p> + <p> + Do you know another thing? I despise a stingy man. I do not see how it is + possible for a man to die worth fifty million of dollars, or ten million + of dollars, in a city full of want, when he meets almost every day the + withered hand of beggary and the white lips of famine. How a man can + withstand all that, and hold in the clutch of his greed twenty or thirty + million of dollars, is past my comprehension. I do not see how he can do + it. I should not think he could do it any more than he could keep a pile + of lumber on the beach, where hundreds and thousands of men were drowning + in the sea. + </p> + <p> + Do you know that I have known men who would trust their wives with their + hearts and their honor but not with their pocketbook; not with a dollar. + When I see a man of that kind, I always think he knows which of these + articles is the most valuable. Think of making your wife a beggar! Think + of her having to ask you every day for a dollar, or for two dollars or + fifty cents! "What did you do with that dollar I gave you last week?" + Think of having a wife that is afraid of you! What kind of children do you + expect to have with a beggar and a coward for their mother? Oh, I tell you + if you have but a dollar in the world, and you have got to spend it, spend + it like a king; spend it as though it were a dry leaf and you the owner of + unbounded forests! That's the way to spend it! I had rather be a beggar + and spend my last dollar like a king, than be a king and spend my money + like a beggar! If it has got to go, let it go! + </p> + <p> + Get the best you can for your family—try to look as well as you can + yourself. When you used to go courting, how elegantly you looked! Ah, your + eye was bright, your step was light, and you looked like a prince. Do you + know that it is insufferable egotism in you to suppose a woman is going to + love you always looking as slovenly as you can! Think of it! Any good + woman on earth will be true to you forever when you do your level best. + </p> + <p> + Some people tell me, "Your doctrine about loving, and wives, and all that, + is splendid for the rich, but it won't do for the poor." I tell you + to-night there is more love in the homes of the poor than in the palaces + of the rich. The meanest hut with love in it is a palace fit for the gods, + and a palace without love is a den only fit for wild beasts. That is my + doctrine! You cannot be so poor that you cannot help somebody. Good nature + is the cheapest commodity in the world; and love is the only thing that + will pay ten per cent, to borrower and lender both. Do not tell me that + you have got to be rich! We have a false standard of greatness in the + United States. We think here that a man must be great, that he must be + notorious; that he must be extremely wealthy, or that his name must be + upon the putrid lips of rumor. It is all a mistake. It is not necessary to + be rich or to be great, or to be powerful, to be happy. The happy man is + the successful man. + </p> + <p> + Happiness is the legal tender of the soul. + </p> + <p> + Joy is wealth. + </p> + <p> + A little while ago, I stood by the grave of the old Napoleon—a + magnificent tomb of gilt and gold, fit almost for a dead deity—and + gazed upon the sarcophagus of rare and nameless marble, where rest at last + the ashes of that restless man. I leaned over the balustrade and thought + about the career of the greatest soldier of the modern world. + </p> + <p> + I saw him walking upon the banks of the Seine, contemplating suicide. I + saw him at Toulon—I saw him putting down the mob in the streets of + Paris—I saw him at the head of the army of Italy—I saw him + crossing the bridge of Lodi with the tri-color in his hand—I saw him + in Egypt in the shadows of the pyramids—I saw him conquer the Alps + and mingle the eagles of France with the eagles of the crags. I saw him at + Marengo—at Ulm and Austerlitz. I saw him in Russia, where the + infantry of the snow and the cavalry of the wild blast scattered his + legions like winter's withered leaves. I saw him at Leipsic in defeat and + disaster—driven by a million bayonets back upon Paris—clutched + like a wild beast—banished to Elba. I saw him escape and retake an + empire by the force of his genius. I saw him upon the frightful field of + Waterloo, where Chance and Fate combined to wreck the fortunes of their + former king. And I saw him at St. Helena, with his hands crossed behind + him, gazing out upon the sad and solemn sea. + </p> + <p> + I thought of the orphans and widows he had made—of the tears that + had been shed for his glory, and of the only woman who ever loved him, + pushed from his heart by the cold hand of ambition. And I said I would + rather have been a French peasant and worn wooden shoes. I would rather + have lived in a hut with a vine growing over the door, and the grapes + growing purple in the kisses of the autumn sun. I would rather have been + that poor peasant with my loving wife by my side, knitting as the day died + out of the sky—with my children upon my knees and their arms about + me—I would rather have been that man and gone down to the tongueless + silence of the dreamless dust, than to have been that imperial + impersonation of force and murder, known as "Napoleon the Great." + </p> + <p> + It is not necessary to be great to be happy; it is not necessary to be + rich to be just and generous and to have a heart filled with divine + affection. No matter whether you are rich or poor, treat your wife as + though she were a splendid flower, and she will fill your life with + perfume and with joy. + </p> + <p> + And do you know, it is a splendid thing to think that the woman you really + love will never grow old to you. Through the wrinkles of time, through the + mask of years, if you really love her, you will always see the face you + loved and won. And a woman who really loves a man does not see that he + grows old; he is not decrepit to her; he does not tremble; he is not old; + she always sees the same gallant gentleman who won her hand and heart. I + like to think of it in that way; I like to think that love is eternal. And + to love in that way and then go down the hill of life together, and as you + go down, hear, perhaps, the laughter of grandchildren, while the birds of + joy and love sing once more in the leafless branches of the tree of age. + </p> + <p> + I believe in the fireside. I believe in the democracy of home. I believe + in the republicanism of the family. I believe in liberty, equality and + love. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0011" id="link0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE LIBERTY OF CHILDREN. + </h2> + <p> + If women have been slaves, what shall I say of children; of the little + children in alleys and sub-cellars; the little children who turn pale when + they hear their fathers' footsteps; little children who run away when they + only hear their names called by the lips of a mother; little children—the + children of poverty, the children of crime, the children of brutality, + wherever they are—flotsam and jetsam upon the wild, mad sea of life—my + heart goes out to them, one and all. + </p> + <p> + I tell you the children have the same rights that we have, and we ought to + treat them as though they were human beings. They should be reared with + love, with kindness, with tenderness, and not with brutality. That is my + idea of children. + </p> + <p> + When your little child tells a lie, do not rush at him as though the world + were about to go into bankruptcy. Be honest with him. A tyrant father will + have liars for his children; do you know that? + </p> + <p> + A lie is born of tyranny upon the one hand and weakness upon the other, + and when you rush at a poor little boy with a club in your hand, of course + he lies. + </p> + <p> + I thank thee, Mother Nature, that thou hast put ingenuity enough in the + brain of a child, when attacked by a brutal parent, to throw up a little + breastwork in the shape of a lie. + </p> + <p> + When one of your children tells a lie, be honest with him; tell him that + you have told hundreds of them yourself. Tell him it is not the best way; + that you have tried it. Tell him as the man did in Maine when his boy left + home: "John, honesty is the best policy; I have tried both." Be honest + with him. Suppose a man as much larger than you as you are larger than a + child five years old, should come at you with a liberty pole in his hand, + and in a voice of thunder shout, "Who broke that plate?" There is not a + solitary one of you who would not swear you never saw it, or that it was + cracked when you got it. Why not be honest with these children? Just + imagine a man who deals in stocks whipping his boy for putting false + rumors afloat! Think of a lawyer beating his own flesh and blood for + evading the truth when he makes half of his own living that way! Think of + a minister punishing his child for not telling all he thinks! Just think + of it! + </p> + <p> + When your child commits a wrong, take it in your arms; let it feel your + heart beat against its heart; let the child know that you really and truly + and sincerely love it. Yet some Christians, good Christians, when a child + commits a fault, drive it from the door and say: "Never do you darken this + house again." Think of that! And then these same people will get down on + their knees and ask God to take care of the child they have driven from + home. I will never ask God to take care of my children unless I am doing + my level best in that same direction. + </p> + <p> + But I will tell you what I say to my children: "Go where you will; commit + what crime you may; fall to what depth of degradation you may; you can + never commit any crime that will shut my door, my arms, or my heart to + you. As long as I live you shall have one sincere friend." + </p> + <p> + Do you know that I have seen some people who acted as though they thought + that when the Savior said "Suffer little children to come unto me, for of + such is the kingdom of heaven," he had a raw-hide under his mande, and + made that remark simply to get the children within striking distance? + </p> + <p> + I do not believe in the government of the lash, if any one of you ever + expects to whip your children again, I want you to have a photograph taken + of yourself when you are in the act, with your face red with vulgar anger, + and the face of the little child, with eyes swimming in tears and the + little chin dimpled with fear, like a piece of water struck by a sudden + cold wind. Have the picture taken. If that little child should die, I + cannot think of a sweeter way to spend an autumn afternoon than to go out + to the cemetery, when the maples are clad in tender gold, and little + scarlet runners are coming, like poems of regret, from the sad heart of + the earth—and sit down upon the grave and look at that photograph, + and think of the flesh now dust that you beat. I tell you it is wrong; it + is no way to raise children! Make your home happy. Be honest with them. + Divide fairly with them in everything. + </p> + <p> + Give them a little liberty and love, and you can not drive them out of + your house. They will want to stay there. Make home pleasant. Let them + play any game they wish. Do not be so foolish as to say: "You may roll + balls on the ground, but you must not roll them on a green cloth. You may + knock them with a mallet, but you must not push them with a cue. You may + play with little pieces of paper which have 'authors' written on them, but + you must not have 'cards.'" Think of it! "You may go to a minstrel show + where people blacken themselves and imitate humanity below them, but you + must not go to a theatre and see the characters created by immortal genius + put upon the stage." Why? Well, I can't think of any reason in the world + except "minstrel" is a word of two syllables, and "theatre" has three. + </p> + <p> + Let children have some daylight at home if you want to keep them there, + and do not commence at the cradle and shout "Don't!" "Don't!" "Stop!" That + is nearly all that is said to a child from the cradle until he is + twenty-one years old, and when he comes of age other people begin saying + "Don't!" And the church says "Don't!" and the party he belongs to says + "Don't!" + </p> + <p> + I despise that way of going through this world. Let us have liberty—just + a little. Call me infidel, call me atheist, call me what you will, I + intend so to treat my children, that they can come to my grave and + truthfully say: "He who sleeps here never gave us a moment of pain. From + his lips, now dust, never came to us an unkind word." + </p> + <p> + People justify all kinds of tyranny toward children upon the ground that + they are totally depraved. At the bottom of ages of cruelty lies this + infamous doctrine of total depravity. Religion contemplates a child as a + living crime—heir to an infinite curse—doomed to eternal fire. + </p> + <p> + In the olden time, they thought some days were too good for a child to + enjoy himself. When I was a boy Sunday was considered altogether too holy + to be happy in. Sunday used to commence then when the sun went down on + Saturday night. We commenced at that time for the purpose of getting a + good ready, and when the sun fell below the horizon on Saturday evening, + there was a darkness fell upon the house ten thousand times deeper than + that of night. Nobody said a pleasant word; nobody laughed; nobody smiled; + the child that looked the sickest was regarded as the most pious. That + night you could not even crack hickory nuts. If you were caught chewing + gum it was only another evidence of the total depravity of the human + heart. It was an exceedingly solemn night. + </p> + <p> + Dyspepsia was in the very air you breathed. Everybody looked sad and + mournful. I have noticed all my life that many people think they have + religion when they are troubled with dyspepsia. If there could be found an + absolute specific for that disease, it would be the hardest blow the + church has ever received. + </p> + <p> + On Sunday morning the solemnity had simply increased. Then we went to + church. The minister was in a pulpit about twenty feet high, with a little + sounding-board above him, and he commenced at "firstly" and went on and on + and on to about "twenty-thirdly." Then he made a few remarks by way of + application; and then took a general view of the subject, and in about two + hours reached the last chapter in Revelation. + </p> + <p> + In those days, no matter how cold the weather was, there was no fire in + the church. It was thought to be a kind of sin to be comfortable while you + were thanking God. The first church that ever had a stove in it in New + England, divided on that account. So the first church in which they sang + by note, was torn in fragments. + </p> + <p> + After the sermon we had an intermission. Then came the catechism with the + chief end of man. We went through with that. We sat in a row with our feet + coming in about six inches of the floor. The minister asked us if we knew + that we all deserved to go to hell, and we all answered "Yes." Then we + were asked if we would be willing to go to hell if it was God's will, and + every little liar shouted "Yes." Then the same sermon was preached once + more, commencing at the other end and going back. After that, we started + for home, sad and solemn—overpowered with the wisdom displayed in + the scheme of the atonement. When we got home, if we had been good boys, + and the weather was warm, sometimes they would take us out to the + graveyard to cheer us up a little. It did cheer me. When I looked at the + sunken tombs and the leaning stones, and read the half-effaced + inscriptions through the moss of silence and forgetfulness, it was a great + comfort. The reflection came to my mind that the observance of the Sabbath + could not last always. Sometimes they would sing that beautiful hymn in + which occurs these cheerful lines: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Where congregations ne'er break up, + And Sabbaths never end." +</pre> + <p> + These lines, I think, prejudiced me a little against even heaven. Then we + had good books that we read on Sundays by way of keeping us happy and + contented. There were Milners' "History of the Waldenses," Baxter's "Call + to the Unconverted," Yahn's "Archaeology of the Jews," and Jenkyns' "On + the Atonement." I used to read Jenkyns' "On the Atonement." I have often + thought that an atonement would have to be exceedingly broad in its + provisions to cover the case of a man who would write a book like that for + a boy. + </p> + <p> + But at last the Sunday wore away, and the moment the sun went down we were + free. Between three and four o'clock we would go out to see how the sun + was coming on. Sometimes it seemed to me that it was stopping from pure + meanness. But finally it went down. It had to. And when the last rim of + light sank below the horizon, off would go our caps, and we would give + three cheers for liberty once more. + </p> + <p> + Sabbaths used to be prisons. Every Sunday was a Bastile. Every Christian + was a kind of turnkey, and every child was a prisoner,—a convict. In + that dungeon, a smile was a crime. + </p> + <p> + It was thought wrong for a child to laugh upon this holy day. Think of + that! + </p> + <p> + A little child would go out into the garden, and there would be a tree + laden with blossoms, and the little fellow would lean against it, and + there would be a bird on one of the boughs, singing and swinging, and + thinking about four little speckled eggs, warmed by the breast of its + mate,—singing and swinging, and the music in happy waves rippling + out of its tiny throat, and the flowers blossoming, the air filled with + perfume and the great white clouds floating in the sky, and the little boy + would lean up against that tree and think about hell and the worm that + never dies. + </p> + <p> + I have heard them preach, when I sat in the pew and my feet did not touch + the floor, about the final home of the unconverted. In order to impress + upon the children the length of time they would probably stay if they + settled in that country, the preacher would frequently give us the + following illustration: "Suppose that once in a billion years a bird + should come from some far-distant planet, and carry off in its little bill + a grain of sand, a time would finally come when the last atom composing + this earth would be carried away; and when this last atom was taken, it + would not even be sun up in hell." Think of such an infamous doctrine + being taught to children! + </p> + <p> + The laugh of a child will make the holiest day-more sacred still. Strike, + with hand of fire, O weird musician, thy harp strung with Apollo's golden + hair; fill the vast cathedral aisles with symphonies sweet and dim, deft + toucher of the organ keys; blow, bugler, blow, until thy silver notes do + touch and kiss the moonlit waves, and charm the lovers wandering 'mid the + vine-clad hills. But know, your sweetest strains are discords all, + compared with childhood's happy laugh—the laugh that fills the eyes + with light and every heart with joy. O rippling river of laughter, thou + art the blessed boundary line between the beasts and men; and every + wayward wave of thine doth drown some fretful fiend of care. O Laughter, + rose-lipped daughter of Joy, there are dimples enough in thy cheeks to + catch and hold and glorify all the tears of grief. + </p> + <p> + And yet the minds of children have been polluted by this infamous doctrine + of eternal punishment. I denounce it to-day as a doctrine, the infamy of + which no language is sufficient to express. + </p> + <p> + Where did that doctrine of eternal punishment for men and women and + children come from? It came from the low and beastly skull of that wretch + in the dug-out. Where did he get it? It was a souvenir from the animals. + The doctrine of eternal punishment was born in the glittering eyes of + snakes—snakes that hung in fearful coils watching for their prey. It + was born of the howl and bark and growl of wild beasts. It was born of the + grin of hyenas and of the depraved chatter of unclean baboons. I despise + it with every drop of my blood. Tell me there is a God in the serene + heavens that will damn his children for the expression of an honest + belief! More men have died in their sins, judged by your orthodox creeds, + than there are leaves on all the forests in the wide world ten thousand + times over. Tell me these men are in hell; that these men are in torment; + that these children are in eternal pain, and that they are to be punished + forever and forever! I denounce this doctrine as the most infamous of + lies. + </p> + <p> + When the great ship containing the hopes and aspirations of the world, + when the great ship freighted with mankind goes down in the night of + death, chaos and disaster, I am willing to go down with the ship. I will + not be guilty of the ineffable meanness of paddling away in some orthodox + canoe. I will go down with the ship, with those who love me, and with + those whom I have loved. If there is a God who will damn his children + forever, I would rather go to hell than to go to heaven and keep the + society of such an infamous tyrant. I make my choice now. I despise that + doctrine. It has covered the cheeks of this world with tears. It has + polluted the hearts of children, and poisoned the imaginations of men. It + has been a constant pain, a perpetual terror to every good man and woman + and child. It has filled the good with horror and with fear; but it has + had no effect upon the infamous and base. It has wrung the hearts of the + tender; it has furrowed the cheeks of the good. This doctrine never should + be preached again. What right have you, sir, Mr. clergyman, you, minister + of the gospel, to stand at the portals of the tomb, at the vestibule of + eternity, and fill the future with horror and with fear? I do not believe + this doctrine: neither do you. If you did, you could not sleep one moment. + Any man who believes it, and has within his breast a decent, throbbing + heart, will go insane. A man who believes that doctrine and does not go + insane has the heart of a snake and the conscience of a hyena. + </p> + <p> + Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is true, is now + in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he hears the cries of the + damned, preached this doctrine; and he said: "Can the believing husband in + heaven be happy with his unbelieving wife in hell? Can the believing + father in heaven be happy with his unbelieving children in hell? Can the + loving wife in heaven be happy with her unbelieving husband in hell?" And + he replies: "I tell you, yea. Such will be their sense of justice, that it + will increase rather than diminish their bliss." There is no wild beast in + the jungles of Africa whose reputation would not be tarnished by the + expression of such a doctrine. + </p> + <p> + These doctrines have been taught in the name of religion, in the name of + universal forgiveness, in the name of infinite love and charity. Do not, I + pray you, soil the minds of your children with this dogma. Let them read + for themselves; let them think for themselves. + </p> + <p> + Do not treat your children like orthodox posts to be set in a row. Treat + them like trees that need light and sun and air. Be fair and honest with + them; give them a chance. Recollect that their rights are equal to yours. + Do not have it in your mind that you must govern them; that they must + obey. Throw away forever the idea of master and slave. + </p> + <p> + In old times they used to make the children go to bed when they were not + sleepy, and get up when they were sleepy. I say let them go to bed when + they are sleepy, and get up when they are not sleepy. + </p> + <p> + But you say, this doctrine will do for the rich but not for the poor. + Well, if the poor have to waken their children early in the morning it is + as easy to wake them with a kiss as with a blow. Give your children + freedom; let them preserve their individuality. Let your children eat what + they desire, and commence at the end of a dinner they like. That is their + business and not yours. They know what they wish to eat. If they are given + their liberty from the first, they know what they want better than any + doctor in the world can prescribe. Do you know that all the improvement + that has ever been made in the practice of medicine has been made by the + recklessness of patients and not by the doctors? For thousands and + thousands of years the doctors would not let a man suffering from fever + have a drop of water. Water they looked upon as poison. But every now and + then some man got reckless and said, "I had rather die than not to slake + my thirst." Then he would drink two or three quarts of water and get well. + And when the doctor was told of what the patient had done, he expressed + great surprise that he was still alive, and complimented his constitution + upon being able to bear such a frightful strain. The reckless men, + however, kept on drinking the water, and persisted in getting well. And + finally the doctors said: "In a fever, water is the very best thing you + can take." So, I have more confidence in the voice of nature about such + things than I have in the conclusions of the medical schools. + </p> + <p> + Let your children have freedom and they will fall into your ways; they + will do substantially as you do; but if you try to make them, there is + some magnificent, splendid thing in the human heart that refuses to be + driven. And do you know that it is the luckiest thing that ever happened + for this world, that people are that way. What would have become of the + people five hundred years ago if they had followed strictly the advice of + the doctors? They would have all been dead. What would the people have + been, if at any age of the world they had followed implicitly the + direction of the church? They would have all been idiots. It is a splendid + thing that there is always some grand man who will not mind, and who will + think for himself. + </p> + <p> + I believe in allowing the children to think for themselves. I believe in + the democracy of the family. If in this world there is anything splendid, + it is a home where all are equals. + </p> + <p> + You will remember that only a few years ago parents would tell their + children to "let their victuals stop their mouths." They used to eat as + though it were a religious ceremony—a very solemn thing. Life should + not be treated as a solemn matter. I like to see the children at table, + and hear each one telling of the wonderful things he has seen and heard. I + like to hear the clatter of knives and forks and spoons mingling with + their happy voices. I had rather hear it than any opera that was ever put + upon the boards. Let the children have liberty. Be honest and fair with + them; be just; be tender, and they will make you rich in love and joy. + </p> + <p> + Men are oaks, women are vines, children are flowers. + </p> + <p> + The human race has been guilty of almost countless crimes; but I have some + excuse for mankind. This world, after all, is not very well adapted to + raising good people. In the first place, nearly all of it is water. It is + much better adapted to fish culture than to the production of folks. Of + that portion which is land not one-eighth has suitable soil and climate to + produce great men and women. You cannot raise men and women of genius, + without the proper soil and climate, any more than you can raise corn and + wheat upon the ice fields of the Arctic sea. You must have the necessary + conditions and surroundings. Man is a product; you must have the soil and + food. The obstacles presented by nature must not be so great that man + cannot, by reasonable industry and courage, overcome them. There is upon + this world only a narrow belt of land, circling zigzag the globe, upon + which you can produce men and women of talent. In the Southern Hemisphere + the real climate that man needs falls mostly upon the sea, and the result + is, that the southern half of our world has never produced a man or woman + of great genius. In the far north there is no genius—it is too cold. + In the far south there is no genius—it is too warm. There must be + winter, and there must be summer. In a country where man needs no coverlet + but a cloud, revolution is his normal condition. Winter is the mother of + industry and prudence. Above all, it is the mother of the family relation. + Winter holds in its icy arms the husband and wife and the sweet children. + If upon this earth we ever have a glimpse of heaven, it is when we pass a + home in winter, at night, and through the windows, the curtains drawn + aside, we see the family about the pleasant hearth; the old lady knitting; + the cat playing with the yarn; the children wishing they had as many dolls + or dollars or knives or somethings, as there are sparks going out to join + the roaring blast; the father reading and smoking, and the clouds rising + like incense from the altar of domestic joy. I never passed such a house + without feeling that I had received a benediction. + </p> + <p> + Civilization, liberty, justice, charity, intellectual advancement, are all + flowers that blossom in the drifted snow. + </p> + <p> + I do not know that I can better illustrate the great truth that only part + of the world is adapted to the production of great men and women than by + calling your attention to the difference between vegetation in valleys and + upon mountains. In the valley you find the oak and elm tossing their + branches defiantly to the storm, and as you advance up the mountain side + the hemlock, the pine, the birch, the spruce, the fir, and finally you + come to little dwarfed trees, that look like other trees seen through a + telescope reversed—every limb twisted as though in pain—getting + a scanty subsistence from the miserly crevices of the rocks. You go on and + on, until at last the highest crag is freckled with a kind of moss, and + vegetation ends. You might as well try to raise oaks and elms where the + mosses grow, as to raise great men and great women where their + surroundings are unfavorable. You must have the proper climate and soil. + </p> + <p> + A few years ago we were talking about the annexation of Santo Domingo to + this country. I was in Washington at the time. I was opposed to it I was + told that it was a most delicious climate; that the soil produced + everything. But I said: "We do not want it; it is not the right kind of + country in which to raise American citizens. Such a climate would debauch + us. You might go there with five thousand Congregational preachers, five + thousand ruling elders, five thousand professors in colleges, five + thousand of the solid men of Boston and their wives; settle them all in + Santo Domingo, and you will see the second generation riding upon a mule, + bareback, no shoes, a grapevine bridle, hair sticking out at the top of + their sombreros, with a rooster under each arm, going to a cock fight on + Sunday." Such is the influence of climate. + </p> + <p> + Science, however, is gradually widening the area within which men of + genius can be produced. We are conquering the north with houses, clothing, + food and fuel. We are in many ways overcoming the heat of the south. If we + attend to this world instead of another, we may in time cover the land + with men and women of genius. + </p> + <p> + I have still another excuse. I believe that man came up from the lower + animals. I do not say this as a fact. I simply say I believe it to be a + fact. Upon that question I stand about eight to seven, which, for all + practical purposes, is very near a certainty. When I first heard of that + doctrine I did not like it. My heart was filled with sympathy for those + people who have nothing to be proud of except ancestors. I thought, how + terrible this will be upon the nobility of the Old World. Think of their + being forced to trace their ancestry back to the duke Orang Outang, or to + the princess Chimpanzee. After thinking it all over, I came to the + conclusion that I liked that doctrine. I became convinced in spite of + myself. I read about rudimentary bones and muscles. I was told that + everybody had rudimentary muscles extending from the ear into the cheek. I + asked "What are they?" I was told: "They are the remains of muscles; that + they became rudimentary from lack of use; they went into bankruptcy. They + are the muscles with which your ancestors used to flap their ears." I do + not now so much wonder that we once had them as that we have outgrown + them. + </p> + <p> + After all I had rather belong to a race that started from the skull-less + vertebrates in the dim Laurentian seas, vertebrates wiggling without + knowing why they wiggled, swimming without knowing where they were going, + but that in some way began to develop, and began to get a little higher + and a little higher in the scale of existence; that came up by degrees + through millions of ages through all the animal world, through all that + crawls and swims and floats and climbs and walks, and finally produced the + gentleman in the dug-out; and then from this man, getting a little + grander, and each one below calling every one above him a heretic, calling + every one who had made a little advance an infidel or an atheist—for + in the history of this world the man who is ahead has always been called a + heretic—I would rather come from a race that started from that + skull-less vertebrate, and came up and up and up and finally produced + Shakespeare, the man who found the human intellect dwelling in a hut, + touched it with the wand of his genius and it became a palace domed and + pinnacled; Shakespeare, who harvested all the fields of dramatic thought, + and from whose day to this, there have been only gleaners of straw and + chaff—I would rather belong to that race that commenced a skull-less + vertebrate and produced Shakespeare, a race that has before it an infinite + future, with the angel of progress leaning from the far horizon, beckoning + men forward, upward and onward forever—I had rather belong to such a + race, commencing there, producing this, and with that hope, than to have + sprung from a perfect pair upon which the Lord has lost money every moment + from that day to this. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCONC" id="linkCONC"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + CONCLUSION. + </h2> + <p> + I have given you my honest thought. Surely investigation is better than + unthinking faith. Surely reason is a better guide than fear. This world + should be controlled by the living, not by the dead. The grave is not a + throne, and a corpse is not a king. Man should not try to live on ashes. + </p> + <p> + The theologians dead, knew no more than the theologians now living. More + than this cannot be said. About this world little is known,—about + another world, nothing. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers were intellectual serfs, and their fathers were slaves. The + makers of our creeds were ignorant and brutal. Every dogma that we have, + has upon it the mark of whip, the rust of chain, and the ashes of fagot. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers reasoned with instruments of torture. They believed in the + logic of fire and sword. They hated reason. They despised thought. They + abhorred liberty. + </p> + <p> + Superstition is the child of slavery. Free thought will give us truth. + When all have the right to think and to express their thoughts, every + brain will give to all the best it has. The world will then be filled with + intellectual wealth. + </p> + <p> + As long as men and women are afraid of the church, as long as a minister + inspires fear, as long as people reverence a thing simply because they do + not understand it, as long as it is respectable to lose your self-respect, + as long as the church has power, as long as mankind worship a book, just + so long will the world be filled with intellectual paupers and vagrants, + covered with the soiled and faded rags of superstition. + </p> + <p> + As long as woman regards the Bible as the charter of her rights, she will + be the slave of man. The Bible was not written by a woman. Within its lids + there is nothing but humiliation and shame for her. She is regarded as the + property of man. She is made to ask forgiveness for becoming a mother. She + is as much below her husband, as her husband is below Christ. She is not + allowed to speak. The gospel is too pure to be spoken by her polluted + lips. Woman should learn in silence. + </p> + <p> + In the Bible will be found no description of a civilized home. The free + mother surrounded by free and loving children, adored by a free man, her + husband, was unknown to the inspired writers of the Bible. They did not + believe in the democracy of home—in the republicanism of the + fireside. + </p> + <p> + These inspired gentlemen knew nothing of the rights of children. They were + the advocates of brute force—the disciples of the lash. They knew + nothing of human rights. Their doctrines have brutalized the homes of + millions, and filled the eyes of infancy with tears. + </p> + <p> + Let us free ourselves from the tyranny of a book, from the slavery of dead + ignorance, from the aristocracy of the air. + </p> + <p> + There has never been upon the earth a generation of free men and women. It + is not yet time to write a creed. Wait until the chains are broken—until + dungeons are not regarded as temples. Wait until solemnity is not mistaken + for wisdom—until mental cowardice ceases to be known as reverence. + Wait until the living are considered the equals of the dead—until + the cradle takes precedence of the coffin. Wait until what we know can be + spoken without regard to what others may believe. Wait until teachers take + the place of preachers—until followers become investigators. Wait + until the world is free before you write a creed. + </p> + <p> + In this creed there will be but one word—Liberty. + </p> + <p> + Oh Liberty, float not forever in the far horizon—remain not forever + in the dream of the enthusiast, the philanthropist and poet, but come and + make thy home among the children of men! + </p> + <p> + I know not what discoveries, what inventions, what thoughts may leap from + the brain of the world. I know not what garments of glory may be woven by + the years to come. I cannot dream of the victories to be won upon the + fields of thought; but I do know, that coming from the infinite sea of the + future, there will never touch this "bank and shoal of time" a richer + gift, a rarer blessing than liberty for man, for woman, and for child. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0013" id="link0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS + </h2> + <p> + To Plow is to Pray—to Plant is to Prophesy, and the Harvest Answers + and Fulfills. + </p> + <p> + I AM not an old and experienced farmer, nor a tiller of the soil, nor one + of the hard-handed sons of labor. I imagine, however, that I know + something about cultivating the soil, and getting happiness out of the + ground. + </p> + <p> + I know enough to know that agriculture is the basis of all wealth, + prosperity and luxury. I know that in a country where the tillers of the + fields are free, everybody is free and ought to be prosperous. Happy is + that country where those who cultivate the land own it. Patriotism is born + in the woods and fields—by lakes and streams—by crags and + plains. + </p> + <p> + The old way of farming was a great mistake. Everything was done the wrong + way. It was all work and waste, weariness and want. They used to fence a + hundred and sixty acres of land with a couple of dogs. Everything was left + to the protection of the blessed trinity of chance, accident and mistake. + </p> + <p> + When I was a farmer they used to haul wheat two hundred miles in wagons + and sell it for thirty-five cents a bushel. They would bring home about + three hundred feet of lumber, two bunches of shingles, a barrel of salt, + and a cook-stove that never would draw and never did bake. + </p> + <p> + In those blessed days the people lived on corn and bacon. Cooking was an + unknown art. Eating was a necessity, not a pleasure. It was hard work for + the cook to keep on good terms even with hunger. + </p> + <p> + We had poor houses. The rain held the roofs in perfect contempt, and the + snow drifted joyfully on the floors and beds. They had no barns. The + horses were kept in rail pens surrounded with straw. Long before spring + the sides would be eaten away and nothing but roofs would be left. Food is + fuel. When the cattle were exposed to all the blasts of winter, it took + all the corn and oats that could be stuffed into them to prevent actual + starvation. + </p> + <p> + In those times most farmers thought the best place for the pig-pen was + immediately in front of the house. There is nothing like sociability. + </p> + <p> + Women were supposed to know the art of making fires without fuel. The wood + pile consisted, as a general thing, of one log upon which an axe or two + had been worn out in vain. There was nothing to kindle a fire with. + Pickets were pulled from the garden fence, clap-boards taken from the + house, and every stray plank was seized upon for kindling. Everything was + done in the hardest way. Everything about the farm was disagreeable. + Nothing was kept in order. Nothing was preserved. The wagons stood in the + sun and rain, and the plows rusted in the fields. There was no leisure, no + feeling that the work was done. It was all labor and weariness and + vexation of spirit. The crops were destroyed by wandering herds, or they + were put in too late, or too early, or they were blown down, or caught by + the frost, or devoured by bugs, or stung by flies, or eaten by worms, or + carried away by birds, or dug up by gophers, or washed away by floods, or + dried up by the sun, or rotted in the stack, or heated in the crib, or + they all run to vines, or tops, or straw, or smut, or cobs. And when in + spite of all these accidents that lie in wait between, the plow and the + reaper, they did succeed in raising a good crop and a high price was + offered, then the roads would be impassable. And when the roads got good, + then the prices went down. Everything worked together for evil. + </p> + <p> + Nearly every farmer's boy took an oath that he never would cultivate the + soil. The moment they arrived at the age of twenty-one they left the + desolate and dreary farms and rushed to the towns and cities. They wanted + to be bookkeepers, doctors, merchants, railroad men, insurance agents, + lawyers, even preachers, anything to avoid the drudgery of the farm. + Nearly every boy acquainted with the three R's—reading, writing, and + arithmetic—imagined that he had altogether more education than ought + to be wasted in raising potatoes and corn. They made haste to get into + some other business. Those who stayed upon the farm envied those who went + away. + </p> + <p> + A few years ago the times were prosperous, and the young men went to the + cities to enjoy the fortunes that were waiting for them. They wanted to + engage in something that promised quick returns. They built railways, + established banks and insurance companies. They speculated in stocks in + Wall Street, and gambled in grain at Chicago. They became rich. They lived + in palaces. They rode in carriages. They pitied their poor brothers on the + farms, and the poor brothers envied them. + </p> + <p> + But time has brought its revenge. The farmers have seen the railroad + president a bankrupt, and the road in the hands of a receiver. They have + seen the bank president abscond, and the insurance company a wrecked and + ruined fraud. The only solvent people, as a class, the only independent + people, are the tillers of the soil. + </p> + <p> + Farming must be made more attractive. The comforts of the town must be + added to the beauty of the fields. The sociability of the city must be + rendered possible in the country. + </p> + <p> + Farming has been made repulsive. The farmers have been unsociable and + their homes have been lonely. They have been wasteful and careless. They + have not been proud of their business. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, farming ought to be reasonably profitable. The farmers + have not attended to their own interests. They have been robbed and + plundered in a hundred ways. + </p> + <p> + No farmer can afford to raise corn and oats and hay to sell. He should + sell horses, not oats; sheep, cattle and pork, not corn. He should make + every profit possible out of what he produces. So long as the farmers of + Illinois ship their corn and oats, so long they will be poor,—just + so long will their farms be mortgaged to the insurance companies and banks + of the East,—just so long will they do the work and others reap the + benefit,—just so long will they be poor, and the money lenders grow + rich,—just so long will cunning avarice grasp and hold the net + profits of honest toil. When the farmers of the West ship beef and pork + instead of grain,—when we manufacture here,—when we cease + paying tribute to others, ours will be the most prosperous country in the + world. + </p> + <p> + Another thing—It is just as cheap to raise a good as a poor breed of + cattle. Scrubs will eat just as much as thoroughbreds. If you are not able + to buy Durhams and Alderneys, you can raise the corn breed. By "corn + breed" I mean the cattle that have, for several generations, had enough to + eat, and have been treated with kindness. Every farmer who will treat his + cattle kindly, and feed them all they want, will, in a few years, have + blooded stock on his farm. All blooded stock has been produced in this + way. You can raise good cattle just as you can raise good people. If you + wish to raise a good boy you must give him plenty to eat, and treat him + with kindness. In this way, and in this way only, can good cattle or good + people be produced. + </p> + <p> + Another thing—You must beautify your homes. + </p> + <p> + When I was a farmer it was not fashionable to set out trees, nor to plant + vines. + </p> + <p> + When you visited the farm you were not welcomed by flowers, and greeted by + trees loaded with fruit. Yellow dogs came bounding over the tumbled fence + like wild beasts. There is no sense—there is no profit in such a + life. It is not living. The farmers ought to beautify their homes. There + should be trees and grass and flowers and running vines. Everything should + be kept in order—gates should be on their hinges, and about all + there should be the pleasant air of thrift. In every house there should be + a bath-room. The bath is a civilizer, a refiner, a beautifier. When you + come from the fields tired, covered with dust, nothing is so refreshing. + Above all things, keep clean. It is not necessary to be a pig in order to + raise one. In the cool of the evening, after a day in the field, put on + clean clothes, take a seat under the trees, 'mid the perfume of flowers, + surrounded by your family, and you will know what it is to enjoy life like + a gentleman. + </p> + <p> + In no part of the globe will farming pay better than in Illinois. You are + in the best portion of the earth. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, there + is no such country as yours. The East is hard and stony; the soil is + stingy. The far West is a desert parched and barren, dreary and desolate + as perdition would be with the fires out. It is better to dig wheat and + corn from the soil than gold. Only a few days ago, I was where they wrench + the precious metals from the miserly clutch of the rocks. When I saw the + mountains, treeless, shrub-less, flowerless, without even a spire of + grass, it seemed to me that gold had the same effect upon the country that + holds it, as upon the man who lives and labors only for that. It affects + the land as it does the man. It leaves the heart barren without a flower + of kindness—without a blossom of pity. + </p> + <p> + The farmer in Illinois has the best soil—the greatest return for the + least labor—more leisure—more time for enjoyment than any + other farmer in the world. His hard work ceases with autumn. He has the + long winters in which to become acquainted with his family—with his + neighbors—in which to read and keep abreast with the advanced + thought of his day. He has the time and means for self-culture. He has + more time than the mechanic, the merchant or the professional man. If the + farmer is not well informed it is his own fault. Books are cheap, and + every farmer can have enough to give him the outline of every science, and + an idea of all that has been accomplished by man. + </p> + <p> + In many respects the farmer has the advantage of the mechanic. In our time + we have plenty of mechanics but no tradesmen. In the sub-division of labor + we have a thousand men working upon different parts of the same thing, + each taught in one particular branch, and in only one. We have, say, in a + shoe factory, hundreds of men, but not one shoemaker. It takes them all, + assisted by a great number of machines, to make a shoe. Each does a + particular part, and not one of them knows the entire trade. The result is + that the moment the factory shuts down these men are out of employment. + Out of employment means out of bread—out of bread means famine and + horror. The mechanic of to-day has but little independence. His prosperity + often depends upon the good will of one man. He is liable to be discharged + for a look, for a word. He lays by but little for his declining years. He + is, at the best, the slave of capital. + </p> + <p> + It is a thousand times better to be a whole farmer than part of a + mechanic. It is better to till the ground and work for yourself than to be + hired by corporations. Every man should endeavor to belong to himself. + </p> + <p> + About seven hundred years ago, Khayyam, a Persian, said: "Why should a man + who possesses a piece of bread securing life for two days, and who has a + cup of water—why should such a man be commanded by another, and why + should such a man serve another?" + </p> + <p> + Young men should not be satisfied with a salary. Do not mortgage the + possibilities of your future. Have the courage to take life as it comes, + feast or famine. Think of hunting a gold mine for a dollar a day, and + think of finding one for another man. How would you feel then? + </p> + <p> + We are lacking in true courage, when, for fear of the future, we take the + crusts and scraps and niggardly salaries of the present. I had a thousand + times rather have a farm and be independent, than to be President of the + United States without independence, filled with doubt and trembling, + feeling of the popular pulse, resorting to art and artifice, enquiring + about the wind of opinion, and succeeding at last in losing my + self-respect without gaining the respect of others. + </p> + <p> + Man needs more manliness, more real independence. We must take care of + ourselves. This we can do by labor, and in this way we can preserve our + independence. We should try and choose that business or profession the + pursuit of which will give us the most happiness. Happiness is wealth. We + can be happy without being rich—without holding office—without + being famous. I am not sure that we can be happy with wealth, with office, + or with fame. + </p> + <p> + There is a quiet about the life of a farmer, and the hope of a serene old + age, that no other business or profession can promise. A professional man + is doomed sometime to feel that his powers are waning. He is doomed to see + younger and stronger men pass him in the race of life. He looks forward to + an old age of intellectual mediocrity. He will be last where once he was + the first. But the farmer goes, as it were, into partnership with nature—he + lives with trees and flowers—he breathes the sweet air of the + fields. There is no constant and frightful strain upon his mind. His + nights are filled with sleep and rest. He watches his flocks and herds as + they feed upon the green and sunny slopes. He hears the pleasant rain + falling upon the waving corn, and the trees he planted in youth rustle + above him as he plants others for the children yet to be. + </p> + <p> + Our country is filled with the idle and unemployed, and the great question + asking for an answer is: What shall be done with these men? What shall + these men do? To this there is but one answer: They must cultivate the + soil. Farming must be rendered more attractive. Those who work the land + must have an honest pride in their business. They must educate their + children to cultivate the soil. They must make farming easier, so that + their children will not hate it—so that they will not hate it + themselves. The boys must not be taught that tilling the ground is a curse + and almost a disgrace. They must not suppose that education is thrown away + upon them unless they become ministers, merchants, lawyers, doctors, or + statesmen. It must be understood that education can be used to advantage + on a farm. We must get rid of the idea that a little learning unfits one + for work. There is no real conflict between Latin and labor. There are + hundreds of graduates of Yale and Harvard and other colleges, who are + agents of sewing machines, solicitors for insurance, clerks, copyists, in + short, performing a hundred varieties of menial service. They seem willing + to do anything that is not regarded as work—anything that can be + done in a town, in the house, in an office, but they avoid farming as they + would a leprosy. Nearly every young man educated in this way is simply + ruined. Such an education ought to be called ignorance. It is a thousand + times better to have common sense without education, than education + without the sense. Boys and girls should be educated to help themselves. + They should be taught that it is disgraceful to be idle, and dishonorable + to be useless. + </p> + <p> + I say again, if you want more men and women on the farms, something must + be done to make farm life pleasant. One great difficulty is that the farm + is lonely. People write about the pleasures of solitude, but they are + found only in books. He who lives long alone becomes insane. A hermit is a + madman. Without friends and wife and child, there is nothing left worth + living for. The unsocial are the enemies of joy. They are filled with + egotism and envy, with vanity and hatred. People who live much alone + become narrow and suspicious. They are apt to be the property of one idea. + They begin to think there is no use in anything. They look upon the + happiness of others as a kind of folly. They hate joyous folks, because, + way down in their hearts, they envy them. + </p> + <p> + In our country, farm-life is too lonely. The farms are large, and + neighbors are too far apart. In these days, when the roads are filled with + "tramps," the wives and children need protection. When the farmer leaves + home and goes to some distant field to work, a shadow of fear is upon his + heart all day, and a like shadow rests upon all at home. + </p> + <p> + In the early settlement of our country the pioneer was forced to take his + family, his axe, his dog and his gun, and go into the far wild forest, and + build his cabin miles and miles from any neighbor. He saw the smoke from + his hearth go up alone in all the wide and lonely sky. + </p> + <p> + But this necessity has passed away, and now, instead of living so far + apart upon the lonely farms, you should live in villages. With the + improved machinery which you have—with your generous soil—with + your markets and means of transportation, you can now afford to live + together. + </p> + <p> + It is not necessary in this age of the world for the farmer to rise in the + middle of the night and begin his work. This getting up so early in the + morning is a relic of barbarism. It has made hundreds and thousands of + young men curse the business. There is no need of getting up at three or + four o'clock in the winter morning. The farmer who persists in doing it + and persists in dragging his wife and children from their beds ought to be + visited by a missionary. It is time enough to rise after the sun has set + the example. For what purpose do you get up? To feed the cattle? Why not + feed them more the night before? It is a waste of life. In the old times + they used to get up about three o'clock in the morning, and go to work + long before the sun had risen with "healing upon his wings," and as a just + punishment they all had the ague; and they ought to have it now. The man + who cannot get a living upon Illinois soil without rising before daylight + ought to starve. Eight hours a day is enough for any farmer to work except + in harvest time. When you rise at four and work till dark what is life + worth? Of what use are all the improvements in farming? Of what use is all + the improved machinery unless it tends to give the farmer a little more + leisure? What is harvesting now, compared with what it was in the old + time? Think of the days of reaping, of cradling, of raking and binding and + mowing. Think of threshing with the flail and winnowing with the wind. And + now think of the reapers and mowers, the binders and threshing machines, + the plows and cultivators, upon which the farmer rides protected from the + sun. If, with all these advantages, you cannot get a living without rising + in the middle of the night, go into some other business. You should not + rob your families of sleep. Sleep is the best medicine in the world. It is + the best doctor upon the earth. There is no such thing as health without + plenty of sleep. Sleep until you are thoroughly rested and restored. When + you work, work; and when you get through take a good, long, and refreshing + rest. + </p> + <p> + You should live in villages, so that you can have the benefits of social + life. You can have a reading-room—you can take the best papers and + magazines—you can have plenty of books, and each one can have the + benefit of them all. Some of the young men and women can cultivate music. + You can have social gatherings—you can learn from each other—you + can discuss all topics of interest, and in this way you can make farming a + delightful business. You must keep up with the age. The way to make + farming respectable is for farmers to become really intelligent. They must + live intelligent and happy lives. They must know something of books and + something of what is going on in the world. They must not be satisfied + with knowing something of the affairs of a neighborhood and nothing about + the rest of the earth. The business must be made attractive, and it never + can be until the farmer has prosperity, intelligence and leisure. + </p> + <p> + Another thing—I am a believer in fashion. It is the duty of every + woman to make herself as beautiful and attractive as she possibly can. + </p> + <p> + "Handsome is as handsome does," but she is much handsomer if well dressed. + Every man should look his very best. I am a believer in good clothes. The + time never ought to come in this country when you can tell a farmer's wife + or daughter simply by the garments she wears. I say to every girl and + woman, no matter what the material of your dress may be, no matter how + cheap and coarse it is, cut it and make it in the fashion. I believe in + jewelry. Some people look upon it as barbaric, but in my judgment, wearing + jewelry is the first evidence the barbarian gives of a wish to be + civilized. To adorn ourselves seems to be a part of our nature, and this + desire seems to be everywhere and in everything. I have sometimes thought + that the desire for beauty covers the earth with flowers. It is this + desire that paints the wings of moths, tints the chamber of the shell, and + gives the bird its plumage and its song. Oh daughters and wives, if you + would be loved, adorn yourselves—if you would be adored, be + beautiful! + </p> + <p> + There is another fault common with the farmers of our country—they + want too much land. You cannot, at present, when taxes are high, afford to + own land that you do not cultivate. Sell it and let others make farms and + homes. In this way what you keep will be enhanced in value. Farmers ought + to own the land they cultivate, and cultivate what they own. Renters can + hardly be called farmers. There can be no such thing in the highest sense + as a home unless you own it. There must be an incentive to plant trees, to + beautify the grounds, to preserve and improve. It elevates a man to own a + home. It gives a certain independence, a force of character that is + obtained in no other way. A man without a home feels like a passenger. + There is in such a man a little of the vagrant. Homes make patriots. He + who has sat by his own fireside with wife and children will defend it. + When he hears the word country pronounced, he thinks of his home. + </p> + <p> + Few men have been patriotic enough to shoulder a musket in defence of a + boarding house. + </p> + <p> + The prosperity and glory of our country depend upon the number of our + people who are the owners of homes. Around the fireside cluster the + private and the public virtues of our race. Raise your sons to be + independent through labor—to pursue some business for themselves and + upon their own account—to be self-reliant—to act upon their + own responsibility, and to take the consequences like men. Teach them + above all things to be good, true and tender husbands—winners of + love and builders of homes. + </p> + <p> + A great many farmers seem to think that they are the only laborers in the + world. This is a very foolish thing. Farmers cannot get along without the + mechanic. You are not independent of the man of genius. Your prosperity + depends upon the inventor. The world advances by the assistance of all + laborers; and all labor is under obligations to the inventions of genius. + The inventor does as much for agriculture as he who tills the soil. All + laboring men should be brothers. You are in partnership with the mechanics + who make your reapers, your mowers and your plows; and you should take + into your granges all the men who make their living by honest labor. The + laboring people should unite and should protect themselves against all + idlers. You can divide mankind into two classes: the laborers and the + idlers, the supporters and the supported, the honest and the dishonest. + Every man is dishonest who lives upon the unpaid labor of others, no + matter if he occupies a throne. All laborers should be brothers. The + laborers should have equal rights before the world and before the law. And + I want every farmer to consider every man who labors either with hand or + brain as his brother. Until genius and labor formed a partnership there + was no such thing as prosperity among men. Every reaper and mower, every + agricultural implement, has elevated the work of the farmer, and his + vocation grows grander with every invention. In the olden time the + agriculturist was ignorant; he knew nothing of machinery, he was the slave + of superstition. He was always trying to appease some imaginary power by + fasting and prayer. He supposed that some being actuated by malice, sent + the untimely frost, or swept away with the wild wind his rude abode. To + him the seasons were mysteries. The thunder told him of an enraged god—the + barren fields of the vengeance of heaven. The tiller of the soil lived in + perpetual and abject fear. He knew nothing of mechanics, nothing of order, + nothing of law, nothing of cause and effect. He was a superstitious + savage. He invented prayers instead of plows, creeds instead of reapers + and mowers. He was unable to devote all his time to the gods, and so he + hired others to assist him, and for their influence with the gentlemen + supposed to control the weather, he gave one-tenth of all he could + produce. + </p> + <p> + The farmer has been elevated through science and he should not forget the + debt he owes to the mechanic, to the inventor, to the thinker. He should + remember that all laborers belong to the same grand family—that they + are the real kings and queens, the only true nobility. + </p> + <p> + Another idea entertained by most farmers is that they are in some + mysterious way oppressed by every other kind of business—that they + are devoured by monopolies, especially by railroads. + </p> + <p> + Of course, the railroads are indebted to the farmers for their prosperity, + and the farmers are indebted to the railroads. Without them Illinois would + be almost worthless. + </p> + <p> + A few years ago you endeavored to regulate the charges of railroad + companies. The principal complaint you had was that they charged too much + for the transportation of corn and other cereals to the East. You should + remember that all freights are paid by the consumer; and that it made + little difference to you what the railroad charged for transportation to + the East, as that transportation had to be paid by the consumers of the + grain. You were really interested in transportation from the East to the + West and in local freights. The result is that while you have put down + through freights you have not succeeded so well in local freights. The + exact opposite should be the policy of Illinois. Put down local freights; + put them down, if you can, to the lowest possible figure, and let through + rates take care of themselves. If all the corn raised in Illinois could be + transported to New York absolutely free, it would enhance but little the + price that you would receive. What we want is the lowest possible local + rate. Instead of this you have simply succeeded in helping the East at the + expense of the West. The railroads are your friends. They are your + partners. They can prosper only where the country through which they run + prospers. All intelligent railroad men know this. They know that present + robbery is future bankruptcy. They know that the interest of the farmer + and of the railroad is the same. We must have railroads. What can we do + without them? + </p> + <p> + When we had no railroads, we drew, as I said before, our grain two hundred + miles to market. + </p> + <p> + In those days the farmers did not stop at hotels. They slept under their + wagons—took with them their food—fried their own bacon, made + their coffee, and ate their meals in the snow and rain. Those were the + days when they received ten cents a bushel for corn—when they sold + four bushels of potatoes for a quarter—thirty-three dozen eggs for a + dollar, and a hundred pounds of pork for a dollar and a half. + </p> + <p> + What has made the difference? + </p> + <p> + The railroads came to your door and they brought with them the markets of + the world. They brought New York and Liverpool and London into Illinois, + and the State has been clothed with prosperity as with a mantle. It is the + interest of the farmer to protect every great interest in the State. You + should feel proud that Illinois has more railroads than any other State in + this Union. Her main tracks and side tracks would furnish iron enough to + belt the globe. In Illinois there are ten thousand miles of railways. In + these iron highways more than three hundred million dollars have been + invested—a sum equal to ten times the original cost of all the land + in the State. To make war upon the railroads is a short-sighted and + suicidal policy. They should be treated fairly and should be taxed by the + same standard that farms are taxed, and in no other way. If we wish to + prosper we must act together, and we must see to it that every form of + labor is protected. + </p> + <p> + There has been a long period of depression in all business. The farmers + have suffered least of all. Your land is just as rich and productive as + ever. Prices have been reasonable. The towns and cities have suffered. + Stocks and bonds have shrunk from par to worthless paper. Princes have + become paupers, and bankers, merchants and millionaires have passed into + the oblivion of bankruptcy. The period of depression is slowly passing + away, and we are entering upon better times. + </p> + <p> + A great many people say that a scarcity of money is our only difficulty. + In my opinion we have money enough, but we lack confidence in each other + and in the future. + </p> + <p> + There has been so much dishonesty, there have been so many failures, that + the people are afraid to trust anybody. There is plenty of money, but + there seems to be a scarcity of business. If you were to go to the owner + of a ferry, and, upon seeing his boat lying high and dry on the shore, + should say, "There is a superabundance of ferryboat," he would probably + reply, "No, but there is a scarcity of water." So with us there is not a + scarcity of money, but there is a scarcity of business. And this scarcity + springs from lack of confidence in one another. So many presidents of + savings banks, even those belonging to the Young Men's Christian + Association, run off with the funds; so many railroad and insurance + companies are in the hands of receivers; there is so much bankruptcy on + every hand, that all capital is held in the nervous clutch of fear. + Slowly, but surely we are coming back to honest methods in business. + Confidence will return, and then enterprise will unlock the safe and money + will again circulate as of yore; the dollars will leave their hiding + places and every one will be seeking investment. + </p> + <p> + For my part, I do not ask any interference on the part of the Government + except to undo the wrong it has done. I do not ask that money be made out + of nothing. I do not ask for the prosperity born of paper. But I do ask + for the remonetization of silver. Silver was demonetized by fraud. It was + an imposition upon every solvent man; a fraud upon every honest debtor in + the United States. It assassinated labor. It was done in the interest of + avarice and greed, and should be undone by honest men. + </p> + <p> + The farmers should vote only for such men as are able and willing to guard + and advance the interests of labor. We should know better than to vote for + men who will deliberately put a tariff of three dollars a thousand upon + Canada lumber, when every farmer in Illinois is a purchaser of lumber. + People who live upon the prairies ought to vote for cheap lumber. We + should protect ourselves. We ought to have intelligence enough to know + what we want and how to get it. The real laboring men of this country can + succeed if they are united. By laboring men, I do not mean only the + farmers. I mean all who contribute in some way to the general welfare. + They should forget prejudices and party names, and remember only the best + interests of the people. Let us see if we cannot, in Illinois, protect + every department of industry. Let us see if all property cannot be + protected alike and taxed alike, whether owned by individuals or + corporations. + </p> + <p> + Where industry creates and justice protects, prosperity dwells. + </p> + <p> + Let me tell you something more about Illinois. We have fifty-six thousand + square miles of land—nearly thirty-six million acres. Upon these + plains we can raise enough to feed and clothe twenty million people. + Beneath these prairies were hidden millions of ages ago, by that old + miser, the sun, thirty-six thousand square miles of coal. The aggregate + thickness of these veins is at least fifteen feet. Think of a column of + coal one mile square and one hundred miles high! All this came from the + sun. What a sunbeam such a column would be! Think of the engines and + machines this coal will run and turn and whirl! Think of all this force, + willed and left to us by the dead morning of the world! Think of the + firesides of the future around which will sit the fathers, mothers and + children of the years to be! Think of the sweet and happy faces, the + loving and tender eyes that will glow and gleam in the sacred light of all + these flames! + </p> + <p> + We have the best country in the world, and Illinois is the best State in + that country. Is there any reason that our farmers should not be + prosperous and happy men? They have every advantage, and within their + reach are all the comforts and conveniences of life. + </p> + <p> + Do not get the land fever and think you must buy all that joins you. Get + out of debt as soon as you possibly can. A mortgage casts a shadow on the + sunniest field. There is no business under the sun that can pay ten per + cent. + </p> + <p> + Ainsworth R. Spofford gives the following facts about interest: "One + dollar loaned for one hundred years at six per cent., with the interest + collected annually and added to the principal, will amount to three + hundred and forty dollars. At eight per cent, it amounts to two thousand + two hundred and three dollars. At three per cent, it amounts only to + nineteen dollars and twenty-five cents. At ten per cent, it is thirteen + thousand eight hundred and nine dollars, or about seven hundred times as + much. At twelve per cent, it amounts to eighty-four thousand and + seventy-five dollars, or more than four thousand times as much. At + eighteen per cent, it amounts to fifteen million one hundred and + forty-five thousand and seven dollars. At twenty-four per cent, (which we + sometimes hear talked of) it reaches the enormous sum of two billion five + hundred and fifty-one million seven hundred and ninety-nine thousand four + hundred and four dollars." + </p> + <p> + One dollar at compound interest, at twenty-four per cent., for one hundred + years, would produce a sum equal to our national debt. + </p> + <p> + Interest eats night and day, and the more it eats the hungrier it grows. + The farmer in debt, lying awake at night, can, if he listens, hear it + gnaw. If he owes nothing, he can hear his corn grow. Get out of debt as + soon as you possibly can. You have supported idle avarice and lazy economy + long enough. + </p> + <p> + Above all let every farmer treat his wife and children with infinite + kindness. Give your sons and daughters every advantage within your power. + In the air of kindness they will grow about you like flowers. They will + fill your homes with sunshine and all your years with joy. Do not try to + rule by force. A blow from a parent leaves a scar on the soul. I should + feel ashamed to die surrounded by children I had whipped. Think of feeling + upon your dying lips the kiss of a child you had struck. + </p> + <p> + See to it that your wife has every convenience. Make her life worth + living. Never allow her to become a servant. Wives, weary and worn, + mothers, wrinkled and bent before their time, fill homes with grief and + shame. If you are not able to hire help for your wives, help them + yourselves. See that they have the best utensils to work with. + </p> + <p> + Women cannot create things by magic. Have plenty of wood and coal—good + cellars and plenty in them. Have cisterns, so that you can have plenty of + rain water for washing. Do not rely on a barrel and a board. When the rain + comes the board will be lost or the hoops will be off the barrel. + </p> + <p> + Farmers should live like princes. Eat the best things you raise and sell + the rest. Have good things to cook and good things to cook with. Of all + people in our country, you should live the best. Throw your miserable + little stoves out of the window. Get ranges, and have them so built that + your wife need not burn her face off to get you a breakfast. Do not make + her cook in a kitchen hot as the orthodox perdition. The beef, not the + cook, should be roasted. It is just as easy to have things convenient and + right as to have them any other way. + </p> + <p> + Cooking is one of the fine arts. Give your wives and daughters things to + cook, and things to cook with, and they will soon become most excellent + cooks. Good cooking is the basis of civilization. The man whose arteries + and veins are filled with rich blood made of good and well cooked food, + has pluck, courage, endurance and and noble impulses. The inventor of a + good soup did more for his race than the maker of any creed. The doctrines + of total depravity and endless punishment were born of bad cooking and + dyspepsia. Remember that your wife should have the things to cook with. + </p> + <p> + In the good old days there would be eleven children in the family and only + one skillet. Everything was broken or cracked or loaned or lost. + </p> + <p> + There ought to be a law making it a crime, punishable by imprisonment, to + fry beefsteak. Broil it; it is just as easy, and when broiled it is + delicious. Fried beefsteak is not fit for a wild beast. You can broil even + on a stove. Shut the front damper—open the back one—then take + off a griddle. There will then be a draft downwards through this opening. + Put on your steak, using a wire broiler, and not a particle of smoke will + touch it, for the reason that the smoke goes down. If you try to broil it + with the front damper open, the smoke will rise. For broiling, coal, even + soft coal, makes a better fire than wood. + </p> + <p> + There is no reason why farmers should not have fresh meat all the year + round. There is certainly no sense in stuffing yourself full of salt meat + every morning, and making a well or a cistern of your stomach for the rest + of the day. Every farmer should have an ice house. Upon or near every farm + is some stream from which plenty of ice can be obtained, and the long + summer days made delightful. Dr. Draper, one of the world's greatest + scientists, says that ice water is healthy, and that it has done away with + many of the low forms of fever in the great cities. Ice has become one of + the necessaries of civilized life, and without it there is very little + comfort. + </p> + <p> + Make your homes pleasant. Have your houses warm and comfortable for the + winter. Do not build a story-and-a-half house. The half story is simply an + oven in which, during the summer, you will bake every night, and feel in + the morning as though only the rind of yourself was left. + </p> + <p> + Decorate your rooms, even if you do so with cheap engravings. The cheapest + are far better than none. Have books—have papers, and read them. You + have more leisure than the dwellers in cities. Beautify your grounds with + plants and flowers and vines. Have good gardens. Remember that everything + of beauty tends to the elevation of man. Every little morning-glory whose + purple bosom is thrilled with the amorous kisses of the sun, tends to put + a blossom in your heart. Do not judge of the value of everything by the + market reports. Every flower about a house certifies to the refinement of + somebody. Every vine climbing and blossoming, tells of love and joy. + </p> + <p> + Make your houses comfortable. Do not huddle together in a little room + around a red-hot stove, with every window fastened down. Do not live in + this poisoned atmosphere, and then, when one of your children dies, put a + piece in the papers commencing with, "Whereas, it has pleased divine + Providence to remove from our midst—." Have plenty of air, and + plenty of warmth. Comfort is health. Do not imagine anything is unhealthy + simply because it is pleasant. That is an old and foolish idea. + </p> + <p> + Let your children sleep. Do not drag them from their beds in the darkness + of night. Do not compel them to associate all that is tiresome, irksome + and dreadful with cultivating the soil. In this way you bring farming into + hatred and disrepute. Treat your children with infinite kindness—treat + them as equals. There is no happiness in a home not filled with love. + Where the husband hates his wife—where the wife hates the husband; + where children hate their parents and each other—there is a hell + upon earth. + </p> + <p> + There is no reason why farmers should not be the kindest and most + cultivated of men. There is nothing in plowing the fields to make men + cross, cruel and crabbed. To look upon the sunny slopes covered with + daisies does not tend to make men unjust. Whoever labors for the happiness + of those he loves, elevates himself, no matter whether he works in the + dark and dreary shops, or in the perfumed fields. To work for others is, + in reality, the only way in which a man can work for himself. Selfishness + is ignorance. Speculators cannot make unless somebody loses. In the realm + of speculation, every success has at least one victim. The harvest reaped + by the farmer benefits all and injures none. For him to succeed, it is not + necessary that some one should fail. The same is true of all producers—of + all laborers. + </p> + <p> + I can imagine no condition that carries with it such a promise of joy as + that of the farmer in the early winter. He has his cellar filled—he + has made every preparation for the days of snow and storm—he looks + forward to three months of ease and rest; to three months of + fireside-content; three months with wife and children; three months of + long, delightful evenings; three months of home; three months of solid + comfort. + </p> + <p> + When the life of the farmer is such as I have described, the cities and + towns will not be filled with want—the streets will not be crowded + with wrecked rogues, broken bankers, and bankrupt speculators. The fields + will be tilled, and country villages, almost hidden by trees and vines and + flowers, filled with industrious and happy people, will nestle in every + vale and gleam like gems on every plain. + </p> + <p> + The idea must be done away with that there is something intellectually + degrading in cultivating the soil. Nothing can be nobler than to be + useful. Idleness should not be respectable. + </p> + <p> + If farmers will cultivate well, and without waste; if they will so build + that their houses will be warm in winter and cool in summer; if they will + plant trees and beautify their homes; if they will occupy their leisure in + reading, in thinking, in improving their minds and in devising ways and + means to make their business profitable and pleasant; if they will live + nearer together and cultivate sociability; if they will come together + often; if they will have reading rooms and cultivate music; if they will + have bath-rooms, ice-houses and good gardens; if their wives can have an + easy time; if their sons and daughters can have an opportunity to keep in + line with the thoughts and discoveries of the world; if the nights can be + taken for sleep and the evenings for enjoyment, everybody will be in love + with the fields. Happiness should be the object of life, and if life on + the farm can be made really happy, the children will grow up in love with + the meadows, the streams, the woods and the old home. Around the farm will + cling and cluster the happy memories of the delighful years. + </p> + <p> + Remember, I pray you, that you are in partnership with all labor—that + you should join hands with all the sons and daughters of toil, and that + all who work belong to the same noble family. + </p> + <p> + For my part, I envy the man who has lived on the same broad acres from his + boyhood, who cultivates the fields where in youth he played, and lives + where his father lived and died. + </p> + <p> + I can imagine no sweeter way to end one's life + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0014" id="link0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED? + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkPREF" id="linkPREF"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + If what is known as the Christian Religion is true, nothing can be more + wonderful than the fact that Matthew, Mark and Luke say nothing about + "salvation by faith;" that they do not even hint at the doctrine of the + atonement, and are as silent as empty tombs as to the necessity of + believing anything to secure happiness in this world or another. + </p> + <p> + For a good many years it has been claimed that the writers of these + gospels knew something about the teachings of Christ, and had, at least, a + general knowledge of the conditions of salvation. It now seems to be + substantiated that the early Christians did not place implicit confidence + in the gospels, and did not hesitate to make such changes and additions as + they thought proper. Such changes and additions are about the only + passages in the New Testament that the Evangelical Churches now consider + sacred. That portion of the last chapter of Mark, in which unbelievers are + so cheerfully and promptly damned, has been shown to be an interpolation, + and it is asserted that in the revised edition of the New Testament, soon + to be issued, the infamous passages will not appear. With these expunged, + there is not one word in Matthew, Mark, or Luke, even tending to show that + belief in Christ has, or can have, any effect upon the destiny of the + soul. + </p> + <p> + The four gospels are the four corner-stones upon which rests the fabric of + orthodox Christianity. Three of these stones have crumbled, and the fourth + is not likely to outlast this generation. The gospel of John cannot alone + uphold the infinite absurdity of vicarious virtue and vice, and it cannot, + without the aid of "interpolation," sustain the illogical and immoral + dogma of salvation by faith. These frightful doctrines must be abandoned; + the miraculous must be given up, the wonderful stories must be expunged, + and from the creed of noble deeds the forgeries of superstition must be + blotted out. From the temple of Morality and Truth—from the great + windows towards the sun—the parasitic and poisonous vines of faith + and fable must be torn. + </p> + <p> + The church will be compelled at last to rest its case, not upon the + wonders Christ is said to have performed, but upon the system of morality + he taught. All the miracles, including the resurrection and ascension, + are, when compared with portions of the "Sermon on the Mount," but dust + and darkness. + </p> + <p> + The careful reader of the New Testament will find three Christs described:—One + who wished to preserve Judaism—one who wished to reform it, and one + who built a system of his own. The apostles and their disciples, utterly + unable to comprehend a religion that did away with sacrifices, churches, + priests, and creeds, constructed a Christianity for themselves, so that + the orthodox churches of to-day rest—first, upon what Christ + endeavored to destroy—second, upon what he never said, and, third, + upon a misunderstanding of what he did say. + </p> + <p> + If a certain belief is necessary to insure the salvation of the soul, the + church ought to explain, and without any unnecessary delay, why such an + infinitely important fact was utterly ignored by Matthew, Mark and Luke. + There are only two explanations possible. Either belief is unnecessary, or + the writers of these three gospels did not understand the Christian + system. The "sacredness" of the subject cannot longer hide the absurdity + of the "scheme of salvation," nor the failure of Matthew, Mark and Luke to + mention, what is now claimed to have been, the entire mission of Christ. + The church must take from the New Testament the supernatural'; the idea + that an intellectual conviction can subject an honest man to eternal pain—the + awful doctrine that the innocent can justly suffer for the guilty, and + allow the remainder to be discussed, denied or believed without punishment + and without reward. No one will object to the preaching of kindness, + honesty and justice. To preach less is a crime, and to practice more is + impossible. + </p> + <p> + There is one thing that ought to be again impressed upon the average + theologian, and that is the utter futility of trying to answer arguments + with personal abuse. It should be understood once for all that these + questions are in no sense personal. If it should turn out that all the + professed Christians in the world are sinless saints, the question of how + Matthew, Mark, and Luke, came to say nothing about the atonement and the + scheme of salvation by faith, would still be asked. And if it should then + be shown that all the doubters, deists, and atheists, are vile and vicious + wretches, the question still would wait for a reply. + </p> + <p> + The origin of all religions, creeds, and sacred books, is substantially + the same, and the history of one, is, in the main, the history of all. + Thus far these religions have been the mistaken explanations of our + surroundings. The appearances of nature have imposed upon the ignorance + and fear of man. But back of all honest creeds was, and is, the desire to + know, to understand, and to explain, and that desire will, as I most + fervently hope and earnestly believe, be gratified at last by the + discovery of the truth. Until then, let us bear with the theories, hopes, + dreams, mistakes, and honest thoughts of all. + </p> + <p> + Robert G. Ingersoll. + </p> + <p> + Washington, D. C., + </p> + <p> + October, 1880. + </p> + <p> + WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED? + </p> + <p> + "THE NUREMBERG MAN WAS OPERATED BY A COMBINATION OF PIPES AND LEVERS, AND + THOUGH HE COULD BREATHE AND DIGEST PERFECTLY, AND EVEN REASON AS WELL AS + MOST THEOLOGIANS, WAS MADE OF NOTHING BUT WOOD AND LEATHER." + </p> + <p> + THE whole world has been filled with fear. + </p> + <p> + Ignorance has been the refuge of the soul. For thousands of years the + intellectual ocean was ravaged by the buccaneers of reason. Pious souls + clung to the shore and looked at the lighthouse. The seas were filled with + monsters and the islands with sirens. The people were driven in the middle + of a narrow road while priests went before, beating the hedges on either + side to frighten the robbers from their lairs. The poor followers seeing + no robbers, thanked their brave leaders with all their hearts. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0016" id="link0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. WHAT WE MUST DO TO BE SAVED + </h2> + <p> + Huddled in folds they listened with wide eyes while the shepherds told of + ravening wolves. With great gladness they exchanged their fleeces for + security. Shorn and shivering, they had the happiness of seeing their + protectors comfortable and warm. + </p> + <p> + Through all the years, those who plowed divided with those who prayed. + Wicked industry supported pious idleness, the hut gave to the cathedral, + and frightened poverty gave even its rags to buy a robe for hypocrisy. + </p> + <p> + Fear is the dungeon of the mind, and superstition is a dagger with which + hypocrisy assassinates the soul. Courage is liberty. I am in favor of + absolute freedom of thought. In the realm of mind every one is monarch; + every one is robed, sceptered, and crowned, and every one wears the purple + of authority. I belong to the republic of intellectual liberty, and only + those are good citizens of that republic who depend upon reason and upon + persuasion, and only those are traitors who resort to brute force. + </p> + <p> + Now, I beg of you all to forget just for a few moments that you are + Methodists or Baptists or Catholics or Presbyterians, and let us for an + hour or two remember only that we are men and women. And allow me to say + "man" and "woman" are the highest titles that can be bestowed upon + humanity. + </p> + <p> + Let us, if possible, banish all fear from the mind. Do not imagine that + there is some being in the infinite expanse who is not willing that every + man and woman should think for himself and herself. Do not imagine that + there is any being who would give to his children the holy torch of + reason, and then damn them for following that sacred light. Let us have + courage. + </p> + <p> + Priests have invented a crime called "blasphemy," and behind that crime + hypocrisy has crouched for thousands of years. There is but one blasphemy, + and that is injustice. There is but one worship, and that is justice! + </p> + <p> + You need not fear the anger of a god that you cannot injure. Rather fear + to injure your fellow-men. Do not be afraid of a crime you can not commit. + Rather be afraid of the one that you may commit. The reason that you + cannot injure God is that the Infinite is conditionless. You cannot + increase or diminish the happiness of any being without changing that + being's condition. If God is conditionless, you can neither injure nor + benefit him. + </p> + <p> + There was a Jewish gentleman went into a restaurant to get his dinner, and + the devil of temptation whispered in his ear: "Eat some bacon." He knew if + there was anything in the universe calculated to excite the wrath of an + infinite being, who made every shining star, it was to see a gentleman + eating bacon. He knew it, and he knew the infinite being was looking, that + he was the eternal eavesdropper of the universe. But his appetite got the + better of his conscience, as it often has with us all, and he ate that + bacon. He knew it was wrong, and his conscience felt the blood of shame in + its cheek. When he went into that restaurant the weather was delightful, + the sky was as blue as June, and when he came out the sky was covered with + angry clouds, the lightning leaping from one to the other, and the earth + shaking beneath the voice of the thunder. He went back into that + restaurant with a face as white as milk, and he said to one of the + keepers: + </p> + <p> + "My God, did you ever hear such a fuss about a little piece of bacon?" + </p> + <p> + As long as we harbor such opinions of infinity; as long as we imagine the + heavens to be filled with such tyranny, just so long the sons of men will + be cringing, intellectual cowards. Let us think, and let us honestly + express our thought. + </p> + <p> + Do not imagine for a moment that I think people who disagree with me are + bad people. I admit, and I cheerfully admit, that a very large proportion + of mankind, and a very large majority, a vast number are reasonably + honest. I believe that most Christians believe what they teach; that most + ministers are endeavoring to make this world better. I do not pretend to + be better than they are. It is an intellectual question. It is a question, + first, of intellectual liberty, and after that, a question to be settled + at the bar of human reason. I do not pretend to be better than they are. + Probably I am a good deal worse than many of them, but that is not the + question. The question is: Bad as I am, have I the right to think? And I + think I have for two reasons: First, I cannot help it. And secondly, I + like it. The whole question is right at a point. If I have not a right to + express my thoughts, who has? + </p> + <p> + "Oh," they say, "we will allow you to think, we will not burn you." + </p> + <p> + "All right; why won't you burn me?" + </p> + <p> + "Because we think a decent man will allow others to think and to express + his thought." + </p> + <p> + "Then the reason you do not persecute me for my thought is that you + believe it would be infamous in you?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + "And yet you worship a God who will, as you declare, punish me forever?" + </p> + <p> + Surely an infinite God ought to be as just as man. Surely no God can have + the right to punish his children for being honest. He should not reward + hypocrisy with heaven, and punish candor with eternal pain. + </p> + <p> + The next question then is: Can I commit a sin against God by thinking? If + God did not intend I should think, why did he give me a thinker? For one, + I am convinced, not only that I have the right to think, but that it is my + duty to express my honest thoughts. Whatever the gods may say we must be + true to ourselves. + </p> + <p> + We have got what they call the Christian system of religion, and thousands + of people wonder how I can be wicked enough to attack that system. + </p> + <p> + There are many good things about it, and I shall never attack anything + that I believe to be good! I shall never fear to attack anything I + honestly believe to be wrong! We have what they call the Christian + religion, and I find, just in proportion that nations have been religious, + just in the proportion they have clung to the religion of their founders, + they have gone back to barbarism. I find that Spain, Portugal, Italy, are + the three worst nations in Europe. I find that the nation nearest infidel + is the most prosperous—France. + </p> + <p> + And so I say there can be no danger in the exercise of absolute + intellectual freedom. I find among ourselves the men who think are at + least as good as those who do not. + </p> + <p> + We have, I say, a Christian system, and that system is founded upon what + they are pleased to call the "New Testament." Who wrote the New Testament? + I do not know. Who does know? Nobody. We have found many manuscripts + containing portions of the New Testament. Some of these manuscripts leave + out five or six books—many of them. Others more; others less. No two + of these manuscripts agree. Nobody knows who wrote these manuscripts. They + are all written in Greek. The disciples of Christ, so far as we know, knew + only Hebrew. Nobody ever saw so far as we know, one of the original Hebrew + manuscripts. + </p> + <p> + Nobody ever saw anybody who had seen anybody who had heard of anybody that + had ever seen anybody that had ever seen one of the original Hebrew + manuscripts. No doubt the clergy of your city have told you these facts + thousands of times, and they will be obliged to me for having repeated + them once more. These manuscripts are written in what are called capital + Greek letters. They are called Uncial manuscripts, and the New Testament + was not divided into chapters and verses, even, until the year of grace + 1551. In the original the manuscripts and gospels are signed by nobody. + The epistles are addressed to nobody; and they are signed by the same + person. All the addresses, all the pretended ear-marks showing to whom + they were written, and by whom they were written, are simply + interpolations, and everybody who has studied the subject knows it. + </p> + <p> + It is further admitted that even these manuscripts have not been properly + translated, and they have a syndicate now making a new translation; and I + suppose that I can not tell whether I really believe the New Testament or + not until I see that new translation. + </p> + <p> + You must remember, also, one other thing. Christ never wrote a solitary + word of the New Testament—not one word. There is an account that he + once stooped and wrote something in the sand, but that has not been + preserved. He never told anybody to write a word. He never said: "Matthew, + remember this. Mark, do not forget to put that down. Luke, be sure that in + your gospel you have this. John, do not forget it." Not one word. And it + has always seemed to me that a being coming from another world, with a + message of infinite importance to mankind, should at least have verified + that message by his own signature. Is it not wonderful that not one word + was written by Christ? Is it not strange that he gave no orders to have + his words preserved—words upon which hung the salvation of a world? + </p> + <p> + Why was nothing written? I will tell you. In my judgment they expected the + end of the world in a few days. That generation was not to pass away until + the heavens should be rolled up as a scroll, and until the earth should + melt with fervent heat. That was their belief. They believed that the + world was to be destroyed, and that there was to be another coming, and + that the saints were then to govern the earth. And they even went so far + among the apostles, as we frequently do now before election, as to divide + out the offices in advance. This Testament, as it now is, was not written + for hundreds of years after the apostles were dust. Many of the pretended + facts lived in the open mouth of credulity. They were in the wastebaskets + of forgetfulness. They depended upon the inaccuracy of legend, and for + centuries these doctrines and stories were blown about by the inconstant + winds. And when reduced to writing, some gentleman would write by the side + of the passage his idea of it, and the next copyist would put that in as a + part of the text. And, when it was mostly written, and the church got into + trouble, and wanted a passage to help it out, one was interpolated to + order. So that now it is among the easiest things in the world to pick out + at least one hundred interpolations in the Testament. And I will pick some + of them out before I get through. + </p> + <p> + And let me say here, once for all, that for the man Christ I have infinite + respect. Let me say, once for all, that the place where man has died for + man is holy ground. And let me say, once for all, that to that great and + serene man I gladly pay, I gladly pay, the tribute of my admiration and my + tears. He was a reformer in his day. He was an infidel in his time. He was + regarded as a blasphemer, and his life was destroyed by hypocrites, who + have, in all ages, done what they could to trample freedom and manhood out + of the human mind. Had I lived at that time I would have been his friend, + and should he come again he will not find a better friend than I will be. + </p> + <p> + That is for the man. For the theological creation I have a different + feeling. If he was, in fact, God, he knew there was no such thing as + death. He knew that what we called death was but the eternal opening of + the golden gates of everlasting joy; and it took no heroism to face a + death that was eternal life. + </p> + <p> + But when a man, when a poor boy sixteen years of age, goes upon the field + of battle to keep his flag in heaven, not knowing but that death ends all; + not knowing but that when the shadows creep over him, the darkness will be + eternal, there is heroism. For the man who, in the darkness, said: "My + God, why hast thou forsaken me?"—for that man I have nothing but + respect, admiration, and love. Back of the theological shreds, rags, and + patches, hiding the real Christ, I see a genuine man. + </p> + <p> + A while ago I made up my mind to find out what was necessary for me to do + in order to be saved. If I have got a soul, I want it saved. I do not wish + to lose anything that is of value. + </p> + <p> + For thousands of years the world has been asking that question: + </p> + <p> + "What must we do to be saved?" + </p> + <p> + Saved from poverty? No. Saved from crime? No. Tyranny? No. But "What must + we do to be saved from the eternal wrath of the God who made us all?" + </p> + <p> + If God made us, he will not destroy us. Infinite wisdom never made a poor + investment. Upon all the works of an infinite God, a dividend must finally + be declared. Why should God make failures? Why should he waste material? + Why should he not correct his mistakes, instead of damning them? The + pulpit has cast a shadow over even the cradle. The doctrine of endless + punishment has covered the cheeks of this world with tears. I despise it, + and I defy it. + </p> + <p> + I made up my mind, I say, to see what I had to do in order to save my soul + according to the Testament, and thereupon I read it. I read the gospels, + Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and found that the church had been + deceiving me. I found that the clergy did not understand their own book; + that they had been building upon passages that had been interpolated; upon + passages that were entirely untrue, and I will tell you why I think so. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0017" id="link0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW + </h2> + <p> + ACCORDING to the church, the first gospel was written by Matthew. As a + matter of fact he never wrote a word of it—never saw it, never heard + of it and probably never will. But for the purposes of this lecture I + admit that he wrote years; that he was his constant companion; that he + shared his sorrows and his triumphs; that he heard his words by the lonely + lakes, the barren hills, in synagogue and street, and that he knew his + heart and became acquainted with his thoughts and aims. + </p> + <p> + Now let us see what Matthew says we must do in order to be saved. And I + take it that, if this is true, Matthew is as good authority as any + minister in the world. + </p> + <p> + I will admit that he was with Christ for three years. + </p> + <p> + The first thing I find upon the subject of salvation is in the fifth + chapter of Matthew, and is embraced in what is commonly known as the + Sermon on the Mount. It is as follows: + </p> + <p> + "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." + Good! + </p> + <p> + "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Good! Whether + they belonged to any church or not; whether they believed the Bible or + not? + </p> + <p> + "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Good! + </p> + <p> + "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the + peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are + they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the + kingdom of heaven." Good! + </p> + <p> + In the same sermon he says: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law + or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." And then he + makes use of this remarkable language, almost as applicable to-day as it + was then: "For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed + the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no wise enter + into the kingdom of heaven." Good! + </p> + <p> + In the sixth chapter I find the following, and it comes directly after the + prayer known as the Lord's prayer: + </p> + <p> + "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also + forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your + father forgive your trespasses." + </p> + <p> + I accept the condition. There is an offer; I accept it. If you will + forgive men that trespass against you, God will forgive your trespasses + against him. I accept the terms, and I never will ask any God to treat me + better than I treat my fellow-men. There is a square promise. There is a + contract. If you will forgive others God will forgive you. And it does not + say you must believe in the Old Testament, or be baptized, or join the + church, or keep Sunday; that you must count beads, or pray, or become a + nun, or a priest; that you must preach sermons or hear them, build + churches or fill them. Not one word is said about eating or fasting, + denying or believing. It simply says, if you forgive others God will + forgive you; and it must of necessity be true. No god could afford to damn + a forgiving man. Suppose God should damn to everlasting fire a man so + great and good, that he, looking from the abyss of hell, would forgive + God,—how would a god feel then? + </p> + <p> + Now let me make myself plain upon one subject, perfectly plain. For + instance, I hate Presbyterianism, but I know hundreds of splendid + Presbyterians. Understand me. I hate Methodism, and yet I know hundreds of + splendid Methodists. I hate Catholicism, and like Catholics. I hate + insanity but not the insane. + </p> + <p> + I do not war against men. I do not war against persons. I war against + certain doctrines that I believe to be wrong. But I give to every other + human being every right that I claim for myself. + </p> + <p> + The next thing that I find is in the seventh chapter and the second verse: + "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what + measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Good! That suits me! + </p> + <p> + And in the twelfth chapter of Matthew: "For whosoever shall do the will of + my Father that is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and mother. + For the son of man shall come in the glory of his father with his angels, + and then he shall reward every man according.... To the church he belongs + to? No. To the manner in which he was baptized? No. According to his + creed? No. Then he shall reward every man according to his works." Good! I + subscribe to that doctrine. + </p> + <p> + And in the eighteenth chapter: "And Jesus called a little child to him and + stood him in the midst; and said, 'Verily I say unto you, except ye be + converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the + kingdom of heaven.'" I do not wonder that in his day, surrounded by + scribes and Pharisees, he turned lovingly to little children. + </p> + <p> + And yet, see what children the little children of God have been. What an + interesting dimpled darling John Calvin was. Think of that prattling babe, + Jonathan Edwards! Think of the infants that founded the Inquisition, that + invented instruments of torture to tear human flesh. They were the ones + who had become as little children. They were the children of faith. + </p> + <p> + So I find in the nineteenth chapter: "And behold, one came and said unto + him: 'Good master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal + life?' And he said unto him, 'Why callest thou me good? There is none good + but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the + commandments.' He saith unto him, 'which?'" + </p> + <p> + Now, there is a fair issue. Here is a child of God asking God what is + necessary for him to do in order to inherit eternal life. And God said to + him: Keep the commandments. And the child said to the Almighty: "Which?" + Now, if there ever has been an opportunity given to the Almighty to + furnish a man of an inquiring mind with the necessary information upon + that subject, here was the opportunity. "He said unto him, which? And + Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou + shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness; honor thy father and + mother; and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." + </p> + <p> + He did not say to him: "You must believe in me—that I am the only + begotten son of the living God." He did not say: "You must be born again." + He did not say: "You must believe the Bible." He did not say: "You must + remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." He simply said: "Thou shalt do + no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou + shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother; and thou + shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." And thereupon the young man, who I + think was mistaken, said unto him: "All these things have I kept from my + youth up." + </p> + <p> + What right has the church to add conditions of salvation? Why should we + suppose that Christ failed to tell the young man all that was necessary + for him to do? Is it possible that he left out some important thing simply + to mislead? Will some minister tell us why he thinks that Christ kept back + the "scheme"? + </p> + <p> + Now comes an interpolation. + </p> + <p> + In the old times when the church got a little scarce of money, they always + put in a passage praising poverty. So they had this young man ask: "What + lack I yet? And Jesus said unto him: If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell + that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in + heaven." + </p> + <p> + The church has always been willing to swap off treasures in heaven for + cash down. And when the next verse was written the church must have been + nearly bankrupt. "And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go + through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom + of God." Did you ever know a wealthy disciple to unload on account of that + verse? + </p> + <p> + And then comes another verse, which I believe is an interpolation: "And + everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or + mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive + an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life." + </p> + <p> + Christ never said it. Never. "Whosoever shall forsake father and mother." + </p> + <p> + Why, he said to this man that asked him, "What shall I do to inherit + eternal life?" among other things, he said: "Honor thy father and thy + mother." And we turn over the page and he says again: "If you will desert + your father and mother you shall have everlasting life." It will not do. + If you will desert your wife and your little children, or your lands—the + idea of putting a house and lot on equality with wife and children! Think + of that! I do not accept the terms. I will never desert the one I love for + the promise of any god. + </p> + <p> + It is far more important to love your wife than to love God, and I will + tell you why. You cannot help him, but you can help her. You can fill her + life with the perfume of perpetual joy. It is far more important that you + love your children than that you love Jesus Christ. And why? If he is God + you cannot help him, but you can plant a little flower of happiness in + every footstep of the child, from the cradle until you die in that child's + arms. Let me tell you to-day it is far more important to build a home than + to erect a church. The holiest temple beneath the stars is a home that + love has built. And the holiest altar in all the wide world is the + fireside around which gather father and mother and the sweet babes. + </p> + <p> + There was a time when people believed the infamy commanded in this + frightful passage. There was a time when they did desert fathers and + mothers and wives and children. St. Augustine says to the devotee: Fly to + the desert, and though your wife put her arms around your neck, tear her + hands away; she is a temptation of the devil. Though your father and + mother throw their bodies athwart your threshold, step over them; and + though your children pursue, and with weeping' eyes beseech you to return, + listen not. It is the temptation of the evil one. Fly to the desert and + save your soul. Think of such a soul being worth saving. While I live I + propose to stand by the ones I love. + </p> + <p> + There is another condition of salvation. I find it in the twenty-fifth + chapter: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye + blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the + foundation of the world. For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I was + thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in; naked + and ye clothed me; I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison and ye + came unto me." Good! + </p> + <p> + I tell you to-night that God will not punish with eternal thirst the man + who has put the cup of cold water to the lips of his neighbor. God will + not leave in the eternal nakedness of pain the man who has clothed his + fellow-men. + </p> + <p> + For instance, here is a shipwreck, and here is some brave sailor who + stands aside and allows a woman whom he never saw before to take his place + in the boat, and he stands there, grand and serene as the wide sea, and he + goes down. Do you tell me that there is any God who will push the lifeboat + from the shore of eternal life, when that man wishes to step in? Do you + tell me that God can be unpitying to the pitiful, that he can be + unforgiving to the forgiving? I deny it; and from the aspersions of the + pulpit I seek to rescue the reputation of the Deity. + </p> + <p> + Now, I have read you substantially everything in Matthew on the subject of + salvation. That is all there is. Not one word about believing anything. It + is the gospel of deed, the gospel of charity, the gospel of self-denial; + and if only that gospel had been preached, persecution never would have + shed one drop of blood. Not one. + </p> + <p> + According to the testimony Matthew was well acquainted with Christ. + According to the testimony, he had been with him, and his companion for + years, and if it was necessary to believe anything in order to get to + heaven, Matthew should have told us. But he forgot it, or he did not + believe it, or he never heard of it. You can take your choice. + </p> + <p> + In Matthew, we find that heaven is promised, first, to the poor in spirit. + Second, to the merciful. Third, to the pure in heart. Fourth, to the + peacemakers. Fifth, to those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. + Sixth, to those who keep and teach the commandments. Seventh, to those who + forgive men that trespass against them. Eighth, that we will be judged as + we judge others. Ninth, that they who receive prophets and righteous men + shall receive a prophet's reward. Tenth, to those who do the will of God. + Eleventh, that every man shall be rewarded according to his works. + Twelfth, to those who become as little children. Thirteenth, to those who + forgive the trespasses of others. Fourteenth, to the perfect: they who + sell all that they have and give to the poor. Fifteenth, to them who + forsake houses, and brethren, and sisters, and father, and mother, and + wife, and children, and lands for the sake of Christ's name. Sixteenth, to + those who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter to the + stranger, clothes to the naked, comfort to the sick, and who visit the + prisoner. + </p> + <p> + Nothing else is said with regard to salvation in the gospel according to + St. Matthew. Not one word about believing the Old Testament to have been + inspired; not one word about being baptized or joining a church; not one + word about believing in any miracle; not even a hint that it was necessary + to believe that Christ was the son of God, or that he did any wonderful or + miraculous things, or that he was born of a virgin, or that his coming had + been foretold by the Jewish prophets. Not one word about believing in the + Trinity, or in foreordination or predestination. Matthew had not + understood from Christ that any such things were necessary to ensure the + salvation of the soul. + </p> + <p> + According to the testimony, Matthew had been in the company of Christ, + some say three years and some say one, but at least he had been with him + long enough to find out some of his ideas upon this great subject. And yet + Matthew never got the impression that it was necessary to believe + something in order to get to heaven. He supposed that if a man forgave + others God would forgive him; he believed that God would show mercy to the + merciful; that he would not allow those who fed the hungry to starve; that + he would not put in the flames of hell those who had given cold water to + the thirsty; that he would not cast into the eternal dungeon of his wrath + those who had visited the imprisoned; and that he would not damn men who + forgave others. + </p> + <p> + Matthew had it in his mind that God would treat us very much as we treated + other people; and that in the next world he would treat with kindness + those who had been loving and gentle in their lives. It may be the apostle + was mistaken; but evidently that was his opinion. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0018" id="link0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. THE GOSPEL OF MARK + </h2> + <p> + ET us now see what Mark thought it necessary for a man to do to save his + soul. In the fourth chapter, after Jesus had given to the multitude by the + sea the parable of the sower, his disciples, when they were again alone, + asked him the meaning of the parable. Jesus replied: + </p> + <p> + "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto + them that are without, all these things are done in parables: + </p> + <p> + "That seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, + and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their + sins should be forgiven them." + </p> + <p> + It is a little hard to understand why he should have preached to people + that he did not intend should know his meaning. Neither is it quite clear + why he objected to their being converted. This, I suppose, is one of the + mysteries that we should simply believe without endeavoring to comprehend. + </p> + <p> + With the above exception, and one other that I will mention hereafter, + Mark substantially agrees with Matthew, and says that God will be merciful + to the merciful, that he will be kind to the kind, that he will pity the + pitying, and love the loving. Mark upholds the religion of Matthew until + we come to the fifteenth and sixteenth verses of the sixteenth chapter, + and then I strike an interpolation put in by hypocrisy, put in by priests + who longed to grasp with bloody hands the sceptre of universal power. Let + me read it to you. It is the most infamous passage in the Bible. Christ + never said it. No sensible man ever said it. + </p> + <p> + "And He said unto them" (that is, unto his disciples), "go ye into all the + world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is + baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." + </p> + <p> + That passage was written so that fear would give alms to hypocrisy. Now, I + propose to prove to you that this is an interpolation. How will I do it? + In the first place, not one word is said about belief, in Matthew. In the + next place, not one word about belief, in Mark, until I come to that + verse, and where is that said to have been spoken? According to Mark, it + is a part of the last conversation of Jesus Christ,—just before, + according to the account, he ascended bodily before their eyes. If there + ever was any important thing happened in this world that was it. If there + is any conversation that people would be apt to recollect, it would be the + last conversation with a god before he rose visibly through the air and + seated himself upon the throne of the infinite. We have in this Testament + five accounts of the last conversation happening between Jesus Christ and + his apostles. Matthew gives it, and yet Matthew does not state that in + that conversation Christ said: "Whoso believeth and is baptized shall be + saved, and whoso believeth not shall be damned." And if he did say those + words they were the most important that ever fell from lips. Matthew did + not hear it, or did not believe it, or forgot it. + </p> + <p> + Then I turn to Luke, and he gives an account of this same last + conversation, and not one word does he say upon that subject. Luke does + not pretend that Christ said that whoso believeth not shall be damned. + Luke certainly did not hear it. May be he forgot it. Perhaps he did not + think that it was worth recording. Now, it is the most important thing, if + Christ said it, that he ever said. + </p> + <p> + Then I turn to John, and he gives an account of the last conversation, but + not one solitary word on the subject of belief or unbelief. Not one + solitary word on the subject of damnation. Not one. John might not have + been listening. + </p> + <p> + Then I turn to the first chapter of the Acts, and there I find an account + of the last conversation; and in that conversation there is not one word + upon this subject. This is a demonstration that the passage in Mark is an + interpolation. What other reason have I got? There is not one particle of + sense in it. Why? No man can control his belief. You hear evidence for and + against, and the integrity of the soul stands at the scales and tells + which side rises and which side falls. You can not believe as you wish. + You must believe as you must. And he might as well have said: "Go into the + world and preach the gospel, and whosoever has red hair shall be saved, + and whosoever hath not shall be damned." + </p> + <p> + I have another reason. I am much obliged to the gentleman who interpolated + these passages. I am much obliged to him that he put in some more—two + more. Now hear: + </p> + <p> + "And these signs shall follow them that believe." Good! + </p> + <p> + "In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; + they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall + not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." + </p> + <p> + Bring on your believer! Let him cast out a devil. I do not ask for a large + one. Just a little one for a cent. Let him take up serpents. "And if they + drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them." Let me mix up a dose for + the believer, and if it does not hurt him I will join a church. "Oh! but," + they say, "those things only lasted through the Apostolic age." Let us + see. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel, and whosoever believes + and is baptized shall be saved, and these signs shall follow them that + believe." + </p> + <p> + How long? I think at least until they had gone into all the world. + Certainly those signs should follow until all the world had been visited. + And yet if that declaration was in the mouth of Christ, he then knew that + one-half of the world was unknown, and that he would be dead fourteen + hundred and fifty-nine years before his disciples would know that there + was another continent. And yet he said, "Go into all the world and preach + the gospel," and he knew then that it would be fourteen hundred and + fifty-nine years before anybody could go. Well, if it was worth while to + have signs follow believers in the Old World, surely it was worth while to + have signs follow believers in the New. And the very reason that signs + should follow would be to convince the unbeliever, and there are as many + unbelievers now as ever, and the signs are as necessary to-day as they + ever were. I would like a few myself. + </p> + <p> + This frightful declaration, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be + saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned," has filled the world + with agony and crime. Every letter of this passage has been sword and + fagot; every word has been dungeon and chain. That passage made the sword + of persecution drip with innocent blood through centuries of agony and + crime. That passage made the horizon of a thousand years lurid with the + fagot's flames. That passage contradicts the Sermon on the Mount; + travesties the Lord's prayer; turns the splendid religion of deed and duty + into the superstition of creed and cruelty. I deny it. It is infamous! + Christ never said it! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0019" id="link0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. + </h2> + <p> + IT is sufficient to say that Luke agrees substantially with Matthew and + Mark. + </p> + <p> + "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Good! + </p> + <p> + "Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condemn not and ye shall not be + condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven." Good! + </p> + <p> + "Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and + shaken together, and running over." Good! I like it. + </p> + <p> + "For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to + you again." + </p> + <p> + He agrees substantially with Mark; he agrees substantially with Matthew; + and I come at last to the nineteenth chapter. + </p> + <p> + "And Zaccheus stood and said unto the Lord, 'Behold, Lord, the half of my + goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by + false accusation, I restore him four fold.' And Jesus said unto him, 'this + day is salvation come to this house.'" + </p> + <p> + That is good doctrine. He did not ask Zaccheus what he believed. He did + not ask him, "Do you believe in the Bible? Do you believe in the five + points? Have you ever been baptized—sprinkled? Or immersed?" "Half + of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man + by false accusation, I restore him four fold." "And Christ said, this day + is salvation come to this house." Good! + </p> + <p> + I read also in Luke that Christ when upon the cross forgave his murderers, + and that is considered the shining gem in the crown of his mercy. He + forgave his murderers. He forgave the men who drove the nails in his + hands, in his feet, that plunged a spear in his side; the soldier that in + the hour of death offered him in mockery the bitterness to drink. He + forgave them all freely, and yet, although he would forgive them, he will + in the nineteenth century, as we are told by the orthodox church, damn to + eternal fire a noble man for the expression of his honest thoughts. That + will not do. I find, too, in Luke, an account of two thieves that were + crucified at the same time. The other gospels speak of them. One says they + both railed upon him. Another says nothing about it. In Luke we are told + that one railed upon him, but one of the thieves looked and pitied Christ, + and Christ said to that thief: + </p> + <p> + "To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Why did he say that? Because + the thief pitied him. God can not afford to trample beneath the feet of + his infinite wrath the smallest blossom of pity that ever shed its perfume + in the human heart! + </p> + <p> + Who was this thief? To what church did he belong? I do not know. The fact + that he was a thief throws no light on that question. Who was he? What did + he believe? I do not know. Did he believe in the Old Testament? In the + miracles? I do not know. Did he believe that Christ was God? I do not + know. Why then was the promise made to him that he should meet Christ in + Paradise? Simply because he pitied suffering innocence upon the cross. + </p> + <p> + God can not afford to damn any man who is capable of pitying anybody. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0020" id="link0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN + </h2> + <h3> + AND now we come to John, and that is where the trouble commences. + </h3> + <p> + The other gospels teach that God will be merciful to the merciful, + forgiving to the forgiving, kind to the kind, loving to the loving, just + to the just, merciful to the good. + </p> + <p> + Now we come to John, and here is another doctrine. And allow me to say + that John was not written until long after the others. John was mostly + written by the church. + </p> + <p> + "Jesus answered and said unto him: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except + a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of God." + </p> + <p> + Why did he not tell Matthew that? Why did he not tell Luke that? Why did + he not tell Mark that? They never heard of it, or forgot it, or they did + not believe it. + </p> + <p> + "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into + the kingdom of God." Why? + </p> + <p> + "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the + Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born + again." "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born + of the Spirit is spirit," and he might have added, that which is born of + water is water. + </p> + <p> + "Marvel not that I said unto thee, 'ye must be born again.'" And then the + reason is given, and I admit I did not understand it myself until I read + the reason, and when you hear the reason, you will understand it as well + as I do; and here it is: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou + hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and + whither it goeth." So, I find in the book of John the idea of the Real + Presence. + </p> + <p> + "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the + Son of man be lifted up; That whosoever believeth in him should not + perish, but have eternal life." + </p> + <p> + "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that + whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. + </p> + <p> + "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that + the world through him might be saved. + </p> + <p> + "He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is + condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only + begotten Son of God." + </p> + <p> + "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth + not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." + "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on + him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into + condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. + </p> + <p> + "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the + dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall + live." + </p> + <p> + "And shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of + life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of + damnation."-"And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which + seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will + raise him up at the last day." + </p> + <p> + "No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him; + and I will raise him up at the last day." + </p> + <p> + "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting + life. + </p> + <p> + "I am that bread of life. + </p> + <p> + "Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. + </p> + <p> + "This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat + thereof, and not die. + </p> + <p> + "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this + bread he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, + which I will give for the life of the world." + </p> + <p> + "Then Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat + the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. + </p> + <p> + "Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I + will raise him up at the last day. + </p> + <p> + "For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. + </p> + <p> + "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in + him. + </p> + <p> + "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that + eateth me, even he shall live by me. + </p> + <p> + "This is that bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers did + eat manna, and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live forever." + </p> + <p> + "And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, + except it were given unto him of my Father." + </p> + <p> + "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life; he that + believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. + </p> + <p> + "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." + </p> + <p> + "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in + this world, shall keep it unto life eternal." + </p> + <p> + So I find in the book of John, that in order to be saved we must not only + believe in Jesus Christ, but we must eat the flesh and we must drink the + blood of Jesus Christ. If that gospel is true, the Catholic Church is + right. But it is not true. I can not believe it, and yet for all that, it + may be true. But I do not believe it. Neither do I believe there is any + god in the universe who will damn a man simply for expressing his belief. + </p> + <p> + "Why," they say to me, "suppose all this should turn out to be true, and + you should come to the day of judgment and find all these things to be + true. What would you do then?" I would walk up like a man, and say, "I was + mistaken." + </p> + <p> + "And suppose God was about to pass judgment upon you, what would you say?" + I would say to him, "Do unto others as you would that others should do + unto you." Why not? + </p> + <p> + I am told that I must render good for evil. I am told that if smitten on + one cheek I must turn the other. I am told that I must overcome evil with + good. I am told that I must love my enemies; and will it do for this God + who tells me to love my enemies to damn his? No, it will not do. It will + not do. + </p> + <p> + In the book of John all these doctrines of regeneration—that it is + necessary to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; that salvation depends upon + belief—in this book of John all these doctrines find their warrant; + nowhere else. + </p> + <p> + Read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and then read John, and you will agree with + me that the three first gospels teach that if we are kind and forgiving to + our fellows, God will be kind and forgiving to us. In John we are told + that another man can be good for us, or bad for us, and that the only way + to get to heaven is to believe something that we know is not so. + </p> + <p> + All these passages about believing in Christ, drinking his blood and + eating his flesh, are afterthoughts. They were written by the theologians, + and in a few years they will be considered unworthy of the lips of Christ. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0021" id="link0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. THE CATHOLICS + </h2> + <p> + NOW, upon these gospels that I have read the churches rest; and out of + these things, mistakes and interpolations, they have made their creeds. + And the first church to make a creed, so far as I know, was the Catholic. + It was the first church that had any power. That is the church that has + preserved all these miracles for us. That is the church that preserved the + manuscripts for us. That is the church whose word we have to take. That + church is the first witness that Protestantism brought to the bar of + history to prove miracles that took place eighteen hundred years ago; and + while the witness is there Protestantism takes pains to say: "You cannot + believe one word that witness says, <i>now</i>." + </p> + <p> + That church is the only one that keeps up a constant communication with + heaven through the instrumentality of a large number of decayed saints. + That church has an agent of God on earth, has a person who stands in the + place of deity; and that church is infallible. That church has persecuted + to the exact extent of her power—and always will. In Spain that + church stands erect, and is arrogant. In the United States that church + crawls; but the object in both countries is the same—and that is the + destruction of intellectual liberty. That church teaches us that we can + make God happy by being miserable ourselves; that a nun is holier in the + sight of God than a loving mother with her child in her thrilled and + thrilling arms; that a priest is better than a father; that celibacy is + better than that passion of love that has made everything of beauty in + this world. That church tells the girl of sixteen or eighteen years of + age, with eyes like dew and light; that girl with the red of health in the + white of her beautiful cheeks—tells that girl, "Put on the veil, + woven of death and night, kneel upon stones, and you will please God." + </p> + <p> + I tell you that, by law, no girl should be allowed to take the veil and + renounce the joys and beauties of this life. + </p> + <p> + I am opposed to allowing these spider-like priests to weave webs to catch + the loving maidens of the world. There ought to be a law appointing + commissioners to visit such places twice a year and release every person + who expresses a desire to be released. I do not believe in keeping the + penitentiaries of God. No doubt they are honest about it. That is not the + question. These ignorant superstitions fill millions of lives with + weariness and pain, with agony and tears. + </p> + <p> + This church, after a few centuries of thought, made a creed, and that + creed is the foundation of the orthodox religion. Let me read it to you: + </p> + <p> + "Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold + the Catholic faith; which faith except every one do keep entire and + inviolate, without doubt, he shall everlastingly perish." Now the faith is + this: "That we worship one God in trinity and trinity in unity." + </p> + <p> + Of course you understand how that is done, and there is no need of my + explaining it. "Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the + substance." You see what a predicament that would leave the deity in if + you divided the substance. + </p> + <p> + "For one is the person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of + the Holy Ghost; but the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the + Holy Ghost is all one"—you know what I mean by Godhead. "In glory + equal, and in majesty coëternal. Such as the Father is, such is the + Son, such is the Holy Ghost. The Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, + the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father incomprehensible, the Son + incomprehensible, the Holy Ghost incomprehensible." And that is the reason + we know so much about the thing. "The Father is eternal, the Son eternal, + the Holy Ghost eternal, and yet there are not three eternals, only one + eternal, as also there are not three uncreated, nor three + incomprehensibles, only one uncreated, one incomprehensible." + </p> + <p> + "In like manner, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Ghost + almighty. Yet there are not three almighties, only one Almighty. So the + Father is God, the Son God, the Holy Ghost God, and yet not three Gods; + and so, likewise, the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Ghost is + Lord, yet there are not three Lords, for as we are compelled by the + Christian truth to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord, + so we are all forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there are three + Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of no one; not created or + begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, not made, not created, but + begotten. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son, not made nor + begotten, but proceeding." + </p> + <p> + You know what proceeding is. + </p> + <p> + "So there is one Father, not three Fathers." Why should there be three + fathers, and only one Son? "One Son, and not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, + not three Holy Ghosts; and in this Trinity there is nothing before or + afterward, nothing greater or less, but the whole three persons are coëternal + with one another and coëqual, so that in all things the unity is to + be worshiped in Trinity, and the Trinity is to be worshiped in unity. + Those who will be saved must thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore, it is + necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the + incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now the right of this thing is this: + That we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is + both God and man. He is God of the substance of his Father begotten before + the world was." + </p> + <p> + That was a good while before his mother lived. "And he is man of the + substance of his mother, born in this world, perfect God and perfect man, + and the rational soul in human flesh, subsisting equal to the Father + according to his Godhead, but less than the Father according to his + manhood, who being both God and man is not two but one, one not by + conversion of God into flesh, but by the taking of the manhood into God." + You see that is a great deal easier than the other way would be. + </p> + <p> + "One altogether, not by a confusion of substance but by unity of person, + for as the rational soul and the flesh is one man, so God and man is one + Christ, who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again + the third day from the dead, ascended into heaven, and he sitteth at the + right hand of God, the Father Almighty, and He shall come to judge the + living and the dead." In order to be saved it is necessary to believe + this. What a blessing that we do not have to understand it. And in order + to compel the human intellect to get upon its knees before that infinite + absurdity, thousands and millions have suffered agonies; thousands and + thousands have perished in dungeons and in fire; and if all the bones of + all the victims of the Catholic Church could be gathered together, a + monument higher than all the pyramids would rise, in the presence of which + the eyes even of priests would be wet with tears. + </p> + <p> + That church covered Europe with cathedrals and dungeons, and robbed men of + the jewel of the soul. That church had ignorance upon its knees. That + church went in partnership with the tyrants of the throne, and between + those two vultures, the altar and the throne, the heart of man was + devoured. + </p> + <p> + Of course I have met, and cheerfully admit that there are thousands of + good Catholics; but Catholicism is contrary to human liberty. Catholicism + bases salvation upon belief. Catholicism teaches man to trample his reason + under foot. And for that reason it is wrong. + </p> + <p> + Thousands of volumes could not contain the crimes of the Catholic Church. + They could not contain even the names of her victims. With sword and fire, + with rack and chain, with dungeon and whip she endeavored to convert the + world. In weakness a beggar—in power a highwayman,—alms dish + or dagger—tramp or tyrant. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0022" id="link0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. THE EPISCOPALIANS + </h2> + <p> + THE next church I wish to speak of is the Episcopalian. That was founded + by Henry VIII., now in heaven. He cast off Queen Catherine and Catholicism + together, and he accepted Episcopalianism and Annie Boleyn at the same + time. That church, if it had a few more ceremonies, would be Catholic. If + it had a few less, nothing. We have an Episcopalian Church in this + country, and it has all the imperfections of a poor relation. It is always + boasting of its rich relative. In England the creed is made by law, the + same as we pass statutes here. And when a gentleman dies in England, in + order to determine whether he shall be saved or not, it is necessary for + the power of heaven to read the acts of Parliament. It becomes a question + of law, and sometimes a man is damned on a very nice point. Lost on + demurrer. + </p> + <p> + A few years ago, a gentleman by the name of Seabury, Samuel Seabury, was + sent over to England to get some apostolic succession. We had not a drop + in the house. It was necessary for the bishops of the English Church to + put their hands upon his head. They refused. There was no act of + Parliament justifying it. He had then to go to the Scotch bishops; and, + had the Scotch bishops refused, we never would have had any apostolic + succession in the New World, and God would have been driven out of half + the earth, and the true church never could have been founded upon this + continent. But the Scotch bishops put their hands on his head, and now we + have an unbroken succession of heads and hands from St. Paul to the last + bishop. + </p> + <p> + In this country the Episcopalians have done some good, and I want to thank + that church. Having on an average less religion than the others—on + an average you have done more good to mankind. You preserved some of the + humanities. You did not hate music; you did not absolutely despise + painting, and you did not altogether abhor architecture, and you finally + admitted that it was no worse to keep time with your feet than with your + hands. And some went so far as to say that people could play cards, and + that God would overlook it, or would look the other way. For all these + things accept my thanks. + </p> + <p> + When I was a boy, the other churches looked upon dancing as probably the + mysterious sin against the Holy Ghost; and they used to teach that when + four boys got in a hay-mow, playing seven-up, that the eternal God stood + whetting the sword of his eternal wrath waiting to strike them down to the + lowest hell. That church has done some good. + </p> + <p> + The Episcopal creed is substantially like the Catholic, containing a few + additional absurdities. The Episcopalians teach that it is easier to get + forgiveness for sin after you have been baptized. They seem to think that + the moment you are baptized you become a member of the firm, and as such + are entitled to wickedness at cost. This church is utterly unsuited to a + free people. Its government is tyrannical, supercilious and absurd. + Bishops talk as though they were responsible for the souls in their + charge. They wear vests that button on one side. Nothing is so essential + to the clergy of this denomination as a good voice. The Episcopalians have + persecuted just to the extent of their power. Their treatment of the Irish + has been a crime—a crime lasting for three hundred years. That + church persecuted the Puritans of England and the Presbyterians of + Scotland. In England the altar is the mistress of the throne, and this + mistress has always looked at honest wives with scorn. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0023" id="link0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII. THE METHODISTS + </h2> + <p> + ABOUT a hundred and fifty years ago, two men, John Wesley and George + Whitfield, said, If everybody is going to hell, somebody ought to mention + it. The Episcopal clergy said: Keep still; do not tear your gown. Wesley + and Whitfield said: This frightful truth ought to be proclaimed from the + housetop of every opportunity, from the highway of every occasion. They + were good, honest men. They believed their doctrine. And they said: If + there is a hell, and a Niagara of souls pouring over an eternal precipice + of ignorance, somebody ought to say something. They were right; somebody + ought, if such a thing is true. Wesley was a believer in the Bible. He + believed in the actual presence of the Almighty. + </p> + <p> + God used to do miracles for him; used to put off a rain several days to + give his meeting a chance; used to cure his horse of lameness; used to + cure Mr. Wesley's headaches. + </p> + <p> + And Mr. Wesley also believed in the actual existence of the devil. He + believed that devils had possession of people. He talked to the devil when + he was in folks, and the devil told him that he was going to leave; and + that he was going into another person. That he would be there at a certain + time; and Wesley went to that other person, and there the devil was, + prompt to the minute. He regarded every conversion as warfare between God + and this devil for the possession of that human soul, and that in the + warfare God had gained the victory. Honest, no doubt. Mr. Wesley did not + believe in human liberty. Honest, no doubt. Was opposed to the liberty of + the colonies. Honestly so. Mr. Wesley preached a sermon entitled: "The + Cause and Cure of Earthquakes," in which he took the ground that + earthquakes were caused by sin; and the only way to stop them was to + believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. No doubt an honest man. + </p> + <p> + Wesley and Whitfield fell out on the question of predestination. Wesley + insisted that God invited everybody to the feast. Whitfield said he did + not invite those he knew would not come. Wesley said he did. Whitfield + said: Well, he did not put plates for them, anyway. Wesley said he did. So + that, when they were in hell he could show them that there was a seat left + for them. The church that they founded is still active. And probably no + church in the world has done so much preaching for as little money as the + Methodists. Whitfield believed in slavery, and advocated the slave-trade. + And it was of Whitfield that Whittier made the two lines: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "He bade the slave ships speed from coast to coast, + Fanned by the wings of the Holy Ghost." +</pre> + <p> + We have lately had a meeting of the Methodists, and I find by their + statistics that they believe that they have converted 130,000 folks in a + year. That, in order to do this, they have 26,000 preachers, 226,000 + Sunday school scholars, and about $100,000,000 invested in church + property. I find, in looking over the history of the world, that there are + 40,000,000 or 50,000,000 of people born a year, and if they are saved at + the rate of 130,000 a year, about how long will it take that doctrine to + save this world? Good, honest people; but they are mistaken. + </p> + <p> + In old times they were very simple. Churches used to be like barns. They + used to have them divided—men on that side, and women on this. A + little barbarous. We have advanced since then, and we now find as a fact, + demonstrated by experience, that a man sitting by the woman he loves can + thank God as heartily as though sitting between two men that he has never + been introduced to. + </p> + <p> + There is another thing the Methodists should remember, and that is that + the Episcopalians were the greatest enemies they ever had. And they should + remember that the Freethinkers have always treated them kindly and well. + </p> + <p> + There is one thing about the Methodist Church in the North that I like. + But I find that it is not Methodism that does that. I find that the + Methodist Church in the South is as much opposed to liberty as the + Methodist Church North is in favor of liberty. So it is not Methodism that + is in favor of liberty or slavery. They differ a little in their creed + from the rest. They do not believe that God does everything. They believe + that he does his part, and that you must do the rest, and that getting to + heaven is a partnership business. The Methodist Church is adapted to new + countries—its ministers are generally uncultured, and with them zeal + takes the place of knowledge. They convert people with noise. In the + silence that follows most of the converts backslide. + </p> + <p> + In a little while a struggle will commence between the few who are growing + and the orthodox many. The few will be driven out, and the church will be + governed by those who believe without understanding. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0024" id="link0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + IX. THE PRESBYTERIANS + </h2> + <p> + THE next church is the Presbyterian, and in my judgment the worst of all, + as far as creed is concerned. This church was founded by John Calvin, a + murderer! + </p> + <p> + John Calvin, having power in Geneva, inaugurated human torture. Voltaire + abolished torture in France. The man who abolished torture, if the + Christian religion be true, God is now torturing in hell, and the man who + inaugurated torture, is now a glorified angel in heaven. It will not do. + </p> + <p> + John Knox started this doctrine in Scotland, and there is this peculiarity + about Presbyterianism—it grows best where the soil is poorest. I + read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John + Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a famine! Imagine a + conversation between a block and an ax! As I read their conversation it + seemed to me as though John Knox and John Calvin were made for each other; + that they fitted each other like the upper and lower jaws of a wild beast. + They believed happiness was a crime; they looked upon laughter as + blasphemy; and they did all they could to destroy every human feeling, and + to fill the mind with the infinite gloom of predestination and eternal + death. They taught the doctrine that God had a right to damn us because he + made us. That is just the reason that he has not a right to damn us. There + is some dust. Unconscious dust! What right has God to change that + unconscious dust into a human being, when he knows that human being will + sin; when he knows that human being will suffer eternal agony? Why not + leave him in the unconscious dust? What right has an infinite God to add + to the sum of human agony? Suppose I knew that I could change that piece + of furniture into a living, sentient human being, and I knew that that + being would suffer untold agony forever. If I did it, I would be a fiend. + I would leave that being in the unconscious dust. + </p> + <p> + And yet we are told that we must believe such a doctrine or we are to be + eternally damned! It will not do. + </p> + <p> + In 1839 there was a division in this church, and they had a lawsuit to see + which was the church of God. And they tried it by a judge and jury, and + the jury decided that the new school was the church of God, and then they + got a new trial, and the next jury decided that the old school was the + church of God, and that settled it. That church teaches that infinite + innocence was sacrificed for me! I do not want it! I do not wish to go to + heaven unless I can settle by the books, and go there because I ought to + go there. I have said, and I say again, I do not wish to be a charity + angel. I have no ambition to become a winged pauper of the skies. + </p> + <p> + The other day a young gentleman, a Presbyterian who had just been + converted, came to me and he gave me a tract, and he told me he was + perfectly happy. Said I, "Do you think a great many people are going to + hell?" "Oh, yes." "And you are perfectly happy?" Well, he did not know as + he was, quite. "Would not you be happier if they were all going to + heaven?" "Oh, yes." "Well, then, you are not perfectly happy?" No, he did + not think he was. "When you get to heaven, then you will be perfectly + happy?" "Oh, yes." "Now, when we are only going to hell, you are not quite + happy; but when we are in hell, and you in heaven, then you will be + perfectly happy? You will not be as decent when you get to be an angel as + you are now, will you?" "Well," he said, "that was not exactly it." Said + I, "Suppose your mother were in hell, would you be happy in heaven then?" + "Well," he says, "I suppose God would know the best place for mother." And + I thought to myself, then, if I was a woman, I would like to have five or + six boys like that. + </p> + <p> + It will not do. Heaven is where those are we love, and those who love us. + And I wish to go to no world unless I can be accompanied by those who love + me here. Talk about the consolations of this infamous doctrine. The + consolations of a doctrine that makes a father say, "I can be happy with + my daughter in hell;" that makes a mother say, "I can be happy with my + generous, brave boy in hell;" that makes a boy say, "I can enjoy the glory + of heaven with the woman who bore me, the woman <i>who would have died for + me</i>, in eternal agony." And they call that tidings of great joy. + </p> + <p> + No church has done more to fill the world with gloom than the + Presbyterian. Its creed is frightful, hideous, and hellish. The + Presbyterian god is the monster of monsters. He is an eternal executioner, + jailer and turnkey. He will enjoy forever the shrieks of the lost,—the + wails of the damned. Hell is the festival of the Presbyterian god. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0025" id="link0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + X. THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. + </h2> + <p> + I HAVE not time to speak of the Baptists,—that Jeremy Taylor said + were as much to be rooted out as anything that is the greatest pest and + nuisance on the earth. He hated the Baptists because they represented, in + some little degree, the liberty of thought. Nor have I time to speak of + the Quakers, the best of all, and abused by all. + </p> + <p> + I cannot forget that John Fox, in the year of grace 1640, was put in the + pillory and whipped from town to town, scarred, put in a dungeon, beaten, + trampled upon, and what for? Simply because he preached the doctrine: + "Thou shalt not resist evil with evil." "Thou shalt love thy enemies." + </p> + <p> + Think of what the church must have been that day to scar the flesh of that + loving man! Just think of it! I say I have not time to speak of all these + sects—the varieties of Presbyterians and Campbellites. There are + hundreds and hundreds of these sects, all founded upon this creed that I + read, differing simply in degree. + </p> + <p> + Ah! but they say to me: You are fighting something that is dead. Nobody + believes this now. The preachers do not believe what they preach in the + pulpit. The people in the pews do not believe what they hear preached. And + they say to me: You are fighting something that is dead. This is all a + form, we do not believe a solitary creed in the world. We sign them and + swear that we believe them, but we do not. And none of us do. And all the + ministers, they say in private, admit that they do not believe it, not + quite. I do not know whether this is so or not. I take it that they + believe what they preach. I take it that when they meet and solemnly agree + to a creed, they are honest and really believe in that creed. But let us + see if I am waging a war against the ideas of the dead. Let us see if I am + simply storming a cemetery. + </p> + <p> + The Evangelical Alliance, made up of all orthodox denominations of the + world, met only a few years ago, and here is their creed: They believe in + the divine inspiration, authority and sufficiency of the holy Scriptures; + the right and duty of private judgment in the interpretation of the holy + Scriptures, but if you interpret wrong you are damned. They believe in the + unity of the godhead and the Trinity of the persons therein. They believe + in the utter depravity of human nature. There can be no more infamous + doctrine than that. They look upon a little child as a lump of depravity. + I look upon it as a bud of humanity, that will, in the air and light of + love and joy, blossom into rich and glorious life. + </p> + <p> + Total depravity of human nature! Here is a woman whose husband has been + lost at sea; the news comes that he has been drowned by the ever-hungry + waves, and she waits. There is something in her heart that tells her he is + alive. And she waits. And years afterward as she looks down toward the + little gate she sees him; he has been given back by the sea, and she + rushes to his arms, and covers his face with kisses and with tears. And if + that infamous doctrine is true every tear is a crime, and every kiss a + blasphemy. It will not do. According to that doctrine, if a man steals and + repents, and takes back the property, the repentance and the taking back + of the property are two other crimes. It is an infamy. What else do they + believe? "The justification of a sinner by faith alone," without works—just + faith. Believing something that you do not understand. Of course God can + not afford to reward a man for believing anything that is reasonable. God + rewards only for believing something that is unreasonable. If you believe + something that is improbable and unreasonable, you are a Christian; but if + you believe something that you know is not so, then,—you are a + saint. + </p> + <p> + They believe in the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and in the + eternal punishment of the wicked. + </p> + <p> + Tidings of great joy! They are so good that they will not associate with + Universalists. They will not associate with Unitarians; they will not + associate with scientists; they will only associate with those who believe + that God so loved the world that he made up his mind to damn the most of + us. + </p> + <p> + The Evangelical Alliance reiterates the absurdities of the Dark Ages—repeats + the five points of Calvin—replenishes the fires of hell—certifies + to the mistakes and miracles of the Bible—maligns the human race, + and kneels to a god who accepted the agony of the innocent as an atonement + for the guilty. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0026" id="link0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + XI. WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE? + </h2> + <p> + THEN they say to me: "What do you propose? You have torn this down, what + do you propose to give us in place of it?" + </p> + <p> + I have not torn the good down. I have only endeavored to trample out the + ignorant, cruel fires of hell. I do not tear away the passage: "God will + be merciful to the merciful." I do not destroy the promise; "If you will + forgive others, God will forgive you." I would not for anything blot out + the faintest star that shines in the horizon of human despair, nor in the + sky of human hope; but I will do what I can to get that infinite shadow + out of the heart of man. + </p> + <p> + "What do you propose in place of this?" + </p> + <p> + Well, in the first place, I propose good fellowship—good friends all + around. No matter what we believe, shake hands and let it go. That is your + opinion; this is mine: let us be friends. Science makes friends; religion, + superstition, makes enemies. They say: Belief is important. I say: No, + actions are important. Judge by deed, not by creed. Good fellowship—good + friends—sincere men and women—mutual forbearance, born of + mutual respect. We have had too many of these solemn people. Whenever I + see an exceedingly solemn man, I know he is an exceedingly stupid man. No + man of any humor ever founded a religion—never. Humor sees both + sides. While reason is the holy light, humor carries the lantern, and the + man with a keen sense of humor is preserved from the solemn stupidities of + superstition. I like a man who has got good feeling for everybody; good + fellowship. One man said to another: + </p> + <p> + "Will you take a glass of wine?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not drink." + </p> + <p> + "Will you smoke a cigar?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not smoke." + </p> + <p> + "Maybe you will chew something?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not chew." + </p> + <p> + "Let us eat some hay." + </p> + <p> + "I tell you I do not eat hay." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, good-by, for you are no company for man or beast." + </p> + <p> + I believe in the gospel of Cheerfulness, the gospel of Good Nature; the + gospel of Good Health. Let us pay some attention to our bodies. Take care + of our bodies, and our souls will take care of themselves. Good health! + And I believe the time will come when the public thought will be so great + and grand that it will be looked upon as infamous to perpetuate disease. I + believe the time will come when man will not fill the future with + consumption and insanity. I believe the time will come when we will study + ourselves, and understand the laws of health and then we will say: We are + under obligation to put the flags of health in the cheeks of our children. + Even if I got to heaven, and had a harp, I would hate to look back upon my + children and grandchildren, and see them diseased, deformed, crazed—all + suffering the penalties of crimes I had committed. + </p> + <p> + I believe in the gospel of Good Living. You can not make any god happy by + fasting. Let us have good food, and let us have it well cooked—and + it is a thousand times better to know how to cook than it is to understand + any theology in the world. + </p> + <p> + I believe in the gospel of good clothes; I believe in the gospel of good + houses; in the gospel of water and soap. I believe in the gospel of + intelligence; in the gospel of education. The school-house is my + cathedral. The universe is my Bible. I believe in that gospel of justice, + that we must reap what we sow. + </p> + <p> + I do not believe in forgiveness as it is preached by the church. We do not + need the forgiveness of God, but of each other and of ourselves. If I rob + Mr. Smith and God forgives me, how does that help Smith? If I, by slander, + cover some poor girl with the leprosy of some imputed crime, and she + withers away like a blighted flower and afterward I get the forgiveness of + God, how does that help her? If there is another world, we have got to + settle with the people we have wronged in this. No bankrupt court there. + Every cent must be paid. + </p> + <p> + The Christians say, that among the ancient Jews, if you committed a crime + you had to kill a sheep. Now they say "charge it." "Put it on the slate." + It will not do. For every crime you commit you must answer to yourself and + to the one you injure. And if you have ever clothed another with woe, as + with a garment of pain, you will never be quite as happy as though you had + not done that thing. No forgiveness by the gods. Eternal, inexorable, + everlasting justice, so far as Nature is concerned. You must reap the + result of your acts. Even when forgiven by the one you have injured, it is + not as though the injury had not been done. That is what I believe in. And + if it goes hard with me, I will stand it, and I will cling to my logic, + and I will bear it like a man. + </p> + <p> + And I believe, too, in the gospel of Liberty, in giving to others what we + claim for ourselves. I believe there is room everywhere for thought, and + the more liberty you give away, the more you will have. In liberty + extravagance is economy. Let us be just. Let us be generous to each other. + </p> + <p> + I believe in the gospel of Intelligence. That is the only lever capable of + raising mankind. Intelligence must be the savior of this world. Humanity + is the grand religion, and no God can put a man in hell in another world, + who has made a little heaven in this. God cannot make a man miserable if + that man has made somebody else happy. God cannot hate anybody who is + capable of loving anybody. Humanity—that word embraces all there is. + </p> + <p> + So I believe in this great gospel of Humanity. + </p> + <p> + "Ah! but," they say, "it will not do. You must believe." I say, No. My + gospel of health will bring life. My gospel of intelligence, my gospel of + good living, my gospel of good-fellowship will cover the world with happy + homes. My doctrine will put carpets upon your floors, pictures upon your + walls. My doctrine will put books upon your shelves, ideas in your minds. + My doctrine will rid the world of the abnormal monsters born of ignorance + and superstition. My doctrine will give us health, wealth and happiness. + That is what I want. That is what I believe in. Give us intelligence. In a + little while a man will find that he can not steal without robbing + himself. He will find that he cannot murder without assassinating his own + joy. He will find that every crime is a mistake. He will find that only + that man carries the cross who does wrong, and that upon the man who does + right the cross turns to wings that will bear him upward forever. He will + find that even intelligent self-love embraces within its mighty arms all + the human race. + </p> + <p> + "Oh," but they say to me, "you take away immortality." I do not. If we are + immortal it is a fact in nature, and we are not indebted to priests for + it, nor to bibles for it, and it cannot be destroyed by unbelief. + </p> + <p> + As long as we love we will hope to live, and when the one dies that we + love we will say: "Oh, that we could meet again," and whether we do or not + it will not be the work of theology. It will be a fact in nature. I would + not for my life destroy one star of human hope, but I want it so that when + a poor woman rocks the cradle and sings a lullaby to the dimpled darling, + she will not be compelled to believe that ninety-nine chances in a hundred + she is raising kindling wood for hell. + </p> + <p> + One world at a time is my doctrine. + </p> + <p> + It is said in this Testament, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil + thereof;" and I say: Sufficient unto each world is the evil thereof. + </p> + <p> + And suppose after all that death does end all. Next to eternal joy, next + to being forever with those we love and those who have loved us, next to + that, is to be wrapt in the dreamless drapery of eternal peace. Next to + eternal life is eternal sleep. Upon the shadowy shore of death the sea of + trouble casts no wave. Eyes that have been curtained by the everlasting + dark, will never know again the burning touch of tears. Lips touched by + eternal silence will never speak again the broken words of grief. Hearts + of dust do not break. The dead do not weep. Within the tomb no veiled and + weeping sorrow sits, and in the ray-less gloom is crouched no shuddering + fear. + </p> + <p> + I had rather think of those I have loved, and lost, as having returned to + earth, as having become a part of the elemental wealth of the world—I + would rather think of them as unconscious dust, I would rather dream of + them as gurgling in the streams, floating in the clouds, bursting in the + foam of light upon the shores of worlds, I would rather think of them as + the lost visions of a forgotten night, than to have even the faintest fear + that their naked souls have been clutched by an orthodox god. I will leave + my dead where nature leaves them. Whatever flower of hope springs up in my + heart I will cherish, I will give it breath of sighs and rain of tears. + But I can not believe that there is any being in this universe who has + created a human soul for eternal pain. I would rather that every god would + destroy himself; I would rather that we all should go to eternal chaos, to + black and starless night, than that just one soul should suffer eternal + agony. + </p> + <p> + I have made up my mind that if there is a God, he will be merciful to the + merciful. + </p> + <p> + Upon that rock I stand.— + </p> + <p> + That he will not torture the forgiving.— + </p> + <p> + Upon that rock I stand.— + </p> + <p> + That every man should be true to himself, and that there is no world, no + star, in which honesty is a crime. + </p> + <p> + Upon that rock I stand. + </p> + <p> + The honest man, the good woman, the happy child, have nothing to fear, + either in this world or the world to come. + </p> + <p> + Upon that rock I stand. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + <table summary="" border="3" cellpadding="4"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> + <big><big><a + href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38813/38813-h/38813-h.htm"> + TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ALL 12 EBOOKS IN THIS SET</a></big></big> + </td> + <td></td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Works of Robert G. 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Ingersoll, Vol. 1 +(of 12), by Robert G. Ingersoll + +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: The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 1 (of 12) + Dresden Edition--Lectures + +Author: Robert G. Ingersoll + +Release Date: February 9, 2012 [EBook #38801] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORKS OF INGERSOLL *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + + +THE WORKS OF ROBERT G. INGERSOLL + +"The Destroyer Of Weeds, Thistles And Thorns Is A Benefactor, Whether He +Soweth Grain Or Not." + +IN TWELVE VOLUMES, VOLUME I. + +LECTURES + +1901 + +THE DRESDEN PUBLISHING CO. + + +TO + +EVA A. INGERSOLL, + +MY WIFE, + +A WOMAN WITHOUT SUPERSTITION, + +THIS VOLUME + +IS DEDICATED. + +FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. + +FOR THE USE OF MAN, + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. + +THE GODS. + +(1872.) + +An Honest God is the Noblest Work of Man--Resemblance of Gods to +their Creators--Manufacture and Characteristics of Deities--Their +Amours--Deficient in many Departments of Knowledge--Pleased with the +Butchery of Unbelievers--A Plentiful Supply--Visitations--One God's +Laws of War--The Book called the Bible--Heresy of Universalism--Faith +an unhappy mixture of Insanity and Ignorance--Fallen Gods, or +Devils--Directions concerning Human Slavery--The first Appearance of +the Devil--The Tree of Knowledge--Give me the Storm and Tempest of +Thought--Gods and Devils Natural Productions--Personal Appearance +of Deities--All Man's Ideas suggested by his Surroundings--Phenomena +Supposed to be Produced by Intelligent Powers--Insanity and Disease +attributed to Evil Spirits--Origin of the Priesthood--Temptation of +Christ--Innate Ideas--Divine Interference--Special Providence--The +Crane and the Fish--Cancer as a proof of Design--Matter and +Force--Miracle--Passing the Hat for just one Fact--Sir William Hamilton +on Cause and Effect--The Phenomena of Mind--Necessity and Free Will--The +Dark Ages--The Originality of Repetition--Of what Use have the Gods been +to Man?--Paley and Design--Make Good Health Contagious--Periodicity of +the Universe and the Commencement of Intellectual Freedom--Lesson of +the ineffectual attempt to rescue the Tomb of Christ from the +Mohammedans--The Cemetery of the Gods--Taking away Crutches--Imperial +Reason + + +HUMBOLDT. + +(1869.) + +The Universe is Governed by Law--The Self-made Man--Poverty generally +an Advantage--Humboldt's Birth-place--His desire for Travel--On what +Humboldt's Fame depends--His Companions and Friends--Investigations +in the New World--A Picture--Subjects of his Addresses--Victory of the +Church over Philosophy--Influence of the discovery that the World is +governed by Law--On the term Law--Copernicus--Astronomy--Aryabhatta-- +Descartes--Condition of the World and Man when the morning of Science +Dawned--Reasons for Honoring Humboldt--The World his Monument + + +THOMAS PAINE. + +(1870.) + +With his Name left out the History of Liberty cannot be Written--Paine's +Origin and Condition--His arrival in America with a Letter of +Introduction by Franklin--Condition of the Colonies--"Common Sense"--A +new Nation Born--Paine the Best of Political Writers--The "Crisis"--War +not to the Interest of a trading Nation--Paine's Standing at the Close +of the Revolution--Close of the Eighteenth Century in France-The +"Rights of Man"--Paine Prosecuted in England--"The World is my +Country"--Elected to the French Assembly--Votes against the Death of +the King--Imprisoned--A look behind the Altar--The "Age of Reason"--His +Argument against the Bible as a Revelation--Christianity of Paine's +Day--A Blasphemy Law in Force in Maryland--The Scotch "Kirk"--Hanging +of Thomas Aikenhead for Denying the Inspiration of the +Scriptures--"Cathedrals and Domes, and Chimes and Chants"--Science--"He +Died in the Land his Genius Defended," + + +INDIVIDUALITY. + +(1873.) + +"His Soul was like a Star and Dwelt Apart"--Disobedience one of the +Conditions of Progress.--Magellan--The Monarch and the Hermit-Why +the Church hates a Thinker--The Argument from Grandeur and +Prosperity-Travelers and Guide-boards--A Degrading Saying--Theological +Education--Scotts, Henrys and McKnights--The Church the Great +Robber--Corrupting the Reason of Children--Monotony of Acquiescence: For +God's sake, say No--Protestant Intolerance: Luther and Calvin--Assertion +of Individual Independence a Step toward Infidelity--Salute to +Jupiter--The Atheistic Bug-Little Religious Liberty in America--God in +the Constitution, Man Out--Decision of the Supreme Court of Illinois +that an Unbeliever could not testify in any Court--Dissimulation--Nobody +in this Bed--The Dignity of a Unit + + +HERETICS AND HERESIES. + +(1874.) + +Liberty, a Word without which all other Words are Vain--The Church, the +Bible, and Persecution--Over the wild Waves of War rose and fell +the Banner of Jesus Christ--Highest Type of the Orthodox +Christian--Heretics' Tongues and why they should be Removed before +Burning--The Inquisition Established--Forms of Torture--Act of Henry +VIII for abolishing Diversity of Opinion--What a Good Christian was +Obliged to Believe--The Church has Carried the Black Flag--For what Men +and Women have been Burned--John Calvin's Advent into the +World--His Infamous Acts--Michael Servetus--Castalio--Spread of +Presbyterianism--Indictment of a Presbyterian Minister in Illinois for +Heresy--Specifications--The Real Bible + + +THE GHOSTS. + +(1877.) + +Dedication to Ebon C. Ingersoll--Preface--Mendacity of the Religious +Press--"Materialism"--Ways of Pleasing the Ghosts--The Idea of +Immortality not Born of any Book--Witchcraft and Demon-ology--Witch +Trial before Sir Matthew Hale--John Wesley a Firm Believer in +Ghosts--"Witch-spots"--Lycanthropy--Animals Tried and Convicted--The +Governor of Minnesota and the Grasshoppers--A Papal Bull against +Witchcraft--Victims of the Delusion--Sir William Blackstone's +Affirmation--Trials in Belgium--Incubi and Succubi--A Bishop +Personated by the Devil--The Doctrine that Diseases are caused by +Ghosts--Treatment--Timothy Dwight against Vaccination--Ghosts as +Historians--The Language of Eden--Leibnitz, Founder of the Science +of Language--Cosmas on Astronomy--Vagaries of Kepler and Tycho +Brahe--Discovery of Printing, Powder, and America--Thanks to the +Inventors--The Catholic Murderer and the Meat--Let the Ghosts Go + + +THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD. + +(1877.) + +Liberty sustains the same Relation to Mind that Space does to +Matter--The History of Man a History of Slavery--The Infidel Our +Fathers in the good old Time--The iron Arguments that Christians +Used--Instruments of Torture--A Vision of the Inquisition--Models of +Man's Inventions--Weapons, Armor, Musical Instruments, Paintings, +Books, Skulls--The Gentleman in the Dug-out--Homage to Genius and +Intellect--Abraham Lincoln--What I mean by Liberty--The Man who cannot +afford to Speak his Thought is a Certificate of the Meanness of the +Community in which he Resides--Liberty of Woman--Marriage and the +Family--Ornaments the Souvenirs of Bondage-The Story of the Garden of +Eden--Adami and Heva--Equality of the Sexes-The word "Boss"--The Cross +Man-The Stingy Man--Wives who are Beggars--How to Spend Money--By +the Tomb of the Old Napoleon--The Woman you Love will never Grow +Old--Liberty of Children--When your Child tells a Lie--Disowning +Children--Beating your own Flesh and Blood--Make Home Pleasant--Sunday +when I was a Boy--The Laugh of a Child--The doctrine of Eternal +Punishment--Jonathan Edwards on the Happiness of Believing Husbands +whose Wives are in Hell--The Liberty of Eating and Sleeping--Water in +Fever--Soil and Climate necessary to the production of Genius--Against +Annexing Santo Domingo--Descent of Man--Conclusion + + +ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS. + +(1877.) + +To Plow is to Pray; to Plant is to Prophesy, and the Harvest Answers and +Fulfills--The Old Way of Farming--Cooking an Unknown Art-Houses, Fuel, +and Crops--The Farmer's Boy--What a Farmer should Sell--Beautifying +the Home--Advantages of Illinois as a Farming State--Advantages of the +Farmer over the Mechanic--Farm Life too Lonely-On Early Rising--Sleep +the Best Doctor--Fashion--Patriotism and Boarding Houses--The Farmer and +the Railroads--Money and Confidence--Demonetization of Silver-Area of +Illinois--Mortgages and Interest--Kindness to Wives and Children--How +a Beefsteak should be Cooked--Decorations and Comfort--Let the Children +Sleep--Old Age + + +WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED? + +(1880.) + +Preface--The Synoptic Gospels--Only Mark Knew of the Necessity of +Belief--Three Christs Described--The Jewish Gentleman and the Piece of +Bacon--Who Wrote the New Testament?--Why Christ and the Apostles wrote +Nothing--Infinite Respect for the Man Christ--Different Feeling for +the Theological Christ--Saved from What?--Chapter on the Gospel of +Matthew--What this Gospel says we must do to be Saved--Jesus and the +Children--John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards conceived of as Dimpled +Darlings--Christ and the Man who inquired what Good Thing he should +do that he might have Eternal Life--Nothing said about Belief--An +Interpolation--Chapter on the Gospel of Mark--The Believe or be Damned +Passage, and why it was written--The last Conversation of Christ with +his Disciples--The Signs that Follow them that Believe--Chapter on +the Gospel of Luke--Substantial Agreement with Matthew and Mark--How +Zaccheus achieved Salvation--The two Thieves on the Cross--Chapter +on the Gospel of John--The Doctrine of Regeneration, or the New +Birth--Shall we Love our Enemies while God Damns His?--Chapter on the +Catholics--Communication with Heaven through Decayed Saints--Nuns and +Nunneries--Penitentiaries of God should be Investigated--The +Athanasian Creed expounded--The Trinity and its Members--Chapter on the +Episcopalians--Origin of the Episcopal Church--Apostolic Succession +an Imported Article--Episcopal Creed like the Catholic, with a +few Additional Absurdities--Chapter on the Methodists--Wesley and +Whitfield--Their Quarrel about Predestination--Much Preaching for Little +Money--Adapted to New Countries--Chapter on the Presbyterians--John +Calvin, Murderer--Meeting between Calvin and Knox--The Infamy of +Calvinism--Division in the Church--The Young Presbyterian's Resignation +to the Fate of his Mother--A Frightful, Hideous, and Hellish +Creed--Chapter on the Evangelical Alliance--Jeremy Taylor's Opinion of +Baptists--Orthodoxy not Dead--Creed of the Alliance--Total Depravity, +Eternal Damnation--What do You Propose?--The Gospel of Good-fellowship, +Cheerfulness, Health, Good Living, Justice--No Forgiveness--God's +Forgiveness Does not Pay my Debt to Smith--Gospel of Liberty, of +Intelligence, of Humanity--One World at a Time--"Upon that Rock I +Stand" + + + + +PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. + +IN presenting to the public this edition of the late Robert G. +Ingersoll's works, it has been the aim of the publisher to make it +worthy of the author and a pleasure to his friends and admirers. No one +can be more conscious than he of the magnitude of the task +undertaken, or more keenly feel how far short it must fall of adequate +accomplishment. + +When it is remembered that countless utterances of the author were never +caught from his eloquent lips, it is matter for congratulation that +so much has been preserved. The authorized addresses, arguments and +articles that have already appeared in print and passed the review of +the authors more or less careful inspection, will be readily recognized +as accurate and complete; but in this latest and fullest compilation +are many emanations from his heart and brain that have never had his +scrutiny, were not revised by him, and that yet, by general judgment, +should not be lost to the world. + +These unedited sundries consist of fragments of speeches and incompleted +articles discovered amongst the authors literary remains and for +unknown reasons left in more or less unfinished form. It has been the +publisher's ambition to gather these fugitive pieces and place them in +this edition by the side of the saved treasures. Whether the work has +been well or ill done a generous public must decide, while the sole +responsibility must rest with, as it has been assumed by, the publisher. + +In carrying out the design of the present edition, the publisher +gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Mr. Ingersoll's family, +who have freely placed at his disposal many papers, inscriptions, +monographs, memoranda and pages of valuable material. + +Recognition is also here made of the kind courtesy of the press and of +publishers of magazines who have generously permitted the publication of +articles originally written for them. + +Finally, the publisher gives his thanks to all the devoted friends of +the author who in many ways, by suggestion and unselfish labor, +have aided in getting out this work. Of these, none have been more +unremitting in service, and to none is the publisher more indebted, than +to Mr. I. Newton Baker, Mr. Ingersoll's former private secretary, to Dr. +Edgar C. Beall, and to Mr. George E. Macdonald for the fine Tables of +Contents and the very valuable Index to this edition. + +C. P. FARRELL. + +New York, July, 1900. + + + + +THE GODS + +An Honest God is the Noblest Work of Man. + +EACH nation has created a god, and the god has always resembled his +creators. He hated and loved what they hated and loved, and he was +invariably found on the side of those in power. Each god was intensely +patriotic, and detested all nations but his own. All these gods demanded +praise, flattery, and worship. Most of them were pleased with sacrifice, +and the smell of innocent blood has ever been considered a divine +perfume. All these gods have insisted upon having a vast number of +priests, and the priests have always insisted upon being supported by +the people, and the principal business of these priests has been to +boast about their god, and to insist that he could easily vanquish all +the other gods put together. + +These gods have been manufactured after numberless models, and according +to the most grotesque fashions. Some have a thousand arms, some a +hundred heads, some are adorned with necklaces of living snakes, some +are armed with clubs, some with sword and shield, some with bucklers, +and some have wings as a cherub; some were invisible, some would show +themselves entire, and some would only show their backs; some were +jealous, some were foolish, some turned themselves into men, some into +swans, some into bulls, some into doves, and some into Holy Ghosts, +and made love to the beautiful daughters of men. Some were married--all +ought to have been--and some were considered as old bachelors from all +eternity. Some had children, and the children were turned into gods and +worshiped as their fathers had been. Most of these gods were revengeful, +savage, lustful, and ignorant. As they generally depended upon +their priests for information, their ignorance can hardly excite our +astonishment. + +These gods did not even know the shape of the worlds they had created, +but supposed them perfectly flat Some thought the day could be +lengthened by stopping the sun, that the blowing of horns could throw +down the walls of a city, and all knew so little of the real nature +of the people they had created, that they commanded the people to love +them. Some were so ignorant as to suppose that man could believe just +as he might desire, or as they might command, and that to be governed +by observation, reason, and experience was a most foul and damning sin. +None of these gods could give a true account of the creation of this +little earth. All were wofully deficient in geology and astronomy. As a +rule, they were most miserable legislators, and as executives, they were +far inferior to the average of American presidents. + +These deities have demanded the most abject and degrading obedience. In +order to please them, man must lay his very face in the dust Of course, +they have always been partial to the people who created them, and have +generally shown their partiality by assisting those people to rob and +destroy others, and to ravish their wives and daughters. + +Nothing is so pleasing to these gods as the butchery of unbelievers. +Nothing so enrages them, even now, as to have some one deny their +existence. + +Few nations have been so poor as to have but one god. Gods were made +so easily, and the raw material cost so little, that generally the god +market was fairly glutted, and heaven crammed with these phantoms. These +gods not only attended to the skies, but were supposed to interfere in +all the affairs of men. They presided over everybody and everything. +They attended to every department. All was supposed to be under their +immediate control. Nothing was too small--nothing too large; the falling +of sparrows and the motions of the planets were alike attended to by +these industrious and observing deities. From their starry thrones they +frequently came to the earth for the purpose of imparting information to +man. It is related of one that he came amid thunderings and lightnings +in order to tell the people that they should not cook a kid in its +mother's milk. Some left their shining abodes to tell women that they +should, or should not, have children, to inform a priest how to cut +and wear his apron, and to give directions as to the proper manner of +cleaning the intestines of a bird. + +When the people failed to worship one of these gods, or failed to feed +and clothe his priests, (which was much the same thing,) he generally +visited them with pestilence and famine. Sometimes he allowed some other +nation to drag them into slavery--to sell their wives and children; but +generally he glutted his vengeance by murdering their first-born. +The priests always did their whole duty, not only in predicting these +calamities, but in proving, when they did happen, that they were brought +upon the people because they had not given quite enough to them. + +These gods differed just as the nations differed; the greatest and most +powerful had the most powerful gods, while the weaker ones were obliged +to content themselves with the very off-scourings of the heavens. Each +of these gods promised happiness here and hereafter to all his slaves, +and threatened to eternally punish all who either disbelieved in his +existence or suspected that some other god might be his superior; but to +deny the existence of all gods was, and is, the crime of crimes. Redden +your hands with human blood; blast by slander the fair fame of the +innocent; strangle the smiling child upon its mother's knees; deceive, +ruin and desert the beautiful girl who loves and trusts you, and +your case is not hopeless. For all this, and for all these you may +be forgiven. For all this, and for all these, that bankrupt court +established by the gospel, will give you a discharge; but deny the +existence of these divine ghosts, of these gods, and the sweet and +tearful face of Mercy becomes livid with eternal hate. Heaven's golden +gates are shut, and you, with an infinite curse ringing in your +ears, with the brand of infamy upon your brow, commence your endless +wanderings in the lurid gloom of hell--an immortal vagrant--an eternal +outcast--a deathless convict. + +One of these gods, and one who demands our love, our admiration and +our worship, and one who is worshiped, if mere heartless ceremony is +worship, gave to his chosen people for their guidance, the following +laws of war: "When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, +_then proclaim peace unto it_. And it shall be if it make thee answer of +peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be that all the people that is +found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. +And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, +then thou shalt besiege it. + +"And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thy hands, thou shalt +smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword. But the women and +the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all +the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself, and thou shalt eat +the spoil of thine enemies which the Lord thy God hath given thee. Thus +shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, +which are not of the cities of these nations. But of the cities of these +people which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, _thou +shalt save alive nothing that breatheth_" + +Is it possible for man to conceive of anything more perfectly infamous? +Can you believe that such directions were given by any being except an +infinite fiend? Remember that the army receiving these instructions +was one of invasion. Peace was offered upon condition that the people +submitting should be the slaves of the invader; but if any should have +the courage to defend their homes, to fight for the love of wife and +child, then the sword was to spare none--not even the prattling, dimpled +babe. + +And we are called upon to worship such a God; to get upon our knees and +tell him that he is good, that he is merciful, that he is just, that he +is love. We are asked to stifle every noble sentiment of the soul, and +to trample under foot all the sweet charities of the heart. Because we +refuse to stultify ourselves--refuse to become liars--we are denounced, +hated, traduced and ostracized here, and this same god threatens to +torment us in eternal fire the moment death allows him to fiercely +clutch our naked helpless souls. Let the people hate, let the god +threaten--we will educate them, and we will despise and defy him. + +The book, called the Bible, is filled with passages equally horrible, +unjust and atrocious. This is the book to be read in schools in order +to make our children loving, kind and gentle! This is the book to +be recognized in our Constitution as the source of all authority and +justice! + +Strange! that no one has ever been persecuted by the church for +believing God bad, while hundreds of millions have been destroyed +for thinking him good. The orthodox church never will forgive the +Universalist for saying "God is love." It has always been considered +as one of the very highest evidences of true and undefiled religion to +insist that all men, women and children deserve eternal damnation. It +has always been heresy to say, "God will at last save all." + +We are asked to justify these frightful passages, these infamous laws +of war, because the Bible is the word of God. As a matter of fact, there +never was, and there never can be, an argument, even tending to prove +the inspiration of any book whatever. In the absence of positive +evidence, analogy and experience, argument is simply impossible, and at +the very best, can amount only to a useless agitation of the air. + +The instant we admit that a book is too sacred to be doubted, or even +reasoned about, we are mental serfs. It is infinitely absurd to suppose +that a god would address a communication to intelligent beings, and yet +make it a crime, to be punished in eternal flames, for them to use their +intelligence for the purpose of understanding his communication. If we +have the right to use our reason, we certainly have the right to act in +accordance with it, and no god can have the right to punish us for such +action. + +The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is monstrous. +It is the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in Christ is to +be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, +observation, and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for +refutation, and can be relieved only by that unhappy mixture of insanity +and ignorance, called "faith." What man, who ever thinks, can believe +that blood can appease God? And yet, our entire system of religion is +based upon that belief. The Jews pacified Jehovah with the blood of +animals, and according to the Christian system, the blood of Jesus +softened the heart of God a little, and rendered possible the salvation +of a fortunate few. It is hard to conceive how the human mind can give +assent to such terrible ideas, or how any sane man can read the Bible +and still believe in the doctrine of inspiration. + +Whether the Bible is true or false, is of no consequence in comparison +with the mental freedom of the race. + +Salvation through slavery is worthless. Salvation from slavery is +inestimable. + +As long as man believes the Bible to be infallible, that book is his +master. The civilization of this century is not the child of faith, but +of unbelief--the result of free thought. + +All that is necessary, as it seems to me, to convince any reasonable +person that the Bible is simply and purely of human invention--of +barbarian invention--is to read it Read it as you would any other book; +think of it as you would of any other; get the bandage of reverence +from your eyes; drive from your heart the phantom of fear; push from the +throne of your brain the cowled form of superstition--then read the Holy +Bible, and you will be amazed that you ever, for one moment, supposed a +being of infinite wisdom, goodness and purity, to be the author of such +ignorance and of such atrocity. + +Our ancestors not only had their god-factories, but they made devils as +well. These devils were generally disgraced and fallen gods. Some had +headed unsuccessful revolts; some had been caught sweetly reclining in +the shadowy folds of some fleecy cloud, kissing the wife of the god of +gods. These devils generally sympathized with man. There is in regard +to them a most wonderful fact: In nearly all the theologies, mythologies +and religions, the devils have been much more humane and merciful +than the gods. No devil ever gave one of his generals an order to kill +children and to rip open the bodies of pregnant women. Such barbarities +were always ordered by the good gods. The pestilences were sent by the +most merciful gods. The frightful famine, during which the dying child +with pallid lips sucked the withered bosom of a dead mother, was sent by +the loving gods. No devil was ever charged with such fiendish brutality. + +One of these gods, according to the account, drowned an entire world, +with the exception of eight persons. The old, the young, the beautiful +and the helpless were remorsely devoured by the shoreless sea. This, +the most fearful tragedy that the imagination of ignorant priests ever +conceived, was the act, not of a devil, but of a god, so-called, whom +men ignorantly worship unto this day. What a stain such an act would +leave upon the character of a devil! One of the prophets of one of these +gods, having in his power a captured king, hewed him in pieces in the +sight of all the people. Was ever any imp of any devil guilty of such +savagery? + +One of these gods is reported to have given the following directions +concerning human slavery: "If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years shall +he serve, and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he +came in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he were married, then +his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and +she have borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be +her master's, and he shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall +plainly say, I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go +out free. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also +bring him unto the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall +bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever." + +According to this, a man was given liberty upon condition that he would +desert forever his wife and children. Did any devil ever force upon a +husband, upon a father, so cruel and so heartless an alternative? Who +can worship such a god? Who can bend the knee to such a monster? Who can +pray to such a fiend? + +All these gods threatened to torment forever the souls of their enemies. +Did any devil ever make so infamous a threat? The basest thing recorded +of the devil, is what he did concerning Job and his family, and that +was done by the express permission of one of these gods, and to decide +a little difference of opinion between their serene highnesses as to the +character of "my servant Job." The first account we have of the devil is +found in that purely scientific book called Genesis, and is as follows: +"Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the +Lord God had made, and he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye +shall not eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden? And the woman +said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the +garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden +God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest +ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. +For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall +be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the +woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to +the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the +fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and +he did eat.... And the Lord God said, Behold the man is become as one of +us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take +also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever. Therefore the Lord +God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which +he was taken. So he drove out the man, and he placed at the east of the +Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned every way to +keep the way of the tree of life." + +According to this account the promise of the devil was fulfilled to +the very letter. Adam and Eve did not die, and they did become as gods, +knowing good and evil. + +The account shows, however, that the gods dreaded education and +knowledge then just as they do now. The church still faithfully guards +the dangerous tree of knowledge, and has exerted in all ages her utmost +power to keep mankind from eating the fruit thereof. The priests have +never ceased repeating the old falsehood and the old threat: "Ye shall +not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." From every +pulpit comes the same cry, born of the same fear: "Lest they eat and +become as gods, knowing good and evil." For this reason, religion +hates science, faith detests reason, theology is the sworn enemy of +philosophy, and the church with its flaming sword still guards the hated +tree, and like its supposed founder, curses to the lowest depths the +brave thinkers who eat and become as gods. + +If the account given in Genesis is really true, ought we not, after all, +to thank this serpent? He was the first schoolmaster, the first advocate +of learning, the first enemy of ignorance, the first to whisper in human +ears the sacred word liberty, the creator of ambition, the author of +modesty, of inquiry, of doubt, of investigation, of progress and of +civilization. + +Give me the storm and tempest of thought and action, rather than the +dead calm of ignorance and faith! Banish me from Eden when you will; but +first let me eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge! + +Some nations have borrowed their gods; of this number, we are compelled +to say, is our own. The Jews having ceased to exist as a nation, and +having no further use for a god, our ancestors appropriated him and +adopted their devil at the same time. This borrowed god is still an +object of some adoration, and this adopted devil still excites the +apprehensions of our people. He is still supposed to be setting his +traps and snares for the purpose of catching our unwary souls, and is +still, with reasonable success, waging the old war against our God. + +To me, it seems easy to account for these ideas concerning gods and +devils. They are a perfectly natural production. Man has created them +all, and under the same circumstances would create them again. Man has +not only created all these gods, but he has created them out of the +materials by which he has been surrounded. Generally he has modeled them +after himself, and has given them hands, heads, feet, eyes, ears, +and organs of speech. Each nation made its gods and devils speak its +language not only, but put in their mouths the same mistakes in history, +geography, astronomy, and in all matters of fact, generally made by the +people. No god was ever in advance of the nation that created him. The +negroes represented their deities with black skins and curly hair. The +Mongolian gave to his a yellow complexion and dark almond-shaped eyes. +The Jews were not allowed to paint theirs, or we should have seen +Jehovah with a full beard, an oval face, and an aquiline nose. Zeus was +a perfect Greek, and Jove looked as though a member of the Roman senate. +The gods of Egypt had the patient face and placid look of the loving +people who made them. The gods of northern countries were represented +warmly clad in robes of fur; those of the tropics were naked. The gods +of India were often mounted upon elephants; those of some islanders were +great swimmers, and the deities of the Arctic zone were passionately +fond of whale's blubber. Nearly all people have carved or painted +representations of their gods, and these representations were, by the +lower classes, generally treated as the real gods, and to these images +and idols they addressed prayers and offered sacrifice. + +In some countries? even at this day, if the people after long praying +do not obtain their desires, they turn their images off as impotent +gods, or upbraid them in a most reproachful manner, loading them with +blows and curses. 'How now, dog of a spirit,' they say, 'we give you +lodging in a magnificent temple, we gild you with gold, feed you with +the choicest food, and offer incense to you; yet, after all this care, +you are so ungrateful as to refuse us what we ask.' + +Hereupon they will pull the god down and drag him through the filth +of the street. If, in the meantime, it happens that they obtain their +request, then, with a great deal of ceremony, they wash him clean, carry +him back and place him in his temple again, where they fall down and +make excuses for what they have done. 'Of a truth,' they say, 'we were +a little too hasty, and you were a little too long in your grant. Why +should you bring this beating on yourself. But what is done cannot be +undone. Let us not think of it any more. If you will forget what is +past, we will gild you over brighter again than before. + +Man has never been at a loss for gods. He has worshiped almost +everything, including the vilest and most disgusting beasts. He has +worshiped fire, earth, air, water, light, stars, and for hundreds of +ages prostrated himself before enormous snakes. Savage tribes often make +gods of articles they get from civilized people. The Todas worship a +cow-bell. The Kotas worship two silver plates, which they regard as +husband and wife, and another tribe manufactured a god out of a king of +hearts. + +Man, having always been the physical superior of woman, accounts for +the fact that most of the high gods have been males. Had woman been the +physical superior, the powers supposed to be the rulers of Nature would +have been women, and instead of being represented in the apparel of +man, they would have luxuriated in trains, lownecked dresses, laces and +back-hair. + +Nothing can be plainer than that each nation gives to its god its +peculiar characteristics, and that every individual gives to his god his +personal peculiarities. + +Man has no ideas, and can have none, except those suggested by his +surroundings. He cannot conceive of anything utterly unlike what he has +seen or felt. He can exaggerate, diminish, combine, separate, deform, +beautify, improve, multiply and compare what he sees, what he feels, +what he hears, and all of which he takes cognizance through the medium +of the senses; but he cannot create. Having seen exhibitions of power, +he can say, omnipotent. Having lived, he can say, immortality. Knowing +something of time, he can say, eternity. Conceiving something of +intelligence, he can say, God. Having seen exhibitions of malice, he can +say, devil. A few gleams of happiness having fallen athwart the gloom of +his life, he can say, heaven. Pain, in its numberless forms, having been +experienced, he can say, hell. Yet all these ideas have a foundation +in fact, and only a foundation. The superstructure has been reared +by exaggerating, diminishing, combining, separating, deforming, +beautifying, improving or multiplying realities, so that the edifice or +fabric is but the incongruous grouping of what man has perceived through +the medium of the senses. It is as though we should give to a lion the +wings of an eagle, the hoofs of a bison, the tail of a horse, the pouch +of a kangaroo, and the trunk of an elephant. We have in imagination +created an impossible monster. And yet the various parts of this monster +really exist So it is with all the gods that man has made. + +Beyond nature man cannot go even in thought--above nature he cannot +rise--below nature he cannot fall. + +Man, in his ignorance, supposed that all phenomena were produced by +some intelligent powers, and with direct reference to him. To preserve +friendly relations with these powers was, and still is, the object of +all religions. Man knelt through fear and to implore assistance, or +through gratitude for some favor which he supposed had been rendered. He +endeavored by supplication to appease some being who, for some reason, +had, as he believed, become enraged. The lightning and thunder terrified +him. In the presence of the volcano he sank upon his knees. The great +forests filled with wild and ferocious beasts, the monstrous serpents +crawling in mysterious depths, the boundless sea, the flaming comets, +the sinister eclipses, the awful calmness of the stars, and, more than +all, the perpetual presence of death, convinced him that he was the +sport and prey of unseen and malignant powers. The strange and frightful +diseases to which he was subject, the freezings and burnings of fever, +the contortions of epilepsy, the sudden palsies, the darkness of night, +and the wild, terrible and fantastic dreams that filled his brain, +satisfied him that he was haunted and pursued by countless spirits +of evil. For some reason he supposed that these spirits differed +in power--that they were not all alike malevolent--that the higher +controlled the lower, and that his very existence depended upon gaining +the assistance of the more powerful. For this purpose he resorted to +prayer, to flattery, to worship and to sacrifice. + +These ideas appear to have been almost universal in savage man. + +For ages all nations supposed that the sick and insane were possessed by +evil spirits. For thousands of years the practice of medicine consisted +in frightening these spirits away. Usually the priests would make the +loudest and most discordant noises possible. They would blow horns, +beat upon rude drums, clash cymbals, and in the meantime utter the most +unearthly yells. If the noise-remedy failed, they would implore the aid +of some more powerful spirit. + +To pacify these spirits was considered of infinite importance. The poor +barbarian, knowing that men could be softened by gifts, gave to these +spirits that which to him seemed of the most value. With bursting heart +he would offer the blood of his dearest child. It was impossible for him +to conceive of a god utterly unlike himself, and he naturally supposed +that these powers of the air would be affected a little at the sight of +so great and so deep a sorrow. It was with the barbarian then as with +the civilized now--one class lived upon and made merchandise of the +fears of another. Certain persons took it upon themselves to appease the +gods, and to instruct the people in their duties to these unseen powers. +This was the origin of the priesthood. The priest pretended to stand +between the wrath of the gods and the helplessness of man. He was man's +attorney at the court of heaven. He carried to the invisible world a +flag of truce, a protest and a request. He came back with a command, +with authority and with power. Man fell upon his knees before his own +servant, and the priest, taking advantage of the awe inspired by his +supposed influence with the gods, made of his fellow-man a cringing +hypocrite and slave. Even Christ, the supposed son of God, taught that +persons were possessed of evil spirits, and frequently, according to +the account, gave proof of his divine origin and mission by frightening +droves of devils out of his unfortunate countrymen. Casting out devils +was his principal employment, and the devils thus banished generally +took occasion to acknowledge him as the true Messiah; which was not only +very kind of them, but quite fortunate for him. The religious people +have always regarded the testimony of these devils as perfectly +conclusive, and the writers of the New Testament quote the words of +these imps of darkness with great satisfaction. + +The fact that Christ could withstand the temptations of the devil was +considered as conclusive evidence that he was assisted by some god, or +at least by some being superior to man. St. Matthew gives an account of +an attempt made by the devil to tempt the supposed son of God; and it +has always excited the wonder of Christians that the temptation was +so nobly and heroically withstood. The account to which I refer is as +follows: + +"Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted +of the devil. And when the tempter came to him, he said: 'If thou be the +son of God, command that these stones be made bread.' But he answered, +and said: 'It is written: man shall not live by bread alone, but by +every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.' Then the devil +taketh him up into the holy city and setteth him upon a pinnacle of +the temple and saith unto him: 'If thou be the son of God, cast thyself +down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning +thee, lest at any time thou shalt dash thy foot against a stone,'Jesus +said unto him: 'It is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy +God.' Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and +sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and +saith unto him: 'All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and +worship me.'" + +The Christians now claim that Jesus was God. If he was God, of course +the devil knew that fact, and yet, according to this account, the devil +took 'the omnipotent God and placed him upon a pinnacle of the temple, +and endeavored to induce him to dash himself against the earth. Failing +in that, he took the creator, owner and governor of the universe up into +an exceeding high mountain, and offered him this world--this grain of +sand--if he, the God of all the worlds, would fall down and worship +him, a poor devil, without even a tax title to one foot of dirt! Is it +possible the devil was such an idiot? Should any great credit be given +to this deity for not being caught with such chaff? Think of it! The +devil--the prince of sharpers--the king of cunning--the master of +finesse, trying to bribe God with a grain of sand that belonged to God! + +Is there in all the religious literature of the world anything more +grossly absurd than this? + +These devils, according to the Bible, were of various kinds--some could +speak and hear, others were deaf and dumb. All could not be cast out +in the same way. The deaf and dumb spirits were quite difficult to deal +with. St. Mark tells of a gentleman who brought his son to Christ. The +boy, it seems, was possessed of a dumb spirit, over which the disciples +had no control. "Jesus said unto the spirit: 'Thou dumb and deaf spirit, +I charge thee come out of him, and enter no more into him.'" Whereupon, +the deaf spirit (having heard what was said) cried out (being dumb) and +immediately vacated the premises. The ease with which Christ controlled +this deaf and dumb spirit excited the wonder of his disciples, and they +asked him privately why they could not cast that spirit out. To whom he +replied: "This kind can come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting." Is +there a Christian in the whole world who would believe such a story +if found in any other book? The trouble is, these pious people shut up +their reason, and then open their Bible. + +In the olden times the existence of devils was universally admitted. The +people had no doubt upon that subject, and from such belief it followed +as a matter of course, that a person, in order to vanquish these devils, +had either to be a god, or to be assisted by one. All founders of +religions have established their claims to divine origin by controlling +evil spirits and suspending the laws of nature. Casting out devils was +a certificate of divinity. A prophet, unable to cope with the powers +of darkness was regarded with contempt The utterance of the highest +and noblest sentiments, the most blameless and holy life, commanded but +little respect, unless accompanied by power to work miracles and command +spirits. + +This belief in good and evil powers had its origin in the fact that man +was surrounded by what he was pleased to call good and evil phenomena. +Phenomena affecting man pleasantly were ascribed to good spirits, while +those affecting him unpleasantly or injuriously, were ascribed to evil +spirits. It being admitted that all phenomena were produced by spirits, +the spirits were divided according to the phenomena, and the phenomena +were good or bad as they affected man. + +Good spirits were supposed to be the authors of good phenomena, and evil +spirits of the evil--so that the idea of a devil has been as universal +as the idea of a god. + +Many writers maintain that an idea to become universal must be true; +that all universal ideas are innate, and that innate ideas cannot be +false. If the fact that an idea has been universal proves that it +is innate, and if the fact that an idea is innate proves that it is +correct, then the believers in innate ideas must admit that the evidence +of a god superior to nature, and of a devil superior to nature, is +exactly the same, and that the existence of such a devil must be as +self-evident as the existence of such a god. The truth is, a god was +inferred from good, and a devil from bad, phenomena. And it is just as +natural and logical to suppose that a devil would cause happiness as +to suppose that a god would produce misery. Consequently, if an +intelligence, infinite and supreme, is the immediate author of all +phenomena, it is difficult to determine whether such intelligence is the +friend or enemy of man. If phenomena were all good, we might say they +were all produced by a perfectly beneficent being. If they were all bad, +we might say they were produced by a perfectly malevolent power; but, +as phenomena are, as they affect man, both good and bad, they must be +produced by different and antagonistic spirits; by one who is sometimes +actuated by kindness, and sometimes by malice; or all must be produced +of necessity, and without reference to their consequences upon man. + +The foolish doctrine that all phenomena can be traced to the +interference of good and evil spirits, has been, and still is, almost +universal. That most people still believe in some spirit that can change +the natural order of events, is proven by the fact that nearly all +resort to prayer. Thousands, at this very moment, are probably imploring +some supposed power to interfere in their behalf. Some want health +restored; some ask that the loved and absent be watched over and +protected, some pray for riches, some for rain, some want diseases +stayed, some vainly ask for food, some ask for revivals, a few ask for +more wisdom, and now and then one tells the Lord to do as he may think +best. Thousands ask to be protected from the devil; some, like David, +pray for revenge, and some implore even God, not to lead them into +temptation. All these prayers rest upon, and are produced by, the idea +that some power not only can, but probably will, change the order of the +universe. This belief has been among the great majority of tribes +and nations. All sacred books are filled with the accounts of such +interferences, and our own Bible is no exception to this rule. + +If we believe in a power superior to nature, it is perfectly natural to +suppose that such power can and will interfere in the affairs of this +world. If there is no interference, of what practical use can such +power be? The Scriptures give us the most wonderful accounts of divine +interference: Animals talk like men; springs gurgle from dry bones; the +sun and moon stop in the heavens in order that General Joshua may have +more time to murder; the shadow on a dial goes back ten degrees to +convince a petty king of a barbarous people that he is not going to die +of a boil; fire refuses to burn; water positively declines to seek its +level, but stands up like a wall; grains of sand become lice; common +walking-sticks, to gratify a mere freak, twist themselves into serpents, +and then swallow each other by way of exercise; murmuring streams, +laughing at the attraction of gravitation, run up hill for years, +following wandering tribes from a pure love of frolic; prophecy becomes +altogether easier than history; the sons of God become enamored of the +world's girls; women are changed into salt for the purpose of keeping a +great event fresh in the minds of men; an excellent article of brimstone +is imported from heaven free of duty; clothes refuse to wear out for +forty years; birds keep restaurants and feed wandering prophets free of +expense; bears tear children in pieces for laughing at old men without +wigs; muscular development depends upon the length of one's hair; dead +people come to life, simply to get a joke on their enemies and heirs; +witches and wizards converse freely with the souls of the departed, and +God himself becomes a stone-cutter and engraver, after having been a +tailor and dressmaker. + +The veil between heaven and earth was always rent or lifted. The shadows +of this world, the radiance of heaven, and the glare of hell mixed +and mingled until man became uncertain as to which country he really +inhabited. Man dwelt in an unreal world. He mistook his ideas, his +dreams, for real things. His fears became terrible and malicious +monsters. He lived in the midst of furies and fairies, nymphs and +naiads, goblins and ghosts, witches and wizards, sprites and spooks, +deities and devils. The obscure and gloomy depths were filled with +claw and wing--with beak and hoof--with leering looks and sneering +mouths--with the malice of deformity--with the cunning of hatred, and +with all the slimy forms that fear can draw and paint upon the shadowy +canvas of the dark. + +It is enough to make one almost insane with pity to think what man in +the long night has suffered; of the tortures he has endured, surrounded, +as he supposed, by malignant powers and clutched by the fierce phantoms +of the air. No wonder that he fell upon his trembling knees--that he +built altars and reddened them even with his own blood. No wonder that +he implored ignorant priests and impudent magicians for aid. No wonder +that he crawled groveling in the dust to the temple's door, and there, +in the insanity of despair, besought the deaf gods to hear his bitter +cry of agony and fear. + +The savage as he emerges from a state of barbarism, gradually loses +faith in his idols of wood and stone, and in their place puts a +multitude of spirits. As he advances in knowledge, he generally discards +the petty spirits, and in their stead believes in one, whom he supposes +to be infinite and supreme. Supposing this great spirit to be superior +to nature, he offers worship or flattery in exchange for assistance. At +last, finding that he obtains no aid from this supposed deity--: +finding that every search after the absolute must of necessity end in +failure--finding that man cannot by any possibility conceive of the +conditionless--he begins to investigate the facts by which he is +surrounded, and to depend upon himself. + +The people are beginning to think, to reason and to investigate. Slowly, +painfully, but surely, the gods are being driven from the earth. Only +upon rare occasions are they, even by the most religious, supposed to +interfere in the affairs of men. In most matters we are at last supposed +to be free. Since the invention of steamships and railways, so that the +products of all countries can be easily interchanged, the gods have quit +the business of producing famine. Now and then they kill a child because +it is idolized by its parents. As a rule they have given up causing +accidents on railroads, exploding boilers, and bursting kerosene lamps. +Cholera, yellow fever, and small-pox are still considered heavenly +weapons; but measles, itch and ague are now attributed to natural +causes. As a general thing, the gods have stopped drowning children, +except as a punishment for violating the Sabbath. They still pay some +attention to the affairs of kings, men of genius and persons of great +wealth; but ordinary people are left to shirk for themselves as best +they may. In wars between great nations, the gods still interfere; but +in prize fights, the best man with an honest referee, is almost sure to +win. + +The church cannot abandon the idea of special providence. To give up +that doctrine is to give up all. The church must insist that prayer +is answered--that some power superior to nature hears and grants the +request of the sincere and humble Christian, and that this same power in +some mysterious way provides for all. + +A devout clergyman sought every opportunity to impress upon the mind +of his son the fact, that God takes care of all his creatures; that the +falling sparrow attracts his attention, and that his loving kindness is +over all his works. Happening, one day, to see a crane wading in quest +of food, the good man pointed out to his son the perfect adaptation of +the crane to get his living in that manner. "See," said he, "how his +legs are formed for wading! What a long slender bill he has! Observe how +nicely he folds his feet when putting them in or drawing them out of +the water! He does not cause the slightest ripple. He is thus enabled +to approach the fish without giving them any notice of his arrival." +"My son," said he, "it is impossible to look at that bird without +recognizing the design, as well as the goodness of God, in thus +providing the means of subsistence." "Yes," replied the boy, "I think I +see the goodness of God, at least so far as the crane is concerned; but +after all, father, don't you think the arrangement a little tough on the +fish?" + +Even the advanced religionist, although disbelieving in any great amount +of interference by the gods in this age of the world, still thinks, +that in the beginning, some god made the laws governing the universe. +He believes that in consequence of these laws a man can lift a greater +weight with, than without, a lever; that this god so made matter, and so +established the order of things, that two bodies cannot occupy the same +space at the same time; so that a body once put in motion will keep +moving until it is stopped; so that it is a greater distance around, +than across a circle; so that a perfect square has four equal sides, +instead of five or seven. He insists that it took a direct interposition +of Providence to make the whole greater than a part, and that had it not +been for this power superior to nature, twice one might have been more +than twice two, and sticks and strings might have had only one end +apiece. Like the old Scotch divine, he thanks God that Sunday comes at +the end instead of in the middle of the week, and that death comes at +the close instead of at the commencement of life, thereby giving us time +to prepare for that holy day and that most solemn event These religious +people see nothing but design everywhere, and personal, intelligent +interference in everything. They insist that the universe has been +created, and that the adaptation of means to ends is perfectly apparent. +They point us to the sunshine, to the flowers, to the April rain, and +to all there is of beauty and of use in the world. Did it ever occur to +them that a cancer is as beautiful in its development as is the reddest +rose? That what they are pleased to call the adaptation of means to +ends, is as apparent in the cancer as in the April rain? How beautiful +the process of digestion! By what ingenious methods the blood is +poisoned so that the cancer shall have food! By what wonderful +contrivances the entire system of man is made to pay tribute to this +divine and charming cancer! See by what admirable instrumentalities it +feeds itself from the surrounding quivering, dainty flesh! See how it +gradually but surely expands and grows! By what marvelous mechanism +it is supplied with long and slender roots that reach out to the most +secret nerves of pain for sustenance and life! What beautiful colors +it presents! Seen through the microscope it is a miracle of order and +beauty. All the ingenuity of man cannot stop its growth. Think of the +amount of thought it must have required to invent a way by which the +life of one man might be given to produce one cancer? Is it possible to +look upon it and doubt that there is design in the universe, and that +the inventor of this wonderful cancer must be infinitely powerful, +ingenious and good? + +We are told that the universe was designed and created, and that it is +absurd to suppose that matter has existed from eternity, but that it is +perfectly self-evident that a god has. + +If a god created the universe, then, there must have been a time when he +commenced to create. Back of that time there must have been an eternity, +during which there had existed nothing--absolutely nothing--except this +supposed god. According to this theory, this god spent an eternity, so +to speak, in an infinite vacuum, and in perfect idleness. + +Admitting that a god did create the universe, the question then arises, +of what did he create it? It certainly was not made of nothing. Nothing, +considered in the light of a raw material, is a most decided failure. It +follows, then, that the god must have made the universe out of himself, +he being the only existence. The universe is material, and if it was +made of god, the god must have been material. With this very thought in +his mind, Anaximander of Miletus said: "Creation is the decomposition of +the infinite." + +It has been demonstrated that the earth would fall to the sun, only for +the fact, that it is attracted by other worlds, and those worlds must +be attracted by other worlds still beyond them, and so on, without +end. This proves the material universe to be infinite. If an infinite +universe has been made out of an infinite god, how much of the god is +left? + +The idea of a creative deity is gradually being abandoned, and nearly +all truly scientific minds admit that matter must have existed from +eternity. It is indestructible, and the indestructible cannot be +created. It is the crowning glory of our century to have demonstrated +the indestructibility and the eternal persistence of force. Neither +matter nor force can be increased nor diminished. Force cannot exist +apart from matter. Matter exists only in connection with force, and +consequently, a force apart from matter, and superior to nature, is a +demonstrated impossibility. + +Force, then, must have also existed from eternity, and could not have +been created. Matter in its countless forms, from dead earth to the +eyes of those we love, and force, in all its manifestations, from simple +motion to the grandest thought, deny creation and defy control. + +Thought is a form of force. We walk with the same force with which we +think. Man is an organism, that changes several forms of force into +thought-force. Man is a machine into which we put what we call food, and +produce what we call thought. Think of that wonderful chemistry by which +bread was changed into the divine tragedy of Hamlet! + +A god must not only be material, but he must be an organism, capable of +changing other forms of force into thought-force. This is what we call +eating. Therefore, if the god thinks, he must eat, that is to say, he +must of necessity have some means of supplying the force with which to +think. It is impossible to conceive of a being who can eternally impart +force to matter, and yet have no means of supplying the force thus +imparted. + +If neither matter nor force were created, what evidence have we, then, +of the existence of a power superior to nature? The theologian will +probably reply, "We have law and order, cause and effect, and beside all +this, matter could not have put itself in motion." + +Suppose, for the sake of the argument, that there is no being superior +to nature, and that matter and force have existed from eternity. Now, +suppose that two atoms should come together, would there be an effect? +Yes. Suppose they came in exactly opposite directions with equal force, +they would be stopped, to say the least. This would be an effect. If +this is so, then you have matter, force and effect without a being +superior to nature. Now, suppose that two other atoms, just like the +first two, should come together under precisely the same circumstances, +would not the effect be exactly the same? Yes. Like causes, producing +like effects, is what we mean by law and order. Then we have matter, +force, effect, law and order without a being superior to nature. Now, we +know that every effect must also be a cause, and that every cause must +be an effect. The atoms coming together did produce an effect, and as +every effect must also be a cause, the effect produced by the collision +of the atoms, must as to something else have been a cause. Then we have +matter, force, law, order, cause and effect without a being superior to +nature. Nothing is left for the supernatural but empty space. His throne +is a void, and his boasted realm is without matter, without force, +without law, without cause, and without effect. + +But what put all this matter in motion? If matter and force have existed +from eternity, then matter must have always been in motion. There can +be no force without motion. Force is forever active, and there is, and +there can be no cessation. If, therefore, matter and force have existed +from eternity, so has motion. In the whole universe there is not even +one atom in a state of rest. + +A deity outside of nature exists in nothing, and is nothing. Nature +embraces with infinite arms all matter and all force. That which is +beyond her grasp is destitute of both, and can hardly be worth the +worship and adoration even of a man. + +There is but one way to demonstrate the existence of a power independent +of and superior to nature, and that is by breaking, if only for one +moment, the continuity of cause and effect Pluck from the endless chain +of existence one little link; stop for one instant the grand procession, +and you have shown beyond all contradiction that nature has a master. +Change the fact, just for one second, that matter attracts matter, and a +god appears. + +The rudest savage has always known this fact, and for that reason always +demanded the evidence of miracle. The founder of a religion must be able +to turn water into wine--cure with a word the blind and lame, and +raise with a simple touch the dead to life. It was necessary for him to +demonstrate to the satisfaction of his barbarian disciple, that he +was superior to nature. In times of ignorance this was easy to do. The +credulity of the savage was almost boundless. To him the marvelous +was the beautiful, the mysterious was the sublime. Consequently, every +religion has for its foundation a miracle--that is to say, a violation +of nature--that is to say, a falsehood. + +No one, in the world's whole history, ever attempted to substantiate a +truth by a miracle. Truth scorns the assistance of miracle. Nothing but +falsehood ever attested itself by signs and wonders. No miracle ever was +performed, and no sane man ever thought he had performed one, and until +one is performed, there can be no evidence of the existence of any power +superior to and independent of nature. + +The church wishes us to believe. Let the church, or one of its +intellectual saints, perform a miracle, and we will believe. We are told +that nature has a superior. Let this superior, for one single instant, +control nature, and we will admit the truth of your assertions. + +We have heard talk enough. We have listened to all the drowsy, idealess, +vapid sermons that we wish to hear. We have read your Bible and the +works of your best minds. We have heard your prayers, your solemn groans +and your reverential amens. All these amount to less than nothing. We +want one fact. We beg at the doors of your churches for just one little +fact We pass our hats along your pews and under your pulpits and implore +you for just one fact We know all about your mouldy wonders and your +stale miracles. We want a this year's fact. We ask only one. Give us one +fact for charity. Your miracles are too ancient. The witnesses have +been dead for nearly two thousand years. Their reputation for "truth and +veracity" in the neighborhood where they resided is wholly unknown to +us. Give us a new miracle, and substantiate it by witnesses who still +have the cheerful habit of living in this world. Do not send us to +Jericho to hear the winding horns, nor put us in the fire with Shadrach, +Meshech, and Abednego. Do not compel us to navigate the sea with Captain +Jonah, nor dine with Mr. Ezekiel. There is no sort of use in sending us +fox-hunting with Samson. We have positively lost all interest in that +little speech so eloquently delivered by Balaam's inspired donkey. It +is worse than useless to show us fishes with money in their mouths, +and call our attention to vast multitudes stuffing themselves with five +crackers and two sardines. We demand a new miracle, and we demand it +now. Let the church furnish at least one, or forever after hold her +peace. + +In the olden time, the church, by violating the order of nature, proved +the existence of her God. At that time miracles were performed with the +most astonishing ease. They became so common that the church ordered +her priests to desist. And now this same church--the people having found +some little sense--admits, not only, that she cannot perform a miracle, +but insists that the absence of miracle--the steady, unbroken march of +cause and effect, proves the existence of a power superior to nature. +The fact is, however, that the indissoluble chain of cause and effect +proves exactly the contrary. + +Sir William Hamilton, one of the pillars of modern theology, in +discussing this very subject, uses the following language: "The +phenomena of matter taken by themselves, so far from warranting any +inference to the existence of a god, would on the contrary ground even +an argument to his negation. The phenomena of the material world are +subjected to immutable laws; are produced and reproduced in the same +invariable succession, and manifest only the blind force of a mechanical +necessity." + +Nature is but an endless series of efficient causes. She cannot create, +but she eternally transforms. There was no beginning, and there can be +no end. + +The best minds, even in the religious world, admit that in material +nature there is no evidence of what they are pleased to call a god. +They find their evidence in the phenomena of intelligence, and very +innocently assert that intelligence is above, and in fact, opposed to +nature. They insist that man, at least, is a special creation; that +he has somewhere in his brain a divine spark, a little portion of the +"Great First Cause." They say that matter cannot produce thought; but +that thought can produce matter. They tell us that man has intelligence, +and therefore there must be an intelligence greater than his. Why not +say, God has intelligence, therefore there must be an intelligence +greater than his? So far as we know, there is no intelligence apart +from matter. We cannot conceive of thought, except as produced within a +brain. + +The science, by means of which they demonstrate the existence of an +impossible intelligence, and an incomprehensible power is called, +metaphysics or theology. The theologians admit that the phenomena of +matter tend, at least, to disprove the existence of any power superior +to nature, because in such phenomena we see nothing but an endless chain +of efficient causes--nothing but the force of a mechanical necessity. +They therefore appeal to what they denominate the phenomena of mind to +establish this superior power. + +The trouble is, that in the phenomena of mind we find the same endless +chain of efficient causes; the same mechanical necessity. Every thought +must have had an efficient cause. Every motive, every desire, every +fear, hope and dream must have been necessarily produced. There is no +room in the mind of man for providence or chance. The facts and forces +governing thought are as absolute as those governing the motions of +the planets. A poem is produced by the forces of nature, and is as +necessarily and naturally produced as mountains and seas. You will seek +in vain for a thought in man's brain without its efficient cause. +Every mental operation is the necessary result of certain facts and +conditions. Mental phenomena are considered more complicated than those +of matter, and consequently more mysterious. Being more mysterious, they +are considered better evidence of the existence of a god. No one infers +a god from the simple, from the known, from what is understood, but from +the complex, from the unknown, and, incomprehensible. Our ignorance is +God; what we know is science. + +When we abandon the doctrine that some infinite being created matter +and force, and enacted a code of laws for their government, the idea +of interference will be lost. The real priest will then be, not the +mouth-piece of some pretended deity, but the interpreter of nature. From +that moment the church ceases to exist. The tapers will die out upon the +dusty altar; the moths will eat the fading velvet of pulpit and pew; +the Bible will take its place with the Shastras, Puranas, Vedas, Eddas, +Sagas and Korans, and the fetters of a degrading faith will fall from +the minds of men. + +"But," says the religionist, "you cannot explain everything; you cannot +understand everything; and that which you cannot explain, that which you +do not comprehend, is my God." + +We are explaining more every day. We are understanding more every day; +consequently your God is growing smaller every day. + +Nothing daunted, the religionist then insists that nothing can exist +without a cause, except cause, and that this uncaused cause is God. + +To this we again reply: Every cause must produce an effect, because +until it does produce an effect, it is not a cause. Every effect must +in its turn become a cause. Therefore, in the nature of things, there +cannot be a last cause, for the reason that a so-called last cause would +necessarily produce an effect, and that effect must of necessity becomes +a cause. The converse of these propositions must be true. Every effect +must have had a cause, and every cause must have been an effect. +Therefore there could have been no first cause. A first cause is just as +impossible as a last effect. + +Beyond the universe there is nothing, and within the universe the +supernatural does not and cannot exist. + +The moment these great truths are understood and admitted, a belief in +general or special providence become impossible. From that instant men +will cease their vain efforts to please an imaginary being, and will +give their time and attention to the affairs of this world. They will +abandon the idea of attaining any object by prayer and supplication. +The element of uncertainty will, in a great measure, be removed from the +domain of the future, and man, gathering courage from a succession of +victories over the obstructions of nature, will attain a serene grandeur +unknown to the disciples of any superstition. The plans of mankind will +no longer be interfered with by the finger of a supposed omnipotence, +and no one will believe that nations or individuals are protected or +destroyed by any deity whatever. Science, freed from the chains of pious +custom and evangelical prejudice, will, within her sphere, be supreme. +The mind will investigate without reverence, and publish its conclusions +without fear. Agassiz will no longer hesitate to declare the Mosaic +cosmogony utterly inconsistent with the demonstrated truths of geology, +and will cease pretending any reverence for the Jewish Scriptures. The +moment science succeeds in rendering the church powerless for evil, the +real thinkers will be outspoken. The little flags of truce carried by +timid philosophers will disappear, and the cowardly parley will give +place to victory--lasting and universal. + +If we admit that some infinite being has controlled the destinies of +persons and peoples, history becomes a most cruel and bloody farce. +Age after age, the strong have trampled upon the weak; the crafty +and heartless have ensnared and enslaved the simple and innocent, +and nowhere, in all the annals of mankind, has any god succored the +oppressed. + +Man should cease to expect aid from on high. By this time he should know +that heaven has no ear to hear, and no hand to help. The present is the +necessary child of all the past. There has been no chance, and there can +be no interference. + +If abuses are destroyed, man must destroy them. If slaves are freed, man +must free them. If new truths are discovered, man must discover them. +If the naked are clothed; if the hungry are fed; if justice is done; +if labor is rewarded; if superstition is driven from the mind; if the +defenceless are protected and if the right finally triumphs, all must be +the work of man. The grand victories of the future must be won by man, +and by man alone. + +Nature, so far as we can discern, without passion and without intention, +forms, transforms, and retransforms forever. She neither weeps nor +rejoices. She produces man without purpose, and obliterates him without +regret. She knows no distinction between the beneficial and the hurtful. +Poison and nutrition, pain and joy, life and death, smiles and tears are +alike to her. She is neither merciful nor cruel. She cannot be flattered +by worship nor melted by tears. She does not know even the attitude of +prayer. She appreciates no difference between poison in the fangs of +snakes and mercy in the hearts of men. Only through man does nature take +cognizance of the good, the true, and the beautiful; and, so far as we +know, man is the highest intelligence. + +And yet man continues to believe that there is some power independent +of and superior to nature, and still endeavors, by form, ceremony, +supplication, hypocrisy and sacrifice, to obtain its aid. His best +energies have been wasted in the service of this phantom. The horrors +of witchcraft were all born of an ignorant belief in the existence of +a totally depraved being superior to nature, acting in perfect +independence of her laws; and all religious superstition has had for its +basis a belief in at least two beings, one good and the other bad, both +of whom could arbitrarily change the order of the universe. The history +of religion is simply the story of man's efforts in all ages to avoid +one of these powers, and to pacify the other. Both powers have inspired +little else than abject fear. The cold, calculating sneer of the devil, +and the frown of God, were equally terrible. In any event, man's fate +was to be arbitrarily fixed forever by an unknown power superior to +all law, and to all fact. Until this belief is thrown aside, man must +consider himself the slave of phantom masters--neither of whom promise +liberty in this world nor in the next. + +Man must learn to rely upon himself. Reading bibles will not protect +him from the blasts of winter, but houses, fires, and clothing will. +To prevent famine, one plow is worth a million sermons, and even patent +medicines will cure more diseases than all the prayers uttered since the +beginning of the world. + +Although many eminent men have endeavored to harmonize necessity and +free will, the existence of evil, and the infinite power and good ness +of God, they have succeeded only in producing learned and ingenious +failures. Immense efforts have been made to reconcile ideas utterly +inconsistent with the facts by which we are surrounded, and all persons +who have failed to perceive the pretended reconciliation, have been +denounced as infidels, atheists and scoffers. The whole power of the +church has been brought to bear against philosophers and scientists +in order to compel a denial of the authority of demonstration, and to +induce some Judas to betray Reason, one of the saviors of mankind. + +During that frightful period known as the "Dark Ages," Faith reigned, +with scarcely a rebellious subject. Her temples were "carpeted with +knees," and the wealth of nations adorned her countless shrines. The +great painters prostituted their genius to immortalize her vagaries, +while the poets enshrined them in song. At her bidding, man covered the +earth with blood. The scales of Justice were turned with her gold, and +for her use were invented all the cunning instruments of pain. She built +cathedrals for God, and dungeons for men. She peopled the clouds with +angels and the earth with slaves. For centuries the world was retracing +its steps--going steadily back toward barbaric night! A few infidels--a +few heretics cried, "Halt!" to the great rabble of ignorant devotion, +and made it possible for the genius of the nineteenth century to +revolutionize the cruel creeds and superstitions of mankind. + +The thoughts of man, in order to be of any real worth, must be free. +Under the influence of fear the brain is paralyzed, and instead of +bravely solving a problem for itself, tremblingly adopts the solution +of another. As long as a majority of men will cringe to the very earth +before some petty prince or king, what must be the infinite abjectness +of their little souls in the presence of their supposed creator and God? +Under such circumstances, what can their thoughts be worth? + +The originality of repetition, and the mental vigor of acquiescence, are +all that we have any right to expect from the Christian world. As long +as every question is answered by the word "God," scientific inquiry is +simply impossible. As fast as phenomena are satisfactorily explained the +domain of the power, supposed to be superior to nature must decrease, +while the horizon of the known must as constantly continue to enlarge. + +It is no longer satisfactory to account for the fall and rise of nations +by saying, "It is the will of God." Such an explanation puts ignorance +and education upon an exact equality, and does away with the idea of +really accounting for anything whatever. + +Will the religionist pretend that the real end of science is to +ascertain how and why God acts? Science, from such a standpoint would +consist in investigating the law of arbitrary action, and in a grand +endeavor to ascertain the rules necessarily obeyed by infinite caprice. + +From a philosophical point of view, science is knowledge of the laws +of life; of the conditions of happiness; of the facts by which we are +surrounded, and the relations we sustain to men and things--by means +of which, man, so to speak, subjugates nature and bends the elemental +powers to his will, making blind force the servant of his brain. + +A belief in special providence does away with the spirit of +investigation, and is inconsistent with personal effort. Why should man +endeavor to thwart the designs of God? Which of you, by taking thought, +can add one cubit to his stature? Under the influence of this belief, +man, basking in the sunshine of a delusion, considers the lilies of the +field and refuses to take any thought for the morrow. Believing himself +in the power of an infinite being, who can, at any moment, dash him +to the lowest hell or raise him to the highest heaven, he necessarily +abandons the idea of accomplishing anything by his own efforts. As +long as this belief was general, the world was filled with ignorance, +superstition and misery. The energies of man were wasted in a vain +effort to obtain the aid of this power, supposed to be superior to +nature. For countless ages, even men were sacrificed upon the altar of +this impossible god. To please him, mothers have shed the blood of their +own babes; martyrs have chanted triumphant songs in the midst of flame; +priests have gorged themselves with blood; nuns have forsworn the +ecstasies of love; old men have tremblingly implored; women have sobbed +and entreated; every pain has been endured, and every horror has been +perpetrated. + +Through the dim long years that have fled, humanity has suffered more +than can be conceived. Most of the misery has been endured by the weak, +the loving and the innocent Women have been treated like poisonous +beasts, and little children trampled upon as though they had been +vermin. Numberless altars have been reddened, even with the blood of +babes; beautiful girls have been given to slimy serpents; whole races +of men doomed to centuries of slavery, and everywhere there has been +outrage beyond the power of genius to express. During all these years +the suffering have supplicated; the withered lips of famine have prayed; +the pale victims have implored, and Heaven has been deaf and blind. + +Of what use have the gods been to man? + +It is no answer to say that some god created the world, established +certain laws, and then turned his attention to other matters, leaving +his children weak, ignorant and unaided, to fight the battle of life +alone. It is no solution to declare that in some, other world this god +will render a few, or even all, his subjects happy. What right have we +to expect that a perfectly wise, good and powerful being will ever +do better than he has done, and is doing? The world is filled with +imperfections. If it was made by an infinite being, what reason have we +for saying that he will render it nearer perfect than it now is? If the +infinite "Father" allows a majority of his children to live in ignorance +and wretchedness now, what evidence is there that he will ever improve +their condition? Will God have more power? Will he become more merciful? +Will his love for his poor creatures increase? Can the conduct of +infinite wisdom, power and love ever change? Is the infinite capable of +any improvement whatever? + +We are informed by the clergy that this world is a kind of school; that +the evils by which we are surrounded are for the purpose of developing +our souls, and that only by suffering can men become pure, strong, +virtuous and grand. + +Supposing this to be true, what is to become of those who die in +infancy? The little children, according to this philosophy, can never +be developed. They were so unfortunate as to escape the ennobling +influences of pain and misery, and as a consequence, are doomed to +an eternity of mental inferiority. If the clergy are right on this +question, none are so unfortunate as the happy, and we should envy only +the suffering and distressed. If evil is necessary to the development +of man, in this life, how is it possible for the soul to improve in the +perfect joy of Paradise? + +Since Paley found his watch, the argument of "design" has been relied +upon as unanswerable. The church teaches that this world, and all that +it contains, were created substantially as we now see them; that the +grasses, the flowers, the trees, and all animals, including man, were +special creations, and that they sustain no necessary relation to each +other. The most orthodox will admit that some earth has been washed into +the sea; that the sea has encroached a little upon the land, and that +some mountains may be a trifle lower than in the morning of creation. +The theory of gradual development was unknown to our fathers; the idea +of evolution did not occur to them. Our fathers looked upon the then +arrangement of things as the primal arrangement. The earth appeared +to them fresh from the hands of a deity. They knew nothing of the slow +evolutions of countless years, but supposed that the almost infinite +variety of vegetable and animal forms had existed from the first. + +Suppose that upon some island we should find a man a million years of +age, and suppose that we should find him in the possession of a most +beautiful carriage, constructed upon the most perfect model. And +suppose, further, that he should tell us that it was the result of +several hundred thousand years of labor and of thought; that for +fifty thousand years he used as flat a log as he could find, before +it occurred to him, that by splitting the log, he could have the same +surface with only half the weight; that it took him many thousand years +to invent wheels for this log; that the wheels he first used were solid, +and that fifty thousand years of thought suggested the use of spokes +and tire; that for many centuries he used the wheels without linch-pins; +that it took a hundred thousand years more to think of using four +wheels, instead of two; that for ages he walked behind the carriage, +when going down hill, in order to hold it back, and that only by a lucky +chance he invented the tongue; would we conclude that this man, from +the very first, had been an infinitely ingenious and perfect mechanic? +Suppose we found him living in an elegant mansion, and he should inform +us that he lived in that house for five hundred thousand years before +he thought of putting on a roof, and that he had but recently invented +windows and doors; would we say that from the beginning he had been an +infinitely accomplished and scientific architect? + +Does not an improvement in the things created, show a corresponding +improvement in the creator? + +Would an infinitely wise, good and powerful God, intending to produce +man, commence with the lowest possible forms of life; with the simplest +organism that can be imagined, and during immeasurable periods of time, +slowly and almost imperceptibly improve upon the rude beginning, until +man was evolved? Would countless ages thus be wasted in the production +of awkward forms, afterwards abandoned? Can the intelligence of man +discover the least wisdom in covering the earth with crawling, creeping +horrors, that live only upon the agonies and pangs of others? Can we see +the propriety of so constructing the earth, that only an insignificant +portion of its surface is capable of producing an intelligent man? Who +can appreciate the mercy of so making the world that all animals devour +animals; so that every mouth is a slaughterhouse, and every stomach +a tomb? Is it possible to discover infinite intelligence and love in +universal and eternal carnage? + +What would we think of a father, who should give a farm to his children, +and before giving them possession should plant upon it thousands of +deadly shrubs and vines; should stock it with ferocious beasts, and +poisonous reptiles; should take pains to put a few swamps in the +neighborhood to breed malaria; should so arrange matters, that the +ground would occasionally open and swallow a few of his darlings, and +besides all this, should establish a few volcanoes in the immediate +vicinity, that might at any moment overwhelm his children with rivers of +fire? Suppose that this father neglected to tell his children which of +the plants were deadly; that the reptiles were poisonous; failed to say +anything about the earthquakes, and kept the volcano business a profound +secret; would we pronounce him angel or fiend? + +And yet this is exactly what the orthodox God has done. + +According to the theologians, God prepared this globe expressly for the +habitation of his loved children, and yet he filled the forests with +ferocious beasts; placed serpents in every path; stuffed the world with +earthquakes, and adorned its surface with mountains of flame. + +Notwithstanding all this, we are told that the world is perfect; that +it was created by a perfect being, and is therefore necessarily perfect. +The next moment, these same persons will tell us that the world was +cursed; covered with brambles, thistles and thorns, and that man was +doomed to disease and death, simply because our poor, dear mother ate an +apple contrary to the command of an arbitrary God. + +A very pious friend of mine, having heard that I had said the world +was full of imperfections, asked me if the report was true. Upon being +informed that it was, he expressed great surprise that any one could +be guilty of such presumption. He said that, in his judgment, it was +impossible to point out an imperfection. "Be kind enough," said he, "to +name even one improvement that you could make, if you had the power." +"Well," said I, "I would make good health catching, instead of disease." +The truth is, it is impossible to harmonize all the ills, and pains, +and agonies of this world with the idea that we were created by, and +are watched over and protected by an infinitely wise, powerful and +beneficent God, who is superior to and independent of nature. + +The clergy, however, balance all the real ills of this life with the +expected joys of the next. We are assured that all is perfection in +heaven--there the skies are cloudless--there all is serenity and peace. +Here empires may be overthrown; dynasties may be extinguished in blood; +millions of slaves may toil 'neath the fierce rays of the sun, and the +cruel strokes of the lash; yet all is happiness in heaven. Pestilences +may strew the earth with corpses of the loved; the survivors may bend +above them in agony--yet the placid bosom of heaven is unruffled. +Children may expire vainly asking for bread; babes may be devoured by +serpents, while the gods sit smiling in the clouds. The innocent may +languish unto death in the obscurity of dungeons; brave men and heroic +women may be changed to ashes at the bigot's stake, while heaven is +filled with song and joy. Out on the wide sea, in darkness and in storm, +the shipwrecked struggle with the cruel waves while the angels play +upon their golden harps. The streets of the world are filled with +the diseased, the deformed and the helpless; the chambers of pain are +crowded with the pale forms of the suffering, while the angels float +and fly in the happy realms of day. In heaven they are too happy to have +sympathy; too busy singing to aid the imploring and distressed. Their +eyes are blinded; their ears are stopped and their hearts are turned to +stone by the infinite selfishness of joy. The saved mariner is too happy +when he touches the shore to give a moment's thought to his drowning +brothers. With the indifference of happiness, with the contempt of +bliss, heaven barely glances at the miseries of earth. Cities are +devoured by the rushing lava; the earth opens and thousands perish; +women raise their clasped hands towards heaven, but the gods are too +happy to aid their children. The smiles of the deities are unacquainted +with the tears of men. The shouts of heaven drown the sobs of earth. + +Having shown how man created gods, and how he became the trembling slave +of his own creation, the questions naturally arise: How did he free +himself even a little, from these monarchs of the sky, from these +despots of the clouds, from this aristocracy of the air? How did he, +even to the extent that he has, outgrow his ignorant, abject terror, and +throw off the yoke of superstition? + +Probably, the first thing that tended to disabuse his mind was the +discovery of order, of regularity, of periodicity in the universe. From +this he began to suspect that everything did not happen purely with +reference to him. He noticed, that whatever he might do, the motions +of the planets were always the same; that eclipses were periodical, +and that even comets came at certain intervals. This convinced him that +eclipses and comets had nothing to do with him, and that his conduct had +nothing to do with them. He perceived that they were not caused for +his benefit or injury. He thus learned to regard them with admiration +instead of fear. He began to suspect that famine was not sent by some +enraged and revengeful deity, but resuited often from the neglect and +ignorance of man. He learned that diseases were not produced by evil +spirits. He found that sickness was occasioned by natural causes, +and could be cured by natural means. He demonstrated, to his own +satisfaction at least, that prayer is not a medicine. He found by +sad experience that his gods were of no practical use, as they never +assisted him, except when he was perfectly able to help himself. At +last, he began to discover that his individual action had nothing +whatever to do with strange appearances in the heavens; that it was +impossible for him to be bad enough to cause a whirlwind, or good enough +to stop one. After many centuries of thought, he about half concluded +that making mouths at a priest would not necessarily cause an +earthquake. He noticed, and no doubt with considerable astonishment, +that very good men were occasionally struck by lightning, while very bad +ones escaped. He was frequently forced to the painful conclusion (and it +is the most painful to which any human being ever was forced) that the +right did not always prevail. He noticed that the gods did not interfere +in behalf of the weak and innocent. He was now and then astonished +by seeing an unbeliever in the enjoyment of most excellent health. He +finally ascertained that there could be no possible connection between +an unusually severe winter and his failure to give a sheep to a priest. +He began to suspect that the order of the universe was not constantly +being changed to assist him because he repeated a creed. He observed +that some children would steal after having been regularly baptized. +He noticed a vast difference between religion and justice, and that +the worshipers of the same god, took delight in cutting each other's +throats. He saw that these religious disputes filled the world with +hatred and slavery. At last he had the courage to suspect, that no god +at any time interferes with the order of events. He learned a few +facts, and these facts positively refused to harmonize with the ignorant +superstitions of his fathers. Finding his sacred books incorrect and +false in some particulars, his faith in their authenticity began to be +shaken; finding his priests ignorant upon some points, he began to +lose respect for the cloth. This was the commencement of intellectual +freedom. + +The civilization of man has increased just to the same extent that +religious power has decreased. The intellectual advancement of man +depends upon how often he can exchange an old superstition for a new +truth. The church never enabled a human being to make even one of these +exchanges; on the contrary, all her power has been used to prevent them. +In spite, however, of the church, man found that some of his religious +conceptions were wrong. By reading his Bible, he found that the ideas +of his God were more cruel and brutal than those of the most depraved +savage. He also discovered that this holy book was filled with +ignorance, and that it must have been written by persons wholly +unacquainted with the nature of the phenomena by which we are +surrounded; and now and then, some man had the goodness and courage to +speak his honest thoughts. In every age some thinker, some doubter, some +investigator, some hater of hypocrisy, some despiser of sham, some +brave lover of the right, has gladly, proudly and heroically braved +the ignorant fury of superstition for the sake of man and truth. These +divine men were generally torn in pieces by the worshipers of the +gods. Socrates was poisoned because he lacked reverence for some of the +deities. Christ was crucified by a religious rabble for the crime of +blasphemy. Nothing is more gratifying to a religionist than to destroy +his enemies at the command of God. Religious persecution springs from a +due admixture of love towards God and hatred towards man. + +The terrible religious wars that inundated the world with blood tended +at least to bring all religion into disgrace and hatred. Thoughtful +people began to question the divine origin of a religion that made its +believers hold the rights of others in absolute contempt. A few began +to compare Christianity with the religions of heathen people, and were +forced to admit that the difference was hardly worth dying for. They +also found that other nations were even happier and more prosperous than +their own. They began to suspect that their religion, after all, was not +of much real value. + +For three hundred years the Christian world endeavored to rescue from +the "Infidel" the empty sepulchre of Christ. For three hundred years the +armies of the cross were baffled and beaten by the victorious hosts +of an impudent impostor. This immense fact sowed the seeds of distrust +throughout all Christendom, and millions began to lose confidence in +a God who had been vanquished by Mohammed. The people also found that +commerce made friends where religion made enemies, and that religious +zeal was utterly incompatible with peace between nations or individuals. +They discovered that those who loved the gods most were apt to love men +least; that the arrogance of universal forgiveness was amazing; that the +most malicious had the effrontery to pray for their enemies, and that +humility and tyranny were the fruit of the same tree. + +For ages, a deadly conflict has been waged between a few brave men and +women of thought and genius upon the one side, and the great ignorant +religious mass on the other. This is the war between Science and Faith. +The few have appealed to reason, to honor, to law, to freedom, to the +known, and to happiness here in this world. The many have appealed +to prejudice, to fear, to miracle, to slavery, to the unknown, and +to misery hereafter. The few have said, "Think!" The many have said, +"Believe!" + +The first doubt was the womb and cradle of progress, and from the first +doubt, man has continued to advance. Men began to investigate, and the +church began to oppose. The astronomer scanned the heavens, while the +church branded his grand forehead with the word, "Infidel;" and now, +not a glittering star in all the vast expanse bears a Christian name. +In spite of all religion, the geologist penetrated the earth, read her +history in books of stone, and found, hidden within her bosom, souvenirs +of all the ages. Old ideas perished in the retort of the chemist, and +useful truths took their places. One by one religious conceptions have +been placed in the crucible of science, and thus far, nothing but dross +has been found. A new world has been discovered by the microscope; +everywhere has been found the infinite; in every direction man has +investigated and explored and nowhere, in earth or stars, has been found +the footstep of any being superior to or independent of nature. Nowhere +has been discovered the slightest evidence of any interference from +without. + +These are the sublime truths that enabled man to throw off the yoke of +superstition. These are the splendid facts that snatched the sceptre of +authority from the hands of priests. + +In that vast cemetery, called the past, are most of the religions of +men, and there, too, are nearly all their gods. The sacred temples of +India were ruins long ago. Over column and cornice; over the painted and +pictured walls, cling and creep the trailing vines. Brahma, the golden, +with four heads and four arms; Vishnu, the sombre, the punisher of the +wicked, with his three eyes, his crescent, and his necklace of skulls; +Siva, the destroyer, red with seas of blood; Kali, the goddess; +Draupadi, the white-armed, and Chrishna, the Christ, all passed away and +left the thrones of heaven desolate. Along the banks of the sacred +Nile, Isis no longer wandering weeps, searching for the dead Osiris. The +shadow of Typhons scowl falls no more upon the waves. The sun rises +as of yore, and his golden beams still smite the lips of Memnon, but +Mem-non is as voiceless as the Sphinx. The sacred fanes are lost in +desert sands; the dusty mummies are still waiting for the resurrection +promised by their priests, and the old beliefs, wrought in curiously +sculptured stone, sleep in the mystery of a language lost and dead. +Odin, the author of life and soul, Vili and Ve, and the mighty giant +Ymir, strode long ago from the icy halls of the North; and Thor, with +iron glove and glittering hammer, dashes mountains to the earth no more. +Broken are the circles and cromlechs of the ancient Druids; fallen upon +the summits of the hills, and covered with the centuries' moss, are the +sacred cairns. The divine fires of Persia and of the Aztecs, have died +out in the ashes of the past, and there is none to rekindle, and none to +feed the holy flames. The harp of Orpheus is still; the drained cup of +Bacchus has been thrown aside; Venus lies dead in stone, and her white +bosom heaves no more with love. The streams still murmur, but no naiads +bathe; the trees still wave, but in the forest aisles no dryads dance. +The gods have flown from high Olympus. Not even the beautiful women +can lure them back, and Danae lies unnoticed, naked to the stars. Hushed +forever are the thunders of Sinai; lost are the voices of the prophets, +and the land once flowing with milk and honey, is but a desert waste. +One by one, the myths have faded from the clouds: one by one, the +phantom host has disappeared, and one by one, facts, truths and +realities have taken their places. The supernatural has almost gone, but +the natural remains. The gods have fled, but man is here. + +Nations, like individuals, have their periods of youth, of manhood and +decay. Religions are the same. The same inexorable destiny awaits them +all. The gods created by the nations must perish with their creators. +They were created by men, and like men, they must pass away. The deities +of one age are the by-words of the next The religion of our day, and +country, is no more exempt from the sneer of the future than the others +have been. When India was supreme, Brahma sat upon the world's throne. +When the sceptre passed to Egypt, Isis and Osiris received the homage of +mankind. Greece, with her fierce valor, swept to empire, and Zeus put +on the purple of authority. The earth trembled with the tread of Rome's +intrepid sons, and Jove grasped with mailed hand the thunderbolts of +heaven. Rome fell, and Christians from her territory, with the red sword +of war, carved out the ruling nations of the world, and now Christ sits +upon the old throne. Who will be his successor? + +Day by day, religious conceptions grow less and less intense. Day by +day, the old spirit dies out of book and creed. The burning enthusiasm, +the quenchless zeal of the early church have gone, never, never to +return. The ceremonies remain, but the ancient faith is fading out +of the human heart. The worn-out arguments fail to convince, and +denunciations that once blanched the faces of a race, excite in us +only derision and disgust. As time rolls on, the miracles grow mean and +small, and the evidences our fathers thought conclusive utterly fail to +satisfy us. There is an "irrepressible conflict" between religion and +science, and they cannot peaceably occupy the same brain nor the same +world. + +While utterly discarding all creeds, and denying the truth of all +religions, there is neither in my heart nor upon my lips a sneer for the +hopeful, loving and tender souls who believe that from all this discord +will result a perfect harmony; that every evil will in some mysterious +way become a good, and that above and over all there is a being who, in +some way, will reclaim and glorify every one of the children of men; +but for those who heartlessly try to prove that salvation is almost +impossible; that damnation is almost certain; that the highway of the +universe leads to hell; who fill life with fear and death with horror; +who curse the cradle and mock the tomb, it is impossible to entertain +other than feelings of pity, contempt and scorn. + +Reason, Observation and Experience--the Holy Trinity of Science--have +taught us that happiness is the only good; that the time to be happy is +now, and the way to be happy is to make others so. This is enough for +us. In this belief we are content to live and die. If by any possibility +the existence of a power superior to, and independent of, nature shall +be demonstrated, there will then be time enough to kneel. Until then, +let us stand erect. + +Notwithstanding the fact that infidels in all ages have battled for +the rights of man, and have at all times been the fearless advocates +of liberty and justice, we are constantly charged by the church with +tearing down without building again. The church should by this time know +that it is utterly impossible to rob men of their opinions. The history +of religious persecution fully establishes the fact that the mind +necessarily resists and defies every attempt to control it by violence. +The mind necessarily clings to old ideas until prepared for the new. +The moment we comprehend the truth, all erroneous ideas are of necessity +cast aside. + +A surgeon once called upon a poor cripple and kindly offered to render +him any assistance in his power. The surgeon began to discourse very +learnedly upon the nature and origin of disease; of the curative +properties of certain medicines; of the advantages of exercise, air and +light, and of the various ways in which health and strength could be +restored. These remarks were so full of good sense, and discovered so +much profound thought and accurate knowledge, that the cripple, becoming +thoroughly alarmed, cried out, "Do not, I pray you, take away my +crutches. They are my only support, and without them I should be +miserable indeed!" "I am not going," said the surgeon, "to take away +your crutches. I am going to cure you, and then you will throw the +crutches away yourself." + +For the vagaries of the clouds the infidels propose to substitute the +realities of earth; for superstition, the splendid demonstrations and +achievements of science; and for theological tyranny, the chainless +liberty of thought. + +We do not say that we have discovered all; that our doctrines are the +all in all of truth. We know of no end to the development of man. We +cannot unravel the infinite complications of matter and force. The +history of one monad is as unknown as that of the universe; one drop of +water is as wonderful as all the seas; one leaf, as all the forests; and +one grain of sand, as all the stars. + +We are not endeavoring to chain the future, but to free the present. We +are not forging fetters for our children, but we are breaking those our +fathers made for us. We are the advocates of inquiry, of investigation +and thought This of itself, is an admission that we are not perfectly +satisfied with all our conclusions. Philosophy has not the egotism of +faith. While superstition builds walls and creates obstructions, +science opens all the highways of thought. We do not pretend to have +circumnavigated everything, and to have solved all difficulties, but we +do believe that it is better to love men than to fear gods; that it is +grander and nobler to think and investigate for yourself than to repeat +a creed. We are satisfied that there can be but little liberty on earth +while men worship a tyrant in heaven. We do not expect to accomplish +everything in our day; but we want to do what good we can, and to render +all the service possible in the holy cause of human progress. We know +that doing away with gods and supernatural persons and powers is not an +end. It is a means to an end: the real end being the happiness of man. + +Felling forests is not the end of agriculture. Driving pirates from the +sea is not all there is of commerce. + +We are laying the foundations of the grand temple of the future--not the +temple of all the gods, but of all the people--wherein, with appropriate +rites, will be celebrated the religion of Humanity. We are doing what +little we can to hasten the coming of the day when society shall cease +producing millionaires and mendicants--gorged indolence and famished +industry--truth in rags, and superstition robed and crowned. We are +looking for the time when the useful shall be the honorable; and when +Reason, throned upon the world's brain, shall be the King of Kings, and +God of Gods. + + + + +HUMBOLDT. + +The Universe is Governed by Law. + +GREAT men seem to be a part of the infinite--brothers of the mountains +and the seas. + +Humboldt was one of these. He was one of those serene men, in some +respects like our own Franklin, whose names have all the lustre of a +star. He was one of the few, great enough to rise above the superstition +and prejudice of his time, and to know that experience, observation, and +reason are the only basis of knowledge. + +He became one of the greatest of men in spite of having been born rich +and noble--in spite of position. I say in spite of these things, +because wealth and position are generally the enemies of genius, and the +destroyers of talent. + +It is often said of this or that man, that he is a self-made man--that +he was born of the poorest and humblest parents, and that with every +obstacle to overcome he became great. This is a mistake. Poverty is +generally an advantage. Most of the intellectual giants of the world +have been nursed at the sad and loving breast of poverty. Most of those +who have climbed highest on the shining ladder of fame commenced at the +lowest round. They were reared in the straw-thatched cottages of Europe; +in the log-houses of America; in the factories of the great cities; in +the midst of toil; in the smoke and din of labor, and on the verge of +want. They were rocked by the feet of mothers whose hands, at the same +time, were busy with the needle or the wheel. + +It is hard for the rich to resist the thousand allurements of pleasure, +and so I say, that Humboldt, in spite of having been born to wealth and +high social position, became truly and grandly great. + +In the antiquated and romantic castle of Tegel, by the side of the pine +forest, on the shore of the charming lake, near the beautiful city of +Berlin, the great Humboldt, one hundred years ago to-day, was born, and +there he was educated after the method suggested by Rousseau,--Campe, +the philologist and critic, and the intellectual Kunth being his tutors. +There he received the impressions that determined his career; there the +great idea that the universe is governed by law, took possession of +his mind, and there he dedicated his life to the demonstration of this +sublime truth. + +He came to the conclusion that the source of man's unhappiness is his +ignorance of nature. + +After having received the most thorough education at that time possible, +and having determined to what end he would devote the labors of his +life, he turned his attention to the sciences of geology, mining, +mineralogy, botany, the distribution of plants, the distribution +of animals, and the effect of climate upon man. All grand physical +phenomena were investigated and explained. From his youth he had felt a +great desire for travel. He felt, as he says, a violent passion for +the sea, and longed to look upon nature in her wildest and most rugged +forms. He longed to give a physical description of the universe--a grand +picture of nature; to account for all phenomena; to discover the laws +governing the world; to do away with that splendid delusion called +special providence, and to establish the fact that the universe is +governed by law. + +To establish this truth was, and is, of infinite importance to mankind. +That fact is the death-knell of superstition; it gives liberty to every +soul, annihilates fear, and ushers in the Age of Reason. + +The object of this illustrious man was to comprehend the phenomena of +physical objects in their general connection, and to represent nature as +one great whole, moved and animated by internal forces. + +For this purpose he turned his attention to descriptive botany, +traversing distant lands and mountain ranges to ascertain with certainty +the geographical distribution of plants. He investigated the laws +regulating the differences of temperature and climate, and the changes +of the atmosphere. He studied the formation of the earth's crust, +explored the deepest mines, ascended the highest mountains, and wandered +through the craters of extinct volcanoes. + +He became thoroughly acquainted with chemistry, with astronomy, with +terrestrial magnetism; and as the investigation of one subject leads +to all others, for the reason that there is a mutual dependence and a +necessary connection between all facts, so Humboldt became acquainted +with all the known sciences. + +His fame does not depend so much upon his discoveries (although he +discovered enough to make hundreds of reputations) as upon his vast and +splendid generalizations. + +He was to science what Shakespeare was to the drama. + +He found, so to speak, the world full of unconnected facts--all portions +of a vast system--parts of a great machine; he discovered the connection +that each bears to all; put them together, and demonstrated beyond all +contradiction that the earth is governed by law. + +He knew that to discover the connection of phenomena is the primary aim +of all natural investigation. He was infinitely practical. + +Origin and destiny were questions with which he had nothing to do. + +His surroundings made him what he was. + +In accordance with a law not fully comprehended, he was a production of +his time. + +Great men do not live alone; they are surrounded by the great; they are +the instruments used to accomplish the tendencies of their generation; +they fulfill the prophecies of their age. + +Nearly all of the scientific men of the eighteenth century had the same +idea entertained by Humboldt, but most of them in a dim and confused +way. There was, however, a general belief among the intelligent that +the world is governed by law, and that there really exists a connection +between all facts, _or that all facts are simply the different aspects +of a general fact_, and that the task of science is to discover this +connection; to comprehend this general fact or to announce the laws of +things. + +Germany was full of thought, and her universities swarmed with +philosophers and grand thinkers in every department of knowledge. + +Humboldt was the friend and companion of the greatest poets, historians, +philologists, artists, statesmen, critics, and logicians of his time. + +He was the companion of Schiller, who believed that man would be +regenerated through the influence of the Beautiful; of Goethe, the grand +patriarch of German literature; of Weiland, who has been called +the Voltaire of Germany; of Herder, who wrote the outlines of a +philosophical history of man; of Kotzebue, who lived in the world of +romance; of Schleiermacher, the pantheist; of Schlegel, who gave to +his countrymen the enchanted realm of Shakespeare; of the sublime Kant, +author of the first work published in Germany on Pure Reason; of Fichte, +the infinite idealist; of Schopenhauer, the European Buddhist who +followed the great Gautama to the painless and dreamless Nirwana, and +of hundreds of others, whose names are familiar to and honored by the +scientific world. + +The German mind had been grandly roused from the long lethargy of the +dark ages of ignorance, fear, and faith. Guided by the holy light of +reason, every department of knowledge was investigated, enriched and +illustrated. + +Humboldt breathed the atmosphere of investigation; old ideas were +abandoned; old creeds, hallowed by centuries, were thrown aside; thought +became courageous; the athlete, Reason, challenged to mortal combat the +monsters of superstition. + +No wonder that under these influences Humboldt formed the great purpose +of presenting to the world a picture of Nature, in order that men might, +for the first time, behold the face of their Mother. + +Europe becoming too small for his genius, he visited the tropics in +the new world, where in the most circumscribed limits he could find the +greatest number of plants, of animals, and the greatest diversity of +climate, that he might ascertain the laws governing the production and +distribution of plants, animals and men, and the effects of climate +upon them all. He sailed along the gigantic Amazon--the mysterious +Orinoco--traversed the Pampas--climbed the Andes until he stood upon the +crags of Chimborazo, more than eighteen thousand feet above the level of +the sea, and climbed on until blood flowed from his eyes and lips. +For nearly five years he pursued his investigations in the new world, +accompanied by the intrepid Bonpland. Nothing escaped his attention. He +was the best intellectual organ of these new revelations of science. He +was calm, reflective and eloquent; filled with a sense of the beautiful, +and the love of truth. His collections were immense, and valuable beyond +calculation to every science. He endured innumerable hardships, braved +countless dangers in unknown and savage lands, and exhausted his fortune +for the advancement of true learning. + +Upon his return to Europe he was hailed as the second Columbus; as the +scientific discoverer of America; as the revealer of a new world; as the +great demonstrator of the sublime truth, that the universe is governed +by law. + +I have seen a picture of the old man, sitting upon a mountain +side--above him the eternal snow--below, the smiling valley of the +tropics, filled with vine and palm; his chin upon his breast, his eyes +deep, thoughtful and calm--his forehead majestic--grander than the +mountain upon which he sat--crowned with the snow of his whitened hair, +he looked the intellectual autocrat of this world. + +Not satisfied with his discoveries in America, he crossed the steppes +of Asia, the wastes of Siberia, the great Ural range, adding to the +knowledge of mankind at every step. His energy acknowledged no obstacle, +his life knew no leisure; every day was filled with labor and with +thought. + +He was one of the apostles of science, and he served his divine master +with a self-sacrificing zeal that knew no abatement; with an ardor that +constantly increased, and with a devotion unwavering and constant as the +polar star. + +In order that the people at large might have the benefit of his numerous +discoveries, and his vast knowledge, he delivered at Berlin a course +of lectures, consisting of sixty-one free addresses, upon the following +subjects: + +Five, upon the nature and limits of physical geography. + +Three, were devoted to a history of science. + +Two, to inducements to a study of natural science. + +Sixteen, on the heavens. + +Five, on the form, density, latent heat, and magnetic power of the +earth, and to the polar light. + +Four, were on the nature of the crust of the earth, on hot springs +earthquakes, and volcanoes. + +Two, on mountains and the type of their formation. + +Two, on the form of the earth's surface, on the connection of +continents, and the elevation of soil over ravines. + +Three, on the sea as a globular fluid surrounding the earth. + +Ten, on the atmosphere as an elastic fluid surrounding the earth, and on +the distribution of heat. + +One, on the geographic distribution of organ ized matter in general. + +Three, on the geography of plants. + +Three, on the geography of animals, and + +Two, on the races of men. + +These lectures are what is known as the Cosmos, and present a scientific +picture of the world--of infinite diversity in unity--of ceaseless +motion in the eternal grasp of law. + +These lectures contain the result of his investigation, observation, and +experience; they furnish the connection between phenomena; they disclose +some of the changes through which the earth has passed in the countless +ages; the history of vegetation, animals and men, the effects of climate +upon individuals and nations, the relation we sustain to other worlds, +and demonstrate that all phenomena, whether insignificant or grand, +exist in accordance with inexorable law. + +There are some truths, however, that we never should forget: +Superstition has always been the relentless enemy of science; faith has +been a hater of demonstration; hypocrisy has been sincere only in its +dread of truth, and all religions are inconsistent with mental freedom. + +Since the murder of Hypatia in the fifth century, when the polished +blade of Greek philosophy was broken by the club of ignorant +Catholicism, until to-day, superstition has detested every effort of +reason. + +It is almost impossible to conceive of the completeness of the victory +that the church achieved over philosophy. For ages science was utterly +ignored; thought was a poor slave; an ignorant priest was master of the +world; faith put out the eyes of the soul; the reason was a trembling +coward; the imagination was set on fire of hell; every human feeling was +sought to be suppressed; love was considered infinitely sinful; pleasure +was the road to eternal fire, and God was supposed to be happy only when +his children were miserable. The world was governed by an Almighty's +whim; prayers could change the order of things, halt the grand +procession of nature, could produce rain, avert pestilence, famine and +death in all its forms. There was no idea of the certain; all depended +upon divine pleasure or displeasure rather; heaven was full of +inconsistent malevolence, and earth of ignorance. Everything was done to +appease the divine wrath; every public calamity was caused by the +sins of the people; by a failure to pay tithes, or for having, even in +secret, felt a disrespect for a priest. To the poor multitude, the earth +was a kind of enchanted forest, full of demons ready to devour, and +theological serpents lurking with infinite power to fascinate and +torture the unhappy and impotent soul. Life to them was a dim and +mysterious labyrinth, in which they wandered weary, and lost, guided by +priests as bewildered as themselves, without knowing that at every step +the Ariadne of reason offered them the long lost clue. + +The very heavens were full of death; the lightning was regarded as the +glittering vengeance of God, and the earth was thick with snares for the +unwary feet of man. The soul was supposed to be crowded with the wild +beasts of desire; the heart to be totally corrupt, prompting only to +crime; virtues were regarded as deadly sins in disguise; there was a +continual warfare being waged between the Deity and the Devil, for +the possession of every soul; the latter generally being considered +victorious. The flood, the tornado, the volcano, were all evidences of +the displeasure of heaven, and the sinfulness of man. The blight that +withered, the frost that blackened, the earthquake that devoured, were +the messengers of the Creator. + +The world was governed by Fear. + +Against all the evils of nature, there was known only the defence of +prayer, of fasting, of credulity, and devotion. _Man in his helplessness +endeavored to soften the heart of God_. The faces of the multitude +were blanched with fear, and wet with tears; they were the prey of +hypocrites, kings and priests. + +My heart bleeds when I contemplate the sufferings endured by the +millions now dead; of those who lived when the world appeared to +be insane; when the heavens were filled with an infinite Horror who +snatched babes with dimpled hands and rosy cheeks from the white breasts +of mothers, and dashed them into an abyss of eternal flame. + +Slowly, beautifully, like the coming of the dawn, came the grand truth, +that the universe is governed by law; that disease fastens itself +upon the good and upon the bad; that the tornado cannot be stopped by +counting beads; that the rushing lava pauses not for bended knees, the +lightning for clasped and uplifted hands, nor the cruel waves of the sea +for prayer; that paying tithes causes, rather than prevents famine; that +pleasure is not sin; that happiness is the only good; that demons and +gods exist only in the imagination; that faith is a lullaby sung to put +the soul to sleep; that devotion is a bribe that fear offers to supposed +power; that offering rewards in another world for obedience in this, is +simply buying a soul on credit; that knowledge consists in ascertaining +the laws of nature, and that wisdom is the science of happiness. Slowly, +grandly, beautifully, these truths are dawning upon mankind. + +From Copernicus we learned that this earth is only a grain of sand on +the infinite shore of the universe; that everywhere we are surrounded by +shining worlds vastly greater than our own, all moving and existing in +accordance with law. True, the earth began to grow small, but man began +to grow great. + +The moment the fact was, established that other worlds are governed +by law, it was only natural to conclude that our little world was +also under its dominion. The old theological method of accounting for +physical phenomena by the pleasure and displeasure of the Deity was, +by the intellectual, abandoned. They found that disease, death, life, +thought, heat, cold, the seasons, the winds, the dreams of man, the +instinct of animals,--in short, that all physical and mental phenomena +are governed by law, absolute, eternal and inexorable. + +Let it be understood that by the term Law is meant the same invariable +relations of succession and resemblance predicated of all facts +springing from like conditions. Law is a fact--not a cause. It is a +fact, that like conditions produce like results: this fact is Law. When +we say that the universe is governed by law, we mean that this fact, +called law, is incapable of change; that it is, has been, and forever +will be, the same inexorable, immutable Fact, inseparable from all +phenomena. Law, in this sense, was not enacted or made. It could not +have been otherwise than as it is. That which necessarily exists has no +creator. + +Only a few years ago this earth was considered the real center of +the universe; all the stars were supposed to revolve around this +insignificant atom. The German mind, more than any other, has done +away with this piece of egotism. Purbach and Mullerus, in the fifteenth +century, contributed most to the advancement of astronomy in their day. +To the latter, the world is indebted for the introduction of decimal +fractions, which completed our arithmetical notation, and formed the +second of the three steps by which, in modern times, the science +of numbers has been so greatly improved; and yet, both of these men +believed in the most childish absurdities, at least in enough of them, +to die without their orthodoxy having ever been suspected. + +Next came the great Copernicus, and he stands at the head of the heroic +thinkers of his time, who had the courage and the mental strength to +break the chains of prejudice, custom, and authority, and to establish +truth on the basis of experience, observation and reason. He removed the +earth, so to speak, from the centre of the universe, and ascribed to it +a two-fold motion, and demonstrated the true position which it occupies +in the solar system. + +At his bidding the earth began to revolve. At the command of his genius +it commenced its grand flight mid the eternal constellations round the +sun. + +For fifty years his discoveries were disregarded. All at once, by the +exertions of Galileo, they were kindled into so grand a conflagration as +to consume the philosophy of Aristotle, to alarm the hierarchy of +Rome, and to threaten the existence of every opinion not founded upon +experience, observation, and reason. + +The earth was no longer considered a universe, governed by the caprices +of some revengeful Deity, who had made the stars out of what he had +left after completing the world, and had stuck them in the sky simply to +adorn the night. + +I have said this much concerning astronomy because it was the first +splendid step forward! The first sublime blow that shattered the lance +and shivered the shield of superstition; the first real help that +man received from heaven; because it was the first great lever placed +beneath the altar of a false religion; the first revelation of the +infinite to man; the first authoritative declaration, that the universe +is governed by law; the first science that gave the lie direct to the +cosmogony of barbarism, and because it is the sublimest victory that the +reason has achieved. + +In speaking of astronomy, I have confined myself to the discoveries made +since the revival of learning. Long ago, on the banks of the Ganges, +ages before Copernicus lived, Aryabhatta taught that the earth is a +sphere, and revolves on its own axis. This, however, does not detract +from the glory of the great German. The discovery of the Hindu had been +lost in the midnight of Europe--in the age of faith, and Copernicus was +as much a discoverer as though Aryabhatta had never lived. + +In this short address there is no time to speak of other sciences, and +to point out the particular evidence furnished by each, to establish +the dominion of law, nor to more than mention the name of Descartes, the +first who undertook to give an explanation of the celestial motions, +or who formed the vast and philosophic conception of reducing all the +phenomena of the universe to the same law; of Montaigne, one of the +heroes of common sense; of Galvani, whose experiments gave the telegraph +to the world; of Voltaire, who contributed more than any other of the +sons of men to the destruction of religious intolerance; of August +Comte, whose genius erected to itself a monument that still touches the +stars; of Guttenberg, Watt, Stephenson, Arkwright, all soldiers of +science, in the grand army of the dead kings. + +The glory of science is, that it is freeing the soul--breaking the +mental manacles--getting the brain out of bondage--giving courage to +thought--filling the world with mercy, justice, and joy. + +Science found agriculture plowing with a stick reaping with a +sickle--commerce at the mercy of the treacherous waves and the +inconstant winds--a world without books--without schools man denying +the authority of reason, employing his ingenuity in the manufacture +of instruments of torture, in building inquisitions and cathedrals. +It found the land filled with malicious monks--with persecuting +Protestants, and the burners of men. It found a world full of fear; +ignorance upon its knees; credulity the greatest virtue; women treated +like beasts of burden; cruelty the only means of reformation. + +It found the world at the mercy of disease and famine; men trying to +read their fates in the stars, and to tell their fortunes by signs and +wonders; generals thinking to conquer their enemies by making the sign +of the cross, or by telling a rosary. It found all history full of petty +and ridiculous falsehood, and the Almighty was supposed to spend most +of his time turning sticks into snakes, drowning boys for swimming on +Sunday, and killing little children for the purpose of converting their +parents. It found the earth filled with slaves and tyrants, the people +in all countries downtrodden, half naked, half starved, without hope, +and without reason in the world. + +Such was the condition of man when the morning of science dawned upon +his brain, and before he had heard the sublime declaration that the +universe is governed by law. + +For the change that has taken place we are indebted solely to +science--the only lever capable of raising mankind. Abject faith is +barbarism; reason is civilization. To obey is slavish; to act from +a sense of obligation perceived by the reason, is noble. Ignorance +worships mystery; Reason explains it: the one grovels, the other soars. + +No wonder that fable is the enemy of knowledge. A man with a false +diamond shuns the society of lapidaries, and it is upon this principle +that superstition abhors science. + +In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. They have +worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most gigantic liars, +and buried the great thieves in marble and gold. Under the loftiest +monuments sleeps the dust of murder. + +Imposture has always worn a crown. + +The world is beginning to change because the people are beginning +to think. To think is to advance. Everywhere the great minds are +investigating the creeds and the superstitions of men--the phenomena +of nature, and the laws of things. At the head of this great army of +investigators stood Humboldt--the serene leader of an intellectual +host--a king by the suffrage of Science, and the divine right of Genius. + +And to-day we are not honoring some butcher called a soldier--some +wily politician called a statesman--some robber called a king, nor +some malicious metaphysician called a saint We are honoring the grand +Humboldt, whose victories were all achieved in the arena of thought; who +destroyed prejudice, ignorance and error--not men; who shed light--not +blood, and who contributed to the knowledge, the wealth, and the +happiness of all mankind. + +His life was pure, his aims lofty, his learning varied and profound, and +his achievements vast. + +We honor him because he has ennobled our race, because he has +contributed as much as any man living or dead to the real prosperity of +the world. We honor him because he honored us--because he labored +for others--because he was the most learned man of the most learned +nation--because he left a legacy of glory to every human being. For +these reasons he is honored throughout the world. Millions are doing +homage to his genius at this moment, and millions are pronouncing his +name with reverence and recounting what he accomplished. + +We associate the name of Humboldt with oceans, continents, mountains, +and volcanoes--with the great palms--the wide deserts--the snow-lipped +craters of the Andes--with primeval forests and European capitals--with +wildernesses and universities--with savages and savans--with the lonely +rivers of unpeopled wastes--with peaks and pampas, and steppes, and +cliffs and crags--with the progress of the world--with every science +known to man, and with every star glittering in the immensity of space. + +Humboldt adopted none of the soul-shrinking creeds of his day; wasted +none of his time in the stupidities, inanities and contradictions of +theological metaphysics; he did not endeavor to harmonize the astronomy +and geology of a barbarous people with the science of the nineteenth +century. Never, for one moment, did he abandon the sublime standard of +truth; he investigated, he studied, he thought, he separated the gold +from the dross in the crucible of his grand brain. He was never found on +his knees before the altar of superstition. He stood erect by the grand +tranquil column of Reason. He was an admirer, a lover, an adorer of +Nature, and at the age of ninety, bowed by the weight of nearly +a century, covered with the insignia of honor, loved by a nation, +respected by a world, with kings for his servants, he laid his weary +head upon her bosom--upon the bosom of the universal Mother--and with +her loving arms around him, sank into that slumber called Death. + +History added another name to the starry scroll of the immortals. + +The world is his monument; upon the eternal granite of her hills he +inscribed his name, and there upon everlasting stone his genius wrote +this, the sublimest of truths: + +"The Universe is Governed by Law!" + + + + +THOMAS PAINE + +With His Name Left Out, the History of Liberty Cannot be Written. + +TO speak the praises of the brave and thoughtful dead, is to me a labor +of gratitude and love. + +Through all the centuries gone, the mind of man has been beleaguered by +the mailed hosts of superstition. Slowly and painfully has advanced the +army of deliverance. Hated by those they wished to rescue, despised +by those they were dying to save, these grand soldiers, these immortal +deliverers, have fought without thanks, labored without applause, +suffered without pity, and they have died execrated and abhorred. For +the good of mankind they accepted isolation, poverty, and calumny. They +gave up all, sacrificed all, lost all but truth and self-respect. + +One of the bravest soldiers in this army was Thomas Paine; and for one, +I feel indebted to him for the liberty we are enjoying this day. Born +among the poor, where children are burdens; in a country where real +liberty was unknown; where the privileges of class were guarded with +infinite jealousy, and the rights of the individual trampled beneath the +feet of priests and nobles; where to advocate justice was treason; where +intellectual freedom was Infidelity, it is wonderful that the idea of +true liberty ever entered his brain. . + +Poverty was his mother--Necessity his master. + +He had more brains than books; more sense than education; more courage +than politeness; more strength than polish. He had no veneration for +old mistakes--no admiration for ancient lies. He loved the truth for +the truth's sake, and for man's sake. He saw oppression on every hand; +injustice everywhere; hypocrisy at the altar, venality on the bench, +tyranny on the throne; and with a splendid courage he espoused the cause +of the weak against the strong--of the enslaved many against the titled +few. + +In England he was nothing. He belonged to the lower classes. There was +no avenue open for him. The people hugged their chains, and the whole +power of the government was ready to crush any man who endeavored to +strike a blow for the right. + +At the age of thirty-seven, Thomas Paine left England for America, +with the high hope of being instrumental in the establishment of a free +government. In his own country he could accomplish nothing. Those two +vultures--Church and State--were ready to tear in pieces and devour the +heart of any one who might deny their divine right to enslave the world. + +Upon his arrival in this country, he found himself possessed of a letter +of introduction, signed by another Infidel, the illustrious Franklin. +This, and his native genius, constituted his entire capital; and he +needed no more. He found the colonies clamoring for justice; whining +about their grievances; upon their knees at the foot of the throne, +imploring that mixture of idiocy and insanity, George the III., by the +grace of God, for a restoration of their ancient privileges. They were +not endeavoring to become free men, but were trying to soften the heart +of their master. They were perfectly willing to make brick if Pharaoh +would furnish the straw. The colonists wished for, hoped for, and prayed +for reconciliation They did not dream of independence. + +Paine gave to the world his "Common Sense." It was the first argument +for separation, the first assault upon the British form of government, +the first blow for a republic, and it aroused our fathers like a +trumpet's blast. + +He was the first to perceive the destiny of the New World. + +No other pamphlet ever accomplished such wonderful results. It was +filled with argument, reason, persuasion, and unanswerable logic. It +opened a new world. It filled the present with hope and the future +with honor. Everywhere the people responded, and in a few months the +Continental Congress declared the colonies free and independent States. + +A new nation was born. + +It is simple justice to say that Paine did more to cause the Declaration +of Independence than any other man. Neither should it be forgotten that +his attacks upon Great Britain were also attacks upon monarchy; and +while he convinced the people that the colonies ought to separate from +the mother country, he also proved to them that a free government is the +best that can be instituted among men. + +In my judgment, Thomas Paine was the best political writer that ever +lived. "What he wrote was pure nature, and his soul and his pen ever +went together." Ceremony, pageantry, and all the paraphernalia of +power, had no effect upon him. He examined into the why and wherefore of +things. He was perfectly radical in his mode of thought. Nothing short +of the bed-rock satisfied him. His enthusiasm for what he believed to +be right knew no bounds. During all the dark scenes of the Revolution, +never for one moment did he despair. Year after year his brave words +were ringing through the land, and by the bivouac fires the weary +soldiers read the inspiring words of "Common Sense," filled with ideas +sharper than their swords, and consecrated themselves anew to the cause +of Freedom. + +Paine was not content with having aroused the spirit of independence, +but he gave every energy of his soul to keep that spirit alive. He was +with the army. He shared its defeats, its dangers, and its glory. When +the situation became desperate, when gloom settled upon all, he gave +them the "Crisis." It was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, +leading the way to freedom, honor, and glory. He shouted to them, "These +are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier, and the sunshine +patriot, will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; +but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and +woman." + +To those who wished to put the war off to some future day, with a lofty +and touching spirit of self-sacrifice he said: "Every generous parent +should say, 'If there must be war let it be in my day, that my child +may have peace.'" To the cry that Americans were rebels, he replied: "He +that rebels against reason is a real rebel; but he that in defence of +reason rebels against tyranny, has a better title to 'Defender of the +Faith' than George the Third." + +Some said it was not to the interest of the colonies to be free. Paine +answered this by saying, "To know whether it be the interest of +the continent to be independent, we need ask only this simple, easy +question: 'Is it the interest of a man to be a boy all his life?'" He +found many who would listen to nothing, and to them he said, "That to +argue with a man who has renounced his reason is like giving medicine +to the dead." This sentiment ought to adorn the walls of every orthodox +church. + +There is a world of political wisdom in this: "England lost her liberty +in a long chain of right reasoning from wrong principles"; and there +is real discrimination in saying, "The Greeks and Romans were strongly +possessed of the spirit of liberty, but not the principles, for at +the time that they were determined not to be slaves themselves, they +employed their power to enslave the rest of mankind." + +In his letter to the British people, in which he tried to convince them +that war was not to their interest, occurs the following passage brimful +of common sense: "War never can be the interest of a trading nation any +more than quarreling can be profitable to a man in business. But to +make war with those who trade with us is like setting a bull-dog upon a +customer at the shop-door." + +The writings of Paine fairly glitter with simple, compact, logical +statements, that carry conviction to the dullest and most prejudiced. He +had the happiest possible way of putting the case; in asking questions +in such a way that they answer themselves, and in stating his premises +so clearly that the deduction could not be avoided. + +Day and night he labored for America; month after month, year after +year, he gave himself to the Great Cause, until there was "a government +of the people and for the people," and until the banner of the stars +floated over a continent redeemed, and consecrated to the happiness of +mankind. + +At the close of the Revolution, no one stood higher in America than +Thomas Paine. The best, the wisest, the most patriotic, were his friends +and admirers; and had he been thinking only of his own good he might +have rested from his toils and spent the remainder of his life in +comfort and in ease. He could have been what the world is pleased to +call "respectable." He could have died surrounded by clergymen, warriors +and statesmen. At his death there would have been an imposing funeral, +miles of carriages, civic societies, salvos of artillery, a nation in +mourning, and, above all, a splendid monument covered with lies. + +He chose rather to benefit mankind. + +At that time the seeds sown by the great Infidels were beginning to bear +fruit in France. The people were beginning to think. + +The Eighteenth Century was crowning its gray hairs with the wreath of +Progress. + +On every hand Science was bearing testimony against the Church. Voltaire +had filled Europe with light; D'Holbach was giving to the _elite_ +of Paris the principles contained in his "System of Nature." The +Encyclopedists had attacked superstition with information for the +masses. The foundation of things began to be examined. A few had the +courage to keep their shoes on and let the bush burn. Miracles began to +get scarce. Everywhere the people began to inquire. America had set an +example to the world. The word Liberty was in the mouths of men, and +they began to wipe the dust from their knees. + +The dawn of a new day had appeared. + +Thomas Paine went to France. Into the new movement he threw all his +energies. His fame had gone before him, and he was welcomed as a friend +of the human race, and as a champion of free government. + +He had never relinquished his intention of pointing out to his +countrymen the defects, absurdities and abuses of the English government +For this purpose he composed and published his greatest political work, +"The Rights of Man." This work should be read by every man and woman. +It is concise, accurate, natural, convincing, and unanswerable. It shows +great thought; an intimate knowledge of the various forms of government; +deep insight into the very springs of human action, and a courage that +compels respect and admiration. The most difficult political problems +are solved in a few sentences. The venerable arguments in favor of +wrong are refuted with a question--answered with a word. For forcible +illustration, apt comparison, accuracy and clearness of statement, and +absolute thoroughness, it has never been excelled. + +The fears of the administration were aroused, and Paine was prosecuted +for libel and found guilty; and yet there is not a sentiment in the +entire work that will not challenge the admiration of every civilized +man. It is a magazine of political wisdom, an arsenal of ideas, and an +honor, not only to Thomas Paine, but to human nature itself. It could +have been written only by the man who had the generosity, the exalted +patriotism, the goodness to say, "The world is my country, and to do +good my religion." + +There is in all the utterances of the world no grander, no sublimer +sentiment. There is no creed that can be compared with it for a moment. +It should be wrought in gold, adorned with jewels, and impressed +upon every human heart: "The world is my country, and to do good my +religion." + +In 1792, Paine was elected by the department of Calais as their +representative in the National Assembly. So great was his popularity in +France that he was selected about the same time by the people of no less +than four departments. + +Upon taking his place in the Assembly he was appointed as one of a +committee to draft a constitution for France. Had the French people +taken the advice of Thomas Paine there would have been no "reign of +terror." The streets of Paris would not have been filled with blood The +Revolution would have been the grandest success of the world. The truth +is that Paine was too conservative to suit the leaders of the French +Revolution. They, to a great extent, were carried away by hatred, and +a desire to destroy. They had suffered so long, they had borne so much, +that it was impossible for them to be moderate in the hour of victory. + +Besides all this, the French people had been so robbed by the +government, so degraded by the church, that they were not fit material +with which to construct a republic. Many of the leaders longed to +establish a beneficent and just government, but the people asked for +revenge. + +Paine was filled with a real love for mankind. His philanthropy was +boundless. He wished to destroy monarchy--not the monarch. He voted for +the destruction of tyranny, and against the death of the king. He wished +to establish a government on a new basis; one that would forget the +past; one that would give privileges to none, and protection to all. + +In the Assembly, where nearly all were demanding the execution of the +king--where to differ from the majority was to be suspected, and, where +to be suspected was almost certain death Thomas Paine had the courage, +the goodness and the justice to vote against death. To vote against +the execution of the king was a vote against his own life. This was +the sublimity of devotion to principle. For this he was arrested, +imprisoned, and doomed to death. + +Search the records of the world and you will find but few sublimer acts +than that of Thomas Paine voting against the kings death. He, the hater +of despotism, the abhorrer of monarchy, the champion of the rights +of man, the republican, accepting death to save the life of a deposed +tyrant--of a throneless king. This was the last grand act of his +political life--the sublime conclusion of his political career. + +All his life he had been the disinterested friend of man. He had +labored--not for money, not for fame, but for the general good. He had +aspired to no office; had asked no recognition of his services, but had +ever been content to labor as a common soldier in the army of Progress. +Confining his efforts to no country, looking upon the world as his field +of action, filled with a genuine love for the right, he found himself +imprisoned by the very people he had striven to save. + +Had his enemies succeeded in bringing him to the block, he would have +escaped the calumnies and the hatred of the Christian world. In this +country, at least, he would have ranked with the proudest names. On the +anniversary of the Declaration his name would have been upon the lips of +all the orators, and his memory in the hearts of all the people. + +Thomas Paine had not finished his career. + +He had spent his life thus far in destroying the power of kings, and +now he turned his attention to the priests. He knew that every abuse had +been embalmed in Scripture--that every outrage was in partnership with +some holy text. He knew that the throne skulked behind the altar, and +both behind a pretended revelation from God. By this time he had found +that it was of little use to free the body and leave the mind in +chains. He had explored the foundations of despotism, and had found them +infinitely rotten. He had dug under the throne, and it occurred to him +that he would take a look behind the altar. + +The result of his investigations was given to the world in the "Age of +Reason." From the moment of its publication he became infamous. He was +calumniated beyond measure. To slander him was to secure the thanks of +the church. All his services were instantly forgotten, disparaged or +denied. He was shunned as though he had been a pestilence. Most of his +old friends forsook him. He was regarded as a moral plague, and at the +bare mention of his name the bloody hands of the church were raised in +horror. He was denounced as the most despicable of men. + +Not content with following him to his grave, they pursued him after +death with redoubled fury, and recounted with infinite gusto and +satisfaction the supposed horrors of his death-bed; gloried in the fact +that he was forlorn and friendless, and gloated like fiends over what +they supposed to be the agonizing remorse of his lonely death. + +It is wonderful that all his services were thus forgotten. It is amazing +that one kind word did not fall from some pulpit; that some one did +not accord to him, at least--honesty. Strange, that in the general +denunciation some one did not remember his labor for liberty, his +devotion to principle, his zeal for the rights of his fellow-men. He +had, by brave and splendid effort, associated his name with the cause +of Progress. He had made it impossible to write the history of political +freedom with his name left out He was one of the creators of light; one +of the heralds of the dawn. He hated tyranny in the name of kings, and +in the name of God, with every drop of his noble blood. He believed in +liberty and justice, and in the sacred doctrine of human equality. Under +these divine banners he fought the battle of his life. In both worlds he +offered his blood for the good of man. In the wilderness of America, in +the French Assembly, in the sombre cell waiting for death, he was the +same unflinching, unwavering friend of his race; the same undaunted +champion of universal freedom. And for this he has been hated; for this +the church has violated even his grave. + +This is enough to make one believe that nothing is more natural than for +men to devour their benefactors. The people in all ages have crucified +and glorified. Whoever lifts his voice against abuses, whoever arraigns +the past at the bar of the present, whoever asks the king to show his +commission, or questions the authority of the priest, will be denounced +as the enemy of man and God. In all ages reason has been regarded as the +enemy of religion. Nothing has been considered so pleasing to the Deity +as a total denial of the authority of your own mind. Self-reliance has +been thought a deadly sin; and the idea of living and dying without the +aid and consolation of superstition has always horrified the church. By +some unaccountable infatuation, belief has been and still is considered +of immense importance. All religions have been based upon the idea that +God will forever reward the true believer, and eternally damn the man +who doubts or denies. Belief is regarded as the one essential thing. To +practice justice, to love mercy, is not enough. You must believe in +some incomprehensible creed. You must say, "Once one is three, and three +times one is one." The man who practiced every virtue, but failed to +believe, was execrated. Nothing so outrages the feelings of the church +as a moral unbeliever--nothing so horrible as a charitable Atheist. + +When Paine was born, the world was religious, the pulpit was the real +throne, and the churches were making every effort to crush out of the +brain the idea that it had the right to think. + +The splendid saying of Lord Bacon, that "the inquiry of truth, which is +the love-making or wooing of it, the knowledge of truth, which is the +presence of it, and the belief of truth, which is the enjoying of it, +are the sovereign good of human nature," has been, and ever will +be, rejected by religionists. Intellectual liberty, as a matter of +necessity, forever destroys the idea that belief is either praise +or blame-worthy, and is wholly inconsistent with every creed in +Christendom. Paine recognized this truth. He also saw that as long as +the Bible was considered inspired, this infamous doctrine of the virtue +of belief would be believed and preached. He examined the Scriptures for +himself, and found them filled with cruelty, absurdity and immorality. + +He again made up his mind to sacrifice himself for the good of his +fellow-men. + +He commenced with the assertion, "That any system of religion that has +anything in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system." +What a beautiful, what a tender sentiment! No wonder the church began to +hate him. He believed in one God, and no more. After this life he +hoped for happiness. He believed that true religion consisted in doing +justice, loving mercy, in endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures +happy, and in offering to God the fruit of the heart. He denied the +inspiration of the Scriptures. This was his crime. + +He contended that it is a contradiction in terms to call anything a +revelation that comes to us second-hand, either verbally or in writing. +He asserted that revelation is necessarily limited to the first +communication, and that after that it is only an account of something +which another person says was a revelation to him. We have only his word +for it, as it was never made to us. This argument never has been and +probably never will be answered. He denied the divine origin of Christ, +and showed conclusively that the pretended prophecies of the Old +Testament had no reference to him whatever; and yet he believed that +Christ was a virtuous and amiable man; that the morality he taught and +practiced was of the most benevolent and elevated character, and that +it had not been exceeded by any. Upon this point he entertained the +same sentiments now held by the Unitarians, and in fact by all the most +enlightened Christians. + +In his time the church believed and taught that every word in the Bible +was absolutely true. Since his day it has been proven false in its +cosmogony, false in its astronomy, false in its chronology, false in its +history, and so far as the Old Testament is concerned, false in almost +everything. There are but few, if any, scientific men who apprehend that +the Bible is literally true. Who on earth at this day would pretend to +settle any scientific question by a text from the Bible? The old belief +is confined to the ignorant and zealous. The church itself will before +long be driven to occupy the position of Thomas Paine. The best minds of +the orthodox world, to-day, are endeavoring to prove the existence of +a personal Deity. All other questions occupy a minor place. You are no +longer asked to swallow the Bible whole, whale, Jonah and all; you are +simply required to believe in God, and pay your pew-rent. There is not +now an enlightened minister in the world who will seriously contend that +Samson's strength was in his hair, or that the necromancers of Egypt +could turn water into blood, and pieces of wood into serpents. These +follies have passed away, and the only reason that the religious world +can now have for disliking Paine is that they have been forced to adopt +so many of his opinions. + +Paine thought the barbarities of the Old Testament inconsistent with +what he deemed the real character of God. He believed that murder, +massacre and indiscriminate slaughter had never been commanded by +the Deity. He regarded much of the Bible as childish, unimportant and +foolish The scientific world entertains the same opinion. Paine attacked +the Bible precisely in the same spirit in which he had attacked the +pretensions of kings. He used the same weapons. All the pomp in the +world could not make him cower. His reason knew no "Holy of Holies," +except the abode of Truth. The sciences were then in their infancy. The +attention of the really learned had not been directed to an impartial +examination of our pretended revelation. It was accepted by most as +a matter of course. The church was all-powerful, and no one, unless +thoroughly imbued with the spirit of self-sacrifice, thought for a +moment of disputing the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. The +infamous doctrines that salvation depends upon belief--upon a mere +intellectual conviction--was then believed and preached. To doubt was +to secure the damnation of your soul. This absurd and devilish doctrine +shocked the common sense of Thomas Paine, and he denounced it with +the fervor of honest indignation. This doctrine, although infinitely +ridiculous, has been nearly universal, and has been as hurtful as +senseless. For the overthrow of this infamous tenet, Paine exerted all +his strength. He left few arguments to be used by those who should come +after him, and he used none that have been refuted. The combined wisdom +and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument +against liberty of thought. Neither can they show why any one should +be punished, either in this world or another, for acting honestly in +accordance with reason; and yet a doctrine with every possible argument +against it has been, and still is, believed and defended by the entire +orthodox world. Can it be possible that we have been endowed with reason +simply that our souls may be caught in its toils and snares, that we may +be led by its false and delusive glare out of the narrow path that leads +to joy into the broad way of everlasting death? Is it possible that +we have been given reason simply that we may through faith ignore its +deductions, and avoid its conclusions? Ought the sailor to throw away +his compass and depend entirely upon the fog? If reason is not to be +depended upon in matters of religion, that is to say, in respect of our +duties to the Deity, why should it be relied upon in matters respecting +the rights of our fellows? Why should we throw away the laws given to +Moses by God himself and have the audacity to make some of our own? How +dare we drown the thunders of Sinai by calling the ayes and noes in a +petty legislature? If reason can determine what is merciful, what is +just, the duties of man to man, what more do we want either in time or +eternity? + +Down, forever down, with any religion that requires upon its ignorant +altar the sacrifice of the goddess Reason, that compels her to abdicate +forever the shining throne of the soul, strips from her form the +imperial purple, snatches from her hand the sceptre of thought and makes +her the bond-woman of a senseless faith! + +If a man should tell you that he had the most beautiful painting in the +world, and after taking you where it was should insist upon having your +eyes shut, you would likely suspect, either that he had no painting or +that it was some pitiable daub. Should he tell you that he was a most +excellent performer on the violin, and yet refuse to play unless your +ears were stopped, you would think, to say the least of it, that he +had an odd way of convincing you of his musical ability. But would his +conduct be any more wonderful than that of a religionist who asks that +before examining his creed you will have the kindness to throw away your +reason? The first gentleman says, "Keep your eyes shut, my picture +will bear everything but being seen;" "Keep your ears stopped, my music +objects to nothing but being heard." The last says, "Away with your +reason, my religion dreads nothing but being understood." + +So far as I am concerned, I most cheerfully admit that most Christians +are honest, and most ministers sincere. We do not attack them; we +attack their creed. We accord to them the same rights that we ask for +ourselves. We believe that their doctrines are hurtful. We believe +that the frightful text, "He that believes shall be saved and he that +believeth not shall be damned," has covered the earth with blood. It has +filled the heart with arrogance, cruelty and murder. It has caused +the religious wars; bound hundreds of thousands to the stake; founded +inquisitions; filled dungeons; invented instruments of torture; taught +the mother to hate her child; imprisoned the mind; filled the world with +ignorance; persecuted the lovers of wisdom; built the monasteries and +convents; made happiness a crime, investigation a sin, and self-reliance +a blasphemy. It has poisoned the springs of learning; misdirected the +energies of the world; filled all countries with want; housed the people +in hovels; fed them with famine; and but for the efforts of a few +brave Infidels it would have taken the world back to the midnight of +barbarism, and left the heavens without a star. + +The maligners of Paine say that he had no right to attack this doctrine, +because he was unacquainted with the dead languages; and for this +reason, it was a piece of pure impudence in him to investigate the +Scriptures. + +Is it necessary to understand Hebrew in order to know that cruelty is +not a virtue, that murder is inconsistent with infinite goodness, and +that eternal punishment can be inflicted upon man only by an eternal +fiend? Is it really essential to conjugate the Greek verbs before you +can make up your mind as to the probability of dead people getting out +of their graves? Must one be versed in Latin before he is entitled to +express his opinion as to the genuineness of a pretended revelation +from God? Common sense belongs exclusively to no tongue. Logic is not +confined to, nor has it been buried with, the dead languages. Paine +attacked the Bible as it is translated. If the translation is wrong, let +its defenders correct it. + +The Christianity of Paine's day is not the Christianity of our time. +There has been a great improvement since then. One hundred and fifty +years ago the foremost preachers of our time would have perished at +the stake. A Universalist would have been torn in pieces in England, +Scotland, and America. Unitarians would have found themselves in the +stocks, pelted by the rabble with dead cats, after which their ears +would have been cut off, their tongues bored, and their foreheads +branded. Less than one hundred and fifty years ago the following law was +in force in Maryland: + +"Be it enacted by the Right Honorable, the Lord Proprietor, by and with +the advice and consent of his Lordship's governor, and the upper and +lower houses of the Assembly, and the authority of the same: + +"That if any person shall hereafter, within this province, wittingly, +maliciously, and advisedly, by writing or speaking, blaspheme or curse +God, or deny our Saviour, Jesus Christ, to be the Son of God, or shall +deny the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, or the Godhead +of any of the three persons, or the unity of the Godhead, or shall utter +any profane words concerning the Holy Trinity, or any of the persons +thereof, and shall thereof be convict by verdict, shall, for the first +offence, be bored through the tongue, and fined twenty pounds to be +levied of his body. And for the second offence, the offender shall be +stigmatized by burning in the forehead with the letter B, and fined +forty pounds. And that for the third offence the offender shall suffer +death without the benefit of clergy." + +The strange thing about this law is, that it has never been repealed, +and is still in force in the District of Columbia. Laws like this were +in force in most of the colonies, and in all countries where the church +had power. + +In the Old Testament, the death penalty is attached to hundreds of +offences. It has been the same in all Christian countries. To-day, in +civilized governments, the death penalty is attached only to murder and +treason; and in some it has been entirely abolished. What a commentary +upon the divine systems of the world! + +In the day of Thomas Paine, the church was ignorant, bloody and +relentless. In Scotland the "Kirk" was at the summit of its power. It +was a full sister of the Spanish Inquisition. It waged war upon human +nature. It was the enemy of happiness, the hater of joy, and the +despiser of religious liberty. It taught parents to murder their +children rather than to allow them to propagate error. If the mother +held opinions of which the infamous "Kirk" disapproved, her children +were taken from her arms, her babe from her very bosom, and she was +not allowed to see them, or to write them a word. It would not allow +shipwrecked sailors to be rescued from drowning on Sunday. It sought to +annihilate pleasure, to pollute the heart by filling it with religious +cruelty and gloom, and to change mankind into a vast horde of pious, +heartless fiends. One of the most famous Scotch divines said: "The Kirk +holds that religious toleration is not far from blasphemy." And this +same Scotch Kirk denounced, beyond measure, the man who had the moral +grandeur to say, "The world is my country, and to do good my religion." +And this same Kirk abhorred the man who said, "Any system of religion +that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system." + +At that time nothing so delighted the church as the beauties of endless +torment, and listening to the weak wailings of damned infants struggling +in the slimy coils and poison-folds of the worm that never dies. + +About the beginning of the nineteenth century, a boy by the name of +Thomas Aikenhead, was indicted and tried at Edinburgh for having denied +the inspiration of the Scriptures, and for having, on several +occasions, when cold, wished himself in hell that he might get warm. +Notwithstanding the poor boy recanted and begged for mercy, he was found +guilty and hanged. His body was thrown in a hole at the foot of the +scaffold and covered with stones. + +Prosecutions and executions like this were common in every Christian +country, and all of them were based upon the belief that an intellectual +conviction is a crime. + +No wonder the church hated and traduced the author of the "Age of +Reason." + +England was filled with Puritan gloom and Episcopal ceremony. All +religious conceptions were of the grossest nature. The ideas of crazy +fanatics and extravagant poets were taken as sober facts. Milton had +clothed Christianity in the soiled and faded finery of the gods--had +added to the story of Christ the fables of Mythology. He gave to the +Protestant Church the most outrageously material ideas of the Deity. +He turned all the angels into soldiers--made heaven a battlefield, put +Christ in uniform, and described God as a militia general. His works +were considered by the Protestants nearly as sacred as the Bible +itself, and the imagination of the people was thoroughly polluted by the +horrible imagery, the sublime absurdity of the blind Milton. + +Heaven and hell were realities--the judgment-day was expected--books of +account would be opened. Every man would hear the charges against him +read. God was supposed to sit on a golden throne, surrounded by the +tallest angels, with harps in their hands and crowns on their heads. The +goats would be thrust into eternal fire on the left, while the orthodox +sheep, on the right, were to gambol on sunny slopes forever and forever. + +The nation was profoundly ignorant, and consequently extremely +religious, so far as belief was concerned. + +In Europe, Liberty was lying chained in the Inquisition--her white bosom +stained with blood. In the New World the Puritans had been hanging +and burning in the name of God, and selling white Quaker children into +slavery in the name of Christ, who said, "Suffer little children to come +unto me." + +Under such conditions progress was impossible. Some one had to lead +the way. The church is, and always has been, incapable of a forward +movement. Religion always looks back. The church has already reduced +Spain to a guitar, Italy to a hand-organ, and Ireland to exile. + +Some one not connected with the church had to attack the monster that +was eating out the heart of the world. Some one had to sacrifice himself +for the good of all. The people were in the most abject slavery; their +manhood had been taken from them by pomp, by pageantry and power. +Progress is born of doubt and inquiry. + +The church never doubts--never inquires. To doubt is heresy--to inquire +is to admit that you do not know--the church does neither. + +More than a century ago Catholisism, wrapped in robes red with the +innocent blood of millions, holding in her frantic clutch crowns and +scepters, honors and gold, the keys of heaven and hell, trampling +beneath her feet the liberties of nations, in the proud moment of almost +universal dominion, felt within her heartless breast the deadly dagger +of Voltaire. From that blow the church never can recover. Livid with +hatred she launched her eternal anathema at the great destroyer, and +ignorant Protestants have echoed the curse of Rome. + +In our country the church was all-powerful, and although divided into +many sects, would instantly unite to repel a common foe. + +Paine struck the first grand blow. + +The "Age of Reason" did more to undermine the power of the Protestant +Church than all other books then known. It furnished an immense amount +of food for thought. It was written for the average mind, and is a +straightforward, honest investigation of the Bible, and of the Christian +system. + +Paine did not falter, from the first page to the last. He gives you his +candid thought, and candid thoughts are always valuable. + +The "Age of Reason" has liberalized us all. It put arguments in the +mouths of the people; it put the church on the defensive; it enabled +somebody in every village to corner the parson; it made the world wiser, +and the church better; it took power from the pulpit and divided it +among the pews. + +Just in proportion that the human race has advanced, the church has lost +power. There is no exception to this rule. + +No nation ever materially advanced that held strictly to the religion of +its founders. + +No nation ever gave itself wholly to the control of the church without +losing its power, its honor, and existence. + +Every church pretends to have found the exact truth. This is the end of +progress. Why pursue that which you have? Why investigate when you know? + +Every creed is a rock in running water: humanity sweeps by it. Every +creed cries to the universe, "Halt!" A creed is the ignorant Past +bullying the enlightened Present. + +The ignorant are not satisfied with what can be demonstrated. Science is +too slow for them, and so they invent creeds. They demand completeness. +A sublime segment, a grand fragment, are of no value to them. They +demand the complete circle--the entire structure. + +In music they want a melody with a recurring accent at measured periods. +In religion they insist upon immediate answers to the questions of +creation and destiny. The alpha and omega of all things must be in the +alphabet of their superstition. A religion that cannot answer every +question, and guess every conundrum is, in their estimation, worse than +worthless. They desire a kind of theological dictionary--a religious +ready reckoner, together with guide-boards at all crossings and turns. +They mistake impudence for authority, solemnity for wisdom, and bathos +for inspiration. The beginning and the end are what they demand. The +grand flight of the eagle is nothing to them. They want the nest in +which he was hatched, and especially the dry limb upon which he roosts. +Anything that can be learned is hardly worth knowing. The present is +considered of no value in itself. Happiness must not be expected this +side of the clouds, and can only be attained by self-denial and faith; +not selfdenial for the good of others, but for the salvation of your own +sweet self. + +Paine denied the authority of bibles and creeds; this was his crime, and +for this the world shut the door in his face, and emptied its slops upon +him from the windows. + +I challenge the world to show that Thomas Paine ever wrote one line, +one word in favor of tyranny--in favor of immorality; one line, one +word against what he believed to be for the highest and best interest +of mankind; one line, one word against justice, charity, or liberty, +and yet he has been pursued as though he had been a fiend from hell. His +memory has been execrated as though he had murdered some Uriah for his +wife; driven some Hagar into the desert to starve with his child upon +her bosom; defiled his own daughters; ripped open with the sword the +sweet bodies of loving and innocent women; advised one brother to +assassinate another; kept a harem with seven hundred wives and three +hundred concubines, or had persecuted Christians even unto strange +cities. + +The church has pursued Paine to deter others. No effort has been in +any age of the world spared to crush out opposition. The church used +painting, music and architecture, simply to degrade mankind. But there +are men that nothing can awe. There have been at all times brave spirits +that dared even the gods. Some proud head has always been above the +waves. In every age some Diogenes has sacrificed to all the gods. True +genius never cowers, and there is always some Samson feeling for the +pillars of authority. + +Cathedrals and domes, and chimes and chants.--temples frescoed and +groined and carved, and gilded with gold--altars and tapers, and +paintings of virgin and babe--censer and chalice--chasuble, paten +and alb--organs, and anthems and incense rising to the winged and +blest--maniple, amice and stole--crosses and crosiers, tiaras +and crowns--mitres and missals and masses--rosaries, relics and +robes--martyrs and saints, and windows stained as with the blood of +Christ--never, never for one moment awed the brave, proud spirit of the +Infidel. He knew that all the pomp and glitter had been purchased with +Liberty--that priceless jewel of the soul. In looking at the cathedral +he remembered the dungeon. The music of the organ was not loud enough +to drown the clank of fetters. He could not forget that the taper had +lighted the fagot. He knew that the cross adorned the hilt of the sword, +and so where others worshiped, he wept and scorned. + +The doubter, the investigator, the Infidel, have been the saviors +of liberty. This truth is beginning to be realized, and the truly +intellectual are honoring the brave thinkers of the past. + +But the church is as unforgiving as ever, and still wonders why any +Infidel should be wicked enough to endeavor to destroy her power. + +I will tell the church why. + +You have imprisoned the human mind; you have been the enemy of liberty; +you have burned us at the stake--wasted us upon slow fires--torn +our flesh with iron; you have covered us with chains--treated us as +outcasts; you have filled the world with fear; you have taken our wives +and children from our arms; you have confiscated our property; you have +denied us the right to testify in courts of justice; you have branded us +with infamy; you have torn out our tongues; you have refused us burial. +In the name of your religion, you have robbed us of every right; and +after having inflicted upon us every evil that can be inflicted in this +world, you have fallen upon your knees, and with clasped hands implored +your God to torment us forever. + +Can you wonder that we hate your doctrines--that we despise your +creeds--that we feel proud to know that we are beyond your power--that +we are free in spite of you--that we can express our honest thought, and +that the whole world is grandly rising into the blessed light? + +Can you wonder that we point with pride to the fact that Infidelity +has ever been found battling for the rights of man, for the liberty of +conscience, and for the happiness of all? + +Can you wonder that we are proud to know that we have always been +disciples of Reason, and soldiers of Freedom; that we have denounced +tyranny and superstition, and have kept our hands unstained with human +blood? + +We deny that religion is the end or object of this life. When it is so +considered it becomes destructive of happiness--the real end of life. +It becomes a hydra-headed monster, reaching in terrible coils from the +heavens, and thrusting its thousand fangs into the bleeding, quivering +hearts of men. It devours their substance, builds palaces for God, (who +dwells not in temples made with hands,) and allows his children to +die in huts and hovels. It fills the earth with mourning, heaven with +hatred, the present with fear, and all the future with despair. + +Virtue is a subordination of the passions to the intellect. It is to +act in accordance with your highest convictions. It does not consist in +believing, but in doing. This is the sublime truth that the Infidels in +all ages have uttered. They have handed the torch from one to the other +through all the years that have fled. Upon the altar of Reason they have +kept the sacred fire, and through the long midnight of faith they fed +the divine flame. + +Infidelity is liberty; all religion is slavery. In every creed man is +the slave of God--woman is the slave of man and the sweet children are +the slaves of all. + +We do not want creeds; we want knowledge--we want happiness. + +And yet we are told by the church that we have accomplished nothing; +that we are simply destroyers; that we tear down without building again. + +Is it nothing to free the mind? Is it nothing to civilize mankind? Is it +nothing to fill the world with light, with discovery, with science? +Is it nothing to dignify man and exalt the intellect? Is it nothing to +grope your way into the dreary prisons, the damp and dropping dungeons, +the dark and silent cells of superstition, where the souls of men are +chained to floors of stone; to greet them like a ray of light, like the +song of a bird, the murmur of a stream; to see the dull eyes open and +grow slowly bright; to feel yourself grasped by the shrunken and unused +hands, and hear yourself thanked by a strange and hollow voice? + +Is it nothing to conduct these souls gradually into the blessed light of +day--to let them see again the happy fields, the sweet, green earth, and +hear the everlasting music of the waves? Is it nothing to make men wipe +the dust from their swollen knees, the tears from their blanched +and furrowed cheeks? Is it a small thing to reave the heavens of an +insatiate monster and write upon the eternal dome, glittering with +stars, the grand word--Freedom? + +Is it a small thing to quench the flames of hell with the holy tears of +pity--to unbind the martyr from the stake--break all the chains--put +out the fires of civil war--stay the sword of the fanatic, and tear the +bloody hands of the Church from the white throat of Science? + +Is it a small thing to make men truly free--to destroy the dogmas of +ignorance, prejudice and power--the poisoned fables of superstition, and +drive from the beautiful face of the earth the fiend of Fear? + +It does seem as though the most zealous Christian must at times +entertain some doubt as to the divine origin of his religion. For +eighteen hundred years the doctrine has been preached. For more than +a thousand years the church had, to a great extent, the control of the +civilized world, and what has been the result? Are the Christian nations +patterns of charity and forbearance? On the contrary, their principal +business is to destroy each other. More than five millions of Christians +are trained, educated, and drilled to murder their fellow-christians. +Every nation is groaning under a vast debt incurred in carrying on war +against other Christians, or defending itself from Christian assault. +The world is covered with forts to protect Christians from Christians, +and every sea is covered with iron monsters ready to blow Christian +brains into eternal froth. Millions upon millions are annually expended +in the effort to construct still more deadly and terrible engines of +death. Industry is crippled, honest toil is robbed, and even beggary is +taxed to defray the expenses of Christian warfare. There must be some +other way to reform this world. We have tried creed, and dogma and +fable, and they have failed; and they have failed in all the nations +dead. + +The people perish for the lack of knowledge. + +Nothing but education--scientific education--can benefit mankind. We +must find out the laws of nature and conform to them. + +We need free bodies and free minds,--free labor and free +thought,--chainless hands and fetterless brains. Free labor will give us +wealth. Free thought will give us truth. + +We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real thoughts, +and to stand by their convictions, even to the very death. We need have +no fear of being too radical. The future will verify all grand and brave +predictions. Paine was splendidly in advance of his time; but he was +orthodox compared with the Infidels of to-day. + +Science, the great Iconoclast, has been busy since 1809, and by the +highway of Progress are the broken images of the Past. + +On every hand the people advance. The Vicar of God has been pushed from +the throne of the Caesars, and upon the roofs of the Eternal City falls +once more the shadow of the Eagle. + +All has been accomplished by the heroic few. The men of science have +explored heaven and earth, and with infinite patience have furnished +the facts. The brave thinkers have used them. The gloomy caverns of +superstition have been transformed into temples of thought, and the +demons of the past are the angels of to-day. + +Science took a handful of sand, constructed a telescope, and with it +explored the starry depths of heaven. Science wrested from the gods +their thunderbolts; and now, the electric spark, freighted with thought +and love, flashes under all the waves of the sea. Science took a tear +from the cheek of unpaid labor, converted it into steam, created a giant +that turns with tireless arm, the countless wheels of toil. + +Thomas Paine was one of the intellectual heroes--one of the men to whom +we are indebted. His name is associated forever with the Great Republic. +As long as free government exists he will be remembered, admired and +honored. + +He lived a long, laborious and useful life. The world is better for his +having lived. For the sake of truth he accepted hatred and reproach for +his portion. He ate the bitter bread of sorrow. His friends were untrue +to him because he was true to himself, and true to them. He lost the +respect of what is called society, but kept his own. His life is what +the world calls failure and what history calls success. + +If to love your fellow-men more than self is goodness, Thomas Paine was +good. + +If to be in advance of your time--to be a pioneer in the direction of +right--is greatness, Thomas Paine was great. + +If to avow your principles and discharge your duty in the presence of +death is heroic, Thomas Paine was a hero. + +At the age of seventy-three, death touched his tired heart. He died +in the land his genius defended--under the flag he gave to the skies. +Slander cannot touch him now--hatred cannot reach him more. He sleeps in +the sanctuary of the tomb, beneath the quiet of the stars. + +A few more years--a few more brave men--a few more rays of light, and +mankind will venerate the memory of him who said: + +"ANY SYSTEM OF RELIGION THAT SHOCKS THE MIND OF A CHILD CANNOT BE A TRUE +SYSTEM;" + +"The world is my Country, and to do good my Religion." + + + + +INDIVIDUALITY. + +"His Soul was like a Star and dwelt apart." + +ON every hand are the enemies of individuality and mental freedom. +Custom meets us at the cradle and leaves us only at the tomb. Our first +questions are answered by ignorance, and our last by superstition. We +are pushed and dragged by countless hands along the beaten track, and +our entire training can be summed up in the word--suppression. Our +desire to have a thing or to do a thing is considered as conclusive +evidence that we ought not to have it, and ought not to do it. At every +turn we run against cherubim and a flaming sword guarding some entrance +to the Eden of our desire. We are allowed to investigate all subjects in +which we feel no particular interest, and to express the opinions of the +majority with the utmost freedom. We are taught that liberty of +speech should never be carried to the extent of contradicting the dead +witnesses of a popular superstition. Society offers continual rewards +for self-betrayal, and they are nearly all earned and claimed, and some +are paid. + +We have all read accounts of Christian gentlemen remarking, when about +to be hanged, how much better it would have been for them if they had +only followed a mother's advice. But after all, how fortunate it is for +the world that the maternal advice has not always been followed. How +fortunate it is for us all that it is somewhat unnatural for a human +being to obey. Universal obedience is universal stagnation; disobedience +is one of the conditions of progress. Select any age of the world and +tell me what would have been the effect of implicit obedience. Suppose +the church had had absolute control of the human mind at any time, would +not the words liberty and progress have been blotted from human speech? +In defiance of advice, the world has advanced. + +Suppose the astronomers had controlled the science of astronomy; suppose +the doctors had controlled the science of medicine; suppose kings had +been left to fix the forms of government; suppose our fathers had taken +the advice of Paul, who said, "be subject to the powers that be, because +they are ordained of God;" suppose the church could control the world +to-day, we would go back to chaos and old night. Philosophy would be +branded as infamous; Science would again press its pale and thoughtful +face against the prison bars, and round the limbs of liberty would climb +the bigot's flame. + +It is a blessed thing that in every age some one has had individuality +enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions,--some one +who had the grandeur to say his say. I believe it was Magellan who said, +"The church says the earth is flat; but I have seen its shadow on the +moon, and I have more confidence even in a shadow than in the church." +On the prow of his ship were disobedience, defiance, scorn, and success. + +The trouble with most people is, they bow to what is called authority; +they have a certain reverence for the old because it is old. They think +a man is better for being dead, especially if he has been dead a long +time. They think the fathers of their nation were the greatest and best +of all mankind. All these things they implicitly believe because it is +popular and patriotic, and because they were told so when they were very +small, and remember distinctly of hearing mother read it out of a book. +It is hard to over-estimate the influence of early training in the +direction of superstition. You first teach children that a certain book +is true--that it was written by God himself--that to question its truth +is a sin, that to deny it is a crime, and that should they die without +believing that book they will be forever damned without benefit of +clergy. The consequence is, that long before they read that book, they +believe it to be true. When they do read it their minds are wholly +unfitted to investigate its claims. They accept it as a matter of +course. + +In this way the reason is overcome, the sweet instincts of humanity +are blotted from the heart, and while reading its infamous pages even +justice throws aside her scales, shrieking for revenge, and charity, +with bloody hands, applauds a deed of murder. In this way we are taught +that the revenge of man is the justice of God; that mercy is not the +same everywhere. In this way the ideas of our race have been subverted. +In this way we have made tyrants, bigots, and inquisitors. In this way +the brain of man has become a kind of palimpsest upon which, and over +the writings of nature, superstition has scrawled her countless lies. +One great trouble is that most teachers are dishonest. They teach as +certainties those things concerning which they entertain doubts. They +do not say, "we _think_ this is so," but "we _know_ this is so." They do +not appeal to the reason of the pupil, but they command his faith. They +keep all doubts to themselves; they do not explain, they assert. All +this is infamous. In this way you may make Christians, but you cannot +make men; you cannot make women. You can make followers, but no leaders; +disciples, but no Christs. You may promise power, honor, and happiness +to all those who will blindly follow, but you cannot keep your promise. + +A monarch said to a hermit, "Come with me and I will give you power." + +"I have all the power that I know how to use" replied the hermit. + +"Come," said the king, "I will give you wealth." + +"I have no wants that money can supply," said the hermit. + +"I will give you honor," said the monarch. + +"Ah, honor cannot be given, it must be earned," was the hermit's answer. + +"Come," said the king, making a last appeal, "and I will give you +happiness." + +"No," said the man of solitude, "there is no happiness without liberty, +and he who follows cannot be free." + +"You shall have liberty too," said the king. + +"Then I will stay where I am," said the old man. + +And all the king's courtiers thought the hermit a fool. + +Now and then somebody examines, and in spite of all keeps his manhood, +and has the courage to follow where his reason leads. Then the pious +get together and repeat wise saws, and exchange knowing nods and most +prophetic winks. The stupidly wise sit owl-like on the dead limbs of the +tree of knowledge, and solemnly hoot. Wealth sneers, and fashion laughs, +and respectability passes by on the other side, and scorn points with +all her skinny fingers, and all the snakes of superstition writhe and +hiss, and slander lends her tongue, and infamy her brand, and perjury +her oath, and the law its power, and bigotry tortures, and the church +kills. + +The church hates a thinker precisely for the same reason a robber +dislikes a sheriff, or a thief despises the prosecuting witness. Tyranny +likes courtiers, flatterers, followers, fawners, and superstition wants +believers, disciples, zealots, hypocrites, and subscribers. The church +demands worship--the very thing that man should give to no being, human +or divine. To worship another is to degrade yourself. Worship is awe and +dread and vague fear and blind hope. It is the spirit of worship that +elevates the one and degrades the many; that builds palaces for robbers, +erects monuments to crime, and forges manacles even for its own hands. +The spirit of worship is the spirit of tyranny. The worshiper always +regrets that he is not the worshiped. We should all remember that the +intellect has no knees, and that whatever the attitude of the body may +be, the brave soul is always found erect. Whoever worships, abdicates. +Whoever believes at the command of power, tramples his own individuality +beneath his feet, and voluntarily robs himself of all that renders man +superior to the brute. + +The despotism of faith is justified upon the ground that Christian +countries are the grandest and most prosperous of the world. At one time +the same thing could have been truly said in India, in Egypt, in Greece, +in Rome, and in every other country that has, in the history of the +world, swept to empire. This argument proves too much not only, but +the assumption upon which it is based is utterly false. Numberless +circumstances and countless conditions have produced the prosperity +of the Christian world. The truth is, we have advanced in spite of +religious zeal, ignorance, and opposition. The church has won +no victories for the rights of man. Luther labored to reform the +church--Voltaire, to reform men. Over every fortress of tyranny has +waved, and still waves, the banner of the church. Wherever brave blood +has been shed, the sword of the church has been wet. On every chain has +been the sign of the cross. The altar and throne have leaned against and +supported each other. + +All that is good in our civilization is the result of commerce, climate, +soil, geographical position, industry, invention, discovery, art, and +science. The church has been the enemy of progress, for the reason +that it has endeavored to prevent man thinking for himself. To prevent +thought is to prevent all advancement except in the direction of faith. + +Who can imagine the infinite impudence of a church assuming to think for +the human race? Who can imagine the infinite impudence of a church +that pretends to be the mouthpiece of God, and in his name threatens to +inflict eternal punishment upon those who honestly reject its claims and +scorn its pretensions? By what right does a man, or an organization +of men, or a god, claim to hold a brain in bondage? When a fact can be +demonstrated, force is unnecessary; when it cannot be demonstrated, an +appeal to force is infamous. In the presence of the unknown all have an +equal right to think. + +Over the vast plain, called life, we are all travelers, and not one +traveler is perfectly certain that he is going in the right direction. +True it is that no other plain is so well supplied with guide-boards. At +every turn and crossing you will find them, and upon each one is written +the exact direction and distance. One great trouble is, however, that +these boards are all different, and the result is that most travelers +are confused in proportion to the number they read. Thousands of people +are around each of these signs, and each one is doing his best to +convince the traveler that his particular board is the only one upon +which the least reliance can be placed, and that if his road is taken +the reward for so doing will be infinite and eternal, while all the +other roads are said to lead to hell, and all the makers of the other +guide-boards are declared to be heretics, hypocrites and liars. "Well," +says a traveler, "you may be right in what you say, but allow me at +least to read some of the other directions and examine a little into +their claims. I wish to rely a little upon my own judgment in a matter +of so great importance." "No, sir," shouts the zealot, "that is the +very thing you are not allowed to do. You must go my way without +investigation, or you are as good as damned already." "Well," says the +traveler, "if that is so, I believe I had better go your way." And so +most of them go along, taking the word of those who know as little as +themselves. Now and then comes one who, in spite of all threats, calmly +examines the claims of all, and as calmly rejects them all. These +travelers take roads of their own, and are denounced by all the others, +as infidels and atheists. + +Around all of these guide-boards, as far as the eye can reach, the +ground is covered with mountains of human bones, crumbling and +bleaching in the rain and sun. They are the bones of murdered men and +women--fathers, mothers and babes. + +In my judgment, every human being should take a road of his own. Every +mind should be true to itself--should think, investigate and conclude +for itself. This is a duty alike incumbent upon pauper and prince. Every +soul should repel dictation and tyranny, no matter from what source they +come--from earth or heaven, from men or gods. Besides, every traveler +upon this vast plain should give to every other traveler his best idea +as to the road that should be taken. Each is entitled to the honest +opinion of all. And there is but one way to get an honest opinion upon +any subject whatever. The person giving the opinion must be free from +fear. The merchant must not fear to lose his custom, the doctor his +practice, nor the preacher his pulpit There can be no advance without +liberty. Suppression of honest inquiry is retrogression, and must end in +intellectual night. The tendency of orthodox religion to-day is toward +mental slavery and barbarism. Not one of the orthodox ministers dare +preach what he thinks if he knows a majority of his congregation think +otherwise. He knows that every member of his church stands guard over +his brain with a creed, like a club, in his hand. He knows that he +is not expected to search after the truth, but that he is employed to +defend the creed. Every pulpit is a pillory, in which stands a hired +culprit, defending the justice of his own imprisonment. + +Is it desirable that all should be exactly alike in their religious +convictions? Is any such thing possible? Do we not know that there are +no two persons alike in the whole world? No two, trees, no two leaves, +no two anythings that are alike? Infinite diversity is the law. Religion +tries to force all minds into one mould. Knowing that all cannot +believe, the church endeavors to make all say they believe. She longs +for the unity of hypocrisy, and detests the splendid diversity of +individuality and freedom. + +Nearly all people stand in great horror of annihilation, and yet to +give up your individuality is to annihilate yourself. Mental slavery is +mental death, and every man who has given up his intellectual freedom +is the living coffin of his dead soul. In this sense, every church is a +cemetery and every creed an epitaph. + +We should all remember that to be like other people is to be unlike +ourselves, and that nothing can be more detestable in character than +servile imitation. The great trouble with imitation is, that we are apt +to ape those who are in reality far below us. After all, the poorest +bargain that a human being can make, is to give his individuality for +what is called respectability. + +There is no saying more degrading than this: "It is better to be the +tail of a lion than the head of a dog." It is a responsibility to think +and act for yourself. Most people hate responsibility; therefore they +join something and become the tail of some lion. They say, "My party +can act for me--my church can do my thinking. It is enough for me to +pay taxes and obey the lion to which I belong, without troubling myself +about the right, the wrong, or the why or the wherefore of anything +whatever." These people are respectable. They hate reformers, and +dislike exceedingly to have their minds disturbed. They regard +convictions as very disagreeable things to have. They love forms, and +enjoy, beyond everything else, telling what a splendid tail their lion +has, and what a troublesome dog their neighbor is. Besides this natural +inclination to avoid personal responsibility, is and always has been, +the fact, that every religionist has warned men against the presumption +and wickedness of thinking for themselves. The reason has been denounced +by all Christendom as the only unsafe guide. The church has left nothing +undone to prevent man following the logic of his brain. The plainest +facts have been covered with the mantle of mystery. The grossest +absurdities have been declared to be self-evident facts. The order of +nature has been, as it were, reversed, that the hypocritical few might +govern the honest many. The man who stood by the conclusion of his +reason was denounced as a scorner and hater of God and his holy church. +From the organization of the first church until this moment, to think +your own thoughts has been inconsistent with membership. Every member +has borne the marks of collar, and chain, and whip. No man ever +seriously attempted to reform a church without being cast out and hunted +down by the hounds of hypocrisy. The highest crime against a creed is to +change it. Reformation is treason. + +Thousands of young men are being educated at this moment by the various +churches. What for? In order that they may be prepared to investigate +the phenomena by which we are surrounded? No! The object, and the only +object, is that they may be prepared to defend a creed; that they may +learn the arguments of their respective churches, and repeat them in +the dull ears of a thoughtless congregation. If one, after being thus +trained at the expense of the Methodists, turns Presbyterian or Baptist, +he is denounced as an ungrateful wretch. Honest investigation is utterly +impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you +think the church is right you will not investigate, and if you think it +wrong, the church will investigate you. The consequence of this is, +that most of the theological literature is the result of suppression, of +fear, tyranny and hypocrisy. + +Every orthodox writer necessarily said to himself, "If I write that, my +wife and children may want for bread. I will be covered with shame and +branded with infamy; but if I write this, I will gain position, power, +and honor. My church rewards defenders, and burns reformers." + +Under these conditions all your Scotts, Hen-rys, and McKnights have +written; and weighed in these scales, what are their commentaries worth? +They are not the ideas and decisions of honest judges, but the sophisms +of the paid attorneys of superstition. Who can tell what the world has +lost by this infamous system of suppression? How many grand thinkers +have died with the mailed hand of superstition upon their lips? How many +splendid ideas have perished in the cradle of the brain, strangled in +the poison-coils of that python, the Church! + +For thousands of years a thinker was hunted down like an escaped +convict. To him who had braved the church, every door was shut, every +knife was open. To shelter him from the wild storm, to give him a crust +when dying, to put a cup of water to his cracked and bleeding lips; +these were all crimes, not one of which the church ever did forgive; +and with the justice taught of her God, his helpless children were +exterminated as scorpions and vipers. + +Who at the present day can imagine the courage, the devotion to +principle, the intellectual and moral grandeur it once required to be an +infidel, to brave the church, her racks, her fagots, her dungeons, her +tongues of fire,--to defy and scorn her heaven and her hell--her devil +and her God? They were the noblest sons of earth. They were the real +saviors of our race, the destroyers of superstition and the creators of +Science. They were the real Titans who bared their grand foreheads to +all the thunderbolts of all the gods. + +The church has been, and still is, the great robber. She has rifled not +only the pockets but the brains of the world. She is the stone at the +sepulchre of liberty; the upas tree, in whose shade the intellect of man +has withered; the Gorgon beneath whose gaze the human heart has turned +to stone. Under her influence even the Protestant mother expects to be +happy in heaven, while her brave boy, who fell fighting for the rights +of man, shall writhe in hell. + +It is said that some of the Indian tribes place the heads of their +children between pieces of bark until the form of the skull is +permanently changed. To us this seems a most shocking custom; and yet, +after all, is it as bad as to put the souls of our children in the +strait-jacket of a creed? to so utterly deform their minds that they +regard the God of the Bible as a being of infinite mercy, and +really consider it a virtue to believe a thing just because it seems +unreasonable? Every child in the Christian world has uttered its +wondering protest against this outrage. All the machinery of the church +is constantly employed in corrupting the reason of children. In every +possible way they are robbed of their own thoughts and forced to accept +the statements of others. Every Sunday school has for its object the +crushing out of every germ of individuality. The poor children are +taught that nothing can be more acceptable to God than unreasoning +obedience and eyeless faith, and that to believe God did an impossible +act, is far better than to do a good one yourself. They are told that +all religions have been simply the John-the-Baptists of ours; that all +the gods of antiquity have withered and shrunken into the Jehovah of the +Jews; that all the longings and aspirations of the race are realized in +the motto of the Evangelical Alliance, "Liberty in non-essentials", +that all there is, or ever was, of religion can be found in the +apostles' creed; that there is nothing left to be discovered; that all +the thinkers are dead, and all the living should simply be believers; +that we have only to repeat the epitaph found on the grave of wisdom; +that grave-yards are the best possible universities, and that the +children must be forever beaten with the bones of the fathers. + +It has always seemed absurd to suppose that a god would choose for his +companions, during all eternity, the dear souls whose highest and only +ambition is to obey. He certainly would now and then be tempted to make +the same remark made by an English gentleman to his poor guest. The +gentleman had invited a man in humble circumstances to dine with him. +The man was so overcome with the honor that to everything the gentleman +said he replied "Yes." Tired at last with the monotony of acquiescence, +the gentleman cried out, "For God's sake, my good man, say 'No,' just +once, so there will be two of us." + +Is it possible that an infinite God created this world simply to be the +dwelling-place of slaves and serfs? simply for the purpose of raising +orthodox Christians? That he did a few miracles to astonish them; that +all the evils of life are simply his punishments, and that he is finally +going to turn heaven into a kind of religious museum filled with Baptist +barnacles, petrified Presbyterians and Methodist mummies? I want no +heaven for which I must give my reason; no happiness in exchange for +my liberty, and no immortality that demands the surrender of my +individuality. Better rot in the windowless tomb, to which there is no +door but the red mouth of the pallid worm, than wear the jeweled collar +even of a god. + +Religion does not, and cannot, contemplate man as free. She accepts only +the homage of the prostrate, and scorns the offerings of those who stand +erect. She cannot tolerate the liberty of thought. The wide and sunny +fields belong not to her domain. The star-lit heights of genius and +individuality are above and beyond her appreciation and power. Her +subjects cringe at her feet, covered with the dust of obedience. + +They are not athletes standing posed by rich life and brave endeavor +like antique statues, but shriveled deformities, studying with furtive +glance the cruel face of power. + +No religionist seems capable of comprehending this plain truth. There +is this difference between thought and action: for our actions we +are responsible to ourselves and to those injuriously affected; for +thoughts, there can, in the nature of things, be no responsibility to +gods or men, here or hereafter. And yet the Protestant has vied with +the Catholic in denouncing freedom of thought; and while I was taught to +hate Catholicism with every drop of my blood, it is only justice to +say, that in all essential particulars it is precisely the same as every +other religion. Luther denounced mental liberty with all the coarse and +brutal vigor of his nature; Calvin despised, from the very bottom of his +petrified heart, anything that even looked like religious toleration, +and solemnly declared that to advocate it was to crucify Christ afresh. +All the founders of all the orthodox churches have advocated the +same infamous tenet. The truth is, that what is called religion is +necessarily inconsistent with free thought A believer is a bird in a +cage, a Freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wing. + +At present, owing to the inroads that have been made by liberals and +infidels, most of the churches pretend to be in favor of religious +liberty. Of these churches, we will ask this question: How can a man, +who conscientiously believes in religious liberty, worship a God who +does not? They say to us: "We will not imprison you on account of your +belief, but our God will." "We will not burn you because you throw away +the sacred Scriptures, but their author will." "We think it an infamous +crime to persecute our brethren for opinion's sake,--but the God, whom +we ignorantly worship, will on that account, damn his own children +forever." + +Why is it that these Christians not only detest the infidels, but +cordially despise each other? Why do they refuse to worship in the +temples of each other? Why do they care so little for the damnation of +men, and so much for the baptism of children? Why will they adorn their +churches with the money of thieves and flatter vice for the sake of +subscriptions? Why will they attempt to bribe Science to certify to +the writings of God? Why do they torture the words of the great into an +acknowledgment of the truth of Christianity? Why do they stand with hat +in hand before presidents, kings, emperors, and scientists, begging, +like Lazarus, for a few crumbs of religious comfort? Why are they so +delighted to find an allusion to Providence in the message of Lincoln? +Why are they so afraid that some one will find out that Paley wrote an +essay in favor of the Epicurean philosophy, and that Sir Isaac Newton +was once an infidel? Why are they so anxious to show that Voltaire +recanted; that Paine died palsied with fear; that the Emperor Julian +cried out "Galilean, thou hast conquered"; that Gibbon died a Catholic; +that Agassiz had a little confidence in Moses; that the old Napoleon +was once complimentary enough to say that he thought Christ greater +than himself or Caesar; that Washington was caught on his knees at Valley +Forge; that blunt old Ethan Allen told his child to believe the religion +of her mother; that Franklin said, "Don't unchain the tiger," and that +Volney got frightened in a storm at sea? + +Is it because the foundation of their temple is crumbling, because the +walls are cracked, the pillars leaning, the great dome swaying to its +fall, and because Science has written over the high altar its mene, +mene, tekel, upharsin--the old words, destined to be the epitaph of all +religions? + +Every assertion of individual independence has been a step toward +infidelity. Luther started toward Humboldt,--Wesley, toward John Stuart +Mill. To really reform the church is to destroy it. Every new religion +has a little less superstition than the old, so that the religion of +Science is but a question of time. + +I will not say the church has been an unmitigated evil in all respects. +Its history is infamous and glorious. It has delighted in the production +of extremes. It has furnished murderers for its own martyrs. It has +sometimes fed the body, but has always starved the soul. It has been a +charitable highwayman--a profligate beggar--a generous pirate. It +has produced some angels and a multitude of devils. It has built more +prisons than asylums. It made a hundred orphans while it cared for one. +In one hand it has carried the alms-dish and in the other a sword. +It has founded schools and endowed universities for the purpose of +destroying true learning. It filled the world with hypocrites and +zealots, and upon the cross of its own Christ it crucified the +individuality of man. It has sought to destroy the independence of the +soul and put the world upon its knees. This is its crime. The commission +of this crime was necessary to its existence. In order to compel +obedience it declared that it had the truth, and all the truth; that God +had made it the keeper of his secrets; his agent and his vicegerent. It +declared that all other religions were false and infamous. It rendered +all compromise impossible and all thought superfluous. Thought was its +enemy, obedience was its friend. Investigation was fraught with danger; +therefore investigation was suppressed. The holy of holies was behind +the curtain. All this was upon the principle that forgers hate to +have the signature examined by an expert, and that imposture detests +curiosity. + +"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," has always been the favorite +text of the church. + +In short, Christianity has always opposed every forward movement of the +human race. Across the highway of progress it has always been building +breastworks of Bibles, tracts, commentaries, prayer-books, creeds, +dogmas and platforms, and at every advance the Christians have gathered +together behind these heaps of rubbish and shot the poisoned arrows of +malice at the soldiers of freedom. + +And even the liberal Christian of to-day has his holy of holies, and in +the niche of the temple of his heart has his idol. He still clings to a +part of the old superstition, and all the pleasant memories of the old +belief linger in the horizon of his thoughts like a sunset. We associate +the memory of those we love with the religion of our childhood. It +seems almost a sacrilege to rudely destroy the idols that our fathers +worshiped, and turn their sacred and beautiful truths into the fables of +barbarism. Some throw away the Old Testament and cling to the New, while +others give up everything except the idea that there is a personal God, +and that in some wonderful way we are the objects of his care. + +Even this, in my opinion, as Science, the great iconoclast, marches +onward, will have to be abandoned with the rest. The great ghost +will surely share the fate of the little ones. They fled at the first +appearance of the dawn, and the other will vanish with the perfect +day. Until then the independence of man is little more than a dream. +Overshadowed by an immense personality, in the presence of the +irresponsible and the infinite, the individuality of man is lost, and +he falls prostrate in the very dust of fear. Beneath the frown of the +absolute, man stands a wretched, trembling slave,--beneath his smile he +is at best only a fortunate serf. Governed by a being whose arbitrary +will is law, chained to the chariot of power, his destiny rests in the +pleasure of the unknown. Under these circumstances, what wretched object +can he have in lengthening out his aimless life? + +And yet, in most minds, there is a vague fear of the gods--a shrinking +from the malice of the skies. Our fathers were slaves, and nearly all +their children are mental serfs. The enfranchisement of the soul is +a slow and painful process. Superstition, the mother of those hideous +twins, Fear and Faith, from her throne of skulls, still rules the world, +and will until the mind of woman ceases to be the property of priests. + +When women reason, and babes sit in the lap of philosophy, the victory +of reason over the shadowy host of darkness will be complete. + +In the minds of many, long after the intellect has thrown aside as +utterly fabulous the legends of the church, there still remains a +lingering suspicion, born of the mental habits contracted in childhood, +that after all there may be a grain of truth in these mountains of +theological mist, and that possibly the superstitious side is the side +of safety. + +A gentleman, walking among the ruins of Athens, came upon a fallen +statue of Jupiter; making an exceedingly low bow he said: "O Jupiter! +I salute thee." He then added: "Should you ever sit upon the throne of +heaven again, do not, I pray you, forget that I treated you politely +when you were prostrate." + +We have all been taught by the church that nothing is so well calculated +to excite the ire of the Deity as to express a doubt as to his +existence, and that to deny it is an unpardonable sin. Numerous +well-attested instances are referred to of atheists being struck dead +for denying the existence of God. According to these religious people, +God is infinitely above us in every respect, infinitely merciful, and +yet he cannot bear to hear a poor finite man honestly question his +existence. Knowing, as he does, that his children are groping in +darkness and struggling with doubt and fear; knowing that he could +enlighten them if he would, he still holds the expression of a sincere +doubt as to his existence, the most infamous of crimes. According to +orthodox logic, God having furnished us with imperfect minds, has a +right to demand a perfect result. + +Suppose Mr. Smith should overhear a couple of small bugs holding a +discussion as to the existence of Mr. Smith, and suppose one should have +the temerity to declare, upon the honor of a bug, that he had examined +the whole question to the best of his ability, including the argument +based upon design, and had come to the conclusion that no man by the +name of Smith had ever lived. Think then of Mr. Smith flying into an +ecstasy of rage, crushing the atheist bug beneath his iron heel, while +he exclaimed, "I will teach you, blasphemous wretch, that Smith is a +diabolical fact!" What then can we think of a God who would open the +artillery of heaven upon one of his own children for simply expressing +his honest thought? And what man who really thinks can help repeating +the words of Ennius: "If there are gods they certainly pay no attention +to the affairs of man." + +Think of the millions of men and women who have been destroyed simply +for loving and worshiping this God. Is it possible that this God, having +infinite power, saw his loving and heroic children languishing in the +darkness of dungeons; heard the clank of their chains when they lifted +their hands to him in the agony of prayer; saw them stretched upon the +bigot's rack, where death alone had pity; saw the serpents of flame +crawl hissing round their shrinking forms---saw all this for sixteen +hundred years, and sat as silent as a stone? + +From such a God, why should man expect assistance? Why should he waste +his days in fruitless prayer? Why should he fall upon his knees and +implore a phantom--a phantom that is deaf, and dumb, and blind? + +Although we live in what is called a free government,--and politically +we are free,--there is but little religious liberty in America. Society +demands, either that you belong to some church, or that you suppress +your opinions. It is contended by many that ours is a Christian +government, founded upon the Bible, and that all who look upon that book +as false or foolish are destroying the foundation of our country. The +truth is, our government is not founded upon the rights of gods, but +upon the rights of men. Our Constitution was framed, not to declare and +uphold the deity of Christ, but the sacredness of humanity. Ours is the +first government made by the people and for the people. It is the only +nation with which the gods have had nothing to do. And yet there are +some judges dishonest and cowardly enough to solemnly decide that this +is a Christian country, and that our free institutions are based upon +the infamous laws of Jehovah. Such judges are the Jeffries of the +church. They believe that decisions, made by hirelings at the bidding of +kings, are binding upon man forever. They regard old law as far superior +to modern justice. They are what might be called orthodox judges. They +spend their days in finding out, not what ought to be, but what has +been. With their backs to the sunrise they worship the night. There is +only one future event with which they concern themselves, and that is +their reelection. No honest court ever did, or ever will, decide that +our Constitution is Christian. The Bible teaches that the powers that +be, are ordained of God. The Bible teaches that God is the source of all +authority, and that all kings have obtained their power from him. Every +tyrant has claimed to be the agent of the Most High. The Inquisition +was founded, not in the name of man, but in the name of God. All the +governments of Europe recognize the greatness of God, and the littleness +of the people. In all ages, hypocrites, called priests, have put crowns +upon the heads of thieves, called kings. + +The Declaration of Independence announces the sublime truth, that all +power comes from the people. This was a denial, and the first denial of +a nation, of the infamous dogma that God confers the right upon one man +to govern others. It was the first grand assertion of the dignity of the +human race. It declared the governed to be the source of power, and +in fact denied the authority of any and all gods. Through the ages of +slavery--through the weary centuries of the lash and chain, God was the +acknowledged ruler of the world. To enthrone man, was to dethrone him. + +To Paine, Jefferson, and Franklin, are we indebted, more than to all +others, for a human government, and for a Constitution in which no God +is recognized superior to the legally expressed will of the people. + +They knew that to put God in the Constitution was to put man out. They +knew that the recognition of a Deity would be seized upon by fanatics +and zealots as a pretext for destroying the liberty of thought. They +knew the terrible history of the church too well to place in her +keeping, or in the keeping of her God, the sacred rights of man. They +intended that all should have the right to worship, or not to worship; +that our laws should make no distinction on account of creed. They +intended to found and frame a government for man, and for man alone. +They wished to preserve the individuality and liberty of all; to prevent +the few from governing the many, and the many from persecuting and +destroying the few. + +Notwithstanding all this, the spirit of persecution still lingers in our +laws. In many of the States, only those who believe in the existence of +some kind of God, are under the protection of the law. + +The supreme court of Illinois decided, in the year of grace 1856, that +an unbeliever in the existence of an intelligent First Cause could not +be allowed to testify in any court. His wife and children might have +been murdered before his very face, and yet in the absence of other +witnesses, the murderer could not have even been indicted. The atheist +was a legal outcast. To him, Justice was not only blind, but deaf. He +was liable, like other men, to support the Government, and was forced to +contribute his share towards paying the salaries of the very judges +who decided that under no circumstances could his voice be heard in any +court. This was the law of Illinois, and so remained until the +adoption of the new Constitution. By such infamous means has the church +endeavored to chain the human mind, and protect the majesty of her God. +The fact is, we have no national religion, and no national God; but +every citizen is allowed to have a religion and a God of his own, or +to reject all religions and deny the existence of all gods. The church, +however, never has, and never will understand and appreciate the genius +of our Government. + +Last year, in a convention of Protestant bigots, held in the city of New +York for the purpose of creating public opinion in favor of a religious +amendment to the Federal Constitution, a reverend doctor of divinity, +speaking of atheists, said: "What are the rights of the atheist? I would +tolerate him as I would tolerate a poor lunatic. I would tolerate him as +I would tolerate a conspirator. He may live and go free, hold his +lands and enjoy his home--he may even vote; but for any higher or more +advanced citizenship, he is, as I hold, utterly disqualified." These are +the sentiments of the church to-day. + +Give the church a place in the Constitution, let her touch once more +the sword of power, and the priceless fruit of all the ages will turn to +ashes on the lips of men. + +In religious ideas and conceptions there has been for ages a slow and +steady development At the bottom of the ladder (speaking of modern +times) is Catholicism, and at the top is Science. The intermediate +rounds of this ladder are occupied by the various sects, whose name is +legion. + +But whatever may be the truth upon any subject has nothing to do +with-our right to investigate that subject, and express any opinion +we may form. All that I ask, is the same right I freely accord to all +others. + +A few years ago a Methodist clergyman took it upon himself to give me a +piece of friendly advice. "Although you may disbelieve the Bible," said +he, "you ought not to say so. That, you should keep to yourself." + +"Do you believe the Bible," said I. + +He replied, "Most assuredly". + +To which I retorted, "Your answer conveys no information to me. You may +be following your own advice. You told me to suppress my opinions. Of +course a man who will advise others to dissimulate will not always be +particular about telling the truth himself." + +There can be nothing more utterly subversive of all that is really +valuable than the suppression of honest thought. No man, worthy of the +form he bears, will at the command of church or state solemnly repeat a +creed his reason scorns. + +It is the duty of each and every one to maintain his individuality. +"This above all, to thine ownself be true, and it must follow as +the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." It is +a magnificent thing to be the sole proprietor of yourself. It is a +terrible thing to wake up at night and say, "There is nobody in this +bed." It is humiliating to know that your ideas are all borrowed; that +you are indebted to your memory for your principles; that your religion +is simply one of your habits, and that you would have convictions if +they were only contagious. It is mortifying to feel that you belong to +a mental mob and cry "crucify him," because the others do; that you reap +what the great and brave have sown, and that you can benefit the world +only by leaving it. + +Surely every human being ought to attain to the dignity of the unit. +Surely it is worth something to be one, and to feel that the census of +the universe would be incomplete without counting you. Surely there +is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought, at least, you are +without a chain; that you have the right to explore all heights and all +depths; that there are no walls nor fences, nor prohibited places, nor +sacred corners in all the vast expanse of thought; that your intellect +owes no allegiance to any being, human or divine; that you hold all in +fee and upon no condition and by no tenure whatever; that in the world +of mind you are relieved from all personal dictation, and from the +ignorant tyranny of majorities. Surely it is worth something to feel +that there are no priests, no popes, no parties, no governments, +no kings, no gods, to whom your intellect can be compelled to pay +a reluctant homage. Surely it is a joy to know that all the cruel +ingenuity of bigotry can devise no prison, no dungeon, no cell in which +for one instant to confine a thought; that ideas cannot be dislocated +by racks, nor crushed in iron boots, nor burned with fire. Surely it is +sublime to think that the brain is a castle, and that within its curious +bastions and winding halls the soul, in spite of all worlds and all +beings, is the supreme sovereign of itself. + + + + +HERETICS AND HERESIES. + +Liberty, a Word without which all other Words are Vain. + +WHOEVER has an opinion of his own, and honestly expresses it, will be +guilty of heresy. Heresy is what the minority believe; it is the name +given by the powerful to the doctrine of the weak. This word was born of +the hatred, arrogance and cruelty of those who love their enemies, and +who, when smitten on one cheek, turn the other. This word was born of +intellectual slavery in the feudal ages of thought It was an epithet +used in the place of argument. From the commencement of the Christian +era, every art has been exhausted and every conceivable punishment +inflicted to force all people to hold the same religious opinions. This +effort was born of the idea that a certain belief was necessary to the +salvation of the soul. Christ taught, and the church still teaches, +that unbelief is the blackest of crimes. God is supposed to hate with +an infinite and implacable hatred, every heretic upon the earth, and the +heretics who have died are supposed at this moment to be suffering the +agonies of the damned. The church persecutes the living and her God +burns the dead. + +It is claimed that God wrote a book called the Bible, and it is +generally admitted that this book is somewhat difficult to understand. +As long as the church had all the copies of this book, and the people +were not allowed to read it, there was comparatively little heresy in +the world; but when it was printed and read, people began honestly to +differ as to its meaning. A few were independent and brave enough to +give the world their real thoughts, and for the extermination of these +men the church used all her power. Protestants and Catholics vied with +each other in the work of enslaving the human mind. For ages they were +rivals in the infamous effort to rid the earth of honest people. They +infested every country, every city, town, hamlet and family. They +appealed to the worst passions of the human heart They sowed the seeds +of discord and hatred in every land. Brother denounced brother, wives +informed against their husbands, mothers accused their children, +dungeons were crowded with the innocent; the flesh of the good and true +rotted in the clasp of chains; the flames devoured the heroic, and in +the name of the most merciful God, his children were exterminated with +famine, sword, and fire. Over the wild waves of battle rose and fell +the banner of Jesus Christ. For sixteen hundred years the robes of the +church were red with innocent blood. The ingenuity of Christians was +exhausted in devising punishment severe enough to be inflicted upon +other Christians who honestly and sincerely differed with them upon any +point whatever. + +Give any orthodox church the power, and to-day they would punish heresy +with whip, and chain, and fire. As long as a church deems a certain +belief essential to salvation, just so long it will kill and burn if it +has the power. Why should the church pity a man whom her God hates? Why +should she show mercy to a kind and noble heretic whom her God will burn +in eternal fire? Why should a Christian be better than his God? It is +impossible for the imagination to conceive of a greater atrocity than +has been perpetrated by the church. Every nerve in the human body +capable of pain has been sought out and touched by the church. + +Let it be remembered that all churches have persecuted heretics to the +extent of their power. Toleration has increased only when and where the +power of the church has diminished. From Augustine until now the +spirit of the Christians has remained the same. There has been the same +intolerance, the same undying hatred of all who think for themselves, +and the same determination to crush out of the human brain all knowledge +inconsistent with an ignorant creed. + +Every church pretends that it has a revelation from God, and that this +revelation must be given to the people through the church; that the +church acts through its priests, and that ordinary mortals must be +content with a revelation--not from God--but from the church. Had the +people submitted to this preposterous claim, of course there could have +been but one church, and that church never could have advanced. It might +have retrograded, because it is not necessary to think or investigate in +order to forget. Without heresy there could have been no progress. + +The highest type of the orthodox Christian does not forget; neither +does he learn. He neither advances nor recedes. He is a living fossil +embedded in that rock called faith. He makes no effort to better his +condition, because all his strength is exhausted in keeping other people +from improving theirs. The supreme desire of his heart is to force all +others to adopt his creed, and in order to accomplish this object he +denounces free thinking as a crime, and this crime he calls heresy. When +he had power, heresy was the most terrible and formidable of words. It +meant confiscation, exile, imprisonment, torture, and death. + +In those days the cross and rack were inseparable companions. Across +the open Bible lay the sword and fagot. Not content with burning such +heretics as were alive, they even tried the dead, in order that the +church might rob their wives and children. The property of all heretics +was confiscated, and on this account they charged the dead with being +heretical--indicted, as it were, their dust--to the end that the +church might clutch the bread of orphans. Learned divines discussed +the propriety of tearing out the tongues of heretics before they were +burned, and the general opinion was, that this ought to be done so that +the heretics should not be able, by uttering blasphemies, to shock +the Christians who were burning them. With a mixture of ferocity and +Christianity, the priests insisted that heretics ought to be burned at +a slow fire, giving as a reason that more time was given them for +repentance. + +No wonder that Jesus Christ said, "I came not to bring peace, but a +sword." + +Every priest regarded himself as the agent of God. He answered all +questions by authority, and to treat him with disrespect was an insult +offered to God. No one was asked to think, but all were commanded to +obey. + +In 1208 the Inquisition was established. Seven years afterward, the +fourth council of the Lateran enjoined all kings and rulers to swear +an oath that they would exterminate heretics from their dominions. The +sword of the church was unsheathed, and the world was at the mercy of +ignorant and infuriated priests, whose eyes feasted upon the agonies +they inflicted. Acting, as they believed, or pretended to believe, under +the command of God; stimulated by the hope of infinite reward in another +world--hating heretics with every drop of their bestial blood; savage +beyond description; merciless beyond conception,--these infamous +priests, in a kind of frenzied joy, leaped upon the helpless victims of +their rage. They crushed their bones in iron boots; tore their quivering +flesh with iron hooks and pincers; cut off their lips and eyelids; +pulled out their nails, and into the bleeding quick thrust needles; tore +out their tongues; extinguished their eyes; stretched them upon racks; +flayed them alive; crucified them with their heads downward; exposed +them to wild beasts; burned them at the stake; mocked their cries and +groans; ravished their wives; robbed their children, and then prayed God +to finish the holy work in hell. + +Millions upon millions were sacrificed upon the altars of bigotry. The +Catholic burned the Lutheran, the Lutheran burned the Catholic, the +Episcopalian tortured the Presbyterian, the Presbyterian tortured the +Episcopalian. Every denomination killed all it could of every other; and +each Christian felt in duty bound to exterminate every other Christian +who denied the smallest fraction of his creed. + +In the reign of Henry VIII.--that pious and moral founder of the +apostolic Episcopal Church,--there was passed by the parliament of +England an act entitled "An act for abolishing of diversity of opinion." +And in this act was set forth what a good Christian was obliged to +believe: First, That in the sacrament was the real body and blood of +Jesus Christ. + +Second, That the body and blood of Jesus Christ was in the bread, and +the blood and body of Jesus Christ was in the wine. + +Third, That priests should not marry. + +Fourth, That vows of chastity were of perpetual obligation. + +Fifth, That private masses ought to be continued; and, + +Sixth, That auricular confession to a priest must be maintained. + +This creed was made by law, in order that all men might know just what +to believe by simply reading the statute. The church hated to see the +people wearing out their brains in thinking upon these subjects. It was +thought far better that a creed should be made by parliament, so that +whatever might be lacking in evidence might be made up in force. The +punishment for denying the first article was death by fire. For +the denial of any other article, imprisonment, and for the second +offence--death. + +Your attention is called to these six articles, established during the +reign of Henry VIII., and by the Church of England, simply because not +one of these articles is believed by that church to-day. If the law then +made by the church could be enforced now, every Episcopalian would be +burned at the stake. + +Similar laws were passed in most Christian countries, as all orthodox +churches firmly believed that mankind could be legislated into heaven. +According to the creed of every church, slavery leads to heaven, liberty +leads to hell. It was claimed that God had founded the church, and that +to deny the authority of the church was to be a traitor to God, and +consequently an ally of the devil. To torture and destroy one of the +soldiers of Satan was a duty no good Christian cared to neglect. Nothing +can be sweeter than to earn the gratitude of God by killing your own +enemies. Such a mingling of profit and revenge, of heaven for yourself +and damnation for those you dislike, is a temptation that your ordinary +Christian never resists. + +According to the theologians, God, the Father of us all, wrote a letter +to his children. The children have always differed somewhat as to the +meaning of this letter. In consequence of these honest differences, +these brothers began to cut out each other's hearts. In every land, +where this letter from God has been read, the children to whom and for +whom it was written have been filled with hatred and malice. They have +imprisoned and murdered each other, and the wives and children of each +other. In the name of God every possible crime has been committed, every +conceivable outrage has been perpetrated. Brave men, tender and loving +women, beautiful girls, and prattling babes have been exterminated in +the name of Jesus Christ. For more than fifty generations the church +has carried the black flag. Her vengeance has been measured only by +her power. During all these years of infamy no heretic has ever been +forgiven. With the heart of a fiend she has hated; with the clutch of +avarice she has grasped; with the jaws of a dragon she has devoured; +pitiless as famine, merciless as fire, with the conscience of a serpent: +such is the history of the Church of God. + +I do not say, and I do not believe, that Christians are as bad as their +creeds. In spite of church and dogma, there have been millions and +millions of men and women true to the loftiest and most generous +promptings of the human heart. They have been true to their convictions, +and, with a self-denial and fortitude excelled by none, have labored +and suffered for the salvation of men. Imbued with the spirit of +self-sacrifice, believing that by personal effort they could rescue at +least a few souls from the infinite shadow of hell, they have +cheerfully endured every hardship and scorned every danger. And yet, +notwithstanding all this, they believed that honest error was a crime. +They knew that the Bible so declared, and they believed that all +unbelievers would be eternally lost. They believed that religion was +of God, and all heresy of the devil. They killed heretics in defence +of their own souls and the souls of their children. They killed them +because, according to their idea, they were the enemies of God, and +because the Bible teaches that the blood of the unbeliever is a most +acceptable sacrifice to heaven. + +Nature never prompted a loving mother to throw her child into the +Ganges. Nature never prompted men to exterminate each other for a +difference of opinion concerning the baptism of infants. These crimes +have been produced by religions filled with all that is illogical, +cruel and hideous. These religions were produced for the most part by +ignorance, tyranny and hypocrisy. Under the impression that the infinite +ruler and creator of the universe had commanded the destruction of +heretics and infidels, the church perpetrated all these crimes. + +Men and women have been burned for thinking there is but one God; that +there was none; that the Holy Ghost is younger than God; that God was +somewhat older than his son; for insisting that good works will save a +man without faith; that faith will do without good works; for declaring +that a sweet babe will not be burned eternally, because its parents +failed to have its head wet by a priest; for speaking of God as +though he had a nose; for denying that Christ was his own father; for +contending that three persons, rightly added together, make more than +one; for believing in purgatory; for denying the reality of hell; for +pretending that priests can forgive sins; for preaching that God is an +essence; for denying that witches rode through the air on sticks; +for doubting the total depravity of the human heart; for laughing +at irresistible grace, predestination and particular redemption; for +denying that good bread could be made of the body of a dead man; for +pretending that the pope was not managing this world for God, and in the +place of God; for disputing the efficacy of a vicarious atonement; for +thinking the Virgin Mary was born like other people; for thinking that a +man's rib was hardly sufficient to make a good-sized woman; for denying +that God used his finger for a pen; for asserting that prayers are not +answered, that diseases are not sent to punish unbelief; for denying +the authority of the Bible; for having a Bible in their possession; for +attending mass, and for refusing to attend; for wearing a surplice; for +carrying a cross, and for refusing; for being a Catholic, and for being +a Protestant; for being an Episcopalian, a Presbyterian, a Baptist, and +for being a Quaker. In short, every virtue has been a crime, and every +crime a virtue. The church has burned honesty and rewarded hypocrisy. +And all this, because it was commanded by a book--a book that men had +been taught implicitly to believe, long, before they knew one word that +was in it They had been taught that to doubt the truth of this book--to +examine it, even--was a crime of such enormity that it could not be +forgiven, either in this world or in the next The Bible was the real +persecutor. The Bible burned heretics, built dungeons, founded the +Inquisition, and trampled upon all the liberties of men. + +How long, O how long will mankind worship a book? How long will they +grovel in the dust before the ignorant legends of the barbaric past? +How long, O how long will they pursue phantoms in a darkness deeper than +death? + +Unfortunately for the world, about the beginning of the sixteenth +century, a man by the name of Gerard Chauvin was married to Jeanne +Lefranc, and still more unfortunately for the world, the fruit of this +marriage was a son, called John Chauvin, who afterwards became famous as +John Calvin, the founder of the Presbyterian Church. + +This man forged five fetters for the brain. These fetters he called +points. That is to say, predestination, particular redemption, total +depravity, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. About +the neck of each follower he put a collar bristling with these five iron +points. The presence of all these points on the collar is still the test +of orthodoxy in the church he founded. This man, when in the flush of +youth, was elected to the office of preacher in Geneva. He at once, +in union with Farel, drew up a condensed statement of the Presbyterian +doctrine, and all the citizens of Geneva, on pain of banishment, were +compelled to take an oath that they believed this statement. Of this +proceeding Calvin very innocently remarked that it produced great +satisfaction. A man named Caroli had the audacity to dispute with +Calvin. For this outrage he was banished. + +To show you what great subjects occupied the attention of Calvin, it is +only necessary to state that he furiously discussed the question as to +whether the sacramental bread should be leavened or unleavened. He drew +up laws regulating the cut of the citizens' clothes, and prescribing +their diet, and all those whose garments were not in the Calvin fashion +were refused the sacrament. At last, the people becoming tired of this +petty theological tyranny, banished Calvin. In a few years, however, +he was recalled and received with great enthusiasm. After this he was +supreme, and the will of Calvin became the law of Geneva. + +Under his benign administration, James Gruet was beheaded because he had +written some profane verses. The slightest word against Calvin or his +absurd doctrines was punished as a crime. + +In 1553 a man was tried at Vienne by the Catholic Church for heresy. He +was convicted and sentenced to death by burning. It was apparently his +good fortune to escape. Pursued by the sleuth hounds of intolerance he +fled to Geneva for protection. A dove flying from hawks, sought safety +in the nest of a vulture. This fugitive from the cruelty of Rome asked +shelter from John Calvin, who had written a book in favor of religious +toleration. Servetus had forgotten that this book was written by Calvin +when in the minority; that it was written in weakness to be forgotten +in power; that it was produced by fear instead of principle. He did not +know that Calvin had caused his arrest at Vienne, in France, and had +sent a copy of his work, which was claimed to be blasphemous, to the +archbishop. He did not then know that the Protestant Calvin was +acting as one of the detectives of the Catholic Church, and had been +instrumental in procuring his conviction for heresy. Ignorant of all +this unspeakable infamy, he put himself in the power of this very +Calvin. The maker of the Presbyterian creed caused the fugitive +Serve-tus to be arrested for blasphemy. He was tried. Calvin was his +accuser. He was convicted and condemned to death by fire. On the morning +of the fatal day, Calvin saw him, and Servetus, the victim, asked +forgiveness of Calvin, the murderer. Servetus was bound to the stake, +and the fagots were lighted. The wind carried the flames somewhat away +from his body, so that he slowly roasted for hours. Vainly he implored +a speedy death. At last the flames climbed round his form; through smoke +and fire his murderers saw a white heroic face. And there they watched +until a man became a charred and shriveled mass. + +Liberty was banished from Geneva, and nothing but Presbyterianism was +left. Honor, justice, mercy, reason and charity were all exiled, but +the five points of predestination, particular redemption, irresistible +grace, total depravity, and the certain perseverance of the saints +remained instead. + +Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and +succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, +except the one from which it was copied. + +Against all this intolerance, one man, a minister, raised his voice. The +name of this man should never be forgotten. It was Castalio. This brave +man had the goodness and the courage to declare the innocence of honest +error. He was the first of the so-called reformers to take this noble +ground. I wish I had the genius to pay a fitting tribute to his memory. +Perhaps it would be impossible to pay him a grander compliment than to +say, Castalio was in all things the opposite of Calvin. To plead for the +right of individual judgment was considered a crime, and Castalio was +driven from Geneva by John Calvin. By him he was denounced as a child of +the devil, as a dog of Satan, as a beast from hell, and as one who, by +this horrid blasphemy of the innocence of honest error, crucified Christ +afresh, and by him he was pursued until rescued by the hand of death. + +Upon the name of Castalio, Calvin heaped every epithet, until his malice +was nearly satisfied and his imagination entirely exhausted. It is +impossible to conceive how human nature can become so frightfully +perverted as to pursue a fellow-man with the malignity of a fiend, +simply because he is good, just, and generous. + +Calvin was of a pallid, bloodless complexion, thin, sickly, irritable, +gloomy, impatient, egotistic, tyrannical, heartless, and infamous. He +was a strange compound of revengeful morality, malicious forgiveness, +ferocious charity, egotistic humility, and a kind of hellish justice. +In other words, he was as near like the God of the Old Testament as his +health permitted. + +The best thing, however, about the Presbyterians of Geneva was, that +they denied the power of the Pope, and the best thing about the Pope +was, that he was not a Presbyterian. + +The doctrines of Calvin spread rapidly, and were eagerly accepted by +multitudes on the continent; but Scotland, in a few years, became the +real fortress of Presbyterianism. The Scotch succeeded in establishing +the same kind of theocracy that flourished in Geneva. The clergy took +possession and control of everybody and everything. It is impossible to +exaggerate the mental degradation, the abject superstition of the people +of Scotland during the reign of Presbyterianism. Heretics were hunted +and devoured as though they had been wild beasts. The gloomy insanity of +Presbyterianism took possession of a great majority of the people. They +regarded their ministers as the Jews did Moses and Aaron. They believed +that they were the especial agents of God, and that whatsoever they +bound in Scotland would be bound in heaven. There was not one particle +of intellectual freedom. No man was allowed to differ with the church, +or to even contradict a priest. Had Presbyterianism maintained its +ascendency, Scotland would have been peopled by savages to-day. + +The revengeful spirit of Calvin took possession of the Puritans, and +caused them to redden the soil of the New World with the brave blood of +honest men. Clinging to the five points of Calvin, they too established +governments in accordance with the teachings of the Old Testament. They +too attached the penalty of death to the expression of honest thought. +They too believed their church supreme, and exerted all their power to +curse this continent with a spiritual despotism as infamous as it was +absurd. They believed with Luther that universal toleration is universal +error, and universal error is universal hell. Toleration was denounced +as a crime. + +Fortunately for us, civilization has had a softening effect even upon +the Presbyterian Church. To the ennobling influence of the arts and +sciences the savage spirit of Calvinism has, in some slight degree, +succumbed. True, the old creed remains substantially as it was written, +but by a kind of tacit understanding it has come to be regarded as a +relic of the past. The cry of "heresy" has been growing fainter and +fainter, and, as a consequence, the ministers of that denomination +have ventured, now and then, to express doubts as to the damnation of +infants, and the doctrine of total depravity. The fact is, the old ideas +became a little monotonous to the people. The fall of man, the scheme of +redemption and irresistible grace, began to have a familiar sound. The +preachers told the old stories while the congregations slept Some of the +ministers became tired of these stories themselves. The five points grew +dull, and they felt that nothing short of irresistible grace could bear +this endless repetition. The outside world was full of progress, and in +every direction men advanced, while this church, anchored to a creed, +idly rotted at the shore. Other denominations, imbued some little with +the spirit of investigation, were springing up on every side, while the +old Presbyterian ark rested on the Ararat of the past, filled with the +theological monsters of another age. + +Lured by the splendors of the outer world, tempted by the achievements +of science, longing to feel the throb and beat of the mighty march of +the human race, a few of the ministers of this conservative denomination +were compelled, by irresistible sense, to say a few words in harmony +with the splendid ideas of to-day. + +These utterances have upon several occasions so nearly wakened some of +the members that, rubbing their eyes, they have feebly inquired whether +these grand ideas were not somewhat heretical. These ministers found +that just in the proportion that their orthodoxy decreased, their +congregations increased. Those who dealt in the pure unadulterated +article found themselves demonstrating the five points to a less number +of hearers than they had points. Stung to madness by this bitter truth, +this galling contrast, this harassing fact, the really orthodox have +raised the cry of heresy, and expect with this cry to seal the lips +of honest men. One of the Presbyterian ministers, and one who has been +enjoying the luxury of a little honest thought, and the real rapture of +expressing it, has already been indicted, and is about to be tried by +the Presbytery of Illinois. He is charged-- + +_First_. With having neglected to preach that most comforting and +consoling truth, the eternal damnation of the soul. + +Surely, that man must be a monster who could wish to blot this blessed +doctrine out and rob earth's wretched children of this blissful hope! + +Who can estimate the misery that has been caused by this most infamous +doctrine of eternal punishment? Think of the lives it has blighted--of +the tears it has caused--of the agony it has produced. Think of the +millions who have been driven to insanity by this most terrible of +dogmas. This doctrine renders God the basest and most cruel being in +the universe. Compared with him, the most frightful deities of the most +barbarous and degraded tribes are miracles of goodness and mercy. There +is nothing more degrading than to worship such a god. Lower than this +the soul can never sink. If the doctrine of eternal damnation is true, +let me share the fate of the unconverted; let me have my portion in +hell, rather than in heaven with a god infamous enough to inflict +eternal misery upon any of the sons of men. + +_Second_. With having spoken a few kind words of Robert Collyer and John +Stuart Mill. + +I have the honor of a slight acquaintance with Robert Collyer. I have +read with pleasure some of his exquisite productions. He has a brain +full of the dawn, the head of a philosopher, the imagination of a poet +and the sincere heart of a child. + +Is a minister to be silenced because he speaks fairly of a noble and +candid adversary? Is it a crime to compliment a lover of justice, an +advocate of liberty; one who devotes his life to the elevation of man, +the discovery of truth, and the promulgation of what he believes to be +right? + +Can that tongue be palsied by a presbytery that praises a self-denying +and heroic life? Is it a sin to speak a charitable word over the grave +of John Stuart Mill? Is it heretical to pay a just and graceful tribute +to departed worth? Must the true Presbyterian violate the sanctity of +the tomb, dig open the grave and ask his God to curse the silent dust? +Is Presbyterianism so narrow that it conceives of no excellence, of no +purity of intention, of no spiritual and moral grandeur outside of its +barbaric creed? Does it still retain within its stony heart all the +malice of its founder? Is it still warming its fleshless hands at the +flames that consumed Servetus? Does it still glory in the damnation of +infants, and does it still persist in emptying the cradle in order that +perdition may be filled? Is it still starving the soul and famishing +the heart? Is it still trembling and shivering, crouching and crawling +before its ignorant Confession of Faith? + +Had such men as Robert Collyer and John Stuart Mill been present at the +burning of Servetus, they would have extinguished the flames with their +tears. Had the presbytery of Chicago been there, they would have quietly +turned their backs, solemnly divided their coat tails, and warmed +themselves. + +_Third_. With having spoken disparagingly of the doctrine of +predestination. + +If there is any dogma that ought to be protected by law, predestination +is that doctrine. Surely it is a cheerful, joyous thing, to one who is +laboring, struggling, and suffering in this weary world, to think that +before he existed; before the earth was; before a star had glittered in +the heavens; before a ray of light had left the quiver of the sun, his +destiny had been irrevocably fixed, and that for an eternity before his +birth he had been doomed to bear eternal pain. + +_Fourth._ With failing to preach the efficacy of a "vicarious +sacrifice." + +Suppose a man had been convicted of murder, and was about to be +hanged--the governor acting as the executioner; and suppose that just +as the doomed man was about to suffer death some one in the crowd +should step forward and say, "I am willing to die in the place of that +murderer. He has a family, and I have none." And suppose further, that +the governor should reply, "Come forward, young man, your offer is +accepted. A murder has been committed and somebody must be hung, +and your death will satisfy the law just as well as the death of the +murderer." What would you then think of the doctrine of "vicarious +sacrifice"? + +This doctrine is the consummation of two outrages--forgiving one crime +and committing another. + +_Fifth_. With having inculcated a phase of the doctrine commonly known +as "evolution," or "development". + +The church believes and teaches the exact opposite of this doctrine. +According to the philosophy of theology, man has continued to degenerate +for six thousand years. To teach that there is that in nature which +impels to higher forms and grander ends, is heresy, of course. The +Deity will damn Spencer and his "Evolution," Darwin and his "Origin +of Species," Bastian and his "Spontaneous Generation," Huxley and his +"Protoplasm," Tyndall and his "Prayer Gauge," and will save those, and +those only, who declare that the universe has been cursed, from the +smallest atom to the grandest star; that everything tends to evil and to +that only, and that the only perfect thing in nature is the Presbyterian +Confession of Faith. + +_Sixth_. With having intimated that the reception of Socrates and +Penelope at heaven's gate was, to say the least, a trifle more cordial +than that of Catharine II. + +Penelope, waiting patiently and trustfully for her lord's return, +delaying her suitors, while sadly weaving and unweaving the shroud of +Laertes, is the most perfect type of wife and woman produced by the +civilization of Greece. + +Socrates, whose life was above reproach and whose death was beyond all +praise, stands to-day, in the estimation of every thoughtful man, at +least the peer of Christ. + +Catharine II. assassinated her husband. Stepping upon his corpse, she +mounted the throne. She was the murderess of Prince Iwan, grand nephew +of Peter the Great, who was imprisoned for eighteen years, and who +during all that time saw the sky but once. Taken all in all, Catharine +was probably one of the most intellectual beasts that ever wore a crown. + +Catharine, however, was the head of the Greek Church, Socrates was +a heretic and Penelope lived and died without having once heard of +"particular redemption" or of "irresistible grace." + +_Seventh_. With repudiating the idea of a "call" to the ministry, and +pretending that men were "called" to preach as they were to the other +avocations of life. + +If this doctrine is true, God, to say the least of it, is an exceedingly +poor judge of human nature. It is more than a century since a man of +true genius has been found in an orthodox pulpit. Every minister is +heretical just to the extent that intellect is above the average. The +Lord seems to be satisfied with mediocrity; but the people are not. + +An old deacon, wishing to get rid of an unpopular preacher, advised him +to give up the ministry and turn his attention to something else. The +preacher replied that he could not conscientiously desert the pulpit, as +he had had a "call" to the ministry. To which the deacon replied, "That +may be so, but it's very unfortunate for you, that when God called you +to preach, he forgot to call anybody to hear you." + +There is nothing more stupidly egotistic than the claim of the clergy +that they are, in some divine sense set apart to the service of the +Lord; that they have been chosen, and sanctified; that there is an +infinite difference between them and persons employed in secular +affairs. They teach us that all other professions must take care of +themselves; that God allows anybody to be a doctor, a lawyer, statesman, +soldier, or artist; that the Motts and Coopers--the Mansfields and +Marshalls--the Wilberforces and Sumners--the Angelos and Raphaels, were +never honored by a "call." They chose their professions and won their +laurels without the assistance of the Lord. All these men were left free +to follow their own inclinations, while God was busily engaged selecting +and "calling" priests, rectors, elders, ministers and exhorters. + +_Eighth_. With having doubted that God was the author of the 109th +Psalm. + +The portion of that psalm which carries with it the clearest and most +satisfactory evidences of inspiration, and which has afforded almost +unspeakable consolation to the Presbyterian Church, is as follows: + +Set thou a wicked man over him; and let Satan stand at his right hand. + +When he shall be judged, let him be condemned; and let his prayer become +sin. + +Let his days be few; and let another take his office. + +Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. + +Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg; let them seek their +bread also out of their desolate places. + +Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the stranger spoil +his labor. + +Let there be none to extend mercy unto him; neither let there be any to +favor his fatherless children. + +Let his posterity be cut off: and in the generation following let their +name be blotted out. + +But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for Thy name's sake; because Thy +mercy is good, deliver Thou me.... I will greatly praise the Lord with +my_ mouth_. + +Think of a God wicked and malicious enough to inspire this prayer. Think +of one infamous enough to answer it. + +Had this inspired psalm been found in some temple erected for the +worship of snakes, or in the possession of some cannibal king, written +with blood upon the dried skins of babes, there would have been a +perfect harmony between its surroundings and its sentiments. + +No wonder that the author of this inspired psalm coldly received +Socrates and Penelope, and reserved his sweetest smiles for Catharine +the Second. + +_Ninth._ With having said that the battles in which the Israelites +engaged, with the approval and command of Jehovah, surpassed in cruelty +those of Julius Caesar. + +Was it Julius Caesar who said, "And the Lord our God delivered him before +us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. And we took all +his cities, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little +ones, of every city, we left none to remain"? + +Did Julius Caesar send the following report to the Roman senate? "And we +took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not +from them, three-score cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of +Og in Bashan. All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and +bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. And we utterly destroyed +them, as we did unto Sihon, king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, +women, and children of every city." + +Did Caesar take the city of Jericho "and utterly destroy all that was +in the city, both men and women, young and old"? Did he smite "all the +country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the +springs, and all their kings, and leave none remaining that breathed, as +the Lord God had commanded"? + +Search the records of the whole world, find out the history of every +barbarous tribe, and you can find no crime that touched a lower depth of +infamy than those the Bible's God commanded and approved. For such a God +I have no words to express my loathing and contempt, and all the words +in all the languages of man would scarcely be sufficient. Away with such +a God! Give me Jupiter rather, with Io and Europa, or even Siva with his +skulls and snakes. + +_Tenth_. With having repudiated the doctrine of "total depravity." + +What a precious doctrine is that of the total depravity of the human +heart! How sweet it is to believe that the lives of all the good and +great were continual sins and perpetual crimes; that the love a mother +bears her child is, in the sight of God, a sin; that the gratitude of +the natural heart is simple meanness; that the tears of pity are impure; +that for the unconverted to live and labor for others is an offence to +heaven; that the noblest aspirations of the soul are low and groveling +in the sight of God; that man should fall upon his knees and ask +forgiveness, simply for loving his wife and child, and that even the act +of asking forgiveness is in fact a crime! + +Surely it is a kind of bliss to feel that every woman and child in the +wide world, with the exception of those who believe the five points, or +some other equally cruel creed, and such children as have been baptized, +ought at this very moment to be dashed down to the lowest glowing gulf +of hell. + +Take from the Christian the history of his own church--leave that +entirely out of the question--and he has no argument left with which to +substantiate the total depravity of man. + +_Eleventh_. With having doubted the "perseverance of the saints." + +I suppose the real meaning of this doctrine is, that Presbyterians are +just as sure of going to heaven as all other folks are of going to hell. +The real idea being, that it all depends upon the will of God, and not +upon the character of the person to be damned or saved; that God has the +weakness to send Presbyterians to Paradise, and the justice to doom the +rest of mankind to eternal fire. + +It is admitted that no unconverted brain can see the least particle of +sense in this doctrine; that it is abhorrent to all who have not been +the recipients of a "new heart;" that only the perfectly good can +justify the perfectly infamous. + +It is contended that the saints do not persevere of their own free +will--that they are entitled to no credit for persevering; but that +God forces them to persevere, while on the other hand, every crime is +committed in accordance with the secret will of God, who does all things +for his own glory. + +Compared with this doctrine, there is no other idea, that has ever been +believed by man, that can properly be called absurd. + +_Twelfth_. With having spoken and written somewhat lightly of the idea +of converting the heathen with doctrinal sermons. + +Of all the failures of which we have any history or knowledge, the +missionary effort is the most conspicuous. The whole question has been +decided here, in our own country, and conclusively settled. We have +nearly exterminated the Indians, but we have converted none. From the +days of John Eliot to the execution of the last Modoc, not one Indian +has been the subject of irresistible grace or particular redemption. +The few red men who roam the western wilderness have no thought or care +concerning the five points of Calvin. They are utterly oblivious to +the great and vital truths contained in the Thirty-nine Articles, the +Saybrook platform, and the resolutions of the Evangelical Alliance. No +Indian has ever scalped another on account of his religious belief. This +of itself shows conclusively that the missionaries have had no effect +Why should we convert the heathen of China and kill our own? Why should +we send missionaries across the seas, and soldiers over the plains? +Why should we send Bibles to the east and muskets to the west? If it +is impossible to convert Indians who have no religion of their own; no +prejudice for or against the "eternal procession of the Holy Ghost," how +can we expect to convert a heathen who has a religion; who has plenty +of gods and Bibles and prophets and Christs, and who has a religious +literature far grander than our own? Can we hope with the story of +Daniel in the lions' den to rival the stupendous miracles of India? Is +there anything in our Bible as lofty and loving as the prayer of the +Buddhist? Compare your "Confession of Faith" with the following: "Never +will I seek nor receive private individual salvation--never enter into +final peace alone; but forever and everywhere will I live and strive for +the universal redemption of every creature throughout all worlds. Until +all are delivered, never will I leave the world of sin, sorrow, and +struggle, but will remain where I am." + +Think of sending an average Presbyterian to convert a man who daily +offers this tender, this infinitely generous, this incomparable prayer. +Think of reading the 109th Psalm to a heathen who has a Bible of his own +in which is found this passage: "Blessed is that man and beloved of all +the gods, who is afraid of no man, and of whom no man is afraid." + +Why should you read even the New Testament to a Hindu, when his own +Chrishna has said, "If a man strike thee, and in striking drop his +staff, pick it up and hand it to him again"? Why send a Presbyterian to +a Sufi, who says, "Better one moment of silent contemplation and inward +love, than seventy thousand years of outward worship"? "Whoso would +carelessly tread one worm that crawls on earth, that heartless one is +darkly alienate from God; but he that, living, embraceth all things +in his love, to live with him God bursts all bounds above, below." Why +should we endeavor to thrust our cruel and heartless theology upon one +who prays this prayer: "O God, show pity toward the wicked; for on +the good thou hast already bestowed thy mercy by having created them +virtuous"? + +Compare this prayer with the curses and cruelties of the Old +Testament--with the infamies commanded and approved by the being whom we +are taught to worship as a God--and with the following tender product +of Presbyterianism: "It may seem absurd to human wisdom that God should +harden, blind, and deliver up some men to a reprobate sense; that he +should first deliver them over to evil, and then condemn them for that +evil; but the believing spiritual man sees no absurdity in all this, +knowing that God would be never a whit less good even though he should +destroy all men." + +Of all the religions that have been produced by the egotism, the malice, +the ignorance and ambition of man, Presbyterianism is the most hideous. + +But what shall I say more, for the time would fail me to tell of +Sabellianism, of a "Modal Trinity," and the "Eternal Procession of the +Holy Ghost"? + +Upon these charges, a minister is to be tried, here in Chicago; in +this city of pluck and progress--this marvel of energy--this miracle +of nerve. The cry of "heresy," here, sounds like a wail from the Dark +Ages--a shriek from the Inquisition, or a groan from the grave of +Calvin. + +Another effort is being made to enslave a man. + +It is claimed that every member of the church has solemnly agreed +never to outgrow the creed; that he has pledged himself to remain an +intellectual dwarf. Upon this condition the church agrees to save his +soul, and he hands over his brains to bind the bargain. Should a fact be +found inconsistent with the creed, he binds himself to deny the fact +and curse the finder. With scraps of dogmas and crumbs of doctrine, he +agrees that his soul shall be satisfied forever. What an intellectual +feast the Confession of Faith must be! It reminds one of the dinner +described by Sydney Smith, where everything was cold except the water, +and everything sour except the vinegar. + +Every member of a church promises to remain orthodox, that is to +say--stationary. Growth is heresy. Orthodox ideas are the feathers that +have been moulted by the eagle of progress. They are the dead leaves +under the majestic palm, while heresy is the bud and blossom at the top. + +Imagine a vine that grows at one end and decays at the other. The +end that grows is heresy, the end that rots is orthodox The dead are +orthodox, and your cemetery is the most perfect type of a well regulated +church. No thought, no progress, no heresy there. Slowly and silently, +side by side, the satisfied members peacefully decay. There is only this +difference--the dead do not persecute. + +And what does a trial for heresy mean? It means that the church says to +a heretic, "Believe as I do, or I will withdraw my support. I will not +employ you. I will pursue you until your garments are rags; until your +children cry for bread; until your cheeks are furrowed with tears. I +will hunt you to the very portals of the tomb, and then my God will do +the rest I will not imprison you. I will not burn you. The law prevents +my doing that. I helped make the law, not however to protect you, nor +to deprive me of the right to exterminate you but in order to keep +other churches from exterminating me." A trial for heresy means that the +spirit of persecution still lingers in the church; that it still denies +the right of private judgment; that it still thinks more of creed than +truth, and that it is still determined to prevent the intellectual +growth of man. It means that churches are shambles in which are bought +and sold the souls of men. It means that the church is still guilty of +the barbarity of opposing thought with force. It means that if it had +the power, the mental horizon would be bounded by a creed; that it would +bring again the whips and chains and dungeon keys, the rack and fagot of +the past. + +But let me tell the church it lacks the power. There have been, and +still are, too many men who own themselves--too much thought, too much +knowledge for the church to grasp again the sword of power. The church +must abdicate. For the Eglon of superstition Science has a message from +Truth. + +The heretics have not thought and suffered and died in vain. Every +heretic has been, and is, a ray of light. Not in vain did Voltaire, that +great man, point from the foot of the Alps the finger of scorn at every +hypocrite in Europe. Not in vain were the splendid utterances of the +infidels, while beyond all price are the discoveries of science. + +The church has impeded, but it has not and it cannot stop the onward +march of the human race. Heresy cannot be burned, nor imprisoned, nor +starved. It laughs at presbyteries and synods, at ecumenical councils +and the impotent thunders of Sinai. Heresy is the eternal dawn, the +morning star, the glittering herald of the day. Heresy is the last and +best thought. It is the perpetual New World, the unknown sea, toward +which the brave all sail. It is the eternal horizon of progress. + +Heresy extends the hospitalities of the brain to a new thought. + +Heresy is a cradle; orthodoxy, a coffin. + +Why should man be afraid to think, and why should he fear to express his +thoughts? + +Is it possible that an infinite Deity is unwilling that a man should +investigate the phenomena by which he is surrounded? Is it possible that +a god delights in threatening and terrifying men? What glory, what honor +and renown a god must win on such a field! The ocean raving at a drop; a +star envious of a candle; the sun jealous of a fire-fly. + +Go on, presbyteries and synods, go on! Thrust the heretics out of the +church--that is to say, throw away your brains,--put out your eyes. The +infidels will thank you. They are willing to adopt your exiles. Every +deserter from your camp is a recruit for the army of progress. Cling to +the ignorant dogmas of the past; read the 109th Psalm; gloat over the +slaughter of mothers and babes; thank God for total depravity; shower +your honors upon hypocrites, and silence every minister who is touched +with that heresy called genius. + +Be true to your history. Turn out the astronomers, the geologists, the +naturalists, the chemists, and all the honest scientists. With a whip of +scorpions, drive them all out. We want them all. Keep the ignorant, +the superstitious, the bigoted, and the writers of charges and +specifications. + +Keep them, and keep them all. Repeat your pious platitudes in the drowsy +ears of the faithful, and read your Bible to heretics, as kings read +some forgotten riot-act to stop and stay the waves of revolution. +You are too weak to excite anger. We forgive your efforts as the sun +forgives a cloud--as the air forgives the breath you waste. + +How long, O how long, will man listen to the threats of God, and shut +his eyes to the splendid possibilities of Nature? How long, O how long +will man remain the cringing slave of a false and cruel creed? + +By this time the whole world should know that the real Bible has not yet +been written, but is being written, and that it will never be finished +until the race begins its downward march, or ceases to exist. + +The real Bible is not the work of inspired men, nor prophets, nor +apostles, nor evangelists, nor of Christs. Every man who finds a fact, +adds, as it were, a word to this great book. It is not attested +by prophecy, by miracles or signs. It makes no appeal to faith, to +ignorance, to credulity or fear. It has no punishment for unbelief, and +no reward for hypocrisy. It appeals to man in the name of demonstration. +It has nothing to conceal. It has no fear of being read, of being +contradicted, of being investigated and understood. It does not pretend +to be holy, or sacred; it simply claims to be true. It challenges the +scrutiny of all, and implores every reader to verify every line for +himself. It is incapable of being blasphemed. This book appeals to +all the surroundings of man. Each thing that exists testifies of its +perfection. The earth, with its heart of fire and crowns of snow; with +its forests and plains, its rocks and seas; with its every wave and +cloud; with its every leaf and bud and flower, confirms its every word, +and the solemn stars, shining in the infinite abysses, are the eternal +witnesses of its truth. + + + + +THE GHOSTS. + + TO + EBON C. INGERSOLL, + MY BROTHER, + FROM WHOSE LIPS I HEARD THE FIRST APPLAUSE, + AND WITH WHOSE NAME I WISH MY OWN + ASSOCIATED UNTIL BOTH ARE FORGOTTEN, + THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED. + + +PREFACE + +These lectures have been so maimed and mutilated by orthodox malice; +have been made to appear so halt, crutched and decrepit by those who +mistake the pleasures of calumny for the duties of religion, that in +simple justice to myself I concluded to publish them. + +Most of the clergy are, or seem to be, utterly incapable of discussing +anything in a fair and catholic spirit. They appeal, not to reason, +but to prejudice; not to facts, but to passages of Scripture. They can +conceive of no goodness, of no spiritual exaltation beyond the horizon +of their creed. Whoever differs with them upon what they are pleased +to call "fundamental truths," is, in their opinion, a base and infamous +man. To re-enact the tragedies of the sixteenth century, they lack only +the power. Bigotry in all ages has been the same. Christianity simply +transferred the brutality of the Colosseum to the Inquisition. For the +murderous combat of the gladiators, the saints substituted the _auto de +fe_. What has been called religion is, after all, but the organization +of the wild beast in man. The perfumed blossom of arrogance is heaven. +Hell is the consummation of revenge. + +The chief business of the clergy has always been to destroy the joy of +life, and multiply and magnify the terrors and tortures of death and +perdition. They have polluted the heart and paralyzed the brain; and +upon the ignorant altars of the Past and the Dead, they have endeavored +to sacrifice the Present and the Living. + +Nothing can exceed the mendacity of the religious press. I have had some +little experience with political editors, and am forced to say, that +until I read the religious papers, I did not know what malicious and +slimy falsehoods could be constructed from ordinary words. The ingenuity +with which the real and apparent meaning can be tortured out of +language, is simply amazing. The average religious editor is intolerant +and insolent; he knows nothing of affairs; he has the envy of failure, +the malice of impotence, and always accounts for the brave and generous +actions of unbelievers, by low, base and unworthy motives. + +By this time, even the clergy should know that the intellect of the +nineteenth century needs no guardian. They should cease to regard +themselves as shepherds defending flocks of weak, silly and fearful +sheep from the claws and teeth of ravening wolves. By this time they +should know that the religion of the ignorant and brutal Past no +longer satisfies the heart and brain; that the miracles have become +contemptible; that the "evidences" have ceased to convince; that the +spirit of investigation cannot be stopped nor stayed; that the church +is losing her power; that the young are holding in a kind of tender +contempt the sacred follies of the old; that the pulpit and pews no +longer represent the culture and morality of the world, and that the +brand of intellectual inferiority is upon the orthodox brain. + +Men should be liberated from the aristocracy of the air. Every chain +of superstition should be broken. The rights of men and women should +be equal and sacred--marriage should be a perfect partnership--children +should be governed by kindness,--every family should be a +republic--every fireside a democracy. + +It seems almost impossible for religious people to really grasp the idea +of intellectual freedom. They seem to think that man is responsible for +his honest thoughts; that unbelief is a crime; that investigation is +sinful; that credulity is a virtue, and that reason is a dangerous +guide. They cannot divest themselves of the idea that in the realm of +thought there must be government--authority and obedience--laws and +penalties--rewards and punishments, and that somewhere in the universe +there is a penitentiary for the soul. + +In the republic of mind, _one_ is a majority. There, all are monarchs, +and all are equals. The tyranny of a majority even is unknown. Each one +is crowned, sceptered and throned. Upon every brow is the tiara, and +around every form is the imperial purple. Only those are good citizens +who express their honest thoughts, and those who persecute for opinion's +sake, are the only traitors. There, nothing is considered infamous +except an appeal to brute force, and nothing sacred but love, liberty, +and joy. The church contemplates this republic with a sneer. From the +teeth of hatred she draws back the lips of scorn. She is filled with the +spite and spleen born of intellectual weakness. Once she was egotistic; +now she is envious. + +Once she wore upon her hollow breast false gems, supposing them to be +real. They have been shown to be false, but she wears them still. She +has the malice of the caught, the hatred of the exposed. + +We are told to investigate the Bible for ourselves, and at the same time +informed that if we come to the conclusion that it is not the inspired +word of God, we will most assuredly be damned. Under such circumstances, +if we believe this, investigation is impossible. Whoever is held +responsible for his conclusions cannot weigh the evidence with impartial +scales. Fear stands at the balance, and gives to falsehood the weight of +its trembling hand. + +I oppose the church because she is the enemy of liberty; because her +dogmas are infamous and cruel; because she humiliates and degrades +woman; because she teaches the doctrines of eternal torment and the +natural depravity of man; because she insists upon the absurd, the +impossible, and the senseless; because she resorts to falsehood and +slander; because she is arrogant and revengeful; because she allows men +to sin on a credit; because she discourages self-reliance, and laughs +at good works; because she believes in vicarious virtue and vicarious +vice--vicarious punishment and vicarious reward; because she regards +repentance of more importance than restitution, and because she +sacrifices the world we have to one we know not of. + +The free and generous, the tender and affectionate, will understand me. +Those who have escaped from the grated cells of a creed will appreciate +my motives. The sad and suffering wives, the trembling and loving +children will thank me: This is enough. + +Robert G. Ingersoll. + +Washington, D. C., + +April 13, 1878. + + + +THE GHOSTS, + +LET THEM COVER THEIR EYELESS SOCKETS WITH THEIR FLESHLESS HANDS AND FADE +FOREVER FROM THE IMAGINATION OF MEN. + +HERE are three theories by which men account for all phenomena, +for everything that happens: First, the Supernatural; Second, the +Supernatural and Natural; Third, the Natural. Between these theories +there has been, from the dawn of civilization, a continual conflict. In +this great war, nearly all the soldiers have been in the ranks of the +supernatural. The believers in the supernatural insist that matter +is controlled and directed entirely by powers from without; while +naturalists maintain that Nature acts from within; that Nature is not +acted upon; that the universe is all there is; that Nature with infinite +arms embraces everything that exists, and that all supposed powers +beyond the limits of the material are simply ghosts. You say, "Oh, this +is materialism!" What is matter? I take in my hand some earth:--in this +dust put seeds. Let the arrows of light from the quiver of the sun smite +upon it; let the rain fall upon it. The seeds will grow and a plant will +bud and blossom. Do you understand this? Can you explain it better than +you can the production of thought? Have you the slightest conception of +what it really is? And yet you speak of matter as though acquainted with +its origin, as though you had torn from the clenched hands of the rocks +the secrets of material existence. Do you know what force is? Can you +account for molecular action? Are you really familiar with chemistry, +and can you account for the loves and hatreds of the atoms? Is there not +something in matter that forever eludes? After all, can you get beyond, +above or below appearances? Before you cry "materialism!" had you not +better ascertain what matter really is? Can you think even of anything +without a material basis? Is it possible to imagine the annihilation of +a single atom? Is it possible for you to conceive of the creation of an +atom? Can you have a thought that was not suggested to you by what you +call matter? + +Our fathers denounced materialism, and accounted for all phenomena by +the caprice of gods and devils. + +For thousands of years it was believed that ghosts, good and bad, +benevolent and malignant, weak and powerful, in some mysterious way, +produced all phenomena; that disease and health, happiness and misery, +fortune and misfortune, peace and war, life and death, success and +failure, were but arrows from the quivers of these ghosts; that shadowy +phantoms rewarded and punished mankind; that they were pleased and +displeased by the actions of men; that they sent and withheld the snow, +the light, and the rain; that they blessed the earth with harvests or +cursed it with famine; that they fed or starved the children of men; +that they crowned and uncrowned kings; that they took sides in war; that +they controlled the winds; that they gave prosperous voyages, allowing +the brave mariner to meet his wife and child inside the harbor bar, or +sent the storms, strewing the sad shores with wrecks of ships and the +bodies of men. + +Formerly, these ghosts were believed to be almost innumerable. Earth, +air, and water were filled with these phantom hosts. In modern times +they have greatly decreased in number, because the second theory,--a +mingling of the supernatural and natural,--has generally been adopted. +The remaining ghosts, however, are supposed to perform the same offices +as the hosts of yore. + +It has always been believed that these ghosts could in some way be +appeased; that they could be flattered by sacrifices, by prayer, by +fasting, by the building of temples and cathedrals, by the blood of +men and beasts, by forms and ceremonies, by chants, by kneelings and +prostrations, by flagellations and maimings, by renouncing the joys of +home, by living alone in the wide desert, by the practice of celibacy, +by inventing instruments of torture, by destroying men, women and +children, by covering the earth with dungeons, by burning unbelievers, +by putting chains upon the thoughts and manacles upon the limbs of +men, by believing things without evidence and against evidence, by +disbelieving and denying demonstration, by despising facts, by hating +reason, by denouncing liberty, by maligning heretics, by slandering +the dead, by subscribing to senseless and cruel creeds, by discouraging +investigation, by worshiping a book, by the cultivation of credulity, +by observing certain times and days, by counting beads, by gazing at +crosses, by hiring others to repeat verses and prayers, by burning +candles and ringing bells, by enslaving each other and putting out the +eyes of the soul. All this has been done to appease and flatter these +monsters of the air. + +In the history of our poor world, no horror has been omitted, no infamy +has been left undone by the believers in ghosts,--by the worshipers of +these fleshless phantoms. And yet these shadows were born of cowardice +and malignity. They were painted by the pencil of fear upon the canvas +of ignorance by that artist called superstition. + +From these ghosts, our fathers received information. They were +the schoolmasters of our ancestors. They were the scientists and +philosophers, the geologists, legislators, astronomers, physicians, +metaphysicians and historians of the past. For ages these ghosts were +supposed to be the only source of real knowledge. They inspired men to +write books, and the books were considered sacred. If facts were found +to be inconsistent with these books, so much the worse for the facts, +and especially for their discoverers. It was then, and still is, +believed that these books are the basis of the idea of immortality; that +to give up these volumes, or rather the idea that they are inspired, is +to renounce the idea of immortality. This I deny. + +The idea of immortality, that like a sea has ebbed and flowed in the +human heart, with its countless waves of hope and fear, beating against +the shores and rocks of time and fate, was not born of any book, nor of +any creed, nor of any religion. It was born of human affection, and it +will continue to ebb and flow beneath the mists and clouds of doubt +and darkness as long as love kisses the lips of death. It is the +rainbow--Hope shining upon the tears of grief. + +From the books written by the ghosts we have at last ascertained that +they knew nothing about the world in which we live. Did they know +anything about the next? Upon every point where contradiction is +possible, they have been contradicted. + +By these ghosts, by these citizens of the air, the affairs of government +were administered; all authority to govern came from them. The emperors, +kings and potentates all had commissions from these phantoms. Man was +not considered as the source of any power whatever. To rebel against the +king was to rebel against the ghosts, and nothing less than the blood of +the offender could appease the invisible phantom or the visible tyrant. +Kneeling was the proper position to be assumed by the multitude. +The prostrate were the good. Those who stood erect were infidels and +traitors. In the name and by the authority of the ghosts, man was +enslaved, crushed, and plundered. The many toiled wearily in the storm +and sun that the few favorites of the ghosts might live in idleness. +The many lived in huts, and caves, and dens, that the few might dwell in +palaces. The many covered themselves with rags, that the few might +robe themselves in purple and in gold. The many crept, and cringed, and +crawled, that the few might tread upon their flesh with iron feet. + +From the ghosts men received, not only authority, but information of +every kind. They told us the form of this earth. They informed us that +eclipses were caused by the sins of man; that the universe was made +in six days; that astronomy, and geology were devices of wicked men, +instigated by wicked ghosts; that gazing at the sky with a telescope +was a dangerous thing; that digging into the earth was sinful curiosity; +that trying to be wise above what they had written was born of a +rebellious and irreverent spirit. + +They told us there was no virtue like belief, and no crime like doubt; +that investigation was pure impudence, and the punishment therefor, +eternal torment. They not only told us all about this world, but about +two others; and if their statements about the other worlds are as true +as about this, no one can estimate the value of their information. + +For countless ages the world was governed by ghosts, and they spared no +pains to change the eagle of the human intellect into a bat of darkness. +To accomplish this infamous purpose; to drive the love of truth from the +human heart; to prevent the advancement of mankind; to shut out from +the world every ray of intellectual light; to pollute every mind with +superstition, the power of kings, the cunning and cruelty of priests, +and the wealth of nations were exhausted. + +During these years of persecution, ignorance, superstition and slavery, +nearly all the people, the kings, lawyers, doctors, the learned and the +unlearned, believed in that frightful production of ignorance, fear, and +faith, called witchcraft. They believed that man was the sport and prey +of devils. They really thought that the very air was thick with these +enemies of man. With few exceptions, this hideous and infamous belief +was universal. Under these conditions, progress was almost impossible. + +Fear paralyzes the brain. Progress is born of courage. Fear +believes--courage doubts. Fear falls upon the earth and prays--courage +stands erect and thinks. Fear retreats--courage advances. Fear is +barbarism--courage is civilization. Fear believes in witchcraft, in +devils and in ghosts. Fear is religion--courage is science. + +The facts, upon which this terrible belief rested, were proved over +and over again in every court of Europe. Thousands confessed themselves +guilty--admitted that they had sold themselves to the devil. They gave +the particulars of the sale; told what they said and what the devil +replied. They confessed this, when they knew that confession was death; +knew that their property would be confiscated, and their children left +to beg their bread. This is one of the miracles of history--one of the +strangest contradictions of the human mind. Without doubt, they really +believed themselves guilty. In the first place, they believed in +witchcraft as a fact, and when charged with it, they probably became +insane. In their insanity they confessed their guilt. They found +themselves abhorred and deserted--charged with a crime that they could +not disprove. Like a man in quicksand, every effort only sunk them +deeper. Caught in this frightful web, at the mercy of the spiders +of superstition, hope fled, and nothing remained but the insanity of +confession. The whole world appeared to be insane. + +In the time of James the First, a man was executed for causing a storm +at sea with the intention of drowning one of the royal family. How could +he disprove it? How could he show that he did not cause the storm? +All storms were at that time generally supposed to be caused by +the devil--the prince of the power of the air--and by those whom he +assisted. + +I implore you to remember that the believers in such impossible things +were the authors of our creeds and confessions of faith. + +A woman was tried and convicted before Sir Matthew Hale, one of the +great judges and lawyers of England, for having caused children to +vomit crooked pins. She was also charged with having nursed devils. The +learned judge charged the intelligent jury that there was no doubt as +to the existence of witches; that it was established by all history, and +expressly taught by the Bible. + +The woman was hanged and her body burned. + +Sir Thomas More declared that to give up witchcraft was to throw away +the sacred Scriptures. In my judgment, he was right. + +John Wesley was a firm believer in ghosts and witches, and insisted upon +it, years after all laws upon the subject had been repealed in England. +I beg of you to remember that John Wesley was the founder of the +Methodist Church. + +In New England, a woman was charged with being a witch, and with having +changed herself into a fox. While in that condition she was attacked and +bitten by some dogs. A committee of three men, by order of the court, +examined this woman. They removed her clothing and searched for "witch +spots." That is to say, spots into which needles could be thrust without +giving her pain. They reported to the court that such spots were found. +She denied, however, that she ever had changed herself into a fox. Upon +the report of the committee she was found guilty and actually executed. +This was done by our Puritan fathers, by the gentlemen who braved the +dangers of the deep for the sake of worshiping God and persecuting their +fellow-men. + +In those days people believed in what was known as lycanthropy--that is, +that persons, with the assistance of the devil, could assume the form +of wolves. An instance is given where a man was attacked by a wolf. He +defended himself, and succeeded in cutting off one of the animal's paws. +The wolf ran away. The man picked up the paw, put it in his pocket and +carried it home. There he found his wife with one of her hands gone. He +took the paw from his pocket. It had changed to a human hand. He charged +his wife with being a witch. She was tried. She confessed her guilt, and +was burned. + +People were burned for causing frosts in summer--for destroying crops +with hail--for causing storms--for making cows go dry, and even for +souring beer. There was no impossibility for which some one was not +tried and convicted. The life of no one was secure. To be charged, +was to be convicted. Every man was at the mercy of every other. This +infamous belief was so firmly seated in the minds of the people, that to +express a doubt as to its truth was to be suspected. Whoever denied the +existence of witches and devils was denounced as an infidel. + +They believed that animals were often taken possession of by devils, and +that the killing of the animal would destroy the devil. They absolutely +tried, convicted, and executed dumb beasts. + +At Basle, in 1470, a rooster was tried upon the charge of having laid +an egg. Rooster eggs were used only in making witch ointment,--this +everybody knew. The rooster was convicted and with all due solemnity was +burned in the public square. So a hog and six pigs were tried for having +killed and partially eaten a child. The hog was convicted,--but the +pigs, on account probably of their extreme youth, were acquitted. As +late as 1740, a cow was tried and convicted of being possessed by a +devil. + +They used to exorcise rats, locusts, snakes and vermin. They used to go +through the alleys, streets, and fields, and warn them to leave within +a certain number of days. In case they disobeyed, they were threatened +with pains and penalties. + +But let us be careful how we laugh at these things. Let us not pride +ourselves too much on the progress of our age. We must not forget that +some of our people are yet in the same intelligent business. Only a +little while ago, the governor of Minnesota appointed a day of fasting +and prayer, to see if some power could not be induced to kill the +grasshoppers, or send them into some other state. + +About the close of the fifteenth century, so great was the excitement +with regard to the existence of witchcraft that Pope Innocent VIII. +issued a bull directing the inquisitors to be vigilant in searching +out and punishing all guilty of this crime. Forms for the trial +were regularly laid down in a book or a pamphlet called the "Malleus +Maleficorum" (Hammer of Witches), which was issued by the Roman See. +Popes Alexander, Leo, and Adrian, issued like bulls. For two hundred +and fifty years the church was busy in punishing the impossible crime of +witchcraft; in burning, hanging and torturing men, women, and children. +Protestants were as active as Catholics, and in Geneva five hundred +witches were burned at the stake in a period of three months. About one +thousand were executed in one year in the diocese of Como. At least one +hundred thousand victims suffered in Germany alone: the last execution +(in Wurtzburg) taking place as late as 1749. Witches were burned in +Switzerland as late as 1780. + +In England the same frightful scenes were enacted. Statutes were passed +from Henry VI. to James I., defining the crime and its punishment. The +last act passed by the British parliament was when Lord Bacon was a +member of the House of Commons; and this act was not repealed until +1736. + +Sir William Blackstone, in his Commentaries on the Laws of England, +says: "To deny the possibility, nay, actual existence of witchcraft +and sorcery, is at once flatly to contradict the word of God in various +passages both of the Old and New Testament; and the thing itself is +a truth to which every nation in the world hath in its turn borne +testimony, either by examples seemingly well attested, or by prohibitory +laws, which at least suppose the possibility of a commerce with evil +spirits." + +In Brown's Dictionary of the Bible, published at Edinburg, Scotland, in +1807, it is said that: "A witch is a woman that has dealings with Satan. +That such persons are among men is abundantly plain from Scripture, and +that they ought to be put to death." + +This work was re-published in Albany, New York, in 1816. No wonder the +clergy of that city are ignorant and bigoted even unto this day. + +In 1716, Mrs. Hicks and her daughter, nine years of age, were hanged +for selling their souls to the devil, and raising a storm by pulling off +their stockings and making a lather of soap. + +In England it has been estimated that at least thirty thousand were +hanged and burned. The last victim executed in Scotland, perished in +1722. "She was an innocent old woman, who had so little idea of her +situation as to rejoice at the sight of the fire which was destined +to consume her. She had a daughter, lame both of hands and of feet--a +circumstance attributed to the witch having been used to transform her +daughter into a pony and getting her shod by the devil." + +In 1692, nineteen persons were executed and one pressed to death in +Salem, Massachusetts, for the crime of witchcraft. + +It was thought in those days that men and women made compacts with the +devil, orally and in writing. That they abjured God and Jesus Christ, +and dedicated themselves wholly to the devil. The contracts were +confirmed at a general meeting of witches and ghosts, over which the +devil himself presided; and the persons generally signed the articles of +agreement with their own blood. These contracts were, in some instances, +for a few years; in others, for life. General assemblies of the witches +were held at least once a year, at which they appeared entirely naked, +besmeared with an ointment made from the bodies of unbaptized infants. +"To these meetings they rode from great distances on broomsticks, +pokers, goats, hogs, and dogs. Here they did homage to the prince of +hell, and offered him sacrifices of young children, and practiced all +sorts of license until the break of day." + +"As late as 1815, Belgium was disgraced by a witch trial; and guilt was +established by the water ordeal." "In 1836, the populace of Hela, near +Dantzic, twice plunged into the sea a woman reputed to be a sorceress; +and as the miserable creature persisted in rising to the surface, she +was pronounced guilty, and beaten to death." + +"It was believed that the bodies of devils are not like those of men and +animals, cast in an unchangeable mould. It was thought they were like +clouds, refined and subtle matter, capable of assuming any form and +penetrating into any orifice. The horrible tortures they endured +in their place of punishment rendered them extremely sensitive to +suffering, and they continually sought a temperate and somewhat moist +warmth in order to allay their pangs. It was for this reason they so +frequently entered into men and women." + +The devil could transport men, at his will, through the air. He could +beget children; and Martin Luther himself had come in contact with one +of these children. He recommended the mother to throw the child into the +river, in order to free their house from the presence of a devil. + +It was believed that the devil could transform people into any shape he +pleased. + +Whoever denied these things was denounced as an infidel. All the +believers in witchcraft confidently appealed to the Bible. Their mouths +were filled with passages demonstrating the existence of witches and +their power Over human beings. By the Bible they proved that innumerable +evil spirits were ranging over the world endeavoring to ruin mankind; +that these spirits possessed a power and wisdom far transcending the +limits of human faculties; that they delighted in every misfortune that +could befall the world; that their malice was superhuman. That they +caused tempests was proved by the action of the devil toward Job; by the +passage in the book of Revelation describing the four angels who held +the four winds, and to whom it was given to afflict the earth. They +believed the devil could carry persons hundreds of miles, in a few +seconds, through the air. They believed this, because they knew that +Christ had been carried by the devil in the same manner and placed on a +pinnacle of the temple. "The prophet Habakkuk had been transported by a +spirit from Judea to Babylon; and Philip, the evangelist, had been the +object of a similar miracle; and in the same way Saint Paul had been +carried in the body into the third heaven." + +"In those pious days, they believed that _Incubi_ and _Succubi_ were +forever wandering among mankind, alluring, by more than human charms, +the unwary to their destruction, and laying plots, which were too often +successful, against the virtue of the saints. Sometimes the witches +kindled in the monastic priest a more terrestrial fire. People told, +with bated breath, how, under the spell of a vindictive woman, four +successive abbots in a German monastery had been wasted away by an +unholy flame." + +An instance is given in which the devil not only assumed the appearance +of a holy man, in order to pay his addresses to a lady, but when +discovered, crept under the bed, suffered himself to be dragged out, +and was impudent enough to declare that he was the veritable bishop. So +perfectly had he assumed the form and features of the prelate that those +who knew the bishop best were deceived. + +One can hardly imagine the frightful state of the human mind during +these long centuries of darkness and superstition. To them, these things +were awful and frightful realities. Hovering above them in the air, in +their houses, in the bosoms of friends, in their very bodies, in all the +darkness of night, everywhere, around, above and below, were innumerable +hosts of unclean and malignant devils. + +From the malice of those leering and vindictive vampires of the air, +the church pretended to defend mankind. Pursued by these phantoms, the +frightened multitudes fell upon their faces and implored the aid of +robed hypocrisy and sceptered theft. + +Take from the orthodox church of to-day the threat and fear of hell, and +it becomes an extinct volcano. + +Take from the church the miraculous, the supernatural, the +incomprehensible, the unreasonable, the impossible, the unknowable, and +the absurd, and nothing but a vacuum remains. + +Notwithstanding all the infamous things justly laid to the charge of the +church, we are told that the civilization of to-day is the child of what +we are pleased to call the superstition of the past. + +Religion has not civilized man--man has civilized religion. God improves +as man advances. + +Let me call your attention to what we have received from the followers +of the ghosts. Let me give you an outline of the sciences as taught by +these philosophers of the clouds. + +All diseases were produced, either as a punishment by the good ghosts, +or out of pure malignity by the bad ones. There were, properly speaking, +no diseases. The sick were possessed by ghosts. The science of medicine +consisted in knowing how to persuade these ghosts to vacate the +premises. For thousands of years the diseased were treated with +incantations, with hideous noises, with drums and gongs. Everything was +done to make the visit of the ghost as unpleasant as possible, and they +generally succeeded in making things so disagreeable that if the ghost +did not leave, the patient did. These ghosts were supposed to be of +different rank, power and dignity. Now and then a man pretended to have +won the favor of some powerful ghost, and that gave him power over the +little ones. Such a man became an eminent physician. + +It was found that certain kinds of smoke, such as that produced by +burning the liver of a fish, the dried skin of a serpent, the eyes of +a toad, or the tongue of an adder, were exceedingly offensive to the +nostrils of an ordinary ghost. With this smoke, the sick room would be +filled until the ghost vanished or the patient died. + +It was also believed that certain words,--the names of the most powerful +ghosts,--when properly pronounced, were very effective weapons. It was +for a long time thought that Latin words were the best,--Latin being a +dead language, and known by the clergy. Others thought that two sticks +laid across each other and held before the wicked ghost would cause it +instantly to flee in dread away. + +For thousands of years, the practice of medicine consisted in driving +these evil spirits out of the bodies of men. + +In some instances, bargains and compromises were made with the ghosts. +One case is given where a multitude of devils traded a man for a herd +of swine. In this transaction the devils were the losers, as the swine +immediately drowned themselves in the sea. This idea of disease appears +to have been almost universal, and is by no means yet extinct. + +The contortions of the epileptic, the strange twitchings of those +afflicted with chorea, the shakings of palsy, dreams, trances, and the +numberless frightful phenomena produced by diseases of the nerves, were +all seized upon as so many proofs that the bodies of men were filled +with unclean and malignant ghosts. + +Whoever endeavored to account for these things by natural causes, +whoever attempted to cure diseases by natural means, was denounced by +the church as an infidel. To explain anything was a crime. It was to the +interest of the priest that all phenomena should be accounted for by the +will and power of gods and devils. The moment it is admitted that all +phenomena are within the domain of the natural, the necessity for a +priest has disappeared. Religion breathes the air of the supernatural. +Take from the mind of man the idea of the supernatural, and religion +ceases to exist. For this, reason, the church has always despised the +man who explained the wonderful. Upon this principle, nothing was +left undone to stay the science of medicine. As long as plagues and +pestilences could be stopped by prayer, the priest was useful. The +moment the physician found a cure, the priest became an extravagance. +The moment it began to be apparent that prayer could do nothing for the +body, the priest shifted his ground and began praying for the soul. + +Long after the devil idea was substantially abandoned in the practice +of medicine, and when it was admitted that God had nothing to do with +ordinary coughs and colds, it was still believed that all the frightful +diseases were sent by him as punishments for the wickedness of the +people. It was thought to be a kind of blasphemy to even try, by any +natural means, to stay the ravages of pestilence. Formerly, during the +prevalence of plague and epidemics, the arrogance of the priest was +boundless. He told the people that they had slighted the clergy, that +they had refused to pay tithes, that they had doubted some of the +doctrines of the church, and that God was now taking his revenge. The +people for the most part, believed this infamous tissue of priestcraft. +They hastened to fall upon their knees; they poured out their wealth +upon the altars of hypocrisy; they abased and debased themselves; from +their minds they banished all doubts, and made haste to crawl in the +very dust of humility. + +The church never wanted disease to be under the control of man. +Timothy Dwight, president of Yale College, preached a sermon against +vaccination. His idea was, that if God had decreed from all eternity +that a certain man should die with the small-pox, it was a frightful sin +to avoid and annul that decree by the trick of vaccination. Small-pox +being regarded as one of the heaviest guns in the arsenal of heaven, +to spike it was the height of presumption. Plagues and pestilences were +instrumentalities in the hands of God with which to gain the love and +worship of mankind. To find a cure for disease was to take a weapon from +the church. No one tries to cure the ague with prayer. Quinine has been +found altogether more reliable. Just as soon as a specific is found +for a disease, that disease will be left out of the list of prayer. The +number of diseases with which God from time to time afflicts mankind, +is continually decreasing. In a few years all of them will be under the +control of man, the gods will be left unarmed, and the threats of their +priests will excite only a smile. + +The science of medicine has had but one enemy--religion. Man was afraid +to save his body for fear he might lose his soul. + +Is it any wonder that the people in those days believed in and taught +the infamous doctrine of eternal punishment--a doctrine that makes God a +heartless monster and man a slimy hypocrite and slave? + +The ghosts were historians, and their histories were the grossest +absurdities. "Tales told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying +nothing." In those days the histories were written by the monks, who, as +a rule, were almost as superstitious as they were dishonest. They wrote +as though they had been witnesses of every occurrence they related. They +wrote the history of every country of importance. They told all the +past and predicted all the future with an impudence that amounted to +sublimity. "They traced the order of St. Michael, in France, to the +archangel himself, and alleged that he was the founder of a chivalric +order in heaven itself. They said that Tartars originally came from +hell, and that they were called Tartars because Tartarus was one of +the names of perdition. They declared that Scotland was so named after +Scota, a daughter of Pharaoh, who landed in Ireland, invaded Scotland, +and took it by force of arms. This statement was made in a letter +addressed to the Pope in the fourteenth century, and was alluded to as +a well-known fact. The letter was written by some of the highest +dignitaries, and by the direction of the King himself." + +These gentlemen accounted for the red on the breasts of robins, from the +fact that these birds carried water to unbaptized infants in hell. + +Matthew, of Paris, an eminent historian of the fourteenth century, gave +the world the following piece of information: "It is well known that +Mohammed was once a cardinal, and became a heretic because he failed in +his effort to be elected pope;" and that having drank to excess, he fell +by the roadside, and in this condition was killed by swine. "And for +that reason, his followers abhor pork even unto this day." + +Another eminent historian informs us that Nero was in the habit of +vomiting frogs. When I read this, I said to myself: Some of the croakers +of the present day against Progress would be the better for such a +vomit. + +The history of Charlemagne was written by Turpin, of Rheims. He was a +bishop. He assures us that the walls of a city fell down in answer +to prayer. That there were giants in those days who could take fifty +ordinary men under their arms and walk away with them. "With the +greatest of these, a direct descendant of Goliath, one Orlando had a +theological discussion, and that in the heat of the debate, when the +giant was overwhelmed with the argument, Orlando rushed forward and +inflicted a fatal stab." + +The history of Britain, written by the archdeacons of Monmouth and +Oxford, was wonderfully popular. According to them, Brutus conquered +England and built the city of London. During his time, it rained pure +blood for three days. At another time, a monster came from the sea, and, +after having devoured great multitudes of people, swallowed the king +and disappeared. They tell us that King Arthur was not born like other +mortals, but was the result of a magical contrivance; that he had +great luck in killing giants; that he killed one in France that had +the cheerful habit of eating some thirty men a day. That this giant had +clothes woven of the beards of the kings he had devoured. To cap the +climax, one of the authors of this book was promoted for having written +the only reliable history of his country. + +In all the histories of those days there is hardly a single truth. Facts +were considered unworthy of preservation. Anything that really happened +was not of sufficient interest or importance to be recorded. The great +religious historian, Eusebius, ingenuously remarks that in his history +he carefully omitted whatever tended to discredit the church, and that +he piously magnified all that conduced to her glory. + +The same glorious principle was scrupulously adhered to by all the +historians of that time. + +They wrote, and the people believed, that the tracks of Pharoah's +chariots were still visible on the sands of the Red Sea, and that they +had been miraculously preserved from the winds and waves as perpetual +witnesses of the great miracle there performed. + +It is safe to say that every truth in the histories of those times is +the result of accident or mistake. + +They accounted for everything as the work of good and evil spirits. With +cause and effect they had nothing to do. Facts were in no way related +to each other. God, governed by infinite caprice, filled the world with +miracles and disconnected events. From the quiver of his hatred came the +arrows of famine, pestilence, and death. + +The moment that the idea is abandoned that all is natural; that all +phenomena are the necessary links in the endless chain of being, the +conception of history becomes impossible. With the ghosts, the present +is not the child of the past, nor the mother of the future. In the +domain of religion all is chance, accident, and caprice. + +Do not forget, I pray you, that our creeds were written by the +cotemporaries of these historians. + +The same idea was applied to law. It was believed by our intelligent +ancestors that all law derived its sacredness and its binding force from +the fact that it had been communicated to man by the ghosts. Of course +it was not pretended that the ghosts told everybody the law; but they +told it to a few, and the few told it to the people, and the people, as +a rule, paid them exceedingly well for their trouble. It was thousands +of ages before the people commenced making laws for themselves, and +strange as it may appear, most of these laws were vastly superior to the +ghost article. Through the web and woof of human legislation began to +run and shine and glitter the golden thread of justice. + +During these years of darkness it was believed that rather than see an +act of injustice done; rather than see the innocent suffer; rather than +see the guilty triumph, some ghost would interfere. This belief, as a +rule, gave great satisfaction to the victorious party, and as the other +man was dead, no complaint was heard from him. + +This doctrine was the sanctification of brute force and chance. They had +trials by battle, by fire, by water, and by lot. Persons were made +to grasp hot iron, and if it burned them their guilt was established. +Others, with tied hands and feet, were cast into the sea, and if they +sank, the verdict of guilty was unanimous,--if they did not sink, they +were in league with devils. + +So in England, persons charged with crime could appeal to the corsned. +The corsned was a piece of the sacramental bread. If the defendant could +swallow this piece he went acquit. Godwin, Earl of Kent, in the time of +Edward the Confessor, appealed to the corsned. He failed to swallow it +and was choked to death. + +The ghosts and their followers always took delight in torture, in cruel +and unusual punishments. For the infraction of most of their laws, death +was the penalty--death produced by stoning and by fire. Sometimes, +when man committed only murder, he was allowed to flee to some city of +refuge. Murder was a crime against man. But for saying certain words, or +denying certain doctrines, or for picking up sticks on certain days, or +for worshiping the wrong ghost, or for failing to pray to the right one, +or for laughing at a priest, or for saying that wine was not blood, +or that bread was not flesh, or for failing to regard ram's horns as +artillery, or for insisting that a dry bone was scarcely sufficient to +take the place of water works, or that a raven, as a rule, made a poor +landlord:--death, produced by all the ways that the ingenuity of hatred +could devise, was the penalty. + +Law is a growth--it is a science. Right and wrong exist in the nature +of things. Things are not right because they are commanded, nor wrong +because they are prohibited. There are real crimes enough without +creating artificial ones. All progress in legislation has for centuries +consisted in repealing the laws of the ghosts. + +The idea of right and wrong is born of man's capacity to enjoy and +suffer. If man could not suffer, if he could not inflict injury upon his +fellow, if he could neither feel nor inflict pain, the idea of right +and wrong never would have entered his brain. But for this, the word +conscience never would have passed the lips of man. + +There is one good--happiness. There is but one sin--selfishness. All +law should be for the preservation of the one and the destruction of the +other. + +Under the regime of the ghosts, laws were not supposed to exist in the +nature of things. They were supposed to be simply the irresponsible +command of a ghost. These commands were not supposed to rest upon +reason, they were the product of arbitrary will. + +The penalties for the violation of these laws were as cruel as the laws +were senseless and absurd. Working on the Sabbath and murder were both +punished with death. The tendency of such laws is to blot from the human +heart the sense of justice. + +To show you how perfectly every department of knowledge, or ignorance +rather, was saturated with superstition, I will for a moment refer to +the science of language. + +It was thought by our fathers, that Hebrew was the original language; +that it was taught to Adam in the Garden of Eden by the Almighty, and +that consequently all languages came from, and could be traced to, the +Hebrew. Every fact inconsistent with that idea was discarded. According +to the ghosts, the trouble at the tower of Babel accounted for the fact +that all people did not speak Hebrew. The Babel business settled all +questions in the science of language. + +After a time, so many facts were found to be inconsistent with the +Hebrew idea that it began to fall into disrepute, and other languages +began to compete for the honor of being the original. + +Andre Kempe, in 1569, published a work on the language of Paradise, +in which he maintained that God spoke to Adam in Swedish; that Adam +answered in Danish; and that the serpent--which appears to me quite +probable--spoke to Eve in French. Erro, in a work published at Madrid, +took the ground that Basque was the language spoken in the Garden of +Eden; but in 1580 Goropius published his celebrated work at Antwerp, in +which he put the whole matter at rest by showing, beyond all doubt, that +the language spoken in Paradise was neither more nor less than plain +Holland Dutch. + +The real founder of the science of language was Liebnitz, a cotemporary +of Sir Isaac Newton. He discarded the idea that all languages could +be traced to one language. He maintained that language was a natural +growth. Experience teaches us that this must be so. Words are +continually dying and continually being born. Words are naturally and +necessarily produced. Words are the garments of thought, the robes of +ideas. Some are as rude as the skins of wild beasts, and others glisten +and glitter like silk and gold. They have been born of hatred and +revenge; of love and self-sacrifice; of hope and fear, of agony and joy. +These words are born of the terror and beauty of nature. The stars +have fashioned them. In them mingle the darkness and the dawn. From +everything they have taken something. Words are the crystalizations of +human history, of all that man has enjoyed and suffered--his victories +and defeats--all that he has lost and won. Words are the shadows of all +that has been--the mirrors of all that is. + +The ghosts also enlightened our fathers in astronomy and geology. +According to them the earth was made out of nothing, and a little more +nothing having been taken than was used in the construction of this +world, the stars were made out of what was left over. Cosmas, in the +sixth century, taught that the stars were impelled by angels, who either +carried them on their shoulders, rolled them in front of them, or drew +them after. He also taught that each angel that pushed a star took great +pains to observe what the other angels were doing, so that the relative +distances between the stars might always remain the same. He also gave +his idea as to the form of the world. + +He stated that the world was a vast parallelogram; that on the outside +was a strip of land, like the frame of a common slate; that then there +was a strip of water, and in the middle a great piece of land; that +Adam and Eve lived on the outer strip; that their descendants, with +the exception of the Noah family, were drowned by a flood on this outer +strip; that the ark finally rested on the middle piece of land where we +now are. He accounted for night and day by saying that on the outside +strip of land there was a high mountain, around which the sun and moon +revolved, and that when the sun was on the other side of the mountain, +it was night; and when on this side, it was day. + +He also declared that the earth was flat. This he proved by many +passages from the Bible. Among other reasons for believing the earth +to be flat, he brought forward the following: We are told in the New +Testament that Christ shall come again in glory and power, and all the +world shall see him. Now, if the world is round, how are the people +on the other side going to see Christ when he comes? That settled the +question, and the church not only endorsed the book, but declared that +whoever believed less or more than stated by Cosmas, was a heretic. + +In those blessed days, Ignorance was a king and Science an outcast. + +They knew the moment this earth ceased to be the centre of the universe, +and became a mere speck in the starry heaven of existence, that their +religion would become a childish fable of the past. + +In the name and by the authority of the ghosts, men enslaved their +fellow-men; they trampled upon the rights of women and children. In the +name and by the authority of ghosts, they bought and sold and destroyed +each other; they filled heaven with tyrants and earth with slaves, the +present with despair and the future with horror. In the name and by the +authority of the ghosts, they imprisoned the human mind, polluted the +conscience, hardened the heart, subverted justice, crowned robbery, +sainted hypocrisy, and extinguished for a thousand years the torch of +reason. + +I have endeavored, in some faint degree, to show you what has happened, +and what always will happen when men are governed by superstition and +fear; when they desert the sublime standard of reason; when they take +the words of others and do not investigate for themselves. + +Even the great men of those days were nearly as weak in this matter +as the most ignorant. Kepler, one of the greatest men of the world, +an astronomer second to none, although he plucked from the stars the +secrets of the universe, was an astrologer, and really believed that +he could predict the career of a man by finding what star was in the +ascendant at his birth. This great man breathed, so to speak, the +atmosphere of his time. He believed in the music of the spheres, and +assigned alto, bass, tenor, and treble to certain stars. + +Tycho Brahe, another astronomer, kept an idiot, whose disconnected and +meaningless words he carefully set down, and then put them together in +such manner as to make prophecies, and then waited patiently to see them +fulfilled. Luther believed that he had actually seen the devil, and had +discussed points of theology with him. The human mind was in chains. +Every idea almost was a monster. Thought was deformed. Facts were looked +upon as worthless. Only the wonderful was worth preserving. Things that +actually happened were not considered worth recording;--real occurrences +were too common. Everybody expected the miraculous. + +The ghosts were supposed to be busy; devils were thought to be the +most industrious things in the universe, and with these imps, every +occurrence of an unusual character was in some way connected. There was +no order, no serenity, no certainty in anything. Everything depended +upon ghosts and phantoms. Man was, for the most part, at the mercy of +malevolent spirits. He protected himself as best he could with holy +water and tapers and wafers and cathedrals. He made noises and rung +bells to frighten the ghosts, and he made music to charm them. He used +smoke to choke them, and incense to please them. He wore beads and +crosses. He said prayers, and hired others to say them. He fasted when +he was hungry, and feasted when he was not. He believed everything that +seemed unreasonable, just to appease the ghosts. He humbled himself. He +crawled in the dust. He shut the doors and windows, and excluded every +ray of light from the temple of the soul. He debauched and polluted +his own mind, and toiled night and day to repair the walls of his own +prison. From the garden of his heart he plucked and trampled upon the +holy flowers of pity. + +The priests reveled in horrible descriptions of hell. Concerning +the wrath of God, they grew eloquent. They denounced man as totally +depraved. They made reason blasphemy, and pity a crime. Nothing so +delighted them as painting the torments and sufferings of the lost. Over +the worm that never dies they grew poetic; and the second death filled +them with a kind of holy delight. According to them, the smoke and cries +ascending from hell were the perfume and music of heaven. + +At the risk of being tiresome, I have said what I have to show you the +productions of the human mind, when enslaved; the effects of wide-spread +ignorance--the results of fear. I want to convince you that every form +of slavery is a viper, that, sooner or later, will strike its poison +fangs into the bosoms of men. + +The first great step towards progress, is, for man to cease to be the +slave of man; the second, to cease to be the slave of the monsters of +his own creation--of the ghosts and phantoms of the air. + +For ages the human race was imprisoned. + +Through the bars and grates came a few struggling rays of light. Against +these grates and bars Science pressed its pale and thoughtful face, +wooed by the holy dawn of human advancement. + +Men found that the real was the useful; that what a man knows is better +than what a ghost says; that an event is more valuable than a prophecy. +They found that diseases were not produced by spirits, and could not be +cured by frightening them away. They found that death was as natural as +life. They began to study the anatomy and chemistry of the human body, +and found that all was natural and within the domain of law. + +The conjurer and sorcerer were discarded, and the physician and surgeon +employed. They found that the earth was not flat; that the stars were +not mere specks. They found that being born under a particular planet +had nothing to do with the fortunes of men. + +The astrologer was discharged and the astronomer took his place. + +They found that the earth had swept through the constellations for +millions of ages. They found that good and evil were produced by natural +causes, and not by ghosts; that man could not be good enough or bad +enough to stop or cause a rain; that diseases were produced as naturally +as grass, and were not sent as punishments upon man for failing to +believe a certain creed. They found that man, through intelligence, +could take advantage of the forces of nature--that he could make the +waves, the winds, the flames, and the lightnings of heaven do his +bidding and minister to his wants. They found that the ghosts +knew nothing of benefit to man; that they were utterly ignorant +of geology--of astronomy--of geography;--that they knew nothing of +history;--that they were poor doctors and worse surgeons;--that they +knew nothing of law and less of justice; that they were without brains, +and utterly destitute of hearts; that they knew nothing of the rights +of men; that they were despisers of women, the haters of progress, the +enemies of science, and the destroyers of liberty. + +The condition of the world during the Dark Ages shows exactly the result +of enslaving the bodies and souls of men. In those days there was no +freedom. Labor was despised, and a laborer was considered but little +above a beast. Ignorance, like a vast cowl, covered the brain of the +world, and superstition ran riot with the imagination of man. The air +was filled with angels, with demons and monsters. Credulity sat upon +the throne of the soul, and Reason was an exiled king. A man to be +distinguished must be a soldier or a monk. War and theology, that is +to say, murder and hypocrisy, were the principal employments of man. +Industry was a slave, theft was commerce; murder was war, hypocrisy was +religion. + +Every Christian country maintained that it was no robbery to take the +property of Mohammedans by force, and no murder to kill the owners. Lord +Bacon was the first man of note who maintained that a Christian country +was bound to keep its plighted faith with an infidel nation. Reading and +writing were considered dangerous arts. Every layman who could read and +write was suspected of being a heretic. All thought was discouraged. +They forged chains of superstition for the minds, and manacles of iron +for the bodies of men. The earth was ruled by the cowl and sword,--by +the mitre and scepter,--by the altar and throne,--by Fear and Force,--by +Ignorance and Faith,--by ghouls and ghosts. + +In the fifteenth century the following law was in force in England: + +"That whosoever reads the Scriptures in the mother tongue, shall forfeit +land, cattle, life, and goods from their heirs forever, and so be +condemned for heretics to God, enemies to the crown, and most arrant +traitors to the land." + +During the first year this law was in force thirty-nine were hanged for +its violation and their bodies burned. + +In the sixteenth century men were burned because they failed to kneel to +a procession of monks. + +The slightest word uttered against the superstition of the time was +punished with death. + +Even the reformers, so-called, of those days, had no idea of +intellectual liberty--no idea even of toleration. Luther, Knox, Calvin, +believed in religious liberty only when they were in the minority. The +moment they were clothed with power they began to exterminate with fire +and sword. + +Castalio was the first minister who advocated the liberty of the soul. +He was regarded by the reformers as a criminal, and treated as though he +had committed the crime of crimes. + +Bodinus, a lawyer of France, about the same time, wrote a few words +in favor of the freedom of conscience, but public opinion was +overwhelmingly against him. The people were ready, anxious, and willing, +with whip, and chain, and fire, to drive from the mind of man the heresy +that he had a right to think. + +Montaigne, a man blest with so much common sense that he was the most +uncommon man of his time, was the first to raise a voice against torture +in France. But what was the voice of one man against the terrible cry of +ignorant, infatuated, superstitious and malevolent millions? It was the +cry of a drowning man in the wild roar of the cruel sea. + +In spite of the efforts of the brave few the infamous war against the +freedom of the soul was waged until at least one hundred millions of +human beings--fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters--with hopes, loves, +and aspirations like ourselves, were sacrificed upon the cruel altar +of an ignorant faith. They perished in every way by which death can +be produced. Every nerve of pain was sought out and touched by the +believers in ghosts. + +For my part I glory in the fact, that here in the New World,--in the +United States,--liberty of conscience was first guaranteed to man, and +that the Constitution of the United States was the first great decree +entered in the high court of human equity forever divorcing church and +state,--the first injunction granted against the interference of the +ghosts. This was one of the grandest steps ever taken by the human race +in the direction of Progress. + +You will ask what has caused this wonderful change in three hundred +years. And I answer--the inventions and discoveries of the few;--the +brave thoughts, the heroic utterances of the few;--the acquisition of a +few facts. + +Besides, you must remember that every wrong in some way tends to abolish +itself. It is hard to make a lie stand always. A lie will not fit a +fact. It will only fit another lie made for the purpose. The life of +a lie is simply a question of time. Nothing but truth is immortal. The +nobles and kings quarreled;--the priests began to dispute;--the ideas of +government began to change. + +In 1441 printing was discovered. At that time the past was a vast +cemetery with hardly an epitaph. The ideas of men had mostly perished +in the brain that produced them. The lips of the human race had been +sealed. Printing gave pinions to thought. It preserved ideas. It made it +possible for man to bequeath to the future the riches of his brain, the +wealth of his soul. At first, it was used to flood the world with the +mistakes of the ancients, but since that time it has been flooding the +world with light. + +When people read they begin to reason, and when they reason they +progress. This was another grand step in the direction of Progress. + +The discovery of powder, that put the peasant almost upon a par with +the prince;--that put an end to the so-called age of chivalry;--that +released a vast number of men from the armies;--that gave pluck and +nerve a chance with brute strength. + +The discovery of America, whose shores were trod by the restless feet +of adventure;--that brought people holding every shade of superstition +together;--that gave the world an opportunity to compare notes, and to +laugh at the follies of each other. Out of this strange mingling of +all creeds, and superstitions, and facts, and theories, and countless +opinions, came the Great Republic. + +Every fact has pushed a superstition from the brain and a ghost from the +clouds. Every mechanic art is an educator. Every loom, every reaper and +mower, every steamboat, every locomotive, every engine, every press, +every telegraph, is a missionary of Science and an apostle of Progress. +Every mill, every furnace, every building with its wheels and levers, +in which something is made for the convenience, for the use, and for the +comfort and elevation of man, is a church, and every school-house is a +temple. + +Education is the most radical thing in the world. + +To teach the alphabet is to inaugurate a revolution. + +To build a schoolhouse is to construct a fort. + +Every library is an arsenal filled with the weapons and ammunition of +Progress, and every fact is a monitor with sides of iron and a turret of +steel. + +I thank the inventors, the discoverers, the thinkers. I thank Columbus +and Magellan. I thank Galileo, and Copernicus, and Kepler, and +Descartes, and Newton, and Laplace. I thank Locke, and Hume, and Bacon, +and Shakespeare, and Kant, and Fichte, and Leibnitz, and Goethe. I thank +Fulton, and Watts, and Volta, and Galvani, and Franklin, and Morse, who +made lightning the messenger of man. I thank Humboldt, the Shakespeare +of science. I thank Crompton and Arkwright, from whose brains leaped the +looms and spindles that clothe the world. I thank Luther for protesting +against the abuses of the church, and I denounce him because he was +the enemy of liberty. I thank Calvin for writing a book in favor of +religious freedom, and I abhor him because he burned Servetus. I thank +Knox for resisting Episcopal persecution, and I hate him because he +persecuted in his turn. I thank the Puritans for saying "Resistance to +tyrants is obedience to God," and yet I am compelled to say that they +were tyrants themselves. I thank Thomas Paine because he was a believer +in liberty, and because he did as much to make my country free as any +other human being. I thank Voltaire, that great man who, for half a +century, was the intellectual emperor of Europe, and who, from his +throne at the foot of the Alps, pointed the finger of scorn at every +hypocrite in Christendom. I thank Darwin, Haeckel and Buechner, Spencer, +Tyndall and Huxley, Draper, Lecky and Buckle. + +I thank the inventors, the discoverers, the thinkers, the scientists, +the explorers, I thank the honest millions who have toiled. + +I thank the brave men with brave thoughts. They are the Atlases upon +whose broad and mighty shoulders rests the grand fabric of civilization. +They are the men who have broken, and are still breaking, the chains of +Superstition. They are the Titans who carried Olympus by assault, and +who will soon stand victors upon Sinai's crags. + +We are beginning to learn that to exchange a mistake for the truth--a +superstition for a fact--to ascertain the real--is to progress. + +Happiness is the only possible good, and all that tends to the happiness +of man is right, and is of value. All that tends to develop the bodies +and minds of men; all that gives us better houses, better clothes, +better food, better pictures, grander music, better heads, better +hearts; all that renders us more intellectual and more loving, nearer +just; that makes us better husbands and wives, better children, better +citizens--all these things combined produce what I call Progress. + +Man advances only as he overcomes the obstructions of Nature, and this +can be done only by labor and by thought. Labor is the foundation of +all. Without labor, and without great labor, progress is impossible. The +progress of the world depends upon the men who walk in the fresh furrows +and through the rustling corn; upon those who sow and reap; upon those +whose faces are radiant with the glare of furnace fires; upon the +delvers in the mines, and the workers in shops; upon those who give to +the winter air the ringing music of the axe; upon those who battle with +the boisterous billows of the sea; upon the inventors and discoverers; +upon the brave thinkers. + +From the surplus produced by labor, schools and universities are built +and fostered. From this surplus the painter is paid for the productions +of the pencil; the sculptor for chiseling shapeless rock into forms +divinely beautiful, and the poet for singing the hopes, the loves, the +memories, and the aspirations of the world. This surplus has given us +the books in which we converse with the dead and living kings of the +human race. It has given us all there is of beauty, of elegance, and of +refined happiness. + +I am aware that there is a vast difference of opinion as to what +progress really is; that many denounce the ideas of to-day as +destructive of all happiness--of all good, I know that there are many +worshipers of the past. They venerate the ancient because it is ancient. +They see no beauty in anything from which they do not blow the dust of +ages with the breath of praise. They say, no masters like the old; no +religion, no governments like the ancient; no orators, no poets, no +statesmen like those who have been dust for two thousand years. Others +love the modern simply because it is modern. + +We should have gratitude enough to acknowledge the obligations we are +under to the great and heroic of antiquity, and independence enough not +to believe what they said simply because they said it. + +With the idea that labor is the basis of progress goes the truth that +labor must be free. The laborer must be a free man. + +The free man, working for wife and child, gets his head and hands in +partnership. + +To do the greatest amount of work in the shortest space of time, is the +problem of free labor. + +Slavery does the least work in the longest space of time. + +Free labor will give us wealth. Free thought will give us truth. + +Slowly but surely man is freeing his imagination of these sexless +phantoms, of these cruel ghosts. Slowly but surely he is rising above +the superstitions of the past. He is learning to rely upon himself. +He is beginning to find that labor is the only prayer that ought to be +answered, and that hoping, toiling, aspiring, suffering men and women +are of more importance than all the ghosts that ever wandered through +the fenceless fields of space. + +The believers in ghosts claim still, that they are the only wise and +virtuous people upon the earth; claim still, that there is a difference +between them and unbelievers so vast, that they will be infinitely +rewarded, and the others infinitely punished. + +I ask you to-night, do the theories and doctrines of the theologians +satisfy the heart or brain of the nineteenth century? + +Have the churches the confidence of mankind? + +Does the merchant give credit to a man because he belongs to a church? + +Does the banker loan money to a man because he is a Methodist or +Baptist? + +Will a certificate of good standing in any church be taken as collateral +security for one dollar? + +Will you take the word of a church member, or his note, or his oath, +simply because he is a church member? + +Are the clergy, as a class, better, kinder and more generous to their +families--to their fellow-men--than doctors, lawyers, merchants and +farmers? + +Does a belief in ghosts and unreasonable things necessarily make people +honest? + +When a man loses confidence in Moses, must the people lose confidence in +him? + +Does not the credit system in morals breed extravagance in sin? + +Why send missionaries to other lands while every penitentiary in ours is +filled with criminals? + +Is it philosophical to say that they who do right carry a cross? + +Is it a source of joy to think that perdition is the destination of +nearly all of the children of men? + +Is it worth while to quarrel about original sin--when there is so much +copy? + +Does it pay to dispute about baptism, and the Trinity, and +predestination, and apostolic succession and the infallibility of +churches, of popes and of books? Does all this do any good? + +Are the theologians welcomers of new truths? Are they noted for their +candor? Do they treat an opponent with common fairness? Are they +investigators? Do they pull forward, or do they hold back? + +Is science indebted to the church for a solitary fact? + +What church is an asylum for a persecuted truth? + +What great reform has been inaugurated by the church? + +Did the church abolish slavery? + +Has the church raised its voice against war? + +I used to think that there was in religion no real restraining force. +Upon this point my mind has changed. Religion will prevent man from +committing artificial crimes and offences. + +A man committed murder. The evidence was so conclusive that he confessed +his guilt. + +He was asked why he killed his fellow-man. + +He replied: "For money." + +"Did you get any?" + +"Yes." + +"How much?" + +"Fifteen cents." + +"What did you do with this money?" + +"Spent it." + +"What for?" + +"Liquor." + +"What else did you find upon the dead man?" "He had his dinner in a +bucket--some meat and bread." + +"What did you do with that?" + +"I ate the bread." + +"What did you do with the meat?" + +"I threw it away." + +"Why?" + +"It was Friday." + +Just to the extent that man has freed himself from the dominion of +ghosts he has advanced. Just to the extent that he has freed himself +from the tyrants of his own creation he has progressed. Just to the +extent that he has investigated for himself he has lost confidence in +superstition. + +With knowledge obedience becomes intelligent acquiescence--it is no +longer degrading. Acquiescence in the understood--in the known--is the +act of a sovereign, not of a slave. It ennobles, it does not degrade. + +Man has found that he must give liberty to others in order to have it +himself. He has found that a master is also a slave;--that a tyrant +is himself a serf. He has found that governments should be founded and +administered by man and for man; that the rights of all are equal; that +the powers that be are not ordained by God; that woman is at least the +equal of man; that men existed before books; that religion is one of the +phases of thought through which the world is passing; that all creeds +were made by man; that everything is natural; that a miracle is +an impossibility; that we know nothing of origin and destiny; that +concerning the unknown we are all equally ignorant; that the pew has +the right to contradict what the pulpit asserts; that man is responsible +only to himself and those he injures, and that all have a right to +think. + +True religion must be free. Without perfect liberty of the mind there +can be no true religion. Without liberty the brain is a dungeon--the +mind a convict. The slave may bow and cringe and crawl, but he cannot +adore--he cannot love. + +True religion is the perfume of a free and grateful heart. True religion +is a subordination of the passions to the perceptions of the intellect. +True religion is not a theory--it is a practice. It is not a creed--it +is a life. + +A theory that is afraid of investigation is undeserving a place in the +human mind. + +I do not pretend to tell what all the truth is. I do not pretend to have +fathomed the abyss, nor to have floated on outstretched wings level with +the dim heights of thought. I simply plead for freedom. I denounce the +cruelties and horrors of slavery. I ask for light and air for the souls +of men. I say, take off those chains--break those manacles--free those +limbs--release that brain! I plead for the right to think--to reason--to +investigate. I ask that the future may be enriched with the honest +thoughts of men. I implore every human being to be a soldier in the army +of progress. + +I will not invade the rights of others. You have no right to erect your +toll-gate upon the highways of thought. You have no right to leap from +the hedges of superstition and strike down the pioneers of the human +race. You have no right to sacrifice the liberties of man upon the +altars of ghosts. Believe what you may; preach what you desire; have all +the forms and ceremonies you please; exercise your liberty in your own +way but extend to all others the same right. + +I will not attack your doctrines nor your creeds if they accord liberty +to me. If they hold thought to be dangerous--if they aver that doubt is +a crime, then I attack them one and all, because they enslave the minds +of men. + +I attack the monsters, the phantoms of imagination that have ruled the +world. I attack slavery. I ask for room--room for the human mind. + +Why should we sacrifice a real world that we have, for one we know not +of? Why should we enslave ourselves? Why should we forge fetters for +our own hands? Why should we be the slaves of phantoms. The darkness of +barbarism was the womb of these shadows. In the light of science they +cannot cloud the sky forever. They have reddened the hands of man with +innocent blood. They made the cradle a curse, and the grave a place of +torment. + +They blinded the eyes and stopped the ears of the human race. They +subverted all ideas of justice by promising infinite rewards for finite +virtues, and threatening infinite punishment for finite offences. + +They filled the future with heavens and with hells, with the shining +peaks of selfish joy and the lurid abysses of flame. For ages they kept +the world in ignorance and awe, in want and misery, in fear and chains. + +I plead for light, for air, for opportunity. I plead for individual +independence. I plead for the rights of labor and of thought. I plead +for a chainless future. Let the ghosts go--justice remains. Let them +disappear--men and women and children are left. Let the monsters fade +away--the world is here with its hills and seas and plains, with its +seasons of smiles and frowns, its spring of leaf and bud, its summer of +shade and flower and murmuring stream; its autumn with the laden boughs, +when the withered banners of the corn are still, and gathered fields are +growing strangely wan; while death, poetic death, with hands that color +what they touch, weaves in the Autumn wood her tapestries of gold and +brown. + +The world remains with its winters and homes and firesides, where grow +and bloom the virtues of our race. All these are left; and music, with +its sad and thrilling voice, and all there is of art and song and hope +and love and aspiration high. All these remain. Let the ghosts go--we +will worship them no more. + +Man is greater than these phantoms. Humanity is grander than all the +creeds, than all the books. Humanity is the great sea, and these creeds, +and books, and religions, are but the waves of a day. Humanity is the +sky, and these religions and dogmas and theories are but the mists and +clouds changing continually, destined finally to melt away. + +That which is founded upon slavery, and fear, and ignorance, cannot +endure. In the religion of the future there will be men and women and +children, all the aspirations of the soul, and all the tender humanities +of the heart. + +Let the ghosts go. We will worship them no more. Let them cover their +eyeless sockets with their fleshless hands and fade forever from the +imaginations of men. + + + + +THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD. + +Liberty sustains the same Relation to Mind that Space does to Matter. + +THERE is no slavery but ignorance. Liberty is the child of intelligence. + +The history of man is simply the history of slavery, of injustice and +brutality, together with the means by which he has, through the dead and +desolate years, slowly and painfully advanced. He has been the sport +and prey of priest and king, the food of superstition and cruel might. +Crowned force has governed ignorance through fear. Hypocrisy and +tyranny--two vultures--have fed upon the liberties of man. From all +these there has been, and is, but one means of escape--intellectual +development. Upon the back of industry has been the whip. Upon the brain +have been the fetters of superstition. Nothing has been left undone +by the enemies of freedom. Every art and artifice, every cruelty and +outrage has been practiced and perpetrated to destroy the rights of man. +In this great struggle every crime has been rewarded and every virtue +has been punished. Reading, writing, thinking and investigating have all +been crimes. + +Every science has been an outcast. + +All the altars and all the thrones united to arrest the forward march of +the human race. The king said that mankind must not work for themselves. +The priest said that mankind must not think for themselves. One forged +chains for the hands, the other for the soul. Under this infamous +_regime_ the eagle of the human intellect was for ages a slimy serpent +of hypocrisy. + +The human race was imprisoned. Through some of the prison bars came a +few struggling rays of light. Against these bars Science pressed its +pale and thoughtful face, wooed by the holy dawn of human advancement. +Bar after bar was broken away. A few grand men escaped and devoted their +lives to the liberation of their fellows. + +Only a few years ago there was a great awakening of the human mind. Men +began to inquire by what right a crowned robber made them work for him? +The man who asked this question was called a traitor. Others asked by +what right does a robed hypocrite rule my thought? Such men were called +infidels. The priest said, and the king said, where is this spirit +of investigation to stop? They said then and they say now, that it is +dangerous for man to be free. I deny it. Out on the intellectual sea +there is room enough for every sail. In the intellectual air there is +space enough for every wing. + +The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a traitor to +himself and to his fellow-men. + +Every man should stand under the blue and stars, under the infinite flag +of nature, the peer of every other man. + +Standing in the presence of the Unknown, all have the same right to +think, and all are equally interested in the great questions of origin +and destiny. All I claim, all I plead for, is liberty of thought and +expression. That is all. I do not pretend to tell what is absolutely +true, but what I think is true. I do not pretend to tell all the truth. + +I do not claim that I have floated level with the heights of thought, or +that I have descended to the very depths of things. I simply claim +that what ideas I have, I have a right to express; and that any man who +denies that right to me is an intellectual thief and robber. That is +all. + +Take those chains from the human soul. Break those fetters. If I have no +right to think, why have I a brain? If I have no such right, have three +or four men, or any number, who may get together, and sign a creed, and +build a house, and put a steeple upon it, and a bell in it--have they +the right to think? The good men, the good women are tired of the whip +and lash in the realm of thought. They remember the chain and fagot +with a shudder. They are free, and they give liberty to others. Whoever +claims any right that he is unwilling to accord to his fellow-men is +dishonest and infamous. + +In the good old times, our fathers had the idea that they could make +people believe to suit them. Our ancestors, in the ages that are gone, +really believed that by force you could convince a man. You cannot +change the conclusion of the brain by torture; nor by social ostracism. +But I will tell you what you can do by these, and what you have done. +You can make hypocrites by the million. You can make a man say that +he has changed his mind; but he remains of the same opinion still. Put +fetters all over him; crush his feet in iron boots; stretch him to the +last gasp upon the holy rack; burn him, if you please, but his ashes +will be of the same opinion still. + +Our fathers in the good old times--and the best thing I can say about +them is, that they have passed away--had an idea that they could force +men to think their way. That idea is still prevalent in many parts, even +of this country. Even in our day some extremely religious people say, +"We will not trade with that man; we will not vote for him; we will not +hire him if he is a lawyer; we will die before we will take his medicine +if he is a doctor; we will not invite him to dinner; we will socially +ostracise him; he must come to our church; he must believe our +doctrines; he must worship our god or we will not in any way contribute +to his support." + +In the old times of which I have spoken, they desired to make all men +think exactly alike. All the mechanical ingenuity of the world cannot +make two clocks run exactly alike, and how are you going to make +hundreds of millions of people, differing in brain and disposition, in +education and aspiration, in conditions and surroundings, each clad in +a living robe of passionate flesh--how are you going to make them think +and feel alike? If there is an infinite god, one who made us, and wishes +us to think alike, why did he give a spoonful of brains to one, and a +magnificent intellectual development to another? Why is it that we +have all degrees of intelligence, from orthodoxy to genius, if it was +intended that all should think and feel alike? + +I used to read in books how our fathers persecuted mankind. But I never +appreciated it. I read it, but it did not burn itself into my soul. I +did not really appreciate the infamies that have been committed in the +name of religion, until I saw the iron arguments that Christians used. +I saw the Thumbscrew--two little pieces of iron, armed on the inner +surfaces with protuberances, to prevent their slipping; through each end +a screw uniting the two pieces. And when some man denied the efficacy of +baptism, or may be said, "I do not believe that a fish ever swallowed +a man to keep him from drowning," then they put his thumb between these +pieces of iron and in the name of love and universal forgiveness, began +to screw these pieces together. When this was done most men said, "I +will recant." Probably I should have done the same. Probably I would +have said: "Stop; I will admit anything that you wish; I will admit that +there is one god or a million, one hell or a billion; suit yourselves; +but stop." + +But there was now and then a man who would not swerve the breadth of a +hair. There was now and then some sublime heart, willing to die for +an intellectual conviction. Had it not been for such men, we would be +savages to-night. Had it not been for a few brave, heroic souls in every +age, we would have been cannibals, with pictures of wild beasts tattooed +upon our flesh, dancing around some dried snake fetich. + +Let us thank every good and noble man who stood so grandly, so proudly, +in spite of opposition, of hatred and death, for what he believed to be +the truth. + +Heroism did not excite the respect of our fathers. The man who would not +recant was not forgiven. They screwed the thumbscrews down to the last +pang, and then threw their victim into some dungeon, where, in the +throbbing silence and darkness, he might suffer the agonies of the +fabled damned. This was done in the name of love--in the name of +mercy--in the name of the compassionate Christ. + +I saw, too, what they called the Collar of Torture. Imagine a circle +of iron, and on the inside a hundred points almost as sharp as needles. +This argument was fastened about the throat of the sufferer. Then he +could not walk, nor sit down, nor stir without the neck being punctured, +by these points. In a little while the throat would begin to swell, and +suffocation would end the agonies of that man. This man, it may be, had +committed the crime of saying, with tears upon his cheeks, "I do not +believe that God, the father of us all, will damn to eternal perdition +any of the children of men." + +I saw another instrument, called the Scavenger's Daughter. Think of a +pair of shears with handles, not only where they now are, but at the +points as well, and just above the pivot that unites the blades, a +circle of iron. In the upper handles the hands would be placed; in the +lower, the feet; and through the iron ring, at the centre, the head of +the victim would be forced. In this condition, he would be thrown prone +upon the earth, and the strain upon the muscles produced such agony that +insanity would in pity end his pain. + +This was done by gentlemen who said: "Whosoever smiteth thee upon one +cheek turn to him the other also." + +I saw the Rack. This was a box like the bed of a wagon, with a windlass +at each end, with levers, and ratchets to prevent slipping; over each +windlass went chains; some were fastened to the ankles of the sufferer; +others to his wrists. And then priests, clergymen, divines, saints, +began turning these windlasses, and kept turning, until the ankles, the +knees, the hips, the shoulders, the elbows, the wrists of the victim +were all dislocated, and the sufferer was wet with the sweat of agony. +And they had standing by a physician to feel his pulse. What for? To +save his life? Yes. In mercy? No; simply that they might rack him once +again. + +This was done, remember, in the name of civilization; in the name of law +and order; in the name of mercy; in the name of religion; in the name of +the most merciful Christ. + +Sometimes, when I read and think about these frightful things, it seems +to me that I have suffered all these horrors myself. It seems sometimes, +as though I had stood upon the shore of exile and gazed with tearful +eyes toward home and native land; as though my nails had been torn from +my hands, and into the bleeding quick needles had been thrust; as though +my feet had been crushed in iron boots; as though I had been chained in +the cell of the Inquisition and listened with dying ears for the coming +footsteps of release; as though I had stood upon the scaffold and had +seen the glittering axe fall upon me; as though I had been upon the rack +and had seen, bending above me, the white faces of hypocrite priests; +as though I had been taken from my fireside, from my wife and children, +taken to the public square, chained; as though fagots had been piled +about me; as though the flames had climbed around my limbs and scorched +my eyes to blindness, and as though my ashes had been scattered to the +four winds, by all the countless hands of hate. And when I so feel, I +swear that while I live I will do what little I can to preserve and to +augment the liberties of man, woman, and child. + +It is a question of justice, of mercy, of honesty, of intellectual +development. If there is a man in the world who is not willing to give +to every human being every right he claims for himself, he is just so +much nearer a barbarian than I am. It is a question of honesty. The man +who is not willing to give to every other the same intellectual rights +he claims for himself, is dishonest, selfish, and brutal. + +It is a question of intellectual development. Whoever holds another man +responsible for his honest thought, has a deformed and distorted brain. +It is a question of intellectual development. + +A little while ago I saw models of nearly everything that man has made. +I saw models of all the water craft, from the rude dug-out in which +floated a naked savage--one of our ancestors--a naked savage, with +teeth two inches in length, with a spoonful of brains in the back of +his head--I saw models of all the water craft of the world, from that +dug-out up to a man-of-war, that carries a hundred guns and miles of +canvas--from that dug-out to the steamship that turns its brave prow +from the port of New York, with a compass like a conscience, crossing +three thousand miles of billows without missing a throb or beat of its +mighty iron heart. + +I saw at the same time the weapons that man has made, from a club, such +as was grasped by that same savage, when he crawled from his den in +the ground and hunted a snake for his dinner; from that club to the +boomerang, to the sword, to the cross-bow, to the blunderbuss, to the +flint-lock, to the cap-lock, to the needle-gun, up to a cannon cast by +Krupp, capable of hurling a ball weighing two thousand pounds through +eighteen inches of solid steel. + +I saw, too, the armor from the shell of a turtle, that one of our brave +ancestors lashed upon his breast when he went to fight for his country; +the skin of a porcupine, dried with the quills on, which this same +savage pulled over his orthodox head, up to the shirts of mail, that +were worn in the Middle Ages, that laughed at the edge of the sword and +defied the point of the spear; up to a monitor clad in complete steel. + +I saw at the same time, their musical instruments, from the +tom-tom--that is, a hoop with a couple of strings of raw hide drawn +across it--from that tom-tom, up to the instruments we have to-day, that +make the common air blossom with melody. + +I saw, too, their paintings, from a daub of yellow mud, to the great +works which now adorn the galleries of the world. I saw also their +sculpture, from the rude god with four legs, a half dozen arms, several +noses, and two or three rows of ears, and one little, contemptible, +brainless head, up to the figures of to-day--to the marbles that genius +has clad in such a personality that it seems almost impudent to touch +them without an introduction. + +I saw their books--books written upon skins of wild beasts--upon +shoulder-blades of sheep--books written upon leaves, upon bark, up to +the splendid volumes that enrich the libraries of our day. When I +speak of libraries, I think of the remark of Plato: "A house that has a +library in it has a soul." + +I saw their implements of agriculture, from a crooked stick that was +attached to the horn of an ox by some twisted straw, to the agricultural +implements of this generation, that make it possible for a man to +cultivate the soil without being an ignoramus. + +While looking upon these things I was forced to say that man advanced +only as he mingled his thought with his labor,--only as he got into +partnership with the forces of nature,--only as he learned to take +advantage of his surroundings--only as he freed himself from the bondage +of fear,--only as he depended upon himself--only as he lost confidence +in the gods. + +I saw at the same time a row of human skulls, from the lowest skull +that has been found, the Neanderthal skull--skulls from Central Africa, +skulls from the Bushmen of Australia--skulls from the farthest isles of +the Pacific sea--up to the best skulls of the last generation;--and I +noticed that there was the same difference between those skulls that +there was between the products of those skulls, and I said to myself, +"After all, it is a simple question of intellectual development." There +was the same difference between those skulls, the lowest and highest +skulls, that there was between the dug-out and the man-of-war and the +steamship, between the club and the Krupp gun, between the yellow daub +and the landscape, between the tom-tom and an opera by Verdi. + +The first and lowest skull in this row was the den in which crawled the +base and meaner instincts of mankind, and the last was a temple in which +dwelt joy, liberty, and love. + +It is all a question of brain, of intellectual development. + +If we are nearer free than were our fathers, it is because we have +better heads upon the average, and more brains in them. + +Now, I ask you to be honest with me. It makes no difference to you what +I believe, nor what I wish to prove. I simply ask you to be honest. +Divest your minds, for a moment at least, of all religious prejudice. +Act, for a few moments, as though you were men and women. + +Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, if there was one, +at the time this gentleman floated in the dug-out, and charmed his ears +with the music of the tom-tom, had said: "That dug-out is the best boat +that ever can be built by man; the pattern of that came from on high, +from the great god of storm and flood, and any man who says that he can +improve it by putting a mast in it, with a sail upon it, is an infidel, +and shall be burned at the stake;" what, in your judgment--honor +bright--would have been the effect upon the circumnavigation of the +globe? + +Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, if there was +one--and I presume there was a priest, because it was a very ignorant +age--suppose this king and priest had said: "That tom-tom is the most +beautiful instrument of music of which any man can conceive; that is the +kind of music they have in heaven; an angel sitting upon the edge of +a fleecy cloud, golden in the setting sun, playing upon that tom-tom, +became so enraptured, so entranced with her own music, that in a kind of +ecstasy she dropped it--that is how we obtained it; and any man who +says that it can be improved by putting a back and front to it, and +four strings, and a bridge, and getting a bow of hair with rosin, is a +blaspheming wretch, and shall die the death,"--I ask you, what effect +would that have had upon music? If that course had been pursued, would +the human ears, in your judgment, ever have been enriched with the +divine symphonies of Beethoven? + +Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, had said: "That +crooked stick is the best plow that can be invented: the pattern of that +plow was given to a pious farmer in a holy dream, and that twisted straw +is the _ne plus ultra_ of all twisted things, and any man who says he +can make an improvement upon that plow, is an atheist;" what, in your +judgment, would have been the effect upon the science of agriculture? + +But the people said, and the king and priest said: "We want better +weapons with which to kill our fellow-Christians; we want better plows, +better music, better paintings, and whoever will give us better weapons, +and better music, better houses to live in, better clothes, we will robe +him in wealth, and crown him with honor." Every incentive was held out +to every human being to improve these things. That is the reason the +club has been changed to a cannon, the dug-out to a steamship, the daub +to a painting; that is the reason that the piece of rough and broken +stone finally became a glorified statue. + +You must not, however, forget that the gentleman in the dug-out, +the gentleman who was enraptured with the music of the tom-tom, and +cultivated his land with a crooked stick, had a religion of his own. +That gentlemen in the dug-out was orthodox. He was never troubled with +doubts. He lived and died settled in his mind. He believed in hell; and +he thought he would be far happier in heaven, if he could just lean +over and see certain people who expressed doubts as to the truth of his +creed, gently but everlastingly broiled and burned. + +It is a very sad and unhappy fact that this man has had a great many +intellectual descendants. It is also an unhappy fact in nature, that the +ignorant multiply much faster than the intellectual. This fellow in the +dug-out believed in a personal devil. His devil had a cloven hoof, a +long tail, armed with a fiery dart; and his devil breathed brimstone. +This devil was at least the equal of God; not quite so stout but +a little shrewder. And do you know there has not been a patentable +improvement made upon that devil for six thousand years. + +This gentleman in the dug-out believed that God was a tyrant; that he +would eternally damn the man who lived in accordance with his highest +and grandest ideal. He believed that the earth was flat. He believed in +a literal, burning, seething hell of fire and sulphur. He had also his +idea of politics; and his doctrine was, might makes right. And it will +take thousands of years before the world will reverse this doctrine, and +believingly say, "Right makes might." + +All I ask is the same privilege to improve upon that gentleman's +theology as upon his musical instrument; the same right to improve upon +his politics as upon his dug-out. That is all. I ask for the human +soul the same liberty in every direction. That is the only crime I have +committed. I say, let us think. Let each one express his thought. Let us +become investigators, not followers, not cringers and crawlers. If there +is in heaven an infinite being, he never will be satisfied with the +worship of cowards and hypocrites. Honest unbelief, honest infidelity, +honest atheism, will be a perfume in heaven when pious hypocrisy, no +matter how religious it may be outwardly, will be a stench. + +This is my doctrine: Give every other human being every right you claim +for yourself. Keep your mind open to the influences of nature. Receive +new thoughts with hospitality. Let us advance. + +The religionist of to-day wants the ship of his soul to lie at the wharf +of orthodoxy and rot in the sun. He delights to hear the sails of old +opinions flap against the masts of old creeds. He loves to see the +joints and the sides open and gape in the sun, and it is a kind of bliss +for him to repeat again and again: "Do not disturb my opinions. Do not +unsettle my mind; I have it all made up, and I want no infidelity. Let +me go backward rather than forward." + +As far as I am concerned I wish to be out on the high seas. I wish to +take my chances with wind, and wave, and star. And I had rather go down +in the glory and grandeur of the storm, than to rot in any orthodox +harbor whatever. + +After all, we are improving from age to age. The most orthodox people in +this country two hundred years ago would have been burned for the crime +of heresy. The ministers who denounce me for expressing my thought would +have been in the Inquisition themselves. Where once burned and blazed +the bivouac fires of the army of progress, now glow the altars of the +church. The religionists of our time are occupying about the same ground +occupied by heretics and infidels of one hundred years ago. The church +has advanced in spite, as it were, of itself. It has followed the army +of progress protesting and denouncing, and had to keep within protesting +and denouncing distance. If the church had not made great progress I +could not express my thoughts. + +Man, however, has advanced just exactly in the proportion with which he +has mingled his thought with his labor. The sailor, without control +of the wind and wave, knowing nothing or very little of the mysterious +currents and pulses of the sea, is superstitious. So also is the +agriculturist, whose prosperity depends upon something he cannot +control. But the mechanic, when a wheel refuses to turn, never thinks of +dropping on his knees and asking the assistance of some divine power. +He knows there is a reason. He knows that something is too large or too +small; that there is something wrong with his machine; and he goes to +work and he makes it larger or smaller, here or there, until the wheel +will turn. Now, just in proportion as man gets away from being, as it +were, the slave of his surroundings, the serf of the elements,--of the +heat, the frost, the snow, and the lightning,--just to the extent that +he has gotten control of his own destiny, just to the extent that he has +triumphed over the obstacles of nature, he has advanced physically and +intellectually. As man develops, he places a greater value upon his own +rights. Liberty becomes a grander and diviner thing. As he values his +own rights, he begins to value the rights of others. And when all men +give to all others all the rights they claim for themselves, this world +will be civilized. + +A few years ago the people were afraid to question the king, afraid to +question the priest, afraid to investigate a creed, afraid to deny a +book, afraid to denounce a dogma, afraid to reason, afraid to think. +Before wealth they bowed to the very earth, and in the presence of +titles they became abject. All this is slowly but surely changing. We +no longer bow to men simply because they are rich. Our fathers worshiped +the golden calf. The worst you can say of an American now is, he +worships the gold of the calf. Even the calf is beginning to see this +distinction. + +It no longer satisfies the ambition of a great man to be king or +emperor. The last Napoleon was not satisfied with being the emperor of +the French. He was not satisfied with having a circlet of gold about his +head. He wanted some evidence that he had something of value within +his head. So he wrote the life of Julius Caesar, that he might become +a member of the French Academy. The emperors, the kings, the popes, +no longer tower above their fellows. Compare King William with the +philosopher Haeckel. The king is one of the anointed by the most high, +as they claim--one upon whose head has been poured the divine petroleum +of authority. Compare this king with Haeckel, who towers an intellectual +colossus above the crowned mediocrity. Compare George Eliot with Queen +Victoria. The Queen is clothed in garments given her by blind fortune +and unreasoning chance, while George Eliot wears robes of glory woven in +the loom of her own genius. + +The world is beginning to pay homage to intellect, to genius, to heart. + +We have advanced. We have reaped the benefit of every sublime and heroic +self-sacrifice, of every divine and brave act; and we should endeavor +to hand the torch to the next generation, having added a little to the +intensity and glory of the flame. + +When I think of how much this world has suffered; when I think of how +long our fathers were slaves, of how they cringed and crawled at the +foot of the throne, and in the dust of the altar, of how they abased +themselves, of how abjectly they stood in the presence of superstition +robed and crowned, I am amazed. + +This world has not been fit for a man to live in fifty years. It was not +until the year 1808 that Great Britain abolished the slave trade. Up to +that time her judges, sitting upon the bench in the name of justice, +her priests, occupying her pulpits, in the name of universal love, owned +stock in the slave ships, and luxuriated upon the profits of piracy and +murder. It was not until the same year that the United States of +America abolished the slave trade between this and other countries, but +carefully preserved it as between the States. It was not until the 28th +day of August, 1833, that Great Britain abolished human slavery in +her colonies; and it was not until the 1st day of January, 1863, that +Abraham Lincoln, sustained by the sublime and heroic North, rendered our +flag pure as the sky in which it floats. + +Abraham Lincoln was, in my judgment, in many respects, the grandest +man ever President of the United States. Upon his monument these words +should be written: "Here sleeps the only man in the history of the +world, who, having been clothed with almost absolute power, never abused +it, except upon the side of mercy." + +Think how long we clung to the institution of human slavery, how long +lashes upon the naked back were a legal tender for labor performed. +Think of it. The pulpit of this country deliberately and willingly, for +a hundred years, turned the cross of Christ into a whipping post. + +With every drop of my blood I hate and execrate every form of tyranny, +every form of slavery. I hate dictation. I love liberty. + +What do I mean by liberty? By physical liberty I mean the right to do +anything which does not interfere with the happiness of another. By +intellectual liberty I mean the right to think right and the right to +think wrong. Thought is the means by which we endeavor to arrive at +truth. If we know the truth already, we need not think. All that can +be required is honesty of purpose. You ask my opinion about anything; +I examine it honestly, and when my mind is made up, what should I tell +you? Should I tell you my real thought? What should I do? There is a +book put in my hands. I am told this is the Koran; it was written by +inspiration. I read it, and when I get through, suppose that I think in +my heart and in my brain, that it is utterly untrue, and you then ask +me, what do you think? Now, admitting that I live in Turkey, and have +no chance to get any office unless I am on the side of the Koran, what +should I say? Should I make a clean breast and say, that upon my honor +I do not believe it? What would you think then of my fellow-citizens if +they said: "That man is dangerous, he is dishonest." + +Suppose I read the book called the Bible, and when I get through I make +up my mind that it was written by men. A minister asks me, "Did you read +the Bible?" I answer, that I did. "Do you think it divinely inspired?" +What should I reply? Should I say to myself, "If I deny the inspiration +of the Scriptures, the people will never clothe me with power." What +ought I to answer? Ought I not to say like a man: "I have read it; I do +not believe it." Should I not give the real transcript of my mind? Or +should I turn hypocrite and pretend what I do not feel, and hate myself +forever after for being a cringing coward. For my part I would rather +a man would tell me what he honestly thinks. I would rather he +would preserve his manhood. I had a thousand times rather be a manly +unbeliever than an unmanly believer. And if there is a judgment day, +a time when all will stand before some supreme being, I believe I will +stand higher, and stand a better chance of getting my case decided in my +favor, than any man sneaking through life pretending to believe what he +does not. + +I have made up my mind to say my say. I shall do it kindly, distinctly; +but I am going to do it. I know there are thousands of men who +substantially agree with me, but who are not in a condition to express +their thoughts. They are poor; they are in business; and they know that +should they tell their honest thought, persons will refuse to patronize +them--to trade with them; they wish to get bread for their little +children; they wish to take care of their wives; they wish to have homes +and the comforts of life. Every such person is a certificate of the +meanness of the community in which he resides. And yet I do not blame +these people for not expressing their thought. I say to them: "Keep your +ideas to yourselves; feed and clothe the ones you love; I will do +your talking for you. The church can not touch, can not crush, can not +starve, cannot stop or stay me; I will express your thoughts." + +As an excuse for tyranny, as a justification of slavery, the church has +taught that man is totally depraved. Of the truth of that doctrine, the +church has furnished the only evidence there is. The truth is, we are +both good and bad. The worst are capable of some good deeds, and the +best are capable of bad. The lowest can rise, and the highest may fall. +That mankind can be divided into two great classes, sinners and saints, +is an utter falsehood. In times of great disaster, called it may be, by +the despairing voices of women, men, denounced by the church as totally +depraved, rush to death as to a festival. By such men, deeds are done +so filled with self-sacrifice and generous daring, that millions pay +to them the tribute, not only of admiration, but of tears. Above all +creeds, above all religions, after all, is that divine thing,--Humanity; +and now and then in shipwreck on the wide, wild sea, or 'mid the rocks +and breakers of some cruel shore, or where the serpents of flame writhe +and hiss, some glorious heart, some chivalric soul does a deed +that glitters like a star, and gives the lie to all the dogmas of +superstition. All these frightful doctrines have been used to degrade +and to enslave mankind. + +Away, forever away with the creeds and books and forms and laws and +religions that take from the soul liberty and reason. Down with the idea +that thought is dangerous! Perish the infamous doctrine that man can +have property in man. Let us resent with indignation every effort to put +a chain upon our minds. If there is no God, certainly we should not bow +and cringe and crawl. If there is a God, there should be no slaves. + + + + +LIBERTY OF WOMAN. + +Women have been the slaves of slaves; and in my judgment it took +millions of ages for woman to come from the condition of abject slavery +up to the institution of marriage. Let me say right here, that I regard +marriage as the holiest institution among men. Without the fireside +there is no human advancement; without the family relation there is no +life worth living. Every good government is made up of good families. +The unit of good government is the family, and anything that tends to +destroy the family is perfectly devilish and infamous. I believe in +marriage, and I hold in utter contempt the opinions of those long-haired +men and short-haired women who denounce the institution of marriage. + +The grandest ambition that any man can possibly have, is to so live, and +so improve himself in heart and brain, as to be worthy of the love of +some splendid woman; and the grandest ambition of any girl is to make +herself worthy of the love and adoration of some magnificent man. That +is my idea. There is no success in life without love and marriage. You +had better be the emperor of one loving and tender heart, and she the +empress of yours, than to be king of the world. The man who has really +won the love of one good woman in this world, I do not care if he dies +in the ditch a beggar, his life has been a success. + +I say it took millions of years to come from the condition of abject +slavery up to the condition of marriage. Ladies, the ornaments you +wear upon your persons to-night are but the souvenirs of your mother's +bondage. The chains around your necks, and the bracelets clasped upon +your white arms by the thrilled hand of love, have been changed by the +wand of civilization from iron to shining, glittering gold. + +But nearly every religion has accounted for all the devilment in this +world by the crime of woman. What a gallant thing that is! And if it +is true, I had rather live with the woman I love in a world full of +trouble, than to live in heaven with nobody but men. + +I read in a book--and I will say now that I cannot give the exact +language, as my memory does not retain the words, but I can give the +substance--I read in a book that the Supreme Being concluded to make a +world and one man; that he took some nothing and made a world and one +man, and put this man in a garden. In a little while he noticed that +the man got lonesome; that he wandered around as if he was waiting for +a train. There was nothing to interest him; no news; no papers; no +politics; no policy; and, as the devil had not yet made his appearance, +there was no chance for reconciliation; not even for civil service +reform. Well, he wandered about the garden in this condition, until +finally the Supreme Being made up his mind to make him a companion. + +Having used up all the nothing he originally took in making the world +and one man, he had to take a part of the man to start a woman with. So +he caused a sleep to fall on this man--now understand me, I do not say +this story is true. After the sleep fell upon this man, the Supreme +Being took a rib, or as the French would call it, a cutlet, out of this +man, and from that he made a woman. And considering the amount of raw +material used, I look upon it as the most successful job ever performed. +Well, after he got the woman done, she was brought to the man; not to +see how she liked him, but to see how he liked her. He liked her, and +they started housekeeping; and they were told of certain things they +might do and of one thing they could not do--and of course they did it. +I would have done it in fifteen minutes, and I know it. There wouldn't +have been an apple on that tree half an hour from date, and the limbs +would have been full of clubs. And then they were turned out of the park +and extra policemen were put on to keep them from getting back. + +Devilment commenced. The mumps, and the measles, and the whooping-cough, +and the scarlet fever started in their race for man. They began to have +the toothache, roses began to have thorns, snakes began to have poisoned +teeth, and people began to divide about religion and politics, and the +world has been full of trouble from that day to this. + +Nearly all of the religions of this world account for the existence of +evil by such a story as that! + +I read in another book what appeared to be an account of the same +transaction. It was written about four thousand years before the other. +All commentators agree that the one that was written last was the +original, and that the one that was written first was copied from the +one that was written last. But I would advise you all not to allow your +creed to be disturbed by a little matter of four or five thousand years. +In this other story, Brahma made up his mind to make the world and a man +and woman. He made the world, and he made the man and then the woman, +and put them on the island of Ceylon. According to the account it was +the most beautiful island of which man can conceive. Such birds, such +songs, such flowers and such verdure! And the branches of the trees +were so arranged that when the wind swept through them every tree was a +thousand AEolian harps. + +Brahma, when he put them there, said: "Let them have a period of +courtship, for it is my desire and will that true love should forever +precede marriage." When I read that, it was so much more beautiful and +lofty than the other, that I said to myself, "If either one of these +stories ever turns out to be true, I hope it will be this one." + +Then they had their courtship, with the nightingale singing, and the +stars shining, and the flowers blooming, and they fell in love. Imagine +that courtship! No prospective fathers or mothers-in-law; no prying and +gossiping neighbors; nobody to say, "Young man, how do you expect to +support her?" Nothing of that kind. They were married by the Supreme +Brahma, and he said to them: "Remain here; you must never leave this +island." Well, after a little while the man--and his name was Adami, and +the woman's name was Heva--said to Heva: "I believe I'll look about a +little." He went to the northern extremity of the island where there was +a little narrow neck of land connecting it with the mainland, and the +devil, who is always playing pranks with us, produced a mirage, and when +he looked over to the mainland, such hills and vales, such dells and +dales, such mountains crowned with snow, such cataracts clad in bows of +glory did he see there, that he went back and told Heva: "The country +over there is a thousand times better than this; let us migrate." She, +like every other woman that ever lived, said: "Let well enough alone; we +have all we want; let us stay here." But he said "No, let us go;" so she +followed him, and when they came to this narrow neck of land, he took +her on his back like a gentleman, and carried her over. But the moment +they got over they heard a crash, and looking back, discovered that this +narrow neck of land had fallen into the sea. The mirage had disappeared, +and there were naught but rocks and sand; and then the Supreme Brahma +cursed them both to the lowest hell. + +Then it was that the man spoke,--and I have liked him ever since for +it--"Curse me, but curse not her, it was not her fault, it was mine." + +That's the kind of man to start a world with. + +The Supreme Brahma said: "I will save her, but not thee." And then she +spoke out of her fullness of love, out of a heart in which there was +love enough to make all her daughters rich in holy affection, and said: +"If thou wilt not spare him, spare neither me; I do not wish to live +without him; I love him." Then the Supreme Brahma said--and I have liked +him ever since I read it--"I will spare you both and watch over you and +your children forever." + +Honor bright, is not that the better and grander story? + +And from that same book I want to show you what ideas some of these +miserable heathen had; the heathen we are trying to convert. We send +missionaries over yonder to convert heathen there, and we send soldiers +out on the plains to kill heathen here. If we can convert the heathen, +why not convert those nearest home? Why not convert those we can get at? +Why not convert those who have the immense advantage of the example of +the average pioneer? But to show you the men we are trying to convert: +In this book it says: "Man is strength, woman is beauty; man is courage, +woman is love. When the one man loves the one woman and the one woman +loves the one man, the very angels leave heaven and come and sit in that +house and sing for joy." + +They are the men we are converting. Think of it! I tell you, when I read +these things, I say that love is not of any country; nobility does not +belong exclusively to any race, and through all the ages, there have +been a few great and tender souls blossoming in love and pity. + +In my judgment, the woman is the equal of the man. She has all the +rights I have and one more, and that is the right to be protected. That +is my doctrine. You are married; try and make the woman you love happy. +Whoever marries simply for himself will make a mistake; but whoever +loves a woman so well that he says "I will make her happy," makes no +mistake. And so with the woman who says, "I will make him happy." There +is only one way to be happy, and that is to make somebody else so, and +you cannot be happy by going cross lots; you have got to go the regular +turnpike road. + +If there is any man I detest, it is the man who thinks he is the head +of a family--the man who thinks he is "boss!" The fellow in the dug-out +used that word "boss;" that was one of his favorite expressions. + +Imagine a young man and a young woman courting, walking out in the +moonlight, and the nightingale singing a song of pain and love, as +though the thorn touched her heart--imagine them stopping there in the +moonlight and starlight and song, and saying, "Now, here, let us settle +who is 'boss!'" I tell you it is an infamous word and an infamous +feeling--I abhor a man who is "boss," who is going to govern in his +family, and when he speaks orders all the rest to be still as some +mighty idea is about to be launched from his mouth. Do you know I +dislike this man unspeakably? + +I hate above all things a cross man. What right has he to murder the +sunshine of a day? What right has he to assassinate the joy of life? + +When you go home you ought to go like a ray of light--so that it will, +even in the night, bursty out of the doors and windows and illuminate +the darkness. Some men think their mighty brains have been in a turmoil; +they have been thinking about who will be alderman from the fifth ward; +they have been thinking about politics; great and mighty questions have +been engaging their minds; they have bought calico at five cents or six, +and want to sell it for seven. Think of the intellectual strain that +must have been upon that man, and when he gets home everybody else in +the house must look out for his comfort. A woman who has only taken care +of five or six children, and one or two of them sick, has been nursing +them and singing to them, and trying to make one yard of cloth do the +work of two, she, of course, is fresh and fine and ready to wait upon +this gentleman--the head of the family--the boss! + +Do you know another thing? I despise a stingy man. I do not see how +it is possible for a man to die worth fifty million of dollars, or ten +million of dollars, in a city full of want, when he meets almost every +day the withered hand of beggary and the white lips of famine. How a man +can withstand all that, and hold in the clutch of his greed twenty or +thirty million of dollars, is past my comprehension. I do not see how he +can do it. I should not think he could do it any more than he could keep +a pile of lumber on the beach, where hundreds and thousands of men were +drowning in the sea. + +Do you know that I have known men who would trust their wives with their +hearts and their honor but not with their pocketbook; not with a dollar. +When I see a man of that kind, I always think he knows which of these +articles is the most valuable. Think of making your wife a beggar! Think +of her having to ask you every day for a dollar, or for two dollars or +fifty cents! "What did you do with that dollar I gave you last week?" +Think of having a wife that is afraid of you! What kind of children do +you expect to have with a beggar and a coward for their mother? Oh, +I tell you if you have but a dollar in the world, and you have got to +spend it, spend it like a king; spend it as though it were a dry leaf +and you the owner of unbounded forests! That's the way to spend it! I +had rather be a beggar and spend my last dollar like a king, than be a +king and spend my money like a beggar! If it has got to go, let it go! + +Get the best you can for your family--try to look as well as you can +yourself. When you used to go courting, how elegantly you looked! Ah, +your eye was bright, your step was light, and you looked like a prince. +Do you know that it is insufferable egotism in you to suppose a woman +is going to love you always looking as slovenly as you can! Think of +it! Any good woman on earth will be true to you forever when you do your +level best. + +Some people tell me, "Your doctrine about loving, and wives, and all +that, is splendid for the rich, but it won't do for the poor." I tell +you to-night there is more love in the homes of the poor than in the +palaces of the rich. The meanest hut with love in it is a palace fit for +the gods, and a palace without love is a den only fit for wild beasts. +That is my doctrine! You cannot be so poor that you cannot help +somebody. Good nature is the cheapest commodity in the world; and love +is the only thing that will pay ten per cent, to borrower and lender +both. Do not tell me that you have got to be rich! We have a false +standard of greatness in the United States. We think here that a man +must be great, that he must be notorious; that he must be extremely +wealthy, or that his name must be upon the putrid lips of rumor. It is +all a mistake. It is not necessary to be rich or to be great, or to be +powerful, to be happy. The happy man is the successful man. + +Happiness is the legal tender of the soul. + +Joy is wealth. + +A little while ago, I stood by the grave of the old Napoleon--a +magnificent tomb of gilt and gold, fit almost for a dead deity--and +gazed upon the sarcophagus of rare and nameless marble, where rest at +last the ashes of that restless man. I leaned over the balustrade and +thought about the career of the greatest soldier of the modern world. + +I saw him walking upon the banks of the Seine, contemplating suicide. +I saw him at Toulon--I saw him putting down the mob in the streets of +Paris--I saw him at the head of the army of Italy--I saw him crossing +the bridge of Lodi with the tri-color in his hand--I saw him in Egypt in +the shadows of the pyramids--I saw him conquer the Alps and mingle the +eagles of France with the eagles of the crags. I saw him at Marengo--at +Ulm and Austerlitz. I saw him in Russia, where the infantry of the snow +and the cavalry of the wild blast scattered his legions like winter's +withered leaves. I saw him at Leipsic in defeat and disaster--driven by +a million bayonets back upon Paris--clutched like a wild beast--banished +to Elba. I saw him escape and retake an empire by the force of his +genius. I saw him upon the frightful field of Waterloo, where Chance and +Fate combined to wreck the fortunes of their former king. And I saw him +at St. Helena, with his hands crossed behind him, gazing out upon the +sad and solemn sea. + +I thought of the orphans and widows he had made--of the tears that +had been shed for his glory, and of the only woman who ever loved him, +pushed from his heart by the cold hand of ambition. And I said I would +rather have been a French peasant and worn wooden shoes. I would rather +have lived in a hut with a vine growing over the door, and the grapes +growing purple in the kisses of the autumn sun. I would rather have been +that poor peasant with my loving wife by my side, knitting as the day +died out of the sky--with my children upon my knees and their arms about +me--I would rather have been that man and gone down to the tongueless +silence of the dreamless dust, than to have been that imperial +impersonation of force and murder, known as "Napoleon the Great." + +It is not necessary to be great to be happy; it is not necessary to +be rich to be just and generous and to have a heart filled with divine +affection. No matter whether you are rich or poor, treat your wife as +though she were a splendid flower, and she will fill your life with +perfume and with joy. + +And do you know, it is a splendid thing to think that the woman you +really love will never grow old to you. Through the wrinkles of time, +through the mask of years, if you really love her, you will always see +the face you loved and won. And a woman who really loves a man does not +see that he grows old; he is not decrepit to her; he does not tremble; +he is not old; she always sees the same gallant gentleman who won her +hand and heart. I like to think of it in that way; I like to think that +love is eternal. And to love in that way and then go down the hill +of life together, and as you go down, hear, perhaps, the laughter of +grandchildren, while the birds of joy and love sing once more in the +leafless branches of the tree of age. + +I believe in the fireside. I believe in the democracy of home. I believe +in the republicanism of the family. I believe in liberty, equality and +love. + + + + +THE LIBERTY OF CHILDREN. + +If women have been slaves, what shall I say of children; of the little +children in alleys and sub-cellars; the little children who turn pale +when they hear their fathers' footsteps; little children who run away +when they only hear their names called by the lips of a mother; little +children--the children of poverty, the children of crime, the children +of brutality, wherever they are--flotsam and jetsam upon the wild, mad +sea of life--my heart goes out to them, one and all. + +I tell you the children have the same rights that we have, and we ought +to treat them as though they were human beings. They should be reared +with love, with kindness, with tenderness, and not with brutality. That +is my idea of children. + +When your little child tells a lie, do not rush at him as though the +world were about to go into bankruptcy. Be honest with him. A tyrant +father will have liars for his children; do you know that? + +A lie is born of tyranny upon the one hand and weakness upon the other, +and when you rush at a poor little boy with a club in your hand, of +course he lies. + +I thank thee, Mother Nature, that thou hast put ingenuity enough in the +brain of a child, when attacked by a brutal parent, to throw up a little +breastwork in the shape of a lie. + +When one of your children tells a lie, be honest with him; tell him that +you have told hundreds of them yourself. Tell him it is not the best +way; that you have tried it. Tell him as the man did in Maine when his +boy left home: "John, honesty is the best policy; I have tried both." Be +honest with him. Suppose a man as much larger than you as you are larger +than a child five years old, should come at you with a liberty pole in +his hand, and in a voice of thunder shout, "Who broke that plate?" There +is not a solitary one of you who would not swear you never saw it, +or that it was cracked when you got it. Why not be honest with these +children? Just imagine a man who deals in stocks whipping his boy for +putting false rumors afloat! Think of a lawyer beating his own flesh and +blood for evading the truth when he makes half of his own living that +way! Think of a minister punishing his child for not telling all he +thinks! Just think of it! + +When your child commits a wrong, take it in your arms; let it feel your +heart beat against its heart; let the child know that you really and +truly and sincerely love it. Yet some Christians, good Christians, when +a child commits a fault, drive it from the door and say: "Never do you +darken this house again." Think of that! And then these same people will +get down on their knees and ask God to take care of the child they +have driven from home. I will never ask God to take care of my children +unless I am doing my level best in that same direction. + +But I will tell you what I say to my children: "Go where you will; +commit what crime you may; fall to what depth of degradation you may; +you can never commit any crime that will shut my door, my arms, or my +heart to you. As long as I live you shall have one sincere friend." + +Do you know that I have seen some people who acted as though they +thought that when the Savior said "Suffer little children to come unto +me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven," he had a raw-hide under his +mande, and made that remark simply to get the children within striking +distance? + +I do not believe in the government of the lash, if any one of you ever +expects to whip your children again, I want you to have a photograph +taken of yourself when you are in the act, with your face red with +vulgar anger, and the face of the little child, with eyes swimming +in tears and the little chin dimpled with fear, like a piece of water +struck by a sudden cold wind. Have the picture taken. If that little +child should die, I cannot think of a sweeter way to spend an autumn +afternoon than to go out to the cemetery, when the maples are clad +in tender gold, and little scarlet runners are coming, like poems of +regret, from the sad heart of the earth--and sit down upon the grave and +look at that photograph, and think of the flesh now dust that you beat. +I tell you it is wrong; it is no way to raise children! Make your home +happy. Be honest with them. Divide fairly with them in everything. + +Give them a little liberty and love, and you can not drive them out of +your house. They will want to stay there. Make home pleasant. Let them +play any game they wish. Do not be so foolish as to say: "You may roll +balls on the ground, but you must not roll them on a green cloth. You +may knock them with a mallet, but you must not push them with a cue. +You may play with little pieces of paper which have 'authors' written +on them, but you must not have 'cards.'" Think of it! "You may go to a +minstrel show where people blacken themselves and imitate humanity below +them, but you must not go to a theatre and see the characters created +by immortal genius put upon the stage." Why? Well, I can't think of any +reason in the world except "minstrel" is a word of two syllables, and +"theatre" has three. + +Let children have some daylight at home if you want to keep them there, +and do not commence at the cradle and shout "Don't!" "Don't!" "Stop!" +That is nearly all that is said to a child from the cradle until he is +twenty-one years old, and when he comes of age other people begin saying +"Don't!" And the church says "Don't!" and the party he belongs to says +"Don't!" + +I despise that way of going through this world. Let us have +liberty--just a little. Call me infidel, call me atheist, call me what +you will, I intend so to treat my children, that they can come to my +grave and truthfully say: "He who sleeps here never gave us a moment of +pain. From his lips, now dust, never came to us an unkind word." + +People justify all kinds of tyranny toward children upon the ground that +they are totally depraved. At the bottom of ages of cruelty lies this +infamous doctrine of total depravity. Religion contemplates a child as a +living crime--heir to an infinite curse--doomed to eternal fire. + +In the olden time, they thought some days were too good for a child to +enjoy himself. When I was a boy Sunday was considered altogether too +holy to be happy in. Sunday used to commence then when the sun went down +on Saturday night. We commenced at that time for the purpose of getting +a good ready, and when the sun fell below the horizon on Saturday +evening, there was a darkness fell upon the house ten thousand times +deeper than that of night. Nobody said a pleasant word; nobody laughed; +nobody smiled; the child that looked the sickest was regarded as the +most pious. That night you could not even crack hickory nuts. If you +were caught chewing gum it was only another evidence of the total +depravity of the human heart. It was an exceedingly solemn night. + +Dyspepsia was in the very air you breathed. Everybody looked sad and +mournful. I have noticed all my life that many people think they have +religion when they are troubled with dyspepsia. If there could be found +an absolute specific for that disease, it would be the hardest blow the +church has ever received. + +On Sunday morning the solemnity had simply increased. Then we went to +church. The minister was in a pulpit about twenty feet high, with a +little sounding-board above him, and he commenced at "firstly" and went +on and on and on to about "twenty-thirdly." Then he made a few remarks +by way of application; and then took a general view of the subject, and +in about two hours reached the last chapter in Revelation. + +In those days, no matter how cold the weather was, there was no fire in +the church. It was thought to be a kind of sin to be comfortable while +you were thanking God. The first church that ever had a stove in it in +New England, divided on that account. So the first church in which they +sang by note, was torn in fragments. + +After the sermon we had an intermission. Then came the catechism with +the chief end of man. We went through with that. We sat in a row with +our feet coming in about six inches of the floor. The minister asked +us if we knew that we all deserved to go to hell, and we all answered +"Yes." Then we were asked if we would be willing to go to hell if it was +God's will, and every little liar shouted "Yes." Then the same sermon +was preached once more, commencing at the other end and going back. +After that, we started for home, sad and solemn--overpowered with the +wisdom displayed in the scheme of the atonement. When we got home, if we +had been good boys, and the weather was warm, sometimes they would take +us out to the graveyard to cheer us up a little. It did cheer me. When +I looked at the sunken tombs and the leaning stones, and read the +half-effaced inscriptions through the moss of silence and forgetfulness, +it was a great comfort. The reflection came to my mind that the +observance of the Sabbath could not last always. Sometimes they would +sing that beautiful hymn in which occurs these cheerful lines: + + "Where congregations ne'er break up, + And Sabbaths never end." + +These lines, I think, prejudiced me a little against even heaven. Then +we had good books that we read on Sundays by way of keeping us happy +and contented. There were Milners' "History of the Waldenses," Baxter's +"Call to the Unconverted," Yahn's "Archaeology of the Jews," and +Jenkyns' "On the Atonement." I used to read Jenkyns' "On the Atonement." +I have often thought that an atonement would have to be exceedingly +broad in its provisions to cover the case of a man who would write a +book like that for a boy. + +But at last the Sunday wore away, and the moment the sun went down we +were free. Between three and four o'clock we would go out to see how the +sun was coming on. Sometimes it seemed to me that it was stopping from +pure meanness. But finally it went down. It had to. And when the last +rim of light sank below the horizon, off would go our caps, and we would +give three cheers for liberty once more. + +Sabbaths used to be prisons. Every Sunday was a Bastile. Every Christian +was a kind of turnkey, and every child was a prisoner,--a convict. In +that dungeon, a smile was a crime. + +It was thought wrong for a child to laugh upon this holy day. Think of +that! + +A little child would go out into the garden, and there would be a tree +laden with blossoms, and the little fellow would lean against it, and +there would be a bird on one of the boughs, singing and swinging, and +thinking about four little speckled eggs, warmed by the breast of its +mate,--singing and swinging, and the music in happy waves rippling out +of its tiny throat, and the flowers blossoming, the air filled with +perfume and the great white clouds floating in the sky, and the little +boy would lean up against that tree and think about hell and the worm +that never dies. + +I have heard them preach, when I sat in the pew and my feet did not +touch the floor, about the final home of the unconverted. In order to +impress upon the children the length of time they would probably stay if +they settled in that country, the preacher would frequently give us the +following illustration: "Suppose that once in a billion years a bird +should come from some far-distant planet, and carry off in its little +bill a grain of sand, a time would finally come when the last atom +composing this earth would be carried away; and when this last atom was +taken, it would not even be sun up in hell." Think of such an infamous +doctrine being taught to children! + +The laugh of a child will make the holiest day-more sacred still. +Strike, with hand of fire, O weird musician, thy harp strung with +Apollo's golden hair; fill the vast cathedral aisles with symphonies +sweet and dim, deft toucher of the organ keys; blow, bugler, blow, until +thy silver notes do touch and kiss the moonlit waves, and charm the +lovers wandering 'mid the vine-clad hills. But know, your sweetest +strains are discords all, compared with childhood's happy laugh--the +laugh that fills the eyes with light and every heart with joy. O +rippling river of laughter, thou art the blessed boundary line between +the beasts and men; and every wayward wave of thine doth drown some +fretful fiend of care. O Laughter, rose-lipped daughter of Joy, there +are dimples enough in thy cheeks to catch and hold and glorify all the +tears of grief. + +And yet the minds of children have been polluted by this infamous +doctrine of eternal punishment. I denounce it to-day as a doctrine, the +infamy of which no language is sufficient to express. + +Where did that doctrine of eternal punishment for men and women and +children come from? It came from the low and beastly skull of that +wretch in the dug-out. Where did he get it? It was a souvenir from the +animals. The doctrine of eternal punishment was born in the glittering +eyes of snakes--snakes that hung in fearful coils watching for their +prey. It was born of the howl and bark and growl of wild beasts. It +was born of the grin of hyenas and of the depraved chatter of unclean +baboons. I despise it with every drop of my blood. Tell me there is a +God in the serene heavens that will damn his children for the expression +of an honest belief! More men have died in their sins, judged by your +orthodox creeds, than there are leaves on all the forests in the wide +world ten thousand times over. Tell me these men are in hell; that these +men are in torment; that these children are in eternal pain, and that +they are to be punished forever and forever! I denounce this doctrine as +the most infamous of lies. + +When the great ship containing the hopes and aspirations of the world, +when the great ship freighted with mankind goes down in the night of +death, chaos and disaster, I am willing to go down with the ship. I +will not be guilty of the ineffable meanness of paddling away in some +orthodox canoe. I will go down with the ship, with those who love me, +and with those whom I have loved. If there is a God who will damn his +children forever, I would rather go to hell than to go to heaven and +keep the society of such an infamous tyrant. I make my choice now. I +despise that doctrine. It has covered the cheeks of this world with +tears. It has polluted the hearts of children, and poisoned the +imaginations of men. It has been a constant pain, a perpetual terror to +every good man and woman and child. It has filled the good with horror +and with fear; but it has had no effect upon the infamous and base. It +has wrung the hearts of the tender; it has furrowed the cheeks of the +good. This doctrine never should be preached again. What right have you, +sir, Mr. clergyman, you, minister of the gospel, to stand at the portals +of the tomb, at the vestibule of eternity, and fill the future with +horror and with fear? I do not believe this doctrine: neither do you. +If you did, you could not sleep one moment. Any man who believes it, and +has within his breast a decent, throbbing heart, will go insane. A man +who believes that doctrine and does not go insane has the heart of a +snake and the conscience of a hyena. + +Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is true, is +now in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he hears the cries +of the damned, preached this doctrine; and he said: "Can the believing +husband in heaven be happy with his unbelieving wife in hell? Can the +believing father in heaven be happy with his unbelieving children +in hell? Can the loving wife in heaven be happy with her unbelieving +husband in hell?" And he replies: "I tell you, yea. Such will be their +sense of justice, that it will increase rather than diminish their +bliss." There is no wild beast in the jungles of Africa whose reputation +would not be tarnished by the expression of such a doctrine. + +These doctrines have been taught in the name of religion, in the name of +universal forgiveness, in the name of infinite love and charity. Do not, +I pray you, soil the minds of your children with this dogma. Let them +read for themselves; let them think for themselves. + +Do not treat your children like orthodox posts to be set in a row. Treat +them like trees that need light and sun and air. Be fair and honest +with them; give them a chance. Recollect that their rights are equal to +yours. Do not have it in your mind that you must govern them; that they +must obey. Throw away forever the idea of master and slave. + +In old times they used to make the children go to bed when they were not +sleepy, and get up when they were sleepy. I say let them go to bed when +they are sleepy, and get up when they are not sleepy. + +But you say, this doctrine will do for the rich but not for the poor. +Well, if the poor have to waken their children early in the morning it +is as easy to wake them with a kiss as with a blow. Give your children +freedom; let them preserve their individuality. Let your children eat +what they desire, and commence at the end of a dinner they like. That is +their business and not yours. They know what they wish to eat. If they +are given their liberty from the first, they know what they want better +than any doctor in the world can prescribe. Do you know that all the +improvement that has ever been made in the practice of medicine has +been made by the recklessness of patients and not by the doctors? +For thousands and thousands of years the doctors would not let a man +suffering from fever have a drop of water. Water they looked upon as +poison. But every now and then some man got reckless and said, "I had +rather die than not to slake my thirst." Then he would drink two or +three quarts of water and get well. And when the doctor was told of +what the patient had done, he expressed great surprise that he was still +alive, and complimented his constitution upon being able to bear such a +frightful strain. The reckless men, however, kept on drinking the water, +and persisted in getting well. And finally the doctors said: "In a +fever, water is the very best thing you can take." So, I have more +confidence in the voice of nature about such things than I have in the +conclusions of the medical schools. + +Let your children have freedom and they will fall into your ways; they +will do substantially as you do; but if you try to make them, there is +some magnificent, splendid thing in the human heart that refuses to be +driven. And do you know that it is the luckiest thing that ever happened +for this world, that people are that way. What would have become of the +people five hundred years ago if they had followed strictly the advice +of the doctors? They would have all been dead. What would the people +have been, if at any age of the world they had followed implicitly +the direction of the church? They would have all been idiots. It is a +splendid thing that there is always some grand man who will not mind, +and who will think for himself. + +I believe in allowing the children to think for themselves. I believe +in the democracy of the family. If in this world there is anything +splendid, it is a home where all are equals. + +You will remember that only a few years ago parents would tell their +children to "let their victuals stop their mouths." They used to eat as +though it were a religious ceremony--a very solemn thing. Life should +not be treated as a solemn matter. I like to see the children at table, +and hear each one telling of the wonderful things he has seen and heard. +I like to hear the clatter of knives and forks and spoons mingling with +their happy voices. I had rather hear it than any opera that was ever +put upon the boards. Let the children have liberty. Be honest and fair +with them; be just; be tender, and they will make you rich in love and +joy. + +Men are oaks, women are vines, children are flowers. + +The human race has been guilty of almost countless crimes; but I have +some excuse for mankind. This world, after all, is not very well adapted +to raising good people. In the first place, nearly all of it is water. +It is much better adapted to fish culture than to the production of +folks. Of that portion which is land not one-eighth has suitable soil +and climate to produce great men and women. You cannot raise men and +women of genius, without the proper soil and climate, any more than you +can raise corn and wheat upon the ice fields of the Arctic sea. You must +have the necessary conditions and surroundings. Man is a product; you +must have the soil and food. The obstacles presented by nature must +not be so great that man cannot, by reasonable industry and courage, +overcome them. There is upon this world only a narrow belt of land, +circling zigzag the globe, upon which you can produce men and women of +talent. In the Southern Hemisphere the real climate that man needs falls +mostly upon the sea, and the result is, that the southern half of our +world has never produced a man or woman of great genius. In the far +north there is no genius--it is too cold. In the far south there is no +genius--it is too warm. There must be winter, and there must be summer. +In a country where man needs no coverlet but a cloud, revolution is his +normal condition. Winter is the mother of industry and prudence. Above +all, it is the mother of the family relation. Winter holds in its icy +arms the husband and wife and the sweet children. If upon this earth we +ever have a glimpse of heaven, it is when we pass a home in winter, at +night, and through the windows, the curtains drawn aside, we see the +family about the pleasant hearth; the old lady knitting; the cat playing +with the yarn; the children wishing they had as many dolls or dollars or +knives or somethings, as there are sparks going out to join the roaring +blast; the father reading and smoking, and the clouds rising like +incense from the altar of domestic joy. I never passed such a house +without feeling that I had received a benediction. + +Civilization, liberty, justice, charity, intellectual advancement, are +all flowers that blossom in the drifted snow. + +I do not know that I can better illustrate the great truth that only +part of the world is adapted to the production of great men and women +than by calling your attention to the difference between vegetation +in valleys and upon mountains. In the valley you find the oak and elm +tossing their branches defiantly to the storm, and as you advance up the +mountain side the hemlock, the pine, the birch, the spruce, the fir, +and finally you come to little dwarfed trees, that look like other +trees seen through a telescope reversed--every limb twisted as though +in pain--getting a scanty subsistence from the miserly crevices of the +rocks. You go on and on, until at last the highest crag is freckled with +a kind of moss, and vegetation ends. You might as well try to raise oaks +and elms where the mosses grow, as to raise great men and great women +where their surroundings are unfavorable. You must have the proper +climate and soil. + +A few years ago we were talking about the annexation of Santo Domingo to +this country. I was in Washington at the time. I was opposed to it I +was told that it was a most delicious climate; that the soil produced +everything. But I said: "We do not want it; it is not the right kind +of country in which to raise American citizens. Such a climate would +debauch us. You might go there with five thousand Congregational +preachers, five thousand ruling elders, five thousand professors in +colleges, five thousand of the solid men of Boston and their wives; +settle them all in Santo Domingo, and you will see the second generation +riding upon a mule, bareback, no shoes, a grapevine bridle, hair +sticking out at the top of their sombreros, with a rooster under each +arm, going to a cock fight on Sunday." Such is the influence of climate. + +Science, however, is gradually widening the area within which men +of genius can be produced. We are conquering the north with houses, +clothing, food and fuel. We are in many ways overcoming the heat of the +south. If we attend to this world instead of another, we may in time +cover the land with men and women of genius. + +I have still another excuse. I believe that man came up from the lower +animals. I do not say this as a fact. I simply say I believe it to be +a fact. Upon that question I stand about eight to seven, which, for all +practical purposes, is very near a certainty. When I first heard of that +doctrine I did not like it. My heart was filled with sympathy for those +people who have nothing to be proud of except ancestors. I thought, how +terrible this will be upon the nobility of the Old World. Think of their +being forced to trace their ancestry back to the duke Orang Outang, or +to the princess Chimpanzee. After thinking it all over, I came to the +conclusion that I liked that doctrine. I became convinced in spite of +myself. I read about rudimentary bones and muscles. I was told that +everybody had rudimentary muscles extending from the ear into the cheek. +I asked "What are they?" I was told: "They are the remains of +muscles; that they became rudimentary from lack of use; they went into +bankruptcy. They are the muscles with which your ancestors used to flap +their ears." I do not now so much wonder that we once had them as that +we have outgrown them. + +After all I had rather belong to a race that started from the skull-less +vertebrates in the dim Laurentian seas, vertebrates wiggling without +knowing why they wiggled, swimming without knowing where they were +going, but that in some way began to develop, and began to get a little +higher and a little higher in the scale of existence; that came up by +degrees through millions of ages through all the animal world, through +all that crawls and swims and floats and climbs and walks, and finally +produced the gentleman in the dug-out; and then from this man, getting +a little grander, and each one below calling every one above him a +heretic, calling every one who had made a little advance an infidel or +an atheist--for in the history of this world the man who is ahead has +always been called a heretic--I would rather come from a race that +started from that skull-less vertebrate, and came up and up and up and +finally produced Shakespeare, the man who found the human intellect +dwelling in a hut, touched it with the wand of his genius and it became +a palace domed and pinnacled; Shakespeare, who harvested all the fields +of dramatic thought, and from whose day to this, there have been only +gleaners of straw and chaff--I would rather belong to that race that +commenced a skull-less vertebrate and produced Shakespeare, a race that +has before it an infinite future, with the angel of progress leaning +from the far horizon, beckoning men forward, upward and onward +forever--I had rather belong to such a race, commencing there, producing +this, and with that hope, than to have sprung from a perfect pair upon +which the Lord has lost money every moment from that day to this. + + +CONCLUSION. + +I have given you my honest thought. Surely investigation is better than +unthinking faith. Surely reason is a better guide than fear. This world +should be controlled by the living, not by the dead. The grave is not a +throne, and a corpse is not a king. Man should not try to live on ashes. + +The theologians dead, knew no more than the theologians now living. +More than this cannot be said. About this world little is known,--about +another world, nothing. + +Our fathers were intellectual serfs, and their fathers were slaves. The +makers of our creeds were ignorant and brutal. Every dogma that we have, +has upon it the mark of whip, the rust of chain, and the ashes of fagot. + +Our fathers reasoned with instruments of torture. They believed in the +logic of fire and sword. They hated reason. They despised thought. They +abhorred liberty. + +Superstition is the child of slavery. Free thought will give us truth. +When all have the right to think and to express their thoughts, every +brain will give to all the best it has. The world will then be filled +with intellectual wealth. + +As long as men and women are afraid of the church, as long as a minister +inspires fear, as long as people reverence a thing simply because +they do not understand it, as long as it is respectable to lose your +self-respect, as long as the church has power, as long as mankind +worship a book, just so long will the world be filled with intellectual +paupers and vagrants, covered with the soiled and faded rags of +superstition. + +As long as woman regards the Bible as the charter of her rights, she +will be the slave of man. The Bible was not written by a woman. Within +its lids there is nothing but humiliation and shame for her. She is +regarded as the property of man. She is made to ask forgiveness for +becoming a mother. She is as much below her husband, as her husband is +below Christ. She is not allowed to speak. The gospel is too pure to be +spoken by her polluted lips. Woman should learn in silence. + +In the Bible will be found no description of a civilized home. The free +mother surrounded by free and loving children, adored by a free man, her +husband, was unknown to the inspired writers of the Bible. They did not +believe in the democracy of home--in the republicanism of the fireside. + +These inspired gentlemen knew nothing of the rights of children. They +were the advocates of brute force--the disciples of the lash. They knew +nothing of human rights. Their doctrines have brutalized the homes of +millions, and filled the eyes of infancy with tears. + +Let us free ourselves from the tyranny of a book, from the slavery of +dead ignorance, from the aristocracy of the air. + +There has never been upon the earth a generation of free men and +women. It is not yet time to write a creed. Wait until the chains are +broken--until dungeons are not regarded as temples. Wait until solemnity +is not mistaken for wisdom--until mental cowardice ceases to be known +as reverence. Wait until the living are considered the equals of the +dead--until the cradle takes precedence of the coffin. Wait until what +we know can be spoken without regard to what others may believe. Wait +until teachers take the place of preachers--until followers become +investigators. Wait until the world is free before you write a creed. + +In this creed there will be but one word--Liberty. + +Oh Liberty, float not forever in the far horizon--remain not forever in +the dream of the enthusiast, the philanthropist and poet, but come and +make thy home among the children of men! + +I know not what discoveries, what inventions, what thoughts may leap +from the brain of the world. I know not what garments of glory may be +woven by the years to come. I cannot dream of the victories to be won +upon the fields of thought; but I do know, that coming from the infinite +sea of the future, there will never touch this "bank and shoal of time" +a richer gift, a rarer blessing than liberty for man, for woman, and for +child. + + + + +ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS + +To Plow is to Pray--to Plant is to Prophesy, and the Harvest Answers and +Fulfills. + +I AM not an old and experienced farmer, nor a tiller of the soil, nor +one of the hard-handed sons of labor. I imagine, however, that I know +something about cultivating the soil, and getting happiness out of the +ground. + +I know enough to know that agriculture is the basis of all wealth, +prosperity and luxury. I know that in a country where the tillers of the +fields are free, everybody is free and ought to be prosperous. Happy is +that country where those who cultivate the land own it. Patriotism is +born in the woods and fields--by lakes and streams--by crags and plains. + +The old way of farming was a great mistake. Everything was done the +wrong way. It was all work and waste, weariness and want. They used +to fence a hundred and sixty acres of land with a couple of dogs. +Everything was left to the protection of the blessed trinity of chance, +accident and mistake. + +When I was a farmer they used to haul wheat two hundred miles in wagons +and sell it for thirty-five cents a bushel. They would bring home about +three hundred feet of lumber, two bunches of shingles, a barrel of salt, +and a cook-stove that never would draw and never did bake. + +In those blessed days the people lived on corn and bacon. Cooking was +an unknown art. Eating was a necessity, not a pleasure. It was hard work +for the cook to keep on good terms even with hunger. + +We had poor houses. The rain held the roofs in perfect contempt, and +the snow drifted joyfully on the floors and beds. They had no barns. The +horses were kept in rail pens surrounded with straw. Long before spring +the sides would be eaten away and nothing but roofs would be left. Food +is fuel. When the cattle were exposed to all the blasts of winter, it +took all the corn and oats that could be stuffed into them to prevent +actual starvation. + +In those times most farmers thought the best place for the pig-pen was +immediately in front of the house. There is nothing like sociability. + +Women were supposed to know the art of making fires without fuel. The +wood pile consisted, as a general thing, of one log upon which an axe or +two had been worn out in vain. There was nothing to kindle a fire with. +Pickets were pulled from the garden fence, clap-boards taken from the +house, and every stray plank was seized upon for kindling. Everything +was done in the hardest way. Everything about the farm was disagreeable. +Nothing was kept in order. Nothing was preserved. The wagons stood +in the sun and rain, and the plows rusted in the fields. There was +no leisure, no feeling that the work was done. It was all labor and +weariness and vexation of spirit. The crops were destroyed by wandering +herds, or they were put in too late, or too early, or they were blown +down, or caught by the frost, or devoured by bugs, or stung by flies, +or eaten by worms, or carried away by birds, or dug up by gophers, or +washed away by floods, or dried up by the sun, or rotted in the stack, +or heated in the crib, or they all run to vines, or tops, or straw, or +smut, or cobs. And when in spite of all these accidents that lie in wait +between, the plow and the reaper, they did succeed in raising a good +crop and a high price was offered, then the roads would be impassable. +And when the roads got good, then the prices went down. Everything +worked together for evil. + +Nearly every farmer's boy took an oath that he never would cultivate +the soil. The moment they arrived at the age of twenty-one they left +the desolate and dreary farms and rushed to the towns and cities. They +wanted to be bookkeepers, doctors, merchants, railroad men, insurance +agents, lawyers, even preachers, anything to avoid the drudgery of the +farm. Nearly every boy acquainted with the three R's--reading, writing, +and arithmetic--imagined that he had altogether more education than +ought to be wasted in raising potatoes and corn. They made haste to get +into some other business. Those who stayed upon the farm envied those +who went away. + +A few years ago the times were prosperous, and the young men went to the +cities to enjoy the fortunes that were waiting for them. They wanted to +engage in something that promised quick returns. They built railways, +established banks and insurance companies. They speculated in stocks +in Wall Street, and gambled in grain at Chicago. They became rich. +They lived in palaces. They rode in carriages. They pitied their poor +brothers on the farms, and the poor brothers envied them. + +But time has brought its revenge. The farmers have seen the railroad +president a bankrupt, and the road in the hands of a receiver. They have +seen the bank president abscond, and the insurance company a wrecked and +ruined fraud. The only solvent people, as a class, the only independent +people, are the tillers of the soil. + +Farming must be made more attractive. The comforts of the town must be +added to the beauty of the fields. The sociability of the city must be +rendered possible in the country. + +Farming has been made repulsive. The farmers have been unsociable and +their homes have been lonely. They have been wasteful and careless. They +have not been proud of their business. + +In the first place, farming ought to be reasonably profitable. The +farmers have not attended to their own interests. They have been robbed +and plundered in a hundred ways. + +No farmer can afford to raise corn and oats and hay to sell. He should +sell horses, not oats; sheep, cattle and pork, not corn. He should make +every profit possible out of what he produces. So long as the farmers of +Illinois ship their corn and oats, so long they will be poor,--just so +long will their farms be mortgaged to the insurance companies and banks +of the East,--just so long will they do the work and others reap the +benefit,--just so long will they be poor, and the money lenders grow +rich,--just so long will cunning avarice grasp and hold the net profits +of honest toil. When the farmers of the West ship beef and pork instead +of grain,--when we manufacture here,--when we cease paying tribute to +others, ours will be the most prosperous country in the world. + +Another thing--It is just as cheap to raise a good as a poor breed of +cattle. Scrubs will eat just as much as thoroughbreds. If you are not +able to buy Durhams and Alderneys, you can raise the corn breed. By +"corn breed" I mean the cattle that have, for several generations, had +enough to eat, and have been treated with kindness. Every farmer who +will treat his cattle kindly, and feed them all they want, will, in a +few years, have blooded stock on his farm. All blooded stock has been +produced in this way. You can raise good cattle just as you can raise +good people. If you wish to raise a good boy you must give him plenty to +eat, and treat him with kindness. In this way, and in this way only, can +good cattle or good people be produced. + +Another thing--You must beautify your homes. + +When I was a farmer it was not fashionable to set out trees, nor to +plant vines. + +When you visited the farm you were not welcomed by flowers, and greeted +by trees loaded with fruit. Yellow dogs came bounding over the tumbled +fence like wild beasts. There is no sense--there is no profit in such a +life. It is not living. The farmers ought to beautify their homes. There +should be trees and grass and flowers and running vines. Everything +should be kept in order--gates should be on their hinges, and about all +there should be the pleasant air of thrift. In every house there should +be a bath-room. The bath is a civilizer, a refiner, a beautifier. +When you come from the fields tired, covered with dust, nothing is so +refreshing. Above all things, keep clean. It is not necessary to be a +pig in order to raise one. In the cool of the evening, after a day in +the field, put on clean clothes, take a seat under the trees, 'mid the +perfume of flowers, surrounded by your family, and you will know what it +is to enjoy life like a gentleman. + +In no part of the globe will farming pay better than in Illinois. You +are in the best portion of the earth. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, +there is no such country as yours. The East is hard and stony; the +soil is stingy. The far West is a desert parched and barren, dreary and +desolate as perdition would be with the fires out. It is better to dig +wheat and corn from the soil than gold. Only a few days ago, I was where +they wrench the precious metals from the miserly clutch of the rocks. +When I saw the mountains, treeless, shrub-less, flowerless, without even +a spire of grass, it seemed to me that gold had the same effect upon +the country that holds it, as upon the man who lives and labors only for +that. It affects the land as it does the man. It leaves the heart barren +without a flower of kindness--without a blossom of pity. + +The farmer in Illinois has the best soil--the greatest return for the +least labor--more leisure--more time for enjoyment than any other +farmer in the world. His hard work ceases with autumn. He has the long +winters in which to become acquainted with his family--with his +neighbors--in which to read and keep abreast with the advanced thought +of his day. He has the time and means for self-culture. He has more time +than the mechanic, the merchant or the professional man. If the farmer +is not well informed it is his own fault. Books are cheap, and every +farmer can have enough to give him the outline of every science, and an +idea of all that has been accomplished by man. + +In many respects the farmer has the advantage of the mechanic. In our +time we have plenty of mechanics but no tradesmen. In the sub-division +of labor we have a thousand men working upon different parts of the same +thing, each taught in one particular branch, and in only one. We have, +say, in a shoe factory, hundreds of men, but not one shoemaker. It takes +them all, assisted by a great number of machines, to make a shoe. Each +does a particular part, and not one of them knows the entire trade. The +result is that the moment the factory shuts down these men are out of +employment. Out of employment means out of bread--out of bread means +famine and horror. The mechanic of to-day has but little independence. +His prosperity often depends upon the good will of one man. He is liable +to be discharged for a look, for a word. He lays by but little for his +declining years. He is, at the best, the slave of capital. + +It is a thousand times better to be a whole farmer than part of a +mechanic. It is better to till the ground and work for yourself than +to be hired by corporations. Every man should endeavor to belong to +himself. + +About seven hundred years ago, Khayyam, a Persian, said: "Why should a +man who possesses a piece of bread securing life for two days, and who +has a cup of water--why should such a man be commanded by another, and +why should such a man serve another?" + +Young men should not be satisfied with a salary. Do not mortgage the +possibilities of your future. Have the courage to take life as it comes, +feast or famine. Think of hunting a gold mine for a dollar a day, and +think of finding one for another man. How would you feel then? + +We are lacking in true courage, when, for fear of the future, we take +the crusts and scraps and niggardly salaries of the present. I had +a thousand times rather have a farm and be independent, than to be +President of the United States without independence, filled with doubt +and trembling, feeling of the popular pulse, resorting to art and +artifice, enquiring about the wind of opinion, and succeeding at last in +losing my self-respect without gaining the respect of others. + +Man needs more manliness, more real independence. We must take care of +ourselves. This we can do by labor, and in this way we can preserve our +independence. We should try and choose that business or profession the +pursuit of which will give us the most happiness. Happiness is wealth. +We can be happy without being rich--without holding office--without +being famous. I am not sure that we can be happy with wealth, with +office, or with fame. + +There is a quiet about the life of a farmer, and the hope of a +serene old age, that no other business or profession can promise. A +professional man is doomed sometime to feel that his powers are waning. +He is doomed to see younger and stronger men pass him in the race of +life. He looks forward to an old age of intellectual mediocrity. He will +be last where once he was the first. But the farmer goes, as it were, +into partnership with nature--he lives with trees and flowers--he +breathes the sweet air of the fields. There is no constant and frightful +strain upon his mind. His nights are filled with sleep and rest. He +watches his flocks and herds as they feed upon the green and sunny +slopes. He hears the pleasant rain falling upon the waving corn, and the +trees he planted in youth rustle above him as he plants others for the +children yet to be. + +Our country is filled with the idle and unemployed, and the great +question asking for an answer is: What shall be done with these men? +What shall these men do? To this there is but one answer: They must +cultivate the soil. Farming must be rendered more attractive. Those who +work the land must have an honest pride in their business. They must +educate their children to cultivate the soil. They must make farming +easier, so that their children will not hate it--so that they will not +hate it themselves. The boys must not be taught that tilling the ground +is a curse and almost a disgrace. They must not suppose that education +is thrown away upon them unless they become ministers, merchants, +lawyers, doctors, or statesmen. It must be understood that education +can be used to advantage on a farm. We must get rid of the idea that a +little learning unfits one for work. There is no real conflict between +Latin and labor. There are hundreds of graduates of Yale and Harvard +and other colleges, who are agents of sewing machines, solicitors for +insurance, clerks, copyists, in short, performing a hundred varieties of +menial service. They seem willing to do anything that is not regarded as +work--anything that can be done in a town, in the house, in an office, +but they avoid farming as they would a leprosy. Nearly every young man +educated in this way is simply ruined. Such an education ought to be +called ignorance. It is a thousand times better to have common sense +without education, than education without the sense. Boys and girls +should be educated to help themselves. They should be taught that it is +disgraceful to be idle, and dishonorable to be useless. + +I say again, if you want more men and women on the farms, something must +be done to make farm life pleasant. One great difficulty is that the +farm is lonely. People write about the pleasures of solitude, but they +are found only in books. He who lives long alone becomes insane. A +hermit is a madman. Without friends and wife and child, there is nothing +left worth living for. The unsocial are the enemies of joy. They are +filled with egotism and envy, with vanity and hatred. People who live +much alone become narrow and suspicious. They are apt to be the property +of one idea. They begin to think there is no use in anything. They look +upon the happiness of others as a kind of folly. They hate joyous folks, +because, way down in their hearts, they envy them. + +In our country, farm-life is too lonely. The farms are large, and +neighbors are too far apart. In these days, when the roads are filled +with "tramps," the wives and children need protection. When the farmer +leaves home and goes to some distant field to work, a shadow of fear is +upon his heart all day, and a like shadow rests upon all at home. + +In the early settlement of our country the pioneer was forced to take +his family, his axe, his dog and his gun, and go into the far wild +forest, and build his cabin miles and miles from any neighbor. He saw +the smoke from his hearth go up alone in all the wide and lonely sky. + +But this necessity has passed away, and now, instead of living so far +apart upon the lonely farms, you should live in villages. With the +improved machinery which you have--with your generous soil--with +your markets and means of transportation, you can now afford to live +together. + +It is not necessary in this age of the world for the farmer to rise in +the middle of the night and begin his work. This getting up so early in +the morning is a relic of barbarism. It has made hundreds and thousands +of young men curse the business. There is no need of getting up at three +or four o'clock in the winter morning. The farmer who persists in doing +it and persists in dragging his wife and children from their beds ought +to be visited by a missionary. It is time enough to rise after the sun +has set the example. For what purpose do you get up? To feed the cattle? +Why not feed them more the night before? It is a waste of life. In the +old times they used to get up about three o'clock in the morning, and go +to work long before the sun had risen with "healing upon his wings," and +as a just punishment they all had the ague; and they ought to have it +now. The man who cannot get a living upon Illinois soil without rising +before daylight ought to starve. Eight hours a day is enough for any +farmer to work except in harvest time. When you rise at four and work +till dark what is life worth? Of what use are all the improvements in +farming? Of what use is all the improved machinery unless it tends to +give the farmer a little more leisure? What is harvesting now, compared +with what it was in the old time? Think of the days of reaping, of +cradling, of raking and binding and mowing. Think of threshing with +the flail and winnowing with the wind. And now think of the reapers and +mowers, the binders and threshing machines, the plows and cultivators, +upon which the farmer rides protected from the sun. If, with all these +advantages, you cannot get a living without rising in the middle of the +night, go into some other business. You should not rob your families of +sleep. Sleep is the best medicine in the world. It is the best doctor +upon the earth. There is no such thing as health without plenty of +sleep. Sleep until you are thoroughly rested and restored. When you +work, work; and when you get through take a good, long, and refreshing +rest. + +You should live in villages, so that you can have the benefits of social +life. You can have a reading-room--you can take the best papers and +magazines--you can have plenty of books, and each one can have the +benefit of them all. Some of the young men and women can cultivate +music. You can have social gatherings--you can learn from each +other--you can discuss all topics of interest, and in this way you can +make farming a delightful business. You must keep up with the age. +The way to make farming respectable is for farmers to become really +intelligent. They must live intelligent and happy lives. They must know +something of books and something of what is going on in the world. +They must not be satisfied with knowing something of the affairs of a +neighborhood and nothing about the rest of the earth. The business must +be made attractive, and it never can be until the farmer has prosperity, +intelligence and leisure. + +Another thing--I am a believer in fashion. It is the duty of every woman +to make herself as beautiful and attractive as she possibly can. + +"Handsome is as handsome does," but she is much handsomer if well +dressed. Every man should look his very best. I am a believer in good +clothes. The time never ought to come in this country when you can tell +a farmer's wife or daughter simply by the garments she wears. I say to +every girl and woman, no matter what the material of your dress may be, +no matter how cheap and coarse it is, cut it and make it in the fashion. +I believe in jewelry. Some people look upon it as barbaric, but in my +judgment, wearing jewelry is the first evidence the barbarian gives of +a wish to be civilized. To adorn ourselves seems to be a part of our +nature, and this desire seems to be everywhere and in everything. I +have sometimes thought that the desire for beauty covers the earth with +flowers. It is this desire that paints the wings of moths, tints the +chamber of the shell, and gives the bird its plumage and its song. Oh +daughters and wives, if you would be loved, adorn yourselves--if you +would be adored, be beautiful! + +There is another fault common with the farmers of our country--they want +too much land. You cannot, at present, when taxes are high, afford to +own land that you do not cultivate. Sell it and let others make farms +and homes. In this way what you keep will be enhanced in value. Farmers +ought to own the land they cultivate, and cultivate what they own. +Renters can hardly be called farmers. There can be no such thing in the +highest sense as a home unless you own it. There must be an incentive +to plant trees, to beautify the grounds, to preserve and improve. It +elevates a man to own a home. It gives a certain independence, a force +of character that is obtained in no other way. A man without a home +feels like a passenger. There is in such a man a little of the vagrant. +Homes make patriots. He who has sat by his own fireside with wife and +children will defend it. When he hears the word country pronounced, he +thinks of his home. + +Few men have been patriotic enough to shoulder a musket in defence of a +boarding house. + +The prosperity and glory of our country depend upon the number of our +people who are the owners of homes. Around the fireside cluster the +private and the public virtues of our race. Raise your sons to be +independent through labor--to pursue some business for themselves +and upon their own account--to be self-reliant--to act upon their own +responsibility, and to take the consequences like men. Teach them above +all things to be good, true and tender husbands--winners of love and +builders of homes. + +A great many farmers seem to think that they are the only laborers +in the world. This is a very foolish thing. Farmers cannot get along +without the mechanic. You are not independent of the man of genius. +Your prosperity depends upon the inventor. The world advances by the +assistance of all laborers; and all labor is under obligations to the +inventions of genius. The inventor does as much for agriculture as he +who tills the soil. All laboring men should be brothers. You are in +partnership with the mechanics who make your reapers, your mowers and +your plows; and you should take into your granges all the men who make +their living by honest labor. The laboring people should unite and +should protect themselves against all idlers. You can divide mankind +into two classes: the laborers and the idlers, the supporters and the +supported, the honest and the dishonest. Every man is dishonest who +lives upon the unpaid labor of others, no matter if he occupies a +throne. All laborers should be brothers. The laborers should have equal +rights before the world and before the law. And I want every farmer to +consider every man who labors either with hand or brain as his brother. +Until genius and labor formed a partnership there was no such thing +as prosperity among men. Every reaper and mower, every agricultural +implement, has elevated the work of the farmer, and his vocation grows +grander with every invention. In the olden time the agriculturist +was ignorant; he knew nothing of machinery, he was the slave of +superstition. He was always trying to appease some imaginary power by +fasting and prayer. He supposed that some being actuated by malice, sent +the untimely frost, or swept away with the wild wind his rude abode. +To him the seasons were mysteries. The thunder told him of an enraged +god--the barren fields of the vengeance of heaven. The tiller of the +soil lived in perpetual and abject fear. He knew nothing of mechanics, +nothing of order, nothing of law, nothing of cause and effect. He was +a superstitious savage. He invented prayers instead of plows, creeds +instead of reapers and mowers. He was unable to devote all his time to +the gods, and so he hired others to assist him, and for their influence +with the gentlemen supposed to control the weather, he gave one-tenth of +all he could produce. + +The farmer has been elevated through science and he should not forget +the debt he owes to the mechanic, to the inventor, to the thinker. He +should remember that all laborers belong to the same grand family--that +they are the real kings and queens, the only true nobility. + +Another idea entertained by most farmers is that they are in some +mysterious way oppressed by every other kind of business--that they are +devoured by monopolies, especially by railroads. + +Of course, the railroads are indebted to the farmers for their +prosperity, and the farmers are indebted to the railroads. Without them +Illinois would be almost worthless. + +A few years ago you endeavored to regulate the charges of railroad +companies. The principal complaint you had was that they charged too +much for the transportation of corn and other cereals to the East. You +should remember that all freights are paid by the consumer; and that +it made little difference to you what the railroad charged for +transportation to the East, as that transportation had to be paid by +the consumers of the grain. You were really interested in transportation +from the East to the West and in local freights. The result is that +while you have put down through freights you have not succeeded so well +in local freights. The exact opposite should be the policy of Illinois. +Put down local freights; put them down, if you can, to the lowest +possible figure, and let through rates take care of themselves. If all +the corn raised in Illinois could be transported to New York absolutely +free, it would enhance but little the price that you would receive. +What we want is the lowest possible local rate. Instead of this you have +simply succeeded in helping the East at the expense of the West. The +railroads are your friends. They are your partners. They can prosper +only where the country through which they run prospers. All intelligent +railroad men know this. They know that present robbery is future +bankruptcy. They know that the interest of the farmer and of the +railroad is the same. We must have railroads. What can we do without +them? + +When we had no railroads, we drew, as I said before, our grain two +hundred miles to market. + +In those days the farmers did not stop at hotels. They slept under their +wagons--took with them their food--fried their own bacon, made their +coffee, and ate their meals in the snow and rain. Those were the days +when they received ten cents a bushel for corn--when they sold four +bushels of potatoes for a quarter--thirty-three dozen eggs for a dollar, +and a hundred pounds of pork for a dollar and a half. + +What has made the difference? + +The railroads came to your door and they brought with them the markets +of the world. They brought New York and Liverpool and London into +Illinois, and the State has been clothed with prosperity as with a +mantle. It is the interest of the farmer to protect every great interest +in the State. You should feel proud that Illinois has more railroads +than any other State in this Union. Her main tracks and side tracks +would furnish iron enough to belt the globe. In Illinois there are +ten thousand miles of railways. In these iron highways more than three +hundred million dollars have been invested--a sum equal to ten times +the original cost of all the land in the State. To make war upon the +railroads is a short-sighted and suicidal policy. They should be treated +fairly and should be taxed by the same standard that farms are taxed, +and in no other way. If we wish to prosper we must act together, and we +must see to it that every form of labor is protected. + +There has been a long period of depression in all business. The farmers +have suffered least of all. Your land is just as rich and productive as +ever. Prices have been reasonable. The towns and cities have suffered. +Stocks and bonds have shrunk from par to worthless paper. Princes have +become paupers, and bankers, merchants and millionaires have passed into +the oblivion of bankruptcy. The period of depression is slowly passing +away, and we are entering upon better times. + +A great many people say that a scarcity of money is our only difficulty. +In my opinion we have money enough, but we lack confidence in each other +and in the future. + +There has been so much dishonesty, there have been so many failures, +that the people are afraid to trust anybody. There is plenty of money, +but there seems to be a scarcity of business. If you were to go to the +owner of a ferry, and, upon seeing his boat lying high and dry on the +shore, should say, "There is a superabundance of ferryboat," he would +probably reply, "No, but there is a scarcity of water." So with us there +is not a scarcity of money, but there is a scarcity of business. And +this scarcity springs from lack of confidence in one another. So many +presidents of savings banks, even those belonging to the Young Men's +Christian Association, run off with the funds; so many railroad and +insurance companies are in the hands of receivers; there is so much +bankruptcy on every hand, that all capital is held in the nervous clutch +of fear. Slowly, but surely we are coming back to honest methods in +business. Confidence will return, and then enterprise will unlock the +safe and money will again circulate as of yore; the dollars will leave +their hiding places and every one will be seeking investment. + +For my part, I do not ask any interference on the part of the Government +except to undo the wrong it has done. I do not ask that money be made +out of nothing. I do not ask for the prosperity born of paper. But I do +ask for the remonetization of silver. Silver was demonetized by fraud. +It was an imposition upon every solvent man; a fraud upon every honest +debtor in the United States. It assassinated labor. It was done in the +interest of avarice and greed, and should be undone by honest men. + +The farmers should vote only for such men as are able and willing to +guard and advance the interests of labor. We should know better than +to vote for men who will deliberately put a tariff of three dollars +a thousand upon Canada lumber, when every farmer in Illinois is a +purchaser of lumber. People who live upon the prairies ought to vote for +cheap lumber. We should protect ourselves. We ought to have intelligence +enough to know what we want and how to get it. The real laboring men of +this country can succeed if they are united. By laboring men, I do not +mean only the farmers. I mean all who contribute in some way to the +general welfare. They should forget prejudices and party names, and +remember only the best interests of the people. Let us see if we cannot, +in Illinois, protect every department of industry. Let us see if all +property cannot be protected alike and taxed alike, whether owned by +individuals or corporations. + +Where industry creates and justice protects, prosperity dwells. + +Let me tell you something more about Illinois. We have fifty-six +thousand square miles of land--nearly thirty-six million acres. Upon +these plains we can raise enough to feed and clothe twenty million +people. Beneath these prairies were hidden millions of ages ago, by +that old miser, the sun, thirty-six thousand square miles of coal. The +aggregate thickness of these veins is at least fifteen feet. Think of a +column of coal one mile square and one hundred miles high! All this +came from the sun. What a sunbeam such a column would be! Think of the +engines and machines this coal will run and turn and whirl! Think of +all this force, willed and left to us by the dead morning of the world! +Think of the firesides of the future around which will sit the fathers, +mothers and children of the years to be! Think of the sweet and happy +faces, the loving and tender eyes that will glow and gleam in the sacred +light of all these flames! + +We have the best country in the world, and Illinois is the best State +in that country. Is there any reason that our farmers should not be +prosperous and happy men? They have every advantage, and within their +reach are all the comforts and conveniences of life. + +Do not get the land fever and think you must buy all that joins you. Get +out of debt as soon as you possibly can. A mortgage casts a shadow on +the sunniest field. There is no business under the sun that can pay ten +per cent. + +Ainsworth R. Spofford gives the following facts about interest: "One +dollar loaned for one hundred years at six per cent., with the interest +collected annually and added to the principal, will amount to three +hundred and forty dollars. At eight per cent, it amounts to two thousand +two hundred and three dollars. At three per cent, it amounts only to +nineteen dollars and twenty-five cents. At ten per cent, it is thirteen +thousand eight hundred and nine dollars, or about seven hundred times +as much. At twelve per cent, it amounts to eighty-four thousand and +seventy-five dollars, or more than four thousand times as much. At +eighteen per cent, it amounts to fifteen million one hundred and +forty-five thousand and seven dollars. At twenty-four per cent, (which +we sometimes hear talked of) it reaches the enormous sum of two billion +five hundred and fifty-one million seven hundred and ninety-nine +thousand four hundred and four dollars." + +One dollar at compound interest, at twenty-four per cent., for one +hundred years, would produce a sum equal to our national debt. + +Interest eats night and day, and the more it eats the hungrier it grows. +The farmer in debt, lying awake at night, can, if he listens, hear it +gnaw. If he owes nothing, he can hear his corn grow. Get out of debt +as soon as you possibly can. You have supported idle avarice and lazy +economy long enough. + +Above all let every farmer treat his wife and children with infinite +kindness. Give your sons and daughters every advantage within your +power. In the air of kindness they will grow about you like flowers. +They will fill your homes with sunshine and all your years with joy. +Do not try to rule by force. A blow from a parent leaves a scar on the +soul. I should feel ashamed to die surrounded by children I had whipped. +Think of feeling upon your dying lips the kiss of a child you had +struck. + +See to it that your wife has every convenience. Make her life worth +living. Never allow her to become a servant. Wives, weary and worn, +mothers, wrinkled and bent before their time, fill homes with grief +and shame. If you are not able to hire help for your wives, help them +yourselves. See that they have the best utensils to work with. + +Women cannot create things by magic. Have plenty of wood and coal--good +cellars and plenty in them. Have cisterns, so that you can have plenty +of rain water for washing. Do not rely on a barrel and a board. When the +rain comes the board will be lost or the hoops will be off the barrel. + +Farmers should live like princes. Eat the best things you raise and sell +the rest. Have good things to cook and good things to cook with. Of all +people in our country, you should live the best. Throw your miserable +little stoves out of the window. Get ranges, and have them so built that +your wife need not burn her face off to get you a breakfast. Do not make +her cook in a kitchen hot as the orthodox perdition. The beef, not the +cook, should be roasted. It is just as easy to have things convenient +and right as to have them any other way. + +Cooking is one of the fine arts. Give your wives and daughters things to +cook, and things to cook with, and they will soon become most excellent +cooks. Good cooking is the basis of civilization. The man whose arteries +and veins are filled with rich blood made of good and well cooked food, +has pluck, courage, endurance and and noble impulses. The inventor of +a good soup did more for his race than the maker of any creed. The +doctrines of total depravity and endless punishment were born of bad +cooking and dyspepsia. Remember that your wife should have the things to +cook with. + +In the good old days there would be eleven children in the family and +only one skillet. Everything was broken or cracked or loaned or lost. + +There ought to be a law making it a crime, punishable by imprisonment, +to fry beefsteak. Broil it; it is just as easy, and when broiled it is +delicious. Fried beefsteak is not fit for a wild beast. You can broil +even on a stove. Shut the front damper--open the back one--then take off +a griddle. There will then be a draft downwards through this opening. +Put on your steak, using a wire broiler, and not a particle of smoke +will touch it, for the reason that the smoke goes down. If you try to +broil it with the front damper open, the smoke will rise. For broiling, +coal, even soft coal, makes a better fire than wood. + +There is no reason why farmers should not have fresh meat all the year +round. There is certainly no sense in stuffing yourself full of salt +meat every morning, and making a well or a cistern of your stomach for +the rest of the day. Every farmer should have an ice house. Upon or near +every farm is some stream from which plenty of ice can be obtained, and +the long summer days made delightful. Dr. Draper, one of the world's +greatest scientists, says that ice water is healthy, and that it has +done away with many of the low forms of fever in the great cities. Ice +has become one of the necessaries of civilized life, and without it +there is very little comfort. + +Make your homes pleasant. Have your houses warm and comfortable for the +winter. Do not build a story-and-a-half house. The half story is simply +an oven in which, during the summer, you will bake every night, and feel +in the morning as though only the rind of yourself was left. + +Decorate your rooms, even if you do so with cheap engravings. The +cheapest are far better than none. Have books--have papers, and read +them. You have more leisure than the dwellers in cities. Beautify your +grounds with plants and flowers and vines. Have good gardens. Remember +that everything of beauty tends to the elevation of man. Every little +morning-glory whose purple bosom is thrilled with the amorous kisses of +the sun, tends to put a blossom in your heart. Do not judge of the +value of everything by the market reports. Every flower about a house +certifies to the refinement of somebody. Every vine climbing and +blossoming, tells of love and joy. + +Make your houses comfortable. Do not huddle together in a little room +around a red-hot stove, with every window fastened down. Do not live in +this poisoned atmosphere, and then, when one of your children dies, put +a piece in the papers commencing with, "Whereas, it has pleased divine +Providence to remove from our midst--." Have plenty of air, and plenty +of warmth. Comfort is health. Do not imagine anything is unhealthy +simply because it is pleasant. That is an old and foolish idea. + +Let your children sleep. Do not drag them from their beds in the +darkness of night. Do not compel them to associate all that is tiresome, +irksome and dreadful with cultivating the soil. In this way you bring +farming into hatred and disrepute. Treat your children with infinite +kindness--treat them as equals. There is no happiness in a home not +filled with love. Where the husband hates his wife--where the wife hates +the husband; where children hate their parents and each other--there is +a hell upon earth. + +There is no reason why farmers should not be the kindest and most +cultivated of men. There is nothing in plowing the fields to make men +cross, cruel and crabbed. To look upon the sunny slopes covered with +daisies does not tend to make men unjust. Whoever labors for the +happiness of those he loves, elevates himself, no matter whether he +works in the dark and dreary shops, or in the perfumed fields. To work +for others is, in reality, the only way in which a man can work for +himself. Selfishness is ignorance. Speculators cannot make unless +somebody loses. In the realm of speculation, every success has at least +one victim. The harvest reaped by the farmer benefits all and injures +none. For him to succeed, it is not necessary that some one should fail. +The same is true of all producers--of all laborers. + +I can imagine no condition that carries with it such a promise of joy as +that of the farmer in the early winter. He has his cellar filled--he has +made every preparation for the days of snow and storm--he looks forward +to three months of ease and rest; to three months of fireside-content; +three months with wife and children; three months of long, delightful +evenings; three months of home; three months of solid comfort. + +When the life of the farmer is such as I have described, the cities and +towns will not be filled with want--the streets will not be crowded with +wrecked rogues, broken bankers, and bankrupt speculators. The fields +will be tilled, and country villages, almost hidden by trees and vines +and flowers, filled with industrious and happy people, will nestle in +every vale and gleam like gems on every plain. + +The idea must be done away with that there is something intellectually +degrading in cultivating the soil. Nothing can be nobler than to be +useful. Idleness should not be respectable. + +If farmers will cultivate well, and without waste; if they will so build +that their houses will be warm in winter and cool in summer; if they +will plant trees and beautify their homes; if they will occupy their +leisure in reading, in thinking, in improving their minds and in +devising ways and means to make their business profitable and pleasant; +if they will live nearer together and cultivate sociability; if they +will come together often; if they will have reading rooms and cultivate +music; if they will have bath-rooms, ice-houses and good gardens; if +their wives can have an easy time; if their sons and daughters can have +an opportunity to keep in line with the thoughts and discoveries of +the world; if the nights can be taken for sleep and the evenings for +enjoyment, everybody will be in love with the fields. Happiness should +be the object of life, and if life on the farm can be made really happy, +the children will grow up in love with the meadows, the streams, the +woods and the old home. Around the farm will cling and cluster the happy +memories of the delighful years. + +Remember, I pray you, that you are in partnership with all labor--that +you should join hands with all the sons and daughters of toil, and that +all who work belong to the same noble family. + +For my part, I envy the man who has lived on the same broad acres from +his boyhood, who cultivates the fields where in youth he played, and +lives where his father lived and died. + +I can imagine no sweeter way to end one's life + + + + +WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED? + + +PREFACE + +If what is known as the Christian Religion is true, nothing can be more +wonderful than the fact that Matthew, Mark and Luke say nothing about +"salvation by faith;" that they do not even hint at the doctrine of +the atonement, and are as silent as empty tombs as to the necessity of +believing anything to secure happiness in this world or another. + +For a good many years it has been claimed that the writers of these +gospels knew something about the teachings of Christ, and had, at least, +a general knowledge of the conditions of salvation. It now seems to +be substantiated that the early Christians did not place implicit +confidence in the gospels, and did not hesitate to make such changes and +additions as they thought proper. Such changes and additions are about +the only passages in the New Testament that the Evangelical Churches +now consider sacred. That portion of the last chapter of Mark, in which +unbelievers are so cheerfully and promptly damned, has been shown to be +an interpolation, and it is asserted that in the revised edition of the +New Testament, soon to be issued, the infamous passages will not appear. +With these expunged, there is not one word in Matthew, Mark, or Luke, +even tending to show that belief in Christ has, or can have, any effect +upon the destiny of the soul. + +The four gospels are the four corner-stones upon which rests the fabric +of orthodox Christianity. Three of these stones have crumbled, and the +fourth is not likely to outlast this generation. The gospel of John +cannot alone uphold the infinite absurdity of vicarious virtue and vice, +and it cannot, without the aid of "interpolation," sustain the illogical +and immoral dogma of salvation by faith. These frightful doctrines must +be abandoned; the miraculous must be given up, the wonderful stories +must be expunged, and from the creed of noble deeds the forgeries +of superstition must be blotted out. From the temple of Morality +and Truth--from the great windows towards the sun--the parasitic and +poisonous vines of faith and fable must be torn. + +The church will be compelled at last to rest its case, not upon the +wonders Christ is said to have performed, but upon the system of +morality he taught. All the miracles, including the resurrection and +ascension, are, when compared with portions of the "Sermon on the +Mount," but dust and darkness. + +The careful reader of the New Testament will find three Christs +described:--One who wished to preserve Judaism--one who wished to +reform it, and one who built a system of his own. The apostles and their +disciples, utterly unable to comprehend a religion that did away with +sacrifices, churches, priests, and creeds, constructed a Christianity +for themselves, so that the orthodox churches of to-day rest--first, +upon what Christ endeavored to destroy--second, upon what he never said, +and, third, upon a misunderstanding of what he did say. + +If a certain belief is necessary to insure the salvation of the soul, +the church ought to explain, and without any unnecessary delay, why such +an infinitely important fact was utterly ignored by Matthew, Mark +and Luke. There are only two explanations possible. Either belief is +unnecessary, or the writers of these three gospels did not understand +the Christian system. The "sacredness" of the subject cannot longer hide +the absurdity of the "scheme of salvation," nor the failure of Matthew, +Mark and Luke to mention, what is now claimed to have been, the entire +mission of Christ. The church must take from the New Testament the +supernatural'; the idea that an intellectual conviction can subject an +honest man to eternal pain--the awful doctrine that the innocent can +justly suffer for the guilty, and allow the remainder to be discussed, +denied or believed without punishment and without reward. No one will +object to the preaching of kindness, honesty and justice. To preach less +is a crime, and to practice more is impossible. + +There is one thing that ought to be again impressed upon the average +theologian, and that is the utter futility of trying to answer arguments +with personal abuse. It should be understood once for all that these +questions are in no sense personal. If it should turn out that all the +professed Christians in the world are sinless saints, the question of +how Matthew, Mark, and Luke, came to say nothing about the atonement and +the scheme of salvation by faith, would still be asked. And if it should +then be shown that all the doubters, deists, and atheists, are vile and +vicious wretches, the question still would wait for a reply. + +The origin of all religions, creeds, and sacred books, is substantially +the same, and the history of one, is, in the main, the history of all. +Thus far these religions have been the mistaken explanations of our +surroundings. The appearances of nature have imposed upon the ignorance +and fear of man. But back of all honest creeds was, and is, the desire +to know, to understand, and to explain, and that desire will, as I +most fervently hope and earnestly believe, be gratified at last by +the discovery of the truth. Until then, let us bear with the theories, +hopes, dreams, mistakes, and honest thoughts of all. + +Robert G. Ingersoll. + +Washington, D. C., + +October, 1880. + + +WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED? + +"THE NUREMBERG MAN WAS OPERATED BY A COMBINATION OF PIPES AND LEVERS, +AND THOUGH HE COULD BREATHE AND DIGEST PERFECTLY, AND EVEN REASON AS +WELL AS MOST THEOLOGIANS, WAS MADE OF NOTHING BUT WOOD AND LEATHER." + +THE whole world has been filled with fear. + +Ignorance has been the refuge of the soul. For thousands of years the +intellectual ocean was ravaged by the buccaneers of reason. Pious souls +clung to the shore and looked at the lighthouse. The seas were filled +with monsters and the islands with sirens. The people were driven in the +middle of a narrow road while priests went before, beating the hedges on +either side to frighten the robbers from their lairs. The poor followers +seeing no robbers, thanked their brave leaders with all their hearts. + + + + +I. WHAT WE MUST DO TO BE SAVED + +Huddled in folds they listened with wide eyes while the shepherds told +of ravening wolves. With great gladness they exchanged their fleeces for +security. Shorn and shivering, they had the happiness of seeing their +protectors comfortable and warm. + +Through all the years, those who plowed divided with those who prayed. +Wicked industry supported pious idleness, the hut gave to the cathedral, +and frightened poverty gave even its rags to buy a robe for hypocrisy. + +Fear is the dungeon of the mind, and superstition is a dagger with which +hypocrisy assassinates the soul. Courage is liberty. I am in favor of +absolute freedom of thought. In the realm of mind every one is monarch; +every one is robed, sceptered, and crowned, and every one wears the +purple of authority. I belong to the republic of intellectual liberty, +and only those are good citizens of that republic who depend upon reason +and upon persuasion, and only those are traitors who resort to brute +force. + +Now, I beg of you all to forget just for a few moments that you are +Methodists or Baptists or Catholics or Presbyterians, and let us for an +hour or two remember only that we are men and women. And allow me to +say "man" and "woman" are the highest titles that can be bestowed upon +humanity. + +Let us, if possible, banish all fear from the mind. Do not imagine that +there is some being in the infinite expanse who is not willing that +every man and woman should think for himself and herself. Do not imagine +that there is any being who would give to his children the holy torch of +reason, and then damn them for following that sacred light. Let us have +courage. + +Priests have invented a crime called "blasphemy," and behind that +crime hypocrisy has crouched for thousands of years. There is but one +blasphemy, and that is injustice. There is but one worship, and that is +justice! + +You need not fear the anger of a god that you cannot injure. Rather +fear to injure your fellow-men. Do not be afraid of a crime you can not +commit. Rather be afraid of the one that you may commit. The reason that +you cannot injure God is that the Infinite is conditionless. You cannot +increase or diminish the happiness of any being without changing that +being's condition. If God is conditionless, you can neither injure nor +benefit him. + +There was a Jewish gentleman went into a restaurant to get his dinner, +and the devil of temptation whispered in his ear: "Eat some bacon." +He knew if there was anything in the universe calculated to excite the +wrath of an infinite being, who made every shining star, it was to see +a gentleman eating bacon. He knew it, and he knew the infinite being was +looking, that he was the eternal eavesdropper of the universe. But his +appetite got the better of his conscience, as it often has with us all, +and he ate that bacon. He knew it was wrong, and his conscience felt +the blood of shame in its cheek. When he went into that restaurant the +weather was delightful, the sky was as blue as June, and when he came +out the sky was covered with angry clouds, the lightning leaping +from one to the other, and the earth shaking beneath the voice of the +thunder. He went back into that restaurant with a face as white as milk, +and he said to one of the keepers: + +"My God, did you ever hear such a fuss about a little piece of bacon?" + +As long as we harbor such opinions of infinity; as long as we imagine +the heavens to be filled with such tyranny, just so long the sons of +men will be cringing, intellectual cowards. Let us think, and let us +honestly express our thought. + +Do not imagine for a moment that I think people who disagree with me +are bad people. I admit, and I cheerfully admit, that a very large +proportion of mankind, and a very large majority, a vast number are +reasonably honest. I believe that most Christians believe what they +teach; that most ministers are endeavoring to make this world better. +I do not pretend to be better than they are. It is an intellectual +question. It is a question, first, of intellectual liberty, and after +that, a question to be settled at the bar of human reason. I do not +pretend to be better than they are. Probably I am a good deal worse than +many of them, but that is not the question. The question is: Bad as +I am, have I the right to think? And I think I have for two reasons: +First, I cannot help it. And secondly, I like it. The whole question is +right at a point. If I have not a right to express my thoughts, who has? + +"Oh," they say, "we will allow you to think, we will not burn you." + +"All right; why won't you burn me?" + +"Because we think a decent man will allow others to think and to express +his thought." + +"Then the reason you do not persecute me for my thought is that you +believe it would be infamous in you?" + +"Yes." + +"And yet you worship a God who will, as you declare, punish me forever?" + +Surely an infinite God ought to be as just as man. Surely no God can +have the right to punish his children for being honest. He should not +reward hypocrisy with heaven, and punish candor with eternal pain. + +The next question then is: Can I commit a sin against God by thinking? +If God did not intend I should think, why did he give me a thinker? For +one, I am convinced, not only that I have the right to think, but that +it is my duty to express my honest thoughts. Whatever the gods may say +we must be true to ourselves. + +We have got what they call the Christian system of religion, and +thousands of people wonder how I can be wicked enough to attack that +system. + +There are many good things about it, and I shall never attack anything +that I believe to be good! I shall never fear to attack anything I +honestly believe to be wrong! We have what they call the Christian +religion, and I find, just in proportion that nations have been +religious, just in the proportion they have clung to the religion of +their founders, they have gone back to barbarism. I find that Spain, +Portugal, Italy, are the three worst nations in Europe. I find that the +nation nearest infidel is the most prosperous--France. + +And so I say there can be no danger in the exercise of absolute +intellectual freedom. I find among ourselves the men who think are at +least as good as those who do not. + +We have, I say, a Christian system, and that system is founded upon +what they are pleased to call the "New Testament." Who wrote the New +Testament? I do not know. Who does know? Nobody. We have found many +manuscripts containing portions of the New Testament. Some of these +manuscripts leave out five or six books--many of them. Others more; +others less. No two of these manuscripts agree. Nobody knows who wrote +these manuscripts. They are all written in Greek. The disciples of +Christ, so far as we know, knew only Hebrew. Nobody ever saw so far as +we know, one of the original Hebrew manuscripts. + +Nobody ever saw anybody who had seen anybody who had heard of anybody +that had ever seen anybody that had ever seen one of the original Hebrew +manuscripts. No doubt the clergy of your city have told you these facts +thousands of times, and they will be obliged to me for having repeated +them once more. These manuscripts are written in what are called capital +Greek letters. They are called Uncial manuscripts, and the New Testament +was not divided into chapters and verses, even, until the year of grace +1551. In the original the manuscripts and gospels are signed by nobody. +The epistles are addressed to nobody; and they are signed by the same +person. All the addresses, all the pretended ear-marks showing to +whom they were written, and by whom they were written, are simply +interpolations, and everybody who has studied the subject knows it. + +It is further admitted that even these manuscripts have not been +properly translated, and they have a syndicate now making a new +translation; and I suppose that I can not tell whether I really believe +the New Testament or not until I see that new translation. + +You must remember, also, one other thing. Christ never wrote a solitary +word of the New Testament--not one word. There is an account that he +once stooped and wrote something in the sand, but that has not been +preserved. He never told anybody to write a word. He never said: +"Matthew, remember this. Mark, do not forget to put that down. Luke, be +sure that in your gospel you have this. John, do not forget it." Not one +word. And it has always seemed to me that a being coming from another +world, with a message of infinite importance to mankind, should at least +have verified that message by his own signature. Is it not wonderful +that not one word was written by Christ? Is it not strange that he +gave no orders to have his words preserved--words upon which hung the +salvation of a world? + +Why was nothing written? I will tell you. In my judgment they expected +the end of the world in a few days. That generation was not to pass away +until the heavens should be rolled up as a scroll, and until the earth +should melt with fervent heat. That was their belief. They believed that +the world was to be destroyed, and that there was to be another coming, +and that the saints were then to govern the earth. And they even went so +far among the apostles, as we frequently do now before election, as to +divide out the offices in advance. This Testament, as it now is, was not +written for hundreds of years after the apostles were dust. Many of the +pretended facts lived in the open mouth of credulity. They were in the +wastebaskets of forgetfulness. They depended upon the inaccuracy of +legend, and for centuries these doctrines and stories were blown about +by the inconstant winds. And when reduced to writing, some gentleman +would write by the side of the passage his idea of it, and the next +copyist would put that in as a part of the text. And, when it was mostly +written, and the church got into trouble, and wanted a passage to help +it out, one was interpolated to order. So that now it is among +the easiest things in the world to pick out at least one hundred +interpolations in the Testament. And I will pick some of them out before +I get through. + +And let me say here, once for all, that for the man Christ I have +infinite respect. Let me say, once for all, that the place where man has +died for man is holy ground. And let me say, once for all, that to that +great and serene man I gladly pay, I gladly pay, the tribute of my +admiration and my tears. He was a reformer in his day. He was an infidel +in his time. He was regarded as a blasphemer, and his life was destroyed +by hypocrites, who have, in all ages, done what they could to trample +freedom and manhood out of the human mind. Had I lived at that time I +would have been his friend, and should he come again he will not find a +better friend than I will be. + +That is for the man. For the theological creation I have a different +feeling. If he was, in fact, God, he knew there was no such thing as +death. He knew that what we called death was but the eternal opening of +the golden gates of everlasting joy; and it took no heroism to face a +death that was eternal life. + +But when a man, when a poor boy sixteen years of age, goes upon the +field of battle to keep his flag in heaven, not knowing but that death +ends all; not knowing but that when the shadows creep over him, the +darkness will be eternal, there is heroism. For the man who, in the +darkness, said: "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"--for that man I +have nothing but respect, admiration, and love. Back of the theological +shreds, rags, and patches, hiding the real Christ, I see a genuine man. + +A while ago I made up my mind to find out what was necessary for me to +do in order to be saved. If I have got a soul, I want it saved. I do not +wish to lose anything that is of value. + +For thousands of years the world has been asking that question: + +"What must we do to be saved?" + +Saved from poverty? No. Saved from crime? No. Tyranny? No. But "What +must we do to be saved from the eternal wrath of the God who made us +all?" + +If God made us, he will not destroy us. Infinite wisdom never made a +poor investment. Upon all the works of an infinite God, a dividend must +finally be declared. Why should God make failures? Why should he waste +material? Why should he not correct his mistakes, instead of damning +them? The pulpit has cast a shadow over even the cradle. The doctrine +of endless punishment has covered the cheeks of this world with tears. I +despise it, and I defy it. + +I made up my mind, I say, to see what I had to do in order to save my +soul according to the Testament, and thereupon I read it. I read the +gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and found that the church had +been deceiving me. I found that the clergy did not understand their own +book; that they had been building upon passages that had been +interpolated; upon passages that were entirely untrue, and I will tell +you why I think so. + + + + +II. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW + + +ACCORDING to the church, the first gospel was written by Matthew. As a +matter of fact he never wrote a word of it--never saw it, never heard of +it and probably never will. But for the purposes of this lecture I admit +that he wrote years; that he was his constant companion; that he shared +his sorrows and his triumphs; that he heard his words by the lonely +lakes, the barren hills, in synagogue and street, and that he knew his +heart and became acquainted with his thoughts and aims. + +Now let us see what Matthew says we must do in order to be saved. And +I take it that, if this is true, Matthew is as good authority as any +minister in the world. + +I will admit that he was with Christ for three years. + +The first thing I find upon the subject of salvation is in the fifth +chapter of Matthew, and is embraced in what is commonly known as the +Sermon on the Mount. It is as follows: + +"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." +Good! + +"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Good! Whether +they belonged to any church or not; whether they believed the Bible or +not? + +"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Good! + +"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the +peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are +they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the +kingdom of heaven." Good! + +In the same sermon he says: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law +or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." And then he +makes use of this remarkable language, almost as applicable to-day as +it was then: "For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall +exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no +wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." Good! + +In the sixth chapter I find the following, and it comes directly after +the prayer known as the Lord's prayer: + +"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also +forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will +your father forgive your trespasses." + +I accept the condition. There is an offer; I accept it. If you will +forgive men that trespass against you, God will forgive your trespasses +against him. I accept the terms, and I never will ask any God to treat +me better than I treat my fellow-men. There is a square promise. There +is a contract. If you will forgive others God will forgive you. And it +does not say you must believe in the Old Testament, or be baptized, or +join the church, or keep Sunday; that you must count beads, or pray, or +become a nun, or a priest; that you must preach sermons or hear them, +build churches or fill them. Not one word is said about eating or +fasting, denying or believing. It simply says, if you forgive others God +will forgive you; and it must of necessity be true. No god could afford +to damn a forgiving man. Suppose God should damn to everlasting fire a +man so great and good, that he, looking from the abyss of hell, would +forgive God,--how would a god feel then? + +Now let me make myself plain upon one subject, perfectly plain. For +instance, I hate Presbyterianism, but I know hundreds of splendid +Presbyterians. Understand me. I hate Methodism, and yet I know hundreds +of splendid Methodists. I hate Catholicism, and like Catholics. I hate +insanity but not the insane. + +I do not war against men. I do not war against persons. I war against +certain doctrines that I believe to be wrong. But I give to every other +human being every right that I claim for myself. + +The next thing that I find is in the seventh chapter and the second +verse: "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with +what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Good! That +suits me! + +And in the twelfth chapter of Matthew: "For whosoever shall do the will +of my Father that is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and +mother. For the son of man shall come in the glory of his father with +his angels, and then he shall reward every man according.... To the +church he belongs to? No. To the manner in which he was baptized? No. +According to his creed? No. Then he shall reward every man according to +his works." Good! I subscribe to that doctrine. + +And in the eighteenth chapter: "And Jesus called a little child to him +and stood him in the midst; and said, 'Verily I say unto you, except ye +be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into +the kingdom of heaven.'" I do not wonder that in his day, surrounded by +scribes and Pharisees, he turned lovingly to little children. + +And yet, see what children the little children of God have been. What +an interesting dimpled darling John Calvin was. Think of that +prattling babe, Jonathan Edwards! Think of the infants that founded the +Inquisition, that invented instruments of torture to tear human flesh. +They were the ones who had become as little children. They were the +children of faith. + +So I find in the nineteenth chapter: "And behold, one came and said unto +him: 'Good master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal +life?' And he said unto him, 'Why callest thou me good? There is none +good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the +commandments.' He saith unto him, 'which?'" + +Now, there is a fair issue. Here is a child of God asking God what is +necessary for him to do in order to inherit eternal life. And God said +to him: Keep the commandments. And the child said to the Almighty: +"Which?" Now, if there ever has been an opportunity given to the +Almighty to furnish a man of an inquiring mind with the necessary +information upon that subject, here was the opportunity. "He said unto +him, which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder; thou shalt not +commit adultery; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false +witness; honor thy father and mother; and thou shalt love thy neighbor +as thyself." + +He did not say to him: "You must believe in me--that I am the only +begotten son of the living God." He did not say: "You must be born +again." He did not say: "You must believe the Bible." He did not say: +"You must remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." He simply said: +"Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt +not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy +mother; and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." And thereupon the +young man, who I think was mistaken, said unto him: "All these things +have I kept from my youth up." + +What right has the church to add conditions of salvation? Why should we +suppose that Christ failed to tell the young man all that was necessary +for him to do? Is it possible that he left out some important thing +simply to mislead? Will some minister tell us why he thinks that Christ +kept back the "scheme"? + +Now comes an interpolation. + +In the old times when the church got a little scarce of money, they +always put in a passage praising poverty. So they had this young man +ask: "What lack I yet? And Jesus said unto him: If thou wilt be perfect, +go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have +treasure in heaven." + +The church has always been willing to swap off treasures in heaven for +cash down. And when the next verse was written the church must have been +nearly bankrupt. "And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel +to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into +the kingdom of God." Did you ever know a wealthy disciple to unload on +account of that verse? + +And then comes another verse, which I believe is an interpolation: "And +everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, +or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall +receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life." + +Christ never said it. Never. "Whosoever shall forsake father and +mother." + +Why, he said to this man that asked him, "What shall I do to inherit +eternal life?" among other things, he said: "Honor thy father and thy +mother." And we turn over the page and he says again: "If you will +desert your father and mother you shall have everlasting life." It will +not do. If you will desert your wife and your little children, or your +lands--the idea of putting a house and lot on equality with wife and +children! Think of that! I do not accept the terms. I will never desert +the one I love for the promise of any god. + +It is far more important to love your wife than to love God, and I will +tell you why. You cannot help him, but you can help her. You can fill +her life with the perfume of perpetual joy. It is far more important +that you love your children than that you love Jesus Christ. And why? +If he is God you cannot help him, but you can plant a little flower of +happiness in every footstep of the child, from the cradle until you die +in that child's arms. Let me tell you to-day it is far more important +to build a home than to erect a church. The holiest temple beneath the +stars is a home that love has built. And the holiest altar in all the +wide world is the fireside around which gather father and mother and the +sweet babes. + +There was a time when people believed the infamy commanded in this +frightful passage. There was a time when they did desert fathers and +mothers and wives and children. St. Augustine says to the devotee: Fly +to the desert, and though your wife put her arms around your neck, tear +her hands away; she is a temptation of the devil. Though your father and +mother throw their bodies athwart your threshold, step over them; and +though your children pursue, and with weeping' eyes beseech you to +return, listen not. It is the temptation of the evil one. Fly to the +desert and save your soul. Think of such a soul being worth saving. +While I live I propose to stand by the ones I love. + +There is another condition of salvation. I find it in the twenty-fifth +chapter: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, +ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the +foundation of the world. For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I +was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in; +naked and ye clothed me; I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison +and ye came unto me." Good! + +I tell you to-night that God will not punish with eternal thirst the man +who has put the cup of cold water to the lips of his neighbor. God will +not leave in the eternal nakedness of pain the man who has clothed his +fellow-men. + +For instance, here is a shipwreck, and here is some brave sailor who +stands aside and allows a woman whom he never saw before to take his +place in the boat, and he stands there, grand and serene as the wide +sea, and he goes down. Do you tell me that there is any God who will +push the lifeboat from the shore of eternal life, when that man wishes +to step in? Do you tell me that God can be unpitying to the pitiful, +that he can be unforgiving to the forgiving? I deny it; and from the +aspersions of the pulpit I seek to rescue the reputation of the Deity. + +Now, I have read you substantially everything in Matthew on the subject +of salvation. That is all there is. Not one word about believing +anything. It is the gospel of deed, the gospel of charity, the gospel +of self-denial; and if only that gospel had been preached, persecution +never would have shed one drop of blood. Not one. + +According to the testimony Matthew was well acquainted with Christ. +According to the testimony, he had been with him, and his companion for +years, and if it was necessary to believe anything in order to get to +heaven, Matthew should have told us. But he forgot it, or he did not +believe it, or he never heard of it. You can take your choice. + +In Matthew, we find that heaven is promised, first, to the poor in +spirit. Second, to the merciful. Third, to the pure in heart. Fourth, to +the peacemakers. Fifth, to those who are persecuted for righteousness' +sake. Sixth, to those who keep and teach the commandments. Seventh, to +those who forgive men that trespass against them. Eighth, that we will +be judged as we judge others. Ninth, that they who receive prophets and +righteous men shall receive a prophet's reward. Tenth, to those who do +the will of God. Eleventh, that every man shall be rewarded according to +his works. Twelfth, to those who become as little children. Thirteenth, +to those who forgive the trespasses of others. Fourteenth, to the +perfect: they who sell all that they have and give to the poor. +Fifteenth, to them who forsake houses, and brethren, and sisters, and +father, and mother, and wife, and children, and lands for the sake of +Christ's name. Sixteenth, to those who feed the hungry, give drink to +the thirsty, shelter to the stranger, clothes to the naked, comfort to +the sick, and who visit the prisoner. + +Nothing else is said with regard to salvation in the gospel according to +St. Matthew. Not one word about believing the Old Testament to have been +inspired; not one word about being baptized or joining a church; not +one word about believing in any miracle; not even a hint that it was +necessary to believe that Christ was the son of God, or that he did any +wonderful or miraculous things, or that he was born of a virgin, or that +his coming had been foretold by the Jewish prophets. Not one word +about believing in the Trinity, or in foreordination or predestination. +Matthew had not understood from Christ that any such things were +necessary to ensure the salvation of the soul. + +According to the testimony, Matthew had been in the company of Christ, +some say three years and some say one, but at least he had been with him +long enough to find out some of his ideas upon this great subject. And +yet Matthew never got the impression that it was necessary to believe +something in order to get to heaven. He supposed that if a man forgave +others God would forgive him; he believed that God would show mercy +to the merciful; that he would not allow those who fed the hungry to +starve; that he would not put in the flames of hell those who had given +cold water to the thirsty; that he would not cast into the eternal +dungeon of his wrath those who had visited the imprisoned; and that he +would not damn men who forgave others. + +Matthew had it in his mind that God would treat us very much as we +treated other people; and that in the next world he would treat with +kindness those who had been loving and gentle in their lives. It may be +the apostle was mistaken; but evidently that was his opinion. + + + + +III. THE GOSPEL OF MARK + +ET us now see what Mark thought it necessary for a man to do to save his +soul. In the fourth chapter, after Jesus had given to the multitude by +the sea the parable of the sower, his disciples, when they were again +alone, asked him the meaning of the parable. Jesus replied: + +"Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but +unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: + +"That seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, +and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their +sins should be forgiven them." + +It is a little hard to understand why he should have preached to people +that he did not intend should know his meaning. Neither is it quite +clear why he objected to their being converted. This, I suppose, is one +of the mysteries that we should simply believe without endeavoring to +comprehend. + +With the above exception, and one other that I will mention hereafter, +Mark substantially agrees with Matthew, and says that God will be +merciful to the merciful, that he will be kind to the kind, that he +will pity the pitying, and love the loving. Mark upholds the religion +of Matthew until we come to the fifteenth and sixteenth verses of +the sixteenth chapter, and then I strike an interpolation put in by +hypocrisy, put in by priests who longed to grasp with bloody hands +the sceptre of universal power. Let me read it to you. It is the most +infamous passage in the Bible. Christ never said it. No sensible man +ever said it. + +"And He said unto them" (that is, unto his disciples), "go ye into all +the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and +is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." + +That passage was written so that fear would give alms to hypocrisy. Now, +I propose to prove to you that this is an interpolation. How will I do +it? In the first place, not one word is said about belief, in Matthew. +In the next place, not one word about belief, in Mark, until I come to +that verse, and where is that said to have been spoken? According to +Mark, it is a part of the last conversation of Jesus Christ,--just +before, according to the account, he ascended bodily before their eyes. +If there ever was any important thing happened in this world that was +it. If there is any conversation that people would be apt to recollect, +it would be the last conversation with a god before he rose visibly +through the air and seated himself upon the throne of the infinite. We +have in this Testament five accounts of the last conversation happening +between Jesus Christ and his apostles. Matthew gives it, and yet Matthew +does not state that in that conversation Christ said: "Whoso believeth +and is baptized shall be saved, and whoso believeth not shall be +damned." And if he did say those words they were the most important that +ever fell from lips. Matthew did not hear it, or did not believe it, or +forgot it. + +Then I turn to Luke, and he gives an account of this same last +conversation, and not one word does he say upon that subject. Luke does +not pretend that Christ said that whoso believeth not shall be damned. +Luke certainly did not hear it. May be he forgot it. Perhaps he did not +think that it was worth recording. Now, it is the most important thing, +if Christ said it, that he ever said. + +Then I turn to John, and he gives an account of the last conversation, +but not one solitary word on the subject of belief or unbelief. Not one +solitary word on the subject of damnation. Not one. John might not have +been listening. + +Then I turn to the first chapter of the Acts, and there I find an +account of the last conversation; and in that conversation there is not +one word upon this subject. This is a demonstration that the passage in +Mark is an interpolation. What other reason have I got? There is not one +particle of sense in it. Why? No man can control his belief. You hear +evidence for and against, and the integrity of the soul stands at the +scales and tells which side rises and which side falls. You can not +believe as you wish. You must believe as you must. And he might as well +have said: "Go into the world and preach the gospel, and whosoever has +red hair shall be saved, and whosoever hath not shall be damned." + +I have another reason. I am much obliged to the gentleman who +interpolated these passages. I am much obliged to him that he put in +some more--two more. Now hear: + +"And these signs shall follow them that believe." Good! + +"In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new +tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing +it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall +recover." + +Bring on your believer! Let him cast out a devil. I do not ask for a +large one. Just a little one for a cent. Let him take up serpents. "And +if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them." Let me mix up a +dose for the believer, and if it does not hurt him I will join a church. +"Oh! but," they say, "those things only lasted through the Apostolic +age." Let us see. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel, and +whosoever believes and is baptized shall be saved, and these signs shall +follow them that believe." + +How long? I think at least until they had gone into all the world. +Certainly those signs should follow until all the world had been +visited. And yet if that declaration was in the mouth of Christ, he then +knew that one-half of the world was unknown, and that he would be dead +fourteen hundred and fifty-nine years before his disciples would know +that there was another continent. And yet he said, "Go into all the +world and preach the gospel," and he knew then that it would be fourteen +hundred and fifty-nine years before anybody could go. Well, if it was +worth while to have signs follow believers in the Old World, surely it +was worth while to have signs follow believers in the New. And the very +reason that signs should follow would be to convince the unbeliever, +and there are as many unbelievers now as ever, and the signs are as +necessary to-day as they ever were. I would like a few myself. + +This frightful declaration, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be +saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned," has filled the world +with agony and crime. Every letter of this passage has been sword and +fagot; every word has been dungeon and chain. That passage made the +sword of persecution drip with innocent blood through centuries of agony +and crime. That passage made the horizon of a thousand years lurid with +the fagot's flames. That passage contradicts the Sermon on the Mount; +travesties the Lord's prayer; turns the splendid religion of deed +and duty into the superstition of creed and cruelty. I deny it. It is +infamous! Christ never said it! + + + + +IV. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. + +IT is sufficient to say that Luke agrees substantially with Matthew and +Mark. + +"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Good! + +"Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condemn not and ye shall not be +condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven." Good! + +"Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and +shaken together, and running over." Good! I like it. + +"For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to +you again." + +He agrees substantially with Mark; he agrees substantially with Matthew; +and I come at last to the nineteenth chapter. + +"And Zaccheus stood and said unto the Lord, 'Behold, Lord, the half of +my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man +by false accusation, I restore him four fold.' And Jesus said unto him, +'this day is salvation come to this house.'" + +That is good doctrine. He did not ask Zaccheus what he believed. He did +not ask him, "Do you believe in the Bible? Do you believe in the five +points? Have you ever been baptized--sprinkled? Or immersed?" "Half of +my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man +by false accusation, I restore him four fold." "And Christ said, this +day is salvation come to this house." Good! + +I read also in Luke that Christ when upon the cross forgave his +murderers, and that is considered the shining gem in the crown of his +mercy. He forgave his murderers. He forgave the men who drove the nails +in his hands, in his feet, that plunged a spear in his side; the soldier +that in the hour of death offered him in mockery the bitterness to +drink. He forgave them all freely, and yet, although he would forgive +them, he will in the nineteenth century, as we are told by the orthodox +church, damn to eternal fire a noble man for the expression of his +honest thoughts. That will not do. I find, too, in Luke, an account +of two thieves that were crucified at the same time. The other gospels +speak of them. One says they both railed upon him. Another says nothing +about it. In Luke we are told that one railed upon him, but one of the +thieves looked and pitied Christ, and Christ said to that thief: + +"To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Why did he say that? Because +the thief pitied him. God can not afford to trample beneath the feet +of his infinite wrath the smallest blossom of pity that ever shed its +perfume in the human heart! + +Who was this thief? To what church did he belong? I do not know. The +fact that he was a thief throws no light on that question. Who was he? +What did he believe? I do not know. Did he believe in the Old Testament? +In the miracles? I do not know. Did he believe that Christ was God? I +do not know. Why then was the promise made to him that he should meet +Christ in Paradise? Simply because he pitied suffering innocence upon +the cross. + +God can not afford to damn any man who is capable of pitying anybody. + + + + +V. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN + +AND now we come to John, and that is where the trouble commences. + +The other gospels teach that God will be merciful to the merciful, +forgiving to the forgiving, kind to the kind, loving to the loving, just +to the just, merciful to the good. + +Now we come to John, and here is another doctrine. And allow me to say +that John was not written until long after the others. John was mostly +written by the church. + +"Jesus answered and said unto him: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, +Except a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of God." + +Why did he not tell Matthew that? Why did he not tell Luke that? Why did +he not tell Mark that? They never heard of it, or forgot it, or they did +not believe it. + +"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into +the kingdom of God." Why? + +"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of +the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born +again." "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is +born of the Spirit is spirit," and he might have added, that which is +born of water is water. + +"Marvel not that I said unto thee, 'ye must be born again.'" And then +the reason is given, and I admit I did not understand it myself until I +read the reason, and when you hear the reason, you will understand it +as well as I do; and here it is: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and +thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and +whither it goeth." So, I find in the book of John the idea of the Real +Presence. + +"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the +Son of man be lifted up; That whosoever believeth in him should not +perish, but have eternal life." + +"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that +whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. + +"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that +the world through him might be saved. + +"He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is +condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only +begotten Son of God." + +"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that +believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth +on him." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and +believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come +into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. + +"Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when +the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear +shall live." + +"And shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection +of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of +damnation."-"And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone +which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; +and I will raise him up at the last day." + +"No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him; +and I will raise him up at the last day." + +"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath +everlasting life. + +"I am that bread of life. + +"Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. + +"This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat +thereof, and not die. + +"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of +this bread he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my +flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." + +"Then Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye +eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in +you. + +"Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I +will raise him up at the last day. + +"For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. + +"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I +in him. + +"As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that +eateth me, even he shall live by me. + +"This is that bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers +did eat manna, and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live +forever." + +"And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, +except it were given unto him of my Father." + +"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life; he that +believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. + +"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." + +"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in +this world, shall keep it unto life eternal." + +So I find in the book of John, that in order to be saved we must not +only believe in Jesus Christ, but we must eat the flesh and we must +drink the blood of Jesus Christ. If that gospel is true, the Catholic +Church is right. But it is not true. I can not believe it, and yet for +all that, it may be true. But I do not believe it. Neither do I +believe there is any god in the universe who will damn a man simply for +expressing his belief. + +"Why," they say to me, "suppose all this should turn out to be true, and +you should come to the day of judgment and find all these things to be +true. What would you do then?" I would walk up like a man, and say, "I +was mistaken." + +"And suppose God was about to pass judgment upon you, what would you +say?" I would say to him, "Do unto others as you would that others +should do unto you." Why not? + +I am told that I must render good for evil. I am told that if smitten +on one cheek I must turn the other. I am told that I must overcome evil +with good. I am told that I must love my enemies; and will it do for +this God who tells me to love my enemies to damn his? No, it will not +do. It will not do. + +In the book of John all these doctrines of regeneration--that it is +necessary to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; that salvation depends +upon belief--in this book of John all these doctrines find their +warrant; nowhere else. + +Read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and then read John, and you will agree +with me that the three first gospels teach that if we are kind and +forgiving to our fellows, God will be kind and forgiving to us. In John +we are told that another man can be good for us, or bad for us, and that +the only way to get to heaven is to believe something that we know is +not so. + +All these passages about believing in Christ, drinking his blood +and eating his flesh, are afterthoughts. They were written by the +theologians, and in a few years they will be considered unworthy of the +lips of Christ. + + + + +VI. THE CATHOLICS + +NOW, upon these gospels that I have read the churches rest; and out of +these things, mistakes and interpolations, they have made their +creeds. And the first church to make a creed, so far as I know, was the +Catholic. It was the first church that had any power. That is the church +that has preserved all these miracles for us. That is the church that +preserved the manuscripts for us. That is the church whose word we have +to take. That church is the first witness that Protestantism brought to +the bar of history to prove miracles that took place eighteen hundred +years ago; and while the witness is there Protestantism takes pains to +say: "You cannot believe one word that witness says, _now_." + +That church is the only one that keeps up a constant communication with +heaven through the instrumentality of a large number of decayed saints. +That church has an agent of God on earth, has a person who stands in +the place of deity; and that church is infallible. That church has +persecuted to the exact extent of her power--and always will. In Spain +that church stands erect, and is arrogant. In the United States that +church crawls; but the object in both countries is the same--and that is +the destruction of intellectual liberty. That church teaches us that we +can make God happy by being miserable ourselves; that a nun is holier in +the sight of God than a loving mother with her child in her thrilled and +thrilling arms; that a priest is better than a father; that celibacy is +better than that passion of love that has made everything of beauty in +this world. That church tells the girl of sixteen or eighteen years of +age, with eyes like dew and light; that girl with the red of health in +the white of her beautiful cheeks--tells that girl, "Put on the veil, +woven of death and night, kneel upon stones, and you will please God." + +I tell you that, by law, no girl should be allowed to take the veil and +renounce the joys and beauties of this life. + +I am opposed to allowing these spider-like priests to weave webs +to catch the loving maidens of the world. There ought to be a law +appointing commissioners to visit such places twice a year and release +every person who expresses a desire to be released. I do not believe in +keeping the penitentiaries of God. No doubt they are honest about it. +That is not the question. These ignorant superstitions fill millions of +lives with weariness and pain, with agony and tears. + +This church, after a few centuries of thought, made a creed, and that +creed is the foundation of the orthodox religion. Let me read it to you: + +"Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he +hold the Catholic faith; which faith except every one do keep entire and +inviolate, without doubt, he shall everlastingly perish." Now the faith +is this: "That we worship one God in trinity and trinity in unity." + +Of course you understand how that is done, and there is no need of +my explaining it. "Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the +substance." You see what a predicament that would leave the deity in if +you divided the substance. + +"For one is the person of the Father, another of the Son, and another +of the Holy Ghost; but the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of +the Holy Ghost is all one"--you know what I mean by Godhead. "In glory +equal, and in majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, +such is the Holy Ghost. The Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, +the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father incomprehensible, the Son +incomprehensible, the Holy Ghost incomprehensible." And that is the +reason we know so much about the thing. "The Father is eternal, the Son +eternal, the Holy Ghost eternal, and yet there are not three eternals, +only one eternal, as also there are not three uncreated, nor three +incomprehensibles, only one uncreated, one incomprehensible." + +"In like manner, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy +Ghost almighty. Yet there are not three almighties, only one Almighty. +So the Father is God, the Son God, the Holy Ghost God, and yet not three +Gods; and so, likewise, the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy +Ghost is Lord, yet there are not three Lords, for as we are compelled by +the Christian truth to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and +Lord, so we are all forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there are +three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of no one; not created or +begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, not made, not created, but +begotten. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son, not made nor +begotten, but proceeding." + +You know what proceeding is. + +"So there is one Father, not three Fathers." Why should there be three +fathers, and only one Son? "One Son, and not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, +not three Holy Ghosts; and in this Trinity there is nothing before or +afterward, nothing greater or less, but the whole three persons are +coeternal with one another and coequal, so that in all things the unity +is to be worshiped in Trinity, and the Trinity is to be worshiped +in unity. Those who will be saved must thus think of the Trinity. +Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also +believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now the right +of this thing is this: That we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus +Christ, the Son of God, is both God and man. He is God of the substance +of his Father begotten before the world was." + +That was a good while before his mother lived. "And he is man of the +substance of his mother, born in this world, perfect God and perfect +man, and the rational soul in human flesh, subsisting equal to the +Father according to his Godhead, but less than the Father according to +his manhood, who being both God and man is not two but one, one not +by conversion of God into flesh, but by the taking of the manhood into +God." You see that is a great deal easier than the other way would be. + +"One altogether, not by a confusion of substance but by unity of person, +for as the rational soul and the flesh is one man, so God and man is one +Christ, who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again +the third day from the dead, ascended into heaven, and he sitteth at the +right hand of God, the Father Almighty, and He shall come to judge the +living and the dead." In order to be saved it is necessary to believe +this. What a blessing that we do not have to understand it. And in order +to compel the human intellect to get upon its knees before that infinite +absurdity, thousands and millions have suffered agonies; thousands and +thousands have perished in dungeons and in fire; and if all the bones +of all the victims of the Catholic Church could be gathered together, +a monument higher than all the pyramids would rise, in the presence of +which the eyes even of priests would be wet with tears. + +That church covered Europe with cathedrals and dungeons, and robbed men +of the jewel of the soul. That church had ignorance upon its knees. That +church went in partnership with the tyrants of the throne, and between +those two vultures, the altar and the throne, the heart of man was +devoured. + +Of course I have met, and cheerfully admit that there are thousands +of good Catholics; but Catholicism is contrary to human liberty. +Catholicism bases salvation upon belief. Catholicism teaches man to +trample his reason under foot. And for that reason it is wrong. + +Thousands of volumes could not contain the crimes of the Catholic +Church. They could not contain even the names of her victims. With sword +and fire, with rack and chain, with dungeon and whip she endeavored to +convert the world. In weakness a beggar--in power a highwayman,--alms +dish or dagger--tramp or tyrant. + + + + +VII. THE EPISCOPALIANS + +THE next church I wish to speak of is the Episcopalian. That was +founded by Henry VIII., now in heaven. He cast off Queen Catherine and +Catholicism together, and he accepted Episcopalianism and Annie Boleyn +at the same time. That church, if it had a few more ceremonies, would be +Catholic. If it had a few less, nothing. We have an Episcopalian Church +in this country, and it has all the imperfections of a poor relation. It +is always boasting of its rich relative. In England the creed is made +by law, the same as we pass statutes here. And when a gentleman dies in +England, in order to determine whether he shall be saved or not, it is +necessary for the power of heaven to read the acts of Parliament. It +becomes a question of law, and sometimes a man is damned on a very nice +point. Lost on demurrer. + +A few years ago, a gentleman by the name of Seabury, Samuel Seabury, was +sent over to England to get some apostolic succession. We had not a drop +in the house. It was necessary for the bishops of the English Church +to put their hands upon his head. They refused. There was no act of +Parliament justifying it. He had then to go to the Scotch bishops; and, +had the Scotch bishops refused, we never would have had any apostolic +succession in the New World, and God would have been driven out of half +the earth, and the true church never could have been founded upon this +continent. But the Scotch bishops put their hands on his head, and now +we have an unbroken succession of heads and hands from St. Paul to the +last bishop. + +In this country the Episcopalians have done some good, and I want +to thank that church. Having on an average less religion than the +others--on an average you have done more good to mankind. You preserved +some of the humanities. You did not hate music; you did not absolutely +despise painting, and you did not altogether abhor architecture, and you +finally admitted that it was no worse to keep time with your feet than +with your hands. And some went so far as to say that people could play +cards, and that God would overlook it, or would look the other way. For +all these things accept my thanks. + +When I was a boy, the other churches looked upon dancing as probably the +mysterious sin against the Holy Ghost; and they used to teach that when +four boys got in a hay-mow, playing seven-up, that the eternal God stood +whetting the sword of his eternal wrath waiting to strike them down to +the lowest hell. That church has done some good. + +The Episcopal creed is substantially like the Catholic, containing a few +additional absurdities. The Episcopalians teach that it is easier to +get forgiveness for sin after you have been baptized. They seem to think +that the moment you are baptized you become a member of the firm, and as +such are entitled to wickedness at cost. This church is utterly unsuited +to a free people. Its government is tyrannical, supercilious and absurd. +Bishops talk as though they were responsible for the souls in their +charge. They wear vests that button on one side. Nothing is so essential +to the clergy of this denomination as a good voice. The Episcopalians +have persecuted just to the extent of their power. Their treatment of +the Irish has been a crime--a crime lasting for three hundred years. +That church persecuted the Puritans of England and the Presbyterians of +Scotland. In England the altar is the mistress of the throne, and this +mistress has always looked at honest wives with scorn. + + + + +VIII. THE METHODISTS + +ABOUT a hundred and fifty years ago, two men, John Wesley and George +Whitfield, said, If everybody is going to hell, somebody ought to +mention it. The Episcopal clergy said: Keep still; do not tear your +gown. Wesley and Whitfield said: This frightful truth ought to be +proclaimed from the housetop of every opportunity, from the highway +of every occasion. They were good, honest men. They believed their +doctrine. And they said: If there is a hell, and a Niagara of souls +pouring over an eternal precipice of ignorance, somebody ought to say +something. They were right; somebody ought, if such a thing is true. +Wesley was a believer in the Bible. He believed in the actual presence +of the Almighty. + +God used to do miracles for him; used to put off a rain several days to +give his meeting a chance; used to cure his horse of lameness; used to +cure Mr. Wesley's headaches. + +And Mr. Wesley also believed in the actual existence of the devil. He +believed that devils had possession of people. He talked to the devil +when he was in folks, and the devil told him that he was going to leave; +and that he was going into another person. That he would be there at a +certain time; and Wesley went to that other person, and there the devil +was, prompt to the minute. He regarded every conversion as warfare +between God and this devil for the possession of that human soul, and +that in the warfare God had gained the victory. Honest, no doubt. Mr. +Wesley did not believe in human liberty. Honest, no doubt. Was opposed +to the liberty of the colonies. Honestly so. Mr. Wesley preached a +sermon entitled: "The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes," in which he took +the ground that earthquakes were caused by sin; and the only way to stop +them was to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. No doubt an honest man. + +Wesley and Whitfield fell out on the question of predestination. Wesley +insisted that God invited everybody to the feast. Whitfield said he did +not invite those he knew would not come. Wesley said he did. Whitfield +said: Well, he did not put plates for them, anyway. Wesley said he did. +So that, when they were in hell he could show them that there was a +seat left for them. The church that they founded is still active. And +probably no church in the world has done so much preaching for as little +money as the Methodists. Whitfield believed in slavery, and advocated +the slave-trade. And it was of Whitfield that Whittier made the two +lines: + + "He bade the slave ships speed from coast to coast, + Fanned by the wings of the Holy Ghost." + +We have lately had a meeting of the Methodists, and I find by their +statistics that they believe that they have converted 130,000 folks in +a year. That, in order to do this, they have 26,000 preachers, 226,000 +Sunday school scholars, and about $100,000,000 invested in church +property. I find, in looking over the history of the world, that there +are 40,000,000 or 50,000,000 of people born a year, and if they are +saved at the rate of 130,000 a year, about how long will it take that +doctrine to save this world? Good, honest people; but they are mistaken. + +In old times they were very simple. Churches used to be like barns. They +used to have them divided--men on that side, and women on this. A little +barbarous. We have advanced since then, and we now find as a fact, +demonstrated by experience, that a man sitting by the woman he loves +can thank God as heartily as though sitting between two men that he has +never been introduced to. + +There is another thing the Methodists should remember, and that is that +the Episcopalians were the greatest enemies they ever had. And they +should remember that the Freethinkers have always treated them kindly +and well. + +There is one thing about the Methodist Church in the North that I like. +But I find that it is not Methodism that does that. I find that the +Methodist Church in the South is as much opposed to liberty as the +Methodist Church North is in favor of liberty. So it is not Methodism +that is in favor of liberty or slavery. They differ a little in their +creed from the rest. They do not believe that God does everything. They +believe that he does his part, and that you must do the rest, and that +getting to heaven is a partnership business. The Methodist Church is +adapted to new countries--its ministers are generally uncultured, and +with them zeal takes the place of knowledge. They convert people with +noise. In the silence that follows most of the converts backslide. + +In a little while a struggle will commence between the few who are +growing and the orthodox many. The few will be driven out, and the +church will be governed by those who believe without understanding. + + + + +IX. THE PRESBYTERIANS + +THE next church is the Presbyterian, and in my judgment the worst of +all, as far as creed is concerned. This church was founded by John +Calvin, a murderer! + +John Calvin, having power in Geneva, inaugurated human torture. Voltaire +abolished torture in France. The man who abolished torture, if the +Christian religion be true, God is now torturing in hell, and the man +who inaugurated torture, is now a glorified angel in heaven. It will not +do. + +John Knox started this doctrine in Scotland, and there is this +peculiarity about Presbyterianism--it grows best where the soil is +poorest. I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox +and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a famine! +Imagine a conversation between a block and an ax! As I read their +conversation it seemed to me as though John Knox and John Calvin were +made for each other; that they fitted each other like the upper and +lower jaws of a wild beast. They believed happiness was a crime; they +looked upon laughter as blasphemy; and they did all they could to +destroy every human feeling, and to fill the mind with the infinite +gloom of predestination and eternal death. They taught the doctrine that +God had a right to damn us because he made us. That is just the reason +that he has not a right to damn us. There is some dust. Unconscious +dust! What right has God to change that unconscious dust into a human +being, when he knows that human being will sin; when he knows that human +being will suffer eternal agony? Why not leave him in the unconscious +dust? What right has an infinite God to add to the sum of human agony? +Suppose I knew that I could change that piece of furniture into a +living, sentient human being, and I knew that that being would suffer +untold agony forever. If I did it, I would be a fiend. I would leave +that being in the unconscious dust. + +And yet we are told that we must believe such a doctrine or we are to be +eternally damned! It will not do. + +In 1839 there was a division in this church, and they had a lawsuit to +see which was the church of God. And they tried it by a judge and jury, +and the jury decided that the new school was the church of God, and then +they got a new trial, and the next jury decided that the old school +was the church of God, and that settled it. That church teaches that +infinite innocence was sacrificed for me! I do not want it! I do not +wish to go to heaven unless I can settle by the books, and go there +because I ought to go there. I have said, and I say again, I do not wish +to be a charity angel. I have no ambition to become a winged pauper of +the skies. + +The other day a young gentleman, a Presbyterian who had just been +converted, came to me and he gave me a tract, and he told me he was +perfectly happy. Said I, "Do you think a great many people are going to +hell?" "Oh, yes." "And you are perfectly happy?" Well, he did not know +as he was, quite. "Would not you be happier if they were all going to +heaven?" "Oh, yes." "Well, then, you are not perfectly happy?" No, +he did not think he was. "When you get to heaven, then you will be +perfectly happy?" "Oh, yes." "Now, when we are only going to hell, you +are not quite happy; but when we are in hell, and you in heaven, then +you will be perfectly happy? You will not be as decent when you get to +be an angel as you are now, will you?" "Well," he said, "that was not +exactly it." Said I, "Suppose your mother were in hell, would you be +happy in heaven then?" "Well," he says, "I suppose God would know the +best place for mother." And I thought to myself, then, if I was a woman, +I would like to have five or six boys like that. + +It will not do. Heaven is where those are we love, and those who love +us. And I wish to go to no world unless I can be accompanied by those +who love me here. Talk about the consolations of this infamous doctrine. +The consolations of a doctrine that makes a father say, "I can be happy +with my daughter in hell;" that makes a mother say, "I can be happy with +my generous, brave boy in hell;" that makes a boy say, "I can enjoy the +glory of heaven with the woman who bore me, the woman _who would have +died for me_, in eternal agony." And they call that tidings of great +joy. + +No church has done more to fill the world with gloom than the +Presbyterian. Its creed is frightful, hideous, and hellish. The +Presbyterian god is the monster of monsters. He is an eternal +executioner, jailer and turnkey. He will enjoy forever the shrieks +of the lost,--the wails of the damned. Hell is the festival of the +Presbyterian god. + + + + +X. THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. + +I HAVE not time to speak of the Baptists,--that Jeremy Taylor said +were as much to be rooted out as anything that is the greatest pest and +nuisance on the earth. He hated the Baptists because they represented, +in some little degree, the liberty of thought. Nor have I time to speak +of the Quakers, the best of all, and abused by all. + +I cannot forget that John Fox, in the year of grace 1640, was put in +the pillory and whipped from town to town, scarred, put in a dungeon, +beaten, trampled upon, and what for? Simply because he preached the +doctrine: "Thou shalt not resist evil with evil." "Thou shalt love thy +enemies." + +Think of what the church must have been that day to scar the flesh of +that loving man! Just think of it! I say I have not time to speak of all +these sects--the varieties of Presbyterians and Campbellites. There are +hundreds and hundreds of these sects, all founded upon this creed that I +read, differing simply in degree. + +Ah! but they say to me: You are fighting something that is dead. Nobody +believes this now. The preachers do not believe what they preach in the +pulpit. The people in the pews do not believe what they hear preached. +And they say to me: You are fighting something that is dead. This is all +a form, we do not believe a solitary creed in the world. We sign them +and swear that we believe them, but we do not. And none of us do. And +all the ministers, they say in private, admit that they do not believe +it, not quite. I do not know whether this is so or not. I take it +that they believe what they preach. I take it that when they meet and +solemnly agree to a creed, they are honest and really believe in that +creed. But let us see if I am waging a war against the ideas of the +dead. Let us see if I am simply storming a cemetery. + +The Evangelical Alliance, made up of all orthodox denominations of the +world, met only a few years ago, and here is their creed: They believe +in the divine inspiration, authority and sufficiency of the holy +Scriptures; the right and duty of private judgment in the interpretation +of the holy Scriptures, but if you interpret wrong you are damned. +They believe in the unity of the godhead and the Trinity of the persons +therein. They believe in the utter depravity of human nature. There can +be no more infamous doctrine than that. They look upon a little child as +a lump of depravity. I look upon it as a bud of humanity, that will, in +the air and light of love and joy, blossom into rich and glorious life. + +Total depravity of human nature! Here is a woman whose husband has been +lost at sea; the news comes that he has been drowned by the ever-hungry +waves, and she waits. There is something in her heart that tells her he +is alive. And she waits. And years afterward as she looks down toward +the little gate she sees him; he has been given back by the sea, and she +rushes to his arms, and covers his face with kisses and with tears. And +if that infamous doctrine is true every tear is a crime, and every kiss +a blasphemy. It will not do. According to that doctrine, if a man steals +and repents, and takes back the property, the repentance and the taking +back of the property are two other crimes. It is an infamy. What else +do they believe? "The justification of a sinner by faith alone," without +works--just faith. Believing something that you do not understand. Of +course God can not afford to reward a man for believing anything that +is reasonable. God rewards only for believing something that is +unreasonable. If you believe something that is improbable and +unreasonable, you are a Christian; but if you believe something that you +know is not so, then,--you are a saint. + +They believe in the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and in the +eternal punishment of the wicked. + +Tidings of great joy! They are so good that they will not associate with +Universalists. They will not associate with Unitarians; they will not +associate with scientists; they will only associate with those who +believe that God so loved the world that he made up his mind to damn the +most of us. + +The Evangelical Alliance reiterates the absurdities of the Dark +Ages--repeats the five points of Calvin--replenishes the fires of +hell--certifies to the mistakes and miracles of the Bible--maligns the +human race, and kneels to a god who accepted the agony of the innocent +as an atonement for the guilty. + + + + +XI. WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE? + +THEN they say to me: "What do you propose? You have torn this down, what +do you propose to give us in place of it?" + +I have not torn the good down. I have only endeavored to trample out the +ignorant, cruel fires of hell. I do not tear away the passage: "God will +be merciful to the merciful." I do not destroy the promise; "If you will +forgive others, God will forgive you." I would not for anything blot out +the faintest star that shines in the horizon of human despair, nor in +the sky of human hope; but I will do what I can to get that infinite +shadow out of the heart of man. + +"What do you propose in place of this?" + +Well, in the first place, I propose good fellowship--good friends all +around. No matter what we believe, shake hands and let it go. That is +your opinion; this is mine: let us be friends. Science makes friends; +religion, superstition, makes enemies. They say: Belief is important. +I say: No, actions are important. Judge by deed, not by creed. Good +fellowship--good friends--sincere men and women--mutual forbearance, +born of mutual respect. We have had too many of these solemn people. +Whenever I see an exceedingly solemn man, I know he is an exceedingly +stupid man. No man of any humor ever founded a religion--never. Humor +sees both sides. While reason is the holy light, humor carries the +lantern, and the man with a keen sense of humor is preserved from +the solemn stupidities of superstition. I like a man who has got good +feeling for everybody; good fellowship. One man said to another: + +"Will you take a glass of wine?" + +"I do not drink." + +"Will you smoke a cigar?" + +"I do not smoke." + +"Maybe you will chew something?" + +"I do not chew." + +"Let us eat some hay." + +"I tell you I do not eat hay." + +"Well, then, good-by, for you are no company for man or beast." + +I believe in the gospel of Cheerfulness, the gospel of Good Nature; the +gospel of Good Health. Let us pay some attention to our bodies. Take +care of our bodies, and our souls will take care of themselves. Good +health! And I believe the time will come when the public thought will be +so great and grand that it will be looked upon as infamous to perpetuate +disease. I believe the time will come when man will not fill the future +with consumption and insanity. I believe the time will come when we will +study ourselves, and understand the laws of health and then we will say: +We are under obligation to put the flags of health in the cheeks of our +children. Even if I got to heaven, and had a harp, I would hate to +look back upon my children and grandchildren, and see them diseased, +deformed, crazed--all suffering the penalties of crimes I had committed. + +I believe in the gospel of Good Living. You can not make any god happy +by fasting. Let us have good food, and let us have it well cooked--and +it is a thousand times better to know how to cook than it is to +understand any theology in the world. + +I believe in the gospel of good clothes; I believe in the gospel of +good houses; in the gospel of water and soap. I believe in the gospel +of intelligence; in the gospel of education. The school-house is +my cathedral. The universe is my Bible. I believe in that gospel of +justice, that we must reap what we sow. + +I do not believe in forgiveness as it is preached by the church. We do +not need the forgiveness of God, but of each other and of ourselves. If +I rob Mr. Smith and God forgives me, how does that help Smith? If I, by +slander, cover some poor girl with the leprosy of some imputed crime, +and she withers away like a blighted flower and afterward I get the +forgiveness of God, how does that help her? If there is another world, +we have got to settle with the people we have wronged in this. No +bankrupt court there. Every cent must be paid. + +The Christians say, that among the ancient Jews, if you committed a +crime you had to kill a sheep. Now they say "charge it." "Put it on the +slate." It will not do. For every crime you commit you must answer to +yourself and to the one you injure. And if you have ever clothed another +with woe, as with a garment of pain, you will never be quite as happy as +though you had not done that thing. No forgiveness by the gods. Eternal, +inexorable, everlasting justice, so far as Nature is concerned. You must +reap the result of your acts. Even when forgiven by the one you have +injured, it is not as though the injury had not been done. That is what +I believe in. And if it goes hard with me, I will stand it, and I will +cling to my logic, and I will bear it like a man. + +And I believe, too, in the gospel of Liberty, in giving to others what +we claim for ourselves. I believe there is room everywhere for thought, +and the more liberty you give away, the more you will have. In liberty +extravagance is economy. Let us be just. Let us be generous to each +other. + +I believe in the gospel of Intelligence. That is the only lever capable +of raising mankind. Intelligence must be the savior of this world. +Humanity is the grand religion, and no God can put a man in hell in +another world, who has made a little heaven in this. God cannot make a +man miserable if that man has made somebody else happy. God cannot hate +anybody who is capable of loving anybody. Humanity--that word embraces +all there is. + +So I believe in this great gospel of Humanity. + +"Ah! but," they say, "it will not do. You must believe." I say, No. My +gospel of health will bring life. My gospel of intelligence, my gospel +of good living, my gospel of good-fellowship will cover the world with +happy homes. My doctrine will put carpets upon your floors, pictures +upon your walls. My doctrine will put books upon your shelves, ideas in +your minds. My doctrine will rid the world of the abnormal monsters born +of ignorance and superstition. My doctrine will give us health, wealth +and happiness. That is what I want. That is what I believe in. Give us +intelligence. In a little while a man will find that he can not steal +without robbing himself. He will find that he cannot murder without +assassinating his own joy. He will find that every crime is a mistake. +He will find that only that man carries the cross who does wrong, and +that upon the man who does right the cross turns to wings that will bear +him upward forever. He will find that even intelligent self-love embraces +within its mighty arms all the human race. + +"Oh," but they say to me, "you take away immortality." I do not. If we +are immortal it is a fact in nature, and we are not indebted to priests +for it, nor to bibles for it, and it cannot be destroyed by unbelief. + +As long as we love we will hope to live, and when the one dies that we +love we will say: "Oh, that we could meet again," and whether we do or +not it will not be the work of theology. It will be a fact in nature. I +would not for my life destroy one star of human hope, but I want it +so that when a poor woman rocks the cradle and sings a lullaby to the +dimpled darling, she will not be compelled to believe that ninety-nine +chances in a hundred she is raising kindling wood for hell. + +One world at a time is my doctrine. + +It is said in this Testament, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil +thereof;" and I say: Sufficient unto each world is the evil thereof. + +And suppose after all that death does end all. Next to eternal joy, next +to being forever with those we love and those who have loved us, next to +that, is to be wrapt in the dreamless drapery of eternal peace. Next to +eternal life is eternal sleep. Upon the shadowy shore of death the +sea of trouble casts no wave. Eyes that have been curtained by the +everlasting dark, will never know again the burning touch of tears. Lips +touched by eternal silence will never speak again the broken words of +grief. Hearts of dust do not break. The dead do not weep. Within the +tomb no veiled and weeping sorrow sits, and in the ray-less gloom is +crouched no shuddering fear. + +I had rather think of those I have loved, and lost, as having returned +to earth, as having become a part of the elemental wealth of the +world--I would rather think of them as unconscious dust, I would rather +dream of them as gurgling in the streams, floating in the clouds, +bursting in the foam of light upon the shores of worlds, I would rather +think of them as the lost visions of a forgotten night, than to have +even the faintest fear that their naked souls have been clutched by an +orthodox god. I will leave my dead where nature leaves them. Whatever +flower of hope springs up in my heart I will cherish, I will give it +breath of sighs and rain of tears. But I can not believe that there +is any being in this universe who has created a human soul for eternal +pain. I would rather that every god would destroy himself; I +would rather that we all should go to eternal chaos, to black and +starless night, than that just one soul should suffer eternal agony. + +I have made up my mind that if there is a God, he will be merciful to +the merciful. + +Upon that rock I stand.-- + +That he will not torture the forgiving.-- + +Upon that rock I stand.-- + +That every man should be true to himself, and that there is no world, no +star, in which honesty is a crime. + +Upon that rock I stand. + +The honest man, the good woman, the happy child, have nothing to fear, +either in this world or the world to come. + +Upon that rock I stand. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. +1 (of 12), by Robert G. 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Ingersoll, Volume 1 (of 12) by Robert +G. Ingersoll</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body { text-align:justify} + P { margin:15%; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + .play { margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; text-align: justify; font-size: 100%; } + img {border: 0;} + blockquote {font-size: 97%; margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 20%;} + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: left; + color: gray; + } /* page numbers */ + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 10%; margin-left: 1%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; + margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 35%; margin-bottom: .75em; font-size: 110%;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 45%;} + .indent {font-style: italic; font-size: 100%; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + PRE { font-family: Times; font-style: italic; font-size: 100%; margin-left: 25%;} + --> +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div style="height: 8em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<a name="title" id="title"></a> +<h1>THE WORKS OF ROBERT G. INGERSOLL</h1> +<h2>By Robert G. Ingersoll</h2> +<blockquote> +<p>"The Destroyer Of Weeds, Thistles And Thorns Is A Benefactor, +Whether He Soweth Grain Or Not."</p> +</blockquote> +<h3>IN TWELVE VOLUMES, VOLUME I.</h3> +<br /> +<h2>LECTURES</h2> +<br /> +<h3>1901</h3> +<h4>THE DRESDEN EDITION</h4> +<br /> +<br /> +<center>TO</center> +<center>EVA A. INGERSOLL,</center> +<center>MY WIFE,</center> +<center>A WOMAN WITHOUT SUPERSTITION,</center> +<center>THIS VOLUME</center> +<center>IS DEDICATED.</center> +<center>FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.</center> +<center>FOR THE USE OF MAN,</center> +<br /> +<center><img alt="Titlepage (64K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" +height="1268" width="746" /></center> +<br /> +<br /> +<center><img alt="Birthplace (64K)" src="images/Birthplace.jpg" +height="973" width="672" /></center> +<br /> +<br /> +<center><img alt="Portrait (62K)" src="images/Portrait.jpg" height= +"1095" width="666" /></center> +<br /> +<br /> +<center><img alt="Frontispiece (64K)" src="images/Frontispiece.jpg" +height="1259" width="715" /></center> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h2>Contents</h2> +<p class="toc"><a href="#linkTOC">CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0001">PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0002">THE GODS</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0003">HUMBOLDT.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0004">THOMAS PAINE</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0005">INDIVIDUALITY.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0006">HERETICS AND HERESIES.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0007">THE GHOSTS.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0009">THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND +CHILD.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0010">LIBERTY OF WOMAN.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0011">THE LIBERTY OF +CHILDREN.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#linkCONC">CONCLUSION.</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0013">ABOUT FARMING IN +ILLINOIS</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0014">WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE +SAVED?</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0016">I. WHAT WE MUST DO TO BE +SAVED</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0017">II. THE GOSPEL OF +MATTHEW</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0018">III. THE GOSPEL OF +MARK</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0019">IV. THE GOSPEL OF +LUKE.</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0020">V. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0021">VI. THE CATHOLICS</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0022">VII. THE EPISCOPALIANS</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0023">VIII. THE METHODISTS</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0024">IX. THE PRESBYTERIANS</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0025">X. THE EVANGELICAL +ALLIANCE.</a></p> +<p class="toc2"><a href="#link0026">XI. WHAT DO YOU +PROPOSE?</a></p> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="linkTOC"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.</h2> +<blockquote> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0002">THE GODS.</a></p> +THE GODS.<br /> +(1872.)<br /> +An Honest God is the Noblest Work of Man—Resemblance of Gods +to<br /> +their Creators—Manufacture and Characteristics of +Deities—Their<br /> +Amours—Deficient in many Departments of +Knowledge—Pleased with the<br /> +Butchery of Unbelievers—A Plentiful +Supply—Visitations—One God's<br /> +Laws of War—The Book called the Bible—Heresy of +Universalism—Faith<br /> +an unhappy mixture of Insanity and Ignorance—Fallen Gods, +or<br /> +Devils—Directions concerning Human Slavery—The first +Appearance of<br /> +the Devil—The Tree of Knowledge—Give me the Storm and +Tempest of<br /> +Thought—Gods and Devils Natural Productions—Personal +Appearance<br /> +of Deities—All Man's Ideas suggested by his +Surroundings—Phenomena<br /> +Supposed to be Produced by Intelligent Powers—Insanity and +Disease<br /> +attributed to Evil Spirits—Origin of the +Priesthood—Temptation of<br /> +Christ—Innate Ideas—Divine Interference—Special +Providence—The<br /> +Crane and the Fish—Cancer as a proof of Design—Matter +and<br /> +Force—Miracle—Passing the Hat for just one +Fact—Sir William Hamilton<br /> +on Cause and Effect—The Phenomena of Mind—Necessity and +Free Will—The<br /> +Dark Ages—The Originality of Repetition—Of what Use +have the Gods been<br /> +to Man?—Paley and Design—Make Good Health +Contagious—Periodicity of<br /> +the Universe and the Commencement of Intellectual +Freedom—Lesson of<br /> +the ineffectual attempt to rescue the Tomb of Christ from the<br /> +Mohammedans—The Cemetery of the Gods—Taking away +Crutches—Imperial<br /> +Reason<br /> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0003">HUMBOLDT.</a></p> +HUMBOLDT.<br /> +(1869.)<br /> +The Universe is Governed by Law—The Self-made +Man—Poverty generally<br /> +an Advantage—Humboldt's Birth-place—His desire for +Travel—On what<br /> +Humboldt's Fame depends—His Companions and +Friends—Investigations<br /> +in the New World—A Picture—Subjects of his +Addresses—Victory of the<br /> +Church over Philosophy—Influence of the discovery that the +World is<br /> +governed by Law—On the term +Law—Copernicus—Astronomy—Aryabhatta—<br /> +Descartes—Condition of the World and Man when the morning of +Science<br /> +Dawned—Reasons for Honoring Humboldt—The World his +Monument<br /> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0004">THOMAS PAINE.</a></p> +THOMAS PAINE.<br /> +(1870.)<br /> +With his Name left out the History of Liberty cannot be +Written—Paine's<br /> +Origin and Condition—His arrival in America with a Letter +of<br /> +Introduction by Franklin—Condition of the +Colonies—"Common Sense"—A<br /> +new Nation Born—Paine the Best of Political Writers—The +"Crisis"—War<br /> +not to the Interest of a trading Nation—Paine's Standing at +the Close<br /> +of the Revolution—Close of the Eighteenth Century in +France-The<br /> +"Rights of Man"—Paine Prosecuted in England—"The World +is my<br /> +Country"—Elected to the French Assembly—Votes against +the Death of<br /> +the King—Imprisoned—A look behind the Altar—The +"Age of Reason"—His<br /> +Argument against the Bible as a Revelation—Christianity of +Paine's<br /> +Day—A Blasphemy Law in Force in Maryland—The Scotch +"Kirk"—Hanging<br /> +of Thomas Aikenhead for Denying the Inspiration of the<br /> +Scriptures—"Cathedrals and Domes, and Chimes and +Chants"—Science—"He<br /> +Died in the Land his Genius Defended,"<br /> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0005">INDIVIDUALITY.</a></p> +INDIVIDUALITY.<br /> +(1873.)<br /> +"His Soul was like a Star and Dwelt Apart"—Disobedience one +of the<br /> +Conditions of Progress.—Magellan—The Monarch and the +Hermit-Why<br /> +the Church hates a Thinker—The Argument from Grandeur +and<br /> +Prosperity-Travelers and Guide-boards—A Degrading +Saying—Theological<br /> +Education—Scotts, Henrys and McKnights—The Church the +Great<br /> +Robber—Corrupting the Reason of Children—Monotony of +Acquiescence: For<br /> +God's sake, say No—Protestant Intolerance: Luther and +Calvin—Assertion<br /> +of Individual Independence a Step toward Infidelity—Salute +to<br /> +Jupiter—The Atheistic Bug-Little Religious Liberty in +America—God in<br /> +the Constitution, Man Out—Decision of the Supreme Court of +Illinois<br /> +that an Unbeliever could not testify in any +Court—Dissimulation—Nobody<br /> +in this Bed—The Dignity of a Unit<br /> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0006">HERETICS AND HERESIES.</a></p> +HERETICS AND HERESIES.<br /> +(1874.)<br /> +Liberty, a Word without which all other Words are Vain—The +Church, the<br /> +Bible, and Persecution—Over the wild Waves of War rose and +fell<br /> +the Banner of Jesus Christ—Highest Type of the Orthodox<br /> +Christian—Heretics' Tongues and why they should be Removed +before<br /> +Burning—The Inquisition Established—Forms of +Torture—Act of Henry<br /> +VIII for abolishing Diversity of Opinion—What a Good +Christian was<br /> +Obliged to Believe—The Church has Carried the Black +Flag—For what Men<br /> +and Women have been Burned—John Calvin's Advent into +the<br /> +World—His Infamous Acts—Michael +Servetus—Castalio—Spread of<br /> +Presbyterianism—Indictment of a Presbyterian Minister in +Illinois for<br /> +Heresy—Specifications—The Real Bible<br /> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0007">THE GHOSTS.</a></p> +THE GHOSTS.<br /> +(1877.)<br /> +Dedication to Ebon C. Ingersoll—Preface—Mendacity of +the Religious<br /> +Press—"Materialism"—Ways of Pleasing the +Ghosts—The Idea of<br /> +Immortality not Born of any Book—Witchcraft and +Demon-ology—Witch<br /> +Trial before Sir Matthew Hale—John Wesley a Firm Believer +in<br /> +Ghosts—"Witch-spots"—Lycanthropy—Animals Tried +and Convicted—The<br /> +Governor of Minnesota and the Grasshoppers—A Papal Bull +against<br /> +Witchcraft—Victims of the Delusion—Sir William +Blackstone's<br /> +Affirmation—Trials in Belgium—Incubi and +Succubi—A Bishop<br /> +Personated by the Devil—The Doctrine that Diseases are caused +by<br /> +Ghosts—Treatment—Timothy Dwight against +Vaccination—Ghosts as<br /> +Historians—The Language of Eden—Leibnitz, Founder of +the Science<br /> +of Language—Cosmas on Astronomy—Vagaries of Kepler and +Tycho<br /> +Brahe—Discovery of Printing, Powder, and America—Thanks +to the<br /> +Inventors—The Catholic Murderer and the Meat—Let the +Ghosts Go<br /> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0009">THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND +CHILD.</a></p> +THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD.<br /> +(1877.)<br /> +Liberty sustains the same Relation to Mind that Space does to<br /> +Matter—The History of Man a History of Slavery—The +Infidel Our<br /> +Fathers in the good old Time—The iron Arguments that +Christians<br /> +Used—Instruments of Torture—A Vision of the +Inquisition—Models of<br /> +Man's Inventions—Weapons, Armor, Musical Instruments, +Paintings,<br /> +Books, Skulls—The Gentleman in the Dug-out—Homage to +Genius and<br /> +Intellect—Abraham Lincoln—What I mean by +Liberty—The Man who cannot<br /> +afford to Speak his Thought is a Certificate of the Meanness of +the<br /> +Community in which he Resides—Liberty of Woman—Marriage +and the<br /> +Family—Ornaments the Souvenirs of Bondage-The Story of the +Garden of<br /> +Eden—Adami and Heva—Equality of the Sexes-The word +"Boss"—The Cross<br /> +Man-The Stingy Man—Wives who are Beggars—How to Spend +Money—By<br /> +the Tomb of the Old Napoleon—The Woman you Love will never +Grow<br /> +Old—Liberty of Children—When your Child tells a +Lie—Disowning<br /> +Children—Beating your own Flesh and Blood—Make Home +Pleasant—Sunday<br /> +when I was a Boy—The Laugh of a Child—The doctrine of +Eternal<br /> +Punishment—Jonathan Edwards on the Happiness of Believing +Husbands<br /> +whose Wives are in Hell—The Liberty of Eating and +Sleeping—Water in<br /> +Fever—Soil and Climate necessary to the production of +Genius—Against<br /> +Annexing Santo Domingo—Descent of Man—Conclusion<br /> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0013">ABOUT FARMING IN +ILLINOIS.</a></p> +ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS.<br /> +(1877.)<br /> +To Plow is to Pray; to Plant is to Prophesy, and the Harvest +Answers and<br /> +Fulfills—The Old Way of Farming—Cooking an Unknown +Art-Houses, Fuel,<br /> +and Crops—The Farmer's Boy—What a Farmer should +Sell—Beautifying<br /> +the Home—Advantages of Illinois as a Farming +State—Advantages of the<br /> +Farmer over the Mechanic—Farm Life too Lonely-On Early +Rising—Sleep<br /> +the Best Doctor—Fashion—Patriotism and Boarding +Houses—The Farmer and<br /> +the Railroads—Money and Confidence—Demonetization of +Silver-Area of<br /> +Illinois—Mortgages and Interest—Kindness to Wives and +Children—How<br /> +a Beefsteak should be Cooked—Decorations and +Comfort—Let the Children<br /> +Sleep—Old Age<br /> +<p class="toc"><a href="#link0014">WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE +SAVED?</a></p> +WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?<br /> +(1880.)<br /> +Preface—The Synoptic Gospels—Only Mark Knew of the +Necessity of<br /> +Belief—Three Christs Described—The Jewish Gentleman and +the Piece of<br /> +Bacon—Who Wrote the New Testament?—Why Christ and the +Apostles wrote<br /> +Nothing—Infinite Respect for the Man Christ—Different +Feeling for<br /> +the Theological Christ—Saved from What?—Chapter on the +Gospel of<br /> +Matthew—What this Gospel says we must do to be +Saved—Jesus and the<br /> +Children—John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards conceived of as +Dimpled<br /> +Darlings—Christ and the Man who inquired what Good Thing he +should<br /> +do that he might have Eternal Life—Nothing said about +Belief—An<br /> +Interpolation—Chapter on the Gospel of Mark—The Believe +or be Damned<br /> +Passage, and why it was written—The last Conversation of +Christ with<br /> +his Disciples—The Signs that Follow them that +Believe—Chapter on<br /> +the Gospel of Luke—Substantial Agreement with Matthew and +Mark—How<br /> +Zaccheus achieved Salvation—The two Thieves on the +Cross—Chapter<br /> +on the Gospel of John—The Doctrine of Regeneration, or the +New<br /> +Birth—Shall we Love our Enemies while God Damns +His?—Chapter on the<br /> +Catholics—Communication with Heaven through Decayed +Saints—Nuns and<br /> +Nunneries—Penitentiaries of God should be +Investigated—The<br /> +Athanasian Creed expounded—The Trinity and its +Members—Chapter on the<br /> +Episcopalians—Origin of the Episcopal Church—Apostolic +Succession<br /> +an Imported Article—Episcopal Creed like the Catholic, with +a<br /> +few Additional Absurdities—Chapter on the +Methodists—Wesley and<br /> +Whitfield—Their Quarrel about Predestination—Much +Preaching for Little<br /> +Money—Adapted to New Countries—Chapter on the +Presbyterians—John<br /> +Calvin, Murderer—Meeting between Calvin and Knox—The +Infamy of<br /> +Calvinism—Division in the Church—The Young +Presbyterian's Resignation<br /> +to the Fate of his Mother—A Frightful, Hideous, and +Hellish<br /> +Creed—Chapter on the Evangelical Alliance—Jeremy +Taylor's Opinion of<br /> +Baptists—Orthodoxy not Dead—Creed of the +Alliance—Total Depravity,<br /> +Eternal Damnation—What do You Propose?—The Gospel of +Good-fellowship,<br /> +Cheerfulness, Health, Good Living, Justice—No +Forgiveness—God's<br /> +Forgiveness Does not Pay my Debt to Smith—Gospel of Liberty, +of<br /> +Intelligence, of Humanity—One World at a Time—"Upon +that Rock I<br /> +Stand"<br /></blockquote> +<a name="link0001"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.</h2> +<p>IN presenting to the public this edition of the late Robert G. +Ingersoll's works, it has been the aim of the publisher to make it +worthy of the author and a pleasure to his friends and admirers. No +one can be more conscious than he of the magnitude of the task +undertaken, or more keenly feel how far short it must fall of +adequate accomplishment.</p> +<p>When it is remembered that countless utterances of the author +were never caught from his eloquent lips, it is matter for +congratulation that so much has been preserved. The authorized +addresses, arguments and articles that have already appeared in +print and passed the review of the authors more or less careful +inspection, will be readily recognized as accurate and complete; +but in this latest and fullest compilation are many emanations from +his heart and brain that have never had his scrutiny, were not +revised by him, and that yet, by general judgment, should not be +lost to the world.</p> +<p>These unedited sundries consist of fragments of speeches and +incompleted articles discovered amongst the authors literary +remains and for unknown reasons left in more or less unfinished +form. It has been the publisher's ambition to gather these fugitive +pieces and place them in this edition by the side of the saved +treasures. Whether the work has been well or ill done a generous +public must decide, while the sole responsibility must rest with, +as it has been assumed by, the publisher.</p> +<p>In carrying out the design of the present edition, the publisher +gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Mr. Ingersoll's family, +who have freely placed at his disposal many papers, inscriptions, +monographs, memoranda and pages of valuable material.</p> +<p>Recognition is also here made of the kind courtesy of the press +and of publishers of magazines who have generously permitted the +publication of articles originally written for them.</p> +<p>Finally, the publisher gives his thanks to all the devoted +friends of the author who in many ways, by suggestion and unselfish +labor, have aided in getting out this work. Of these, none have +been more unremitting in service, and to none is the publisher more +indebted, than to Mr. I. Newton Baker, Mr. Ingersoll's former +private secretary, to Dr. Edgar C. Beall, and to Mr. George E. +Macdonald for the fine Tables of Contents and the very valuable +Index to this edition.</p> +<center>C. P. FARRELL.</center> +<p>New York, July, 1900.</p> +<a name="link0002"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>THE GODS</h2> +<h3>An Honest God is the Noblest Work of Man.</h3> +<p>EACH nation has created a god, and the god has always resembled +his creators. He hated and loved what they hated and loved, and he +was invariably found on the side of those in power. Each god was +intensely patriotic, and detested all nations but his own. All +these gods demanded praise, flattery, and worship. Most of them +were pleased with sacrifice, and the smell of innocent blood has +ever been considered a divine perfume. All these gods have insisted +upon having a vast number of priests, and the priests have always +insisted upon being supported by the people, and the principal +business of these priests has been to boast about their god, and to +insist that he could easily vanquish all the other gods put +together.</p> +<p>These gods have been manufactured after numberless models, and +according to the most grotesque fashions. Some have a thousand +arms, some a hundred heads, some are adorned with necklaces of +living snakes, some are armed with clubs, some with sword and +shield, some with bucklers, and some have wings as a cherub; some +were invisible, some would show themselves entire, and some would +only show their backs; some were jealous, some were foolish, some +turned themselves into men, some into swans, some into bulls, some +into doves, and some into Holy Ghosts, and made love to the +beautiful daughters of men. Some were married—all ought to +have been—and some were considered as old bachelors from all +eternity. Some had children, and the children were turned into gods +and worshiped as their fathers had been. Most of these gods were +revengeful, savage, lustful, and ignorant. As they generally +depended upon their priests for information, their ignorance can +hardly excite our astonishment.</p> +<p>These gods did not even know the shape of the worlds they had +created, but supposed them perfectly flat Some thought the day +could be lengthened by stopping the sun, that the blowing of horns +could throw down the walls of a city, and all knew so little of the +real nature of the people they had created, that they commanded the +people to love them. Some were so ignorant as to suppose that man +could believe just as he might desire, or as they might command, +and that to be governed by observation, reason, and experience was +a most foul and damning sin. None of these gods could give a true +account of the creation of this little earth. All were wofully +deficient in geology and astronomy. As a rule, they were most +miserable legislators, and as executives, they were far inferior to +the average of American presidents.</p> +<p>These deities have demanded the most abject and degrading +obedience. In order to please them, man must lay his very face in +the dust Of course, they have always been partial to the people who +created them, and have generally shown their partiality by +assisting those people to rob and destroy others, and to ravish +their wives and daughters.</p> +<p>Nothing is so pleasing to these gods as the butchery of +unbelievers. Nothing so enrages them, even now, as to have some one +deny their existence.</p> +<p>Few nations have been so poor as to have but one god. Gods were +made so easily, and the raw material cost so little, that generally +the god market was fairly glutted, and heaven crammed with these +phantoms. These gods not only attended to the skies, but were +supposed to interfere in all the affairs of men. They presided over +everybody and everything. They attended to every department. All +was supposed to be under their immediate control. Nothing was too +small—nothing too large; the falling of sparrows and the +motions of the planets were alike attended to by these industrious +and observing deities. From their starry thrones they frequently +came to the earth for the purpose of imparting information to man. +It is related of one that he came amid thunderings and lightnings +in order to tell the people that they should not cook a kid in its +mother's milk. Some left their shining abodes to tell women that +they should, or should not, have children, to inform a priest how +to cut and wear his apron, and to give directions as to the proper +manner of cleaning the intestines of a bird.</p> +<p>When the people failed to worship one of these gods, or failed +to feed and clothe his priests, (which was much the same thing,) he +generally visited them with pestilence and famine. Sometimes he +allowed some other nation to drag them into slavery—to sell +their wives and children; but generally he glutted his vengeance by +murdering their first-born. The priests always did their whole +duty, not only in predicting these calamities, but in proving, when +they did happen, that they were brought upon the people because +they had not given quite enough to them.</p> +<p>These gods differed just as the nations differed; the greatest +and most powerful had the most powerful gods, while the weaker ones +were obliged to content themselves with the very off-scourings of +the heavens. Each of these gods promised happiness here and +hereafter to all his slaves, and threatened to eternally punish all +who either disbelieved in his existence or suspected that some +other god might be his superior; but to deny the existence of all +gods was, and is, the crime of crimes. Redden your hands with human +blood; blast by slander the fair fame of the innocent; strangle the +smiling child upon its mother's knees; deceive, ruin and desert the +beautiful girl who loves and trusts you, and your case is not +hopeless. For all this, and for all these you may be forgiven. For +all this, and for all these, that bankrupt court established by the +gospel, will give you a discharge; but deny the existence of these +divine ghosts, of these gods, and the sweet and tearful face of +Mercy becomes livid with eternal hate. Heaven's golden gates are +shut, and you, with an infinite curse ringing in your ears, with +the brand of infamy upon your brow, commence your endless +wanderings in the lurid gloom of hell—an immortal +vagrant—an eternal outcast—a deathless convict.</p> +<p>One of these gods, and one who demands our love, our admiration +and our worship, and one who is worshiped, if mere heartless +ceremony is worship, gave to his chosen people for their guidance, +the following laws of war: "When thou comest nigh unto a city to +fight against it, <i>then proclaim peace unto it</i>. And it shall +be if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it +shall be that all the people that is found therein shall be +tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. And if it will +make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou +shalt besiege it.</p> +<p>"And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thy hands, +thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword. But +the women and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in +the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself, +and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies which the Lord thy +God hath given thee. Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which +are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these +nations. But of the cities of these people which the Lord thy God +doth give thee for an inheritance, <i>thou shalt save alive nothing +that breatheth</i>"</p> +<p>Is it possible for man to conceive of anything more perfectly +infamous? Can you believe that such directions were given by any +being except an infinite fiend? Remember that the army receiving +these instructions was one of invasion. Peace was offered upon +condition that the people submitting should be the slaves of the +invader; but if any should have the courage to defend their homes, +to fight for the love of wife and child, then the sword was to +spare none—not even the prattling, dimpled babe.</p> +<p>And we are called upon to worship such a God; to get upon our +knees and tell him that he is good, that he is merciful, that he is +just, that he is love. We are asked to stifle every noble sentiment +of the soul, and to trample under foot all the sweet charities of +the heart. Because we refuse to stultify ourselves—refuse to +become liars—we are denounced, hated, traduced and ostracized +here, and this same god threatens to torment us in eternal fire the +moment death allows him to fiercely clutch our naked helpless +souls. Let the people hate, let the god threaten—we will +educate them, and we will despise and defy him.</p> +<p>The book, called the Bible, is filled with passages equally +horrible, unjust and atrocious. This is the book to be read in +schools in order to make our children loving, kind and gentle! This +is the book to be recognized in our Constitution as the source of +all authority and justice!</p> +<p>Strange! that no one has ever been persecuted by the church for +believing God bad, while hundreds of millions have been destroyed +for thinking him good. The orthodox church never will forgive the +Universalist for saying "God is love." It has always been +considered as one of the very highest evidences of true and +undefiled religion to insist that all men, women and children +deserve eternal damnation. It has always been heresy to say, "God +will at last save all."</p> +<p>We are asked to justify these frightful passages, these infamous +laws of war, because the Bible is the word of God. As a matter of +fact, there never was, and there never can be, an argument, even +tending to prove the inspiration of any book whatever. In the +absence of positive evidence, analogy and experience, argument is +simply impossible, and at the very best, can amount only to a +useless agitation of the air.</p> +<p>The instant we admit that a book is too sacred to be doubted, or +even reasoned about, we are mental serfs. It is infinitely absurd +to suppose that a god would address a communication to intelligent +beings, and yet make it a crime, to be punished in eternal flames, +for them to use their intelligence for the purpose of understanding +his communication. If we have the right to use our reason, we +certainly have the right to act in accordance with it, and no god +can have the right to punish us for such action.</p> +<p>The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is +monstrous. It is the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in +Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a +dependence upon reason, observation, and experience merits +everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation, and can be relieved +only by that unhappy mixture of insanity and ignorance, called +"faith." What man, who ever thinks, can believe that blood can +appease God? And yet, our entire system of religion is based upon +that belief. The Jews pacified Jehovah with the blood of animals, +and according to the Christian system, the blood of Jesus softened +the heart of God a little, and rendered possible the salvation of a +fortunate few. It is hard to conceive how the human mind can give +assent to such terrible ideas, or how any sane man can read the +Bible and still believe in the doctrine of inspiration.</p> +<p>Whether the Bible is true or false, is of no consequence in +comparison with the mental freedom of the race.</p> +<p>Salvation through slavery is worthless. Salvation from slavery +is inestimable.</p> +<p>As long as man believes the Bible to be infallible, that book is +his master. The civilization of this century is not the child of +faith, but of unbelief—the result of free thought.</p> +<p>All that is necessary, as it seems to me, to convince any +reasonable person that the Bible is simply and purely of human +invention—of barbarian invention—is to read it Read it +as you would any other book; think of it as you would of any other; +get the bandage of reverence from your eyes; drive from your heart +the phantom of fear; push from the throne of your brain the cowled +form of superstition—then read the Holy Bible, and you will +be amazed that you ever, for one moment, supposed a being of +infinite wisdom, goodness and purity, to be the author of such +ignorance and of such atrocity.</p> +<p>Our ancestors not only had their god-factories, but they made +devils as well. These devils were generally disgraced and fallen +gods. Some had headed unsuccessful revolts; some had been caught +sweetly reclining in the shadowy folds of some fleecy cloud, +kissing the wife of the god of gods. These devils generally +sympathized with man. There is in regard to them a most wonderful +fact: In nearly all the theologies, mythologies and religions, the +devils have been much more humane and merciful than the gods. No +devil ever gave one of his generals an order to kill children and +to rip open the bodies of pregnant women. Such barbarities were +always ordered by the good gods. The pestilences were sent by the +most merciful gods. The frightful famine, during which the dying +child with pallid lips sucked the withered bosom of a dead mother, +was sent by the loving gods. No devil was ever charged with such +fiendish brutality.</p> +<p>One of these gods, according to the account, drowned an entire +world, with the exception of eight persons. The old, the young, the +beautiful and the helpless were remorsely devoured by the shoreless +sea. This, the most fearful tragedy that the imagination of +ignorant priests ever conceived, was the act, not of a devil, but +of a god, so-called, whom men ignorantly worship unto this day. +What a stain such an act would leave upon the character of a devil! +One of the prophets of one of these gods, having in his power a +captured king, hewed him in pieces in the sight of all the people. +Was ever any imp of any devil guilty of such savagery?</p> +<p>One of these gods is reported to have given the following +directions concerning human slavery: "If thou buy a Hebrew servant, +six years shall he serve, and in the seventh he shall go out free +for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself; +if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his +master have given him a wife, and she have borne him sons or +daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he +shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall plainly say, I +love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out free. +Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also +bring him unto the door, or unto the door-post; and his master +shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him +forever."</p> +<p>According to this, a man was given liberty upon condition that +he would desert forever his wife and children. Did any devil ever +force upon a husband, upon a father, so cruel and so heartless an +alternative? Who can worship such a god? Who can bend the knee to +such a monster? Who can pray to such a fiend?</p> +<p>All these gods threatened to torment forever the souls of their +enemies. Did any devil ever make so infamous a threat? The basest +thing recorded of the devil, is what he did concerning Job and his +family, and that was done by the express permission of one of these +gods, and to decide a little difference of opinion between their +serene highnesses as to the character of "my servant Job." The +first account we have of the devil is found in that purely +scientific book called Genesis, and is as follows: "Now the serpent +was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had +made, and he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not +eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden? And the woman said +unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the +garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the +garden God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye +touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye +shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat +thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, +knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was +good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to +be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did +eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.... +And the Lord God said, Behold the man is become as one of us, to +know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take +also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever. Therefore the +Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground +from which he was taken. So he drove out the man, and he placed at +the east of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword, which +turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life."</p> +<p>According to this account the promise of the devil was fulfilled +to the very letter. Adam and Eve did not die, and they did become +as gods, knowing good and evil.</p> +<p>The account shows, however, that the gods dreaded education and +knowledge then just as they do now. The church still faithfully +guards the dangerous tree of knowledge, and has exerted in all ages +her utmost power to keep mankind from eating the fruit thereof. The +priests have never ceased repeating the old falsehood and the old +threat: "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye +die." From every pulpit comes the same cry, born of the same fear: +"Lest they eat and become as gods, knowing good and evil." For this +reason, religion hates science, faith detests reason, theology is +the sworn enemy of philosophy, and the church with its flaming +sword still guards the hated tree, and like its supposed founder, +curses to the lowest depths the brave thinkers who eat and become +as gods.</p> +<p>If the account given in Genesis is really true, ought we not, +after all, to thank this serpent? He was the first schoolmaster, +the first advocate of learning, the first enemy of ignorance, the +first to whisper in human ears the sacred word liberty, the creator +of ambition, the author of modesty, of inquiry, of doubt, of +investigation, of progress and of civilization.</p> +<p>Give me the storm and tempest of thought and action, rather than +the dead calm of ignorance and faith! Banish me from Eden when you +will; but first let me eat of the fruit of the tree of +knowledge!</p> +<p>Some nations have borrowed their gods; of this number, we are +compelled to say, is our own. The Jews having ceased to exist as a +nation, and having no further use for a god, our ancestors +appropriated him and adopted their devil at the same time. This +borrowed god is still an object of some adoration, and this adopted +devil still excites the apprehensions of our people. He is still +supposed to be setting his traps and snares for the purpose of +catching our unwary souls, and is still, with reasonable success, +waging the old war against our God.</p> +<p>To me, it seems easy to account for these ideas concerning gods +and devils. They are a perfectly natural production. Man has +created them all, and under the same circumstances would create +them again. Man has not only created all these gods, but he has +created them out of the materials by which he has been surrounded. +Generally he has modeled them after himself, and has given them +hands, heads, feet, eyes, ears, and organs of speech. Each nation +made its gods and devils speak its language not only, but put in +their mouths the same mistakes in history, geography, astronomy, +and in all matters of fact, generally made by the people. No god +was ever in advance of the nation that created him. The negroes +represented their deities with black skins and curly hair. The +Mongolian gave to his a yellow complexion and dark almond-shaped +eyes. The Jews were not allowed to paint theirs, or we should have +seen Jehovah with a full beard, an oval face, and an aquiline nose. +Zeus was a perfect Greek, and Jove looked as though a member of the +Roman senate. The gods of Egypt had the patient face and placid +look of the loving people who made them. The gods of northern +countries were represented warmly clad in robes of fur; those of +the tropics were naked. The gods of India were often mounted upon +elephants; those of some islanders were great swimmers, and the +deities of the Arctic zone were passionately fond of whale's +blubber. Nearly all people have carved or painted representations +of their gods, and these representations were, by the lower +classes, generally treated as the real gods, and to these images +and idols they addressed prayers and offered sacrifice.</p> +<p>In some countries? even at this day, if the people after long +praying do not obtain their desires, they turn their images off as +impotent gods, or upbraid them in a most reproachful manner, +loading them with blows and curses. 'How now, dog of a spirit,' +they say, 'we give you lodging in a magnificent temple, we gild you +with gold, feed you with the choicest food, and offer incense to +you; yet, after all this care, you are so ungrateful as to refuse +us what we ask.'</p> +<p>Hereupon they will pull the god down and drag him through the +filth of the street. If, in the meantime, it happens that they +obtain their request, then, with a great deal of ceremony, they +wash him clean, carry him back and place him in his temple again, +where they fall down and make excuses for what they have done. 'Of +a truth,' they say, 'we were a little too hasty, and you were a +little too long in your grant. Why should you bring this beating on +yourself. But what is done cannot be undone. Let us not think of it +any more. If you will forget what is past, we will gild you over +brighter again than before.</p> +<p>Man has never been at a loss for gods. He has worshiped almost +everything, including the vilest and most disgusting beasts. He has +worshiped fire, earth, air, water, light, stars, and for hundreds +of ages prostrated himself before enormous snakes. Savage tribes +often make gods of articles they get from civilized people. The +Todas worship a cow-bell. The Kotas worship two silver plates, +which they regard as husband and wife, and another tribe +manufactured a god out of a king of hearts.</p> +<p>Man, having always been the physical superior of woman, accounts +for the fact that most of the high gods have been males. Had woman +been the physical superior, the powers supposed to be the rulers of +Nature would have been women, and instead of being represented in +the apparel of man, they would have luxuriated in trains, lownecked +dresses, laces and back-hair.</p> +<p>Nothing can be plainer than that each nation gives to its god +its peculiar characteristics, and that every individual gives to +his god his personal peculiarities.</p> +<p>Man has no ideas, and can have none, except those suggested by +his surroundings. He cannot conceive of anything utterly unlike +what he has seen or felt. He can exaggerate, diminish, combine, +separate, deform, beautify, improve, multiply and compare what he +sees, what he feels, what he hears, and all of which he takes +cognizance through the medium of the senses; but he cannot create. +Having seen exhibitions of power, he can say, omnipotent. Having +lived, he can say, immortality. Knowing something of time, he can +say, eternity. Conceiving something of intelligence, he can say, +God. Having seen exhibitions of malice, he can say, devil. A few +gleams of happiness having fallen athwart the gloom of his life, he +can say, heaven. Pain, in its numberless forms, having been +experienced, he can say, hell. Yet all these ideas have a +foundation in fact, and only a foundation. The superstructure has +been reared by exaggerating, diminishing, combining, separating, +deforming, beautifying, improving or multiplying realities, so that +the edifice or fabric is but the incongruous grouping of what man +has perceived through the medium of the senses. It is as though we +should give to a lion the wings of an eagle, the hoofs of a bison, +the tail of a horse, the pouch of a kangaroo, and the trunk of an +elephant. We have in imagination created an impossible monster. And +yet the various parts of this monster really exist So it is with +all the gods that man has made.</p> +<p>Beyond nature man cannot go even in thought—above nature +he cannot rise—below nature he cannot fall.</p> +<p>Man, in his ignorance, supposed that all phenomena were produced +by some intelligent powers, and with direct reference to him. To +preserve friendly relations with these powers was, and still is, +the object of all religions. Man knelt through fear and to implore +assistance, or through gratitude for some favor which he supposed +had been rendered. He endeavored by supplication to appease some +being who, for some reason, had, as he believed, become enraged. +The lightning and thunder terrified him. In the presence of the +volcano he sank upon his knees. The great forests filled with wild +and ferocious beasts, the monstrous serpents crawling in mysterious +depths, the boundless sea, the flaming comets, the sinister +eclipses, the awful calmness of the stars, and, more than all, the +perpetual presence of death, convinced him that he was the sport +and prey of unseen and malignant powers. The strange and frightful +diseases to which he was subject, the freezings and burnings of +fever, the contortions of epilepsy, the sudden palsies, the +darkness of night, and the wild, terrible and fantastic dreams that +filled his brain, satisfied him that he was haunted and pursued by +countless spirits of evil. For some reason he supposed that these +spirits differed in power—that they were not all alike +malevolent—that the higher controlled the lower, and that his +very existence depended upon gaining the assistance of the more +powerful. For this purpose he resorted to prayer, to flattery, to +worship and to sacrifice.</p> +<p>These ideas appear to have been almost universal in savage +man.</p> +<p>For ages all nations supposed that the sick and insane were +possessed by evil spirits. For thousands of years the practice of +medicine consisted in frightening these spirits away. Usually the +priests would make the loudest and most discordant noises possible. +They would blow horns, beat upon rude drums, clash cymbals, and in +the meantime utter the most unearthly yells. If the noise-remedy +failed, they would implore the aid of some more powerful +spirit.</p> +<p>To pacify these spirits was considered of infinite importance. +The poor barbarian, knowing that men could be softened by gifts, +gave to these spirits that which to him seemed of the most value. +With bursting heart he would offer the blood of his dearest child. +It was impossible for him to conceive of a god utterly unlike +himself, and he naturally supposed that these powers of the air +would be affected a little at the sight of so great and so deep a +sorrow. It was with the barbarian then as with the civilized +now—one class lived upon and made merchandise of the fears of +another. Certain persons took it upon themselves to appease the +gods, and to instruct the people in their duties to these unseen +powers. This was the origin of the priesthood. The priest pretended +to stand between the wrath of the gods and the helplessness of man. +He was man's attorney at the court of heaven. He carried to the +invisible world a flag of truce, a protest and a request. He came +back with a command, with authority and with power. Man fell upon +his knees before his own servant, and the priest, taking advantage +of the awe inspired by his supposed influence with the gods, made +of his fellow-man a cringing hypocrite and slave. Even Christ, the +supposed son of God, taught that persons were possessed of evil +spirits, and frequently, according to the account, gave proof of +his divine origin and mission by frightening droves of devils out +of his unfortunate countrymen. Casting out devils was his principal +employment, and the devils thus banished generally took occasion to +acknowledge him as the true Messiah; which was not only very kind +of them, but quite fortunate for him. The religious people have +always regarded the testimony of these devils as perfectly +conclusive, and the writers of the New Testament quote the words of +these imps of darkness with great satisfaction.</p> +<p>The fact that Christ could withstand the temptations of the +devil was considered as conclusive evidence that he was assisted by +some god, or at least by some being superior to man. St. Matthew +gives an account of an attempt made by the devil to tempt the +supposed son of God; and it has always excited the wonder of +Christians that the temptation was so nobly and heroically +withstood. The account to which I refer is as follows:</p> +<p>"Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be +tempted of the devil. And when the tempter came to him, he said: +'If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made +bread.' But he answered, and said: 'It is written: man shall not +live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the +mouth of God.' Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city and +setteth him upon a pinnacle of the temple and saith unto him: 'If +thou be the son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He +shall give his angels charge concerning thee, lest at any time thou +shalt dash thy foot against a stone,'Jesus said unto him: 'It is +written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.' Again the +devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and sheweth him +all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and saith unto +him: 'All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship +me.'"</p> +<p>The Christians now claim that Jesus was God. If he was God, of +course the devil knew that fact, and yet, according to this +account, the devil took 'the omnipotent God and placed him upon a +pinnacle of the temple, and endeavored to induce him to dash +himself against the earth. Failing in that, he took the creator, +owner and governor of the universe up into an exceeding high +mountain, and offered him this world—this grain of +sand—if he, the God of all the worlds, would fall down and +worship him, a poor devil, without even a tax title to one foot of +dirt! Is it possible the devil was such an idiot? Should any great +credit be given to this deity for not being caught with such chaff? +Think of it! The devil—the prince of sharpers—the king +of cunning—the master of finesse, trying to bribe God with a +grain of sand that belonged to God!</p> +<p>Is there in all the religious literature of the world anything +more grossly absurd than this?</p> +<p>These devils, according to the Bible, were of various +kinds—some could speak and hear, others were deaf and dumb. +All could not be cast out in the same way. The deaf and dumb +spirits were quite difficult to deal with. St. Mark tells of a +gentleman who brought his son to Christ. The boy, it seems, was +possessed of a dumb spirit, over which the disciples had no +control. "Jesus said unto the spirit: 'Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I +charge thee come out of him, and enter no more into him.'" +Whereupon, the deaf spirit (having heard what was said) cried out +(being dumb) and immediately vacated the premises. The ease with +which Christ controlled this deaf and dumb spirit excited the +wonder of his disciples, and they asked him privately why they +could not cast that spirit out. To whom he replied: "This kind can +come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting." Is there a Christian +in the whole world who would believe such a story if found in any +other book? The trouble is, these pious people shut up their +reason, and then open their Bible.</p> +<p>In the olden times the existence of devils was universally +admitted. The people had no doubt upon that subject, and from such +belief it followed as a matter of course, that a person, in order +to vanquish these devils, had either to be a god, or to be assisted +by one. All founders of religions have established their claims to +divine origin by controlling evil spirits and suspending the laws +of nature. Casting out devils was a certificate of divinity. A +prophet, unable to cope with the powers of darkness was regarded +with contempt The utterance of the highest and noblest sentiments, +the most blameless and holy life, commanded but little respect, +unless accompanied by power to work miracles and command +spirits.</p> +<p>This belief in good and evil powers had its origin in the fact +that man was surrounded by what he was pleased to call good and +evil phenomena. Phenomena affecting man pleasantly were ascribed to +good spirits, while those affecting him unpleasantly or +injuriously, were ascribed to evil spirits. It being admitted that +all phenomena were produced by spirits, the spirits were divided +according to the phenomena, and the phenomena were good or bad as +they affected man.</p> +<p>Good spirits were supposed to be the authors of good phenomena, +and evil spirits of the evil—so that the idea of a devil has +been as universal as the idea of a god.</p> +<p>Many writers maintain that an idea to become universal must be +true; that all universal ideas are innate, and that innate ideas +cannot be false. If the fact that an idea has been universal proves +that it is innate, and if the fact that an idea is innate proves +that it is correct, then the believers in innate ideas must admit +that the evidence of a god superior to nature, and of a devil +superior to nature, is exactly the same, and that the existence of +such a devil must be as self-evident as the existence of such a +god. The truth is, a god was inferred from good, and a devil from +bad, phenomena. And it is just as natural and logical to suppose +that a devil would cause happiness as to suppose that a god would +produce misery. Consequently, if an intelligence, infinite and +supreme, is the immediate author of all phenomena, it is difficult +to determine whether such intelligence is the friend or enemy of +man. If phenomena were all good, we might say they were all +produced by a perfectly beneficent being. If they were all bad, we +might say they were produced by a perfectly malevolent power; but, +as phenomena are, as they affect man, both good and bad, they must +be produced by different and antagonistic spirits; by one who is +sometimes actuated by kindness, and sometimes by malice; or all +must be produced of necessity, and without reference to their +consequences upon man.</p> +<p>The foolish doctrine that all phenomena can be traced to the +interference of good and evil spirits, has been, and still is, +almost universal. That most people still believe in some spirit +that can change the natural order of events, is proven by the fact +that nearly all resort to prayer. Thousands, at this very moment, +are probably imploring some supposed power to interfere in their +behalf. Some want health restored; some ask that the loved and +absent be watched over and protected, some pray for riches, some +for rain, some want diseases stayed, some vainly ask for food, some +ask for revivals, a few ask for more wisdom, and now and then one +tells the Lord to do as he may think best. Thousands ask to be +protected from the devil; some, like David, pray for revenge, and +some implore even God, not to lead them into temptation. All these +prayers rest upon, and are produced by, the idea that some power +not only can, but probably will, change the order of the universe. +This belief has been among the great majority of tribes and +nations. All sacred books are filled with the accounts of such +interferences, and our own Bible is no exception to this rule.</p> +<p>If we believe in a power superior to nature, it is perfectly +natural to suppose that such power can and will interfere in the +affairs of this world. If there is no interference, of what +practical use can such power be? The Scriptures give us the most +wonderful accounts of divine interference: Animals talk like men; +springs gurgle from dry bones; the sun and moon stop in the heavens +in order that General Joshua may have more time to murder; the +shadow on a dial goes back ten degrees to convince a petty king of +a barbarous people that he is not going to die of a boil; fire +refuses to burn; water positively declines to seek its level, but +stands up like a wall; grains of sand become lice; common +walking-sticks, to gratify a mere freak, twist themselves into +serpents, and then swallow each other by way of exercise; murmuring +streams, laughing at the attraction of gravitation, run up hill for +years, following wandering tribes from a pure love of frolic; +prophecy becomes altogether easier than history; the sons of God +become enamored of the world's girls; women are changed into salt +for the purpose of keeping a great event fresh in the minds of men; +an excellent article of brimstone is imported from heaven free of +duty; clothes refuse to wear out for forty years; birds keep +restaurants and feed wandering prophets free of expense; bears tear +children in pieces for laughing at old men without wigs; muscular +development depends upon the length of one's hair; dead people come +to life, simply to get a joke on their enemies and heirs; witches +and wizards converse freely with the souls of the departed, and God +himself becomes a stone-cutter and engraver, after having been a +tailor and dressmaker.</p> +<p>The veil between heaven and earth was always rent or lifted. The +shadows of this world, the radiance of heaven, and the glare of +hell mixed and mingled until man became uncertain as to which +country he really inhabited. Man dwelt in an unreal world. He +mistook his ideas, his dreams, for real things. His fears became +terrible and malicious monsters. He lived in the midst of furies +and fairies, nymphs and naiads, goblins and ghosts, witches and +wizards, sprites and spooks, deities and devils. The obscure and +gloomy depths were filled with claw and wing—with beak and +hoof—with leering looks and sneering mouths—with the +malice of deformity—with the cunning of hatred, and with all +the slimy forms that fear can draw and paint upon the shadowy +canvas of the dark.</p> +<p>It is enough to make one almost insane with pity to think what +man in the long night has suffered; of the tortures he has endured, +surrounded, as he supposed, by malignant powers and clutched by the +fierce phantoms of the air. No wonder that he fell upon his +trembling knees—that he built altars and reddened them even +with his own blood. No wonder that he implored ignorant priests and +impudent magicians for aid. No wonder that he crawled groveling in +the dust to the temple's door, and there, in the insanity of +despair, besought the deaf gods to hear his bitter cry of agony and +fear.</p> +<p>The savage as he emerges from a state of barbarism, gradually +loses faith in his idols of wood and stone, and in their place puts +a multitude of spirits. As he advances in knowledge, he generally +discards the petty spirits, and in their stead believes in one, +whom he supposes to be infinite and supreme. Supposing this great +spirit to be superior to nature, he offers worship or flattery in +exchange for assistance. At last, finding that he obtains no aid +from this supposed deity—: finding that every search after +the absolute must of necessity end in failure—finding that +man cannot by any possibility conceive of the +conditionless—he begins to investigate the facts by which he +is surrounded, and to depend upon himself.</p> +<p>The people are beginning to think, to reason and to investigate. +Slowly, painfully, but surely, the gods are being driven from the +earth. Only upon rare occasions are they, even by the most +religious, supposed to interfere in the affairs of men. In most +matters we are at last supposed to be free. Since the invention of +steamships and railways, so that the products of all countries can +be easily interchanged, the gods have quit the business of +producing famine. Now and then they kill a child because it is +idolized by its parents. As a rule they have given up causing +accidents on railroads, exploding boilers, and bursting kerosene +lamps. Cholera, yellow fever, and small-pox are still considered +heavenly weapons; but measles, itch and ague are now attributed to +natural causes. As a general thing, the gods have stopped drowning +children, except as a punishment for violating the Sabbath. They +still pay some attention to the affairs of kings, men of genius and +persons of great wealth; but ordinary people are left to shirk for +themselves as best they may. In wars between great nations, the +gods still interfere; but in prize fights, the best man with an +honest referee, is almost sure to win.</p> +<p>The church cannot abandon the idea of special providence. To +give up that doctrine is to give up all. The church must insist +that prayer is answered—that some power superior to nature +hears and grants the request of the sincere and humble Christian, +and that this same power in some mysterious way provides for +all.</p> +<p>A devout clergyman sought every opportunity to impress upon the +mind of his son the fact, that God takes care of all his creatures; +that the falling sparrow attracts his attention, and that his +loving kindness is over all his works. Happening, one day, to see a +crane wading in quest of food, the good man pointed out to his son +the perfect adaptation of the crane to get his living in that +manner. "See," said he, "how his legs are formed for wading! What a +long slender bill he has! Observe how nicely he folds his feet when +putting them in or drawing them out of the water! He does not cause +the slightest ripple. He is thus enabled to approach the fish +without giving them any notice of his arrival." "My son," said he, +"it is impossible to look at that bird without recognizing the +design, as well as the goodness of God, in thus providing the means +of subsistence." "Yes," replied the boy, "I think I see the +goodness of God, at least so far as the crane is concerned; but +after all, father, don't you think the arrangement a little tough +on the fish?"</p> +<p>Even the advanced religionist, although disbelieving in any +great amount of interference by the gods in this age of the world, +still thinks, that in the beginning, some god made the laws +governing the universe. He believes that in consequence of these +laws a man can lift a greater weight with, than without, a lever; +that this god so made matter, and so established the order of +things, that two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same +time; so that a body once put in motion will keep moving until it +is stopped; so that it is a greater distance around, than across a +circle; so that a perfect square has four equal sides, instead of +five or seven. He insists that it took a direct interposition of +Providence to make the whole greater than a part, and that had it +not been for this power superior to nature, twice one might have +been more than twice two, and sticks and strings might have had +only one end apiece. Like the old Scotch divine, he thanks God that +Sunday comes at the end instead of in the middle of the week, and +that death comes at the close instead of at the commencement of +life, thereby giving us time to prepare for that holy day and that +most solemn event These religious people see nothing but design +everywhere, and personal, intelligent interference in everything. +They insist that the universe has been created, and that the +adaptation of means to ends is perfectly apparent. They point us to +the sunshine, to the flowers, to the April rain, and to all there +is of beauty and of use in the world. Did it ever occur to them +that a cancer is as beautiful in its development as is the reddest +rose? That what they are pleased to call the adaptation of means to +ends, is as apparent in the cancer as in the April rain? How +beautiful the process of digestion! By what ingenious methods the +blood is poisoned so that the cancer shall have food! By what +wonderful contrivances the entire system of man is made to pay +tribute to this divine and charming cancer! See by what admirable +instrumentalities it feeds itself from the surrounding quivering, +dainty flesh! See how it gradually but surely expands and grows! By +what marvelous mechanism it is supplied with long and slender roots +that reach out to the most secret nerves of pain for sustenance and +life! What beautiful colors it presents! Seen through the +microscope it is a miracle of order and beauty. All the ingenuity +of man cannot stop its growth. Think of the amount of thought it +must have required to invent a way by which the life of one man +might be given to produce one cancer? Is it possible to look upon +it and doubt that there is design in the universe, and that the +inventor of this wonderful cancer must be infinitely powerful, +ingenious and good?</p> +<p>We are told that the universe was designed and created, and that +it is absurd to suppose that matter has existed from eternity, but +that it is perfectly self-evident that a god has.</p> +<p>If a god created the universe, then, there must have been a time +when he commenced to create. Back of that time there must have been +an eternity, during which there had existed +nothing—absolutely nothing—except this supposed god. +According to this theory, this god spent an eternity, so to speak, +in an infinite vacuum, and in perfect idleness.</p> +<p>Admitting that a god did create the universe, the question then +arises, of what did he create it? It certainly was not made of +nothing. Nothing, considered in the light of a raw material, is a +most decided failure. It follows, then, that the god must have made +the universe out of himself, he being the only existence. The +universe is material, and if it was made of god, the god must have +been material. With this very thought in his mind, Anaximander of +Miletus said: "Creation is the decomposition of the infinite."</p> +<p>It has been demonstrated that the earth would fall to the sun, +only for the fact, that it is attracted by other worlds, and those +worlds must be attracted by other worlds still beyond them, and so +on, without end. This proves the material universe to be infinite. +If an infinite universe has been made out of an infinite god, how +much of the god is left?</p> +<p>The idea of a creative deity is gradually being abandoned, and +nearly all truly scientific minds admit that matter must have +existed from eternity. It is indestructible, and the indestructible +cannot be created. It is the crowning glory of our century to have +demonstrated the indestructibility and the eternal persistence of +force. Neither matter nor force can be increased nor diminished. +Force cannot exist apart from matter. Matter exists only in +connection with force, and consequently, a force apart from matter, +and superior to nature, is a demonstrated impossibility.</p> +<p>Force, then, must have also existed from eternity, and could not +have been created. Matter in its countless forms, from dead earth +to the eyes of those we love, and force, in all its manifestations, +from simple motion to the grandest thought, deny creation and defy +control.</p> +<p>Thought is a form of force. We walk with the same force with +which we think. Man is an organism, that changes several forms of +force into thought-force. Man is a machine into which we put what +we call food, and produce what we call thought. Think of that +wonderful chemistry by which bread was changed into the divine +tragedy of Hamlet!</p> +<p>A god must not only be material, but he must be an organism, +capable of changing other forms of force into thought-force. This +is what we call eating. Therefore, if the god thinks, he must eat, +that is to say, he must of necessity have some means of supplying +the force with which to think. It is impossible to conceive of a +being who can eternally impart force to matter, and yet have no +means of supplying the force thus imparted.</p> +<p>If neither matter nor force were created, what evidence have we, +then, of the existence of a power superior to nature? The +theologian will probably reply, "We have law and order, cause and +effect, and beside all this, matter could not have put itself in +motion."</p> +<p>Suppose, for the sake of the argument, that there is no being +superior to nature, and that matter and force have existed from +eternity. Now, suppose that two atoms should come together, would +there be an effect? Yes. Suppose they came in exactly opposite +directions with equal force, they would be stopped, to say the +least. This would be an effect. If this is so, then you have +matter, force and effect without a being superior to nature. Now, +suppose that two other atoms, just like the first two, should come +together under precisely the same circumstances, would not the +effect be exactly the same? Yes. Like causes, producing like +effects, is what we mean by law and order. Then we have matter, +force, effect, law and order without a being superior to nature. +Now, we know that every effect must also be a cause, and that every +cause must be an effect. The atoms coming together did produce an +effect, and as every effect must also be a cause, the effect +produced by the collision of the atoms, must as to something else +have been a cause. Then we have matter, force, law, order, cause +and effect without a being superior to nature. Nothing is left for +the supernatural but empty space. His throne is a void, and his +boasted realm is without matter, without force, without law, +without cause, and without effect.</p> +<p>But what put all this matter in motion? If matter and force have +existed from eternity, then matter must have always been in motion. +There can be no force without motion. Force is forever active, and +there is, and there can be no cessation. If, therefore, matter and +force have existed from eternity, so has motion. In the whole +universe there is not even one atom in a state of rest.</p> +<p>A deity outside of nature exists in nothing, and is nothing. +Nature embraces with infinite arms all matter and all force. That +which is beyond her grasp is destitute of both, and can hardly be +worth the worship and adoration even of a man.</p> +<p>There is but one way to demonstrate the existence of a power +independent of and superior to nature, and that is by breaking, if +only for one moment, the continuity of cause and effect Pluck from +the endless chain of existence one little link; stop for one +instant the grand procession, and you have shown beyond all +contradiction that nature has a master. Change the fact, just for +one second, that matter attracts matter, and a god appears.</p> +<p>The rudest savage has always known this fact, and for that +reason always demanded the evidence of miracle. The founder of a +religion must be able to turn water into wine—cure with a +word the blind and lame, and raise with a simple touch the dead to +life. It was necessary for him to demonstrate to the satisfaction +of his barbarian disciple, that he was superior to nature. In times +of ignorance this was easy to do. The credulity of the savage was +almost boundless. To him the marvelous was the beautiful, the +mysterious was the sublime. Consequently, every religion has for +its foundation a miracle—that is to say, a violation of +nature—that is to say, a falsehood.</p> +<p>No one, in the world's whole history, ever attempted to +substantiate a truth by a miracle. Truth scorns the assistance of +miracle. Nothing but falsehood ever attested itself by signs and +wonders. No miracle ever was performed, and no sane man ever +thought he had performed one, and until one is performed, there can +be no evidence of the existence of any power superior to and +independent of nature.</p> +<p>The church wishes us to believe. Let the church, or one of its +intellectual saints, perform a miracle, and we will believe. We are +told that nature has a superior. Let this superior, for one single +instant, control nature, and we will admit the truth of your +assertions.</p> +<p>We have heard talk enough. We have listened to all the drowsy, +idealess, vapid sermons that we wish to hear. We have read your +Bible and the works of your best minds. We have heard your prayers, +your solemn groans and your reverential amens. All these amount to +less than nothing. We want one fact. We beg at the doors of your +churches for just one little fact We pass our hats along your pews +and under your pulpits and implore you for just one fact We know +all about your mouldy wonders and your stale miracles. We want a +this year's fact. We ask only one. Give us one fact for charity. +Your miracles are too ancient. The witnesses have been dead for +nearly two thousand years. Their reputation for "truth and +veracity" in the neighborhood where they resided is wholly unknown +to us. Give us a new miracle, and substantiate it by witnesses who +still have the cheerful habit of living in this world. Do not send +us to Jericho to hear the winding horns, nor put us in the fire +with Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego. Do not compel us to navigate +the sea with Captain Jonah, nor dine with Mr. Ezekiel. There is no +sort of use in sending us fox-hunting with Samson. We have +positively lost all interest in that little speech so eloquently +delivered by Balaam's inspired donkey. It is worse than useless to +show us fishes with money in their mouths, and call our attention +to vast multitudes stuffing themselves with five crackers and two +sardines. We demand a new miracle, and we demand it now. Let the +church furnish at least one, or forever after hold her peace.</p> +<p>In the olden time, the church, by violating the order of nature, +proved the existence of her God. At that time miracles were +performed with the most astonishing ease. They became so common +that the church ordered her priests to desist. And now this same +church—the people having found some little +sense—admits, not only, that she cannot perform a miracle, +but insists that the absence of miracle—the steady, unbroken +march of cause and effect, proves the existence of a power superior +to nature. The fact is, however, that the indissoluble chain of +cause and effect proves exactly the contrary.</p> +<p>Sir William Hamilton, one of the pillars of modern theology, in +discussing this very subject, uses the following language: "The +phenomena of matter taken by themselves, so far from warranting any +inference to the existence of a god, would on the contrary ground +even an argument to his negation. The phenomena of the material +world are subjected to immutable laws; are produced and reproduced +in the same invariable succession, and manifest only the blind +force of a mechanical necessity."</p> +<p>Nature is but an endless series of efficient causes. She cannot +create, but she eternally transforms. There was no beginning, and +there can be no end.</p> +<p>The best minds, even in the religious world, admit that in +material nature there is no evidence of what they are pleased to +call a god. They find their evidence in the phenomena of +intelligence, and very innocently assert that intelligence is +above, and in fact, opposed to nature. They insist that man, at +least, is a special creation; that he has somewhere in his brain a +divine spark, a little portion of the "Great First Cause." They say +that matter cannot produce thought; but that thought can produce +matter. They tell us that man has intelligence, and therefore there +must be an intelligence greater than his. Why not say, God has +intelligence, therefore there must be an intelligence greater than +his? So far as we know, there is no intelligence apart from matter. +We cannot conceive of thought, except as produced within a +brain.</p> +<p>The science, by means of which they demonstrate the existence of +an impossible intelligence, and an incomprehensible power is +called, metaphysics or theology. The theologians admit that the +phenomena of matter tend, at least, to disprove the existence of +any power superior to nature, because in such phenomena we see +nothing but an endless chain of efficient causes—nothing but +the force of a mechanical necessity. They therefore appeal to what +they denominate the phenomena of mind to establish this superior +power.</p> +<p>The trouble is, that in the phenomena of mind we find the same +endless chain of efficient causes; the same mechanical necessity. +Every thought must have had an efficient cause. Every motive, every +desire, every fear, hope and dream must have been necessarily +produced. There is no room in the mind of man for providence or +chance. The facts and forces governing thought are as absolute as +those governing the motions of the planets. A poem is produced by +the forces of nature, and is as necessarily and naturally produced +as mountains and seas. You will seek in vain for a thought in man's +brain without its efficient cause. Every mental operation is the +necessary result of certain facts and conditions. Mental phenomena +are considered more complicated than those of matter, and +consequently more mysterious. Being more mysterious, they are +considered better evidence of the existence of a god. No one infers +a god from the simple, from the known, from what is understood, but +from the complex, from the unknown, and, incomprehensible. Our +ignorance is God; what we know is science.</p> +<p>When we abandon the doctrine that some infinite being created +matter and force, and enacted a code of laws for their government, +the idea of interference will be lost. The real priest will then +be, not the mouth-piece of some pretended deity, but the +interpreter of nature. From that moment the church ceases to exist. +The tapers will die out upon the dusty altar; the moths will eat +the fading velvet of pulpit and pew; the Bible will take its place +with the Shastras, Puranas, Vedas, Eddas, Sagas and Korans, and the +fetters of a degrading faith will fall from the minds of men.</p> +<p>"But," says the religionist, "you cannot explain everything; you +cannot understand everything; and that which you cannot explain, +that which you do not comprehend, is my God."</p> +<p>We are explaining more every day. We are understanding more +every day; consequently your God is growing smaller every day.</p> +<p>Nothing daunted, the religionist then insists that nothing can +exist without a cause, except cause, and that this uncaused cause +is God.</p> +<p>To this we again reply: Every cause must produce an effect, +because until it does produce an effect, it is not a cause. Every +effect must in its turn become a cause. Therefore, in the nature of +things, there cannot be a last cause, for the reason that a +so-called last cause would necessarily produce an effect, and that +effect must of necessity becomes a cause. The converse of these +propositions must be true. Every effect must have had a cause, and +every cause must have been an effect. Therefore there could have +been no first cause. A first cause is just as impossible as a last +effect.</p> +<p>Beyond the universe there is nothing, and within the universe +the supernatural does not and cannot exist.</p> +<p>The moment these great truths are understood and admitted, a +belief in general or special providence become impossible. From +that instant men will cease their vain efforts to please an +imaginary being, and will give their time and attention to the +affairs of this world. They will abandon the idea of attaining any +object by prayer and supplication. The element of uncertainty will, +in a great measure, be removed from the domain of the future, and +man, gathering courage from a succession of victories over the +obstructions of nature, will attain a serene grandeur unknown to +the disciples of any superstition. The plans of mankind will no +longer be interfered with by the finger of a supposed omnipotence, +and no one will believe that nations or individuals are protected +or destroyed by any deity whatever. Science, freed from the chains +of pious custom and evangelical prejudice, will, within her sphere, +be supreme. The mind will investigate without reverence, and +publish its conclusions without fear. Agassiz will no longer +hesitate to declare the Mosaic cosmogony utterly inconsistent with +the demonstrated truths of geology, and will cease pretending any +reverence for the Jewish Scriptures. The moment science succeeds in +rendering the church powerless for evil, the real thinkers will be +outspoken. The little flags of truce carried by timid philosophers +will disappear, and the cowardly parley will give place to +victory—lasting and universal.</p> +<p>If we admit that some infinite being has controlled the +destinies of persons and peoples, history becomes a most cruel and +bloody farce. Age after age, the strong have trampled upon the +weak; the crafty and heartless have ensnared and enslaved the +simple and innocent, and nowhere, in all the annals of mankind, has +any god succored the oppressed.</p> +<p>Man should cease to expect aid from on high. By this time he +should know that heaven has no ear to hear, and no hand to help. +The present is the necessary child of all the past. There has been +no chance, and there can be no interference.</p> +<p>If abuses are destroyed, man must destroy them. If slaves are +freed, man must free them. If new truths are discovered, man must +discover them. If the naked are clothed; if the hungry are fed; if +justice is done; if labor is rewarded; if superstition is driven +from the mind; if the defenceless are protected and if the right +finally triumphs, all must be the work of man. The grand victories +of the future must be won by man, and by man alone.</p> +<p>Nature, so far as we can discern, without passion and without +intention, forms, transforms, and retransforms forever. She neither +weeps nor rejoices. She produces man without purpose, and +obliterates him without regret. She knows no distinction between +the beneficial and the hurtful. Poison and nutrition, pain and joy, +life and death, smiles and tears are alike to her. She is neither +merciful nor cruel. She cannot be flattered by worship nor melted +by tears. She does not know even the attitude of prayer. She +appreciates no difference between poison in the fangs of snakes and +mercy in the hearts of men. Only through man does nature take +cognizance of the good, the true, and the beautiful; and, so far as +we know, man is the highest intelligence.</p> +<p>And yet man continues to believe that there is some power +independent of and superior to nature, and still endeavors, by +form, ceremony, supplication, hypocrisy and sacrifice, to obtain +its aid. His best energies have been wasted in the service of this +phantom. The horrors of witchcraft were all born of an ignorant +belief in the existence of a totally depraved being superior to +nature, acting in perfect independence of her laws; and all +religious superstition has had for its basis a belief in at least +two beings, one good and the other bad, both of whom could +arbitrarily change the order of the universe. The history of +religion is simply the story of man's efforts in all ages to avoid +one of these powers, and to pacify the other. Both powers have +inspired little else than abject fear. The cold, calculating sneer +of the devil, and the frown of God, were equally terrible. In any +event, man's fate was to be arbitrarily fixed forever by an unknown +power superior to all law, and to all fact. Until this belief is +thrown aside, man must consider himself the slave of phantom +masters—neither of whom promise liberty in this world nor in +the next.</p> +<p>Man must learn to rely upon himself. Reading bibles will not +protect him from the blasts of winter, but houses, fires, and +clothing will. To prevent famine, one plow is worth a million +sermons, and even patent medicines will cure more diseases than all +the prayers uttered since the beginning of the world.</p> +<p>Although many eminent men have endeavored to harmonize necessity +and free will, the existence of evil, and the infinite power and +good ness of God, they have succeeded only in producing learned and +ingenious failures. Immense efforts have been made to reconcile +ideas utterly inconsistent with the facts by which we are +surrounded, and all persons who have failed to perceive the +pretended reconciliation, have been denounced as infidels, atheists +and scoffers. The whole power of the church has been brought to +bear against philosophers and scientists in order to compel a +denial of the authority of demonstration, and to induce some Judas +to betray Reason, one of the saviors of mankind.</p> +<p>During that frightful period known as the "Dark Ages," Faith +reigned, with scarcely a rebellious subject. Her temples were +"carpeted with knees," and the wealth of nations adorned her +countless shrines. The great painters prostituted their genius to +immortalize her vagaries, while the poets enshrined them in song. +At her bidding, man covered the earth with blood. The scales of +Justice were turned with her gold, and for her use were invented +all the cunning instruments of pain. She built cathedrals for God, +and dungeons for men. She peopled the clouds with angels and the +earth with slaves. For centuries the world was retracing its +steps—going steadily back toward barbaric night! A few +infidels—a few heretics cried, "Halt!" to the great rabble of +ignorant devotion, and made it possible for the genius of the +nineteenth century to revolutionize the cruel creeds and +superstitions of mankind.</p> +<p>The thoughts of man, in order to be of any real worth, must be +free. Under the influence of fear the brain is paralyzed, and +instead of bravely solving a problem for itself, tremblingly adopts +the solution of another. As long as a majority of men will cringe +to the very earth before some petty prince or king, what must be +the infinite abjectness of their little souls in the presence of +their supposed creator and God? Under such circumstances, what can +their thoughts be worth?</p> +<p>The originality of repetition, and the mental vigor of +acquiescence, are all that we have any right to expect from the +Christian world. As long as every question is answered by the word +"God," scientific inquiry is simply impossible. As fast as +phenomena are satisfactorily explained the domain of the power, +supposed to be superior to nature must decrease, while the horizon +of the known must as constantly continue to enlarge.</p> +<p>It is no longer satisfactory to account for the fall and rise of +nations by saying, "It is the will of God." Such an explanation +puts ignorance and education upon an exact equality, and does away +with the idea of really accounting for anything whatever.</p> +<p>Will the religionist pretend that the real end of science is to +ascertain how and why God acts? Science, from such a standpoint +would consist in investigating the law of arbitrary action, and in +a grand endeavor to ascertain the rules necessarily obeyed by +infinite caprice.</p> +<p>From a philosophical point of view, science is knowledge of the +laws of life; of the conditions of happiness; of the facts by which +we are surrounded, and the relations we sustain to men and +things—by means of which, man, so to speak, subjugates nature +and bends the elemental powers to his will, making blind force the +servant of his brain.</p> +<p>A belief in special providence does away with the spirit of +investigation, and is inconsistent with personal effort. Why should +man endeavor to thwart the designs of God? Which of you, by taking +thought, can add one cubit to his stature? Under the influence of +this belief, man, basking in the sunshine of a delusion, considers +the lilies of the field and refuses to take any thought for the +morrow. Believing himself in the power of an infinite being, who +can, at any moment, dash him to the lowest hell or raise him to the +highest heaven, he necessarily abandons the idea of accomplishing +anything by his own efforts. As long as this belief was general, +the world was filled with ignorance, superstition and misery. The +energies of man were wasted in a vain effort to obtain the aid of +this power, supposed to be superior to nature. For countless ages, +even men were sacrificed upon the altar of this impossible god. To +please him, mothers have shed the blood of their own babes; martyrs +have chanted triumphant songs in the midst of flame; priests have +gorged themselves with blood; nuns have forsworn the ecstasies of +love; old men have tremblingly implored; women have sobbed and +entreated; every pain has been endured, and every horror has been +perpetrated.</p> +<p>Through the dim long years that have fled, humanity has suffered +more than can be conceived. Most of the misery has been endured by +the weak, the loving and the innocent Women have been treated like +poisonous beasts, and little children trampled upon as though they +had been vermin. Numberless altars have been reddened, even with +the blood of babes; beautiful girls have been given to slimy +serpents; whole races of men doomed to centuries of slavery, and +everywhere there has been outrage beyond the power of genius to +express. During all these years the suffering have supplicated; the +withered lips of famine have prayed; the pale victims have +implored, and Heaven has been deaf and blind.</p> +<p>Of what use have the gods been to man?</p> +<p>It is no answer to say that some god created the world, +established certain laws, and then turned his attention to other +matters, leaving his children weak, ignorant and unaided, to fight +the battle of life alone. It is no solution to declare that in +some, other world this god will render a few, or even all, his +subjects happy. What right have we to expect that a perfectly wise, +good and powerful being will ever do better than he has done, and +is doing? The world is filled with imperfections. If it was made by +an infinite being, what reason have we for saying that he will +render it nearer perfect than it now is? If the infinite "Father" +allows a majority of his children to live in ignorance and +wretchedness now, what evidence is there that he will ever improve +their condition? Will God have more power? Will he become more +merciful? Will his love for his poor creatures increase? Can the +conduct of infinite wisdom, power and love ever change? Is the +infinite capable of any improvement whatever?</p> +<p>We are informed by the clergy that this world is a kind of +school; that the evils by which we are surrounded are for the +purpose of developing our souls, and that only by suffering can men +become pure, strong, virtuous and grand.</p> +<p>Supposing this to be true, what is to become of those who die in +infancy? The little children, according to this philosophy, can +never be developed. They were so unfortunate as to escape the +ennobling influences of pain and misery, and as a consequence, are +doomed to an eternity of mental inferiority. If the clergy are +right on this question, none are so unfortunate as the happy, and +we should envy only the suffering and distressed. If evil is +necessary to the development of man, in this life, how is it +possible for the soul to improve in the perfect joy of +Paradise?</p> +<p>Since Paley found his watch, the argument of "design" has been +relied upon as unanswerable. The church teaches that this world, +and all that it contains, were created substantially as we now see +them; that the grasses, the flowers, the trees, and all animals, +including man, were special creations, and that they sustain no +necessary relation to each other. The most orthodox will admit that +some earth has been washed into the sea; that the sea has +encroached a little upon the land, and that some mountains may be a +trifle lower than in the morning of creation. The theory of gradual +development was unknown to our fathers; the idea of evolution did +not occur to them. Our fathers looked upon the then arrangement of +things as the primal arrangement. The earth appeared to them fresh +from the hands of a deity. They knew nothing of the slow evolutions +of countless years, but supposed that the almost infinite variety +of vegetable and animal forms had existed from the first.</p> +<p>Suppose that upon some island we should find a man a million +years of age, and suppose that we should find him in the possession +of a most beautiful carriage, constructed upon the most perfect +model. And suppose, further, that he should tell us that it was the +result of several hundred thousand years of labor and of thought; +that for fifty thousand years he used as flat a log as he could +find, before it occurred to him, that by splitting the log, he +could have the same surface with only half the weight; that it took +him many thousand years to invent wheels for this log; that the +wheels he first used were solid, and that fifty thousand years of +thought suggested the use of spokes and tire; that for many +centuries he used the wheels without linch-pins; that it took a +hundred thousand years more to think of using four wheels, instead +of two; that for ages he walked behind the carriage, when going +down hill, in order to hold it back, and that only by a lucky +chance he invented the tongue; would we conclude that this man, +from the very first, had been an infinitely ingenious and perfect +mechanic? Suppose we found him living in an elegant mansion, and he +should inform us that he lived in that house for five hundred +thousand years before he thought of putting on a roof, and that he +had but recently invented windows and doors; would we say that from +the beginning he had been an infinitely accomplished and scientific +architect?</p> +<p>Does not an improvement in the things created, show a +corresponding improvement in the creator?</p> +<p>Would an infinitely wise, good and powerful God, intending to +produce man, commence with the lowest possible forms of life; with +the simplest organism that can be imagined, and during immeasurable +periods of time, slowly and almost imperceptibly improve upon the +rude beginning, until man was evolved? Would countless ages thus be +wasted in the production of awkward forms, afterwards abandoned? +Can the intelligence of man discover the least wisdom in covering +the earth with crawling, creeping horrors, that live only upon the +agonies and pangs of others? Can we see the propriety of so +constructing the earth, that only an insignificant portion of its +surface is capable of producing an intelligent man? Who can +appreciate the mercy of so making the world that all animals devour +animals; so that every mouth is a slaughterhouse, and every stomach +a tomb? Is it possible to discover infinite intelligence and love +in universal and eternal carnage?</p> +<p>What would we think of a father, who should give a farm to his +children, and before giving them possession should plant upon it +thousands of deadly shrubs and vines; should stock it with +ferocious beasts, and poisonous reptiles; should take pains to put +a few swamps in the neighborhood to breed malaria; should so +arrange matters, that the ground would occasionally open and +swallow a few of his darlings, and besides all this, should +establish a few volcanoes in the immediate vicinity, that might at +any moment overwhelm his children with rivers of fire? Suppose that +this father neglected to tell his children which of the plants were +deadly; that the reptiles were poisonous; failed to say anything +about the earthquakes, and kept the volcano business a profound +secret; would we pronounce him angel or fiend?</p> +<p>And yet this is exactly what the orthodox God has done.</p> +<p>According to the theologians, God prepared this globe expressly +for the habitation of his loved children, and yet he filled the +forests with ferocious beasts; placed serpents in every path; +stuffed the world with earthquakes, and adorned its surface with +mountains of flame.</p> +<p>Notwithstanding all this, we are told that the world is perfect; +that it was created by a perfect being, and is therefore +necessarily perfect. The next moment, these same persons will tell +us that the world was cursed; covered with brambles, thistles and +thorns, and that man was doomed to disease and death, simply +because our poor, dear mother ate an apple contrary to the command +of an arbitrary God.</p> +<p>A very pious friend of mine, having heard that I had said the +world was full of imperfections, asked me if the report was true. +Upon being informed that it was, he expressed great surprise that +any one could be guilty of such presumption. He said that, in his +judgment, it was impossible to point out an imperfection. "Be kind +enough," said he, "to name even one improvement that you could +make, if you had the power." "Well," said I, "I would make good +health catching, instead of disease." The truth is, it is +impossible to harmonize all the ills, and pains, and agonies of +this world with the idea that we were created by, and are watched +over and protected by an infinitely wise, powerful and beneficent +God, who is superior to and independent of nature.</p> +<p>The clergy, however, balance all the real ills of this life with +the expected joys of the next. We are assured that all is +perfection in heaven—there the skies are +cloudless—there all is serenity and peace. Here empires may +be overthrown; dynasties may be extinguished in blood; millions of +slaves may toil 'neath the fierce rays of the sun, and the cruel +strokes of the lash; yet all is happiness in heaven. Pestilences +may strew the earth with corpses of the loved; the survivors may +bend above them in agony—yet the placid bosom of heaven is +unruffled. Children may expire vainly asking for bread; babes may +be devoured by serpents, while the gods sit smiling in the clouds. +The innocent may languish unto death in the obscurity of dungeons; +brave men and heroic women may be changed to ashes at the bigot's +stake, while heaven is filled with song and joy. Out on the wide +sea, in darkness and in storm, the shipwrecked struggle with the +cruel waves while the angels play upon their golden harps. The +streets of the world are filled with the diseased, the deformed and +the helpless; the chambers of pain are crowded with the pale forms +of the suffering, while the angels float and fly in the happy +realms of day. In heaven they are too happy to have sympathy; too +busy singing to aid the imploring and distressed. Their eyes are +blinded; their ears are stopped and their hearts are turned to +stone by the infinite selfishness of joy. The saved mariner is too +happy when he touches the shore to give a moment's thought to his +drowning brothers. With the indifference of happiness, with the +contempt of bliss, heaven barely glances at the miseries of earth. +Cities are devoured by the rushing lava; the earth opens and +thousands perish; women raise their clasped hands towards heaven, +but the gods are too happy to aid their children. The smiles of the +deities are unacquainted with the tears of men. The shouts of +heaven drown the sobs of earth.</p> +<p>Having shown how man created gods, and how he became the +trembling slave of his own creation, the questions naturally arise: +How did he free himself even a little, from these monarchs of the +sky, from these despots of the clouds, from this aristocracy of the +air? How did he, even to the extent that he has, outgrow his +ignorant, abject terror, and throw off the yoke of +superstition?</p> +<p>Probably, the first thing that tended to disabuse his mind was +the discovery of order, of regularity, of periodicity in the +universe. From this he began to suspect that everything did not +happen purely with reference to him. He noticed, that whatever he +might do, the motions of the planets were always the same; that +eclipses were periodical, and that even comets came at certain +intervals. This convinced him that eclipses and comets had nothing +to do with him, and that his conduct had nothing to do with them. +He perceived that they were not caused for his benefit or injury. +He thus learned to regard them with admiration instead of fear. He +began to suspect that famine was not sent by some enraged and +revengeful deity, but resuited often from the neglect and ignorance +of man. He learned that diseases were not produced by evil spirits. +He found that sickness was occasioned by natural causes, and could +be cured by natural means. He demonstrated, to his own satisfaction +at least, that prayer is not a medicine. He found by sad experience +that his gods were of no practical use, as they never assisted him, +except when he was perfectly able to help himself. At last, he +began to discover that his individual action had nothing whatever +to do with strange appearances in the heavens; that it was +impossible for him to be bad enough to cause a whirlwind, or good +enough to stop one. After many centuries of thought, he about half +concluded that making mouths at a priest would not necessarily +cause an earthquake. He noticed, and no doubt with considerable +astonishment, that very good men were occasionally struck by +lightning, while very bad ones escaped. He was frequently forced to +the painful conclusion (and it is the most painful to which any +human being ever was forced) that the right did not always prevail. +He noticed that the gods did not interfere in behalf of the weak +and innocent. He was now and then astonished by seeing an +unbeliever in the enjoyment of most excellent health. He finally +ascertained that there could be no possible connection between an +unusually severe winter and his failure to give a sheep to a +priest. He began to suspect that the order of the universe was not +constantly being changed to assist him because he repeated a creed. +He observed that some children would steal after having been +regularly baptized. He noticed a vast difference between religion +and justice, and that the worshipers of the same god, took delight +in cutting each other's throats. He saw that these religious +disputes filled the world with hatred and slavery. At last he had +the courage to suspect, that no god at any time interferes with the +order of events. He learned a few facts, and these facts positively +refused to harmonize with the ignorant superstitions of his +fathers. Finding his sacred books incorrect and false in some +particulars, his faith in their authenticity began to be shaken; +finding his priests ignorant upon some points, he began to lose +respect for the cloth. This was the commencement of intellectual +freedom.</p> +<p>The civilization of man has increased just to the same extent +that religious power has decreased. The intellectual advancement of +man depends upon how often he can exchange an old superstition for +a new truth. The church never enabled a human being to make even +one of these exchanges; on the contrary, all her power has been +used to prevent them. In spite, however, of the church, man found +that some of his religious conceptions were wrong. By reading his +Bible, he found that the ideas of his God were more cruel and +brutal than those of the most depraved savage. He also discovered +that this holy book was filled with ignorance, and that it must +have been written by persons wholly unacquainted with the nature of +the phenomena by which we are surrounded; and now and then, some +man had the goodness and courage to speak his honest thoughts. In +every age some thinker, some doubter, some investigator, some hater +of hypocrisy, some despiser of sham, some brave lover of the right, +has gladly, proudly and heroically braved the ignorant fury of +superstition for the sake of man and truth. These divine men were +generally torn in pieces by the worshipers of the gods. Socrates +was poisoned because he lacked reverence for some of the deities. +Christ was crucified by a religious rabble for the crime of +blasphemy. Nothing is more gratifying to a religionist than to +destroy his enemies at the command of God. Religious persecution +springs from a due admixture of love towards God and hatred towards +man.</p> +<p>The terrible religious wars that inundated the world with blood +tended at least to bring all religion into disgrace and hatred. +Thoughtful people began to question the divine origin of a religion +that made its believers hold the rights of others in absolute +contempt. A few began to compare Christianity with the religions of +heathen people, and were forced to admit that the difference was +hardly worth dying for. They also found that other nations were +even happier and more prosperous than their own. They began to +suspect that their religion, after all, was not of much real +value.</p> +<p>For three hundred years the Christian world endeavored to rescue +from the "Infidel" the empty sepulchre of Christ. For three hundred +years the armies of the cross were baffled and beaten by the +victorious hosts of an impudent impostor. This immense fact sowed +the seeds of distrust throughout all Christendom, and millions +began to lose confidence in a God who had been vanquished by +Mohammed. The people also found that commerce made friends where +religion made enemies, and that religious zeal was utterly +incompatible with peace between nations or individuals. They +discovered that those who loved the gods most were apt to love men +least; that the arrogance of universal forgiveness was amazing; +that the most malicious had the effrontery to pray for their +enemies, and that humility and tyranny were the fruit of the same +tree.</p> +<p>For ages, a deadly conflict has been waged between a few brave +men and women of thought and genius upon the one side, and the +great ignorant religious mass on the other. This is the war between +Science and Faith. The few have appealed to reason, to honor, to +law, to freedom, to the known, and to happiness here in this world. +The many have appealed to prejudice, to fear, to miracle, to +slavery, to the unknown, and to misery hereafter. The few have +said, "Think!" The many have said, "Believe!"</p> +<p>The first doubt was the womb and cradle of progress, and from +the first doubt, man has continued to advance. Men began to +investigate, and the church began to oppose. The astronomer scanned +the heavens, while the church branded his grand forehead with the +word, "Infidel;" and now, not a glittering star in all the vast +expanse bears a Christian name. In spite of all religion, the +geologist penetrated the earth, read her history in books of stone, +and found, hidden within her bosom, souvenirs of all the ages. Old +ideas perished in the retort of the chemist, and useful truths took +their places. One by one religious conceptions have been placed in +the crucible of science, and thus far, nothing but dross has been +found. A new world has been discovered by the microscope; +everywhere has been found the infinite; in every direction man has +investigated and explored and nowhere, in earth or stars, has been +found the footstep of any being superior to or independent of +nature. Nowhere has been discovered the slightest evidence of any +interference from without.</p> +<p>These are the sublime truths that enabled man to throw off the +yoke of superstition. These are the splendid facts that snatched +the sceptre of authority from the hands of priests.</p> +<p>In that vast cemetery, called the past, are most of the +religions of men, and there, too, are nearly all their gods. The +sacred temples of India were ruins long ago. Over column and +cornice; over the painted and pictured walls, cling and creep the +trailing vines. Brahma, the golden, with four heads and four arms; +Vishnu, the sombre, the punisher of the wicked, with his three +eyes, his crescent, and his necklace of skulls; Siva, the +destroyer, red with seas of blood; Kali, the goddess; Draupadi, the +white-armed, and Chrishna, the Christ, all passed away and left the +thrones of heaven desolate. Along the banks of the sacred Nile, +Isis no longer wandering weeps, searching for the dead Osiris. The +shadow of Typhons scowl falls no more upon the waves. The sun rises +as of yore, and his golden beams still smite the lips of Memnon, +but Mem-non is as voiceless as the Sphinx. The sacred fanes are +lost in desert sands; the dusty mummies are still waiting for the +resurrection promised by their priests, and the old beliefs, +wrought in curiously sculptured stone, sleep in the mystery of a +language lost and dead. Odin, the author of life and soul, Vili and +Ve, and the mighty giant Ymir, strode long ago from the icy halls +of the North; and Thor, with iron glove and glittering hammer, +dashes mountains to the earth no more. Broken are the circles and +cromlechs of the ancient Druids; fallen upon the summits of the +hills, and covered with the centuries' moss, are the sacred cairns. +The divine fires of Persia and of the Aztecs, have died out in the +ashes of the past, and there is none to rekindle, and none to feed +the holy flames. The harp of Orpheus is still; the drained cup of +Bacchus has been thrown aside; Venus lies dead in stone, and her +white bosom heaves no more with love. The streams still murmur, but +no naiads bathe; the trees still wave, but in the forest aisles no +dryads dance. The gods have flown from high Olympus. Not even the +beautiful women can lure them back, and Danæ lies unnoticed, +naked to the stars. Hushed forever are the thunders of Sinai; lost +are the voices of the prophets, and the land once flowing with milk +and honey, is but a desert waste. One by one, the myths have faded +from the clouds: one by one, the phantom host has disappeared, and +one by one, facts, truths and realities have taken their places. +The supernatural has almost gone, but the natural remains. The gods +have fled, but man is here.</p> +<p>Nations, like individuals, have their periods of youth, of +manhood and decay. Religions are the same. The same inexorable +destiny awaits them all. The gods created by the nations must +perish with their creators. They were created by men, and like men, +they must pass away. The deities of one age are the by-words of the +next The religion of our day, and country, is no more exempt from +the sneer of the future than the others have been. When India was +supreme, Brahma sat upon the world's throne. When the sceptre +passed to Egypt, Isis and Osiris received the homage of mankind. +Greece, with her fierce valor, swept to empire, and Zeus put on the +purple of authority. The earth trembled with the tread of Rome's +intrepid sons, and Jove grasped with mailed hand the thunderbolts +of heaven. Rome fell, and Christians from her territory, with the +red sword of war, carved out the ruling nations of the world, and +now Christ sits upon the old throne. Who will be his successor?</p> +<p>Day by day, religious conceptions grow less and less intense. +Day by day, the old spirit dies out of book and creed. The burning +enthusiasm, the quenchless zeal of the early church have gone, +never, never to return. The ceremonies remain, but the ancient +faith is fading out of the human heart. The worn-out arguments fail +to convince, and denunciations that once blanched the faces of a +race, excite in us only derision and disgust. As time rolls on, the +miracles grow mean and small, and the evidences our fathers thought +conclusive utterly fail to satisfy us. There is an "irrepressible +conflict" between religion and science, and they cannot peaceably +occupy the same brain nor the same world.</p> +<p>While utterly discarding all creeds, and denying the truth of +all religions, there is neither in my heart nor upon my lips a +sneer for the hopeful, loving and tender souls who believe that +from all this discord will result a perfect harmony; that every +evil will in some mysterious way become a good, and that above and +over all there is a being who, in some way, will reclaim and +glorify every one of the children of men; but for those who +heartlessly try to prove that salvation is almost impossible; that +damnation is almost certain; that the highway of the universe leads +to hell; who fill life with fear and death with horror; who curse +the cradle and mock the tomb, it is impossible to entertain other +than feelings of pity, contempt and scorn.</p> +<p>Reason, Observation and Experience—the Holy Trinity of +Science—have taught us that happiness is the only good; that +the time to be happy is now, and the way to be happy is to make +others so. This is enough for us. In this belief we are content to +live and die. If by any possibility the existence of a power +superior to, and independent of, nature shall be demonstrated, +there will then be time enough to kneel. Until then, let us stand +erect.</p> +<p>Notwithstanding the fact that infidels in all ages have battled +for the rights of man, and have at all times been the fearless +advocates of liberty and justice, we are constantly charged by the +church with tearing down without building again. The church should +by this time know that it is utterly impossible to rob men of their +opinions. The history of religious persecution fully establishes +the fact that the mind necessarily resists and defies every attempt +to control it by violence. The mind necessarily clings to old ideas +until prepared for the new. The moment we comprehend the truth, all +erroneous ideas are of necessity cast aside.</p> +<p>A surgeon once called upon a poor cripple and kindly offered to +render him any assistance in his power. The surgeon began to +discourse very learnedly upon the nature and origin of disease; of +the curative properties of certain medicines; of the advantages of +exercise, air and light, and of the various ways in which health +and strength could be restored. These remarks were so full of good +sense, and discovered so much profound thought and accurate +knowledge, that the cripple, becoming thoroughly alarmed, cried +out, "Do not, I pray you, take away my crutches. They are my only +support, and without them I should be miserable indeed!" "I am not +going," said the surgeon, "to take away your crutches. I am going +to cure you, and then you will throw the crutches away +yourself."</p> +<p>For the vagaries of the clouds the infidels propose to +substitute the realities of earth; for superstition, the splendid +demonstrations and achievements of science; and for theological +tyranny, the chainless liberty of thought.</p> +<p>We do not say that we have discovered all; that our doctrines +are the all in all of truth. We know of no end to the development +of man. We cannot unravel the infinite complications of matter and +force. The history of one monad is as unknown as that of the +universe; one drop of water is as wonderful as all the seas; one +leaf, as all the forests; and one grain of sand, as all the +stars.</p> +<p>We are not endeavoring to chain the future, but to free the +present. We are not forging fetters for our children, but we are +breaking those our fathers made for us. We are the advocates of +inquiry, of investigation and thought This of itself, is an +admission that we are not perfectly satisfied with all our +conclusions. Philosophy has not the egotism of faith. While +superstition builds walls and creates obstructions, science opens +all the highways of thought. We do not pretend to have +circumnavigated everything, and to have solved all difficulties, +but we do believe that it is better to love men than to fear gods; +that it is grander and nobler to think and investigate for yourself +than to repeat a creed. We are satisfied that there can be but +little liberty on earth while men worship a tyrant in heaven. We do +not expect to accomplish everything in our day; but we want to do +what good we can, and to render all the service possible in the +holy cause of human progress. We know that doing away with gods and +supernatural persons and powers is not an end. It is a means to an +end: the real end being the happiness of man.</p> +<p>Felling forests is not the end of agriculture. Driving pirates +from the sea is not all there is of commerce.</p> +<p>We are laying the foundations of the grand temple of the +future—not the temple of all the gods, but of all the +people—wherein, with appropriate rites, will be celebrated +the religion of Humanity. We are doing what little we can to hasten +the coming of the day when society shall cease producing +millionaires and mendicants—gorged indolence and famished +industry—truth in rags, and superstition robed and crowned. +We are looking for the time when the useful shall be the honorable; +and when Reason, throned upon the world's brain, shall be the King +of Kings, and God of Gods.</p> +<a name="link0003"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>HUMBOLDT.</h2> +<h3>The Universe is Governed by Law.</h3> +<p>GREAT men seem to be a part of the infinite—brothers of +the mountains and the seas.</p> +<p>Humboldt was one of these. He was one of those serene men, in +some respects like our own Franklin, whose names have all the +lustre of a star. He was one of the few, great enough to rise above +the superstition and prejudice of his time, and to know that +experience, observation, and reason are the only basis of +knowledge.</p> +<p>He became one of the greatest of men in spite of having been +born rich and noble—in spite of position. I say in spite of +these things, because wealth and position are generally the enemies +of genius, and the destroyers of talent.</p> +<p>It is often said of this or that man, that he is a self-made +man—that he was born of the poorest and humblest parents, and +that with every obstacle to overcome he became great. This is a +mistake. Poverty is generally an advantage. Most of the +intellectual giants of the world have been nursed at the sad and +loving breast of poverty. Most of those who have climbed highest on +the shining ladder of fame commenced at the lowest round. They were +reared in the straw-thatched cottages of Europe; in the log-houses +of America; in the factories of the great cities; in the midst of +toil; in the smoke and din of labor, and on the verge of want. They +were rocked by the feet of mothers whose hands, at the same time, +were busy with the needle or the wheel.</p> +<p>It is hard for the rich to resist the thousand allurements of +pleasure, and so I say, that Humboldt, in spite of having been born +to wealth and high social position, became truly and grandly +great.</p> +<p>In the antiquated and romantic castle of Tegel, by the side of +the pine forest, on the shore of the charming lake, near the +beautiful city of Berlin, the great Humboldt, one hundred years ago +to-day, was born, and there he was educated after the method +suggested by Rousseau,—Campe, the philologist and critic, and +the intellectual Kunth being his tutors. There he received the +impressions that determined his career; there the great idea that +the universe is governed by law, took possession of his mind, and +there he dedicated his life to the demonstration of this sublime +truth.</p> +<p>He came to the conclusion that the source of man's unhappiness +is his ignorance of nature.</p> +<p>After having received the most thorough education at that time +possible, and having determined to what end he would devote the +labors of his life, he turned his attention to the sciences of +geology, mining, mineralogy, botany, the distribution of plants, +the distribution of animals, and the effect of climate upon man. +All grand physical phenomena were investigated and explained. From +his youth he had felt a great desire for travel. He felt, as he +says, a violent passion for the sea, and longed to look upon nature +in her wildest and most rugged forms. He longed to give a physical +description of the universe—a grand picture of nature; to +account for all phenomena; to discover the laws governing the +world; to do away with that splendid delusion called special +providence, and to establish the fact that the universe is governed +by law.</p> +<p>To establish this truth was, and is, of infinite importance to +mankind. That fact is the death-knell of superstition; it gives +liberty to every soul, annihilates fear, and ushers in the Age of +Reason.</p> +<p>The object of this illustrious man was to comprehend the +phenomena of physical objects in their general connection, and to +represent nature as one great whole, moved and animated by internal +forces.</p> +<p>For this purpose he turned his attention to descriptive botany, +traversing distant lands and mountain ranges to ascertain with +certainty the geographical distribution of plants. He investigated +the laws regulating the differences of temperature and climate, and +the changes of the atmosphere. He studied the formation of the +earth's crust, explored the deepest mines, ascended the highest +mountains, and wandered through the craters of extinct +volcanoes.</p> +<p>He became thoroughly acquainted with chemistry, with astronomy, +with terrestrial magnetism; and as the investigation of one subject +leads to all others, for the reason that there is a mutual +dependence and a necessary connection between all facts, so +Humboldt became acquainted with all the known sciences.</p> +<p>His fame does not depend so much upon his discoveries (although +he discovered enough to make hundreds of reputations) as upon his +vast and splendid generalizations.</p> +<p>He was to science what Shakespeare was to the drama.</p> +<p>He found, so to speak, the world full of unconnected +facts—all portions of a vast system—parts of a great +machine; he discovered the connection that each bears to all; put +them together, and demonstrated beyond all contradiction that the +earth is governed by law.</p> +<p>He knew that to discover the connection of phenomena is the +primary aim of all natural investigation. He was infinitely +practical.</p> +<p>Origin and destiny were questions with which he had nothing to +do.</p> +<p>His surroundings made him what he was.</p> +<p>In accordance with a law not fully comprehended, he was a +production of his time.</p> +<p>Great men do not live alone; they are surrounded by the great; +they are the instruments used to accomplish the tendencies of their +generation; they fulfill the prophecies of their age.</p> +<p>Nearly all of the scientific men of the eighteenth century had +the same idea entertained by Humboldt, but most of them in a dim +and confused way. There was, however, a general belief among the +intelligent that the world is governed by law, and that there +really exists a connection between all facts, <i>or that all facts +are simply the different aspects of a general fact</i>, and that +the task of science is to discover this connection; to comprehend +this general fact or to announce the laws of things.</p> +<p>Germany was full of thought, and her universities swarmed with +philosophers and grand thinkers in every department of +knowledge.</p> +<p>Humboldt was the friend and companion of the greatest poets, +historians, philologists, artists, statesmen, critics, and +logicians of his time.</p> +<p>He was the companion of Schiller, who believed that man would be +regenerated through the influence of the Beautiful; of Goethe, the +grand patriarch of German literature; of Weiland, who has been +called the Voltaire of Germany; of Herder, who wrote the outlines +of a philosophical history of man; of Kotzebue, who lived in the +world of romance; of Schleiermacher, the pantheist; of Schlegel, +who gave to his countrymen the enchanted realm of Shakespeare; of +the sublime Kant, author of the first work published in Germany on +Pure Reason; of Fichte, the infinite idealist; of Schopenhauer, the +European Buddhist who followed the great Gautama to the painless +and dreamless Nirwana, and of hundreds of others, whose names are +familiar to and honored by the scientific world.</p> +<p>The German mind had been grandly roused from the long lethargy +of the dark ages of ignorance, fear, and faith. Guided by the holy +light of reason, every department of knowledge was investigated, +enriched and illustrated.</p> +<p>Humboldt breathed the atmosphere of investigation; old ideas +were abandoned; old creeds, hallowed by centuries, were thrown +aside; thought became courageous; the athlete, Reason, challenged +to mortal combat the monsters of superstition.</p> +<p>No wonder that under these influences Humboldt formed the great +purpose of presenting to the world a picture of Nature, in order +that men might, for the first time, behold the face of their +Mother.</p> +<p>Europe becoming too small for his genius, he visited the tropics +in the new world, where in the most circumscribed limits he could +find the greatest number of plants, of animals, and the greatest +diversity of climate, that he might ascertain the laws governing +the production and distribution of plants, animals and men, and the +effects of climate upon them all. He sailed along the gigantic +Amazon—the mysterious Orinoco—traversed the +Pampas—climbed the Andes until he stood upon the crags of +Chimborazo, more than eighteen thousand feet above the level of the +sea, and climbed on until blood flowed from his eyes and lips. For +nearly five years he pursued his investigations in the new world, +accompanied by the intrepid Bonpland. Nothing escaped his +attention. He was the best intellectual organ of these new +revelations of science. He was calm, reflective and eloquent; +filled with a sense of the beautiful, and the love of truth. His +collections were immense, and valuable beyond calculation to every +science. He endured innumerable hardships, braved countless dangers +in unknown and savage lands, and exhausted his fortune for the +advancement of true learning.</p> +<p>Upon his return to Europe he was hailed as the second Columbus; +as the scientific discoverer of America; as the revealer of a new +world; as the great demonstrator of the sublime truth, that the +universe is governed by law.</p> +<p>I have seen a picture of the old man, sitting upon a mountain +side—above him the eternal snow—below, the smiling +valley of the tropics, filled with vine and palm; his chin upon his +breast, his eyes deep, thoughtful and calm—his forehead +majestic—grander than the mountain upon which he +sat—crowned with the snow of his whitened hair, he looked the +intellectual autocrat of this world.</p> +<p>Not satisfied with his discoveries in America, he crossed the +steppes of Asia, the wastes of Siberia, the great Ural range, +adding to the knowledge of mankind at every step. His energy +acknowledged no obstacle, his life knew no leisure; every day was +filled with labor and with thought.</p> +<p>He was one of the apostles of science, and he served his divine +master with a self-sacrificing zeal that knew no abatement; with an +ardor that constantly increased, and with a devotion unwavering and +constant as the polar star.</p> +<p>In order that the people at large might have the benefit of his +numerous discoveries, and his vast knowledge, he delivered at +Berlin a course of lectures, consisting of sixty-one free +addresses, upon the following subjects:</p> +<p>Five, upon the nature and limits of physical geography.</p> +<p>Three, were devoted to a history of science.</p> +<p>Two, to inducements to a study of natural science.</p> +<p>Sixteen, on the heavens.</p> +<p>Five, on the form, density, latent heat, and magnetic power of +the earth, and to the polar light.</p> +<p>Four, were on the nature of the crust of the earth, on hot +springs earthquakes, and volcanoes.</p> +<p>Two, on mountains and the type of their formation.</p> +<p>Two, on the form of the earth's surface, on the connection of +continents, and the elevation of soil over ravines.</p> +<p>Three, on the sea as a globular fluid surrounding the earth.</p> +<p>Ten, on the atmosphere as an elastic fluid surrounding the +earth, and on the distribution of heat.</p> +<p>One, on the geographic distribution of organ ized matter in +general.</p> +<p>Three, on the geography of plants.</p> +<p>Three, on the geography of animals, and</p> +<p>Two, on the races of men.</p> +<p>These lectures are what is known as the Cosmos, and present a +scientific picture of the world—of infinite diversity in +unity—of ceaseless motion in the eternal grasp of law.</p> +<p>These lectures contain the result of his investigation, +observation, and experience; they furnish the connection between +phenomena; they disclose some of the changes through which the +earth has passed in the countless ages; the history of vegetation, +animals and men, the effects of climate upon individuals and +nations, the relation we sustain to other worlds, and demonstrate +that all phenomena, whether insignificant or grand, exist in +accordance with inexorable law.</p> +<p>There are some truths, however, that we never should forget: +Superstition has always been the relentless enemy of science; faith +has been a hater of demonstration; hypocrisy has been sincere only +in its dread of truth, and all religions are inconsistent with +mental freedom.</p> +<p>Since the murder of Hypatia in the fifth century, when the +polished blade of Greek philosophy was broken by the club of +ignorant Catholicism, until to-day, superstition has detested every +effort of reason.</p> +<p>It is almost impossible to conceive of the completeness of the +victory that the church achieved over philosophy. For ages science +was utterly ignored; thought was a poor slave; an ignorant priest +was master of the world; faith put out the eyes of the soul; the +reason was a trembling coward; the imagination was set on fire of +hell; every human feeling was sought to be suppressed; love was +considered infinitely sinful; pleasure was the road to eternal +fire, and God was supposed to be happy only when his children were +miserable. The world was governed by an Almighty's whim; prayers +could change the order of things, halt the grand procession of +nature, could produce rain, avert pestilence, famine and death in +all its forms. There was no idea of the certain; all depended upon +divine pleasure or displeasure rather; heaven was full of +inconsistent malevolence, and earth of ignorance. Everything was +done to appease the divine wrath; every public calamity was caused +by the sins of the people; by a failure to pay tithes, or for +having, even in secret, felt a disrespect for a priest. To the poor +multitude, the earth was a kind of enchanted forest, full of demons +ready to devour, and theological serpents lurking with infinite +power to fascinate and torture the unhappy and impotent soul. Life +to them was a dim and mysterious labyrinth, in which they wandered +weary, and lost, guided by priests as bewildered as themselves, +without knowing that at every step the Ariadne of reason offered +them the long lost clue.</p> +<p>The very heavens were full of death; the lightning was regarded +as the glittering vengeance of God, and the earth was thick with +snares for the unwary feet of man. The soul was supposed to be +crowded with the wild beasts of desire; the heart to be totally +corrupt, prompting only to crime; virtues were regarded as deadly +sins in disguise; there was a continual warfare being waged between +the Deity and the Devil, for the possession of every soul; the +latter generally being considered victorious. The flood, the +tornado, the volcano, were all evidences of the displeasure of +heaven, and the sinfulness of man. The blight that withered, the +frost that blackened, the earthquake that devoured, were the +messengers of the Creator.</p> +<p>The world was governed by Fear.</p> +<p>Against all the evils of nature, there was known only the +defence of prayer, of fasting, of credulity, and devotion. <i>Man +in his helplessness endeavored to soften the heart of God</i>. The +faces of the multitude were blanched with fear, and wet with tears; +they were the prey of hypocrites, kings and priests.</p> +<p>My heart bleeds when I contemplate the sufferings endured by the +millions now dead; of those who lived when the world appeared to be +insane; when the heavens were filled with an infinite Horror who +snatched babes with dimpled hands and rosy cheeks from the white +breasts of mothers, and dashed them into an abyss of eternal +flame.</p> +<p>Slowly, beautifully, like the coming of the dawn, came the grand +truth, that the universe is governed by law; that disease fastens +itself upon the good and upon the bad; that the tornado cannot be +stopped by counting beads; that the rushing lava pauses not for +bended knees, the lightning for clasped and uplifted hands, nor the +cruel waves of the sea for prayer; that paying tithes causes, +rather than prevents famine; that pleasure is not sin; that +happiness is the only good; that demons and gods exist only in the +imagination; that faith is a lullaby sung to put the soul to sleep; +that devotion is a bribe that fear offers to supposed power; that +offering rewards in another world for obedience in this, is simply +buying a soul on credit; that knowledge consists in ascertaining +the laws of nature, and that wisdom is the science of happiness. +Slowly, grandly, beautifully, these truths are dawning upon +mankind.</p> +<p>From Copernicus we learned that this earth is only a grain of +sand on the infinite shore of the universe; that everywhere we are +surrounded by shining worlds vastly greater than our own, all +moving and existing in accordance with law. True, the earth began +to grow small, but man began to grow great.</p> +<p>The moment the fact was, established that other worlds are +governed by law, it was only natural to conclude that our little +world was also under its dominion. The old theological method of +accounting for physical phenomena by the pleasure and displeasure +of the Deity was, by the intellectual, abandoned. They found that +disease, death, life, thought, heat, cold, the seasons, the winds, +the dreams of man, the instinct of animals,—in short, that +all physical and mental phenomena are governed by law, absolute, +eternal and inexorable.</p> +<p>Let it be understood that by the term Law is meant the same +invariable relations of succession and resemblance predicated of +all facts springing from like conditions. Law is a fact—not a +cause. It is a fact, that like conditions produce like results: +this fact is Law. When we say that the universe is governed by law, +we mean that this fact, called law, is incapable of change; that it +is, has been, and forever will be, the same inexorable, immutable +Fact, inseparable from all phenomena. Law, in this sense, was not +enacted or made. It could not have been otherwise than as it is. +That which necessarily exists has no creator.</p> +<p>Only a few years ago this earth was considered the real center +of the universe; all the stars were supposed to revolve around this +insignificant atom. The German mind, more than any other, has done +away with this piece of egotism. Purbach and Mullerus, in the +fifteenth century, contributed most to the advancement of astronomy +in their day. To the latter, the world is indebted for the +introduction of decimal fractions, which completed our arithmetical +notation, and formed the second of the three steps by which, in +modern times, the science of numbers has been so greatly improved; +and yet, both of these men believed in the most childish +absurdities, at least in enough of them, to die without their +orthodoxy having ever been suspected.</p> +<p>Next came the great Copernicus, and he stands at the head of the +heroic thinkers of his time, who had the courage and the mental +strength to break the chains of prejudice, custom, and authority, +and to establish truth on the basis of experience, observation and +reason. He removed the earth, so to speak, from the centre of the +universe, and ascribed to it a two-fold motion, and demonstrated +the true position which it occupies in the solar system.</p> +<p>At his bidding the earth began to revolve. At the command of his +genius it commenced its grand flight mid the eternal constellations +round the sun.</p> +<p>For fifty years his discoveries were disregarded. All at once, +by the exertions of Galileo, they were kindled into so grand a +conflagration as to consume the philosophy of Aristotle, to alarm +the hierarchy of Rome, and to threaten the existence of every +opinion not founded upon experience, observation, and reason.</p> +<p>The earth was no longer considered a universe, governed by the +caprices of some revengeful Deity, who had made the stars out of +what he had left after completing the world, and had stuck them in +the sky simply to adorn the night.</p> +<p>I have said this much concerning astronomy because it was the +first splendid step forward! The first sublime blow that shattered +the lance and shivered the shield of superstition; the first real +help that man received from heaven; because it was the first great +lever placed beneath the altar of a false religion; the first +revelation of the infinite to man; the first authoritative +declaration, that the universe is governed by law; the first +science that gave the lie direct to the cosmogony of barbarism, and +because it is the sublimest victory that the reason has +achieved.</p> +<p>In speaking of astronomy, I have confined myself to the +discoveries made since the revival of learning. Long ago, on the +banks of the Ganges, ages before Copernicus lived, Aryabhatta +taught that the earth is a sphere, and revolves on its own axis. +This, however, does not detract from the glory of the great German. +The discovery of the Hindu had been lost in the midnight of +Europe—in the age of faith, and Copernicus was as much a +discoverer as though Aryabhatta had never lived.</p> +<p>In this short address there is no time to speak of other +sciences, and to point out the particular evidence furnished by +each, to establish the dominion of law, nor to more than mention +the name of Descartes, the first who undertook to give an +explanation of the celestial motions, or who formed the vast and +philosophic conception of reducing all the phenomena of the +universe to the same law; of Montaigne, one of the heroes of common +sense; of Galvani, whose experiments gave the telegraph to the +world; of Voltaire, who contributed more than any other of the sons +of men to the destruction of religious intolerance; of August +Comte, whose genius erected to itself a monument that still touches +the stars; of Guttenberg, Watt, Stephenson, Arkwright, all soldiers +of science, in the grand army of the dead kings.</p> +<p>The glory of science is, that it is freeing the +soul—breaking the mental manacles—getting the brain out +of bondage—giving courage to thought—filling the world +with mercy, justice, and joy.</p> +<p>Science found agriculture plowing with a stick reaping with a +sickle—commerce at the mercy of the treacherous waves and the +inconstant winds—a world without books—without schools +man denying the authority of reason, employing his ingenuity in the +manufacture of instruments of torture, in building inquisitions and +cathedrals. It found the land filled with malicious +monks—with persecuting Protestants, and the burners of men. +It found a world full of fear; ignorance upon its knees; credulity +the greatest virtue; women treated like beasts of burden; cruelty +the only means of reformation.</p> +<p>It found the world at the mercy of disease and famine; men +trying to read their fates in the stars, and to tell their fortunes +by signs and wonders; generals thinking to conquer their enemies by +making the sign of the cross, or by telling a rosary. It found all +history full of petty and ridiculous falsehood, and the Almighty +was supposed to spend most of his time turning sticks into snakes, +drowning boys for swimming on Sunday, and killing little children +for the purpose of converting their parents. It found the earth +filled with slaves and tyrants, the people in all countries +downtrodden, half naked, half starved, without hope, and without +reason in the world.</p> +<p>Such was the condition of man when the morning of science dawned +upon his brain, and before he had heard the sublime declaration +that the universe is governed by law.</p> +<p>For the change that has taken place we are indebted solely to +science—the only lever capable of raising mankind. Abject +faith is barbarism; reason is civilization. To obey is slavish; to +act from a sense of obligation perceived by the reason, is noble. +Ignorance worships mystery; Reason explains it: the one grovels, +the other soars.</p> +<p>No wonder that fable is the enemy of knowledge. A man with a +false diamond shuns the society of lapidaries, and it is upon this +principle that superstition abhors science.</p> +<p>In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. +They have worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most +gigantic liars, and buried the great thieves in marble and gold. +Under the loftiest monuments sleeps the dust of murder.</p> +<p>Imposture has always worn a crown.</p> +<p>The world is beginning to change because the people are +beginning to think. To think is to advance. Everywhere the great +minds are investigating the creeds and the superstitions of +men—the phenomena of nature, and the laws of things. At the +head of this great army of investigators stood Humboldt—the +serene leader of an intellectual host—a king by the suffrage +of Science, and the divine right of Genius.</p> +<p>And to-day we are not honoring some butcher called a +soldier—some wily politician called a statesman—some +robber called a king, nor some malicious metaphysician called a +saint We are honoring the grand Humboldt, whose victories were all +achieved in the arena of thought; who destroyed prejudice, +ignorance and error—not men; who shed light—not blood, +and who contributed to the knowledge, the wealth, and the happiness +of all mankind.</p> +<p>His life was pure, his aims lofty, his learning varied and +profound, and his achievements vast.</p> +<p>We honor him because he has ennobled our race, because he has +contributed as much as any man living or dead to the real +prosperity of the world. We honor him because he honored +us—because he labored for others—because he was the +most learned man of the most learned nation—because he left a +legacy of glory to every human being. For these reasons he is +honored throughout the world. Millions are doing homage to his +genius at this moment, and millions are pronouncing his name with +reverence and recounting what he accomplished.</p> +<p>We associate the name of Humboldt with oceans, continents, +mountains, and volcanoes—with the great palms—the wide +deserts—the snow-lipped craters of the Andes—with +primeval forests and European capitals—with wildernesses and +universities—with savages and savans—with the lonely +rivers of unpeopled wastes—with peaks and pampas, and +steppes, and cliffs and crags—with the progress of the +world—with every science known to man, and with every star +glittering in the immensity of space.</p> +<p>Humboldt adopted none of the soul-shrinking creeds of his day; +wasted none of his time in the stupidities, inanities and +contradictions of theological metaphysics; he did not endeavor to +harmonize the astronomy and geology of a barbarous people with the +science of the nineteenth century. Never, for one moment, did he +abandon the sublime standard of truth; he investigated, he studied, +he thought, he separated the gold from the dross in the crucible of +his grand brain. He was never found on his knees before the altar +of superstition. He stood erect by the grand tranquil column of +Reason. He was an admirer, a lover, an adorer of Nature, and at the +age of ninety, bowed by the weight of nearly a century, covered +with the insignia of honor, loved by a nation, respected by a +world, with kings for his servants, he laid his weary head upon her +bosom—upon the bosom of the universal Mother—and with +her loving arms around him, sank into that slumber called +Death.</p> +<p>History added another name to the starry scroll of the +immortals.</p> +<p>The world is his monument; upon the eternal granite of her hills +he inscribed his name, and there upon everlasting stone his genius +wrote this, the sublimest of truths:</p> +<p>"The Universe is Governed by Law!"</p> +<a name="link0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>THOMAS PAINE</h2> +<h3>With His Name Left Out, the History of Liberty Cannot be +Written.</h3> +<p>TO speak the praises of the brave and thoughtful dead, is to me +a labor of gratitude and love.</p> +<p>Through all the centuries gone, the mind of man has been +beleaguered by the mailed hosts of superstition. Slowly and +painfully has advanced the army of deliverance. Hated by those they +wished to rescue, despised by those they were dying to save, these +grand soldiers, these immortal deliverers, have fought without +thanks, labored without applause, suffered without pity, and they +have died execrated and abhorred. For the good of mankind they +accepted isolation, poverty, and calumny. They gave up all, +sacrificed all, lost all but truth and self-respect.</p> +<p>One of the bravest soldiers in this army was Thomas Paine; and +for one, I feel indebted to him for the liberty we are enjoying +this day. Born among the poor, where children are burdens; in a +country where real liberty was unknown; where the privileges of +class were guarded with infinite jealousy, and the rights of the +individual trampled beneath the feet of priests and nobles; where +to advocate justice was treason; where intellectual freedom was +Infidelity, it is wonderful that the idea of true liberty ever +entered his brain. .</p> +<p>Poverty was his mother—Necessity his master.</p> +<p>He had more brains than books; more sense than education; more +courage than politeness; more strength than polish. He had no +veneration for old mistakes—no admiration for ancient lies. +He loved the truth for the truth's sake, and for man's sake. He saw +oppression on every hand; injustice everywhere; hypocrisy at the +altar, venality on the bench, tyranny on the throne; and with a +splendid courage he espoused the cause of the weak against the +strong—of the enslaved many against the titled few.</p> +<p>In England he was nothing. He belonged to the lower classes. +There was no avenue open for him. The people hugged their chains, +and the whole power of the government was ready to crush any man +who endeavored to strike a blow for the right.</p> +<p>At the age of thirty-seven, Thomas Paine left England for +America, with the high hope of being instrumental in the +establishment of a free government. In his own country he could +accomplish nothing. Those two vultures—Church and +State—were ready to tear in pieces and devour the heart of +any one who might deny their divine right to enslave the world.</p> +<p>Upon his arrival in this country, he found himself possessed of +a letter of introduction, signed by another Infidel, the +illustrious Franklin. This, and his native genius, constituted his +entire capital; and he needed no more. He found the colonies +clamoring for justice; whining about their grievances; upon their +knees at the foot of the throne, imploring that mixture of idiocy +and insanity, George the III., by the grace of God, for a +restoration of their ancient privileges. They were not endeavoring +to become free men, but were trying to soften the heart of their +master. They were perfectly willing to make brick if Pharaoh would +furnish the straw. The colonists wished for, hoped for, and prayed +for reconciliation They did not dream of independence.</p> +<p>Paine gave to the world his "Common Sense." It was the first +argument for separation, the first assault upon the British form of +government, the first blow for a republic, and it aroused our +fathers like a trumpet's blast.</p> +<p>He was the first to perceive the destiny of the New World.</p> +<p>No other pamphlet ever accomplished such wonderful results. It +was filled with argument, reason, persuasion, and unanswerable +logic. It opened a new world. It filled the present with hope and +the future with honor. Everywhere the people responded, and in a +few months the Continental Congress declared the colonies free and +independent States.</p> +<p>A new nation was born.</p> +<p>It is simple justice to say that Paine did more to cause the +Declaration of Independence than any other man. Neither should it +be forgotten that his attacks upon Great Britain were also attacks +upon monarchy; and while he convinced the people that the colonies +ought to separate from the mother country, he also proved to them +that a free government is the best that can be instituted among +men.</p> +<p>In my judgment, Thomas Paine was the best political writer that +ever lived. "What he wrote was pure nature, and his soul and his +pen ever went together." Ceremony, pageantry, and all the +paraphernalia of power, had no effect upon him. He examined into +the why and wherefore of things. He was perfectly radical in his +mode of thought. Nothing short of the bed-rock satisfied him. His +enthusiasm for what he believed to be right knew no bounds. During +all the dark scenes of the Revolution, never for one moment did he +despair. Year after year his brave words were ringing through the +land, and by the bivouac fires the weary soldiers read the +inspiring words of "Common Sense," filled with ideas sharper than +their swords, and consecrated themselves anew to the cause of +Freedom.</p> +<p>Paine was not content with having aroused the spirit of +independence, but he gave every energy of his soul to keep that +spirit alive. He was with the army. He shared its defeats, its +dangers, and its glory. When the situation became desperate, when +gloom settled upon all, he gave them the "Crisis." It was a cloud +by day and a pillar of fire by night, leading the way to freedom, +honor, and glory. He shouted to them, "These are the times that try +men's souls. The summer soldier, and the sunshine patriot, will, in +this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that +stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."</p> +<p>To those who wished to put the war off to some future day, with +a lofty and touching spirit of self-sacrifice he said: "Every +generous parent should say, 'If there must be war let it be in my +day, that my child may have peace.'" To the cry that Americans were +rebels, he replied: "He that rebels against reason is a real rebel; +but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny, has a +better title to 'Defender of the Faith' than George the Third."</p> +<p>Some said it was not to the interest of the colonies to be free. +Paine answered this by saying, "To know whether it be the interest +of the continent to be independent, we need ask only this simple, +easy question: 'Is it the interest of a man to be a boy all his +life?'" He found many who would listen to nothing, and to them he +said, "That to argue with a man who has renounced his reason is +like giving medicine to the dead." This sentiment ought to adorn +the walls of every orthodox church.</p> +<p>There is a world of political wisdom in this: "England lost her +liberty in a long chain of right reasoning from wrong principles"; +and there is real discrimination in saying, "The Greeks and Romans +were strongly possessed of the spirit of liberty, but not the +principles, for at the time that they were determined not to be +slaves themselves, they employed their power to enslave the rest of +mankind."</p> +<p>In his letter to the British people, in which he tried to +convince them that war was not to their interest, occurs the +following passage brimful of common sense: "War never can be the +interest of a trading nation any more than quarreling can be +profitable to a man in business. But to make war with those who +trade with us is like setting a bull-dog upon a customer at the +shop-door."</p> +<p>The writings of Paine fairly glitter with simple, compact, +logical statements, that carry conviction to the dullest and most +prejudiced. He had the happiest possible way of putting the case; +in asking questions in such a way that they answer themselves, and +in stating his premises so clearly that the deduction could not be +avoided.</p> +<p>Day and night he labored for America; month after month, year +after year, he gave himself to the Great Cause, until there was "a +government of the people and for the people," and until the banner +of the stars floated over a continent redeemed, and consecrated to +the happiness of mankind.</p> +<p>At the close of the Revolution, no one stood higher in America +than Thomas Paine. The best, the wisest, the most patriotic, were +his friends and admirers; and had he been thinking only of his own +good he might have rested from his toils and spent the remainder of +his life in comfort and in ease. He could have been what the world +is pleased to call "respectable." He could have died surrounded by +clergymen, warriors and statesmen. At his death there would have +been an imposing funeral, miles of carriages, civic societies, +salvos of artillery, a nation in mourning, and, above all, a +splendid monument covered with lies.</p> +<p>He chose rather to benefit mankind.</p> +<p>At that time the seeds sown by the great Infidels were beginning +to bear fruit in France. The people were beginning to think.</p> +<p>The Eighteenth Century was crowning its gray hairs with the +wreath of Progress.</p> +<p>On every hand Science was bearing testimony against the Church. +Voltaire had filled Europe with light; D'Holbach was giving to the +<i>élite</i> of Paris the principles contained in his +"System of Nature." The Encyclopedists had attacked superstition +with information for the masses. The foundation of things began to +be examined. A few had the courage to keep their shoes on and let +the bush burn. Miracles began to get scarce. Everywhere the people +began to inquire. America had set an example to the world. The word +Liberty was in the mouths of men, and they began to wipe the dust +from their knees.</p> +<p>The dawn of a new day had appeared.</p> +<p>Thomas Paine went to France. Into the new movement he threw all +his energies. His fame had gone before him, and he was welcomed as +a friend of the human race, and as a champion of free +government.</p> +<p>He had never relinquished his intention of pointing out to his +countrymen the defects, absurdities and abuses of the English +government For this purpose he composed and published his greatest +political work, "The Rights of Man." This work should be read by +every man and woman. It is concise, accurate, natural, convincing, +and unanswerable. It shows great thought; an intimate knowledge of +the various forms of government; deep insight into the very springs +of human action, and a courage that compels respect and admiration. +The most difficult political problems are solved in a few +sentences. The venerable arguments in favor of wrong are refuted +with a question—answered with a word. For forcible +illustration, apt comparison, accuracy and clearness of statement, +and absolute thoroughness, it has never been excelled.</p> +<p>The fears of the administration were aroused, and Paine was +prosecuted for libel and found guilty; and yet there is not a +sentiment in the entire work that will not challenge the admiration +of every civilized man. It is a magazine of political wisdom, an +arsenal of ideas, and an honor, not only to Thomas Paine, but to +human nature itself. It could have been written only by the man who +had the generosity, the exalted patriotism, the goodness to say, +"The world is my country, and to do good my religion."</p> +<p>There is in all the utterances of the world no grander, no +sublimer sentiment. There is no creed that can be compared with it +for a moment. It should be wrought in gold, adorned with jewels, +and impressed upon every human heart: "The world is my country, and +to do good my religion."</p> +<p>In 1792, Paine was elected by the department of Calais as their +representative in the National Assembly. So great was his +popularity in France that he was selected about the same time by +the people of no less than four departments.</p> +<p>Upon taking his place in the Assembly he was appointed as one of +a committee to draft a constitution for France. Had the French +people taken the advice of Thomas Paine there would have been no +"reign of terror." The streets of Paris would not have been filled +with blood The Revolution would have been the grandest success of +the world. The truth is that Paine was too conservative to suit the +leaders of the French Revolution. They, to a great extent, were +carried away by hatred, and a desire to destroy. They had suffered +so long, they had borne so much, that it was impossible for them to +be moderate in the hour of victory.</p> +<p>Besides all this, the French people had been so robbed by the +government, so degraded by the church, that they were not fit +material with which to construct a republic. Many of the leaders +longed to establish a beneficent and just government, but the +people asked for revenge.</p> +<p>Paine was filled with a real love for mankind. His philanthropy +was boundless. He wished to destroy monarchy—not the monarch. +He voted for the destruction of tyranny, and against the death of +the king. He wished to establish a government on a new basis; one +that would forget the past; one that would give privileges to none, +and protection to all.</p> +<p>In the Assembly, where nearly all were demanding the execution +of the king—where to differ from the majority was to be +suspected, and, where to be suspected was almost certain death +Thomas Paine had the courage, the goodness and the justice to vote +against death. To vote against the execution of the king was a vote +against his own life. This was the sublimity of devotion to +principle. For this he was arrested, imprisoned, and doomed to +death.</p> +<p>Search the records of the world and you will find but few +sublimer acts than that of Thomas Paine voting against the kings +death. He, the hater of despotism, the abhorrer of monarchy, the +champion of the rights of man, the republican, accepting death to +save the life of a deposed tyrant—of a throneless king. This +was the last grand act of his political life—the sublime +conclusion of his political career.</p> +<p>All his life he had been the disinterested friend of man. He had +labored—not for money, not for fame, but for the general +good. He had aspired to no office; had asked no recognition of his +services, but had ever been content to labor as a common soldier in +the army of Progress. Confining his efforts to no country, looking +upon the world as his field of action, filled with a genuine love +for the right, he found himself imprisoned by the very people he +had striven to save.</p> +<p>Had his enemies succeeded in bringing him to the block, he would +have escaped the calumnies and the hatred of the Christian world. +In this country, at least, he would have ranked with the proudest +names. On the anniversary of the Declaration his name would have +been upon the lips of all the orators, and his memory in the hearts +of all the people.</p> +<p>Thomas Paine had not finished his career.</p> +<p>He had spent his life thus far in destroying the power of kings, +and now he turned his attention to the priests. He knew that every +abuse had been embalmed in Scripture—that every outrage was +in partnership with some holy text. He knew that the throne skulked +behind the altar, and both behind a pretended revelation from God. +By this time he had found that it was of little use to free the +body and leave the mind in chains. He had explored the foundations +of despotism, and had found them infinitely rotten. He had dug +under the throne, and it occurred to him that he would take a look +behind the altar.</p> +<p>The result of his investigations was given to the world in the +"Age of Reason." From the moment of its publication he became +infamous. He was calumniated beyond measure. To slander him was to +secure the thanks of the church. All his services were instantly +forgotten, disparaged or denied. He was shunned as though he had +been a pestilence. Most of his old friends forsook him. He was +regarded as a moral plague, and at the bare mention of his name the +bloody hands of the church were raised in horror. He was denounced +as the most despicable of men.</p> +<p>Not content with following him to his grave, they pursued him +after death with redoubled fury, and recounted with infinite gusto +and satisfaction the supposed horrors of his death-bed; gloried in +the fact that he was forlorn and friendless, and gloated like +fiends over what they supposed to be the agonizing remorse of his +lonely death.</p> +<p>It is wonderful that all his services were thus forgotten. It is +amazing that one kind word did not fall from some pulpit; that some +one did not accord to him, at least—honesty. Strange, that in +the general denunciation some one did not remember his labor for +liberty, his devotion to principle, his zeal for the rights of his +fellow-men. He had, by brave and splendid effort, associated his +name with the cause of Progress. He had made it impossible to write +the history of political freedom with his name left out He was one +of the creators of light; one of the heralds of the dawn. He hated +tyranny in the name of kings, and in the name of God, with every +drop of his noble blood. He believed in liberty and justice, and in +the sacred doctrine of human equality. Under these divine banners +he fought the battle of his life. In both worlds he offered his +blood for the good of man. In the wilderness of America, in the +French Assembly, in the sombre cell waiting for death, he was the +same unflinching, unwavering friend of his race; the same undaunted +champion of universal freedom. And for this he has been hated; for +this the church has violated even his grave.</p> +<p>This is enough to make one believe that nothing is more natural +than for men to devour their benefactors. The people in all ages +have crucified and glorified. Whoever lifts his voice against +abuses, whoever arraigns the past at the bar of the present, +whoever asks the king to show his commission, or questions the +authority of the priest, will be denounced as the enemy of man and +God. In all ages reason has been regarded as the enemy of religion. +Nothing has been considered so pleasing to the Deity as a total +denial of the authority of your own mind. Self-reliance has been +thought a deadly sin; and the idea of living and dying without the +aid and consolation of superstition has always horrified the +church. By some unaccountable infatuation, belief has been and +still is considered of immense importance. All religions have been +based upon the idea that God will forever reward the true believer, +and eternally damn the man who doubts or denies. Belief is regarded +as the one essential thing. To practice justice, to love mercy, is +not enough. You must believe in some incomprehensible creed. You +must say, "Once one is three, and three times one is one." The man +who practiced every virtue, but failed to believe, was execrated. +Nothing so outrages the feelings of the church as a moral +unbeliever—nothing so horrible as a charitable Atheist.</p> +<p>When Paine was born, the world was religious, the pulpit was the +real throne, and the churches were making every effort to crush out +of the brain the idea that it had the right to think.</p> +<p>The splendid saying of Lord Bacon, that "the inquiry of truth, +which is the love-making or wooing of it, the knowledge of truth, +which is the presence of it, and the belief of truth, which is the +enjoying of it, are the sovereign good of human nature," has been, +and ever will be, rejected by religionists. Intellectual liberty, +as a matter of necessity, forever destroys the idea that belief is +either praise or blame-worthy, and is wholly inconsistent with +every creed in Christendom. Paine recognized this truth. He also +saw that as long as the Bible was considered inspired, this +infamous doctrine of the virtue of belief would be believed and +preached. He examined the Scriptures for himself, and found them +filled with cruelty, absurdity and immorality.</p> +<p>He again made up his mind to sacrifice himself for the good of +his fellow-men.</p> +<p>He commenced with the assertion, "That any system of religion +that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a +true system." What a beautiful, what a tender sentiment! No wonder +the church began to hate him. He believed in one God, and no more. +After this life he hoped for happiness. He believed that true +religion consisted in doing justice, loving mercy, in endeavoring +to make our fellow-creatures happy, and in offering to God the +fruit of the heart. He denied the inspiration of the Scriptures. +This was his crime.</p> +<p>He contended that it is a contradiction in terms to call +anything a revelation that comes to us second-hand, either verbally +or in writing. He asserted that revelation is necessarily limited +to the first communication, and that after that it is only an +account of something which another person says was a revelation to +him. We have only his word for it, as it was never made to us. This +argument never has been and probably never will be answered. He +denied the divine origin of Christ, and showed conclusively that +the pretended prophecies of the Old Testament had no reference to +him whatever; and yet he believed that Christ was a virtuous and +amiable man; that the morality he taught and practiced was of the +most benevolent and elevated character, and that it had not been +exceeded by any. Upon this point he entertained the same sentiments +now held by the Unitarians, and in fact by all the most enlightened +Christians.</p> +<p>In his time the church believed and taught that every word in +the Bible was absolutely true. Since his day it has been proven +false in its cosmogony, false in its astronomy, false in its +chronology, false in its history, and so far as the Old Testament +is concerned, false in almost everything. There are but few, if +any, scientific men who apprehend that the Bible is literally true. +Who on earth at this day would pretend to settle any scientific +question by a text from the Bible? The old belief is confined to +the ignorant and zealous. The church itself will before long be +driven to occupy the position of Thomas Paine. The best minds of +the orthodox world, to-day, are endeavoring to prove the existence +of a personal Deity. All other questions occupy a minor place. You +are no longer asked to swallow the Bible whole, whale, Jonah and +all; you are simply required to believe in God, and pay your +pew-rent. There is not now an enlightened minister in the world who +will seriously contend that Samson's strength was in his hair, or +that the necromancers of Egypt could turn water into blood, and +pieces of wood into serpents. These follies have passed away, and +the only reason that the religious world can now have for disliking +Paine is that they have been forced to adopt so many of his +opinions.</p> +<p>Paine thought the barbarities of the Old Testament inconsistent +with what he deemed the real character of God. He believed that +murder, massacre and indiscriminate slaughter had never been +commanded by the Deity. He regarded much of the Bible as childish, +unimportant and foolish The scientific world entertains the same +opinion. Paine attacked the Bible precisely in the same spirit in +which he had attacked the pretensions of kings. He used the same +weapons. All the pomp in the world could not make him cower. His +reason knew no "Holy of Holies," except the abode of Truth. The +sciences were then in their infancy. The attention of the really +learned had not been directed to an impartial examination of our +pretended revelation. It was accepted by most as a matter of +course. The church was all-powerful, and no one, unless thoroughly +imbued with the spirit of self-sacrifice, thought for a moment of +disputing the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. The infamous +doctrines that salvation depends upon belief—upon a mere +intellectual conviction—was then believed and preached. To +doubt was to secure the damnation of your soul. This absurd and +devilish doctrine shocked the common sense of Thomas Paine, and he +denounced it with the fervor of honest indignation. This doctrine, +although infinitely ridiculous, has been nearly universal, and has +been as hurtful as senseless. For the overthrow of this infamous +tenet, Paine exerted all his strength. He left few arguments to be +used by those who should come after him, and he used none that have +been refuted. The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot +possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought. +Neither can they show why any one should be punished, either in +this world or another, for acting honestly in accordance with +reason; and yet a doctrine with every possible argument against it +has been, and still is, believed and defended by the entire +orthodox world. Can it be possible that we have been endowed with +reason simply that our souls may be caught in its toils and snares, +that we may be led by its false and delusive glare out of the +narrow path that leads to joy into the broad way of everlasting +death? Is it possible that we have been given reason simply that we +may through faith ignore its deductions, and avoid its conclusions? +Ought the sailor to throw away his compass and depend entirely upon +the fog? If reason is not to be depended upon in matters of +religion, that is to say, in respect of our duties to the Deity, +why should it be relied upon in matters respecting the rights of +our fellows? Why should we throw away the laws given to Moses by +God himself and have the audacity to make some of our own? How dare +we drown the thunders of Sinai by calling the ayes and noes in a +petty legislature? If reason can determine what is merciful, what +is just, the duties of man to man, what more do we want either in +time or eternity?</p> +<p>Down, forever down, with any religion that requires upon its +ignorant altar the sacrifice of the goddess Reason, that compels +her to abdicate forever the shining throne of the soul, strips from +her form the imperial purple, snatches from her hand the sceptre of +thought and makes her the bond-woman of a senseless faith!</p> +<p>If a man should tell you that he had the most beautiful painting +in the world, and after taking you where it was should insist upon +having your eyes shut, you would likely suspect, either that he had +no painting or that it was some pitiable daub. Should he tell you +that he was a most excellent performer on the violin, and yet +refuse to play unless your ears were stopped, you would think, to +say the least of it, that he had an odd way of convincing you of +his musical ability. But would his conduct be any more wonderful +than that of a religionist who asks that before examining his creed +you will have the kindness to throw away your reason? The first +gentleman says, "Keep your eyes shut, my picture will bear +everything but being seen;" "Keep your ears stopped, my music +objects to nothing but being heard." The last says, "Away with your +reason, my religion dreads nothing but being understood."</p> +<p>So far as I am concerned, I most cheerfully admit that most +Christians are honest, and most ministers sincere. We do not attack +them; we attack their creed. We accord to them the same rights that +we ask for ourselves. We believe that their doctrines are hurtful. +We believe that the frightful text, "He that believes shall be +saved and he that believeth not shall be damned," has covered the +earth with blood. It has filled the heart with arrogance, cruelty +and murder. It has caused the religious wars; bound hundreds of +thousands to the stake; founded inquisitions; filled dungeons; +invented instruments of torture; taught the mother to hate her +child; imprisoned the mind; filled the world with ignorance; +persecuted the lovers of wisdom; built the monasteries and +convents; made happiness a crime, investigation a sin, and +self-reliance a blasphemy. It has poisoned the springs of learning; +misdirected the energies of the world; filled all countries with +want; housed the people in hovels; fed them with famine; and but +for the efforts of a few brave Infidels it would have taken the +world back to the midnight of barbarism, and left the heavens +without a star.</p> +<p>The maligners of Paine say that he had no right to attack this +doctrine, because he was unacquainted with the dead languages; and +for this reason, it was a piece of pure impudence in him to +investigate the Scriptures.</p> +<p>Is it necessary to understand Hebrew in order to know that +cruelty is not a virtue, that murder is inconsistent with infinite +goodness, and that eternal punishment can be inflicted upon man +only by an eternal fiend? Is it really essential to conjugate the +Greek verbs before you can make up your mind as to the probability +of dead people getting out of their graves? Must one be versed in +Latin before he is entitled to express his opinion as to the +genuineness of a pretended revelation from God? Common sense +belongs exclusively to no tongue. Logic is not confined to, nor has +it been buried with, the dead languages. Paine attacked the Bible +as it is translated. If the translation is wrong, let its defenders +correct it.</p> +<p>The Christianity of Paine's day is not the Christianity of our +time. There has been a great improvement since then. One hundred +and fifty years ago the foremost preachers of our time would have +perished at the stake. A Universalist would have been torn in +pieces in England, Scotland, and America. Unitarians would have +found themselves in the stocks, pelted by the rabble with dead +cats, after which their ears would have been cut off, their tongues +bored, and their foreheads branded. Less than one hundred and fifty +years ago the following law was in force in Maryland:</p> +<p>"Be it enacted by the Right Honorable, the Lord Proprietor, by +and with the advice and consent of his Lordship's governor, and the +upper and lower houses of the Assembly, and the authority of the +same:</p> +<p>"That if any person shall hereafter, within this province, +wittingly, maliciously, and advisedly, by writing or speaking, +blaspheme or curse God, or deny our Saviour, Jesus Christ, to be +the Son of God, or shall deny the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, +and Holy Ghost, or the Godhead of any of the three persons, or the +unity of the Godhead, or shall utter any profane words concerning +the Holy Trinity, or any of the persons thereof, and shall thereof +be convict by verdict, shall, for the first offence, be bored +through the tongue, and fined twenty pounds to be levied of his +body. And for the second offence, the offender shall be stigmatized +by burning in the forehead with the letter B, and fined forty +pounds. And that for the third offence the offender shall suffer +death without the benefit of clergy."</p> +<p>The strange thing about this law is, that it has never been +repealed, and is still in force in the District of Columbia. Laws +like this were in force in most of the colonies, and in all +countries where the church had power.</p> +<p>In the Old Testament, the death penalty is attached to hundreds +of offences. It has been the same in all Christian countries. +To-day, in civilized governments, the death penalty is attached +only to murder and treason; and in some it has been entirely +abolished. What a commentary upon the divine systems of the +world!</p> +<p>In the day of Thomas Paine, the church was ignorant, bloody and +relentless. In Scotland the "Kirk" was at the summit of its power. +It was a full sister of the Spanish Inquisition. It waged war upon +human nature. It was the enemy of happiness, the hater of joy, and +the despiser of religious liberty. It taught parents to murder +their children rather than to allow them to propagate error. If the +mother held opinions of which the infamous "Kirk" disapproved, her +children were taken from her arms, her babe from her very bosom, +and she was not allowed to see them, or to write them a word. It +would not allow shipwrecked sailors to be rescued from drowning on +Sunday. It sought to annihilate pleasure, to pollute the heart by +filling it with religious cruelty and gloom, and to change mankind +into a vast horde of pious, heartless fiends. One of the most +famous Scotch divines said: "The Kirk holds that religious +toleration is not far from blasphemy." And this same Scotch Kirk +denounced, beyond measure, the man who had the moral grandeur to +say, "The world is my country, and to do good my religion." And +this same Kirk abhorred the man who said, "Any system of religion +that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system."</p> +<p>At that time nothing so delighted the church as the beauties of +endless torment, and listening to the weak wailings of damned +infants struggling in the slimy coils and poison-folds of the worm +that never dies.</p> +<p>About the beginning of the nineteenth century, a boy by the name +of Thomas Aikenhead, was indicted and tried at Edinburgh for having +denied the inspiration of the Scriptures, and for having, on +several occasions, when cold, wished himself in hell that he might +get warm. Notwithstanding the poor boy recanted and begged for +mercy, he was found guilty and hanged. His body was thrown in a +hole at the foot of the scaffold and covered with stones.</p> +<p>Prosecutions and executions like this were common in every +Christian country, and all of them were based upon the belief that +an intellectual conviction is a crime.</p> +<p>No wonder the church hated and traduced the author of the "Age +of Reason."</p> +<p>England was filled with Puritan gloom and Episcopal ceremony. +All religious conceptions were of the grossest nature. The ideas of +crazy fanatics and extravagant poets were taken as sober facts. +Milton had clothed Christianity in the soiled and faded finery of +the gods—had added to the story of Christ the fables of +Mythology. He gave to the Protestant Church the most outrageously +material ideas of the Deity. He turned all the angels into +soldiers—made heaven a battlefield, put Christ in uniform, +and described God as a militia general. His works were considered +by the Protestants nearly as sacred as the Bible itself, and the +imagination of the people was thoroughly polluted by the horrible +imagery, the sublime absurdity of the blind Milton.</p> +<p>Heaven and hell were realities—the judgment-day was +expected—books of account would be opened. Every man would +hear the charges against him read. God was supposed to sit on a +golden throne, surrounded by the tallest angels, with harps in +their hands and crowns on their heads. The goats would be thrust +into eternal fire on the left, while the orthodox sheep, on the +right, were to gambol on sunny slopes forever and forever.</p> +<p>The nation was profoundly ignorant, and consequently extremely +religious, so far as belief was concerned.</p> +<p>In Europe, Liberty was lying chained in the +Inquisition—her white bosom stained with blood. In the New +World the Puritans had been hanging and burning in the name of God, +and selling white Quaker children into slavery in the name of +Christ, who said, "Suffer little children to come unto me."</p> +<p>Under such conditions progress was impossible. Some one had to +lead the way. The church is, and always has been, incapable of a +forward movement. Religion always looks back. The church has +already reduced Spain to a guitar, Italy to a hand-organ, and +Ireland to exile.</p> +<p>Some one not connected with the church had to attack the monster +that was eating out the heart of the world. Some one had to +sacrifice himself for the good of all. The people were in the most +abject slavery; their manhood had been taken from them by pomp, by +pageantry and power. Progress is born of doubt and inquiry.</p> +<p>The church never doubts—never inquires. To doubt is +heresy—to inquire is to admit that you do not know—the +church does neither.</p> +<p>More than a century ago Catholisism, wrapped in robes red with +the innocent blood of millions, holding in her frantic clutch +crowns and scepters, honors and gold, the keys of heaven and hell, +trampling beneath her feet the liberties of nations, in the proud +moment of almost universal dominion, felt within her heartless +breast the deadly dagger of Voltaire. From that blow the church +never can recover. Livid with hatred she launched her eternal +anathema at the great destroyer, and ignorant Protestants have +echoed the curse of Rome.</p> +<p>In our country the church was all-powerful, and although divided +into many sects, would instantly unite to repel a common foe.</p> +<p>Paine struck the first grand blow.</p> +<p>The "Age of Reason" did more to undermine the power of the +Protestant Church than all other books then known. It furnished an +immense amount of food for thought. It was written for the average +mind, and is a straightforward, honest investigation of the Bible, +and of the Christian system.</p> +<p>Paine did not falter, from the first page to the last. He gives +you his candid thought, and candid thoughts are always +valuable.</p> +<p>The "Age of Reason" has liberalized us all. It put arguments in +the mouths of the people; it put the church on the defensive; it +enabled somebody in every village to corner the parson; it made the +world wiser, and the church better; it took power from the pulpit +and divided it among the pews.</p> +<p>Just in proportion that the human race has advanced, the church +has lost power. There is no exception to this rule.</p> +<p>No nation ever materially advanced that held strictly to the +religion of its founders.</p> +<p>No nation ever gave itself wholly to the control of the church +without losing its power, its honor, and existence.</p> +<p>Every church pretends to have found the exact truth. This is the +end of progress. Why pursue that which you have? Why investigate +when you know?</p> +<p>Every creed is a rock in running water: humanity sweeps by it. +Every creed cries to the universe, "Halt!" A creed is the ignorant +Past bullying the enlightened Present.</p> +<p>The ignorant are not satisfied with what can be demonstrated. +Science is too slow for them, and so they invent creeds. They +demand completeness. A sublime segment, a grand fragment, are of no +value to them. They demand the complete circle—the entire +structure.</p> +<p>In music they want a melody with a recurring accent at measured +periods. In religion they insist upon immediate answers to the +questions of creation and destiny. The alpha and omega of all +things must be in the alphabet of their superstition. A religion +that cannot answer every question, and guess every conundrum is, in +their estimation, worse than worthless. They desire a kind of +theological dictionary—a religious ready reckoner, together +with guide-boards at all crossings and turns. They mistake +impudence for authority, solemnity for wisdom, and bathos for +inspiration. The beginning and the end are what they demand. The +grand flight of the eagle is nothing to them. They want the nest in +which he was hatched, and especially the dry limb upon which he +roosts. Anything that can be learned is hardly worth knowing. The +present is considered of no value in itself. Happiness must not be +expected this side of the clouds, and can only be attained by +self-denial and faith; not selfdenial for the good of others, but +for the salvation of your own sweet self.</p> +<p>Paine denied the authority of bibles and creeds; this was his +crime, and for this the world shut the door in his face, and +emptied its slops upon him from the windows.</p> +<p>I challenge the world to show that Thomas Paine ever wrote one +line, one word in favor of tyranny—in favor of immorality; +one line, one word against what he believed to be for the highest +and best interest of mankind; one line, one word against justice, +charity, or liberty, and yet he has been pursued as though he had +been a fiend from hell. His memory has been execrated as though he +had murdered some Uriah for his wife; driven some Hagar into the +desert to starve with his child upon her bosom; defiled his own +daughters; ripped open with the sword the sweet bodies of loving +and innocent women; advised one brother to assassinate another; +kept a harem with seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, +or had persecuted Christians even unto strange cities.</p> +<p>The church has pursued Paine to deter others. No effort has been +in any age of the world spared to crush out opposition. The church +used painting, music and architecture, simply to degrade mankind. +But there are men that nothing can awe. There have been at all +times brave spirits that dared even the gods. Some proud head has +always been above the waves. In every age some Diogenes has +sacrificed to all the gods. True genius never cowers, and there is +always some Samson feeling for the pillars of authority.</p> +<p>Cathedrals and domes, and chimes and chants.—temples +frescoed and groined and carved, and gilded with gold—altars +and tapers, and paintings of virgin and babe—censer and +chalice—chasuble, paten and alb—organs, and anthems and +incense rising to the winged and blest—maniple, amice and +stole—crosses and crosiers, tiaras and crowns—mitres +and missals and masses—rosaries, relics and +robes—martyrs and saints, and windows stained as with the +blood of Christ—never, never for one moment awed the brave, +proud spirit of the Infidel. He knew that all the pomp and glitter +had been purchased with Liberty—that priceless jewel of the +soul. In looking at the cathedral he remembered the dungeon. The +music of the organ was not loud enough to drown the clank of +fetters. He could not forget that the taper had lighted the fagot. +He knew that the cross adorned the hilt of the sword, and so where +others worshiped, he wept and scorned.</p> +<p>The doubter, the investigator, the Infidel, have been the +saviors of liberty. This truth is beginning to be realized, and the +truly intellectual are honoring the brave thinkers of the past.</p> +<p>But the church is as unforgiving as ever, and still wonders why +any Infidel should be wicked enough to endeavor to destroy her +power.</p> +<p>I will tell the church why.</p> +<p>You have imprisoned the human mind; you have been the enemy of +liberty; you have burned us at the stake—wasted us upon slow +fires—torn our flesh with iron; you have covered us with +chains—treated us as outcasts; you have filled the world with +fear; you have taken our wives and children from our arms; you have +confiscated our property; you have denied us the right to testify +in courts of justice; you have branded us with infamy; you have +torn out our tongues; you have refused us burial. In the name of +your religion, you have robbed us of every right; and after having +inflicted upon us every evil that can be inflicted in this world, +you have fallen upon your knees, and with clasped hands implored +your God to torment us forever.</p> +<p>Can you wonder that we hate your doctrines—that we despise +your creeds—that we feel proud to know that we are beyond +your power—that we are free in spite of you—that we can +express our honest thought, and that the whole world is grandly +rising into the blessed light?</p> +<p>Can you wonder that we point with pride to the fact that +Infidelity has ever been found battling for the rights of man, for +the liberty of conscience, and for the happiness of all?</p> +<p>Can you wonder that we are proud to know that we have always +been disciples of Reason, and soldiers of Freedom; that we have +denounced tyranny and superstition, and have kept our hands +unstained with human blood?</p> +<p>We deny that religion is the end or object of this life. When it +is so considered it becomes destructive of happiness—the real +end of life. It becomes a hydra-headed monster, reaching in +terrible coils from the heavens, and thrusting its thousand fangs +into the bleeding, quivering hearts of men. It devours their +substance, builds palaces for God, (who dwells not in temples made +with hands,) and allows his children to die in huts and hovels. It +fills the earth with mourning, heaven with hatred, the present with +fear, and all the future with despair.</p> +<p>Virtue is a subordination of the passions to the intellect. It +is to act in accordance with your highest convictions. It does not +consist in believing, but in doing. This is the sublime truth that +the Infidels in all ages have uttered. They have handed the torch +from one to the other through all the years that have fled. Upon +the altar of Reason they have kept the sacred fire, and through the +long midnight of faith they fed the divine flame.</p> +<p>Infidelity is liberty; all religion is slavery. In every creed +man is the slave of God—woman is the slave of man and the +sweet children are the slaves of all.</p> +<p>We do not want creeds; we want knowledge—we want +happiness.</p> +<p>And yet we are told by the church that we have accomplished +nothing; that we are simply destroyers; that we tear down without +building again.</p> +<p>Is it nothing to free the mind? Is it nothing to civilize +mankind? Is it nothing to fill the world with light, with +discovery, with science? Is it nothing to dignify man and exalt the +intellect? Is it nothing to grope your way into the dreary prisons, +the damp and dropping dungeons, the dark and silent cells of +superstition, where the souls of men are chained to floors of +stone; to greet them like a ray of light, like the song of a bird, +the murmur of a stream; to see the dull eyes open and grow slowly +bright; to feel yourself grasped by the shrunken and unused hands, +and hear yourself thanked by a strange and hollow voice?</p> +<p>Is it nothing to conduct these souls gradually into the blessed +light of day—to let them see again the happy fields, the +sweet, green earth, and hear the everlasting music of the waves? Is +it nothing to make men wipe the dust from their swollen knees, the +tears from their blanched and furrowed cheeks? Is it a small thing +to reave the heavens of an insatiate monster and write upon the +eternal dome, glittering with stars, the grand +word—Freedom?</p> +<p>Is it a small thing to quench the flames of hell with the holy +tears of pity—to unbind the martyr from the stake—break +all the chains—put out the fires of civil war—stay the +sword of the fanatic, and tear the bloody hands of the Church from +the white throat of Science?</p> +<p>Is it a small thing to make men truly free—to destroy the +dogmas of ignorance, prejudice and power—the poisoned fables +of superstition, and drive from the beautiful face of the earth the +fiend of Fear?</p> +<p>It does seem as though the most zealous Christian must at times +entertain some doubt as to the divine origin of his religion. For +eighteen hundred years the doctrine has been preached. For more +than a thousand years the church had, to a great extent, the +control of the civilized world, and what has been the result? Are +the Christian nations patterns of charity and forbearance? On the +contrary, their principal business is to destroy each other. More +than five millions of Christians are trained, educated, and drilled +to murder their fellow-christians. Every nation is groaning under a +vast debt incurred in carrying on war against other Christians, or +defending itself from Christian assault. The world is covered with +forts to protect Christians from Christians, and every sea is +covered with iron monsters ready to blow Christian brains into +eternal froth. Millions upon millions are annually expended in the +effort to construct still more deadly and terrible engines of +death. Industry is crippled, honest toil is robbed, and even +beggary is taxed to defray the expenses of Christian warfare. There +must be some other way to reform this world. We have tried creed, +and dogma and fable, and they have failed; and they have failed in +all the nations dead.</p> +<p>The people perish for the lack of knowledge.</p> +<p>Nothing but education—scientific education—can +benefit mankind. We must find out the laws of nature and conform to +them.</p> +<p>We need free bodies and free minds,—free labor and free +thought,—chainless hands and fetterless brains. Free labor +will give us wealth. Free thought will give us truth.</p> +<p>We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real +thoughts, and to stand by their convictions, even to the very +death. We need have no fear of being too radical. The future will +verify all grand and brave predictions. Paine was splendidly in +advance of his time; but he was orthodox compared with the Infidels +of to-day.</p> +<p>Science, the great Iconoclast, has been busy since 1809, and by +the highway of Progress are the broken images of the Past.</p> +<p>On every hand the people advance. The Vicar of God has been +pushed from the throne of the Caesars, and upon the roofs of the +Eternal City falls once more the shadow of the Eagle.</p> +<p>All has been accomplished by the heroic few. The men of science +have explored heaven and earth, and with infinite patience have +furnished the facts. The brave thinkers have used them. The gloomy +caverns of superstition have been transformed into temples of +thought, and the demons of the past are the angels of to-day.</p> +<p>Science took a handful of sand, constructed a telescope, and +with it explored the starry depths of heaven. Science wrested from +the gods their thunderbolts; and now, the electric spark, freighted +with thought and love, flashes under all the waves of the sea. +Science took a tear from the cheek of unpaid labor, converted it +into steam, created a giant that turns with tireless arm, the +countless wheels of toil.</p> +<p>Thomas Paine was one of the intellectual heroes—one of the +men to whom we are indebted. His name is associated forever with +the Great Republic. As long as free government exists he will be +remembered, admired and honored.</p> +<p>He lived a long, laborious and useful life. The world is better +for his having lived. For the sake of truth he accepted hatred and +reproach for his portion. He ate the bitter bread of sorrow. His +friends were untrue to him because he was true to himself, and true +to them. He lost the respect of what is called society, but kept +his own. His life is what the world calls failure and what history +calls success.</p> +<p>If to love your fellow-men more than self is goodness, Thomas +Paine was good.</p> +<p>If to be in advance of your time—to be a pioneer in the +direction of right—is greatness, Thomas Paine was great.</p> +<p>If to avow your principles and discharge your duty in the +presence of death is heroic, Thomas Paine was a hero.</p> +<p>At the age of seventy-three, death touched his tired heart. He +died in the land his genius defended—under the flag he gave +to the skies. Slander cannot touch him now—hatred cannot +reach him more. He sleeps in the sanctuary of the tomb, beneath the +quiet of the stars.</p> +<p>A few more years—a few more brave men—a few more +rays of light, and mankind will venerate the memory of him who +said:</p> +<p>"ANY SYSTEM OF RELIGION THAT SHOCKS THE MIND OF A CHILD CANNOT +BE A TRUE SYSTEM;"</p> +<p>"The world is my Country, and to do good my Religion."</p> +<a name="link0005"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>INDIVIDUALITY.</h2> +<h3>"His Soul was like a Star and dwelt apart."</h3> +<p>ON every hand are the enemies of individuality and mental +freedom. Custom meets us at the cradle and leaves us only at the +tomb. Our first questions are answered by ignorance, and our last +by superstition. We are pushed and dragged by countless hands along +the beaten track, and our entire training can be summed up in the +word—suppression. Our desire to have a thing or to do a thing +is considered as conclusive evidence that we ought not to have it, +and ought not to do it. At every turn we run against cherubim and a +flaming sword guarding some entrance to the Eden of our desire. We +are allowed to investigate all subjects in which we feel no +particular interest, and to express the opinions of the majority +with the utmost freedom. We are taught that liberty of speech +should never be carried to the extent of contradicting the dead +witnesses of a popular superstition. Society offers continual +rewards for self-betrayal, and they are nearly all earned and +claimed, and some are paid.</p> +<p>We have all read accounts of Christian gentlemen remarking, when +about to be hanged, how much better it would have been for them if +they had only followed a mother's advice. But after all, how +fortunate it is for the world that the maternal advice has not +always been followed. How fortunate it is for us all that it is +somewhat unnatural for a human being to obey. Universal obedience +is universal stagnation; disobedience is one of the conditions of +progress. Select any age of the world and tell me what would have +been the effect of implicit obedience. Suppose the church had had +absolute control of the human mind at any time, would not the words +liberty and progress have been blotted from human speech? In +defiance of advice, the world has advanced.</p> +<p>Suppose the astronomers had controlled the science of astronomy; +suppose the doctors had controlled the science of medicine; suppose +kings had been left to fix the forms of government; suppose our +fathers had taken the advice of Paul, who said, "be subject to the +powers that be, because they are ordained of God;" suppose the +church could control the world to-day, we would go back to chaos +and old night. Philosophy would be branded as infamous; Science +would again press its pale and thoughtful face against the prison +bars, and round the limbs of liberty would climb the bigot's +flame.</p> +<p>It is a blessed thing that in every age some one has had +individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own +convictions,—some one who had the grandeur to say his say. I +believe it was Magellan who said, "The church says the earth is +flat; but I have seen its shadow on the moon, and I have more +confidence even in a shadow than in the church." On the prow of his +ship were disobedience, defiance, scorn, and success.</p> +<p>The trouble with most people is, they bow to what is called +authority; they have a certain reverence for the old because it is +old. They think a man is better for being dead, especially if he +has been dead a long time. They think the fathers of their nation +were the greatest and best of all mankind. All these things they +implicitly believe because it is popular and patriotic, and because +they were told so when they were very small, and remember +distinctly of hearing mother read it out of a book. It is hard to +over-estimate the influence of early training in the direction of +superstition. You first teach children that a certain book is +true—that it was written by God himself—that to +question its truth is a sin, that to deny it is a crime, and that +should they die without believing that book they will be forever +damned without benefit of clergy. The consequence is, that long +before they read that book, they believe it to be true. When they +do read it their minds are wholly unfitted to investigate its +claims. They accept it as a matter of course.</p> +<p>In this way the reason is overcome, the sweet instincts of +humanity are blotted from the heart, and while reading its infamous +pages even justice throws aside her scales, shrieking for revenge, +and charity, with bloody hands, applauds a deed of murder. In this +way we are taught that the revenge of man is the justice of God; +that mercy is not the same everywhere. In this way the ideas of our +race have been subverted. In this way we have made tyrants, bigots, +and inquisitors. In this way the brain of man has become a kind of +palimpsest upon which, and over the writings of nature, +superstition has scrawled her countless lies. One great trouble is +that most teachers are dishonest. They teach as certainties those +things concerning which they entertain doubts. They do not say, "we +<i>think</i> this is so," but "we <i>know</i> this is so." They do +not appeal to the reason of the pupil, but they command his faith. +They keep all doubts to themselves; they do not explain, they +assert. All this is infamous. In this way you may make Christians, +but you cannot make men; you cannot make women. You can make +followers, but no leaders; disciples, but no Christs. You may +promise power, honor, and happiness to all those who will blindly +follow, but you cannot keep your promise.</p> +<p>A monarch said to a hermit, "Come with me and I will give you +power."</p> +<p>"I have all the power that I know how to use" replied the +hermit.</p> +<p>"Come," said the king, "I will give you wealth."</p> +<p>"I have no wants that money can supply," said the hermit.</p> +<p>"I will give you honor," said the monarch.</p> +<p>"Ah, honor cannot be given, it must be earned," was the hermit's +answer.</p> +<p>"Come," said the king, making a last appeal, "and I will give +you happiness."</p> +<p>"No," said the man of solitude, "there is no happiness without +liberty, and he who follows cannot be free."</p> +<p>"You shall have liberty too," said the king.</p> +<p>"Then I will stay where I am," said the old man.</p> +<p>And all the king's courtiers thought the hermit a fool.</p> +<p>Now and then somebody examines, and in spite of all keeps his +manhood, and has the courage to follow where his reason leads. Then +the pious get together and repeat wise saws, and exchange knowing +nods and most prophetic winks. The stupidly wise sit owl-like on +the dead limbs of the tree of knowledge, and solemnly hoot. Wealth +sneers, and fashion laughs, and respectability passes by on the +other side, and scorn points with all her skinny fingers, and all +the snakes of superstition writhe and hiss, and slander lends her +tongue, and infamy her brand, and perjury her oath, and the law its +power, and bigotry tortures, and the church kills.</p> +<p>The church hates a thinker precisely for the same reason a +robber dislikes a sheriff, or a thief despises the prosecuting +witness. Tyranny likes courtiers, flatterers, followers, fawners, +and superstition wants believers, disciples, zealots, hypocrites, +and subscribers. The church demands worship—the very thing +that man should give to no being, human or divine. To worship +another is to degrade yourself. Worship is awe and dread and vague +fear and blind hope. It is the spirit of worship that elevates the +one and degrades the many; that builds palaces for robbers, erects +monuments to crime, and forges manacles even for its own hands. The +spirit of worship is the spirit of tyranny. The worshiper always +regrets that he is not the worshiped. We should all remember that +the intellect has no knees, and that whatever the attitude of the +body may be, the brave soul is always found erect. Whoever +worships, abdicates. Whoever believes at the command of power, +tramples his own individuality beneath his feet, and voluntarily +robs himself of all that renders man superior to the brute.</p> +<p>The despotism of faith is justified upon the ground that +Christian countries are the grandest and most prosperous of the +world. At one time the same thing could have been truly said in +India, in Egypt, in Greece, in Rome, and in every other country +that has, in the history of the world, swept to empire. This +argument proves too much not only, but the assumption upon which it +is based is utterly false. Numberless circumstances and countless +conditions have produced the prosperity of the Christian world. The +truth is, we have advanced in spite of religious zeal, ignorance, +and opposition. The church has won no victories for the rights of +man. Luther labored to reform the church—Voltaire, to reform +men. Over every fortress of tyranny has waved, and still waves, the +banner of the church. Wherever brave blood has been shed, the sword +of the church has been wet. On every chain has been the sign of the +cross. The altar and throne have leaned against and supported each +other.</p> +<p>All that is good in our civilization is the result of commerce, +climate, soil, geographical position, industry, invention, +discovery, art, and science. The church has been the enemy of +progress, for the reason that it has endeavored to prevent man +thinking for himself. To prevent thought is to prevent all +advancement except in the direction of faith.</p> +<p>Who can imagine the infinite impudence of a church assuming to +think for the human race? Who can imagine the infinite impudence of +a church that pretends to be the mouthpiece of God, and in his name +threatens to inflict eternal punishment upon those who honestly +reject its claims and scorn its pretensions? By what right does a +man, or an organization of men, or a god, claim to hold a brain in +bondage? When a fact can be demonstrated, force is unnecessary; +when it cannot be demonstrated, an appeal to force is infamous. In +the presence of the unknown all have an equal right to think.</p> +<p>Over the vast plain, called life, we are all travelers, and not +one traveler is perfectly certain that he is going in the right +direction. True it is that no other plain is so well supplied with +guide-boards. At every turn and crossing you will find them, and +upon each one is written the exact direction and distance. One +great trouble is, however, that these boards are all different, and +the result is that most travelers are confused in proportion to the +number they read. Thousands of people are around each of these +signs, and each one is doing his best to convince the traveler that +his particular board is the only one upon which the least reliance +can be placed, and that if his road is taken the reward for so +doing will be infinite and eternal, while all the other roads are +said to lead to hell, and all the makers of the other guide-boards +are declared to be heretics, hypocrites and liars. "Well," says a +traveler, "you may be right in what you say, but allow me at least +to read some of the other directions and examine a little into +their claims. I wish to rely a little upon my own judgment in a +matter of so great importance." "No, sir," shouts the zealot, "that +is the very thing you are not allowed to do. You must go my way +without investigation, or you are as good as damned already." +"Well," says the traveler, "if that is so, I believe I had better +go your way." And so most of them go along, taking the word of +those who know as little as themselves. Now and then comes one who, +in spite of all threats, calmly examines the claims of all, and as +calmly rejects them all. These travelers take roads of their own, +and are denounced by all the others, as infidels and atheists.</p> +<p>Around all of these guide-boards, as far as the eye can reach, +the ground is covered with mountains of human bones, crumbling and +bleaching in the rain and sun. They are the bones of murdered men +and women—fathers, mothers and babes.</p> +<p>In my judgment, every human being should take a road of his own. +Every mind should be true to itself—should think, investigate +and conclude for itself. This is a duty alike incumbent upon pauper +and prince. Every soul should repel dictation and tyranny, no +matter from what source they come—from earth or heaven, from +men or gods. Besides, every traveler upon this vast plain should +give to every other traveler his best idea as to the road that +should be taken. Each is entitled to the honest opinion of all. And +there is but one way to get an honest opinion upon any subject +whatever. The person giving the opinion must be free from fear. The +merchant must not fear to lose his custom, the doctor his practice, +nor the preacher his pulpit There can be no advance without +liberty. Suppression of honest inquiry is retrogression, and must +end in intellectual night. The tendency of orthodox religion to-day +is toward mental slavery and barbarism. Not one of the orthodox +ministers dare preach what he thinks if he knows a majority of his +congregation think otherwise. He knows that every member of his +church stands guard over his brain with a creed, like a club, in +his hand. He knows that he is not expected to search after the +truth, but that he is employed to defend the creed. Every pulpit is +a pillory, in which stands a hired culprit, defending the justice +of his own imprisonment.</p> +<p>Is it desirable that all should be exactly alike in their +religious convictions? Is any such thing possible? Do we not know +that there are no two persons alike in the whole world? No two, +trees, no two leaves, no two anythings that are alike? Infinite +diversity is the law. Religion tries to force all minds into one +mould. Knowing that all cannot believe, the church endeavors to +make all say they believe. She longs for the unity of hypocrisy, +and detests the splendid diversity of individuality and +freedom.</p> +<p>Nearly all people stand in great horror of annihilation, and yet +to give up your individuality is to annihilate yourself. Mental +slavery is mental death, and every man who has given up his +intellectual freedom is the living coffin of his dead soul. In this +sense, every church is a cemetery and every creed an epitaph.</p> +<p>We should all remember that to be like other people is to be +unlike ourselves, and that nothing can be more detestable in +character than servile imitation. The great trouble with imitation +is, that we are apt to ape those who are in reality far below us. +After all, the poorest bargain that a human being can make, is to +give his individuality for what is called respectability.</p> +<p>There is no saying more degrading than this: "It is better to be +the tail of a lion than the head of a dog." It is a responsibility +to think and act for yourself. Most people hate responsibility; +therefore they join something and become the tail of some lion. +They say, "My party can act for me—my church can do my +thinking. It is enough for me to pay taxes and obey the lion to +which I belong, without troubling myself about the right, the +wrong, or the why or the wherefore of anything whatever." These +people are respectable. They hate reformers, and dislike +exceedingly to have their minds disturbed. They regard convictions +as very disagreeable things to have. They love forms, and enjoy, +beyond everything else, telling what a splendid tail their lion +has, and what a troublesome dog their neighbor is. Besides this +natural inclination to avoid personal responsibility, is and always +has been, the fact, that every religionist has warned men against +the presumption and wickedness of thinking for themselves. The +reason has been denounced by all Christendom as the only unsafe +guide. The church has left nothing undone to prevent man following +the logic of his brain. The plainest facts have been covered with +the mantle of mystery. The grossest absurdities have been declared +to be self-evident facts. The order of nature has been, as it were, +reversed, that the hypocritical few might govern the honest many. +The man who stood by the conclusion of his reason was denounced as +a scorner and hater of God and his holy church. From the +organization of the first church until this moment, to think your +own thoughts has been inconsistent with membership. Every member +has borne the marks of collar, and chain, and whip. No man ever +seriously attempted to reform a church without being cast out and +hunted down by the hounds of hypocrisy. The highest crime against a +creed is to change it. Reformation is treason.</p> +<p>Thousands of young men are being educated at this moment by the +various churches. What for? In order that they may be prepared to +investigate the phenomena by which we are surrounded? No! The +object, and the only object, is that they may be prepared to defend +a creed; that they may learn the arguments of their respective +churches, and repeat them in the dull ears of a thoughtless +congregation. If one, after being thus trained at the expense of +the Methodists, turns Presbyterian or Baptist, he is denounced as +an ungrateful wretch. Honest investigation is utterly impossible +within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think +the church is right you will not investigate, and if you think it +wrong, the church will investigate you. The consequence of this is, +that most of the theological literature is the result of +suppression, of fear, tyranny and hypocrisy.</p> +<p>Every orthodox writer necessarily said to himself, "If I write +that, my wife and children may want for bread. I will be covered +with shame and branded with infamy; but if I write this, I will +gain position, power, and honor. My church rewards defenders, and +burns reformers."</p> +<p>Under these conditions all your Scotts, Hen-rys, and McKnights +have written; and weighed in these scales, what are their +commentaries worth? They are not the ideas and decisions of honest +judges, but the sophisms of the paid attorneys of superstition. Who +can tell what the world has lost by this infamous system of +suppression? How many grand thinkers have died with the mailed hand +of superstition upon their lips? How many splendid ideas have +perished in the cradle of the brain, strangled in the poison-coils +of that python, the Church!</p> +<p>For thousands of years a thinker was hunted down like an escaped +convict. To him who had braved the church, every door was shut, +every knife was open. To shelter him from the wild storm, to give +him a crust when dying, to put a cup of water to his cracked and +bleeding lips; these were all crimes, not one of which the church +ever did forgive; and with the justice taught of her God, his +helpless children were exterminated as scorpions and vipers.</p> +<p>Who at the present day can imagine the courage, the devotion to +principle, the intellectual and moral grandeur it once required to +be an infidel, to brave the church, her racks, her fagots, her +dungeons, her tongues of fire,—to defy and scorn her heaven +and her hell—her devil and her God? They were the noblest +sons of earth. They were the real saviors of our race, the +destroyers of superstition and the creators of Science. They were +the real Titans who bared their grand foreheads to all the +thunderbolts of all the gods.</p> +<p>The church has been, and still is, the great robber. She has +rifled not only the pockets but the brains of the world. She is the +stone at the sepulchre of liberty; the upas tree, in whose shade +the intellect of man has withered; the Gorgon beneath whose gaze +the human heart has turned to stone. Under her influence even the +Protestant mother expects to be happy in heaven, while her brave +boy, who fell fighting for the rights of man, shall writhe in +hell.</p> +<p>It is said that some of the Indian tribes place the heads of +their children between pieces of bark until the form of the skull +is permanently changed. To us this seems a most shocking custom; +and yet, after all, is it as bad as to put the souls of our +children in the strait-jacket of a creed? to so utterly deform +their minds that they regard the God of the Bible as a being of +infinite mercy, and really consider it a virtue to believe a thing +just because it seems unreasonable? Every child in the Christian +world has uttered its wondering protest against this outrage. All +the machinery of the church is constantly employed in corrupting +the reason of children. In every possible way they are robbed of +their own thoughts and forced to accept the statements of others. +Every Sunday school has for its object the crushing out of every +germ of individuality. The poor children are taught that nothing +can be more acceptable to God than unreasoning obedience and +eyeless faith, and that to believe God did an impossible act, is +far better than to do a good one yourself. They are told that all +religions have been simply the John-the-Baptists of ours; that all +the gods of antiquity have withered and shrunken into the Jehovah +of the Jews; that all the longings and aspirations of the race are +realized in the motto of the Evangelical Alliance, "Liberty in +non-essentials", that all there is, or ever was, of religion can be +found in the apostles' creed; that there is nothing left to be +discovered; that all the thinkers are dead, and all the living +should simply be believers; that we have only to repeat the epitaph +found on the grave of wisdom; that grave-yards are the best +possible universities, and that the children must be forever beaten +with the bones of the fathers.</p> +<p>It has always seemed absurd to suppose that a god would choose +for his companions, during all eternity, the dear souls whose +highest and only ambition is to obey. He certainly would now and +then be tempted to make the same remark made by an English +gentleman to his poor guest. The gentleman had invited a man in +humble circumstances to dine with him. The man was so overcome with +the honor that to everything the gentleman said he replied "Yes." +Tired at last with the monotony of acquiescence, the gentleman +cried out, "For God's sake, my good man, say 'No,' just once, so +there will be two of us."</p> +<p>Is it possible that an infinite God created this world simply to +be the dwelling-place of slaves and serfs? simply for the purpose +of raising orthodox Christians? That he did a few miracles to +astonish them; that all the evils of life are simply his +punishments, and that he is finally going to turn heaven into a +kind of religious museum filled with Baptist barnacles, petrified +Presbyterians and Methodist mummies? I want no heaven for which I +must give my reason; no happiness in exchange for my liberty, and +no immortality that demands the surrender of my individuality. +Better rot in the windowless tomb, to which there is no door but +the red mouth of the pallid worm, than wear the jeweled collar even +of a god.</p> +<p>Religion does not, and cannot, contemplate man as free. She +accepts only the homage of the prostrate, and scorns the offerings +of those who stand erect. She cannot tolerate the liberty of +thought. The wide and sunny fields belong not to her domain. The +star-lit heights of genius and individuality are above and beyond +her appreciation and power. Her subjects cringe at her feet, +covered with the dust of obedience.</p> +<p>They are not athletes standing posed by rich life and brave +endeavor like antique statues, but shriveled deformities, studying +with furtive glance the cruel face of power.</p> +<p>No religionist seems capable of comprehending this plain truth. +There is this difference between thought and action: for our +actions we are responsible to ourselves and to those injuriously +affected; for thoughts, there can, in the nature of things, be no +responsibility to gods or men, here or hereafter. And yet the +Protestant has vied with the Catholic in denouncing freedom of +thought; and while I was taught to hate Catholicism with every drop +of my blood, it is only justice to say, that in all essential +particulars it is precisely the same as every other religion. +Luther denounced mental liberty with all the coarse and brutal +vigor of his nature; Calvin despised, from the very bottom of his +petrified heart, anything that even looked like religious +toleration, and solemnly declared that to advocate it was to +crucify Christ afresh. All the founders of all the orthodox +churches have advocated the same infamous tenet. The truth is, that +what is called religion is necessarily inconsistent with free +thought A believer is a bird in a cage, a Freethinker is an eagle +parting the clouds with tireless wing.</p> +<p>At present, owing to the inroads that have been made by liberals +and infidels, most of the churches pretend to be in favor of +religious liberty. Of these churches, we will ask this question: +How can a man, who conscientiously believes in religious liberty, +worship a God who does not? They say to us: "We will not imprison +you on account of your belief, but our God will." "We will not burn +you because you throw away the sacred Scriptures, but their author +will." "We think it an infamous crime to persecute our brethren for +opinion's sake,—but the God, whom we ignorantly worship, will +on that account, damn his own children forever."</p> +<p>Why is it that these Christians not only detest the infidels, +but cordially despise each other? Why do they refuse to worship in +the temples of each other? Why do they care so little for the +damnation of men, and so much for the baptism of children? Why will +they adorn their churches with the money of thieves and flatter +vice for the sake of subscriptions? Why will they attempt to bribe +Science to certify to the writings of God? Why do they torture the +words of the great into an acknowledgment of the truth of +Christianity? Why do they stand with hat in hand before presidents, +kings, emperors, and scientists, begging, like Lazarus, for a few +crumbs of religious comfort? Why are they so delighted to find an +allusion to Providence in the message of Lincoln? Why are they so +afraid that some one will find out that Paley wrote an essay in +favor of the Epicurean philosophy, and that Sir Isaac Newton was +once an infidel? Why are they so anxious to show that Voltaire +recanted; that Paine died palsied with fear; that the Emperor +Julian cried out "Galilean, thou hast conquered"; that Gibbon died +a Catholic; that Agassiz had a little confidence in Moses; that the +old Napoleon was once complimentary enough to say that he thought +Christ greater than himself or Cæsar; that Washington was +caught on his knees at Valley Forge; that blunt old Ethan Allen +told his child to believe the religion of her mother; that Franklin +said, "Don't unchain the tiger," and that Volney got frightened in +a storm at sea?</p> +<p>Is it because the foundation of their temple is crumbling, +because the walls are cracked, the pillars leaning, the great dome +swaying to its fall, and because Science has written over the high +altar its mene, mene, tekel, upharsin—the old words, destined +to be the epitaph of all religions?</p> +<p>Every assertion of individual independence has been a step +toward infidelity. Luther started toward Humboldt,—Wesley, +toward John Stuart Mill. To really reform the church is to destroy +it. Every new religion has a little less superstition than the old, +so that the religion of Science is but a question of time.</p> +<p>I will not say the church has been an unmitigated evil in all +respects. Its history is infamous and glorious. It has delighted in +the production of extremes. It has furnished murderers for its own +martyrs. It has sometimes fed the body, but has always starved the +soul. It has been a charitable highwayman—a profligate +beggar—a generous pirate. It has produced some angels and a +multitude of devils. It has built more prisons than asylums. It +made a hundred orphans while it cared for one. In one hand it has +carried the alms-dish and in the other a sword. It has founded +schools and endowed universities for the purpose of destroying true +learning. It filled the world with hypocrites and zealots, and upon +the cross of its own Christ it crucified the individuality of man. +It has sought to destroy the independence of the soul and put the +world upon its knees. This is its crime. The commission of this +crime was necessary to its existence. In order to compel obedience +it declared that it had the truth, and all the truth; that God had +made it the keeper of his secrets; his agent and his vicegerent. It +declared that all other religions were false and infamous. It +rendered all compromise impossible and all thought superfluous. +Thought was its enemy, obedience was its friend. Investigation was +fraught with danger; therefore investigation was suppressed. The +holy of holies was behind the curtain. All this was upon the +principle that forgers hate to have the signature examined by an +expert, and that imposture detests curiosity.</p> +<p>"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," has always been the +favorite text of the church.</p> +<p>In short, Christianity has always opposed every forward movement +of the human race. Across the highway of progress it has always +been building breastworks of Bibles, tracts, commentaries, +prayer-books, creeds, dogmas and platforms, and at every advance +the Christians have gathered together behind these heaps of rubbish +and shot the poisoned arrows of malice at the soldiers of +freedom.</p> +<p>And even the liberal Christian of to-day has his holy of holies, +and in the niche of the temple of his heart has his idol. He still +clings to a part of the old superstition, and all the pleasant +memories of the old belief linger in the horizon of his thoughts +like a sunset. We associate the memory of those we love with the +religion of our childhood. It seems almost a sacrilege to rudely +destroy the idols that our fathers worshiped, and turn their sacred +and beautiful truths into the fables of barbarism. Some throw away +the Old Testament and cling to the New, while others give up +everything except the idea that there is a personal God, and that +in some wonderful way we are the objects of his care.</p> +<p>Even this, in my opinion, as Science, the great iconoclast, +marches onward, will have to be abandoned with the rest. The great +ghost will surely share the fate of the little ones. They fled at +the first appearance of the dawn, and the other will vanish with +the perfect day. Until then the independence of man is little more +than a dream. Overshadowed by an immense personality, in the +presence of the irresponsible and the infinite, the individuality +of man is lost, and he falls prostrate in the very dust of fear. +Beneath the frown of the absolute, man stands a wretched, trembling +slave,—beneath his smile he is at best only a fortunate serf. +Governed by a being whose arbitrary will is law, chained to the +chariot of power, his destiny rests in the pleasure of the unknown. +Under these circumstances, what wretched object can he have in +lengthening out his aimless life?</p> +<p>And yet, in most minds, there is a vague fear of the +gods—a shrinking from the malice of the skies. Our fathers +were slaves, and nearly all their children are mental serfs. The +enfranchisement of the soul is a slow and painful process. +Superstition, the mother of those hideous twins, Fear and Faith, +from her throne of skulls, still rules the world, and will until +the mind of woman ceases to be the property of priests.</p> +<p>When women reason, and babes sit in the lap of philosophy, the +victory of reason over the shadowy host of darkness will be +complete.</p> +<p>In the minds of many, long after the intellect has thrown aside +as utterly fabulous the legends of the church, there still remains +a lingering suspicion, born of the mental habits contracted in +childhood, that after all there may be a grain of truth in these +mountains of theological mist, and that possibly the superstitious +side is the side of safety.</p> +<p>A gentleman, walking among the ruins of Athens, came upon a +fallen statue of Jupiter; making an exceedingly low bow he said: "O +Jupiter! I salute thee." He then added: "Should you ever sit upon +the throne of heaven again, do not, I pray you, forget that I +treated you politely when you were prostrate."</p> +<p>We have all been taught by the church that nothing is so well +calculated to excite the ire of the Deity as to express a doubt as +to his existence, and that to deny it is an unpardonable sin. +Numerous well-attested instances are referred to of atheists being +struck dead for denying the existence of God. According to these +religious people, God is infinitely above us in every respect, +infinitely merciful, and yet he cannot bear to hear a poor finite +man honestly question his existence. Knowing, as he does, that his +children are groping in darkness and struggling with doubt and +fear; knowing that he could enlighten them if he would, he still +holds the expression of a sincere doubt as to his existence, the +most infamous of crimes. According to orthodox logic, God having +furnished us with imperfect minds, has a right to demand a perfect +result.</p> +<p>Suppose Mr. Smith should overhear a couple of small bugs holding +a discussion as to the existence of Mr. Smith, and suppose one +should have the temerity to declare, upon the honor of a bug, that +he had examined the whole question to the best of his ability, +including the argument based upon design, and had come to the +conclusion that no man by the name of Smith had ever lived. Think +then of Mr. Smith flying into an ecstasy of rage, crushing the +atheist bug beneath his iron heel, while he exclaimed, "I will +teach you, blasphemous wretch, that Smith is a diabolical fact!" +What then can we think of a God who would open the artillery of +heaven upon one of his own children for simply expressing his +honest thought? And what man who really thinks can help repeating +the words of Ennius: "If there are gods they certainly pay no +attention to the affairs of man."</p> +<p>Think of the millions of men and women who have been destroyed +simply for loving and worshiping this God. Is it possible that this +God, having infinite power, saw his loving and heroic children +languishing in the darkness of dungeons; heard the clank of their +chains when they lifted their hands to him in the agony of prayer; +saw them stretched upon the bigot's rack, where death alone had +pity; saw the serpents of flame crawl hissing round their shrinking +forms—-saw all this for sixteen hundred years, and sat as +silent as a stone?</p> +<p>From such a God, why should man expect assistance? Why should he +waste his days in fruitless prayer? Why should he fall upon his +knees and implore a phantom—a phantom that is deaf, and dumb, +and blind?</p> +<p>Although we live in what is called a free government,—and +politically we are free,—there is but little religious +liberty in America. Society demands, either that you belong to some +church, or that you suppress your opinions. It is contended by many +that ours is a Christian government, founded upon the Bible, and +that all who look upon that book as false or foolish are destroying +the foundation of our country. The truth is, our government is not +founded upon the rights of gods, but upon the rights of men. Our +Constitution was framed, not to declare and uphold the deity of +Christ, but the sacredness of humanity. Ours is the first +government made by the people and for the people. It is the only +nation with which the gods have had nothing to do. And yet there +are some judges dishonest and cowardly enough to solemnly decide +that this is a Christian country, and that our free institutions +are based upon the infamous laws of Jehovah. Such judges are the +Jeffries of the church. They believe that decisions, made by +hirelings at the bidding of kings, are binding upon man forever. +They regard old law as far superior to modern justice. They are +what might be called orthodox judges. They spend their days in +finding out, not what ought to be, but what has been. With their +backs to the sunrise they worship the night. There is only one +future event with which they concern themselves, and that is their +reelection. No honest court ever did, or ever will, decide that our +Constitution is Christian. The Bible teaches that the powers that +be, are ordained of God. The Bible teaches that God is the source +of all authority, and that all kings have obtained their power from +him. Every tyrant has claimed to be the agent of the Most High. The +Inquisition was founded, not in the name of man, but in the name of +God. All the governments of Europe recognize the greatness of God, +and the littleness of the people. In all ages, hypocrites, called +priests, have put crowns upon the heads of thieves, called +kings.</p> +<p>The Declaration of Independence announces the sublime truth, +that all power comes from the people. This was a denial, and the +first denial of a nation, of the infamous dogma that God confers +the right upon one man to govern others. It was the first grand +assertion of the dignity of the human race. It declared the +governed to be the source of power, and in fact denied the +authority of any and all gods. Through the ages of +slavery—through the weary centuries of the lash and chain, +God was the acknowledged ruler of the world. To enthrone man, was +to dethrone him.</p> +<p>To Paine, Jefferson, and Franklin, are we indebted, more than to +all others, for a human government, and for a Constitution in which +no God is recognized superior to the legally expressed will of the +people.</p> +<p>They knew that to put God in the Constitution was to put man +out. They knew that the recognition of a Deity would be seized upon +by fanatics and zealots as a pretext for destroying the liberty of +thought. They knew the terrible history of the church too well to +place in her keeping, or in the keeping of her God, the sacred +rights of man. They intended that all should have the right to +worship, or not to worship; that our laws should make no +distinction on account of creed. They intended to found and frame a +government for man, and for man alone. They wished to preserve the +individuality and liberty of all; to prevent the few from governing +the many, and the many from persecuting and destroying the few.</p> +<p>Notwithstanding all this, the spirit of persecution still +lingers in our laws. In many of the States, only those who believe +in the existence of some kind of God, are under the protection of +the law.</p> +<p>The supreme court of Illinois decided, in the year of grace +1856, that an unbeliever in the existence of an intelligent First +Cause could not be allowed to testify in any court. His wife and +children might have been murdered before his very face, and yet in +the absence of other witnesses, the murderer could not have even +been indicted. The atheist was a legal outcast. To him, Justice was +not only blind, but deaf. He was liable, like other men, to support +the Government, and was forced to contribute his share towards +paying the salaries of the very judges who decided that under no +circumstances could his voice be heard in any court. This was the +law of Illinois, and so remained until the adoption of the new +Constitution. By such infamous means has the church endeavored to +chain the human mind, and protect the majesty of her God. The fact +is, we have no national religion, and no national God; but every +citizen is allowed to have a religion and a God of his own, or to +reject all religions and deny the existence of all gods. The +church, however, never has, and never will understand and +appreciate the genius of our Government.</p> +<p>Last year, in a convention of Protestant bigots, held in the +city of New York for the purpose of creating public opinion in +favor of a religious amendment to the Federal Constitution, a +reverend doctor of divinity, speaking of atheists, said: "What are +the rights of the atheist? I would tolerate him as I would tolerate +a poor lunatic. I would tolerate him as I would tolerate a +conspirator. He may live and go free, hold his lands and enjoy his +home—he may even vote; but for any higher or more advanced +citizenship, he is, as I hold, utterly disqualified." These are the +sentiments of the church to-day.</p> +<p>Give the church a place in the Constitution, let her touch once +more the sword of power, and the priceless fruit of all the ages +will turn to ashes on the lips of men.</p> +<p>In religious ideas and conceptions there has been for ages a +slow and steady development At the bottom of the ladder (speaking +of modern times) is Catholicism, and at the top is Science. The +intermediate rounds of this ladder are occupied by the various +sects, whose name is legion.</p> +<p>But whatever may be the truth upon any subject has nothing to do +with-our right to investigate that subject, and express any opinion +we may form. All that I ask, is the same right I freely accord to +all others.</p> +<p>A few years ago a Methodist clergyman took it upon himself to +give me a piece of friendly advice. "Although you may disbelieve +the Bible," said he, "you ought not to say so. That, you should +keep to yourself."</p> +<p>"Do you believe the Bible," said I.</p> +<p>He replied, "Most assuredly".</p> +<p>To which I retorted, "Your answer conveys no information to me. +You may be following your own advice. You told me to suppress my +opinions. Of course a man who will advise others to dissimulate +will not always be particular about telling the truth himself."</p> +<p>There can be nothing more utterly subversive of all that is +really valuable than the suppression of honest thought. No man, +worthy of the form he bears, will at the command of church or state +solemnly repeat a creed his reason scorns.</p> +<p>It is the duty of each and every one to maintain his +individuality. "This above all, to thine ownself be true, and it +must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to +any man." It is a magnificent thing to be the sole proprietor of +yourself. It is a terrible thing to wake up at night and say, +"There is nobody in this bed." It is humiliating to know that your +ideas are all borrowed; that you are indebted to your memory for +your principles; that your religion is simply one of your habits, +and that you would have convictions if they were only contagious. +It is mortifying to feel that you belong to a mental mob and cry +"crucify him," because the others do; that you reap what the great +and brave have sown, and that you can benefit the world only by +leaving it.</p> +<p>Surely every human being ought to attain to the dignity of the +unit. Surely it is worth something to be one, and to feel that the +census of the universe would be incomplete without counting you. +Surely there is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought, +at least, you are without a chain; that you have the right to +explore all heights and all depths; that there are no walls nor +fences, nor prohibited places, nor sacred corners in all the vast +expanse of thought; that your intellect owes no allegiance to any +being, human or divine; that you hold all in fee and upon no +condition and by no tenure whatever; that in the world of mind you +are relieved from all personal dictation, and from the ignorant +tyranny of majorities. Surely it is worth something to feel that +there are no priests, no popes, no parties, no governments, no +kings, no gods, to whom your intellect can be compelled to pay a +reluctant homage. Surely it is a joy to know that all the cruel +ingenuity of bigotry can devise no prison, no dungeon, no cell in +which for one instant to confine a thought; that ideas cannot be +dislocated by racks, nor crushed in iron boots, nor burned with +fire. Surely it is sublime to think that the brain is a castle, and +that within its curious bastions and winding halls the soul, in +spite of all worlds and all beings, is the supreme sovereign of +itself.</p> +<a name="link0006"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>HERETICS AND HERESIES.</h2> +<h3>Liberty, a Word without which all other Words are Vain.</h3> +<p>WHOEVER has an opinion of his own, and honestly expresses it, +will be guilty of heresy. Heresy is what the minority believe; it +is the name given by the powerful to the doctrine of the weak. This +word was born of the hatred, arrogance and cruelty of those who +love their enemies, and who, when smitten on one cheek, turn the +other. This word was born of intellectual slavery in the feudal +ages of thought It was an epithet used in the place of argument. +From the commencement of the Christian era, every art has been +exhausted and every conceivable punishment inflicted to force all +people to hold the same religious opinions. This effort was born of +the idea that a certain belief was necessary to the salvation of +the soul. Christ taught, and the church still teaches, that +unbelief is the blackest of crimes. God is supposed to hate with an +infinite and implacable hatred, every heretic upon the earth, and +the heretics who have died are supposed at this moment to be +suffering the agonies of the damned. The church persecutes the +living and her God burns the dead.</p> +<p>It is claimed that God wrote a book called the Bible, and it is +generally admitted that this book is somewhat difficult to +understand. As long as the church had all the copies of this book, +and the people were not allowed to read it, there was comparatively +little heresy in the world; but when it was printed and read, +people began honestly to differ as to its meaning. A few were +independent and brave enough to give the world their real thoughts, +and for the extermination of these men the church used all her +power. Protestants and Catholics vied with each other in the work +of enslaving the human mind. For ages they were rivals in the +infamous effort to rid the earth of honest people. They infested +every country, every city, town, hamlet and family. They appealed +to the worst passions of the human heart They sowed the seeds of +discord and hatred in every land. Brother denounced brother, wives +informed against their husbands, mothers accused their children, +dungeons were crowded with the innocent; the flesh of the good and +true rotted in the clasp of chains; the flames devoured the heroic, +and in the name of the most merciful God, his children were +exterminated with famine, sword, and fire. Over the wild waves of +battle rose and fell the banner of Jesus Christ. For sixteen +hundred years the robes of the church were red with innocent blood. +The ingenuity of Christians was exhausted in devising punishment +severe enough to be inflicted upon other Christians who honestly +and sincerely differed with them upon any point whatever.</p> +<p>Give any orthodox church the power, and to-day they would punish +heresy with whip, and chain, and fire. As long as a church deems a +certain belief essential to salvation, just so long it will kill +and burn if it has the power. Why should the church pity a man whom +her God hates? Why should she show mercy to a kind and noble +heretic whom her God will burn in eternal fire? Why should a +Christian be better than his God? It is impossible for the +imagination to conceive of a greater atrocity than has been +perpetrated by the church. Every nerve in the human body capable of +pain has been sought out and touched by the church.</p> +<p>Let it be remembered that all churches have persecuted heretics +to the extent of their power. Toleration has increased only when +and where the power of the church has diminished. From Augustine +until now the spirit of the Christians has remained the same. There +has been the same intolerance, the same undying hatred of all who +think for themselves, and the same determination to crush out of +the human brain all knowledge inconsistent with an ignorant +creed.</p> +<p>Every church pretends that it has a revelation from God, and +that this revelation must be given to the people through the +church; that the church acts through its priests, and that ordinary +mortals must be content with a revelation—not from +God—but from the church. Had the people submitted to this +preposterous claim, of course there could have been but one church, +and that church never could have advanced. It might have +retrograded, because it is not necessary to think or investigate in +order to forget. Without heresy there could have been no +progress.</p> +<p>The highest type of the orthodox Christian does not forget; +neither does he learn. He neither advances nor recedes. He is a +living fossil embedded in that rock called faith. He makes no +effort to better his condition, because all his strength is +exhausted in keeping other people from improving theirs. The +supreme desire of his heart is to force all others to adopt his +creed, and in order to accomplish this object he denounces free +thinking as a crime, and this crime he calls heresy. When he had +power, heresy was the most terrible and formidable of words. It +meant confiscation, exile, imprisonment, torture, and death.</p> +<p>In those days the cross and rack were inseparable companions. +Across the open Bible lay the sword and fagot. Not content with +burning such heretics as were alive, they even tried the dead, in +order that the church might rob their wives and children. The +property of all heretics was confiscated, and on this account they +charged the dead with being heretical—indicted, as it were, +their dust—to the end that the church might clutch the bread +of orphans. Learned divines discussed the propriety of tearing out +the tongues of heretics before they were burned, and the general +opinion was, that this ought to be done so that the heretics should +not be able, by uttering blasphemies, to shock the Christians who +were burning them. With a mixture of ferocity and Christianity, the +priests insisted that heretics ought to be burned at a slow fire, +giving as a reason that more time was given them for +repentance.</p> +<p>No wonder that Jesus Christ said, "I came not to bring peace, +but a sword."</p> +<p>Every priest regarded himself as the agent of God. He answered +all questions by authority, and to treat him with disrespect was an +insult offered to God. No one was asked to think, but all were +commanded to obey.</p> +<p>In 1208 the Inquisition was established. Seven years afterward, +the fourth council of the Lateran enjoined all kings and rulers to +swear an oath that they would exterminate heretics from their +dominions. The sword of the church was unsheathed, and the world +was at the mercy of ignorant and infuriated priests, whose eyes +feasted upon the agonies they inflicted. Acting, as they believed, +or pretended to believe, under the command of God; stimulated by +the hope of infinite reward in another world—hating heretics +with every drop of their bestial blood; savage beyond description; +merciless beyond conception,—these infamous priests, in a +kind of frenzied joy, leaped upon the helpless victims of their +rage. They crushed their bones in iron boots; tore their quivering +flesh with iron hooks and pincers; cut off their lips and eyelids; +pulled out their nails, and into the bleeding quick thrust needles; +tore out their tongues; extinguished their eyes; stretched them +upon racks; flayed them alive; crucified them with their heads +downward; exposed them to wild beasts; burned them at the stake; +mocked their cries and groans; ravished their wives; robbed their +children, and then prayed God to finish the holy work in hell.</p> +<p>Millions upon millions were sacrificed upon the altars of +bigotry. The Catholic burned the Lutheran, the Lutheran burned the +Catholic, the Episcopalian tortured the Presbyterian, the +Presbyterian tortured the Episcopalian. Every denomination killed +all it could of every other; and each Christian felt in duty bound +to exterminate every other Christian who denied the smallest +fraction of his creed.</p> +<p>In the reign of Henry VIII.—that pious and moral founder +of the apostolic Episcopal Church,—there was passed by the +parliament of England an act entitled "An act for abolishing of +diversity of opinion." And in this act was set forth what a good +Christian was obliged to believe: First, That in the sacrament was +the real body and blood of Jesus Christ.</p> +<p>Second, That the body and blood of Jesus Christ was in the +bread, and the blood and body of Jesus Christ was in the wine.</p> +<p>Third, That priests should not marry.</p> +<p>Fourth, That vows of chastity were of perpetual obligation.</p> +<p>Fifth, That private masses ought to be continued; and,</p> +<p>Sixth, That auricular confession to a priest must be +maintained.</p> +<p>This creed was made by law, in order that all men might know +just what to believe by simply reading the statute. The church +hated to see the people wearing out their brains in thinking upon +these subjects. It was thought far better that a creed should be +made by parliament, so that whatever might be lacking in evidence +might be made up in force. The punishment for denying the first +article was death by fire. For the denial of any other article, +imprisonment, and for the second offence—death.</p> +<p>Your attention is called to these six articles, established +during the reign of Henry VIII., and by the Church of England, +simply because not one of these articles is believed by that church +to-day. If the law then made by the church could be enforced now, +every Episcopalian would be burned at the stake.</p> +<p>Similar laws were passed in most Christian countries, as all +orthodox churches firmly believed that mankind could be legislated +into heaven. According to the creed of every church, slavery leads +to heaven, liberty leads to hell. It was claimed that God had +founded the church, and that to deny the authority of the church +was to be a traitor to God, and consequently an ally of the devil. +To torture and destroy one of the soldiers of Satan was a duty no +good Christian cared to neglect. Nothing can be sweeter than to +earn the gratitude of God by killing your own enemies. Such a +mingling of profit and revenge, of heaven for yourself and +damnation for those you dislike, is a temptation that your ordinary +Christian never resists.</p> +<p>According to the theologians, God, the Father of us all, wrote a +letter to his children. The children have always differed somewhat +as to the meaning of this letter. In consequence of these honest +differences, these brothers began to cut out each other's hearts. +In every land, where this letter from God has been read, the +children to whom and for whom it was written have been filled with +hatred and malice. They have imprisoned and murdered each other, +and the wives and children of each other. In the name of God every +possible crime has been committed, every conceivable outrage has +been perpetrated. Brave men, tender and loving women, beautiful +girls, and prattling babes have been exterminated in the name of +Jesus Christ. For more than fifty generations the church has +carried the black flag. Her vengeance has been measured only by her +power. During all these years of infamy no heretic has ever been +forgiven. With the heart of a fiend she has hated; with the clutch +of avarice she has grasped; with the jaws of a dragon she has +devoured; pitiless as famine, merciless as fire, with the +conscience of a serpent: such is the history of the Church of +God.</p> +<p>I do not say, and I do not believe, that Christians are as bad +as their creeds. In spite of church and dogma, there have been +millions and millions of men and women true to the loftiest and +most generous promptings of the human heart. They have been true to +their convictions, and, with a self-denial and fortitude excelled +by none, have labored and suffered for the salvation of men. Imbued +with the spirit of self-sacrifice, believing that by personal +effort they could rescue at least a few souls from the infinite +shadow of hell, they have cheerfully endured every hardship and +scorned every danger. And yet, notwithstanding all this, they +believed that honest error was a crime. They knew that the Bible so +declared, and they believed that all unbelievers would be eternally +lost. They believed that religion was of God, and all heresy of the +devil. They killed heretics in defence of their own souls and the +souls of their children. They killed them because, according to +their idea, they were the enemies of God, and because the Bible +teaches that the blood of the unbeliever is a most acceptable +sacrifice to heaven.</p> +<p>Nature never prompted a loving mother to throw her child into +the Ganges. Nature never prompted men to exterminate each other for +a difference of opinion concerning the baptism of infants. These +crimes have been produced by religions filled with all that is +illogical, cruel and hideous. These religions were produced for the +most part by ignorance, tyranny and hypocrisy. Under the impression +that the infinite ruler and creator of the universe had commanded +the destruction of heretics and infidels, the church perpetrated +all these crimes.</p> +<p>Men and women have been burned for thinking there is but one +God; that there was none; that the Holy Ghost is younger than God; +that God was somewhat older than his son; for insisting that good +works will save a man without faith; that faith will do without +good works; for declaring that a sweet babe will not be burned +eternally, because its parents failed to have its head wet by a +priest; for speaking of God as though he had a nose; for denying +that Christ was his own father; for contending that three persons, +rightly added together, make more than one; for believing in +purgatory; for denying the reality of hell; for pretending that +priests can forgive sins; for preaching that God is an essence; for +denying that witches rode through the air on sticks; for doubting +the total depravity of the human heart; for laughing at +irresistible grace, predestination and particular redemption; for +denying that good bread could be made of the body of a dead man; +for pretending that the pope was not managing this world for God, +and in the place of God; for disputing the efficacy of a vicarious +atonement; for thinking the Virgin Mary was born like other people; +for thinking that a man's rib was hardly sufficient to make a +good-sized woman; for denying that God used his finger for a pen; +for asserting that prayers are not answered, that diseases are not +sent to punish unbelief; for denying the authority of the Bible; +for having a Bible in their possession; for attending mass, and for +refusing to attend; for wearing a surplice; for carrying a cross, +and for refusing; for being a Catholic, and for being a Protestant; +for being an Episcopalian, a Presbyterian, a Baptist, and for being +a Quaker. In short, every virtue has been a crime, and every crime +a virtue. The church has burned honesty and rewarded hypocrisy. And +all this, because it was commanded by a book—a book that men +had been taught implicitly to believe, long, before they knew one +word that was in it They had been taught that to doubt the truth of +this book—to examine it, even—was a crime of such +enormity that it could not be forgiven, either in this world or in +the next The Bible was the real persecutor. The Bible burned +heretics, built dungeons, founded the Inquisition, and trampled +upon all the liberties of men.</p> +<p>How long, O how long will mankind worship a book? How long will +they grovel in the dust before the ignorant legends of the barbaric +past? How long, O how long will they pursue phantoms in a darkness +deeper than death?</p> +<p>Unfortunately for the world, about the beginning of the +sixteenth century, a man by the name of Gerard Chauvin was married +to Jeanne Lefranc, and still more unfortunately for the world, the +fruit of this marriage was a son, called John Chauvin, who +afterwards became famous as John Calvin, the founder of the +Presbyterian Church.</p> +<p>This man forged five fetters for the brain. These fetters he +called points. That is to say, predestination, particular +redemption, total depravity, irresistible grace, and the +perseverance of the saints. About the neck of each follower he put +a collar bristling with these five iron points. The presence of all +these points on the collar is still the test of orthodoxy in the +church he founded. This man, when in the flush of youth, was +elected to the office of preacher in Geneva. He at once, in union +with Farel, drew up a condensed statement of the Presbyterian +doctrine, and all the citizens of Geneva, on pain of banishment, +were compelled to take an oath that they believed this statement. +Of this proceeding Calvin very innocently remarked that it produced +great satisfaction. A man named Caroli had the audacity to dispute +with Calvin. For this outrage he was banished.</p> +<p>To show you what great subjects occupied the attention of +Calvin, it is only necessary to state that he furiously discussed +the question as to whether the sacramental bread should be leavened +or unleavened. He drew up laws regulating the cut of the citizens' +clothes, and prescribing their diet, and all those whose garments +were not in the Calvin fashion were refused the sacrament. At last, +the people becoming tired of this petty theological tyranny, +banished Calvin. In a few years, however, he was recalled and +received with great enthusiasm. After this he was supreme, and the +will of Calvin became the law of Geneva.</p> +<p>Under his benign administration, James Gruet was beheaded +because he had written some profane verses. The slightest word +against Calvin or his absurd doctrines was punished as a crime.</p> +<p>In 1553 a man was tried at Vienne by the Catholic Church for +heresy. He was convicted and sentenced to death by burning. It was +apparently his good fortune to escape. Pursued by the sleuth hounds +of intolerance he fled to Geneva for protection. A dove flying from +hawks, sought safety in the nest of a vulture. This fugitive from +the cruelty of Rome asked shelter from John Calvin, who had written +a book in favor of religious toleration. Servetus had forgotten +that this book was written by Calvin when in the minority; that it +was written in weakness to be forgotten in power; that it was +produced by fear instead of principle. He did not know that Calvin +had caused his arrest at Vienne, in France, and had sent a copy of +his work, which was claimed to be blasphemous, to the archbishop. +He did not then know that the Protestant Calvin was acting as one +of the detectives of the Catholic Church, and had been instrumental +in procuring his conviction for heresy. Ignorant of all this +unspeakable infamy, he put himself in the power of this very +Calvin. The maker of the Presbyterian creed caused the fugitive +Serve-tus to be arrested for blasphemy. He was tried. Calvin was +his accuser. He was convicted and condemned to death by fire. On +the morning of the fatal day, Calvin saw him, and Servetus, the +victim, asked forgiveness of Calvin, the murderer. Servetus was +bound to the stake, and the fagots were lighted. The wind carried +the flames somewhat away from his body, so that he slowly roasted +for hours. Vainly he implored a speedy death. At last the flames +climbed round his form; through smoke and fire his murderers saw a +white heroic face. And there they watched until a man became a +charred and shriveled mass.</p> +<p>Liberty was banished from Geneva, and nothing but +Presbyterianism was left. Honor, justice, mercy, reason and charity +were all exiled, but the five points of predestination, particular +redemption, irresistible grace, total depravity, and the certain +perseverance of the saints remained instead.</p> +<p>Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old +Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government +that ever existed, except the one from which it was copied.</p> +<p>Against all this intolerance, one man, a minister, raised his +voice. The name of this man should never be forgotten. It was +Castalio. This brave man had the goodness and the courage to +declare the innocence of honest error. He was the first of the +so-called reformers to take this noble ground. I wish I had the +genius to pay a fitting tribute to his memory. Perhaps it would be +impossible to pay him a grander compliment than to say, Castalio +was in all things the opposite of Calvin. To plead for the right of +individual judgment was considered a crime, and Castalio was driven +from Geneva by John Calvin. By him he was denounced as a child of +the devil, as a dog of Satan, as a beast from hell, and as one who, +by this horrid blasphemy of the innocence of honest error, +crucified Christ afresh, and by him he was pursued until rescued by +the hand of death.</p> +<p>Upon the name of Castalio, Calvin heaped every epithet, until +his malice was nearly satisfied and his imagination entirely +exhausted. It is impossible to conceive how human nature can become +so frightfully perverted as to pursue a fellow-man with the +malignity of a fiend, simply because he is good, just, and +generous.</p> +<p>Calvin was of a pallid, bloodless complexion, thin, sickly, +irritable, gloomy, impatient, egotistic, tyrannical, heartless, and +infamous. He was a strange compound of revengeful morality, +malicious forgiveness, ferocious charity, egotistic humility, and a +kind of hellish justice. In other words, he was as near like the +God of the Old Testament as his health permitted.</p> +<p>The best thing, however, about the Presbyterians of Geneva was, +that they denied the power of the Pope, and the best thing about +the Pope was, that he was not a Presbyterian.</p> +<p>The doctrines of Calvin spread rapidly, and were eagerly +accepted by multitudes on the continent; but Scotland, in a few +years, became the real fortress of Presbyterianism. The Scotch +succeeded in establishing the same kind of theocracy that +flourished in Geneva. The clergy took possession and control of +everybody and everything. It is impossible to exaggerate the mental +degradation, the abject superstition of the people of Scotland +during the reign of Presbyterianism. Heretics were hunted and +devoured as though they had been wild beasts. The gloomy insanity +of Presbyterianism took possession of a great majority of the +people. They regarded their ministers as the Jews did Moses and +Aaron. They believed that they were the especial agents of God, and +that whatsoever they bound in Scotland would be bound in heaven. +There was not one particle of intellectual freedom. No man was +allowed to differ with the church, or to even contradict a priest. +Had Presbyterianism maintained its ascendency, Scotland would have +been peopled by savages to-day.</p> +<p>The revengeful spirit of Calvin took possession of the Puritans, +and caused them to redden the soil of the New World with the brave +blood of honest men. Clinging to the five points of Calvin, they +too established governments in accordance with the teachings of the +Old Testament. They too attached the penalty of death to the +expression of honest thought. They too believed their church +supreme, and exerted all their power to curse this continent with a +spiritual despotism as infamous as it was absurd. They believed +with Luther that universal toleration is universal error, and +universal error is universal hell. Toleration was denounced as a +crime.</p> +<p>Fortunately for us, civilization has had a softening effect even +upon the Presbyterian Church. To the ennobling influence of the +arts and sciences the savage spirit of Calvinism has, in some +slight degree, succumbed. True, the old creed remains substantially +as it was written, but by a kind of tacit understanding it has come +to be regarded as a relic of the past. The cry of "heresy" has been +growing fainter and fainter, and, as a consequence, the ministers +of that denomination have ventured, now and then, to express doubts +as to the damnation of infants, and the doctrine of total +depravity. The fact is, the old ideas became a little monotonous to +the people. The fall of man, the scheme of redemption and +irresistible grace, began to have a familiar sound. The preachers +told the old stories while the congregations slept Some of the +ministers became tired of these stories themselves. The five points +grew dull, and they felt that nothing short of irresistible grace +could bear this endless repetition. The outside world was full of +progress, and in every direction men advanced, while this church, +anchored to a creed, idly rotted at the shore. Other denominations, +imbued some little with the spirit of investigation, were springing +up on every side, while the old Presbyterian ark rested on the +Ararat of the past, filled with the theological monsters of another +age.</p> +<p>Lured by the splendors of the outer world, tempted by the +achievements of science, longing to feel the throb and beat of the +mighty march of the human race, a few of the ministers of this +conservative denomination were compelled, by irresistible sense, to +say a few words in harmony with the splendid ideas of to-day.</p> +<p>These utterances have upon several occasions so nearly wakened +some of the members that, rubbing their eyes, they have feebly +inquired whether these grand ideas were not somewhat heretical. +These ministers found that just in the proportion that their +orthodoxy decreased, their congregations increased. Those who dealt +in the pure unadulterated article found themselves demonstrating +the five points to a less number of hearers than they had points. +Stung to madness by this bitter truth, this galling contrast, this +harassing fact, the really orthodox have raised the cry of heresy, +and expect with this cry to seal the lips of honest men. One of the +Presbyterian ministers, and one who has been enjoying the luxury of +a little honest thought, and the real rapture of expressing it, has +already been indicted, and is about to be tried by the Presbytery +of Illinois. He is charged—</p> +<p><i>First</i>. With having neglected to preach that most +comforting and consoling truth, the eternal damnation of the +soul.</p> +<p>Surely, that man must be a monster who could wish to blot this +blessed doctrine out and rob earth's wretched children of this +blissful hope!</p> +<p>Who can estimate the misery that has been caused by this most +infamous doctrine of eternal punishment? Think of the lives it has +blighted—of the tears it has caused—of the agony it has +produced. Think of the millions who have been driven to insanity by +this most terrible of dogmas. This doctrine renders God the basest +and most cruel being in the universe. Compared with him, the most +frightful deities of the most barbarous and degraded tribes are +miracles of goodness and mercy. There is nothing more degrading +than to worship such a god. Lower than this the soul can never +sink. If the doctrine of eternal damnation is true, let me share +the fate of the unconverted; let me have my portion in hell, rather +than in heaven with a god infamous enough to inflict eternal misery +upon any of the sons of men.</p> +<p><i>Second</i>. With having spoken a few kind words of Robert +Collyer and John Stuart Mill.</p> +<p>I have the honor of a slight acquaintance with Robert Collyer. I +have read with pleasure some of his exquisite productions. He has a +brain full of the dawn, the head of a philosopher, the imagination +of a poet and the sincere heart of a child.</p> +<p>Is a minister to be silenced because he speaks fairly of a noble +and candid adversary? Is it a crime to compliment a lover of +justice, an advocate of liberty; one who devotes his life to the +elevation of man, the discovery of truth, and the promulgation of +what he believes to be right?</p> +<p>Can that tongue be palsied by a presbytery that praises a +self-denying and heroic life? Is it a sin to speak a charitable +word over the grave of John Stuart Mill? Is it heretical to pay a +just and graceful tribute to departed worth? Must the true +Presbyterian violate the sanctity of the tomb, dig open the grave +and ask his God to curse the silent dust? Is Presbyterianism so +narrow that it conceives of no excellence, of no purity of +intention, of no spiritual and moral grandeur outside of its +barbaric creed? Does it still retain within its stony heart all the +malice of its founder? Is it still warming its fleshless hands at +the flames that consumed Servetus? Does it still glory in the +damnation of infants, and does it still persist in emptying the +cradle in order that perdition may be filled? Is it still starving +the soul and famishing the heart? Is it still trembling and +shivering, crouching and crawling before its ignorant Confession of +Faith?</p> +<p>Had such men as Robert Collyer and John Stuart Mill been present +at the burning of Servetus, they would have extinguished the flames +with their tears. Had the presbytery of Chicago been there, they +would have quietly turned their backs, solemnly divided their coat +tails, and warmed themselves.</p> +<p><i>Third</i>. With having spoken disparagingly of the doctrine +of predestination.</p> +<p>If there is any dogma that ought to be protected by law, +predestination is that doctrine. Surely it is a cheerful, joyous +thing, to one who is laboring, struggling, and suffering in this +weary world, to think that before he existed; before the earth was; +before a star had glittered in the heavens; before a ray of light +had left the quiver of the sun, his destiny had been irrevocably +fixed, and that for an eternity before his birth he had been doomed +to bear eternal pain.</p> +<p><i>Fourth.</i> With failing to preach the efficacy of a +"vicarious sacrifice."</p> +<p>Suppose a man had been convicted of murder, and was about to be +hanged—the governor acting as the executioner; and suppose +that just as the doomed man was about to suffer death some one in +the crowd should step forward and say, "I am willing to die in the +place of that murderer. He has a family, and I have none." And +suppose further, that the governor should reply, "Come forward, +young man, your offer is accepted. A murder has been committed and +somebody must be hung, and your death will satisfy the law just as +well as the death of the murderer." What would you then think of +the doctrine of "vicarious sacrifice"?</p> +<p>This doctrine is the consummation of two +outrages—forgiving one crime and committing another.</p> +<p><i>Fifth</i>. With having inculcated a phase of the doctrine +commonly known as "evolution," or "development".</p> +<p>The church believes and teaches the exact opposite of this +doctrine. According to the philosophy of theology, man has +continued to degenerate for six thousand years. To teach that there +is that in nature which impels to higher forms and grander ends, is +heresy, of course. The Deity will damn Spencer and his "Evolution," +Darwin and his "Origin of Species," Bastian and his "Spontaneous +Generation," Huxley and his "Protoplasm," Tyndall and his "Prayer +Gauge," and will save those, and those only, who declare that the +universe has been cursed, from the smallest atom to the grandest +star; that everything tends to evil and to that only, and that the +only perfect thing in nature is the Presbyterian Confession of +Faith.</p> +<p><i>Sixth</i>. With having intimated that the reception of +Socrates and Penelope at heaven's gate was, to say the least, a +trifle more cordial than that of Catharine II.</p> +<p>Penelope, waiting patiently and trustfully for her lord's +return, delaying her suitors, while sadly weaving and unweaving the +shroud of Laertes, is the most perfect type of wife and woman +produced by the civilization of Greece.</p> +<p>Socrates, whose life was above reproach and whose death was +beyond all praise, stands to-day, in the estimation of every +thoughtful man, at least the peer of Christ.</p> +<p>Catharine II. assassinated her husband. Stepping upon his +corpse, she mounted the throne. She was the murderess of Prince +Iwan, grand nephew of Peter the Great, who was imprisoned for +eighteen years, and who during all that time saw the sky but once. +Taken all in all, Catharine was probably one of the most +intellectual beasts that ever wore a crown.</p> +<p>Catharine, however, was the head of the Greek Church, Socrates +was a heretic and Penelope lived and died without having once heard +of "particular redemption" or of "irresistible grace."</p> +<p><i>Seventh</i>. With repudiating the idea of a "call" to the +ministry, and pretending that men were "called" to preach as they +were to the other avocations of life.</p> +<p>If this doctrine is true, God, to say the least of it, is an +exceedingly poor judge of human nature. It is more than a century +since a man of true genius has been found in an orthodox pulpit. +Every minister is heretical just to the extent that intellect is +above the average. The Lord seems to be satisfied with mediocrity; +but the people are not.</p> +<p>An old deacon, wishing to get rid of an unpopular preacher, +advised him to give up the ministry and turn his attention to +something else. The preacher replied that he could not +conscientiously desert the pulpit, as he had had a "call" to the +ministry. To which the deacon replied, "That may be so, but it's +very unfortunate for you, that when God called you to preach, he +forgot to call anybody to hear you."</p> +<p>There is nothing more stupidly egotistic than the claim of the +clergy that they are, in some divine sense set apart to the service +of the Lord; that they have been chosen, and sanctified; that there +is an infinite difference between them and persons employed in +secular affairs. They teach us that all other professions must take +care of themselves; that God allows anybody to be a doctor, a +lawyer, statesman, soldier, or artist; that the Motts and +Coopers—the Mansfields and Marshalls—the Wilberforces +and Sumners—the Angelos and Raphaels, were never honored by a +"call." They chose their professions and won their laurels without +the assistance of the Lord. All these men were left free to follow +their own inclinations, while God was busily engaged selecting and +"calling" priests, rectors, elders, ministers and exhorters.</p> +<p><i>Eighth</i>. With having doubted that God was the author of +the 109th Psalm.</p> +<p>The portion of that psalm which carries with it the clearest and +most satisfactory evidences of inspiration, and which has afforded +almost unspeakable consolation to the Presbyterian Church, is as +follows:</p> +<p>Set thou a wicked man over him; and let Satan stand at his right +hand.</p> +<p>When he shall be judged, let him be condemned; and let his +prayer become sin.</p> +<p>Let his days be few; and let another take his office.</p> +<p>Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.</p> +<p>Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg; let them +seek their bread also out of their desolate places.</p> +<p>Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the stranger +spoil his labor.</p> +<p>Let there be none to extend mercy unto him; neither let there be +any to favor his fatherless children.</p> +<p>Let his posterity be cut off: and in the generation following +let their name be blotted out.</p> +<p>But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for Thy name's sake; because +Thy mercy is good, deliver Thou me.... I will greatly praise the +Lord with my <i>mouth</i>.</p> +<p>Think of a God wicked and malicious enough to inspire this +prayer. Think of one infamous enough to answer it.</p> +<p>Had this inspired psalm been found in some temple erected for +the worship of snakes, or in the possession of some cannibal king, +written with blood upon the dried skins of babes, there would have +been a perfect harmony between its surroundings and its +sentiments.</p> +<p>No wonder that the author of this inspired psalm coldly received +Socrates and Penelope, and reserved his sweetest smiles for +Catharine the Second.</p> +<p><i>Ninth.</i> With having said that the battles in which the +Israelites engaged, with the approval and command of Jehovah, +surpassed in cruelty those of Julius Cæsar.</p> +<p>Was it Julius Cæsar who said, "And the Lord our God +delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all +his people. And we took all his cities, and utterly destroyed the +men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left +none to remain"?</p> +<p>Did Julius Cæsar send the following report to the Roman +senate? "And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a +city which we took not from them, three-score cities, all the +region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these cities were +fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a +great many. And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon, +king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children of +every city."</p> +<p>Did Cæsar take the city of Jericho "and utterly destroy +all that was in the city, both men and women, young and old"? Did +he smite "all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of +the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings, and leave none +remaining that breathed, as the Lord God had commanded"?</p> +<p>Search the records of the whole world, find out the history of +every barbarous tribe, and you can find no crime that touched a +lower depth of infamy than those the Bible's God commanded and +approved. For such a God I have no words to express my loathing and +contempt, and all the words in all the languages of man would +scarcely be sufficient. Away with such a God! Give me Jupiter +rather, with Io and Europa, or even Siva with his skulls and +snakes.</p> +<p><i>Tenth</i>. With having repudiated the doctrine of "total +depravity."</p> +<p>What a precious doctrine is that of the total depravity of the +human heart! How sweet it is to believe that the lives of all the +good and great were continual sins and perpetual crimes; that the +love a mother bears her child is, in the sight of God, a sin; that +the gratitude of the natural heart is simple meanness; that the +tears of pity are impure; that for the unconverted to live and +labor for others is an offence to heaven; that the noblest +aspirations of the soul are low and groveling in the sight of God; +that man should fall upon his knees and ask forgiveness, simply for +loving his wife and child, and that even the act of asking +forgiveness is in fact a crime!</p> +<p>Surely it is a kind of bliss to feel that every woman and child +in the wide world, with the exception of those who believe the five +points, or some other equally cruel creed, and such children as +have been baptized, ought at this very moment to be dashed down to +the lowest glowing gulf of hell.</p> +<p>Take from the Christian the history of his own +church—leave that entirely out of the question—and he +has no argument left with which to substantiate the total depravity +of man.</p> +<p><i>Eleventh</i>. With having doubted the "perseverance of the +saints."</p> +<p>I suppose the real meaning of this doctrine is, that +Presbyterians are just as sure of going to heaven as all other +folks are of going to hell. The real idea being, that it all +depends upon the will of God, and not upon the character of the +person to be damned or saved; that God has the weakness to send +Presbyterians to Paradise, and the justice to doom the rest of +mankind to eternal fire.</p> +<p>It is admitted that no unconverted brain can see the least +particle of sense in this doctrine; that it is abhorrent to all who +have not been the recipients of a "new heart;" that only the +perfectly good can justify the perfectly infamous.</p> +<p>It is contended that the saints do not persevere of their own +free will—that they are entitled to no credit for +persevering; but that God forces them to persevere, while on the +other hand, every crime is committed in accordance with the secret +will of God, who does all things for his own glory.</p> +<p>Compared with this doctrine, there is no other idea, that has +ever been believed by man, that can properly be called absurd.</p> +<p><i>Twelfth</i>. With having spoken and written somewhat lightly +of the idea of converting the heathen with doctrinal sermons.</p> +<p>Of all the failures of which we have any history or knowledge, +the missionary effort is the most conspicuous. The whole question +has been decided here, in our own country, and conclusively +settled. We have nearly exterminated the Indians, but we have +converted none. From the days of John Eliot to the execution of the +last Modoc, not one Indian has been the subject of irresistible +grace or particular redemption. The few red men who roam the +western wilderness have no thought or care concerning the five +points of Calvin. They are utterly oblivious to the great and vital +truths contained in the Thirty-nine Articles, the Saybrook +platform, and the resolutions of the Evangelical Alliance. No +Indian has ever scalped another on account of his religious belief. +This of itself shows conclusively that the missionaries have had no +effect Why should we convert the heathen of China and kill our own? +Why should we send missionaries across the seas, and soldiers over +the plains? Why should we send Bibles to the east and muskets to +the west? If it is impossible to convert Indians who have no +religion of their own; no prejudice for or against the "eternal +procession of the Holy Ghost," how can we expect to convert a +heathen who has a religion; who has plenty of gods and Bibles and +prophets and Christs, and who has a religious literature far +grander than our own? Can we hope with the story of Daniel in the +lions' den to rival the stupendous miracles of India? Is there +anything in our Bible as lofty and loving as the prayer of the +Buddhist? Compare your "Confession of Faith" with the following: +"Never will I seek nor receive private individual +salvation—never enter into final peace alone; but forever and +everywhere will I live and strive for the universal redemption of +every creature throughout all worlds. Until all are delivered, +never will I leave the world of sin, sorrow, and struggle, but will +remain where I am."</p> +<p>Think of sending an average Presbyterian to convert a man who +daily offers this tender, this infinitely generous, this +incomparable prayer. Think of reading the 109th Psalm to a heathen +who has a Bible of his own in which is found this passage: "Blessed +is that man and beloved of all the gods, who is afraid of no man, +and of whom no man is afraid."</p> +<p>Why should you read even the New Testament to a Hindu, when his +own Chrishna has said, "If a man strike thee, and in striking drop +his staff, pick it up and hand it to him again"? Why send a +Presbyterian to a Sufi, who says, "Better one moment of silent +contemplation and inward love, than seventy thousand years of +outward worship"? "Whoso would carelessly tread one worm that +crawls on earth, that heartless one is darkly alienate from God; +but he that, living, embraceth all things in his love, to live with +him God bursts all bounds above, below." Why should we endeavor to +thrust our cruel and heartless theology upon one who prays this +prayer: "O God, show pity toward the wicked; for on the good thou +hast already bestowed thy mercy by having created them +virtuous"?</p> +<p>Compare this prayer with the curses and cruelties of the Old +Testament—with the infamies commanded and approved by the +being whom we are taught to worship as a God—and with the +following tender product of Presbyterianism: "It may seem absurd to +human wisdom that God should harden, blind, and deliver up some men +to a reprobate sense; that he should first deliver them over to +evil, and then condemn them for that evil; but the believing +spiritual man sees no absurdity in all this, knowing that God would +be never a whit less good even though he should destroy all +men."</p> +<p>Of all the religions that have been produced by the egotism, the +malice, the ignorance and ambition of man, Presbyterianism is the +most hideous.</p> +<p>But what shall I say more, for the time would fail me to tell of +Sabellianism, of a "Modal Trinity," and the "Eternal Procession of +the Holy Ghost"?</p> +<p>Upon these charges, a minister is to be tried, here in Chicago; +in this city of pluck and progress—this marvel of +energy—this miracle of nerve. The cry of "heresy," here, +sounds like a wail from the Dark Ages—a shriek from the +Inquisition, or a groan from the grave of Calvin.</p> +<p>Another effort is being made to enslave a man.</p> +<p>It is claimed that every member of the church has solemnly +agreed never to outgrow the creed; that he has pledged himself to +remain an intellectual dwarf. Upon this condition the church agrees +to save his soul, and he hands over his brains to bind the bargain. +Should a fact be found inconsistent with the creed, he binds +himself to deny the fact and curse the finder. With scraps of +dogmas and crumbs of doctrine, he agrees that his soul shall be +satisfied forever. What an intellectual feast the Confession of +Faith must be! It reminds one of the dinner described by Sydney +Smith, where everything was cold except the water, and everything +sour except the vinegar.</p> +<p>Every member of a church promises to remain orthodox, that is to +say—stationary. Growth is heresy. Orthodox ideas are the +feathers that have been moulted by the eagle of progress. They are +the dead leaves under the majestic palm, while heresy is the bud +and blossom at the top.</p> +<p>Imagine a vine that grows at one end and decays at the other. +The end that grows is heresy, the end that rots is orthodox The +dead are orthodox, and your cemetery is the most perfect type of a +well regulated church. No thought, no progress, no heresy there. +Slowly and silently, side by side, the satisfied members peacefully +decay. There is only this difference—the dead do not +persecute.</p> +<p>And what does a trial for heresy mean? It means that the church +says to a heretic, "Believe as I do, or I will withdraw my support. +I will not employ you. I will pursue you until your garments are +rags; until your children cry for bread; until your cheeks are +furrowed with tears. I will hunt you to the very portals of the +tomb, and then my God will do the rest I will not imprison you. I +will not burn you. The law prevents my doing that. I helped make +the law, not however to protect you, nor to deprive me of the right +to exterminate you but in order to keep other churches from +exterminating me." A trial for heresy means that the spirit of +persecution still lingers in the church; that it still denies the +right of private judgment; that it still thinks more of creed than +truth, and that it is still determined to prevent the intellectual +growth of man. It means that churches are shambles in which are +bought and sold the souls of men. It means that the church is still +guilty of the barbarity of opposing thought with force. It means +that if it had the power, the mental horizon would be bounded by a +creed; that it would bring again the whips and chains and dungeon +keys, the rack and fagot of the past.</p> +<p>But let me tell the church it lacks the power. There have been, +and still are, too many men who own themselves—too much +thought, too much knowledge for the church to grasp again the sword +of power. The church must abdicate. For the Eglon of superstition +Science has a message from Truth.</p> +<p>The heretics have not thought and suffered and died in vain. +Every heretic has been, and is, a ray of light. Not in vain did +Voltaire, that great man, point from the foot of the Alps the +finger of scorn at every hypocrite in Europe. Not in vain were the +splendid utterances of the infidels, while beyond all price are the +discoveries of science.</p> +<p>The church has impeded, but it has not and it cannot stop the +onward march of the human race. Heresy cannot be burned, nor +imprisoned, nor starved. It laughs at presbyteries and synods, at +ecumenical councils and the impotent thunders of Sinai. Heresy is +the eternal dawn, the morning star, the glittering herald of the +day. Heresy is the last and best thought. It is the perpetual New +World, the unknown sea, toward which the brave all sail. It is the +eternal horizon of progress.</p> +<p>Heresy extends the hospitalities of the brain to a new +thought.</p> +<p>Heresy is a cradle; orthodoxy, a coffin.</p> +<p>Why should man be afraid to think, and why should he fear to +express his thoughts?</p> +<p>Is it possible that an infinite Deity is unwilling that a man +should investigate the phenomena by which he is surrounded? Is it +possible that a god delights in threatening and terrifying men? +What glory, what honor and renown a god must win on such a field! +The ocean raving at a drop; a star envious of a candle; the sun +jealous of a fire-fly.</p> +<p>Go on, presbyteries and synods, go on! Thrust the heretics out +of the church—that is to say, throw away your +brains,—put out your eyes. The infidels will thank you. They +are willing to adopt your exiles. Every deserter from your camp is +a recruit for the army of progress. Cling to the ignorant dogmas of +the past; read the 109th Psalm; gloat over the slaughter of mothers +and babes; thank God for total depravity; shower your honors upon +hypocrites, and silence every minister who is touched with that +heresy called genius.</p> +<p>Be true to your history. Turn out the astronomers, the +geologists, the naturalists, the chemists, and all the honest +scientists. With a whip of scorpions, drive them all out. We want +them all. Keep the ignorant, the superstitious, the bigoted, and +the writers of charges and specifications.</p> +<p>Keep them, and keep them all. Repeat your pious platitudes in +the drowsy ears of the faithful, and read your Bible to heretics, +as kings read some forgotten riot-act to stop and stay the waves of +revolution. You are too weak to excite anger. We forgive your +efforts as the sun forgives a cloud—as the air forgives the +breath you waste.</p> +<p>How long, O how long, will man listen to the threats of God, and +shut his eyes to the splendid possibilities of Nature? How long, O +how long will man remain the cringing slave of a false and cruel +creed?</p> +<p>By this time the whole world should know that the real Bible has +not yet been written, but is being written, and that it will never +be finished until the race begins its downward march, or ceases to +exist.</p> +<p>The real Bible is not the work of inspired men, nor prophets, +nor apostles, nor evangelists, nor of Christs. Every man who finds +a fact, adds, as it were, a word to this great book. It is not +attested by prophecy, by miracles or signs. It makes no appeal to +faith, to ignorance, to credulity or fear. It has no punishment for +unbelief, and no reward for hypocrisy. It appeals to man in the +name of demonstration. It has nothing to conceal. It has no fear of +being read, of being contradicted, of being investigated and +understood. It does not pretend to be holy, or sacred; it simply +claims to be true. It challenges the scrutiny of all, and implores +every reader to verify every line for himself. It is incapable of +being blasphemed. This book appeals to all the surroundings of man. +Each thing that exists testifies of its perfection. The earth, with +its heart of fire and crowns of snow; with its forests and plains, +its rocks and seas; with its every wave and cloud; with its every +leaf and bud and flower, confirms its every word, and the solemn +stars, shining in the infinite abysses, are the eternal witnesses +of its truth.</p> +<a name="link0007"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>THE GHOSTS.</h2> +<pre> + TO + EBON C. INGERSOLL, + MY BROTHER, + FROM WHOSE LIPS I HEARD THE FIRST APPLAUSE, + AND WITH WHOSE NAME I WISH MY OWN + ASSOCIATED UNTIL BOTH ARE FORGOTTEN, + THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED. +</pre> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>PREFACE</h2> +<p>These lectures have been so maimed and mutilated by orthodox +malice; have been made to appear so halt, crutched and decrepit by +those who mistake the pleasures of calumny for the duties of +religion, that in simple justice to myself I concluded to publish +them.</p> +<p>Most of the clergy are, or seem to be, utterly incapable of +discussing anything in a fair and catholic spirit. They appeal, not +to reason, but to prejudice; not to facts, but to passages of +Scripture. They can conceive of no goodness, of no spiritual +exaltation beyond the horizon of their creed. Whoever differs with +them upon what they are pleased to call "fundamental truths," is, +in their opinion, a base and infamous man. To re-enact the +tragedies of the sixteenth century, they lack only the power. +Bigotry in all ages has been the same. Christianity simply +transferred the brutality of the Colosseum to the Inquisition. For +the murderous combat of the gladiators, the saints substituted the +<i>auto de fe</i>. What has been called religion is, after all, but +the organization of the wild beast in man. The perfumed blossom of +arrogance is heaven. Hell is the consummation of revenge.</p> +<p>The chief business of the clergy has always been to destroy the +joy of life, and multiply and magnify the terrors and tortures of +death and perdition. They have polluted the heart and paralyzed the +brain; and upon the ignorant altars of the Past and the Dead, they +have endeavored to sacrifice the Present and the Living.</p> +<p>Nothing can exceed the mendacity of the religious press. I have +had some little experience with political editors, and am forced to +say, that until I read the religious papers, I did not know what +malicious and slimy falsehoods could be constructed from ordinary +words. The ingenuity with which the real and apparent meaning can +be tortured out of language, is simply amazing. The average +religious editor is intolerant and insolent; he knows nothing of +affairs; he has the envy of failure, the malice of impotence, and +always accounts for the brave and generous actions of unbelievers, +by low, base and unworthy motives.</p> +<p>By this time, even the clergy should know that the intellect of +the nineteenth century needs no guardian. They should cease to +regard themselves as shepherds defending flocks of weak, silly and +fearful sheep from the claws and teeth of ravening wolves. By this +time they should know that the religion of the ignorant and brutal +Past no longer satisfies the heart and brain; that the miracles +have become contemptible; that the "evidences" have ceased to +convince; that the spirit of investigation cannot be stopped nor +stayed; that the church is losing her power; that the young are +holding in a kind of tender contempt the sacred follies of the old; +that the pulpit and pews no longer represent the culture and +morality of the world, and that the brand of intellectual +inferiority is upon the orthodox brain.</p> +<p>Men should be liberated from the aristocracy of the air. Every +chain of superstition should be broken. The rights of men and women +should be equal and sacred—marriage should be a perfect +partnership—children should be governed by +kindness,—every family should be a republic—every +fireside a democracy.</p> +<p>It seems almost impossible for religious people to really grasp +the idea of intellectual freedom. They seem to think that man is +responsible for his honest thoughts; that unbelief is a crime; that +investigation is sinful; that credulity is a virtue, and that +reason is a dangerous guide. They cannot divest themselves of the +idea that in the realm of thought there must be +government—authority and obedience—laws and +penalties—rewards and punishments, and that somewhere in the +universe there is a penitentiary for the soul.</p> +<p>In the republic of mind, <i>one</i> is a majority. There, all +are monarchs, and all are equals. The tyranny of a majority even is +unknown. Each one is crowned, sceptered and throned. Upon every +brow is the tiara, and around every form is the imperial purple. +Only those are good citizens who express their honest thoughts, and +those who persecute for opinion's sake, are the only traitors. +There, nothing is considered infamous except an appeal to brute +force, and nothing sacred but love, liberty, and joy. The church +contemplates this republic with a sneer. From the teeth of hatred +she draws back the lips of scorn. She is filled with the spite and +spleen born of intellectual weakness. Once she was egotistic; now +she is envious.</p> +<p>Once she wore upon her hollow breast false gems, supposing them +to be real. They have been shown to be false, but she wears them +still. She has the malice of the caught, the hatred of the +exposed.</p> +<p>We are told to investigate the Bible for ourselves, and at the +same time informed that if we come to the conclusion that it is not +the inspired word of God, we will most assuredly be damned. Under +such circumstances, if we believe this, investigation is +impossible. Whoever is held responsible for his conclusions cannot +weigh the evidence with impartial scales. Fear stands at the +balance, and gives to falsehood the weight of its trembling +hand.</p> +<p>I oppose the church because she is the enemy of liberty; because +her dogmas are infamous and cruel; because she humiliates and +degrades woman; because she teaches the doctrines of eternal +torment and the natural depravity of man; because she insists upon +the absurd, the impossible, and the senseless; because she resorts +to falsehood and slander; because she is arrogant and revengeful; +because she allows men to sin on a credit; because she discourages +self-reliance, and laughs at good works; because she believes in +vicarious virtue and vicarious vice—vicarious punishment and +vicarious reward; because she regards repentance of more importance +than restitution, and because she sacrifices the world we have to +one we know not of.</p> +<p>The free and generous, the tender and affectionate, will +understand me. Those who have escaped from the grated cells of a +creed will appreciate my motives. The sad and suffering wives, the +trembling and loving children will thank me: This is enough.</p> +<p>Robert G. Ingersoll.</p> +<p>Washington, D. C.,</p> +<p>April 13, 1878.</p> +<center>THE GHOSTS,</center> +<p>LET THEM COVER THEIR EYELESS SOCKETS WITH THEIR FLESHLESS HANDS +AND FADE FOREVER FROM THE IMAGINATION OF MEN.</p> +<p>HERE are three theories by which men account for all phenomena, +for everything that happens: First, the Supernatural; Second, the +Supernatural and Natural; Third, the Natural. Between these +theories there has been, from the dawn of civilization, a continual +conflict. In this great war, nearly all the soldiers have been in +the ranks of the supernatural. The believers in the supernatural +insist that matter is controlled and directed entirely by powers +from without; while naturalists maintain that Nature acts from +within; that Nature is not acted upon; that the universe is all +there is; that Nature with infinite arms embraces everything that +exists, and that all supposed powers beyond the limits of the +material are simply ghosts. You say, "Oh, this is materialism!" +What is matter? I take in my hand some earth:—in this dust +put seeds. Let the arrows of light from the quiver of the sun smite +upon it; let the rain fall upon it. The seeds will grow and a plant +will bud and blossom. Do you understand this? Can you explain it +better than you can the production of thought? Have you the +slightest conception of what it really is? And yet you speak of +matter as though acquainted with its origin, as though you had torn +from the clenched hands of the rocks the secrets of material +existence. Do you know what force is? Can you account for molecular +action? Are you really familiar with chemistry, and can you account +for the loves and hatreds of the atoms? Is there not something in +matter that forever eludes? After all, can you get beyond, above or +below appearances? Before you cry "materialism!" had you not better +ascertain what matter really is? Can you think even of anything +without a material basis? Is it possible to imagine the +annihilation of a single atom? Is it possible for you to conceive +of the creation of an atom? Can you have a thought that was not +suggested to you by what you call matter?</p> +<p>Our fathers denounced materialism, and accounted for all +phenomena by the caprice of gods and devils.</p> +<p>For thousands of years it was believed that ghosts, good and +bad, benevolent and malignant, weak and powerful, in some +mysterious way, produced all phenomena; that disease and health, +happiness and misery, fortune and misfortune, peace and war, life +and death, success and failure, were but arrows from the quivers of +these ghosts; that shadowy phantoms rewarded and punished mankind; +that they were pleased and displeased by the actions of men; that +they sent and withheld the snow, the light, and the rain; that they +blessed the earth with harvests or cursed it with famine; that they +fed or starved the children of men; that they crowned and uncrowned +kings; that they took sides in war; that they controlled the winds; +that they gave prosperous voyages, allowing the brave mariner to +meet his wife and child inside the harbor bar, or sent the storms, +strewing the sad shores with wrecks of ships and the bodies of +men.</p> +<p>Formerly, these ghosts were believed to be almost innumerable. +Earth, air, and water were filled with these phantom hosts. In +modern times they have greatly decreased in number, because the +second theory,—a mingling of the supernatural and +natural,—has generally been adopted. The remaining ghosts, +however, are supposed to perform the same offices as the hosts of +yore.</p> +<p>It has always been believed that these ghosts could in some way +be appeased; that they could be flattered by sacrifices, by prayer, +by fasting, by the building of temples and cathedrals, by the blood +of men and beasts, by forms and ceremonies, by chants, by kneelings +and prostrations, by flagellations and maimings, by renouncing the +joys of home, by living alone in the wide desert, by the practice +of celibacy, by inventing instruments of torture, by destroying +men, women and children, by covering the earth with dungeons, by +burning unbelievers, by putting chains upon the thoughts and +manacles upon the limbs of men, by believing things without +evidence and against evidence, by disbelieving and denying +demonstration, by despising facts, by hating reason, by denouncing +liberty, by maligning heretics, by slandering the dead, by +subscribing to senseless and cruel creeds, by discouraging +investigation, by worshiping a book, by the cultivation of +credulity, by observing certain times and days, by counting beads, +by gazing at crosses, by hiring others to repeat verses and +prayers, by burning candles and ringing bells, by enslaving each +other and putting out the eyes of the soul. All this has been done +to appease and flatter these monsters of the air.</p> +<p>In the history of our poor world, no horror has been omitted, no +infamy has been left undone by the believers in ghosts,—by +the worshipers of these fleshless phantoms. And yet these shadows +were born of cowardice and malignity. They were painted by the +pencil of fear upon the canvas of ignorance by that artist called +superstition.</p> +<p>From these ghosts, our fathers received information. They were +the schoolmasters of our ancestors. They were the scientists and +philosophers, the geologists, legislators, astronomers, physicians, +metaphysicians and historians of the past. For ages these ghosts +were supposed to be the only source of real knowledge. They +inspired men to write books, and the books were considered sacred. +If facts were found to be inconsistent with these books, so much +the worse for the facts, and especially for their discoverers. It +was then, and still is, believed that these books are the basis of +the idea of immortality; that to give up these volumes, or rather +the idea that they are inspired, is to renounce the idea of +immortality. This I deny.</p> +<p>The idea of immortality, that like a sea has ebbed and flowed in +the human heart, with its countless waves of hope and fear, beating +against the shores and rocks of time and fate, was not born of any +book, nor of any creed, nor of any religion. It was born of human +affection, and it will continue to ebb and flow beneath the mists +and clouds of doubt and darkness as long as love kisses the lips of +death. It is the rainbow—Hope shining upon the tears of +grief.</p> +<p>From the books written by the ghosts we have at last ascertained +that they knew nothing about the world in which we live. Did they +know anything about the next? Upon every point where contradiction +is possible, they have been contradicted.</p> +<p>By these ghosts, by these citizens of the air, the affairs of +government were administered; all authority to govern came from +them. The emperors, kings and potentates all had commissions from +these phantoms. Man was not considered as the source of any power +whatever. To rebel against the king was to rebel against the +ghosts, and nothing less than the blood of the offender could +appease the invisible phantom or the visible tyrant. Kneeling was +the proper position to be assumed by the multitude. The prostrate +were the good. Those who stood erect were infidels and traitors. In +the name and by the authority of the ghosts, man was enslaved, +crushed, and plundered. The many toiled wearily in the storm and +sun that the few favorites of the ghosts might live in idleness. +The many lived in huts, and caves, and dens, that the few might +dwell in palaces. The many covered themselves with rags, that the +few might robe themselves in purple and in gold. The many crept, +and cringed, and crawled, that the few might tread upon their flesh +with iron feet.</p> +<p>From the ghosts men received, not only authority, but +information of every kind. They told us the form of this earth. +They informed us that eclipses were caused by the sins of man; that +the universe was made in six days; that astronomy, and geology were +devices of wicked men, instigated by wicked ghosts; that gazing at +the sky with a telescope was a dangerous thing; that digging into +the earth was sinful curiosity; that trying to be wise above what +they had written was born of a rebellious and irreverent +spirit.</p> +<p>They told us there was no virtue like belief, and no crime like +doubt; that investigation was pure impudence, and the punishment +therefor, eternal torment. They not only told us all about this +world, but about two others; and if their statements about the +other worlds are as true as about this, no one can estimate the +value of their information.</p> +<p>For countless ages the world was governed by ghosts, and they +spared no pains to change the eagle of the human intellect into a +bat of darkness. To accomplish this infamous purpose; to drive the +love of truth from the human heart; to prevent the advancement of +mankind; to shut out from the world every ray of intellectual +light; to pollute every mind with superstition, the power of kings, +the cunning and cruelty of priests, and the wealth of nations were +exhausted.</p> +<p>During these years of persecution, ignorance, superstition and +slavery, nearly all the people, the kings, lawyers, doctors, the +learned and the unlearned, believed in that frightful production of +ignorance, fear, and faith, called witchcraft. They believed that +man was the sport and prey of devils. They really thought that the +very air was thick with these enemies of man. With few exceptions, +this hideous and infamous belief was universal. Under these +conditions, progress was almost impossible.</p> +<p>Fear paralyzes the brain. Progress is born of courage. Fear +believes—courage doubts. Fear falls upon the earth and +prays—courage stands erect and thinks. Fear +retreats—courage advances. Fear is barbarism—courage is +civilization. Fear believes in witchcraft, in devils and in ghosts. +Fear is religion—courage is science.</p> +<p>The facts, upon which this terrible belief rested, were proved +over and over again in every court of Europe. Thousands confessed +themselves guilty—admitted that they had sold themselves to +the devil. They gave the particulars of the sale; told what they +said and what the devil replied. They confessed this, when they +knew that confession was death; knew that their property would be +confiscated, and their children left to beg their bread. This is +one of the miracles of history—one of the strangest +contradictions of the human mind. Without doubt, they really +believed themselves guilty. In the first place, they believed in +witchcraft as a fact, and when charged with it, they probably +became insane. In their insanity they confessed their guilt. They +found themselves abhorred and deserted—charged with a crime +that they could not disprove. Like a man in quicksand, every effort +only sunk them deeper. Caught in this frightful web, at the mercy +of the spiders of superstition, hope fled, and nothing remained but +the insanity of confession. The whole world appeared to be +insane.</p> +<p>In the time of James the First, a man was executed for causing a +storm at sea with the intention of drowning one of the royal +family. How could he disprove it? How could he show that he did not +cause the storm? All storms were at that time generally supposed to +be caused by the devil—the prince of the power of the +air—and by those whom he assisted.</p> +<p>I implore you to remember that the believers in such impossible +things were the authors of our creeds and confessions of faith.</p> +<p>A woman was tried and convicted before Sir Matthew Hale, one of +the great judges and lawyers of England, for having caused children +to vomit crooked pins. She was also charged with having nursed +devils. The learned judge charged the intelligent jury that there +was no doubt as to the existence of witches; that it was +established by all history, and expressly taught by the Bible.</p> +<p>The woman was hanged and her body burned.</p> +<p>Sir Thomas More declared that to give up witchcraft was to throw +away the sacred Scriptures. In my judgment, he was right.</p> +<p>John Wesley was a firm believer in ghosts and witches, and +insisted upon it, years after all laws upon the subject had been +repealed in England. I beg of you to remember that John Wesley was +the founder of the Methodist Church.</p> +<p>In New England, a woman was charged with being a witch, and with +having changed herself into a fox. While in that condition she was +attacked and bitten by some dogs. A committee of three men, by +order of the court, examined this woman. They removed her clothing +and searched for "witch spots." That is to say, spots into which +needles could be thrust without giving her pain. They reported to +the court that such spots were found. She denied, however, that she +ever had changed herself into a fox. Upon the report of the +committee she was found guilty and actually executed. This was done +by our Puritan fathers, by the gentlemen who braved the dangers of +the deep for the sake of worshiping God and persecuting their +fellow-men.</p> +<p>In those days people believed in what was known as +lycanthropy—that is, that persons, with the assistance of the +devil, could assume the form of wolves. An instance is given where +a man was attacked by a wolf. He defended himself, and succeeded in +cutting off one of the animal's paws. The wolf ran away. The man +picked up the paw, put it in his pocket and carried it home. There +he found his wife with one of her hands gone. He took the paw from +his pocket. It had changed to a human hand. He charged his wife +with being a witch. She was tried. She confessed her guilt, and was +burned.</p> +<p>People were burned for causing frosts in summer—for +destroying crops with hail—for causing storms—for +making cows go dry, and even for souring beer. There was no +impossibility for which some one was not tried and convicted. The +life of no one was secure. To be charged, was to be convicted. +Every man was at the mercy of every other. This infamous belief was +so firmly seated in the minds of the people, that to express a +doubt as to its truth was to be suspected. Whoever denied the +existence of witches and devils was denounced as an infidel.</p> +<p>They believed that animals were often taken possession of by +devils, and that the killing of the animal would destroy the devil. +They absolutely tried, convicted, and executed dumb beasts.</p> +<p>At Basle, in 1470, a rooster was tried upon the charge of having +laid an egg. Rooster eggs were used only in making witch +ointment,—this everybody knew. The rooster was convicted and +with all due solemnity was burned in the public square. So a hog +and six pigs were tried for having killed and partially eaten a +child. The hog was convicted,—but the pigs, on account +probably of their extreme youth, were acquitted. As late as 1740, a +cow was tried and convicted of being possessed by a devil.</p> +<p>They used to exorcise rats, locusts, snakes and vermin. They +used to go through the alleys, streets, and fields, and warn them +to leave within a certain number of days. In case they disobeyed, +they were threatened with pains and penalties.</p> +<p>But let us be careful how we laugh at these things. Let us not +pride ourselves too much on the progress of our age. We must not +forget that some of our people are yet in the same intelligent +business. Only a little while ago, the governor of Minnesota +appointed a day of fasting and prayer, to see if some power could +not be induced to kill the grasshoppers, or send them into some +other state.</p> +<p>About the close of the fifteenth century, so great was the +excitement with regard to the existence of witchcraft that Pope +Innocent VIII. issued a bull directing the inquisitors to be +vigilant in searching out and punishing all guilty of this crime. +Forms for the trial were regularly laid down in a book or a +pamphlet called the "Malleus Maleficorum" (Hammer of Witches), +which was issued by the Roman See. Popes Alexander, Leo, and +Adrian, issued like bulls. For two hundred and fifty years the +church was busy in punishing the impossible crime of witchcraft; in +burning, hanging and torturing men, women, and children. +Protestants were as active as Catholics, and in Geneva five hundred +witches were burned at the stake in a period of three months. About +one thousand were executed in one year in the diocese of Como. At +least one hundred thousand victims suffered in Germany alone: the +last execution (in Wurtzburg) taking place as late as 1749. Witches +were burned in Switzerland as late as 1780.</p> +<p>In England the same frightful scenes were enacted. Statutes were +passed from Henry VI. to James I., defining the crime and its +punishment. The last act passed by the British parliament was when +Lord Bacon was a member of the House of Commons; and this act was +not repealed until 1736.</p> +<p>Sir William Blackstone, in his Commentaries on the Laws of +England, says: "To deny the possibility, nay, actual existence of +witchcraft and sorcery, is at once flatly to contradict the word of +God in various passages both of the Old and New Testament; and the +thing itself is a truth to which every nation in the world hath in +its turn borne testimony, either by examples seemingly well +attested, or by prohibitory laws, which at least suppose the +possibility of a commerce with evil spirits."</p> +<p>In Brown's Dictionary of the Bible, published at Edinburg, +Scotland, in 1807, it is said that: "A witch is a woman that has +dealings with Satan. That such persons are among men is abundantly +plain from Scripture, and that they ought to be put to death."</p> +<p>This work was re-published in Albany, New York, in 1816. No +wonder the clergy of that city are ignorant and bigoted even unto +this day.</p> +<p>In 1716, Mrs. Hicks and her daughter, nine years of age, were +hanged for selling their souls to the devil, and raising a storm by +pulling off their stockings and making a lather of soap.</p> +<p>In England it has been estimated that at least thirty thousand +were hanged and burned. The last victim executed in Scotland, +perished in 1722. "She was an innocent old woman, who had so little +idea of her situation as to rejoice at the sight of the fire which +was destined to consume her. She had a daughter, lame both of hands +and of feet—a circumstance attributed to the witch having +been used to transform her daughter into a pony and getting her +shod by the devil."</p> +<p>In 1692, nineteen persons were executed and one pressed to death +in Salem, Massachusetts, for the crime of witchcraft.</p> +<p>It was thought in those days that men and women made compacts +with the devil, orally and in writing. That they abjured God and +Jesus Christ, and dedicated themselves wholly to the devil. The +contracts were confirmed at a general meeting of witches and +ghosts, over which the devil himself presided; and the persons +generally signed the articles of agreement with their own blood. +These contracts were, in some instances, for a few years; in +others, for life. General assemblies of the witches were held at +least once a year, at which they appeared entirely naked, besmeared +with an ointment made from the bodies of unbaptized infants. "To +these meetings they rode from great distances on broomsticks, +pokers, goats, hogs, and dogs. Here they did homage to the prince +of hell, and offered him sacrifices of young children, and +practiced all sorts of license until the break of day."</p> +<p>"As late as 1815, Belgium was disgraced by a witch trial; and +guilt was established by the water ordeal." "In 1836, the populace +of Hela, near Dantzic, twice plunged into the sea a woman reputed +to be a sorceress; and as the miserable creature persisted in +rising to the surface, she was pronounced guilty, and beaten to +death."</p> +<p>"It was believed that the bodies of devils are not like those of +men and animals, cast in an unchangeable mould. It was thought they +were like clouds, refined and subtle matter, capable of assuming +any form and penetrating into any orifice. The horrible tortures +they endured in their place of punishment rendered them extremely +sensitive to suffering, and they continually sought a temperate and +somewhat moist warmth in order to allay their pangs. It was for +this reason they so frequently entered into men and women."</p> +<p>The devil could transport men, at his will, through the air. He +could beget children; and Martin Luther himself had come in contact +with one of these children. He recommended the mother to throw the +child into the river, in order to free their house from the +presence of a devil.</p> +<p>It was believed that the devil could transform people into any +shape he pleased.</p> +<p>Whoever denied these things was denounced as an infidel. All the +believers in witchcraft confidently appealed to the Bible. Their +mouths were filled with passages demonstrating the existence of +witches and their power Over human beings. By the Bible they proved +that innumerable evil spirits were ranging over the world +endeavoring to ruin mankind; that these spirits possessed a power +and wisdom far transcending the limits of human faculties; that +they delighted in every misfortune that could befall the world; +that their malice was superhuman. That they caused tempests was +proved by the action of the devil toward Job; by the passage in the +book of Revelation describing the four angels who held the four +winds, and to whom it was given to afflict the earth. They believed +the devil could carry persons hundreds of miles, in a few seconds, +through the air. They believed this, because they knew that Christ +had been carried by the devil in the same manner and placed on a +pinnacle of the temple. "The prophet Habakkuk had been transported +by a spirit from Judea to Babylon; and Philip, the evangelist, had +been the object of a similar miracle; and in the same way Saint +Paul had been carried in the body into the third heaven."</p> +<p>"In those pious days, they believed that <i>Incubi</i> and +<i>Succubi</i> were forever wandering among mankind, alluring, by +more than human charms, the unwary to their destruction, and laying +plots, which were too often successful, against the virtue of the +saints. Sometimes the witches kindled in the monastic priest a more +terrestrial fire. People told, with bated breath, how, under the +spell of a vindictive woman, four successive abbots in a German +monastery had been wasted away by an unholy flame."</p> +<p>An instance is given in which the devil not only assumed the +appearance of a holy man, in order to pay his addresses to a lady, +but when discovered, crept under the bed, suffered himself to be +dragged out, and was impudent enough to declare that he was the +veritable bishop. So perfectly had he assumed the form and features +of the prelate that those who knew the bishop best were +deceived.</p> +<p>One can hardly imagine the frightful state of the human mind +during these long centuries of darkness and superstition. To them, +these things were awful and frightful realities. Hovering above +them in the air, in their houses, in the bosoms of friends, in +their very bodies, in all the darkness of night, everywhere, +around, above and below, were innumerable hosts of unclean and +malignant devils.</p> +<p>From the malice of those leering and vindictive vampires of the +air, the church pretended to defend mankind. Pursued by these +phantoms, the frightened multitudes fell upon their faces and +implored the aid of robed hypocrisy and sceptered theft.</p> +<p>Take from the orthodox church of to-day the threat and fear of +hell, and it becomes an extinct volcano.</p> +<p>Take from the church the miraculous, the supernatural, the +incomprehensible, the unreasonable, the impossible, the unknowable, +and the absurd, and nothing but a vacuum remains.</p> +<p>Notwithstanding all the infamous things justly laid to the +charge of the church, we are told that the civilization of to-day +is the child of what we are pleased to call the superstition of the +past.</p> +<p>Religion has not civilized man—man has civilized religion. +God improves as man advances.</p> +<p>Let me call your attention to what we have received from the +followers of the ghosts. Let me give you an outline of the sciences +as taught by these philosophers of the clouds.</p> +<p>All diseases were produced, either as a punishment by the good +ghosts, or out of pure malignity by the bad ones. There were, +properly speaking, no diseases. The sick were possessed by ghosts. +The science of medicine consisted in knowing how to persuade these +ghosts to vacate the premises. For thousands of years the diseased +were treated with incantations, with hideous noises, with drums and +gongs. Everything was done to make the visit of the ghost as +unpleasant as possible, and they generally succeeded in making +things so disagreeable that if the ghost did not leave, the patient +did. These ghosts were supposed to be of different rank, power and +dignity. Now and then a man pretended to have won the favor of some +powerful ghost, and that gave him power over the little ones. Such +a man became an eminent physician.</p> +<p>It was found that certain kinds of smoke, such as that produced +by burning the liver of a fish, the dried skin of a serpent, the +eyes of a toad, or the tongue of an adder, were exceedingly +offensive to the nostrils of an ordinary ghost. With this smoke, +the sick room would be filled until the ghost vanished or the +patient died.</p> +<p>It was also believed that certain words,—the names of the +most powerful ghosts,—when properly pronounced, were very +effective weapons. It was for a long time thought that Latin words +were the best,—Latin being a dead language, and known by the +clergy. Others thought that two sticks laid across each other and +held before the wicked ghost would cause it instantly to flee in +dread away.</p> +<p>For thousands of years, the practice of medicine consisted in +driving these evil spirits out of the bodies of men.</p> +<p>In some instances, bargains and compromises were made with the +ghosts. One case is given where a multitude of devils traded a man +for a herd of swine. In this transaction the devils were the +losers, as the swine immediately drowned themselves in the sea. +This idea of disease appears to have been almost universal, and is +by no means yet extinct.</p> +<p>The contortions of the epileptic, the strange twitchings of +those afflicted with chorea, the shakings of palsy, dreams, +trances, and the numberless frightful phenomena produced by +diseases of the nerves, were all seized upon as so many proofs that +the bodies of men were filled with unclean and malignant +ghosts.</p> +<p>Whoever endeavored to account for these things by natural +causes, whoever attempted to cure diseases by natural means, was +denounced by the church as an infidel. To explain anything was a +crime. It was to the interest of the priest that all phenomena +should be accounted for by the will and power of gods and devils. +The moment it is admitted that all phenomena are within the domain +of the natural, the necessity for a priest has disappeared. +Religion breathes the air of the supernatural. Take from the mind +of man the idea of the supernatural, and religion ceases to exist. +For this, reason, the church has always despised the man who +explained the wonderful. Upon this principle, nothing was left +undone to stay the science of medicine. As long as plagues and +pestilences could be stopped by prayer, the priest was useful. The +moment the physician found a cure, the priest became an +extravagance. The moment it began to be apparent that prayer could +do nothing for the body, the priest shifted his ground and began +praying for the soul.</p> +<p>Long after the devil idea was substantially abandoned in the +practice of medicine, and when it was admitted that God had nothing +to do with ordinary coughs and colds, it was still believed that +all the frightful diseases were sent by him as punishments for the +wickedness of the people. It was thought to be a kind of blasphemy +to even try, by any natural means, to stay the ravages of +pestilence. Formerly, during the prevalence of plague and +epidemics, the arrogance of the priest was boundless. He told the +people that they had slighted the clergy, that they had refused to +pay tithes, that they had doubted some of the doctrines of the +church, and that God was now taking his revenge. The people for the +most part, believed this infamous tissue of priestcraft. They +hastened to fall upon their knees; they poured out their wealth +upon the altars of hypocrisy; they abased and debased themselves; +from their minds they banished all doubts, and made haste to crawl +in the very dust of humility.</p> +<p>The church never wanted disease to be under the control of man. +Timothy Dwight, president of Yale College, preached a sermon +against vaccination. His idea was, that if God had decreed from all +eternity that a certain man should die with the small-pox, it was a +frightful sin to avoid and annul that decree by the trick of +vaccination. Small-pox being regarded as one of the heaviest guns +in the arsenal of heaven, to spike it was the height of +presumption. Plagues and pestilences were instrumentalities in the +hands of God with which to gain the love and worship of mankind. To +find a cure for disease was to take a weapon from the church. No +one tries to cure the ague with prayer. Quinine has been found +altogether more reliable. Just as soon as a specific is found for a +disease, that disease will be left out of the list of prayer. The +number of diseases with which God from time to time afflicts +mankind, is continually decreasing. In a few years all of them will +be under the control of man, the gods will be left unarmed, and the +threats of their priests will excite only a smile.</p> +<p>The science of medicine has had but one enemy—religion. +Man was afraid to save his body for fear he might lose his +soul.</p> +<p>Is it any wonder that the people in those days believed in and +taught the infamous doctrine of eternal punishment—a doctrine +that makes God a heartless monster and man a slimy hypocrite and +slave?</p> +<p>The ghosts were historians, and their histories were the +grossest absurdities. "Tales told by idiots, full of sound and +fury, signifying nothing." In those days the histories were written +by the monks, who, as a rule, were almost as superstitious as they +were dishonest. They wrote as though they had been witnesses of +every occurrence they related. They wrote the history of every +country of importance. They told all the past and predicted all the +future with an impudence that amounted to sublimity. "They traced +the order of St. Michael, in France, to the archangel himself, and +alleged that he was the founder of a chivalric order in heaven +itself. They said that Tartars originally came from hell, and that +they were called Tartars because Tartarus was one of the names of +perdition. They declared that Scotland was so named after Scota, a +daughter of Pharaoh, who landed in Ireland, invaded Scotland, and +took it by force of arms. This statement was made in a letter +addressed to the Pope in the fourteenth century, and was alluded to +as a well-known fact. The letter was written by some of the highest +dignitaries, and by the direction of the King himself."</p> +<p>These gentlemen accounted for the red on the breasts of robins, +from the fact that these birds carried water to unbaptized infants +in hell.</p> +<p>Matthew, of Paris, an eminent historian of the fourteenth +century, gave the world the following piece of information: "It is +well known that Mohammed was once a cardinal, and became a heretic +because he failed in his effort to be elected pope;" and that +having drank to excess, he fell by the roadside, and in this +condition was killed by swine. "And for that reason, his followers +abhor pork even unto this day."</p> +<p>Another eminent historian informs us that Nero was in the habit +of vomiting frogs. When I read this, I said to myself: Some of the +croakers of the present day against Progress would be the better +for such a vomit.</p> +<p>The history of Charlemagne was written by Turpin, of Rheims. He +was a bishop. He assures us that the walls of a city fell down in +answer to prayer. That there were giants in those days who could +take fifty ordinary men under their arms and walk away with them. +"With the greatest of these, a direct descendant of Goliath, one +Orlando had a theological discussion, and that in the heat of the +debate, when the giant was overwhelmed with the argument, Orlando +rushed forward and inflicted a fatal stab."</p> +<p>The history of Britain, written by the archdeacons of Monmouth +and Oxford, was wonderfully popular. According to them, Brutus +conquered England and built the city of London. During his time, it +rained pure blood for three days. At another time, a monster came +from the sea, and, after having devoured great multitudes of +people, swallowed the king and disappeared. They tell us that King +Arthur was not born like other mortals, but was the result of a +magical contrivance; that he had great luck in killing giants; that +he killed one in France that had the cheerful habit of eating some +thirty men a day. That this giant had clothes woven of the beards +of the kings he had devoured. To cap the climax, one of the authors +of this book was promoted for having written the only reliable +history of his country.</p> +<p>In all the histories of those days there is hardly a single +truth. Facts were considered unworthy of preservation. Anything +that really happened was not of sufficient interest or importance +to be recorded. The great religious historian, Eusebius, +ingenuously remarks that in his history he carefully omitted +whatever tended to discredit the church, and that he piously +magnified all that conduced to her glory.</p> +<p>The same glorious principle was scrupulously adhered to by all +the historians of that time.</p> +<p>They wrote, and the people believed, that the tracks of +Pharoah's chariots were still visible on the sands of the Red Sea, +and that they had been miraculously preserved from the winds and +waves as perpetual witnesses of the great miracle there +performed.</p> +<p>It is safe to say that every truth in the histories of those +times is the result of accident or mistake.</p> +<p>They accounted for everything as the work of good and evil +spirits. With cause and effect they had nothing to do. Facts were +in no way related to each other. God, governed by infinite caprice, +filled the world with miracles and disconnected events. From the +quiver of his hatred came the arrows of famine, pestilence, and +death.</p> +<p>The moment that the idea is abandoned that all is natural; that +all phenomena are the necessary links in the endless chain of +being, the conception of history becomes impossible. With the +ghosts, the present is not the child of the past, nor the mother of +the future. In the domain of religion all is chance, accident, and +caprice.</p> +<p>Do not forget, I pray you, that our creeds were written by the +cotemporaries of these historians.</p> +<p>The same idea was applied to law. It was believed by our +intelligent ancestors that all law derived its sacredness and its +binding force from the fact that it had been communicated to man by +the ghosts. Of course it was not pretended that the ghosts told +everybody the law; but they told it to a few, and the few told it +to the people, and the people, as a rule, paid them exceedingly +well for their trouble. It was thousands of ages before the people +commenced making laws for themselves, and strange as it may appear, +most of these laws were vastly superior to the ghost article. +Through the web and woof of human legislation began to run and +shine and glitter the golden thread of justice.</p> +<p>During these years of darkness it was believed that rather than +see an act of injustice done; rather than see the innocent suffer; +rather than see the guilty triumph, some ghost would interfere. +This belief, as a rule, gave great satisfaction to the victorious +party, and as the other man was dead, no complaint was heard from +him.</p> +<p>This doctrine was the sanctification of brute force and chance. +They had trials by battle, by fire, by water, and by lot. Persons +were made to grasp hot iron, and if it burned them their guilt was +established. Others, with tied hands and feet, were cast into the +sea, and if they sank, the verdict of guilty was +unanimous,—if they did not sink, they were in league with +devils.</p> +<p>So in England, persons charged with crime could appeal to the +corsned. The corsned was a piece of the sacramental bread. If the +defendant could swallow this piece he went acquit. Godwin, Earl of +Kent, in the time of Edward the Confessor, appealed to the corsned. +He failed to swallow it and was choked to death.</p> +<p>The ghosts and their followers always took delight in torture, +in cruel and unusual punishments. For the infraction of most of +their laws, death was the penalty—death produced by stoning +and by fire. Sometimes, when man committed only murder, he was +allowed to flee to some city of refuge. Murder was a crime against +man. But for saying certain words, or denying certain doctrines, or +for picking up sticks on certain days, or for worshiping the wrong +ghost, or for failing to pray to the right one, or for laughing at +a priest, or for saying that wine was not blood, or that bread was +not flesh, or for failing to regard ram's horns as artillery, or +for insisting that a dry bone was scarcely sufficient to take the +place of water works, or that a raven, as a rule, made a poor +landlord:—death, produced by all the ways that the ingenuity +of hatred could devise, was the penalty.</p> +<p>Law is a growth—it is a science. Right and wrong exist in +the nature of things. Things are not right because they are +commanded, nor wrong because they are prohibited. There are real +crimes enough without creating artificial ones. All progress in +legislation has for centuries consisted in repealing the laws of +the ghosts.</p> +<p>The idea of right and wrong is born of man's capacity to enjoy +and suffer. If man could not suffer, if he could not inflict injury +upon his fellow, if he could neither feel nor inflict pain, the +idea of right and wrong never would have entered his brain. But for +this, the word conscience never would have passed the lips of +man.</p> +<p>There is one good—happiness. There is but one +sin—selfishness. All law should be for the preservation of +the one and the destruction of the other.</p> +<p>Under the regime of the ghosts, laws were not supposed to exist +in the nature of things. They were supposed to be simply the +irresponsible command of a ghost. These commands were not supposed +to rest upon reason, they were the product of arbitrary will.</p> +<p>The penalties for the violation of these laws were as cruel as +the laws were senseless and absurd. Working on the Sabbath and +murder were both punished with death. The tendency of such laws is +to blot from the human heart the sense of justice.</p> +<p>To show you how perfectly every department of knowledge, or +ignorance rather, was saturated with superstition, I will for a +moment refer to the science of language.</p> +<p>It was thought by our fathers, that Hebrew was the original +language; that it was taught to Adam in the Garden of Eden by the +Almighty, and that consequently all languages came from, and could +be traced to, the Hebrew. Every fact inconsistent with that idea +was discarded. According to the ghosts, the trouble at the tower of +Babel accounted for the fact that all people did not speak Hebrew. +The Babel business settled all questions in the science of +language.</p> +<p>After a time, so many facts were found to be inconsistent with +the Hebrew idea that it began to fall into disrepute, and other +languages began to compete for the honor of being the original.</p> +<p>Andre Kempe, in 1569, published a work on the language of +Paradise, in which he maintained that God spoke to Adam in Swedish; +that Adam answered in Danish; and that the serpent—which +appears to me quite probable—spoke to Eve in French. Erro, in +a work published at Madrid, took the ground that Basque was the +language spoken in the Garden of Eden; but in 1580 Goropius +published his celebrated work at Antwerp, in which he put the whole +matter at rest by showing, beyond all doubt, that the language +spoken in Paradise was neither more nor less than plain Holland +Dutch.</p> +<p>The real founder of the science of language was Liebnitz, a +cotemporary of Sir Isaac Newton. He discarded the idea that all +languages could be traced to one language. He maintained that +language was a natural growth. Experience teaches us that this must +be so. Words are continually dying and continually being born. +Words are naturally and necessarily produced. Words are the +garments of thought, the robes of ideas. Some are as rude as the +skins of wild beasts, and others glisten and glitter like silk and +gold. They have been born of hatred and revenge; of love and +self-sacrifice; of hope and fear, of agony and joy. These words are +born of the terror and beauty of nature. The stars have fashioned +them. In them mingle the darkness and the dawn. From everything +they have taken something. Words are the crystalizations of human +history, of all that man has enjoyed and suffered—his +victories and defeats—all that he has lost and won. Words are +the shadows of all that has been—the mirrors of all that +is.</p> +<p>The ghosts also enlightened our fathers in astronomy and +geology. According to them the earth was made out of nothing, and a +little more nothing having been taken than was used in the +construction of this world, the stars were made out of what was +left over. Cosmas, in the sixth century, taught that the stars were +impelled by angels, who either carried them on their shoulders, +rolled them in front of them, or drew them after. He also taught +that each angel that pushed a star took great pains to observe what +the other angels were doing, so that the relative distances between +the stars might always remain the same. He also gave his idea as to +the form of the world.</p> +<p>He stated that the world was a vast parallelogram; that on the +outside was a strip of land, like the frame of a common slate; that +then there was a strip of water, and in the middle a great piece of +land; that Adam and Eve lived on the outer strip; that their +descendants, with the exception of the Noah family, were drowned by +a flood on this outer strip; that the ark finally rested on the +middle piece of land where we now are. He accounted for night and +day by saying that on the outside strip of land there was a high +mountain, around which the sun and moon revolved, and that when the +sun was on the other side of the mountain, it was night; and when +on this side, it was day.</p> +<p>He also declared that the earth was flat. This he proved by many +passages from the Bible. Among other reasons for believing the +earth to be flat, he brought forward the following: We are told in +the New Testament that Christ shall come again in glory and power, +and all the world shall see him. Now, if the world is round, how +are the people on the other side going to see Christ when he comes? +That settled the question, and the church not only endorsed the +book, but declared that whoever believed less or more than stated +by Cosmas, was a heretic.</p> +<p>In those blessed days, Ignorance was a king and Science an +outcast.</p> +<p>They knew the moment this earth ceased to be the centre of the +universe, and became a mere speck in the starry heaven of +existence, that their religion would become a childish fable of the +past.</p> +<p>In the name and by the authority of the ghosts, men enslaved +their fellow-men; they trampled upon the rights of women and +children. In the name and by the authority of ghosts, they bought +and sold and destroyed each other; they filled heaven with tyrants +and earth with slaves, the present with despair and the future with +horror. In the name and by the authority of the ghosts, they +imprisoned the human mind, polluted the conscience, hardened the +heart, subverted justice, crowned robbery, sainted hypocrisy, and +extinguished for a thousand years the torch of reason.</p> +<p>I have endeavored, in some faint degree, to show you what has +happened, and what always will happen when men are governed by +superstition and fear; when they desert the sublime standard of +reason; when they take the words of others and do not investigate +for themselves.</p> +<p>Even the great men of those days were nearly as weak in this +matter as the most ignorant. Kepler, one of the greatest men of the +world, an astronomer second to none, although he plucked from the +stars the secrets of the universe, was an astrologer, and really +believed that he could predict the career of a man by finding what +star was in the ascendant at his birth. This great man breathed, so +to speak, the atmosphere of his time. He believed in the music of +the spheres, and assigned alto, bass, tenor, and treble to certain +stars.</p> +<p>Tycho Brahe, another astronomer, kept an idiot, whose +disconnected and meaningless words he carefully set down, and then +put them together in such manner as to make prophecies, and then +waited patiently to see them fulfilled. Luther believed that he had +actually seen the devil, and had discussed points of theology with +him. The human mind was in chains. Every idea almost was a monster. +Thought was deformed. Facts were looked upon as worthless. Only the +wonderful was worth preserving. Things that actually happened were +not considered worth recording;—real occurrences were too +common. Everybody expected the miraculous.</p> +<p>The ghosts were supposed to be busy; devils were thought to be +the most industrious things in the universe, and with these imps, +every occurrence of an unusual character was in some way connected. +There was no order, no serenity, no certainty in anything. +Everything depended upon ghosts and phantoms. Man was, for the most +part, at the mercy of malevolent spirits. He protected himself as +best he could with holy water and tapers and wafers and cathedrals. +He made noises and rung bells to frighten the ghosts, and he made +music to charm them. He used smoke to choke them, and incense to +please them. He wore beads and crosses. He said prayers, and hired +others to say them. He fasted when he was hungry, and feasted when +he was not. He believed everything that seemed unreasonable, just +to appease the ghosts. He humbled himself. He crawled in the dust. +He shut the doors and windows, and excluded every ray of light from +the temple of the soul. He debauched and polluted his own mind, and +toiled night and day to repair the walls of his own prison. From +the garden of his heart he plucked and trampled upon the holy +flowers of pity.</p> +<p>The priests reveled in horrible descriptions of hell. Concerning +the wrath of God, they grew eloquent. They denounced man as totally +depraved. They made reason blasphemy, and pity a crime. Nothing so +delighted them as painting the torments and sufferings of the lost. +Over the worm that never dies they grew poetic; and the second +death filled them with a kind of holy delight. According to them, +the smoke and cries ascending from hell were the perfume and music +of heaven.</p> +<p>At the risk of being tiresome, I have said what I have to show +you the productions of the human mind, when enslaved; the effects +of wide-spread ignorance—the results of fear. I want to +convince you that every form of slavery is a viper, that, sooner or +later, will strike its poison fangs into the bosoms of men.</p> +<p>The first great step towards progress, is, for man to cease to +be the slave of man; the second, to cease to be the slave of the +monsters of his own creation—of the ghosts and phantoms of +the air.</p> +<p>For ages the human race was imprisoned.</p> +<p>Through the bars and grates came a few struggling rays of light. +Against these grates and bars Science pressed its pale and +thoughtful face, wooed by the holy dawn of human advancement.</p> +<p>Men found that the real was the useful; that what a man knows is +better than what a ghost says; that an event is more valuable than +a prophecy. They found that diseases were not produced by spirits, +and could not be cured by frightening them away. They found that +death was as natural as life. They began to study the anatomy and +chemistry of the human body, and found that all was natural and +within the domain of law.</p> +<p>The conjurer and sorcerer were discarded, and the physician and +surgeon employed. They found that the earth was not flat; that the +stars were not mere specks. They found that being born under a +particular planet had nothing to do with the fortunes of men.</p> +<p>The astrologer was discharged and the astronomer took his +place.</p> +<p>They found that the earth had swept through the constellations +for millions of ages. They found that good and evil were produced +by natural causes, and not by ghosts; that man could not be good +enough or bad enough to stop or cause a rain; that diseases were +produced as naturally as grass, and were not sent as punishments +upon man for failing to believe a certain creed. They found that +man, through intelligence, could take advantage of the forces of +nature—that he could make the waves, the winds, the flames, +and the lightnings of heaven do his bidding and minister to his +wants. They found that the ghosts knew nothing of benefit to man; +that they were utterly ignorant of geology—of +astronomy—of geography;—that they knew nothing of +history;—that they were poor doctors and worse +surgeons;—that they knew nothing of law and less of justice; +that they were without brains, and utterly destitute of hearts; +that they knew nothing of the rights of men; that they were +despisers of women, the haters of progress, the enemies of science, +and the destroyers of liberty.</p> +<p>The condition of the world during the Dark Ages shows exactly +the result of enslaving the bodies and souls of men. In those days +there was no freedom. Labor was despised, and a laborer was +considered but little above a beast. Ignorance, like a vast cowl, +covered the brain of the world, and superstition ran riot with the +imagination of man. The air was filled with angels, with demons and +monsters. Credulity sat upon the throne of the soul, and Reason was +an exiled king. A man to be distinguished must be a soldier or a +monk. War and theology, that is to say, murder and hypocrisy, were +the principal employments of man. Industry was a slave, theft was +commerce; murder was war, hypocrisy was religion.</p> +<p>Every Christian country maintained that it was no robbery to +take the property of Mohammedans by force, and no murder to kill +the owners. Lord Bacon was the first man of note who maintained +that a Christian country was bound to keep its plighted faith with +an infidel nation. Reading and writing were considered dangerous +arts. Every layman who could read and write was suspected of being +a heretic. All thought was discouraged. They forged chains of +superstition for the minds, and manacles of iron for the bodies of +men. The earth was ruled by the cowl and sword,—by the mitre +and scepter,—by the altar and throne,—by Fear and +Force,—by Ignorance and Faith,—by ghouls and +ghosts.</p> +<p>In the fifteenth century the following law was in force in +England:</p> +<p>"That whosoever reads the Scriptures in the mother tongue, shall +forfeit land, cattle, life, and goods from their heirs forever, and +so be condemned for heretics to God, enemies to the crown, and most +arrant traitors to the land."</p> +<p>During the first year this law was in force thirty-nine were +hanged for its violation and their bodies burned.</p> +<p>In the sixteenth century men were burned because they failed to +kneel to a procession of monks.</p> +<p>The slightest word uttered against the superstition of the time +was punished with death.</p> +<p>Even the reformers, so-called, of those days, had no idea of +intellectual liberty—no idea even of toleration. Luther, +Knox, Calvin, believed in religious liberty only when they were in +the minority. The moment they were clothed with power they began to +exterminate with fire and sword.</p> +<p>Castalio was the first minister who advocated the liberty of the +soul. He was regarded by the reformers as a criminal, and treated +as though he had committed the crime of crimes.</p> +<p>Bodinus, a lawyer of France, about the same time, wrote a few +words in favor of the freedom of conscience, but public opinion was +overwhelmingly against him. The people were ready, anxious, and +willing, with whip, and chain, and fire, to drive from the mind of +man the heresy that he had a right to think.</p> +<p>Montaigne, a man blest with so much common sense that he was the +most uncommon man of his time, was the first to raise a voice +against torture in France. But what was the voice of one man +against the terrible cry of ignorant, infatuated, superstitious and +malevolent millions? It was the cry of a drowning man in the wild +roar of the cruel sea.</p> +<p>In spite of the efforts of the brave few the infamous war +against the freedom of the soul was waged until at least one +hundred millions of human beings—fathers, mothers, brothers, +sisters—with hopes, loves, and aspirations like ourselves, +were sacrificed upon the cruel altar of an ignorant faith. They +perished in every way by which death can be produced. Every nerve +of pain was sought out and touched by the believers in ghosts.</p> +<p>For my part I glory in the fact, that here in the New +World,—in the United States,—liberty of conscience was +first guaranteed to man, and that the Constitution of the United +States was the first great decree entered in the high court of +human equity forever divorcing church and state,—the first +injunction granted against the interference of the ghosts. This was +one of the grandest steps ever taken by the human race in the +direction of Progress.</p> +<p>You will ask what has caused this wonderful change in three +hundred years. And I answer—the inventions and discoveries of +the few;—the brave thoughts, the heroic utterances of the +few;—the acquisition of a few facts.</p> +<p>Besides, you must remember that every wrong in some way tends to +abolish itself. It is hard to make a lie stand always. A lie will +not fit a fact. It will only fit another lie made for the purpose. +The life of a lie is simply a question of time. Nothing but truth +is immortal. The nobles and kings quarreled;—the priests +began to dispute;—the ideas of government began to +change.</p> +<p>In 1441 printing was discovered. At that time the past was a +vast cemetery with hardly an epitaph. The ideas of men had mostly +perished in the brain that produced them. The lips of the human +race had been sealed. Printing gave pinions to thought. It +preserved ideas. It made it possible for man to bequeath to the +future the riches of his brain, the wealth of his soul. At first, +it was used to flood the world with the mistakes of the ancients, +but since that time it has been flooding the world with light.</p> +<p>When people read they begin to reason, and when they reason they +progress. This was another grand step in the direction of +Progress.</p> +<p>The discovery of powder, that put the peasant almost upon a par +with the prince;—that put an end to the so-called age of +chivalry;—that released a vast number of men from the +armies;—that gave pluck and nerve a chance with brute +strength.</p> +<p>The discovery of America, whose shores were trod by the restless +feet of adventure;—that brought people holding every shade of +superstition together;—that gave the world an opportunity to +compare notes, and to laugh at the follies of each other. Out of +this strange mingling of all creeds, and superstitions, and facts, +and theories, and countless opinions, came the Great Republic.</p> +<p>Every fact has pushed a superstition from the brain and a ghost +from the clouds. Every mechanic art is an educator. Every loom, +every reaper and mower, every steamboat, every locomotive, every +engine, every press, every telegraph, is a missionary of Science +and an apostle of Progress. Every mill, every furnace, every +building with its wheels and levers, in which something is made for +the convenience, for the use, and for the comfort and elevation of +man, is a church, and every school-house is a temple.</p> +<p>Education is the most radical thing in the world.</p> +<p>To teach the alphabet is to inaugurate a revolution.</p> +<p>To build a schoolhouse is to construct a fort.</p> +<p>Every library is an arsenal filled with the weapons and +ammunition of Progress, and every fact is a monitor with sides of +iron and a turret of steel.</p> +<p>I thank the inventors, the discoverers, the thinkers. I thank +Columbus and Magellan. I thank Galileo, and Copernicus, and Kepler, +and Descartes, and Newton, and Laplace. I thank Locke, and Hume, +and Bacon, and Shakespeare, and Kant, and Fichte, and Leibnitz, and +Goethe. I thank Fulton, and Watts, and Volta, and Galvani, and +Franklin, and Morse, who made lightning the messenger of man. I +thank Humboldt, the Shakespeare of science. I thank Crompton and +Arkwright, from whose brains leaped the looms and spindles that +clothe the world. I thank Luther for protesting against the abuses +of the church, and I denounce him because he was the enemy of +liberty. I thank Calvin for writing a book in favor of religious +freedom, and I abhor him because he burned Servetus. I thank Knox +for resisting Episcopal persecution, and I hate him because he +persecuted in his turn. I thank the Puritans for saying "Resistance +to tyrants is obedience to God," and yet I am compelled to say that +they were tyrants themselves. I thank Thomas Paine because he was a +believer in liberty, and because he did as much to make my country +free as any other human being. I thank Voltaire, that great man +who, for half a century, was the intellectual emperor of Europe, +and who, from his throne at the foot of the Alps, pointed the +finger of scorn at every hypocrite in Christendom. I thank Darwin, +Haeckel and Büchner, Spencer, Tyndall and Huxley, Draper, +Lecky and Buckle.</p> +<p>I thank the inventors, the discoverers, the thinkers, the +scientists, the explorers, I thank the honest millions who have +toiled.</p> +<p>I thank the brave men with brave thoughts. They are the Atlases +upon whose broad and mighty shoulders rests the grand fabric of +civilization. They are the men who have broken, and are still +breaking, the chains of Superstition. They are the Titans who +carried Olympus by assault, and who will soon stand victors upon +Sinai's crags.</p> +<p>We are beginning to learn that to exchange a mistake for the +truth—a superstition for a fact—to ascertain the +real—is to progress.</p> +<p>Happiness is the only possible good, and all that tends to the +happiness of man is right, and is of value. All that tends to +develop the bodies and minds of men; all that gives us better +houses, better clothes, better food, better pictures, grander +music, better heads, better hearts; all that renders us more +intellectual and more loving, nearer just; that makes us better +husbands and wives, better children, better citizens—all +these things combined produce what I call Progress.</p> +<p>Man advances only as he overcomes the obstructions of Nature, +and this can be done only by labor and by thought. Labor is the +foundation of all. Without labor, and without great labor, progress +is impossible. The progress of the world depends upon the men who +walk in the fresh furrows and through the rustling corn; upon those +who sow and reap; upon those whose faces are radiant with the glare +of furnace fires; upon the delvers in the mines, and the workers in +shops; upon those who give to the winter air the ringing music of +the axe; upon those who battle with the boisterous billows of the +sea; upon the inventors and discoverers; upon the brave +thinkers.</p> +<p>From the surplus produced by labor, schools and universities are +built and fostered. From this surplus the painter is paid for the +productions of the pencil; the sculptor for chiseling shapeless +rock into forms divinely beautiful, and the poet for singing the +hopes, the loves, the memories, and the aspirations of the world. +This surplus has given us the books in which we converse with the +dead and living kings of the human race. It has given us all there +is of beauty, of elegance, and of refined happiness.</p> +<p>I am aware that there is a vast difference of opinion as to what +progress really is; that many denounce the ideas of to-day as +destructive of all happiness—of all good, I know that there +are many worshipers of the past. They venerate the ancient because +it is ancient. They see no beauty in anything from which they do +not blow the dust of ages with the breath of praise. They say, no +masters like the old; no religion, no governments like the ancient; +no orators, no poets, no statesmen like those who have been dust +for two thousand years. Others love the modern simply because it is +modern.</p> +<p>We should have gratitude enough to acknowledge the obligations +we are under to the great and heroic of antiquity, and independence +enough not to believe what they said simply because they said +it.</p> +<p>With the idea that labor is the basis of progress goes the truth +that labor must be free. The laborer must be a free man.</p> +<p>The free man, working for wife and child, gets his head and +hands in partnership.</p> +<p>To do the greatest amount of work in the shortest space of time, +is the problem of free labor.</p> +<p>Slavery does the least work in the longest space of time.</p> +<p>Free labor will give us wealth. Free thought will give us +truth.</p> +<p>Slowly but surely man is freeing his imagination of these +sexless phantoms, of these cruel ghosts. Slowly but surely he is +rising above the superstitions of the past. He is learning to rely +upon himself. He is beginning to find that labor is the only prayer +that ought to be answered, and that hoping, toiling, aspiring, +suffering men and women are of more importance than all the ghosts +that ever wandered through the fenceless fields of space.</p> +<p>The believers in ghosts claim still, that they are the only wise +and virtuous people upon the earth; claim still, that there is a +difference between them and unbelievers so vast, that they will be +infinitely rewarded, and the others infinitely punished.</p> +<p>I ask you to-night, do the theories and doctrines of the +theologians satisfy the heart or brain of the nineteenth +century?</p> +<p>Have the churches the confidence of mankind?</p> +<p>Does the merchant give credit to a man because he belongs to a +church?</p> +<p>Does the banker loan money to a man because he is a Methodist or +Baptist?</p> +<p>Will a certificate of good standing in any church be taken as +collateral security for one dollar?</p> +<p>Will you take the word of a church member, or his note, or his +oath, simply because he is a church member?</p> +<p>Are the clergy, as a class, better, kinder and more generous to +their families—to their fellow-men—than doctors, +lawyers, merchants and farmers?</p> +<p>Does a belief in ghosts and unreasonable things necessarily make +people honest?</p> +<p>When a man loses confidence in Moses, must the people lose +confidence in him?</p> +<p>Does not the credit system in morals breed extravagance in +sin?</p> +<p>Why send missionaries to other lands while every penitentiary in +ours is filled with criminals?</p> +<p>Is it philosophical to say that they who do right carry a +cross?</p> +<p>Is it a source of joy to think that perdition is the destination +of nearly all of the children of men?</p> +<p>Is it worth while to quarrel about original sin—when there +is so much copy?</p> +<p>Does it pay to dispute about baptism, and the Trinity, and +predestination, and apostolic succession and the infallibility of +churches, of popes and of books? Does all this do any good?</p> +<p>Are the theologians welcomers of new truths? Are they noted for +their candor? Do they treat an opponent with common fairness? Are +they investigators? Do they pull forward, or do they hold back?</p> +<p>Is science indebted to the church for a solitary fact?</p> +<p>What church is an asylum for a persecuted truth?</p> +<p>What great reform has been inaugurated by the church?</p> +<p>Did the church abolish slavery?</p> +<p>Has the church raised its voice against war?</p> +<p>I used to think that there was in religion no real restraining +force. Upon this point my mind has changed. Religion will prevent +man from committing artificial crimes and offences.</p> +<p>A man committed murder. The evidence was so conclusive that he +confessed his guilt.</p> +<p>He was asked why he killed his fellow-man.</p> +<p>He replied: "For money."</p> +<p>"Did you get any?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"How much?"</p> +<p>"Fifteen cents."</p> +<p>"What did you do with this money?"</p> +<p>"Spent it."</p> +<p>"What for?"</p> +<p>"Liquor."</p> +<p>"What else did you find upon the dead man?" "He had his dinner +in a bucket—some meat and bread."</p> +<p>"What did you do with that?"</p> +<p>"I ate the bread."</p> +<p>"What did you do with the meat?"</p> +<p>"I threw it away."</p> +<p>"Why?"</p> +<p>"It was Friday."</p> +<p>Just to the extent that man has freed himself from the dominion +of ghosts he has advanced. Just to the extent that he has freed +himself from the tyrants of his own creation he has progressed. +Just to the extent that he has investigated for himself he has lost +confidence in superstition.</p> +<p>With knowledge obedience becomes intelligent +acquiescence—it is no longer degrading. Acquiescence in the +understood—in the known—is the act of a sovereign, not +of a slave. It ennobles, it does not degrade.</p> +<p>Man has found that he must give liberty to others in order to +have it himself. He has found that a master is also a +slave;—that a tyrant is himself a serf. He has found that +governments should be founded and administered by man and for man; +that the rights of all are equal; that the powers that be are not +ordained by God; that woman is at least the equal of man; that men +existed before books; that religion is one of the phases of thought +through which the world is passing; that all creeds were made by +man; that everything is natural; that a miracle is an +impossibility; that we know nothing of origin and destiny; that +concerning the unknown we are all equally ignorant; that the pew +has the right to contradict what the pulpit asserts; that man is +responsible only to himself and those he injures, and that all have +a right to think.</p> +<p>True religion must be free. Without perfect liberty of the mind +there can be no true religion. Without liberty the brain is a +dungeon—the mind a convict. The slave may bow and cringe and +crawl, but he cannot adore—he cannot love.</p> +<p>True religion is the perfume of a free and grateful heart. True +religion is a subordination of the passions to the perceptions of +the intellect. True religion is not a theory—it is a +practice. It is not a creed—it is a life.</p> +<p>A theory that is afraid of investigation is undeserving a place +in the human mind.</p> +<p>I do not pretend to tell what all the truth is. I do not pretend +to have fathomed the abyss, nor to have floated on outstretched +wings level with the dim heights of thought. I simply plead for +freedom. I denounce the cruelties and horrors of slavery. I ask for +light and air for the souls of men. I say, take off those +chains—break those manacles—free those +limbs—release that brain! I plead for the right to +think—to reason—to investigate. I ask that the future +may be enriched with the honest thoughts of men. I implore every +human being to be a soldier in the army of progress.</p> +<p>I will not invade the rights of others. You have no right to +erect your toll-gate upon the highways of thought. You have no +right to leap from the hedges of superstition and strike down the +pioneers of the human race. You have no right to sacrifice the +liberties of man upon the altars of ghosts. Believe what you may; +preach what you desire; have all the forms and ceremonies you +please; exercise your liberty in your own way but extend to all +others the same right.</p> +<p>I will not attack your doctrines nor your creeds if they accord +liberty to me. If they hold thought to be dangerous—if they +aver that doubt is a crime, then I attack them one and all, because +they enslave the minds of men.</p> +<p>I attack the monsters, the phantoms of imagination that have +ruled the world. I attack slavery. I ask for room—room for +the human mind.</p> +<p>Why should we sacrifice a real world that we have, for one we +know not of? Why should we enslave ourselves? Why should we forge +fetters for our own hands? Why should we be the slaves of phantoms. +The darkness of barbarism was the womb of these shadows. In the +light of science they cannot cloud the sky forever. They have +reddened the hands of man with innocent blood. They made the cradle +a curse, and the grave a place of torment.</p> +<p>They blinded the eyes and stopped the ears of the human race. +They subverted all ideas of justice by promising infinite rewards +for finite virtues, and threatening infinite punishment for finite +offences.</p> +<p>They filled the future with heavens and with hells, with the +shining peaks of selfish joy and the lurid abysses of flame. For +ages they kept the world in ignorance and awe, in want and misery, +in fear and chains.</p> +<p>I plead for light, for air, for opportunity. I plead for +individual independence. I plead for the rights of labor and of +thought. I plead for a chainless future. Let the ghosts +go—justice remains. Let them disappear—men and women +and children are left. Let the monsters fade away—the world +is here with its hills and seas and plains, with its seasons of +smiles and frowns, its spring of leaf and bud, its summer of shade +and flower and murmuring stream; its autumn with the laden boughs, +when the withered banners of the corn are still, and gathered +fields are growing strangely wan; while death, poetic death, with +hands that color what they touch, weaves in the Autumn wood her +tapestries of gold and brown.</p> +<p>The world remains with its winters and homes and firesides, +where grow and bloom the virtues of our race. All these are left; +and music, with its sad and thrilling voice, and all there is of +art and song and hope and love and aspiration high. All these +remain. Let the ghosts go—we will worship them no more.</p> +<p>Man is greater than these phantoms. Humanity is grander than all +the creeds, than all the books. Humanity is the great sea, and +these creeds, and books, and religions, are but the waves of a day. +Humanity is the sky, and these religions and dogmas and theories +are but the mists and clouds changing continually, destined finally +to melt away.</p> +<p>That which is founded upon slavery, and fear, and ignorance, +cannot endure. In the religion of the future there will be men and +women and children, all the aspirations of the soul, and all the +tender humanities of the heart.</p> +<p>Let the ghosts go. We will worship them no more. Let them cover +their eyeless sockets with their fleshless hands and fade forever +from the imaginations of men.</p> +<a name="link0009"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>THE LIBERTY OF MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD.</h2> +<h3>Liberty sustains the same Relation to Mind that Space does to +Matter.</h3> +<p>THERE is no slavery but ignorance. Liberty is the child of +intelligence.</p> +<p>The history of man is simply the history of slavery, of +injustice and brutality, together with the means by which he has, +through the dead and desolate years, slowly and painfully advanced. +He has been the sport and prey of priest and king, the food of +superstition and cruel might. Crowned force has governed ignorance +through fear. Hypocrisy and tyranny—two vultures—have +fed upon the liberties of man. From all these there has been, and +is, but one means of escape—intellectual development. Upon +the back of industry has been the whip. Upon the brain have been +the fetters of superstition. Nothing has been left undone by the +enemies of freedom. Every art and artifice, every cruelty and +outrage has been practiced and perpetrated to destroy the rights of +man. In this great struggle every crime has been rewarded and every +virtue has been punished. Reading, writing, thinking and +investigating have all been crimes.</p> +<p>Every science has been an outcast.</p> +<p>All the altars and all the thrones united to arrest the forward +march of the human race. The king said that mankind must not work +for themselves. The priest said that mankind must not think for +themselves. One forged chains for the hands, the other for the +soul. Under this infamous <i>regime</i> the eagle of the human +intellect was for ages a slimy serpent of hypocrisy.</p> +<p>The human race was imprisoned. Through some of the prison bars +came a few struggling rays of light. Against these bars Science +pressed its pale and thoughtful face, wooed by the holy dawn of +human advancement. Bar after bar was broken away. A few grand men +escaped and devoted their lives to the liberation of their +fellows.</p> +<p>Only a few years ago there was a great awakening of the human +mind. Men began to inquire by what right a crowned robber made them +work for him? The man who asked this question was called a traitor. +Others asked by what right does a robed hypocrite rule my thought? +Such men were called infidels. The priest said, and the king said, +where is this spirit of investigation to stop? They said then and +they say now, that it is dangerous for man to be free. I deny it. +Out on the intellectual sea there is room enough for every sail. In +the intellectual air there is space enough for every wing.</p> +<p>The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a +traitor to himself and to his fellow-men.</p> +<p>Every man should stand under the blue and stars, under the +infinite flag of nature, the peer of every other man.</p> +<p>Standing in the presence of the Unknown, all have the same right +to think, and all are equally interested in the great questions of +origin and destiny. All I claim, all I plead for, is liberty of +thought and expression. That is all. I do not pretend to tell what +is absolutely true, but what I think is true. I do not pretend to +tell all the truth.</p> +<p>I do not claim that I have floated level with the heights of +thought, or that I have descended to the very depths of things. I +simply claim that what ideas I have, I have a right to express; and +that any man who denies that right to me is an intellectual thief +and robber. That is all.</p> +<p>Take those chains from the human soul. Break those fetters. If I +have no right to think, why have I a brain? If I have no such +right, have three or four men, or any number, who may get together, +and sign a creed, and build a house, and put a steeple upon it, and +a bell in it—have they the right to think? The good men, the +good women are tired of the whip and lash in the realm of thought. +They remember the chain and fagot with a shudder. They are free, +and they give liberty to others. Whoever claims any right that he +is unwilling to accord to his fellow-men is dishonest and +infamous.</p> +<p>In the good old times, our fathers had the idea that they could +make people believe to suit them. Our ancestors, in the ages that +are gone, really believed that by force you could convince a man. +You cannot change the conclusion of the brain by torture; nor by +social ostracism. But I will tell you what you can do by these, and +what you have done. You can make hypocrites by the million. You can +make a man say that he has changed his mind; but he remains of the +same opinion still. Put fetters all over him; crush his feet in +iron boots; stretch him to the last gasp upon the holy rack; burn +him, if you please, but his ashes will be of the same opinion +still.</p> +<p>Our fathers in the good old times—and the best thing I can +say about them is, that they have passed away—had an idea +that they could force men to think their way. That idea is still +prevalent in many parts, even of this country. Even in our day some +extremely religious people say, "We will not trade with that man; +we will not vote for him; we will not hire him if he is a lawyer; +we will die before we will take his medicine if he is a doctor; we +will not invite him to dinner; we will socially ostracise him; he +must come to our church; he must believe our doctrines; he must +worship our god or we will not in any way contribute to his +support."</p> +<p>In the old times of which I have spoken, they desired to make +all men think exactly alike. All the mechanical ingenuity of the +world cannot make two clocks run exactly alike, and how are you +going to make hundreds of millions of people, differing in brain +and disposition, in education and aspiration, in conditions and +surroundings, each clad in a living robe of passionate +flesh—how are you going to make them think and feel alike? If +there is an infinite god, one who made us, and wishes us to think +alike, why did he give a spoonful of brains to one, and a +magnificent intellectual development to another? Why is it that we +have all degrees of intelligence, from orthodoxy to genius, if it +was intended that all should think and feel alike?</p> +<p>I used to read in books how our fathers persecuted mankind. But +I never appreciated it. I read it, but it did not burn itself into +my soul. I did not really appreciate the infamies that have been +committed in the name of religion, until I saw the iron arguments +that Christians used. I saw the Thumbscrew—two little pieces +of iron, armed on the inner surfaces with protuberances, to prevent +their slipping; through each end a screw uniting the two pieces. +And when some man denied the efficacy of baptism, or may be said, +"I do not believe that a fish ever swallowed a man to keep him from +drowning," then they put his thumb between these pieces of iron and +in the name of love and universal forgiveness, began to screw these +pieces together. When this was done most men said, "I will recant." +Probably I should have done the same. Probably I would have said: +"Stop; I will admit anything that you wish; I will admit that there +is one god or a million, one hell or a billion; suit yourselves; +but stop."</p> +<p>But there was now and then a man who would not swerve the +breadth of a hair. There was now and then some sublime heart, +willing to die for an intellectual conviction. Had it not been for +such men, we would be savages to-night. Had it not been for a few +brave, heroic souls in every age, we would have been cannibals, +with pictures of wild beasts tattooed upon our flesh, dancing +around some dried snake fetich.</p> +<p>Let us thank every good and noble man who stood so grandly, so +proudly, in spite of opposition, of hatred and death, for what he +believed to be the truth.</p> +<p>Heroism did not excite the respect of our fathers. The man who +would not recant was not forgiven. They screwed the thumbscrews +down to the last pang, and then threw their victim into some +dungeon, where, in the throbbing silence and darkness, he might +suffer the agonies of the fabled damned. This was done in the name +of love—in the name of mercy—in the name of the +compassionate Christ.</p> +<p>I saw, too, what they called the Collar of Torture. Imagine a +circle of iron, and on the inside a hundred points almost as sharp +as needles. This argument was fastened about the throat of the +sufferer. Then he could not walk, nor sit down, nor stir without +the neck being punctured, by these points. In a little while the +throat would begin to swell, and suffocation would end the agonies +of that man. This man, it may be, had committed the crime of +saying, with tears upon his cheeks, "I do not believe that God, the +father of us all, will damn to eternal perdition any of the +children of men."</p> +<p>I saw another instrument, called the Scavenger's Daughter. Think +of a pair of shears with handles, not only where they now are, but +at the points as well, and just above the pivot that unites the +blades, a circle of iron. In the upper handles the hands would be +placed; in the lower, the feet; and through the iron ring, at the +centre, the head of the victim would be forced. In this condition, +he would be thrown prone upon the earth, and the strain upon the +muscles produced such agony that insanity would in pity end his +pain.</p> +<p>This was done by gentlemen who said: "Whosoever smiteth thee +upon one cheek turn to him the other also."</p> +<p>I saw the Rack. This was a box like the bed of a wagon, with a +windlass at each end, with levers, and ratchets to prevent +slipping; over each windlass went chains; some were fastened to the +ankles of the sufferer; others to his wrists. And then priests, +clergymen, divines, saints, began turning these windlasses, and +kept turning, until the ankles, the knees, the hips, the shoulders, +the elbows, the wrists of the victim were all dislocated, and the +sufferer was wet with the sweat of agony. And they had standing by +a physician to feel his pulse. What for? To save his life? Yes. In +mercy? No; simply that they might rack him once again.</p> +<p>This was done, remember, in the name of civilization; in the +name of law and order; in the name of mercy; in the name of +religion; in the name of the most merciful Christ.</p> +<p>Sometimes, when I read and think about these frightful things, +it seems to me that I have suffered all these horrors myself. It +seems sometimes, as though I had stood upon the shore of exile and +gazed with tearful eyes toward home and native land; as though my +nails had been torn from my hands, and into the bleeding quick +needles had been thrust; as though my feet had been crushed in iron +boots; as though I had been chained in the cell of the Inquisition +and listened with dying ears for the coming footsteps of release; +as though I had stood upon the scaffold and had seen the glittering +axe fall upon me; as though I had been upon the rack and had seen, +bending above me, the white faces of hypocrite priests; as though I +had been taken from my fireside, from my wife and children, taken +to the public square, chained; as though fagots had been piled +about me; as though the flames had climbed around my limbs and +scorched my eyes to blindness, and as though my ashes had been +scattered to the four winds, by all the countless hands of hate. +And when I so feel, I swear that while I live I will do what little +I can to preserve and to augment the liberties of man, woman, and +child.</p> +<p>It is a question of justice, of mercy, of honesty, of +intellectual development. If there is a man in the world who is not +willing to give to every human being every right he claims for +himself, he is just so much nearer a barbarian than I am. It is a +question of honesty. The man who is not willing to give to every +other the same intellectual rights he claims for himself, is +dishonest, selfish, and brutal.</p> +<p>It is a question of intellectual development. Whoever holds +another man responsible for his honest thought, has a deformed and +distorted brain. It is a question of intellectual development.</p> +<p>A little while ago I saw models of nearly everything that man +has made. I saw models of all the water craft, from the rude +dug-out in which floated a naked savage—one of our +ancestors—a naked savage, with teeth two inches in length, +with a spoonful of brains in the back of his head—I saw +models of all the water craft of the world, from that dug-out up to +a man-of-war, that carries a hundred guns and miles of +canvas—from that dug-out to the steamship that turns its +brave prow from the port of New York, with a compass like a +conscience, crossing three thousand miles of billows without +missing a throb or beat of its mighty iron heart.</p> +<p>I saw at the same time the weapons that man has made, from a +club, such as was grasped by that same savage, when he crawled from +his den in the ground and hunted a snake for his dinner; from that +club to the boomerang, to the sword, to the cross-bow, to the +blunderbuss, to the flint-lock, to the cap-lock, to the needle-gun, +up to a cannon cast by Krupp, capable of hurling a ball weighing +two thousand pounds through eighteen inches of solid steel.</p> +<p>I saw, too, the armor from the shell of a turtle, that one of +our brave ancestors lashed upon his breast when he went to fight +for his country; the skin of a porcupine, dried with the quills on, +which this same savage pulled over his orthodox head, up to the +shirts of mail, that were worn in the Middle Ages, that laughed at +the edge of the sword and defied the point of the spear; up to a +monitor clad in complete steel.</p> +<p>I saw at the same time, their musical instruments, from the +tom-tom—that is, a hoop with a couple of strings of raw hide +drawn across it—from that tom-tom, up to the instruments we +have to-day, that make the common air blossom with melody.</p> +<p>I saw, too, their paintings, from a daub of yellow mud, to the +great works which now adorn the galleries of the world. I saw also +their sculpture, from the rude god with four legs, a half dozen +arms, several noses, and two or three rows of ears, and one little, +contemptible, brainless head, up to the figures of to-day—to +the marbles that genius has clad in such a personality that it +seems almost impudent to touch them without an introduction.</p> +<p>I saw their books—books written upon skins of wild +beasts—upon shoulder-blades of sheep—books written upon +leaves, upon bark, up to the splendid volumes that enrich the +libraries of our day. When I speak of libraries, I think of the +remark of Plato: "A house that has a library in it has a soul."</p> +<p>I saw their implements of agriculture, from a crooked stick that +was attached to the horn of an ox by some twisted straw, to the +agricultural implements of this generation, that make it possible +for a man to cultivate the soil without being an ignoramus.</p> +<p>While looking upon these things I was forced to say that man +advanced only as he mingled his thought with his labor,—only +as he got into partnership with the forces of nature,—only as +he learned to take advantage of his surroundings—only as he +freed himself from the bondage of fear,—only as he depended +upon himself—only as he lost confidence in the gods.</p> +<p>I saw at the same time a row of human skulls, from the lowest +skull that has been found, the Neanderthal skull—skulls from +Central Africa, skulls from the Bushmen of Australia—skulls +from the farthest isles of the Pacific sea—up to the best +skulls of the last generation;—and I noticed that there was +the same difference between those skulls that there was between the +products of those skulls, and I said to myself, "After all, it is a +simple question of intellectual development." There was the same +difference between those skulls, the lowest and highest skulls, +that there was between the dug-out and the man-of-war and the +steamship, between the club and the Krupp gun, between the yellow +daub and the landscape, between the tom-tom and an opera by +Verdi.</p> +<p>The first and lowest skull in this row was the den in which +crawled the base and meaner instincts of mankind, and the last was +a temple in which dwelt joy, liberty, and love.</p> +<p>It is all a question of brain, of intellectual development.</p> +<p>If we are nearer free than were our fathers, it is because we +have better heads upon the average, and more brains in them.</p> +<p>Now, I ask you to be honest with me. It makes no difference to +you what I believe, nor what I wish to prove. I simply ask you to +be honest. Divest your minds, for a moment at least, of all +religious prejudice. Act, for a few moments, as though you were men +and women.</p> +<p>Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, if there was +one, at the time this gentleman floated in the dug-out, and charmed +his ears with the music of the tom-tom, had said: "That dug-out is +the best boat that ever can be built by man; the pattern of that +came from on high, from the great god of storm and flood, and any +man who says that he can improve it by putting a mast in it, with a +sail upon it, is an infidel, and shall be burned at the stake;" +what, in your judgment—honor bright—would have been the +effect upon the circumnavigation of the globe?</p> +<p>Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, if there was +one—and I presume there was a priest, because it was a very +ignorant age—suppose this king and priest had said: "That +tom-tom is the most beautiful instrument of music of which any man +can conceive; that is the kind of music they have in heaven; an +angel sitting upon the edge of a fleecy cloud, golden in the +setting sun, playing upon that tom-tom, became so enraptured, so +entranced with her own music, that in a kind of ecstasy she dropped +it—that is how we obtained it; and any man who says that it +can be improved by putting a back and front to it, and four +strings, and a bridge, and getting a bow of hair with rosin, is a +blaspheming wretch, and shall die the death,"—I ask you, what +effect would that have had upon music? If that course had been +pursued, would the human ears, in your judgment, ever have been +enriched with the divine symphonies of Beethoven?</p> +<p>Suppose the king, if there was one, and the priest, had said: +"That crooked stick is the best plow that can be invented: the +pattern of that plow was given to a pious farmer in a holy dream, +and that twisted straw is the <i>ne plus ultra</i> of all twisted +things, and any man who says he can make an improvement upon that +plow, is an atheist;" what, in your judgment, would have been the +effect upon the science of agriculture?</p> +<p>But the people said, and the king and priest said: "We want +better weapons with which to kill our fellow-Christians; we want +better plows, better music, better paintings, and whoever will give +us better weapons, and better music, better houses to live in, +better clothes, we will robe him in wealth, and crown him with +honor." Every incentive was held out to every human being to +improve these things. That is the reason the club has been changed +to a cannon, the dug-out to a steamship, the daub to a painting; +that is the reason that the piece of rough and broken stone finally +became a glorified statue.</p> +<p>You must not, however, forget that the gentleman in the dug-out, +the gentleman who was enraptured with the music of the tom-tom, and +cultivated his land with a crooked stick, had a religion of his +own. That gentlemen in the dug-out was orthodox. He was never +troubled with doubts. He lived and died settled in his mind. He +believed in hell; and he thought he would be far happier in heaven, +if he could just lean over and see certain people who expressed +doubts as to the truth of his creed, gently but everlastingly +broiled and burned.</p> +<p>It is a very sad and unhappy fact that this man has had a great +many intellectual descendants. It is also an unhappy fact in +nature, that the ignorant multiply much faster than the +intellectual. This fellow in the dug-out believed in a personal +devil. His devil had a cloven hoof, a long tail, armed with a fiery +dart; and his devil breathed brimstone. This devil was at least the +equal of God; not quite so stout but a little shrewder. And do you +know there has not been a patentable improvement made upon that +devil for six thousand years.</p> +<p>This gentleman in the dug-out believed that God was a tyrant; +that he would eternally damn the man who lived in accordance with +his highest and grandest ideal. He believed that the earth was +flat. He believed in a literal, burning, seething hell of fire and +sulphur. He had also his idea of politics; and his doctrine was, +might makes right. And it will take thousands of years before the +world will reverse this doctrine, and believingly say, "Right makes +might."</p> +<p>All I ask is the same privilege to improve upon that gentleman's +theology as upon his musical instrument; the same right to improve +upon his politics as upon his dug-out. That is all. I ask for the +human soul the same liberty in every direction. That is the only +crime I have committed. I say, let us think. Let each one express +his thought. Let us become investigators, not followers, not +cringers and crawlers. If there is in heaven an infinite being, he +never will be satisfied with the worship of cowards and hypocrites. +Honest unbelief, honest infidelity, honest atheism, will be a +perfume in heaven when pious hypocrisy, no matter how religious it +may be outwardly, will be a stench.</p> +<p>This is my doctrine: Give every other human being every right +you claim for yourself. Keep your mind open to the influences of +nature. Receive new thoughts with hospitality. Let us advance.</p> +<p>The religionist of to-day wants the ship of his soul to lie at +the wharf of orthodoxy and rot in the sun. He delights to hear the +sails of old opinions flap against the masts of old creeds. He +loves to see the joints and the sides open and gape in the sun, and +it is a kind of bliss for him to repeat again and again: "Do not +disturb my opinions. Do not unsettle my mind; I have it all made +up, and I want no infidelity. Let me go backward rather than +forward."</p> +<p>As far as I am concerned I wish to be out on the high seas. I +wish to take my chances with wind, and wave, and star. And I had +rather go down in the glory and grandeur of the storm, than to rot +in any orthodox harbor whatever.</p> +<p>After all, we are improving from age to age. The most orthodox +people in this country two hundred years ago would have been burned +for the crime of heresy. The ministers who denounce me for +expressing my thought would have been in the Inquisition +themselves. Where once burned and blazed the bivouac fires of the +army of progress, now glow the altars of the church. The +religionists of our time are occupying about the same ground +occupied by heretics and infidels of one hundred years ago. The +church has advanced in spite, as it were, of itself. It has +followed the army of progress protesting and denouncing, and had to +keep within protesting and denouncing distance. If the church had +not made great progress I could not express my thoughts.</p> +<p>Man, however, has advanced just exactly in the proportion with +which he has mingled his thought with his labor. The sailor, +without control of the wind and wave, knowing nothing or very +little of the mysterious currents and pulses of the sea, is +superstitious. So also is the agriculturist, whose prosperity +depends upon something he cannot control. But the mechanic, when a +wheel refuses to turn, never thinks of dropping on his knees and +asking the assistance of some divine power. He knows there is a +reason. He knows that something is too large or too small; that +there is something wrong with his machine; and he goes to work and +he makes it larger or smaller, here or there, until the wheel will +turn. Now, just in proportion as man gets away from being, as it +were, the slave of his surroundings, the serf of the +elements,—of the heat, the frost, the snow, and the +lightning,—just to the extent that he has gotten control of +his own destiny, just to the extent that he has triumphed over the +obstacles of nature, he has advanced physically and intellectually. +As man develops, he places a greater value upon his own rights. +Liberty becomes a grander and diviner thing. As he values his own +rights, he begins to value the rights of others. And when all men +give to all others all the rights they claim for themselves, this +world will be civilized.</p> +<p>A few years ago the people were afraid to question the king, +afraid to question the priest, afraid to investigate a creed, +afraid to deny a book, afraid to denounce a dogma, afraid to +reason, afraid to think. Before wealth they bowed to the very +earth, and in the presence of titles they became abject. All this +is slowly but surely changing. We no longer bow to men simply +because they are rich. Our fathers worshiped the golden calf. The +worst you can say of an American now is, he worships the gold of +the calf. Even the calf is beginning to see this distinction.</p> +<p>It no longer satisfies the ambition of a great man to be king or +emperor. The last Napoleon was not satisfied with being the emperor +of the French. He was not satisfied with having a circlet of gold +about his head. He wanted some evidence that he had something of +value within his head. So he wrote the life of Julius Cæsar, +that he might become a member of the French Academy. The emperors, +the kings, the popes, no longer tower above their fellows. Compare +King William with the philosopher Haeckel. The king is one of the +anointed by the most high, as they claim—one upon whose head +has been poured the divine petroleum of authority. Compare this +king with Haeckel, who towers an intellectual colossus above the +crowned mediocrity. Compare George Eliot with Queen Victoria. The +Queen is clothed in garments given her by blind fortune and +unreasoning chance, while George Eliot wears robes of glory woven +in the loom of her own genius.</p> +<p>The world is beginning to pay homage to intellect, to genius, to +heart.</p> +<p>We have advanced. We have reaped the benefit of every sublime +and heroic self-sacrifice, of every divine and brave act; and we +should endeavor to hand the torch to the next generation, having +added a little to the intensity and glory of the flame.</p> +<p>When I think of how much this world has suffered; when I think +of how long our fathers were slaves, of how they cringed and +crawled at the foot of the throne, and in the dust of the altar, of +how they abased themselves, of how abjectly they stood in the +presence of superstition robed and crowned, I am amazed.</p> +<p>This world has not been fit for a man to live in fifty years. It +was not until the year 1808 that Great Britain abolished the slave +trade. Up to that time her judges, sitting upon the bench in the +name of justice, her priests, occupying her pulpits, in the name of +universal love, owned stock in the slave ships, and luxuriated upon +the profits of piracy and murder. It was not until the same year +that the United States of America abolished the slave trade between +this and other countries, but carefully preserved it as between the +States. It was not until the 28th day of August, 1833, that Great +Britain abolished human slavery in her colonies; and it was not +until the 1st day of January, 1863, that Abraham Lincoln, sustained +by the sublime and heroic North, rendered our flag pure as the sky +in which it floats.</p> +<p>Abraham Lincoln was, in my judgment, in many respects, the +grandest man ever President of the United States. Upon his monument +these words should be written: "Here sleeps the only man in the +history of the world, who, having been clothed with almost absolute +power, never abused it, except upon the side of mercy."</p> +<p>Think how long we clung to the institution of human slavery, how +long lashes upon the naked back were a legal tender for labor +performed. Think of it. The pulpit of this country deliberately and +willingly, for a hundred years, turned the cross of Christ into a +whipping post.</p> +<p>With every drop of my blood I hate and execrate every form of +tyranny, every form of slavery. I hate dictation. I love +liberty.</p> +<p>What do I mean by liberty? By physical liberty I mean the right +to do anything which does not interfere with the happiness of +another. By intellectual liberty I mean the right to think right +and the right to think wrong. Thought is the means by which we +endeavor to arrive at truth. If we know the truth already, we need +not think. All that can be required is honesty of purpose. You ask +my opinion about anything; I examine it honestly, and when my mind +is made up, what should I tell you? Should I tell you my real +thought? What should I do? There is a book put in my hands. I am +told this is the Koran; it was written by inspiration. I read it, +and when I get through, suppose that I think in my heart and in my +brain, that it is utterly untrue, and you then ask me, what do you +think? Now, admitting that I live in Turkey, and have no chance to +get any office unless I am on the side of the Koran, what should I +say? Should I make a clean breast and say, that upon my honor I do +not believe it? What would you think then of my fellow-citizens if +they said: "That man is dangerous, he is dishonest."</p> +<p>Suppose I read the book called the Bible, and when I get through +I make up my mind that it was written by men. A minister asks me, +"Did you read the Bible?" I answer, that I did. "Do you think it +divinely inspired?" What should I reply? Should I say to myself, +"If I deny the inspiration of the Scriptures, the people will never +clothe me with power." What ought I to answer? Ought I not to say +like a man: "I have read it; I do not believe it." Should I not +give the real transcript of my mind? Or should I turn hypocrite and +pretend what I do not feel, and hate myself forever after for being +a cringing coward. For my part I would rather a man would tell me +what he honestly thinks. I would rather he would preserve his +manhood. I had a thousand times rather be a manly unbeliever than +an unmanly believer. And if there is a judgment day, a time when +all will stand before some supreme being, I believe I will stand +higher, and stand a better chance of getting my case decided in my +favor, than any man sneaking through life pretending to believe +what he does not.</p> +<p>I have made up my mind to say my say. I shall do it kindly, +distinctly; but I am going to do it. I know there are thousands of +men who substantially agree with me, but who are not in a condition +to express their thoughts. They are poor; they are in business; and +they know that should they tell their honest thought, persons will +refuse to patronize them—to trade with them; they wish to get +bread for their little children; they wish to take care of their +wives; they wish to have homes and the comforts of life. Every such +person is a certificate of the meanness of the community in which +he resides. And yet I do not blame these people for not expressing +their thought. I say to them: "Keep your ideas to yourselves; feed +and clothe the ones you love; I will do your talking for you. The +church can not touch, can not crush, can not starve, cannot stop or +stay me; I will express your thoughts."</p> +<p>As an excuse for tyranny, as a justification of slavery, the +church has taught that man is totally depraved. Of the truth of +that doctrine, the church has furnished the only evidence there is. +The truth is, we are both good and bad. The worst are capable of +some good deeds, and the best are capable of bad. The lowest can +rise, and the highest may fall. That mankind can be divided into +two great classes, sinners and saints, is an utter falsehood. In +times of great disaster, called it may be, by the despairing voices +of women, men, denounced by the church as totally depraved, rush to +death as to a festival. By such men, deeds are done so filled with +self-sacrifice and generous daring, that millions pay to them the +tribute, not only of admiration, but of tears. Above all creeds, +above all religions, after all, is that divine +thing,—Humanity; and now and then in shipwreck on the wide, +wild sea, or 'mid the rocks and breakers of some cruel shore, or +where the serpents of flame writhe and hiss, some glorious heart, +some chivalric soul does a deed that glitters like a star, and +gives the lie to all the dogmas of superstition. All these +frightful doctrines have been used to degrade and to enslave +mankind.</p> +<p>Away, forever away with the creeds and books and forms and laws +and religions that take from the soul liberty and reason. Down with +the idea that thought is dangerous! Perish the infamous doctrine +that man can have property in man. Let us resent with indignation +every effort to put a chain upon our minds. If there is no God, +certainly we should not bow and cringe and crawl. If there is a +God, there should be no slaves.</p> +<a name="link0010"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>LIBERTY OF WOMAN.</h2> +<p>Women have been the slaves of slaves; and in my judgment it took +millions of ages for woman to come from the condition of abject +slavery up to the institution of marriage. Let me say right here, +that I regard marriage as the holiest institution among men. +Without the fireside there is no human advancement; without the +family relation there is no life worth living. Every good +government is made up of good families. The unit of good government +is the family, and anything that tends to destroy the family is +perfectly devilish and infamous. I believe in marriage, and I hold +in utter contempt the opinions of those long-haired men and +short-haired women who denounce the institution of marriage.</p> +<p>The grandest ambition that any man can possibly have, is to so +live, and so improve himself in heart and brain, as to be worthy of +the love of some splendid woman; and the grandest ambition of any +girl is to make herself worthy of the love and adoration of some +magnificent man. That is my idea. There is no success in life +without love and marriage. You had better be the emperor of one +loving and tender heart, and she the empress of yours, than to be +king of the world. The man who has really won the love of one good +woman in this world, I do not care if he dies in the ditch a +beggar, his life has been a success.</p> +<p>I say it took millions of years to come from the condition of +abject slavery up to the condition of marriage. Ladies, the +ornaments you wear upon your persons to-night are but the souvenirs +of your mother's bondage. The chains around your necks, and the +bracelets clasped upon your white arms by the thrilled hand of +love, have been changed by the wand of civilization from iron to +shining, glittering gold.</p> +<p>But nearly every religion has accounted for all the devilment in +this world by the crime of woman. What a gallant thing that is! And +if it is true, I had rather live with the woman I love in a world +full of trouble, than to live in heaven with nobody but men.</p> +<p>I read in a book—and I will say now that I cannot give the +exact language, as my memory does not retain the words, but I can +give the substance—I read in a book that the Supreme Being +concluded to make a world and one man; that he took some nothing +and made a world and one man, and put this man in a garden. In a +little while he noticed that the man got lonesome; that he wandered +around as if he was waiting for a train. There was nothing to +interest him; no news; no papers; no politics; no policy; and, as +the devil had not yet made his appearance, there was no chance for +reconciliation; not even for civil service reform. Well, he +wandered about the garden in this condition, until finally the +Supreme Being made up his mind to make him a companion.</p> +<p>Having used up all the nothing he originally took in making the +world and one man, he had to take a part of the man to start a +woman with. So he caused a sleep to fall on this man—now +understand me, I do not say this story is true. After the sleep +fell upon this man, the Supreme Being took a rib, or as the French +would call it, a cutlet, out of this man, and from that he made a +woman. And considering the amount of raw material used, I look upon +it as the most successful job ever performed. Well, after he got +the woman done, she was brought to the man; not to see how she +liked him, but to see how he liked her. He liked her, and they +started housekeeping; and they were told of certain things they +might do and of one thing they could not do—and of course +they did it. I would have done it in fifteen minutes, and I know +it. There wouldn't have been an apple on that tree half an hour +from date, and the limbs would have been full of clubs. And then +they were turned out of the park and extra policemen were put on to +keep them from getting back.</p> +<p>Devilment commenced. The mumps, and the measles, and the +whooping-cough, and the scarlet fever started in their race for +man. They began to have the toothache, roses began to have thorns, +snakes began to have poisoned teeth, and people began to divide +about religion and politics, and the world has been full of trouble +from that day to this.</p> +<p>Nearly all of the religions of this world account for the +existence of evil by such a story as that!</p> +<p>I read in another book what appeared to be an account of the +same transaction. It was written about four thousand years before +the other. All commentators agree that the one that was written +last was the original, and that the one that was written first was +copied from the one that was written last. But I would advise you +all not to allow your creed to be disturbed by a little matter of +four or five thousand years. In this other story, Brahma made up +his mind to make the world and a man and woman. He made the world, +and he made the man and then the woman, and put them on the island +of Ceylon. According to the account it was the most beautiful +island of which man can conceive. Such birds, such songs, such +flowers and such verdure! And the branches of the trees were so +arranged that when the wind swept through them every tree was a +thousand �?olian harps.</p> +<p>Brahma, when he put them there, said: "Let them have a period of +courtship, for it is my desire and will that true love should +forever precede marriage." When I read that, it was so much more +beautiful and lofty than the other, that I said to myself, "If +either one of these stories ever turns out to be true, I hope it +will be this one."</p> +<p>Then they had their courtship, with the nightingale singing, and +the stars shining, and the flowers blooming, and they fell in love. +Imagine that courtship! No prospective fathers or mothers-in-law; +no prying and gossiping neighbors; nobody to say, "Young man, how +do you expect to support her?" Nothing of that kind. They were +married by the Supreme Brahma, and he said to them: "Remain here; +you must never leave this island." Well, after a little while the +man—and his name was Adami, and the woman's name was +Heva—said to Heva: "I believe I'll look about a little." He +went to the northern extremity of the island where there was a +little narrow neck of land connecting it with the mainland, and the +devil, who is always playing pranks with us, produced a mirage, and +when he looked over to the mainland, such hills and vales, such +dells and dales, such mountains crowned with snow, such cataracts +clad in bows of glory did he see there, that he went back and told +Heva: "The country over there is a thousand times better than this; +let us migrate." She, like every other woman that ever lived, said: +"Let well enough alone; we have all we want; let us stay here." But +he said "No, let us go;" so she followed him, and when they came to +this narrow neck of land, he took her on his back like a gentleman, +and carried her over. But the moment they got over they heard a +crash, and looking back, discovered that this narrow neck of land +had fallen into the sea. The mirage had disappeared, and there were +naught but rocks and sand; and then the Supreme Brahma cursed them +both to the lowest hell.</p> +<p>Then it was that the man spoke,—and I have liked him ever +since for it—"Curse me, but curse not her, it was not her +fault, it was mine."</p> +<p>That's the kind of man to start a world with.</p> +<p>The Supreme Brahma said: "I will save her, but not thee." And +then she spoke out of her fullness of love, out of a heart in which +there was love enough to make all her daughters rich in holy +affection, and said: "If thou wilt not spare him, spare neither me; +I do not wish to live without him; I love him." Then the Supreme +Brahma said—and I have liked him ever since I read +it—"I will spare you both and watch over you and your +children forever."</p> +<p>Honor bright, is not that the better and grander story?</p> +<p>And from that same book I want to show you what ideas some of +these miserable heathen had; the heathen we are trying to convert. +We send missionaries over yonder to convert heathen there, and we +send soldiers out on the plains to kill heathen here. If we can +convert the heathen, why not convert those nearest home? Why not +convert those we can get at? Why not convert those who have the +immense advantage of the example of the average pioneer? But to +show you the men we are trying to convert: In this book it says: +"Man is strength, woman is beauty; man is courage, woman is love. +When the one man loves the one woman and the one woman loves the +one man, the very angels leave heaven and come and sit in that +house and sing for joy."</p> +<p>They are the men we are converting. Think of it! I tell you, +when I read these things, I say that love is not of any country; +nobility does not belong exclusively to any race, and through all +the ages, there have been a few great and tender souls blossoming +in love and pity.</p> +<p>In my judgment, the woman is the equal of the man. She has all +the rights I have and one more, and that is the right to be +protected. That is my doctrine. You are married; try and make the +woman you love happy. Whoever marries simply for himself will make +a mistake; but whoever loves a woman so well that he says "I will +make her happy," makes no mistake. And so with the woman who says, +"I will make him happy." There is only one way to be happy, and +that is to make somebody else so, and you cannot be happy by going +cross lots; you have got to go the regular turnpike road.</p> +<p>If there is any man I detest, it is the man who thinks he is the +head of a family—the man who thinks he is "boss!" The fellow +in the dug-out used that word "boss;" that was one of his favorite +expressions.</p> +<p>Imagine a young man and a young woman courting, walking out in +the moonlight, and the nightingale singing a song of pain and love, +as though the thorn touched her heart—imagine them stopping +there in the moonlight and starlight and song, and saying, "Now, +here, let us settle who is 'boss!'" I tell you it is an infamous +word and an infamous feeling—I abhor a man who is "boss," who +is going to govern in his family, and when he speaks orders all the +rest to be still as some mighty idea is about to be launched from +his mouth. Do you know I dislike this man unspeakably?</p> +<p>I hate above all things a cross man. What right has he to murder +the sunshine of a day? What right has he to assassinate the joy of +life?</p> +<p>When you go home you ought to go like a ray of light—so +that it will, even in the night, bursty out of the doors and +windows and illuminate the darkness. Some men think their mighty +brains have been in a turmoil; they have been thinking about who +will be alderman from the fifth ward; they have been thinking about +politics; great and mighty questions have been engaging their +minds; they have bought calico at five cents or six, and want to +sell it for seven. Think of the intellectual strain that must have +been upon that man, and when he gets home everybody else in the +house must look out for his comfort. A woman who has only taken +care of five or six children, and one or two of them sick, has been +nursing them and singing to them, and trying to make one yard of +cloth do the work of two, she, of course, is fresh and fine and +ready to wait upon this gentleman—the head of the +family—the boss!</p> +<p>Do you know another thing? I despise a stingy man. I do not see +how it is possible for a man to die worth fifty million of dollars, +or ten million of dollars, in a city full of want, when he meets +almost every day the withered hand of beggary and the white lips of +famine. How a man can withstand all that, and hold in the clutch of +his greed twenty or thirty million of dollars, is past my +comprehension. I do not see how he can do it. I should not think he +could do it any more than he could keep a pile of lumber on the +beach, where hundreds and thousands of men were drowning in the +sea.</p> +<p>Do you know that I have known men who would trust their wives +with their hearts and their honor but not with their pocketbook; +not with a dollar. When I see a man of that kind, I always think he +knows which of these articles is the most valuable. Think of making +your wife a beggar! Think of her having to ask you every day for a +dollar, or for two dollars or fifty cents! "What did you do with +that dollar I gave you last week?" Think of having a wife that is +afraid of you! What kind of children do you expect to have with a +beggar and a coward for their mother? Oh, I tell you if you have +but a dollar in the world, and you have got to spend it, spend it +like a king; spend it as though it were a dry leaf and you the +owner of unbounded forests! That's the way to spend it! I had +rather be a beggar and spend my last dollar like a king, than be a +king and spend my money like a beggar! If it has got to go, let it +go!</p> +<p>Get the best you can for your family—try to look as well +as you can yourself. When you used to go courting, how elegantly +you looked! Ah, your eye was bright, your step was light, and you +looked like a prince. Do you know that it is insufferable egotism +in you to suppose a woman is going to love you always looking as +slovenly as you can! Think of it! Any good woman on earth will be +true to you forever when you do your level best.</p> +<p>Some people tell me, "Your doctrine about loving, and wives, and +all that, is splendid for the rich, but it won't do for the poor." +I tell you to-night there is more love in the homes of the poor +than in the palaces of the rich. The meanest hut with love in it is +a palace fit for the gods, and a palace without love is a den only +fit for wild beasts. That is my doctrine! You cannot be so poor +that you cannot help somebody. Good nature is the cheapest +commodity in the world; and love is the only thing that will pay +ten per cent, to borrower and lender both. Do not tell me that you +have got to be rich! We have a false standard of greatness in the +United States. We think here that a man must be great, that he must +be notorious; that he must be extremely wealthy, or that his name +must be upon the putrid lips of rumor. It is all a mistake. It is +not necessary to be rich or to be great, or to be powerful, to be +happy. The happy man is the successful man.</p> +<p>Happiness is the legal tender of the soul.</p> +<p>Joy is wealth.</p> +<p>A little while ago, I stood by the grave of the old +Napoleon—a magnificent tomb of gilt and gold, fit almost for +a dead deity—and gazed upon the sarcophagus of rare and +nameless marble, where rest at last the ashes of that restless man. +I leaned over the balustrade and thought about the career of the +greatest soldier of the modern world.</p> +<p>I saw him walking upon the banks of the Seine, contemplating +suicide. I saw him at Toulon—I saw him putting down the mob +in the streets of Paris—I saw him at the head of the army of +Italy—I saw him crossing the bridge of Lodi with the +tri-color in his hand—I saw him in Egypt in the shadows of +the pyramids—I saw him conquer the Alps and mingle the eagles +of France with the eagles of the crags. I saw him at +Marengo—at Ulm and Austerlitz. I saw him in Russia, where the +infantry of the snow and the cavalry of the wild blast scattered +his legions like winter's withered leaves. I saw him at Leipsic in +defeat and disaster—driven by a million bayonets back upon +Paris—clutched like a wild beast—banished to Elba. I +saw him escape and retake an empire by the force of his genius. I +saw him upon the frightful field of Waterloo, where Chance and Fate +combined to wreck the fortunes of their former king. And I saw him +at St. Helena, with his hands crossed behind him, gazing out upon +the sad and solemn sea.</p> +<p>I thought of the orphans and widows he had made—of the +tears that had been shed for his glory, and of the only woman who +ever loved him, pushed from his heart by the cold hand of ambition. +And I said I would rather have been a French peasant and worn +wooden shoes. I would rather have lived in a hut with a vine +growing over the door, and the grapes growing purple in the kisses +of the autumn sun. I would rather have been that poor peasant with +my loving wife by my side, knitting as the day died out of the +sky—with my children upon my knees and their arms about +me—I would rather have been that man and gone down to the +tongueless silence of the dreamless dust, than to have been that +imperial impersonation of force and murder, known as "Napoleon the +Great."</p> +<p>It is not necessary to be great to be happy; it is not necessary +to be rich to be just and generous and to have a heart filled with +divine affection. No matter whether you are rich or poor, treat +your wife as though she were a splendid flower, and she will fill +your life with perfume and with joy.</p> +<p>And do you know, it is a splendid thing to think that the woman +you really love will never grow old to you. Through the wrinkles of +time, through the mask of years, if you really love her, you will +always see the face you loved and won. And a woman who really loves +a man does not see that he grows old; he is not decrepit to her; he +does not tremble; he is not old; she always sees the same gallant +gentleman who won her hand and heart. I like to think of it in that +way; I like to think that love is eternal. And to love in that way +and then go down the hill of life together, and as you go down, +hear, perhaps, the laughter of grandchildren, while the birds of +joy and love sing once more in the leafless branches of the tree of +age.</p> +<p>I believe in the fireside. I believe in the democracy of home. I +believe in the republicanism of the family. I believe in liberty, +equality and love.</p> +<a name="link0011"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>THE LIBERTY OF CHILDREN.</h2> +<p>If women have been slaves, what shall I say of children; of the +little children in alleys and sub-cellars; the little children who +turn pale when they hear their fathers' footsteps; little children +who run away when they only hear their names called by the lips of +a mother; little children—the children of poverty, the +children of crime, the children of brutality, wherever they +are—flotsam and jetsam upon the wild, mad sea of +life—my heart goes out to them, one and all.</p> +<p>I tell you the children have the same rights that we have, and +we ought to treat them as though they were human beings. They +should be reared with love, with kindness, with tenderness, and not +with brutality. That is my idea of children.</p> +<p>When your little child tells a lie, do not rush at him as though +the world were about to go into bankruptcy. Be honest with him. A +tyrant father will have liars for his children; do you know +that?</p> +<p>A lie is born of tyranny upon the one hand and weakness upon the +other, and when you rush at a poor little boy with a club in your +hand, of course he lies.</p> +<p>I thank thee, Mother Nature, that thou hast put ingenuity enough +in the brain of a child, when attacked by a brutal parent, to throw +up a little breastwork in the shape of a lie.</p> +<p>When one of your children tells a lie, be honest with him; tell +him that you have told hundreds of them yourself. Tell him it is +not the best way; that you have tried it. Tell him as the man did +in Maine when his boy left home: "John, honesty is the best policy; +I have tried both." Be honest with him. Suppose a man as much +larger than you as you are larger than a child five years old, +should come at you with a liberty pole in his hand, and in a voice +of thunder shout, "Who broke that plate?" There is not a solitary +one of you who would not swear you never saw it, or that it was +cracked when you got it. Why not be honest with these children? +Just imagine a man who deals in stocks whipping his boy for putting +false rumors afloat! Think of a lawyer beating his own flesh and +blood for evading the truth when he makes half of his own living +that way! Think of a minister punishing his child for not telling +all he thinks! Just think of it!</p> +<p>When your child commits a wrong, take it in your arms; let it +feel your heart beat against its heart; let the child know that you +really and truly and sincerely love it. Yet some Christians, good +Christians, when a child commits a fault, drive it from the door +and say: "Never do you darken this house again." Think of that! And +then these same people will get down on their knees and ask God to +take care of the child they have driven from home. I will never ask +God to take care of my children unless I am doing my level best in +that same direction.</p> +<p>But I will tell you what I say to my children: "Go where you +will; commit what crime you may; fall to what depth of degradation +you may; you can never commit any crime that will shut my door, my +arms, or my heart to you. As long as I live you shall have one +sincere friend."</p> +<p>Do you know that I have seen some people who acted as though +they thought that when the Savior said "Suffer little children to +come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven," he had a +raw-hide under his mande, and made that remark simply to get the +children within striking distance?</p> +<p>I do not believe in the government of the lash, if any one of +you ever expects to whip your children again, I want you to have a +photograph taken of yourself when you are in the act, with your +face red with vulgar anger, and the face of the little child, with +eyes swimming in tears and the little chin dimpled with fear, like +a piece of water struck by a sudden cold wind. Have the picture +taken. If that little child should die, I cannot think of a sweeter +way to spend an autumn afternoon than to go out to the cemetery, +when the maples are clad in tender gold, and little scarlet runners +are coming, like poems of regret, from the sad heart of the +earth—and sit down upon the grave and look at that +photograph, and think of the flesh now dust that you beat. I tell +you it is wrong; it is no way to raise children! Make your home +happy. Be honest with them. Divide fairly with them in +everything.</p> +<p>Give them a little liberty and love, and you can not drive them +out of your house. They will want to stay there. Make home +pleasant. Let them play any game they wish. Do not be so foolish as +to say: "You may roll balls on the ground, but you must not roll +them on a green cloth. You may knock them with a mallet, but you +must not push them with a cue. You may play with little pieces of +paper which have 'authors' written on them, but you must not have +'cards.'" Think of it! "You may go to a minstrel show where people +blacken themselves and imitate humanity below them, but you must +not go to a theatre and see the characters created by immortal +genius put upon the stage." Why? Well, I can't think of any reason +in the world except "minstrel" is a word of two syllables, and +"theatre" has three.</p> +<p>Let children have some daylight at home if you want to keep them +there, and do not commence at the cradle and shout "Don't!" +"Don't!" "Stop!" That is nearly all that is said to a child from +the cradle until he is twenty-one years old, and when he comes of +age other people begin saying "Don't!" And the church says "Don't!" +and the party he belongs to says "Don't!"</p> +<p>I despise that way of going through this world. Let us have +liberty—just a little. Call me infidel, call me atheist, call +me what you will, I intend so to treat my children, that they can +come to my grave and truthfully say: "He who sleeps here never gave +us a moment of pain. From his lips, now dust, never came to us an +unkind word."</p> +<p>People justify all kinds of tyranny toward children upon the +ground that they are totally depraved. At the bottom of ages of +cruelty lies this infamous doctrine of total depravity. Religion +contemplates a child as a living crime—heir to an infinite +curse—doomed to eternal fire.</p> +<p>In the olden time, they thought some days were too good for a +child to enjoy himself. When I was a boy Sunday was considered +altogether too holy to be happy in. Sunday used to commence then +when the sun went down on Saturday night. We commenced at that time +for the purpose of getting a good ready, and when the sun fell +below the horizon on Saturday evening, there was a darkness fell +upon the house ten thousand times deeper than that of night. Nobody +said a pleasant word; nobody laughed; nobody smiled; the child that +looked the sickest was regarded as the most pious. That night you +could not even crack hickory nuts. If you were caught chewing gum +it was only another evidence of the total depravity of the human +heart. It was an exceedingly solemn night.</p> +<p>Dyspepsia was in the very air you breathed. Everybody looked sad +and mournful. I have noticed all my life that many people think +they have religion when they are troubled with dyspepsia. If there +could be found an absolute specific for that disease, it would be +the hardest blow the church has ever received.</p> +<p>On Sunday morning the solemnity had simply increased. Then we +went to church. The minister was in a pulpit about twenty feet +high, with a little sounding-board above him, and he commenced at +"firstly" and went on and on and on to about "twenty-thirdly." Then +he made a few remarks by way of application; and then took a +general view of the subject, and in about two hours reached the +last chapter in Revelation.</p> +<p>In those days, no matter how cold the weather was, there was no +fire in the church. It was thought to be a kind of sin to be +comfortable while you were thanking God. The first church that ever +had a stove in it in New England, divided on that account. So the +first church in which they sang by note, was torn in fragments.</p> +<p>After the sermon we had an intermission. Then came the catechism +with the chief end of man. We went through with that. We sat in a +row with our feet coming in about six inches of the floor. The +minister asked us if we knew that we all deserved to go to hell, +and we all answered "Yes." Then we were asked if we would be +willing to go to hell if it was God's will, and every little liar +shouted "Yes." Then the same sermon was preached once more, +commencing at the other end and going back. After that, we started +for home, sad and solemn—overpowered with the wisdom +displayed in the scheme of the atonement. When we got home, if we +had been good boys, and the weather was warm, sometimes they would +take us out to the graveyard to cheer us up a little. It did cheer +me. When I looked at the sunken tombs and the leaning stones, and +read the half-effaced inscriptions through the moss of silence and +forgetfulness, it was a great comfort. The reflection came to my +mind that the observance of the Sabbath could not last always. +Sometimes they would sing that beautiful hymn in which occurs these +cheerful lines:</p> +<pre> + "Where congregations ne'er break up, + And Sabbaths never end." +</pre> +<p>These lines, I think, prejudiced me a little against even +heaven. Then we had good books that we read on Sundays by way of +keeping us happy and contented. There were Milners' "History of the +Waldenses," Baxter's "Call to the Unconverted," Yahn's "Archaeology +of the Jews," and Jenkyns' "On the Atonement." I used to read +Jenkyns' "On the Atonement." I have often thought that an atonement +would have to be exceedingly broad in its provisions to cover the +case of a man who would write a book like that for a boy.</p> +<p>But at last the Sunday wore away, and the moment the sun went +down we were free. Between three and four o'clock we would go out +to see how the sun was coming on. Sometimes it seemed to me that it +was stopping from pure meanness. But finally it went down. It had +to. And when the last rim of light sank below the horizon, off +would go our caps, and we would give three cheers for liberty once +more.</p> +<p>Sabbaths used to be prisons. Every Sunday was a Bastile. Every +Christian was a kind of turnkey, and every child was a +prisoner,—a convict. In that dungeon, a smile was a +crime.</p> +<p>It was thought wrong for a child to laugh upon this holy day. +Think of that!</p> +<p>A little child would go out into the garden, and there would be +a tree laden with blossoms, and the little fellow would lean +against it, and there would be a bird on one of the boughs, singing +and swinging, and thinking about four little speckled eggs, warmed +by the breast of its mate,—singing and swinging, and the +music in happy waves rippling out of its tiny throat, and the +flowers blossoming, the air filled with perfume and the great white +clouds floating in the sky, and the little boy would lean up +against that tree and think about hell and the worm that never +dies.</p> +<p>I have heard them preach, when I sat in the pew and my feet did +not touch the floor, about the final home of the unconverted. In +order to impress upon the children the length of time they would +probably stay if they settled in that country, the preacher would +frequently give us the following illustration: "Suppose that once +in a billion years a bird should come from some far-distant planet, +and carry off in its little bill a grain of sand, a time would +finally come when the last atom composing this earth would be +carried away; and when this last atom was taken, it would not even +be sun up in hell." Think of such an infamous doctrine being taught +to children!</p> +<p>The laugh of a child will make the holiest day-more sacred +still. Strike, with hand of fire, O weird musician, thy harp strung +with Apollo's golden hair; fill the vast cathedral aisles with +symphonies sweet and dim, deft toucher of the organ keys; blow, +bugler, blow, until thy silver notes do touch and kiss the moonlit +waves, and charm the lovers wandering 'mid the vine-clad hills. But +know, your sweetest strains are discords all, compared with +childhood's happy laugh—the laugh that fills the eyes with +light and every heart with joy. O rippling river of laughter, thou +art the blessed boundary line between the beasts and men; and every +wayward wave of thine doth drown some fretful fiend of care. O +Laughter, rose-lipped daughter of Joy, there are dimples enough in +thy cheeks to catch and hold and glorify all the tears of +grief.</p> +<p>And yet the minds of children have been polluted by this +infamous doctrine of eternal punishment. I denounce it to-day as a +doctrine, the infamy of which no language is sufficient to +express.</p> +<p>Where did that doctrine of eternal punishment for men and women +and children come from? It came from the low and beastly skull of +that wretch in the dug-out. Where did he get it? It was a souvenir +from the animals. The doctrine of eternal punishment was born in +the glittering eyes of snakes—snakes that hung in fearful +coils watching for their prey. It was born of the howl and bark and +growl of wild beasts. It was born of the grin of hyenas and of the +depraved chatter of unclean baboons. I despise it with every drop +of my blood. Tell me there is a God in the serene heavens that will +damn his children for the expression of an honest belief! More men +have died in their sins, judged by your orthodox creeds, than there +are leaves on all the forests in the wide world ten thousand times +over. Tell me these men are in hell; that these men are in torment; +that these children are in eternal pain, and that they are to be +punished forever and forever! I denounce this doctrine as the most +infamous of lies.</p> +<p>When the great ship containing the hopes and aspirations of the +world, when the great ship freighted with mankind goes down in the +night of death, chaos and disaster, I am willing to go down with +the ship. I will not be guilty of the ineffable meanness of +paddling away in some orthodox canoe. I will go down with the ship, +with those who love me, and with those whom I have loved. If there +is a God who will damn his children forever, I would rather go to +hell than to go to heaven and keep the society of such an infamous +tyrant. I make my choice now. I despise that doctrine. It has +covered the cheeks of this world with tears. It has polluted the +hearts of children, and poisoned the imaginations of men. It has +been a constant pain, a perpetual terror to every good man and +woman and child. It has filled the good with horror and with fear; +but it has had no effect upon the infamous and base. It has wrung +the hearts of the tender; it has furrowed the cheeks of the good. +This doctrine never should be preached again. What right have you, +sir, Mr. clergyman, you, minister of the gospel, to stand at the +portals of the tomb, at the vestibule of eternity, and fill the +future with horror and with fear? I do not believe this doctrine: +neither do you. If you did, you could not sleep one moment. Any man +who believes it, and has within his breast a decent, throbbing +heart, will go insane. A man who believes that doctrine and does +not go insane has the heart of a snake and the conscience of a +hyena.</p> +<p>Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is +true, is now in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he +hears the cries of the damned, preached this doctrine; and he said: +"Can the believing husband in heaven be happy with his unbelieving +wife in hell? Can the believing father in heaven be happy with his +unbelieving children in hell? Can the loving wife in heaven be +happy with her unbelieving husband in hell?" And he replies: "I +tell you, yea. Such will be their sense of justice, that it will +increase rather than diminish their bliss." There is no wild beast +in the jungles of Africa whose reputation would not be tarnished by +the expression of such a doctrine.</p> +<p>These doctrines have been taught in the name of religion, in the +name of universal forgiveness, in the name of infinite love and +charity. Do not, I pray you, soil the minds of your children with +this dogma. Let them read for themselves; let them think for +themselves.</p> +<p>Do not treat your children like orthodox posts to be set in a +row. Treat them like trees that need light and sun and air. Be fair +and honest with them; give them a chance. Recollect that their +rights are equal to yours. Do not have it in your mind that you +must govern them; that they must obey. Throw away forever the idea +of master and slave.</p> +<p>In old times they used to make the children go to bed when they +were not sleepy, and get up when they were sleepy. I say let them +go to bed when they are sleepy, and get up when they are not +sleepy.</p> +<p>But you say, this doctrine will do for the rich but not for the +poor. Well, if the poor have to waken their children early in the +morning it is as easy to wake them with a kiss as with a blow. Give +your children freedom; let them preserve their individuality. Let +your children eat what they desire, and commence at the end of a +dinner they like. That is their business and not yours. They know +what they wish to eat. If they are given their liberty from the +first, they know what they want better than any doctor in the world +can prescribe. Do you know that all the improvement that has ever +been made in the practice of medicine has been made by the +recklessness of patients and not by the doctors? For thousands and +thousands of years the doctors would not let a man suffering from +fever have a drop of water. Water they looked upon as poison. But +every now and then some man got reckless and said, "I had rather +die than not to slake my thirst." Then he would drink two or three +quarts of water and get well. And when the doctor was told of what +the patient had done, he expressed great surprise that he was still +alive, and complimented his constitution upon being able to bear +such a frightful strain. The reckless men, however, kept on +drinking the water, and persisted in getting well. And finally the +doctors said: "In a fever, water is the very best thing you can +take." So, I have more confidence in the voice of nature about such +things than I have in the conclusions of the medical schools.</p> +<p>Let your children have freedom and they will fall into your +ways; they will do substantially as you do; but if you try to make +them, there is some magnificent, splendid thing in the human heart +that refuses to be driven. And do you know that it is the luckiest +thing that ever happened for this world, that people are that way. +What would have become of the people five hundred years ago if they +had followed strictly the advice of the doctors? They would have +all been dead. What would the people have been, if at any age of +the world they had followed implicitly the direction of the church? +They would have all been idiots. It is a splendid thing that there +is always some grand man who will not mind, and who will think for +himself.</p> +<p>I believe in allowing the children to think for themselves. I +believe in the democracy of the family. If in this world there is +anything splendid, it is a home where all are equals.</p> +<p>You will remember that only a few years ago parents would tell +their children to "let their victuals stop their mouths." They used +to eat as though it were a religious ceremony—a very solemn +thing. Life should not be treated as a solemn matter. I like to see +the children at table, and hear each one telling of the wonderful +things he has seen and heard. I like to hear the clatter of knives +and forks and spoons mingling with their happy voices. I had rather +hear it than any opera that was ever put upon the boards. Let the +children have liberty. Be honest and fair with them; be just; be +tender, and they will make you rich in love and joy.</p> +<p>Men are oaks, women are vines, children are flowers.</p> +<p>The human race has been guilty of almost countless crimes; but I +have some excuse for mankind. This world, after all, is not very +well adapted to raising good people. In the first place, nearly all +of it is water. It is much better adapted to fish culture than to +the production of folks. Of that portion which is land not +one-eighth has suitable soil and climate to produce great men and +women. You cannot raise men and women of genius, without the proper +soil and climate, any more than you can raise corn and wheat upon +the ice fields of the Arctic sea. You must have the necessary +conditions and surroundings. Man is a product; you must have the +soil and food. The obstacles presented by nature must not be so +great that man cannot, by reasonable industry and courage, overcome +them. There is upon this world only a narrow belt of land, circling +zigzag the globe, upon which you can produce men and women of +talent. In the Southern Hemisphere the real climate that man needs +falls mostly upon the sea, and the result is, that the southern +half of our world has never produced a man or woman of great +genius. In the far north there is no genius—it is too cold. +In the far south there is no genius—it is too warm. There +must be winter, and there must be summer. In a country where man +needs no coverlet but a cloud, revolution is his normal condition. +Winter is the mother of industry and prudence. Above all, it is the +mother of the family relation. Winter holds in its icy arms the +husband and wife and the sweet children. If upon this earth we ever +have a glimpse of heaven, it is when we pass a home in winter, at +night, and through the windows, the curtains drawn aside, we see +the family about the pleasant hearth; the old lady knitting; the +cat playing with the yarn; the children wishing they had as many +dolls or dollars or knives or somethings, as there are sparks going +out to join the roaring blast; the father reading and smoking, and +the clouds rising like incense from the altar of domestic joy. I +never passed such a house without feeling that I had received a +benediction.</p> +<p>Civilization, liberty, justice, charity, intellectual +advancement, are all flowers that blossom in the drifted snow.</p> +<p>I do not know that I can better illustrate the great truth that +only part of the world is adapted to the production of great men +and women than by calling your attention to the difference between +vegetation in valleys and upon mountains. In the valley you find +the oak and elm tossing their branches defiantly to the storm, and +as you advance up the mountain side the hemlock, the pine, the +birch, the spruce, the fir, and finally you come to little dwarfed +trees, that look like other trees seen through a telescope +reversed—every limb twisted as though in pain—getting a +scanty subsistence from the miserly crevices of the rocks. You go +on and on, until at last the highest crag is freckled with a kind +of moss, and vegetation ends. You might as well try to raise oaks +and elms where the mosses grow, as to raise great men and great +women where their surroundings are unfavorable. You must have the +proper climate and soil.</p> +<p>A few years ago we were talking about the annexation of Santo +Domingo to this country. I was in Washington at the time. I was +opposed to it I was told that it was a most delicious climate; that +the soil produced everything. But I said: "We do not want it; it is +not the right kind of country in which to raise American citizens. +Such a climate would debauch us. You might go there with five +thousand Congregational preachers, five thousand ruling elders, +five thousand professors in colleges, five thousand of the solid +men of Boston and their wives; settle them all in Santo Domingo, +and you will see the second generation riding upon a mule, +bareback, no shoes, a grapevine bridle, hair sticking out at the +top of their sombreros, with a rooster under each arm, going to a +cock fight on Sunday." Such is the influence of climate.</p> +<p>Science, however, is gradually widening the area within which +men of genius can be produced. We are conquering the north with +houses, clothing, food and fuel. We are in many ways overcoming the +heat of the south. If we attend to this world instead of another, +we may in time cover the land with men and women of genius.</p> +<p>I have still another excuse. I believe that man came up from the +lower animals. I do not say this as a fact. I simply say I believe +it to be a fact. Upon that question I stand about eight to seven, +which, for all practical purposes, is very near a certainty. When I +first heard of that doctrine I did not like it. My heart was filled +with sympathy for those people who have nothing to be proud of +except ancestors. I thought, how terrible this will be upon the +nobility of the Old World. Think of their being forced to trace +their ancestry back to the duke Orang Outang, or to the princess +Chimpanzee. After thinking it all over, I came to the conclusion +that I liked that doctrine. I became convinced in spite of myself. +I read about rudimentary bones and muscles. I was told that +everybody had rudimentary muscles extending from the ear into the +cheek. I asked "What are they?" I was told: "They are the remains +of muscles; that they became rudimentary from lack of use; they +went into bankruptcy. They are the muscles with which your +ancestors used to flap their ears." I do not now so much wonder +that we once had them as that we have outgrown them.</p> +<p>After all I had rather belong to a race that started from the +skull-less vertebrates in the dim Laurentian seas, vertebrates +wiggling without knowing why they wiggled, swimming without knowing +where they were going, but that in some way began to develop, and +began to get a little higher and a little higher in the scale of +existence; that came up by degrees through millions of ages through +all the animal world, through all that crawls and swims and floats +and climbs and walks, and finally produced the gentleman in the +dug-out; and then from this man, getting a little grander, and each +one below calling every one above him a heretic, calling every one +who had made a little advance an infidel or an atheist—for in +the history of this world the man who is ahead has always been +called a heretic—I would rather come from a race that started +from that skull-less vertebrate, and came up and up and up and +finally produced Shakespeare, the man who found the human intellect +dwelling in a hut, touched it with the wand of his genius and it +became a palace domed and pinnacled; Shakespeare, who harvested all +the fields of dramatic thought, and from whose day to this, there +have been only gleaners of straw and chaff—I would rather +belong to that race that commenced a skull-less vertebrate and +produced Shakespeare, a race that has before it an infinite future, +with the angel of progress leaning from the far horizon, beckoning +men forward, upward and onward forever—I had rather belong to +such a race, commencing there, producing this, and with that hope, +than to have sprung from a perfect pair upon which the Lord has +lost money every moment from that day to this.</p> +<a name="linkCONC"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>CONCLUSION.</h2> +<p>I have given you my honest thought. Surely investigation is +better than unthinking faith. Surely reason is a better guide than +fear. This world should be controlled by the living, not by the +dead. The grave is not a throne, and a corpse is not a king. Man +should not try to live on ashes.</p> +<p>The theologians dead, knew no more than the theologians now +living. More than this cannot be said. About this world little is +known,—about another world, nothing.</p> +<p>Our fathers were intellectual serfs, and their fathers were +slaves. The makers of our creeds were ignorant and brutal. Every +dogma that we have, has upon it the mark of whip, the rust of +chain, and the ashes of fagot.</p> +<p>Our fathers reasoned with instruments of torture. They believed +in the logic of fire and sword. They hated reason. They despised +thought. They abhorred liberty.</p> +<p>Superstition is the child of slavery. Free thought will give us +truth. When all have the right to think and to express their +thoughts, every brain will give to all the best it has. The world +will then be filled with intellectual wealth.</p> +<p>As long as men and women are afraid of the church, as long as a +minister inspires fear, as long as people reverence a thing simply +because they do not understand it, as long as it is respectable to +lose your self-respect, as long as the church has power, as long as +mankind worship a book, just so long will the world be filled with +intellectual paupers and vagrants, covered with the soiled and +faded rags of superstition.</p> +<p>As long as woman regards the Bible as the charter of her rights, +she will be the slave of man. The Bible was not written by a woman. +Within its lids there is nothing but humiliation and shame for her. +She is regarded as the property of man. She is made to ask +forgiveness for becoming a mother. She is as much below her +husband, as her husband is below Christ. She is not allowed to +speak. The gospel is too pure to be spoken by her polluted lips. +Woman should learn in silence.</p> +<p>In the Bible will be found no description of a civilized home. +The free mother surrounded by free and loving children, adored by a +free man, her husband, was unknown to the inspired writers of the +Bible. They did not believe in the democracy of home—in the +republicanism of the fireside.</p> +<p>These inspired gentlemen knew nothing of the rights of children. +They were the advocates of brute force—the disciples of the +lash. They knew nothing of human rights. Their doctrines have +brutalized the homes of millions, and filled the eyes of infancy +with tears.</p> +<p>Let us free ourselves from the tyranny of a book, from the +slavery of dead ignorance, from the aristocracy of the air.</p> +<p>There has never been upon the earth a generation of free men and +women. It is not yet time to write a creed. Wait until the chains +are broken—until dungeons are not regarded as temples. Wait +until solemnity is not mistaken for wisdom—until mental +cowardice ceases to be known as reverence. Wait until the living +are considered the equals of the dead—until the cradle takes +precedence of the coffin. Wait until what we know can be spoken +without regard to what others may believe. Wait until teachers take +the place of preachers—until followers become investigators. +Wait until the world is free before you write a creed.</p> +<p>In this creed there will be but one word—Liberty.</p> +<p>Oh Liberty, float not forever in the far horizon—remain +not forever in the dream of the enthusiast, the philanthropist and +poet, but come and make thy home among the children of men!</p> +<p>I know not what discoveries, what inventions, what thoughts may +leap from the brain of the world. I know not what garments of glory +may be woven by the years to come. I cannot dream of the victories +to be won upon the fields of thought; but I do know, that coming +from the infinite sea of the future, there will never touch this +"bank and shoal of time" a richer gift, a rarer blessing than +liberty for man, for woman, and for child.</p> +<a name="link0013"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>ABOUT FARMING IN ILLINOIS</h2> +<p>To Plow is to Pray—to Plant is to Prophesy, and the +Harvest Answers and Fulfills.</p> +<p>I AM not an old and experienced farmer, nor a tiller of the +soil, nor one of the hard-handed sons of labor. I imagine, however, +that I know something about cultivating the soil, and getting +happiness out of the ground.</p> +<p>I know enough to know that agriculture is the basis of all +wealth, prosperity and luxury. I know that in a country where the +tillers of the fields are free, everybody is free and ought to be +prosperous. Happy is that country where those who cultivate the +land own it. Patriotism is born in the woods and fields—by +lakes and streams—by crags and plains.</p> +<p>The old way of farming was a great mistake. Everything was done +the wrong way. It was all work and waste, weariness and want. They +used to fence a hundred and sixty acres of land with a couple of +dogs. Everything was left to the protection of the blessed trinity +of chance, accident and mistake.</p> +<p>When I was a farmer they used to haul wheat two hundred miles in +wagons and sell it for thirty-five cents a bushel. They would bring +home about three hundred feet of lumber, two bunches of shingles, a +barrel of salt, and a cook-stove that never would draw and never +did bake.</p> +<p>In those blessed days the people lived on corn and bacon. +Cooking was an unknown art. Eating was a necessity, not a pleasure. +It was hard work for the cook to keep on good terms even with +hunger.</p> +<p>We had poor houses. The rain held the roofs in perfect contempt, +and the snow drifted joyfully on the floors and beds. They had no +barns. The horses were kept in rail pens surrounded with straw. +Long before spring the sides would be eaten away and nothing but +roofs would be left. Food is fuel. When the cattle were exposed to +all the blasts of winter, it took all the corn and oats that could +be stuffed into them to prevent actual starvation.</p> +<p>In those times most farmers thought the best place for the +pig-pen was immediately in front of the house. There is nothing +like sociability.</p> +<p>Women were supposed to know the art of making fires without +fuel. The wood pile consisted, as a general thing, of one log upon +which an axe or two had been worn out in vain. There was nothing to +kindle a fire with. Pickets were pulled from the garden fence, +clap-boards taken from the house, and every stray plank was seized +upon for kindling. Everything was done in the hardest way. +Everything about the farm was disagreeable. Nothing was kept in +order. Nothing was preserved. The wagons stood in the sun and rain, +and the plows rusted in the fields. There was no leisure, no +feeling that the work was done. It was all labor and weariness and +vexation of spirit. The crops were destroyed by wandering herds, or +they were put in too late, or too early, or they were blown down, +or caught by the frost, or devoured by bugs, or stung by flies, or +eaten by worms, or carried away by birds, or dug up by gophers, or +washed away by floods, or dried up by the sun, or rotted in the +stack, or heated in the crib, or they all run to vines, or tops, or +straw, or smut, or cobs. And when in spite of all these accidents +that lie in wait between, the plow and the reaper, they did succeed +in raising a good crop and a high price was offered, then the roads +would be impassable. And when the roads got good, then the prices +went down. Everything worked together for evil.</p> +<p>Nearly every farmer's boy took an oath that he never would +cultivate the soil. The moment they arrived at the age of +twenty-one they left the desolate and dreary farms and rushed to +the towns and cities. They wanted to be bookkeepers, doctors, +merchants, railroad men, insurance agents, lawyers, even preachers, +anything to avoid the drudgery of the farm. Nearly every boy +acquainted with the three R's—reading, writing, and +arithmetic—imagined that he had altogether more education +than ought to be wasted in raising potatoes and corn. They made +haste to get into some other business. Those who stayed upon the +farm envied those who went away.</p> +<p>A few years ago the times were prosperous, and the young men +went to the cities to enjoy the fortunes that were waiting for +them. They wanted to engage in something that promised quick +returns. They built railways, established banks and insurance +companies. They speculated in stocks in Wall Street, and gambled in +grain at Chicago. They became rich. They lived in palaces. They +rode in carriages. They pitied their poor brothers on the farms, +and the poor brothers envied them.</p> +<p>But time has brought its revenge. The farmers have seen the +railroad president a bankrupt, and the road in the hands of a +receiver. They have seen the bank president abscond, and the +insurance company a wrecked and ruined fraud. The only solvent +people, as a class, the only independent people, are the tillers of +the soil.</p> +<p>Farming must be made more attractive. The comforts of the town +must be added to the beauty of the fields. The sociability of the +city must be rendered possible in the country.</p> +<p>Farming has been made repulsive. The farmers have been +unsociable and their homes have been lonely. They have been +wasteful and careless. They have not been proud of their +business.</p> +<p>In the first place, farming ought to be reasonably profitable. +The farmers have not attended to their own interests. They have +been robbed and plundered in a hundred ways.</p> +<p>No farmer can afford to raise corn and oats and hay to sell. He +should sell horses, not oats; sheep, cattle and pork, not corn. He +should make every profit possible out of what he produces. So long +as the farmers of Illinois ship their corn and oats, so long they +will be poor,—just so long will their farms be mortgaged to +the insurance companies and banks of the East,—just so long +will they do the work and others reap the benefit,—just so +long will they be poor, and the money lenders grow rich,—just +so long will cunning avarice grasp and hold the net profits of +honest toil. When the farmers of the West ship beef and pork +instead of grain,—when we manufacture here,—when we +cease paying tribute to others, ours will be the most prosperous +country in the world.</p> +<p>Another thing—It is just as cheap to raise a good as a +poor breed of cattle. Scrubs will eat just as much as +thoroughbreds. If you are not able to buy Durhams and Alderneys, +you can raise the corn breed. By "corn breed" I mean the cattle +that have, for several generations, had enough to eat, and have +been treated with kindness. Every farmer who will treat his cattle +kindly, and feed them all they want, will, in a few years, have +blooded stock on his farm. All blooded stock has been produced in +this way. You can raise good cattle just as you can raise good +people. If you wish to raise a good boy you must give him plenty to +eat, and treat him with kindness. In this way, and in this way +only, can good cattle or good people be produced.</p> +<p>Another thing—You must beautify your homes.</p> +<p>When I was a farmer it was not fashionable to set out trees, nor +to plant vines.</p> +<p>When you visited the farm you were not welcomed by flowers, and +greeted by trees loaded with fruit. Yellow dogs came bounding over +the tumbled fence like wild beasts. There is no sense—there +is no profit in such a life. It is not living. The farmers ought to +beautify their homes. There should be trees and grass and flowers +and running vines. Everything should be kept in order—gates +should be on their hinges, and about all there should be the +pleasant air of thrift. In every house there should be a bath-room. +The bath is a civilizer, a refiner, a beautifier. When you come +from the fields tired, covered with dust, nothing is so refreshing. +Above all things, keep clean. It is not necessary to be a pig in +order to raise one. In the cool of the evening, after a day in the +field, put on clean clothes, take a seat under the trees, 'mid the +perfume of flowers, surrounded by your family, and you will know +what it is to enjoy life like a gentleman.</p> +<p>In no part of the globe will farming pay better than in +Illinois. You are in the best portion of the earth. From the +Atlantic to the Pacific, there is no such country as yours. The +East is hard and stony; the soil is stingy. The far West is a +desert parched and barren, dreary and desolate as perdition would +be with the fires out. It is better to dig wheat and corn from the +soil than gold. Only a few days ago, I was where they wrench the +precious metals from the miserly clutch of the rocks. When I saw +the mountains, treeless, shrub-less, flowerless, without even a +spire of grass, it seemed to me that gold had the same effect upon +the country that holds it, as upon the man who lives and labors +only for that. It affects the land as it does the man. It leaves +the heart barren without a flower of kindness—without a +blossom of pity.</p> +<p>The farmer in Illinois has the best soil—the greatest +return for the least labor—more leisure—more time for +enjoyment than any other farmer in the world. His hard work ceases +with autumn. He has the long winters in which to become acquainted +with his family—with his neighbors—in which to read and +keep abreast with the advanced thought of his day. He has the time +and means for self-culture. He has more time than the mechanic, the +merchant or the professional man. If the farmer is not well +informed it is his own fault. Books are cheap, and every farmer can +have enough to give him the outline of every science, and an idea +of all that has been accomplished by man.</p> +<p>In many respects the farmer has the advantage of the mechanic. +In our time we have plenty of mechanics but no tradesmen. In the +sub-division of labor we have a thousand men working upon different +parts of the same thing, each taught in one particular branch, and +in only one. We have, say, in a shoe factory, hundreds of men, but +not one shoemaker. It takes them all, assisted by a great number of +machines, to make a shoe. Each does a particular part, and not one +of them knows the entire trade. The result is that the moment the +factory shuts down these men are out of employment. Out of +employment means out of bread—out of bread means famine and +horror. The mechanic of to-day has but little independence. His +prosperity often depends upon the good will of one man. He is +liable to be discharged for a look, for a word. He lays by but +little for his declining years. He is, at the best, the slave of +capital.</p> +<p>It is a thousand times better to be a whole farmer than part of +a mechanic. It is better to till the ground and work for yourself +than to be hired by corporations. Every man should endeavor to +belong to himself.</p> +<p>About seven hundred years ago, Khayyam, a Persian, said: "Why +should a man who possesses a piece of bread securing life for two +days, and who has a cup of water—why should such a man be +commanded by another, and why should such a man serve another?"</p> +<p>Young men should not be satisfied with a salary. Do not mortgage +the possibilities of your future. Have the courage to take life as +it comes, feast or famine. Think of hunting a gold mine for a +dollar a day, and think of finding one for another man. How would +you feel then?</p> +<p>We are lacking in true courage, when, for fear of the future, we +take the crusts and scraps and niggardly salaries of the present. I +had a thousand times rather have a farm and be independent, than to +be President of the United States without independence, filled with +doubt and trembling, feeling of the popular pulse, resorting to art +and artifice, enquiring about the wind of opinion, and succeeding +at last in losing my self-respect without gaining the respect of +others.</p> +<p>Man needs more manliness, more real independence. We must take +care of ourselves. This we can do by labor, and in this way we can +preserve our independence. We should try and choose that business +or profession the pursuit of which will give us the most happiness. +Happiness is wealth. We can be happy without being +rich—without holding office—without being famous. I am +not sure that we can be happy with wealth, with office, or with +fame.</p> +<p>There is a quiet about the life of a farmer, and the hope of a +serene old age, that no other business or profession can promise. A +professional man is doomed sometime to feel that his powers are +waning. He is doomed to see younger and stronger men pass him in +the race of life. He looks forward to an old age of intellectual +mediocrity. He will be last where once he was the first. But the +farmer goes, as it were, into partnership with nature—he +lives with trees and flowers—he breathes the sweet air of the +fields. There is no constant and frightful strain upon his mind. +His nights are filled with sleep and rest. He watches his flocks +and herds as they feed upon the green and sunny slopes. He hears +the pleasant rain falling upon the waving corn, and the trees he +planted in youth rustle above him as he plants others for the +children yet to be.</p> +<p>Our country is filled with the idle and unemployed, and the +great question asking for an answer is: What shall be done with +these men? What shall these men do? To this there is but one +answer: They must cultivate the soil. Farming must be rendered more +attractive. Those who work the land must have an honest pride in +their business. They must educate their children to cultivate the +soil. They must make farming easier, so that their children will +not hate it—so that they will not hate it themselves. The +boys must not be taught that tilling the ground is a curse and +almost a disgrace. They must not suppose that education is thrown +away upon them unless they become ministers, merchants, lawyers, +doctors, or statesmen. It must be understood that education can be +used to advantage on a farm. We must get rid of the idea that a +little learning unfits one for work. There is no real conflict +between Latin and labor. There are hundreds of graduates of Yale +and Harvard and other colleges, who are agents of sewing machines, +solicitors for insurance, clerks, copyists, in short, performing a +hundred varieties of menial service. They seem willing to do +anything that is not regarded as work—anything that can be +done in a town, in the house, in an office, but they avoid farming +as they would a leprosy. Nearly every young man educated in this +way is simply ruined. Such an education ought to be called +ignorance. It is a thousand times better to have common sense +without education, than education without the sense. Boys and girls +should be educated to help themselves. They should be taught that +it is disgraceful to be idle, and dishonorable to be useless.</p> +<p>I say again, if you want more men and women on the farms, +something must be done to make farm life pleasant. One great +difficulty is that the farm is lonely. People write about the +pleasures of solitude, but they are found only in books. He who +lives long alone becomes insane. A hermit is a madman. Without +friends and wife and child, there is nothing left worth living for. +The unsocial are the enemies of joy. They are filled with egotism +and envy, with vanity and hatred. People who live much alone become +narrow and suspicious. They are apt to be the property of one idea. +They begin to think there is no use in anything. They look upon the +happiness of others as a kind of folly. They hate joyous folks, +because, way down in their hearts, they envy them.</p> +<p>In our country, farm-life is too lonely. The farms are large, +and neighbors are too far apart. In these days, when the roads are +filled with "tramps," the wives and children need protection. When +the farmer leaves home and goes to some distant field to work, a +shadow of fear is upon his heart all day, and a like shadow rests +upon all at home.</p> +<p>In the early settlement of our country the pioneer was forced to +take his family, his axe, his dog and his gun, and go into the far +wild forest, and build his cabin miles and miles from any neighbor. +He saw the smoke from his hearth go up alone in all the wide and +lonely sky.</p> +<p>But this necessity has passed away, and now, instead of living +so far apart upon the lonely farms, you should live in villages. +With the improved machinery which you have—with your generous +soil—with your markets and means of transportation, you can +now afford to live together.</p> +<p>It is not necessary in this age of the world for the farmer to +rise in the middle of the night and begin his work. This getting up +so early in the morning is a relic of barbarism. It has made +hundreds and thousands of young men curse the business. There is no +need of getting up at three or four o'clock in the winter morning. +The farmer who persists in doing it and persists in dragging his +wife and children from their beds ought to be visited by a +missionary. It is time enough to rise after the sun has set the +example. For what purpose do you get up? To feed the cattle? Why +not feed them more the night before? It is a waste of life. In the +old times they used to get up about three o'clock in the morning, +and go to work long before the sun had risen with "healing upon his +wings," and as a just punishment they all had the ague; and they +ought to have it now. The man who cannot get a living upon Illinois +soil without rising before daylight ought to starve. Eight hours a +day is enough for any farmer to work except in harvest time. When +you rise at four and work till dark what is life worth? Of what use +are all the improvements in farming? Of what use is all the +improved machinery unless it tends to give the farmer a little more +leisure? What is harvesting now, compared with what it was in the +old time? Think of the days of reaping, of cradling, of raking and +binding and mowing. Think of threshing with the flail and winnowing +with the wind. And now think of the reapers and mowers, the binders +and threshing machines, the plows and cultivators, upon which the +farmer rides protected from the sun. If, with all these advantages, +you cannot get a living without rising in the middle of the night, +go into some other business. You should not rob your families of +sleep. Sleep is the best medicine in the world. It is the best +doctor upon the earth. There is no such thing as health without +plenty of sleep. Sleep until you are thoroughly rested and +restored. When you work, work; and when you get through take a +good, long, and refreshing rest.</p> +<p>You should live in villages, so that you can have the benefits +of social life. You can have a reading-room—you can take the +best papers and magazines—you can have plenty of books, and +each one can have the benefit of them all. Some of the young men +and women can cultivate music. You can have social +gatherings—you can learn from each other—you can +discuss all topics of interest, and in this way you can make +farming a delightful business. You must keep up with the age. The +way to make farming respectable is for farmers to become really +intelligent. They must live intelligent and happy lives. They must +know something of books and something of what is going on in the +world. They must not be satisfied with knowing something of the +affairs of a neighborhood and nothing about the rest of the earth. +The business must be made attractive, and it never can be until the +farmer has prosperity, intelligence and leisure.</p> +<p>Another thing—I am a believer in fashion. It is the duty +of every woman to make herself as beautiful and attractive as she +possibly can.</p> +<p>"Handsome is as handsome does," but she is much handsomer if +well dressed. Every man should look his very best. I am a believer +in good clothes. The time never ought to come in this country when +you can tell a farmer's wife or daughter simply by the garments she +wears. I say to every girl and woman, no matter what the material +of your dress may be, no matter how cheap and coarse it is, cut it +and make it in the fashion. I believe in jewelry. Some people look +upon it as barbaric, but in my judgment, wearing jewelry is the +first evidence the barbarian gives of a wish to be civilized. To +adorn ourselves seems to be a part of our nature, and this desire +seems to be everywhere and in everything. I have sometimes thought +that the desire for beauty covers the earth with flowers. It is +this desire that paints the wings of moths, tints the chamber of +the shell, and gives the bird its plumage and its song. Oh +daughters and wives, if you would be loved, adorn +yourselves—if you would be adored, be beautiful!</p> +<p>There is another fault common with the farmers of our +country—they want too much land. You cannot, at present, when +taxes are high, afford to own land that you do not cultivate. Sell +it and let others make farms and homes. In this way what you keep +will be enhanced in value. Farmers ought to own the land they +cultivate, and cultivate what they own. Renters can hardly be +called farmers. There can be no such thing in the highest sense as +a home unless you own it. There must be an incentive to plant +trees, to beautify the grounds, to preserve and improve. It +elevates a man to own a home. It gives a certain independence, a +force of character that is obtained in no other way. A man without +a home feels like a passenger. There is in such a man a little of +the vagrant. Homes make patriots. He who has sat by his own +fireside with wife and children will defend it. When he hears the +word country pronounced, he thinks of his home.</p> +<p>Few men have been patriotic enough to shoulder a musket in +defence of a boarding house.</p> +<p>The prosperity and glory of our country depend upon the number +of our people who are the owners of homes. Around the fireside +cluster the private and the public virtues of our race. Raise your +sons to be independent through labor—to pursue some business +for themselves and upon their own account—to be +self-reliant—to act upon their own responsibility, and to +take the consequences like men. Teach them above all things to be +good, true and tender husbands—winners of love and builders +of homes.</p> +<p>A great many farmers seem to think that they are the only +laborers in the world. This is a very foolish thing. Farmers cannot +get along without the mechanic. You are not independent of the man +of genius. Your prosperity depends upon the inventor. The world +advances by the assistance of all laborers; and all labor is under +obligations to the inventions of genius. The inventor does as much +for agriculture as he who tills the soil. All laboring men should +be brothers. You are in partnership with the mechanics who make +your reapers, your mowers and your plows; and you should take into +your granges all the men who make their living by honest labor. The +laboring people should unite and should protect themselves against +all idlers. You can divide mankind into two classes: the laborers +and the idlers, the supporters and the supported, the honest and +the dishonest. Every man is dishonest who lives upon the unpaid +labor of others, no matter if he occupies a throne. All laborers +should be brothers. The laborers should have equal rights before +the world and before the law. And I want every farmer to consider +every man who labors either with hand or brain as his brother. +Until genius and labor formed a partnership there was no such thing +as prosperity among men. Every reaper and mower, every agricultural +implement, has elevated the work of the farmer, and his vocation +grows grander with every invention. In the olden time the +agriculturist was ignorant; he knew nothing of machinery, he was +the slave of superstition. He was always trying to appease some +imaginary power by fasting and prayer. He supposed that some being +actuated by malice, sent the untimely frost, or swept away with the +wild wind his rude abode. To him the seasons were mysteries. The +thunder told him of an enraged god—the barren fields of the +vengeance of heaven. The tiller of the soil lived in perpetual and +abject fear. He knew nothing of mechanics, nothing of order, +nothing of law, nothing of cause and effect. He was a superstitious +savage. He invented prayers instead of plows, creeds instead of +reapers and mowers. He was unable to devote all his time to the +gods, and so he hired others to assist him, and for their influence +with the gentlemen supposed to control the weather, he gave +one-tenth of all he could produce.</p> +<p>The farmer has been elevated through science and he should not +forget the debt he owes to the mechanic, to the inventor, to the +thinker. He should remember that all laborers belong to the same +grand family—that they are the real kings and queens, the +only true nobility.</p> +<p>Another idea entertained by most farmers is that they are in +some mysterious way oppressed by every other kind of +business—that they are devoured by monopolies, especially by +railroads.</p> +<p>Of course, the railroads are indebted to the farmers for their +prosperity, and the farmers are indebted to the railroads. Without +them Illinois would be almost worthless.</p> +<p>A few years ago you endeavored to regulate the charges of +railroad companies. The principal complaint you had was that they +charged too much for the transportation of corn and other cereals +to the East. You should remember that all freights are paid by the +consumer; and that it made little difference to you what the +railroad charged for transportation to the East, as that +transportation had to be paid by the consumers of the grain. You +were really interested in transportation from the East to the West +and in local freights. The result is that while you have put down +through freights you have not succeeded so well in local freights. +The exact opposite should be the policy of Illinois. Put down local +freights; put them down, if you can, to the lowest possible figure, +and let through rates take care of themselves. If all the corn +raised in Illinois could be transported to New York absolutely +free, it would enhance but little the price that you would receive. +What we want is the lowest possible local rate. Instead of this you +have simply succeeded in helping the East at the expense of the +West. The railroads are your friends. They are your partners. They +can prosper only where the country through which they run prospers. +All intelligent railroad men know this. They know that present +robbery is future bankruptcy. They know that the interest of the +farmer and of the railroad is the same. We must have railroads. +What can we do without them?</p> +<p>When we had no railroads, we drew, as I said before, our grain +two hundred miles to market.</p> +<p>In those days the farmers did not stop at hotels. They slept +under their wagons—took with them their food—fried +their own bacon, made their coffee, and ate their meals in the snow +and rain. Those were the days when they received ten cents a bushel +for corn—when they sold four bushels of potatoes for a +quarter—thirty-three dozen eggs for a dollar, and a hundred +pounds of pork for a dollar and a half.</p> +<p>What has made the difference?</p> +<p>The railroads came to your door and they brought with them the +markets of the world. They brought New York and Liverpool and +London into Illinois, and the State has been clothed with +prosperity as with a mantle. It is the interest of the farmer to +protect every great interest in the State. You should feel proud +that Illinois has more railroads than any other State in this +Union. Her main tracks and side tracks would furnish iron enough to +belt the globe. In Illinois there are ten thousand miles of +railways. In these iron highways more than three hundred million +dollars have been invested—a sum equal to ten times the +original cost of all the land in the State. To make war upon the +railroads is a short-sighted and suicidal policy. They should be +treated fairly and should be taxed by the same standard that farms +are taxed, and in no other way. If we wish to prosper we must act +together, and we must see to it that every form of labor is +protected.</p> +<p>There has been a long period of depression in all business. The +farmers have suffered least of all. Your land is just as rich and +productive as ever. Prices have been reasonable. The towns and +cities have suffered. Stocks and bonds have shrunk from par to +worthless paper. Princes have become paupers, and bankers, +merchants and millionaires have passed into the oblivion of +bankruptcy. The period of depression is slowly passing away, and we +are entering upon better times.</p> +<p>A great many people say that a scarcity of money is our only +difficulty. In my opinion we have money enough, but we lack +confidence in each other and in the future.</p> +<p>There has been so much dishonesty, there have been so many +failures, that the people are afraid to trust anybody. There is +plenty of money, but there seems to be a scarcity of business. If +you were to go to the owner of a ferry, and, upon seeing his boat +lying high and dry on the shore, should say, "There is a +superabundance of ferryboat," he would probably reply, "No, but +there is a scarcity of water." So with us there is not a scarcity +of money, but there is a scarcity of business. And this scarcity +springs from lack of confidence in one another. So many presidents +of savings banks, even those belonging to the Young Men's Christian +Association, run off with the funds; so many railroad and insurance +companies are in the hands of receivers; there is so much +bankruptcy on every hand, that all capital is held in the nervous +clutch of fear. Slowly, but surely we are coming back to honest +methods in business. Confidence will return, and then enterprise +will unlock the safe and money will again circulate as of yore; the +dollars will leave their hiding places and every one will be +seeking investment.</p> +<p>For my part, I do not ask any interference on the part of the +Government except to undo the wrong it has done. I do not ask that +money be made out of nothing. I do not ask for the prosperity born +of paper. But I do ask for the remonetization of silver. Silver was +demonetized by fraud. It was an imposition upon every solvent man; +a fraud upon every honest debtor in the United States. It +assassinated labor. It was done in the interest of avarice and +greed, and should be undone by honest men.</p> +<p>The farmers should vote only for such men as are able and +willing to guard and advance the interests of labor. We should know +better than to vote for men who will deliberately put a tariff of +three dollars a thousand upon Canada lumber, when every farmer in +Illinois is a purchaser of lumber. People who live upon the +prairies ought to vote for cheap lumber. We should protect +ourselves. We ought to have intelligence enough to know what we +want and how to get it. The real laboring men of this country can +succeed if they are united. By laboring men, I do not mean only the +farmers. I mean all who contribute in some way to the general +welfare. They should forget prejudices and party names, and +remember only the best interests of the people. Let us see if we +cannot, in Illinois, protect every department of industry. Let us +see if all property cannot be protected alike and taxed alike, +whether owned by individuals or corporations.</p> +<p>Where industry creates and justice protects, prosperity +dwells.</p> +<p>Let me tell you something more about Illinois. We have fifty-six +thousand square miles of land—nearly thirty-six million +acres. Upon these plains we can raise enough to feed and clothe +twenty million people. Beneath these prairies were hidden millions +of ages ago, by that old miser, the sun, thirty-six thousand square +miles of coal. The aggregate thickness of these veins is at least +fifteen feet. Think of a column of coal one mile square and one +hundred miles high! All this came from the sun. What a sunbeam such +a column would be! Think of the engines and machines this coal will +run and turn and whirl! Think of all this force, willed and left to +us by the dead morning of the world! Think of the firesides of the +future around which will sit the fathers, mothers and children of +the years to be! Think of the sweet and happy faces, the loving and +tender eyes that will glow and gleam in the sacred light of all +these flames!</p> +<p>We have the best country in the world, and Illinois is the best +State in that country. Is there any reason that our farmers should +not be prosperous and happy men? They have every advantage, and +within their reach are all the comforts and conveniences of +life.</p> +<p>Do not get the land fever and think you must buy all that joins +you. Get out of debt as soon as you possibly can. A mortgage casts +a shadow on the sunniest field. There is no business under the sun +that can pay ten per cent.</p> +<p>Ainsworth R. Spofford gives the following facts about interest: +"One dollar loaned for one hundred years at six per cent., with the +interest collected annually and added to the principal, will amount +to three hundred and forty dollars. At eight per cent, it amounts +to two thousand two hundred and three dollars. At three per cent, +it amounts only to nineteen dollars and twenty-five cents. At ten +per cent, it is thirteen thousand eight hundred and nine dollars, +or about seven hundred times as much. At twelve per cent, it +amounts to eighty-four thousand and seventy-five dollars, or more +than four thousand times as much. At eighteen per cent, it amounts +to fifteen million one hundred and forty-five thousand and seven +dollars. At twenty-four per cent, (which we sometimes hear talked +of) it reaches the enormous sum of two billion five hundred and +fifty-one million seven hundred and ninety-nine thousand four +hundred and four dollars."</p> +<p>One dollar at compound interest, at twenty-four per cent., for +one hundred years, would produce a sum equal to our national +debt.</p> +<p>Interest eats night and day, and the more it eats the hungrier +it grows. The farmer in debt, lying awake at night, can, if he +listens, hear it gnaw. If he owes nothing, he can hear his corn +grow. Get out of debt as soon as you possibly can. You have +supported idle avarice and lazy economy long enough.</p> +<p>Above all let every farmer treat his wife and children with +infinite kindness. Give your sons and daughters every advantage +within your power. In the air of kindness they will grow about you +like flowers. They will fill your homes with sunshine and all your +years with joy. Do not try to rule by force. A blow from a parent +leaves a scar on the soul. I should feel ashamed to die surrounded +by children I had whipped. Think of feeling upon your dying lips +the kiss of a child you had struck.</p> +<p>See to it that your wife has every convenience. Make her life +worth living. Never allow her to become a servant. Wives, weary and +worn, mothers, wrinkled and bent before their time, fill homes with +grief and shame. If you are not able to hire help for your wives, +help them yourselves. See that they have the best utensils to work +with.</p> +<p>Women cannot create things by magic. Have plenty of wood and +coal—good cellars and plenty in them. Have cisterns, so that +you can have plenty of rain water for washing. Do not rely on a +barrel and a board. When the rain comes the board will be lost or +the hoops will be off the barrel.</p> +<p>Farmers should live like princes. Eat the best things you raise +and sell the rest. Have good things to cook and good things to cook +with. Of all people in our country, you should live the best. Throw +your miserable little stoves out of the window. Get ranges, and +have them so built that your wife need not burn her face off to get +you a breakfast. Do not make her cook in a kitchen hot as the +orthodox perdition. The beef, not the cook, should be roasted. It +is just as easy to have things convenient and right as to have them +any other way.</p> +<p>Cooking is one of the fine arts. Give your wives and daughters +things to cook, and things to cook with, and they will soon become +most excellent cooks. Good cooking is the basis of civilization. +The man whose arteries and veins are filled with rich blood made of +good and well cooked food, has pluck, courage, endurance and and +noble impulses. The inventor of a good soup did more for his race +than the maker of any creed. The doctrines of total depravity and +endless punishment were born of bad cooking and dyspepsia. Remember +that your wife should have the things to cook with.</p> +<p>In the good old days there would be eleven children in the +family and only one skillet. Everything was broken or cracked or +loaned or lost.</p> +<p>There ought to be a law making it a crime, punishable by +imprisonment, to fry beefsteak. Broil it; it is just as easy, and +when broiled it is delicious. Fried beefsteak is not fit for a wild +beast. You can broil even on a stove. Shut the front +damper—open the back one—then take off a griddle. There +will then be a draft downwards through this opening. Put on your +steak, using a wire broiler, and not a particle of smoke will touch +it, for the reason that the smoke goes down. If you try to broil it +with the front damper open, the smoke will rise. For broiling, +coal, even soft coal, makes a better fire than wood.</p> +<p>There is no reason why farmers should not have fresh meat all +the year round. There is certainly no sense in stuffing yourself +full of salt meat every morning, and making a well or a cistern of +your stomach for the rest of the day. Every farmer should have an +ice house. Upon or near every farm is some stream from which plenty +of ice can be obtained, and the long summer days made delightful. +Dr. Draper, one of the world's greatest scientists, says that ice +water is healthy, and that it has done away with many of the low +forms of fever in the great cities. Ice has become one of the +necessaries of civilized life, and without it there is very little +comfort.</p> +<p>Make your homes pleasant. Have your houses warm and comfortable +for the winter. Do not build a story-and-a-half house. The half +story is simply an oven in which, during the summer, you will bake +every night, and feel in the morning as though only the rind of +yourself was left.</p> +<p>Decorate your rooms, even if you do so with cheap engravings. +The cheapest are far better than none. Have books—have +papers, and read them. You have more leisure than the dwellers in +cities. Beautify your grounds with plants and flowers and vines. +Have good gardens. Remember that everything of beauty tends to the +elevation of man. Every little morning-glory whose purple bosom is +thrilled with the amorous kisses of the sun, tends to put a blossom +in your heart. Do not judge of the value of everything by the +market reports. Every flower about a house certifies to the +refinement of somebody. Every vine climbing and blossoming, tells +of love and joy.</p> +<p>Make your houses comfortable. Do not huddle together in a little +room around a red-hot stove, with every window fastened down. Do +not live in this poisoned atmosphere, and then, when one of your +children dies, put a piece in the papers commencing with, "Whereas, +it has pleased divine Providence to remove from our midst—." +Have plenty of air, and plenty of warmth. Comfort is health. Do not +imagine anything is unhealthy simply because it is pleasant. That +is an old and foolish idea.</p> +<p>Let your children sleep. Do not drag them from their beds in the +darkness of night. Do not compel them to associate all that is +tiresome, irksome and dreadful with cultivating the soil. In this +way you bring farming into hatred and disrepute. Treat your +children with infinite kindness—treat them as equals. There +is no happiness in a home not filled with love. Where the husband +hates his wife—where the wife hates the husband; where +children hate their parents and each other—there is a hell +upon earth.</p> +<p>There is no reason why farmers should not be the kindest and +most cultivated of men. There is nothing in plowing the fields to +make men cross, cruel and crabbed. To look upon the sunny slopes +covered with daisies does not tend to make men unjust. Whoever +labors for the happiness of those he loves, elevates himself, no +matter whether he works in the dark and dreary shops, or in the +perfumed fields. To work for others is, in reality, the only way in +which a man can work for himself. Selfishness is ignorance. +Speculators cannot make unless somebody loses. In the realm of +speculation, every success has at least one victim. The harvest +reaped by the farmer benefits all and injures none. For him to +succeed, it is not necessary that some one should fail. The same is +true of all producers—of all laborers.</p> +<p>I can imagine no condition that carries with it such a promise +of joy as that of the farmer in the early winter. He has his cellar +filled—he has made every preparation for the days of snow and +storm—he looks forward to three months of ease and rest; to +three months of fireside-content; three months with wife and +children; three months of long, delightful evenings; three months +of home; three months of solid comfort.</p> +<p>When the life of the farmer is such as I have described, the +cities and towns will not be filled with want—the streets +will not be crowded with wrecked rogues, broken bankers, and +bankrupt speculators. The fields will be tilled, and country +villages, almost hidden by trees and vines and flowers, filled with +industrious and happy people, will nestle in every vale and gleam +like gems on every plain.</p> +<p>The idea must be done away with that there is something +intellectually degrading in cultivating the soil. Nothing can be +nobler than to be useful. Idleness should not be respectable.</p> +<p>If farmers will cultivate well, and without waste; if they will +so build that their houses will be warm in winter and cool in +summer; if they will plant trees and beautify their homes; if they +will occupy their leisure in reading, in thinking, in improving +their minds and in devising ways and means to make their business +profitable and pleasant; if they will live nearer together and +cultivate sociability; if they will come together often; if they +will have reading rooms and cultivate music; if they will have +bath-rooms, ice-houses and good gardens; if their wives can have an +easy time; if their sons and daughters can have an opportunity to +keep in line with the thoughts and discoveries of the world; if the +nights can be taken for sleep and the evenings for enjoyment, +everybody will be in love with the fields. Happiness should be the +object of life, and if life on the farm can be made really happy, +the children will grow up in love with the meadows, the streams, +the woods and the old home. Around the farm will cling and cluster +the happy memories of the delighful years.</p> +<p>Remember, I pray you, that you are in partnership with all +labor—that you should join hands with all the sons and +daughters of toil, and that all who work belong to the same noble +family.</p> +<p>For my part, I envy the man who has lived on the same broad +acres from his boyhood, who cultivates the fields where in youth he +played, and lives where his father lived and died.</p> +<p>I can imagine no sweeter way to end one's life</p> +<a name="link0014"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?</h2> +<a name="linkPREF"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>PREFACE</h2> +<p>If what is known as the Christian Religion is true, nothing can +be more wonderful than the fact that Matthew, Mark and Luke say +nothing about "salvation by faith;" that they do not even hint at +the doctrine of the atonement, and are as silent as empty tombs as +to the necessity of believing anything to secure happiness in this +world or another.</p> +<p>For a good many years it has been claimed that the writers of +these gospels knew something about the teachings of Christ, and +had, at least, a general knowledge of the conditions of salvation. +It now seems to be substantiated that the early Christians did not +place implicit confidence in the gospels, and did not hesitate to +make such changes and additions as they thought proper. Such +changes and additions are about the only passages in the New +Testament that the Evangelical Churches now consider sacred. That +portion of the last chapter of Mark, in which unbelievers are so +cheerfully and promptly damned, has been shown to be an +interpolation, and it is asserted that in the revised edition of +the New Testament, soon to be issued, the infamous passages will +not appear. With these expunged, there is not one word in Matthew, +Mark, or Luke, even tending to show that belief in Christ has, or +can have, any effect upon the destiny of the soul.</p> +<p>The four gospels are the four corner-stones upon which rests the +fabric of orthodox Christianity. Three of these stones have +crumbled, and the fourth is not likely to outlast this generation. +The gospel of John cannot alone uphold the infinite absurdity of +vicarious virtue and vice, and it cannot, without the aid of +"interpolation," sustain the illogical and immoral dogma of +salvation by faith. These frightful doctrines must be abandoned; +the miraculous must be given up, the wonderful stories must be +expunged, and from the creed of noble deeds the forgeries of +superstition must be blotted out. From the temple of Morality and +Truth—from the great windows towards the sun—the +parasitic and poisonous vines of faith and fable must be torn.</p> +<p>The church will be compelled at last to rest its case, not upon +the wonders Christ is said to have performed, but upon the system +of morality he taught. All the miracles, including the resurrection +and ascension, are, when compared with portions of the "Sermon on +the Mount," but dust and darkness.</p> +<p>The careful reader of the New Testament will find three Christs +described:—One who wished to preserve Judaism—one who +wished to reform it, and one who built a system of his own. The +apostles and their disciples, utterly unable to comprehend a +religion that did away with sacrifices, churches, priests, and +creeds, constructed a Christianity for themselves, so that the +orthodox churches of to-day rest—first, upon what Christ +endeavored to destroy—second, upon what he never said, and, +third, upon a misunderstanding of what he did say.</p> +<p>If a certain belief is necessary to insure the salvation of the +soul, the church ought to explain, and without any unnecessary +delay, why such an infinitely important fact was utterly ignored by +Matthew, Mark and Luke. There are only two explanations possible. +Either belief is unnecessary, or the writers of these three gospels +did not understand the Christian system. The "sacredness" of the +subject cannot longer hide the absurdity of the "scheme of +salvation," nor the failure of Matthew, Mark and Luke to mention, +what is now claimed to have been, the entire mission of Christ. The +church must take from the New Testament the supernatural'; the idea +that an intellectual conviction can subject an honest man to +eternal pain—the awful doctrine that the innocent can justly +suffer for the guilty, and allow the remainder to be discussed, +denied or believed without punishment and without reward. No one +will object to the preaching of kindness, honesty and justice. To +preach less is a crime, and to practice more is impossible.</p> +<p>There is one thing that ought to be again impressed upon the +average theologian, and that is the utter futility of trying to +answer arguments with personal abuse. It should be understood once +for all that these questions are in no sense personal. If it should +turn out that all the professed Christians in the world are sinless +saints, the question of how Matthew, Mark, and Luke, came to say +nothing about the atonement and the scheme of salvation by faith, +would still be asked. And if it should then be shown that all the +doubters, deists, and atheists, are vile and vicious wretches, the +question still would wait for a reply.</p> +<p>The origin of all religions, creeds, and sacred books, is +substantially the same, and the history of one, is, in the main, +the history of all. Thus far these religions have been the mistaken +explanations of our surroundings. The appearances of nature have +imposed upon the ignorance and fear of man. But back of all honest +creeds was, and is, the desire to know, to understand, and to +explain, and that desire will, as I most fervently hope and +earnestly believe, be gratified at last by the discovery of the +truth. Until then, let us bear with the theories, hopes, dreams, +mistakes, and honest thoughts of all.</p> +<p>Robert G. Ingersoll.</p> +<p>Washington, D. C.,</p> +<p>October, 1880.</p> +<center>WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?</center> +<p>"THE NUREMBERG MAN WAS OPERATED BY A COMBINATION OF PIPES AND +LEVERS, AND THOUGH HE COULD BREATHE AND DIGEST PERFECTLY, AND EVEN +REASON AS WELL AS MOST THEOLOGIANS, WAS MADE OF NOTHING BUT WOOD +AND LEATHER."</p> +<p>THE whole world has been filled with fear.</p> +<p>Ignorance has been the refuge of the soul. For thousands of +years the intellectual ocean was ravaged by the buccaneers of +reason. Pious souls clung to the shore and looked at the +lighthouse. The seas were filled with monsters and the islands with +sirens. The people were driven in the middle of a narrow road while +priests went before, beating the hedges on either side to frighten +the robbers from their lairs. The poor followers seeing no robbers, +thanked their brave leaders with all their hearts.</p> +<a name="link0016"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>I. WHAT WE MUST DO TO BE SAVED</h2> +<p>Huddled in folds they listened with wide eyes while the +shepherds told of ravening wolves. With great gladness they +exchanged their fleeces for security. Shorn and shivering, they had +the happiness of seeing their protectors comfortable and warm.</p> +<p>Through all the years, those who plowed divided with those who +prayed. Wicked industry supported pious idleness, the hut gave to +the cathedral, and frightened poverty gave even its rags to buy a +robe for hypocrisy.</p> +<p>Fear is the dungeon of the mind, and superstition is a dagger +with which hypocrisy assassinates the soul. Courage is liberty. I +am in favor of absolute freedom of thought. In the realm of mind +every one is monarch; every one is robed, sceptered, and crowned, +and every one wears the purple of authority. I belong to the +republic of intellectual liberty, and only those are good citizens +of that republic who depend upon reason and upon persuasion, and +only those are traitors who resort to brute force.</p> +<p>Now, I beg of you all to forget just for a few moments that you +are Methodists or Baptists or Catholics or Presbyterians, and let +us for an hour or two remember only that we are men and women. And +allow me to say "man" and "woman" are the highest titles that can +be bestowed upon humanity.</p> +<p>Let us, if possible, banish all fear from the mind. Do not +imagine that there is some being in the infinite expanse who is not +willing that every man and woman should think for himself and +herself. Do not imagine that there is any being who would give to +his children the holy torch of reason, and then damn them for +following that sacred light. Let us have courage.</p> +<p>Priests have invented a crime called "blasphemy," and behind +that crime hypocrisy has crouched for thousands of years. There is +but one blasphemy, and that is injustice. There is but one worship, +and that is justice!</p> +<p>You need not fear the anger of a god that you cannot injure. +Rather fear to injure your fellow-men. Do not be afraid of a crime +you can not commit. Rather be afraid of the one that you may +commit. The reason that you cannot injure God is that the Infinite +is conditionless. You cannot increase or diminish the happiness of +any being without changing that being's condition. If God is +conditionless, you can neither injure nor benefit him.</p> +<p>There was a Jewish gentleman went into a restaurant to get his +dinner, and the devil of temptation whispered in his ear: "Eat some +bacon." He knew if there was anything in the universe calculated to +excite the wrath of an infinite being, who made every shining star, +it was to see a gentleman eating bacon. He knew it, and he knew the +infinite being was looking, that he was the eternal eavesdropper of +the universe. But his appetite got the better of his conscience, as +it often has with us all, and he ate that bacon. He knew it was +wrong, and his conscience felt the blood of shame in its cheek. +When he went into that restaurant the weather was delightful, the +sky was as blue as June, and when he came out the sky was covered +with angry clouds, the lightning leaping from one to the other, and +the earth shaking beneath the voice of the thunder. He went back +into that restaurant with a face as white as milk, and he said to +one of the keepers:</p> +<p>"My God, did you ever hear such a fuss about a little piece of +bacon?"</p> +<p>As long as we harbor such opinions of infinity; as long as we +imagine the heavens to be filled with such tyranny, just so long +the sons of men will be cringing, intellectual cowards. Let us +think, and let us honestly express our thought.</p> +<p>Do not imagine for a moment that I think people who disagree +with me are bad people. I admit, and I cheerfully admit, that a +very large proportion of mankind, and a very large majority, a vast +number are reasonably honest. I believe that most Christians +believe what they teach; that most ministers are endeavoring to +make this world better. I do not pretend to be better than they +are. It is an intellectual question. It is a question, first, of +intellectual liberty, and after that, a question to be settled at +the bar of human reason. I do not pretend to be better than they +are. Probably I am a good deal worse than many of them, but that is +not the question. The question is: Bad as I am, have I the right to +think? And I think I have for two reasons: First, I cannot help it. +And secondly, I like it. The whole question is right at a point. If +I have not a right to express my thoughts, who has?</p> +<p>"Oh," they say, "we will allow you to think, we will not burn +you."</p> +<p>"All right; why won't you burn me?"</p> +<p>"Because we think a decent man will allow others to think and to +express his thought."</p> +<p>"Then the reason you do not persecute me for my thought is that +you believe it would be infamous in you?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"And yet you worship a God who will, as you declare, punish me +forever?"</p> +<p>Surely an infinite God ought to be as just as man. Surely no God +can have the right to punish his children for being honest. He +should not reward hypocrisy with heaven, and punish candor with +eternal pain.</p> +<p>The next question then is: Can I commit a sin against God by +thinking? If God did not intend I should think, why did he give me +a thinker? For one, I am convinced, not only that I have the right +to think, but that it is my duty to express my honest thoughts. +Whatever the gods may say we must be true to ourselves.</p> +<p>We have got what they call the Christian system of religion, and +thousands of people wonder how I can be wicked enough to attack +that system.</p> +<p>There are many good things about it, and I shall never attack +anything that I believe to be good! I shall never fear to attack +anything I honestly believe to be wrong! We have what they call the +Christian religion, and I find, just in proportion that nations +have been religious, just in the proportion they have clung to the +religion of their founders, they have gone back to barbarism. I +find that Spain, Portugal, Italy, are the three worst nations in +Europe. I find that the nation nearest infidel is the most +prosperous—France.</p> +<p>And so I say there can be no danger in the exercise of absolute +intellectual freedom. I find among ourselves the men who think are +at least as good as those who do not.</p> +<p>We have, I say, a Christian system, and that system is founded +upon what they are pleased to call the "New Testament." Who wrote +the New Testament? I do not know. Who does know? Nobody. We have +found many manuscripts containing portions of the New Testament. +Some of these manuscripts leave out five or six books—many of +them. Others more; others less. No two of these manuscripts agree. +Nobody knows who wrote these manuscripts. They are all written in +Greek. The disciples of Christ, so far as we know, knew only +Hebrew. Nobody ever saw so far as we know, one of the original +Hebrew manuscripts.</p> +<p>Nobody ever saw anybody who had seen anybody who had heard of +anybody that had ever seen anybody that had ever seen one of the +original Hebrew manuscripts. No doubt the clergy of your city have +told you these facts thousands of times, and they will be obliged +to me for having repeated them once more. These manuscripts are +written in what are called capital Greek letters. They are called +Uncial manuscripts, and the New Testament was not divided into +chapters and verses, even, until the year of grace 1551. In the +original the manuscripts and gospels are signed by nobody. The +epistles are addressed to nobody; and they are signed by the same +person. All the addresses, all the pretended ear-marks showing to +whom they were written, and by whom they were written, are simply +interpolations, and everybody who has studied the subject knows +it.</p> +<p>It is further admitted that even these manuscripts have not been +properly translated, and they have a syndicate now making a new +translation; and I suppose that I can not tell whether I really +believe the New Testament or not until I see that new +translation.</p> +<p>You must remember, also, one other thing. Christ never wrote a +solitary word of the New Testament—not one word. There is an +account that he once stooped and wrote something in the sand, but +that has not been preserved. He never told anybody to write a word. +He never said: "Matthew, remember this. Mark, do not forget to put +that down. Luke, be sure that in your gospel you have this. John, +do not forget it." Not one word. And it has always seemed to me +that a being coming from another world, with a message of infinite +importance to mankind, should at least have verified that message +by his own signature. Is it not wonderful that not one word was +written by Christ? Is it not strange that he gave no orders to have +his words preserved—words upon which hung the salvation of a +world?</p> +<p>Why was nothing written? I will tell you. In my judgment they +expected the end of the world in a few days. That generation was +not to pass away until the heavens should be rolled up as a scroll, +and until the earth should melt with fervent heat. That was their +belief. They believed that the world was to be destroyed, and that +there was to be another coming, and that the saints were then to +govern the earth. And they even went so far among the apostles, as +we frequently do now before election, as to divide out the offices +in advance. This Testament, as it now is, was not written for +hundreds of years after the apostles were dust. Many of the +pretended facts lived in the open mouth of credulity. They were in +the wastebaskets of forgetfulness. They depended upon the +inaccuracy of legend, and for centuries these doctrines and stories +were blown about by the inconstant winds. And when reduced to +writing, some gentleman would write by the side of the passage his +idea of it, and the next copyist would put that in as a part of the +text. And, when it was mostly written, and the church got into +trouble, and wanted a passage to help it out, one was interpolated +to order. So that now it is among the easiest things in the world +to pick out at least one hundred interpolations in the Testament. +And I will pick some of them out before I get through.</p> +<p>And let me say here, once for all, that for the man Christ I +have infinite respect. Let me say, once for all, that the place +where man has died for man is holy ground. And let me say, once for +all, that to that great and serene man I gladly pay, I gladly pay, +the tribute of my admiration and my tears. He was a reformer in his +day. He was an infidel in his time. He was regarded as a +blasphemer, and his life was destroyed by hypocrites, who have, in +all ages, done what they could to trample freedom and manhood out +of the human mind. Had I lived at that time I would have been his +friend, and should he come again he will not find a better friend +than I will be.</p> +<p>That is for the man. For the theological creation I have a +different feeling. If he was, in fact, God, he knew there was no +such thing as death. He knew that what we called death was but the +eternal opening of the golden gates of everlasting joy; and it took +no heroism to face a death that was eternal life.</p> +<p>But when a man, when a poor boy sixteen years of age, goes upon +the field of battle to keep his flag in heaven, not knowing but +that death ends all; not knowing but that when the shadows creep +over him, the darkness will be eternal, there is heroism. For the +man who, in the darkness, said: "My God, why hast thou forsaken +me?"—for that man I have nothing but respect, admiration, and +love. Back of the theological shreds, rags, and patches, hiding the +real Christ, I see a genuine man.</p> +<p>A while ago I made up my mind to find out what was necessary for +me to do in order to be saved. If I have got a soul, I want it +saved. I do not wish to lose anything that is of value.</p> +<p>For thousands of years the world has been asking that +question:</p> +<p>"What must we do to be saved?"</p> +<p>Saved from poverty? No. Saved from crime? No. Tyranny? No. But +"What must we do to be saved from the eternal wrath of the God who +made us all?"</p> +<p>If God made us, he will not destroy us. Infinite wisdom never +made a poor investment. Upon all the works of an infinite God, a +dividend must finally be declared. Why should God make failures? +Why should he waste material? Why should he not correct his +mistakes, instead of damning them? The pulpit has cast a shadow +over even the cradle. The doctrine of endless punishment has +covered the cheeks of this world with tears. I despise it, and I +defy it.</p> +<p>I made up my mind, I say, to see what I had to do in order to +save my soul according to the Testament, and thereupon I read it. I +read the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and found that the +church had been deceiving me. I found that the clergy did not +understand their own book; that they had been building upon +passages that had been interpolated; upon passages that were +entirely untrue, and I will tell you why I think so.</p> +<a name="link0017"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>II. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW</h2> +<p>ACCORDING to the church, the first gospel was written by +Matthew. As a matter of fact he never wrote a word of +it—never saw it, never heard of it and probably never will. +But for the purposes of this lecture I admit that he wrote years; +that he was his constant companion; that he shared his sorrows and +his triumphs; that he heard his words by the lonely lakes, the +barren hills, in synagogue and street, and that he knew his heart +and became acquainted with his thoughts and aims.</p> +<p>Now let us see what Matthew says we must do in order to be +saved. And I take it that, if this is true, Matthew is as good +authority as any minister in the world.</p> +<p>I will admit that he was with Christ for three years.</p> +<p>The first thing I find upon the subject of salvation is in the +fifth chapter of Matthew, and is embraced in what is commonly known +as the Sermon on the Mount. It is as follows:</p> +<p>"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of +heaven." Good!</p> +<p>"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Good! +Whether they belonged to any church or not; whether they believed +the Bible or not?</p> +<p>"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." +Good!</p> +<p>"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed +are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. +Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for +theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Good!</p> +<p>In the same sermon he says: "Think not that I am come to destroy +the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." +And then he makes use of this remarkable language, almost as +applicable to-day as it was then: "For I say unto you that except +your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes +and Pharisees ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of +heaven." Good!</p> +<p>In the sixth chapter I find the following, and it comes directly +after the prayer known as the Lord's prayer:</p> +<p>"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father +will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, +neither will your father forgive your trespasses."</p> +<p>I accept the condition. There is an offer; I accept it. If you +will forgive men that trespass against you, God will forgive your +trespasses against him. I accept the terms, and I never will ask +any God to treat me better than I treat my fellow-men. There is a +square promise. There is a contract. If you will forgive others God +will forgive you. And it does not say you must believe in the Old +Testament, or be baptized, or join the church, or keep Sunday; that +you must count beads, or pray, or become a nun, or a priest; that +you must preach sermons or hear them, build churches or fill them. +Not one word is said about eating or fasting, denying or believing. +It simply says, if you forgive others God will forgive you; and it +must of necessity be true. No god could afford to damn a forgiving +man. Suppose God should damn to everlasting fire a man so great and +good, that he, looking from the abyss of hell, would forgive +God,—how would a god feel then?</p> +<p>Now let me make myself plain upon one subject, perfectly plain. +For instance, I hate Presbyterianism, but I know hundreds of +splendid Presbyterians. Understand me. I hate Methodism, and yet I +know hundreds of splendid Methodists. I hate Catholicism, and like +Catholics. I hate insanity but not the insane.</p> +<p>I do not war against men. I do not war against persons. I war +against certain doctrines that I believe to be wrong. But I give to +every other human being every right that I claim for myself.</p> +<p>The next thing that I find is in the seventh chapter and the +second verse: "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; +and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." +Good! That suits me!</p> +<p>And in the twelfth chapter of Matthew: "For whosoever shall do +the will of my Father that is in heaven, the same is my brother and +sister and mother. For the son of man shall come in the glory of +his father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man +according.... To the church he belongs to? No. To the manner in +which he was baptized? No. According to his creed? No. Then he +shall reward every man according to his works." Good! I subscribe +to that doctrine.</p> +<p>And in the eighteenth chapter: "And Jesus called a little child +to him and stood him in the midst; and said, 'Verily I say unto +you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall +not enter into the kingdom of heaven.'" I do not wonder that in his +day, surrounded by scribes and Pharisees, he turned lovingly to +little children.</p> +<p>And yet, see what children the little children of God have been. +What an interesting dimpled darling John Calvin was. Think of that +prattling babe, Jonathan Edwards! Think of the infants that founded +the Inquisition, that invented instruments of torture to tear human +flesh. They were the ones who had become as little children. They +were the children of faith.</p> +<p>So I find in the nineteenth chapter: "And behold, one came and +said unto him: 'Good master, what good thing shall I do that I may +have eternal life?' And he said unto him, 'Why callest thou me +good? There is none good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt +enter into life, keep the commandments.' He saith unto him, +'which?'"</p> +<p>Now, there is a fair issue. Here is a child of God asking God +what is necessary for him to do in order to inherit eternal life. +And God said to him: Keep the commandments. And the child said to +the Almighty: "Which?" Now, if there ever has been an opportunity +given to the Almighty to furnish a man of an inquiring mind with +the necessary information upon that subject, here was the +opportunity. "He said unto him, which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt +do no murder; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not steal; +thou shalt not bear false witness; honor thy father and mother; and +thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."</p> +<p>He did not say to him: "You must believe in me—that I am +the only begotten son of the living God." He did not say: "You must +be born again." He did not say: "You must believe the Bible." He +did not say: "You must remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." +He simply said: "Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit +adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. +Honor thy father and thy mother; and thou shalt love thy neighbor +as thyself." And thereupon the young man, who I think was mistaken, +said unto him: "All these things have I kept from my youth up."</p> +<p>What right has the church to add conditions of salvation? Why +should we suppose that Christ failed to tell the young man all that +was necessary for him to do? Is it possible that he left out some +important thing simply to mislead? Will some minister tell us why +he thinks that Christ kept back the "scheme"?</p> +<p>Now comes an interpolation.</p> +<p>In the old times when the church got a little scarce of money, +they always put in a passage praising poverty. So they had this +young man ask: "What lack I yet? And Jesus said unto him: If thou +wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, +and thou shalt have treasure in heaven."</p> +<p>The church has always been willing to swap off treasures in +heaven for cash down. And when the next verse was written the +church must have been nearly bankrupt. "And again I say unto you, +it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for +a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Did you ever know a +wealthy disciple to unload on account of that verse?</p> +<p>And then comes another verse, which I believe is an +interpolation: "And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or +brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, +or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and +shall inherit everlasting life."</p> +<p>Christ never said it. Never. "Whosoever shall forsake father and +mother."</p> +<p>Why, he said to this man that asked him, "What shall I do to +inherit eternal life?" among other things, he said: "Honor thy +father and thy mother." And we turn over the page and he says +again: "If you will desert your father and mother you shall have +everlasting life." It will not do. If you will desert your wife and +your little children, or your lands—the idea of putting a +house and lot on equality with wife and children! Think of that! I +do not accept the terms. I will never desert the one I love for the +promise of any god.</p> +<p>It is far more important to love your wife than to love God, and +I will tell you why. You cannot help him, but you can help her. You +can fill her life with the perfume of perpetual joy. It is far more +important that you love your children than that you love Jesus +Christ. And why? If he is God you cannot help him, but you can +plant a little flower of happiness in every footstep of the child, +from the cradle until you die in that child's arms. Let me tell you +to-day it is far more important to build a home than to erect a +church. The holiest temple beneath the stars is a home that love +has built. And the holiest altar in all the wide world is the +fireside around which gather father and mother and the sweet +babes.</p> +<p>There was a time when people believed the infamy commanded in +this frightful passage. There was a time when they did desert +fathers and mothers and wives and children. St. Augustine says to +the devotee: Fly to the desert, and though your wife put her arms +around your neck, tear her hands away; she is a temptation of the +devil. Though your father and mother throw their bodies athwart +your threshold, step over them; and though your children pursue, +and with weeping' eyes beseech you to return, listen not. It is the +temptation of the evil one. Fly to the desert and save your soul. +Think of such a soul being worth saving. While I live I propose to +stand by the ones I love.</p> +<p>There is another condition of salvation. I find it in the +twenty-fifth chapter: "Then shall the King say unto them on his +right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom +prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an +hungered and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I +was a stranger and ye took me in; naked and ye clothed me; I was +sick and ye visited me; I was in prison and ye came unto me." +Good!</p> +<p>I tell you to-night that God will not punish with eternal thirst +the man who has put the cup of cold water to the lips of his +neighbor. God will not leave in the eternal nakedness of pain the +man who has clothed his fellow-men.</p> +<p>For instance, here is a shipwreck, and here is some brave sailor +who stands aside and allows a woman whom he never saw before to +take his place in the boat, and he stands there, grand and serene +as the wide sea, and he goes down. Do you tell me that there is any +God who will push the lifeboat from the shore of eternal life, when +that man wishes to step in? Do you tell me that God can be +unpitying to the pitiful, that he can be unforgiving to the +forgiving? I deny it; and from the aspersions of the pulpit I seek +to rescue the reputation of the Deity.</p> +<p>Now, I have read you substantially everything in Matthew on the +subject of salvation. That is all there is. Not one word about +believing anything. It is the gospel of deed, the gospel of +charity, the gospel of self-denial; and if only that gospel had +been preached, persecution never would have shed one drop of blood. +Not one.</p> +<p>According to the testimony Matthew was well acquainted with +Christ. According to the testimony, he had been with him, and his +companion for years, and if it was necessary to believe anything in +order to get to heaven, Matthew should have told us. But he forgot +it, or he did not believe it, or he never heard of it. You can take +your choice.</p> +<p>In Matthew, we find that heaven is promised, first, to the poor +in spirit. Second, to the merciful. Third, to the pure in heart. +Fourth, to the peacemakers. Fifth, to those who are persecuted for +righteousness' sake. Sixth, to those who keep and teach the +commandments. Seventh, to those who forgive men that trespass +against them. Eighth, that we will be judged as we judge others. +Ninth, that they who receive prophets and righteous men shall +receive a prophet's reward. Tenth, to those who do the will of God. +Eleventh, that every man shall be rewarded according to his works. +Twelfth, to those who become as little children. Thirteenth, to +those who forgive the trespasses of others. Fourteenth, to the +perfect: they who sell all that they have and give to the poor. +Fifteenth, to them who forsake houses, and brethren, and sisters, +and father, and mother, and wife, and children, and lands for the +sake of Christ's name. Sixteenth, to those who feed the hungry, +give drink to the thirsty, shelter to the stranger, clothes to the +naked, comfort to the sick, and who visit the prisoner.</p> +<p>Nothing else is said with regard to salvation in the gospel +according to St. Matthew. Not one word about believing the Old +Testament to have been inspired; not one word about being baptized +or joining a church; not one word about believing in any miracle; +not even a hint that it was necessary to believe that Christ was +the son of God, or that he did any wonderful or miraculous things, +or that he was born of a virgin, or that his coming had been +foretold by the Jewish prophets. Not one word about believing in +the Trinity, or in foreordination or predestination. Matthew had +not understood from Christ that any such things were necessary to +ensure the salvation of the soul.</p> +<p>According to the testimony, Matthew had been in the company of +Christ, some say three years and some say one, but at least he had +been with him long enough to find out some of his ideas upon this +great subject. And yet Matthew never got the impression that it was +necessary to believe something in order to get to heaven. He +supposed that if a man forgave others God would forgive him; he +believed that God would show mercy to the merciful; that he would +not allow those who fed the hungry to starve; that he would not put +in the flames of hell those who had given cold water to the +thirsty; that he would not cast into the eternal dungeon of his +wrath those who had visited the imprisoned; and that he would not +damn men who forgave others.</p> +<p>Matthew had it in his mind that God would treat us very much as +we treated other people; and that in the next world he would treat +with kindness those who had been loving and gentle in their lives. +It may be the apostle was mistaken; but evidently that was his +opinion.</p> +<a name="link0018"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>III. THE GOSPEL OF MARK</h2> +<p>ET us now see what Mark thought it necessary for a man to do to +save his soul. In the fourth chapter, after Jesus had given to the +multitude by the sea the parable of the sower, his disciples, when +they were again alone, asked him the meaning of the parable. Jesus +replied:</p> +<p>"Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: +but unto them that are without, all these things are done in +parables:</p> +<p>"That seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they +may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be +converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."</p> +<p>It is a little hard to understand why he should have preached to +people that he did not intend should know his meaning. Neither is +it quite clear why he objected to their being converted. This, I +suppose, is one of the mysteries that we should simply believe +without endeavoring to comprehend.</p> +<p>With the above exception, and one other that I will mention +hereafter, Mark substantially agrees with Matthew, and says that +God will be merciful to the merciful, that he will be kind to the +kind, that he will pity the pitying, and love the loving. Mark +upholds the religion of Matthew until we come to the fifteenth and +sixteenth verses of the sixteenth chapter, and then I strike an +interpolation put in by hypocrisy, put in by priests who longed to +grasp with bloody hands the sceptre of universal power. Let me read +it to you. It is the most infamous passage in the Bible. Christ +never said it. No sensible man ever said it.</p> +<p>"And He said unto them" (that is, unto his disciples), "go ye +into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that +believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not +shall be damned."</p> +<p>That passage was written so that fear would give alms to +hypocrisy. Now, I propose to prove to you that this is an +interpolation. How will I do it? In the first place, not one word +is said about belief, in Matthew. In the next place, not one word +about belief, in Mark, until I come to that verse, and where is +that said to have been spoken? According to Mark, it is a part of +the last conversation of Jesus Christ,—just before, according +to the account, he ascended bodily before their eyes. If there ever +was any important thing happened in this world that was it. If +there is any conversation that people would be apt to recollect, it +would be the last conversation with a god before he rose visibly +through the air and seated himself upon the throne of the infinite. +We have in this Testament five accounts of the last conversation +happening between Jesus Christ and his apostles. Matthew gives it, +and yet Matthew does not state that in that conversation Christ +said: "Whoso believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and whoso +believeth not shall be damned." And if he did say those words they +were the most important that ever fell from lips. Matthew did not +hear it, or did not believe it, or forgot it.</p> +<p>Then I turn to Luke, and he gives an account of this same last +conversation, and not one word does he say upon that subject. Luke +does not pretend that Christ said that whoso believeth not shall be +damned. Luke certainly did not hear it. May be he forgot it. +Perhaps he did not think that it was worth recording. Now, it is +the most important thing, if Christ said it, that he ever said.</p> +<p>Then I turn to John, and he gives an account of the last +conversation, but not one solitary word on the subject of belief or +unbelief. Not one solitary word on the subject of damnation. Not +one. John might not have been listening.</p> +<p>Then I turn to the first chapter of the Acts, and there I find +an account of the last conversation; and in that conversation there +is not one word upon this subject. This is a demonstration that the +passage in Mark is an interpolation. What other reason have I got? +There is not one particle of sense in it. Why? No man can control +his belief. You hear evidence for and against, and the integrity of +the soul stands at the scales and tells which side rises and which +side falls. You can not believe as you wish. You must believe as +you must. And he might as well have said: "Go into the world and +preach the gospel, and whosoever has red hair shall be saved, and +whosoever hath not shall be damned."</p> +<p>I have another reason. I am much obliged to the gentleman who +interpolated these passages. I am much obliged to him that he put +in some more—two more. Now hear:</p> +<p>"And these signs shall follow them that believe." Good!</p> +<p>"In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with +new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any +deadly thing it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the +sick and they shall recover."</p> +<p>Bring on your believer! Let him cast out a devil. I do not ask +for a large one. Just a little one for a cent. Let him take up +serpents. "And if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt +them." Let me mix up a dose for the believer, and if it does not +hurt him I will join a church. "Oh! but," they say, "those things +only lasted through the Apostolic age." Let us see. "Go into all +the world and preach the gospel, and whosoever believes and is +baptized shall be saved, and these signs shall follow them that +believe."</p> +<p>How long? I think at least until they had gone into all the +world. Certainly those signs should follow until all the world had +been visited. And yet if that declaration was in the mouth of +Christ, he then knew that one-half of the world was unknown, and +that he would be dead fourteen hundred and fifty-nine years before +his disciples would know that there was another continent. And yet +he said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel," and he knew +then that it would be fourteen hundred and fifty-nine years before +anybody could go. Well, if it was worth while to have signs follow +believers in the Old World, surely it was worth while to have signs +follow believers in the New. And the very reason that signs should +follow would be to convince the unbeliever, and there are as many +unbelievers now as ever, and the signs are as necessary to-day as +they ever were. I would like a few myself.</p> +<p>This frightful declaration, "He that believeth and is baptized +shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned," has +filled the world with agony and crime. Every letter of this passage +has been sword and fagot; every word has been dungeon and chain. +That passage made the sword of persecution drip with innocent blood +through centuries of agony and crime. That passage made the horizon +of a thousand years lurid with the fagot's flames. That passage +contradicts the Sermon on the Mount; travesties the Lord's prayer; +turns the splendid religion of deed and duty into the superstition +of creed and cruelty. I deny it. It is infamous! Christ never said +it!</p> +<a name="link0019"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>IV. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE.</h2> +<p>IT is sufficient to say that Luke agrees substantially with +Matthew and Mark.</p> +<p>"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." +Good!</p> +<p>"Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condemn not and ye shall +not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven." Good!</p> +<p>"Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed +down, and shaken together, and running over." Good! I like it.</p> +<p>"For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be +measured to you again."</p> +<p>He agrees substantially with Mark; he agrees substantially with +Matthew; and I come at last to the nineteenth chapter.</p> +<p>"And Zaccheus stood and said unto the Lord, 'Behold, Lord, the +half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything +from any man by false accusation, I restore him four fold.' And +Jesus said unto him, 'this day is salvation come to this +house.'"</p> +<p>That is good doctrine. He did not ask Zaccheus what he believed. +He did not ask him, "Do you believe in the Bible? Do you believe in +the five points? Have you ever been baptized—sprinkled? Or +immersed?" "Half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have +taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him four +fold." "And Christ said, this day is salvation come to this house." +Good!</p> +<p>I read also in Luke that Christ when upon the cross forgave his +murderers, and that is considered the shining gem in the crown of +his mercy. He forgave his murderers. He forgave the men who drove +the nails in his hands, in his feet, that plunged a spear in his +side; the soldier that in the hour of death offered him in mockery +the bitterness to drink. He forgave them all freely, and yet, +although he would forgive them, he will in the nineteenth century, +as we are told by the orthodox church, damn to eternal fire a noble +man for the expression of his honest thoughts. That will not do. I +find, too, in Luke, an account of two thieves that were crucified +at the same time. The other gospels speak of them. One says they +both railed upon him. Another says nothing about it. In Luke we are +told that one railed upon him, but one of the thieves looked and +pitied Christ, and Christ said to that thief:</p> +<p>"To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Why did he say that? +Because the thief pitied him. God can not afford to trample beneath +the feet of his infinite wrath the smallest blossom of pity that +ever shed its perfume in the human heart!</p> +<p>Who was this thief? To what church did he belong? I do not know. +The fact that he was a thief throws no light on that question. Who +was he? What did he believe? I do not know. Did he believe in the +Old Testament? In the miracles? I do not know. Did he believe that +Christ was God? I do not know. Why then was the promise made to him +that he should meet Christ in Paradise? Simply because he pitied +suffering innocence upon the cross.</p> +<p>God can not afford to damn any man who is capable of pitying +anybody.</p> +<a name="link0020"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>V. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN</h2> +<h3>AND now we come to John, and that is where the trouble +commences.</h3> +<p>The other gospels teach that God will be merciful to the +merciful, forgiving to the forgiving, kind to the kind, loving to +the loving, just to the just, merciful to the good.</p> +<p>Now we come to John, and here is another doctrine. And allow me +to say that John was not written until long after the others. John +was mostly written by the church.</p> +<p>"Jesus answered and said unto him: Verily, verily, I say unto +thee, Except a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of +God."</p> +<p>Why did he not tell Matthew that? Why did he not tell Luke that? +Why did he not tell Mark that? They never heard of it, or forgot +it, or they did not believe it.</p> +<p>"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not +enter into the kingdom of God." Why?</p> +<p>"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is +born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye +must be born again." "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and +that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," and he might have +added, that which is born of water is water.</p> +<p>"Marvel not that I said unto thee, 'ye must be born again.'" And +then the reason is given, and I admit I did not understand it +myself until I read the reason, and when you hear the reason, you +will understand it as well as I do; and here it is: "The wind +bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but +canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth." So, I find +in the book of John the idea of the Real Presence.</p> +<p>"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so +must the Son of man be lifted up; That whosoever believeth in him +should not perish, but have eternal life."</p> +<p>"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have +everlasting life.</p> +<p>"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, +but that the world through him might be saved.</p> +<p>"He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that +believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in +the name of the only begotten Son of God."</p> +<p>"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that +believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God +abideth on him." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth +my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, +and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto +life.</p> +<p>"Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, +when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that +hear shall live."</p> +<p>"And shall come forth; they that have done good unto the +resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the +resurrection of damnation."-"And this is the will of him that sent +me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may +have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last +day."</p> +<p>"No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, +draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day."</p> +<p>"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath +everlasting life.</p> +<p>"I am that bread of life.</p> +<p>"Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.</p> +<p>"This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may +eat thereof, and not die.</p> +<p>"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man +eat of this bread he shall live forever; and the bread that I will +give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."</p> +<p>"Then Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, +except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye +have no life in you.</p> +<p>"Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; +and I will raise him up at the last day.</p> +<p>"For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.</p> +<p>"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, +and I in him.</p> +<p>"As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so +he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.</p> +<p>"This is that bread which came down from heaven; not as your +fathers did eat manna, and are dead; he that eateth of this bread +shall live forever."</p> +<p>"And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come +unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."</p> +<p>"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life; he +that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.</p> +<p>"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die."</p> +<p>"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his +life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal."</p> +<p>So I find in the book of John, that in order to be saved we must +not only believe in Jesus Christ, but we must eat the flesh and we +must drink the blood of Jesus Christ. If that gospel is true, the +Catholic Church is right. But it is not true. I can not believe it, +and yet for all that, it may be true. But I do not believe it. +Neither do I believe there is any god in the universe who will damn +a man simply for expressing his belief.</p> +<p>"Why," they say to me, "suppose all this should turn out to be +true, and you should come to the day of judgment and find all these +things to be true. What would you do then?" I would walk up like a +man, and say, "I was mistaken."</p> +<p>"And suppose God was about to pass judgment upon you, what would +you say?" I would say to him, "Do unto others as you would that +others should do unto you." Why not?</p> +<p>I am told that I must render good for evil. I am told that if +smitten on one cheek I must turn the other. I am told that I must +overcome evil with good. I am told that I must love my enemies; and +will it do for this God who tells me to love my enemies to damn +his? No, it will not do. It will not do.</p> +<p>In the book of John all these doctrines of +regeneration—that it is necessary to believe in the Lord +Jesus Christ; that salvation depends upon belief—in this book +of John all these doctrines find their warrant; nowhere else.</p> +<p>Read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and then read John, and you will +agree with me that the three first gospels teach that if we are +kind and forgiving to our fellows, God will be kind and forgiving +to us. In John we are told that another man can be good for us, or +bad for us, and that the only way to get to heaven is to believe +something that we know is not so.</p> +<p>All these passages about believing in Christ, drinking his blood +and eating his flesh, are afterthoughts. They were written by the +theologians, and in a few years they will be considered unworthy of +the lips of Christ.</p> +<a name="link0021"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>VI. THE CATHOLICS</h2> +<p>NOW, upon these gospels that I have read the churches rest; and +out of these things, mistakes and interpolations, they have made +their creeds. And the first church to make a creed, so far as I +know, was the Catholic. It was the first church that had any power. +That is the church that has preserved all these miracles for us. +That is the church that preserved the manuscripts for us. That is +the church whose word we have to take. That church is the first +witness that Protestantism brought to the bar of history to prove +miracles that took place eighteen hundred years ago; and while the +witness is there Protestantism takes pains to say: "You cannot +believe one word that witness says, <i>now</i>."</p> +<p>That church is the only one that keeps up a constant +communication with heaven through the instrumentality of a large +number of decayed saints. That church has an agent of God on earth, +has a person who stands in the place of deity; and that church is +infallible. That church has persecuted to the exact extent of her +power—and always will. In Spain that church stands erect, and +is arrogant. In the United States that church crawls; but the +object in both countries is the same—and that is the +destruction of intellectual liberty. That church teaches us that we +can make God happy by being miserable ourselves; that a nun is +holier in the sight of God than a loving mother with her child in +her thrilled and thrilling arms; that a priest is better than a +father; that celibacy is better than that passion of love that has +made everything of beauty in this world. That church tells the girl +of sixteen or eighteen years of age, with eyes like dew and light; +that girl with the red of health in the white of her beautiful +cheeks—tells that girl, "Put on the veil, woven of death and +night, kneel upon stones, and you will please God."</p> +<p>I tell you that, by law, no girl should be allowed to take the +veil and renounce the joys and beauties of this life.</p> +<p>I am opposed to allowing these spider-like priests to weave webs +to catch the loving maidens of the world. There ought to be a law +appointing commissioners to visit such places twice a year and +release every person who expresses a desire to be released. I do +not believe in keeping the penitentiaries of God. No doubt they are +honest about it. That is not the question. These ignorant +superstitions fill millions of lives with weariness and pain, with +agony and tears.</p> +<p>This church, after a few centuries of thought, made a creed, and +that creed is the foundation of the orthodox religion. Let me read +it to you:</p> +<p>"Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that +he hold the Catholic faith; which faith except every one do keep +entire and inviolate, without doubt, he shall everlastingly +perish." Now the faith is this: "That we worship one God in trinity +and trinity in unity."</p> +<p>Of course you understand how that is done, and there is no need +of my explaining it. "Neither confounding the persons nor dividing +the substance." You see what a predicament that would leave the +deity in if you divided the substance.</p> +<p>"For one is the person of the Father, another of the Son, and +another of the Holy Ghost; but the Godhead of the Father, and of +the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one"—you know what I +mean by Godhead. "In glory equal, and in majesty coëternal. +Such as the Father is, such is the Son, such is the Holy Ghost. The +Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Ghost uncreated. +The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, the Holy +Ghost incomprehensible." And that is the reason we know so much +about the thing. "The Father is eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy +Ghost eternal, and yet there are not three eternals, only one +eternal, as also there are not three uncreated, nor three +incomprehensibles, only one uncreated, one incomprehensible."</p> +<p>"In like manner, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the +Holy Ghost almighty. Yet there are not three almighties, only one +Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son God, the Holy Ghost God, +and yet not three Gods; and so, likewise, the Father is Lord, the +Son is Lord, the Holy Ghost is Lord, yet there are not three Lords, +for as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge every +person by himself to be God and Lord, so we are all forbidden by +the Catholic religion to say there are three Gods, or three Lords. +The Father is made of no one; not created or begotten. The Son is +from the Father alone, not made, not created, but begotten. The +Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son, not made nor begotten, +but proceeding."</p> +<p>You know what proceeding is.</p> +<p>"So there is one Father, not three Fathers." Why should there be +three fathers, and only one Son? "One Son, and not three Sons; one +Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts; and in this Trinity there is +nothing before or afterward, nothing greater or less, but the whole +three persons are coëternal with one another and coëqual, +so that in all things the unity is to be worshiped in Trinity, and +the Trinity is to be worshiped in unity. Those who will be saved +must thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore, it is necessary to +everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation +of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now the right of this thing is this: That +we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, +is both God and man. He is God of the substance of his Father +begotten before the world was."</p> +<p>That was a good while before his mother lived. "And he is man of +the substance of his mother, born in this world, perfect God and +perfect man, and the rational soul in human flesh, subsisting equal +to the Father according to his Godhead, but less than the Father +according to his manhood, who being both God and man is not two but +one, one not by conversion of God into flesh, but by the taking of +the manhood into God." You see that is a great deal easier than the +other way would be.</p> +<p>"One altogether, not by a confusion of substance but by unity of +person, for as the rational soul and the flesh is one man, so God +and man is one Christ, who suffered for our salvation, descended +into hell, rose again the third day from the dead, ascended into +heaven, and he sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father +Almighty, and He shall come to judge the living and the dead." In +order to be saved it is necessary to believe this. What a blessing +that we do not have to understand it. And in order to compel the +human intellect to get upon its knees before that infinite +absurdity, thousands and millions have suffered agonies; thousands +and thousands have perished in dungeons and in fire; and if all the +bones of all the victims of the Catholic Church could be gathered +together, a monument higher than all the pyramids would rise, in +the presence of which the eyes even of priests would be wet with +tears.</p> +<p>That church covered Europe with cathedrals and dungeons, and +robbed men of the jewel of the soul. That church had ignorance upon +its knees. That church went in partnership with the tyrants of the +throne, and between those two vultures, the altar and the throne, +the heart of man was devoured.</p> +<p>Of course I have met, and cheerfully admit that there are +thousands of good Catholics; but Catholicism is contrary to human +liberty. Catholicism bases salvation upon belief. Catholicism +teaches man to trample his reason under foot. And for that reason +it is wrong.</p> +<p>Thousands of volumes could not contain the crimes of the +Catholic Church. They could not contain even the names of her +victims. With sword and fire, with rack and chain, with dungeon and +whip she endeavored to convert the world. In weakness a +beggar—in power a highwayman,—alms dish or +dagger—tramp or tyrant.</p> +<a name="link0022"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>VII. THE EPISCOPALIANS</h2> +<p>THE next church I wish to speak of is the Episcopalian. That was +founded by Henry VIII., now in heaven. He cast off Queen Catherine +and Catholicism together, and he accepted Episcopalianism and Annie +Boleyn at the same time. That church, if it had a few more +ceremonies, would be Catholic. If it had a few less, nothing. We +have an Episcopalian Church in this country, and it has all the +imperfections of a poor relation. It is always boasting of its rich +relative. In England the creed is made by law, the same as we pass +statutes here. And when a gentleman dies in England, in order to +determine whether he shall be saved or not, it is necessary for the +power of heaven to read the acts of Parliament. It becomes a +question of law, and sometimes a man is damned on a very nice +point. Lost on demurrer.</p> +<p>A few years ago, a gentleman by the name of Seabury, Samuel +Seabury, was sent over to England to get some apostolic succession. +We had not a drop in the house. It was necessary for the bishops of +the English Church to put their hands upon his head. They refused. +There was no act of Parliament justifying it. He had then to go to +the Scotch bishops; and, had the Scotch bishops refused, we never +would have had any apostolic succession in the New World, and God +would have been driven out of half the earth, and the true church +never could have been founded upon this continent. But the Scotch +bishops put their hands on his head, and now we have an unbroken +succession of heads and hands from St. Paul to the last bishop.</p> +<p>In this country the Episcopalians have done some good, and I +want to thank that church. Having on an average less religion than +the others—on an average you have done more good to mankind. +You preserved some of the humanities. You did not hate music; you +did not absolutely despise painting, and you did not altogether +abhor architecture, and you finally admitted that it was no worse +to keep time with your feet than with your hands. And some went so +far as to say that people could play cards, and that God would +overlook it, or would look the other way. For all these things +accept my thanks.</p> +<p>When I was a boy, the other churches looked upon dancing as +probably the mysterious sin against the Holy Ghost; and they used +to teach that when four boys got in a hay-mow, playing seven-up, +that the eternal God stood whetting the sword of his eternal wrath +waiting to strike them down to the lowest hell. That church has +done some good.</p> +<p>The Episcopal creed is substantially like the Catholic, +containing a few additional absurdities. The Episcopalians teach +that it is easier to get forgiveness for sin after you have been +baptized. They seem to think that the moment you are baptized you +become a member of the firm, and as such are entitled to wickedness +at cost. This church is utterly unsuited to a free people. Its +government is tyrannical, supercilious and absurd. Bishops talk as +though they were responsible for the souls in their charge. They +wear vests that button on one side. Nothing is so essential to the +clergy of this denomination as a good voice. The Episcopalians have +persecuted just to the extent of their power. Their treatment of +the Irish has been a crime—a crime lasting for three hundred +years. That church persecuted the Puritans of England and the +Presbyterians of Scotland. In England the altar is the mistress of +the throne, and this mistress has always looked at honest wives +with scorn.</p> +<a name="link0023"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>VIII. THE METHODISTS</h2> +<p>ABOUT a hundred and fifty years ago, two men, John Wesley and +George Whitfield, said, If everybody is going to hell, somebody +ought to mention it. The Episcopal clergy said: Keep still; do not +tear your gown. Wesley and Whitfield said: This frightful truth +ought to be proclaimed from the housetop of every opportunity, from +the highway of every occasion. They were good, honest men. They +believed their doctrine. And they said: If there is a hell, and a +Niagara of souls pouring over an eternal precipice of ignorance, +somebody ought to say something. They were right; somebody ought, +if such a thing is true. Wesley was a believer in the Bible. He +believed in the actual presence of the Almighty.</p> +<p>God used to do miracles for him; used to put off a rain several +days to give his meeting a chance; used to cure his horse of +lameness; used to cure Mr. Wesley's headaches.</p> +<p>And Mr. Wesley also believed in the actual existence of the +devil. He believed that devils had possession of people. He talked +to the devil when he was in folks, and the devil told him that he +was going to leave; and that he was going into another person. That +he would be there at a certain time; and Wesley went to that other +person, and there the devil was, prompt to the minute. He regarded +every conversion as warfare between God and this devil for the +possession of that human soul, and that in the warfare God had +gained the victory. Honest, no doubt. Mr. Wesley did not believe in +human liberty. Honest, no doubt. Was opposed to the liberty of the +colonies. Honestly so. Mr. Wesley preached a sermon entitled: "The +Cause and Cure of Earthquakes," in which he took the ground that +earthquakes were caused by sin; and the only way to stop them was +to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. No doubt an honest man.</p> +<p>Wesley and Whitfield fell out on the question of predestination. +Wesley insisted that God invited everybody to the feast. Whitfield +said he did not invite those he knew would not come. Wesley said he +did. Whitfield said: Well, he did not put plates for them, anyway. +Wesley said he did. So that, when they were in hell he could show +them that there was a seat left for them. The church that they +founded is still active. And probably no church in the world has +done so much preaching for as little money as the Methodists. +Whitfield believed in slavery, and advocated the slave-trade. And +it was of Whitfield that Whittier made the two lines:</p> +<pre> + "He bade the slave ships speed from coast to coast, + Fanned by the wings of the Holy Ghost." +</pre> +<p>We have lately had a meeting of the Methodists, and I find by +their statistics that they believe that they have converted 130,000 +folks in a year. That, in order to do this, they have 26,000 +preachers, 226,000 Sunday school scholars, and about $100,000,000 +invested in church property. I find, in looking over the history of +the world, that there are 40,000,000 or 50,000,000 of people born a +year, and if they are saved at the rate of 130,000 a year, about +how long will it take that doctrine to save this world? Good, +honest people; but they are mistaken.</p> +<p>In old times they were very simple. Churches used to be like +barns. They used to have them divided—men on that side, and +women on this. A little barbarous. We have advanced since then, and +we now find as a fact, demonstrated by experience, that a man +sitting by the woman he loves can thank God as heartily as though +sitting between two men that he has never been introduced to.</p> +<p>There is another thing the Methodists should remember, and that +is that the Episcopalians were the greatest enemies they ever had. +And they should remember that the Freethinkers have always treated +them kindly and well.</p> +<p>There is one thing about the Methodist Church in the North that +I like. But I find that it is not Methodism that does that. I find +that the Methodist Church in the South is as much opposed to +liberty as the Methodist Church North is in favor of liberty. So it +is not Methodism that is in favor of liberty or slavery. They +differ a little in their creed from the rest. They do not believe +that God does everything. They believe that he does his part, and +that you must do the rest, and that getting to heaven is a +partnership business. The Methodist Church is adapted to new +countries—its ministers are generally uncultured, and with +them zeal takes the place of knowledge. They convert people with +noise. In the silence that follows most of the converts +backslide.</p> +<p>In a little while a struggle will commence between the few who +are growing and the orthodox many. The few will be driven out, and +the church will be governed by those who believe without +understanding.</p> +<a name="link0024"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>IX. THE PRESBYTERIANS</h2> +<p>THE next church is the Presbyterian, and in my judgment the +worst of all, as far as creed is concerned. This church was founded +by John Calvin, a murderer!</p> +<p>John Calvin, having power in Geneva, inaugurated human torture. +Voltaire abolished torture in France. The man who abolished +torture, if the Christian religion be true, God is now torturing in +hell, and the man who inaugurated torture, is now a glorified angel +in heaven. It will not do.</p> +<p>John Knox started this doctrine in Scotland, and there is this +peculiarity about Presbyterianism—it grows best where the +soil is poorest. I read the other day an account of a meeting +between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a +pestilence and a famine! Imagine a conversation between a block and +an ax! As I read their conversation it seemed to me as though John +Knox and John Calvin were made for each other; that they fitted +each other like the upper and lower jaws of a wild beast. They +believed happiness was a crime; they looked upon laughter as +blasphemy; and they did all they could to destroy every human +feeling, and to fill the mind with the infinite gloom of +predestination and eternal death. They taught the doctrine that God +had a right to damn us because he made us. That is just the reason +that he has not a right to damn us. There is some dust. Unconscious +dust! What right has God to change that unconscious dust into a +human being, when he knows that human being will sin; when he knows +that human being will suffer eternal agony? Why not leave him in +the unconscious dust? What right has an infinite God to add to the +sum of human agony? Suppose I knew that I could change that piece +of furniture into a living, sentient human being, and I knew that +that being would suffer untold agony forever. If I did it, I would +be a fiend. I would leave that being in the unconscious dust.</p> +<p>And yet we are told that we must believe such a doctrine or we +are to be eternally damned! It will not do.</p> +<p>In 1839 there was a division in this church, and they had a +lawsuit to see which was the church of God. And they tried it by a +judge and jury, and the jury decided that the new school was the +church of God, and then they got a new trial, and the next jury +decided that the old school was the church of God, and that settled +it. That church teaches that infinite innocence was sacrificed for +me! I do not want it! I do not wish to go to heaven unless I can +settle by the books, and go there because I ought to go there. I +have said, and I say again, I do not wish to be a charity angel. I +have no ambition to become a winged pauper of the skies.</p> +<p>The other day a young gentleman, a Presbyterian who had just +been converted, came to me and he gave me a tract, and he told me +he was perfectly happy. Said I, "Do you think a great many people +are going to hell?" "Oh, yes." "And you are perfectly happy?" Well, +he did not know as he was, quite. "Would not you be happier if they +were all going to heaven?" "Oh, yes." "Well, then, you are not +perfectly happy?" No, he did not think he was. "When you get to +heaven, then you will be perfectly happy?" "Oh, yes." "Now, when we +are only going to hell, you are not quite happy; but when we are in +hell, and you in heaven, then you will be perfectly happy? You will +not be as decent when you get to be an angel as you are now, will +you?" "Well," he said, "that was not exactly it." Said I, "Suppose +your mother were in hell, would you be happy in heaven then?" +"Well," he says, "I suppose God would know the best place for +mother." And I thought to myself, then, if I was a woman, I would +like to have five or six boys like that.</p> +<p>It will not do. Heaven is where those are we love, and those who +love us. And I wish to go to no world unless I can be accompanied +by those who love me here. Talk about the consolations of this +infamous doctrine. The consolations of a doctrine that makes a +father say, "I can be happy with my daughter in hell;" that makes a +mother say, "I can be happy with my generous, brave boy in hell;" +that makes a boy say, "I can enjoy the glory of heaven with the +woman who bore me, the woman <i>who would have died for me</i>, in +eternal agony." And they call that tidings of great joy.</p> +<p>No church has done more to fill the world with gloom than the +Presbyterian. Its creed is frightful, hideous, and hellish. The +Presbyterian god is the monster of monsters. He is an eternal +executioner, jailer and turnkey. He will enjoy forever the shrieks +of the lost,—the wails of the damned. Hell is the festival of +the Presbyterian god.</p> +<a name="link0025"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>X. THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.</h2> +<p>I HAVE not time to speak of the Baptists,—that Jeremy +Taylor said were as much to be rooted out as anything that is the +greatest pest and nuisance on the earth. He hated the Baptists +because they represented, in some little degree, the liberty of +thought. Nor have I time to speak of the Quakers, the best of all, +and abused by all.</p> +<p>I cannot forget that John Fox, in the year of grace 1640, was +put in the pillory and whipped from town to town, scarred, put in a +dungeon, beaten, trampled upon, and what for? Simply because he +preached the doctrine: "Thou shalt not resist evil with evil." +"Thou shalt love thy enemies."</p> +<p>Think of what the church must have been that day to scar the +flesh of that loving man! Just think of it! I say I have not time +to speak of all these sects—the varieties of Presbyterians +and Campbellites. There are hundreds and hundreds of these sects, +all founded upon this creed that I read, differing simply in +degree.</p> +<p>Ah! but they say to me: You are fighting something that is dead. +Nobody believes this now. The preachers do not believe what they +preach in the pulpit. The people in the pews do not believe what +they hear preached. And they say to me: You are fighting something +that is dead. This is all a form, we do not believe a solitary +creed in the world. We sign them and swear that we believe them, +but we do not. And none of us do. And all the ministers, they say +in private, admit that they do not believe it, not quite. I do not +know whether this is so or not. I take it that they believe what +they preach. I take it that when they meet and solemnly agree to a +creed, they are honest and really believe in that creed. But let us +see if I am waging a war against the ideas of the dead. Let us see +if I am simply storming a cemetery.</p> +<p>The Evangelical Alliance, made up of all orthodox denominations +of the world, met only a few years ago, and here is their creed: +They believe in the divine inspiration, authority and sufficiency +of the holy Scriptures; the right and duty of private judgment in +the interpretation of the holy Scriptures, but if you interpret +wrong you are damned. They believe in the unity of the godhead and +the Trinity of the persons therein. They believe in the utter +depravity of human nature. There can be no more infamous doctrine +than that. They look upon a little child as a lump of depravity. I +look upon it as a bud of humanity, that will, in the air and light +of love and joy, blossom into rich and glorious life.</p> +<p>Total depravity of human nature! Here is a woman whose husband +has been lost at sea; the news comes that he has been drowned by +the ever-hungry waves, and she waits. There is something in her +heart that tells her he is alive. And she waits. And years +afterward as she looks down toward the little gate she sees him; he +has been given back by the sea, and she rushes to his arms, and +covers his face with kisses and with tears. And if that infamous +doctrine is true every tear is a crime, and every kiss a blasphemy. +It will not do. According to that doctrine, if a man steals and +repents, and takes back the property, the repentance and the taking +back of the property are two other crimes. It is an infamy. What +else do they believe? "The justification of a sinner by faith +alone," without works—just faith. Believing something that +you do not understand. Of course God can not afford to reward a man +for believing anything that is reasonable. God rewards only for +believing something that is unreasonable. If you believe something +that is improbable and unreasonable, you are a Christian; but if +you believe something that you know is not so, then,—you are +a saint.</p> +<p>They believe in the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and in +the eternal punishment of the wicked.</p> +<p>Tidings of great joy! They are so good that they will not +associate with Universalists. They will not associate with +Unitarians; they will not associate with scientists; they will only +associate with those who believe that God so loved the world that +he made up his mind to damn the most of us.</p> +<p>The Evangelical Alliance reiterates the absurdities of the Dark +Ages—repeats the five points of Calvin—replenishes the +fires of hell—certifies to the mistakes and miracles of the +Bible—maligns the human race, and kneels to a god who +accepted the agony of the innocent as an atonement for the +guilty.</p> +<a name="link0026"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +<h2>XI. WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE?</h2> +<p>THEN they say to me: "What do you propose? You have torn this +down, what do you propose to give us in place of it?"</p> +<p>I have not torn the good down. I have only endeavored to trample +out the ignorant, cruel fires of hell. I do not tear away the +passage: "God will be merciful to the merciful." I do not destroy +the promise; "If you will forgive others, God will forgive you." I +would not for anything blot out the faintest star that shines in +the horizon of human despair, nor in the sky of human hope; but I +will do what I can to get that infinite shadow out of the heart of +man.</p> +<p>"What do you propose in place of this?"</p> +<p>Well, in the first place, I propose good fellowship—good +friends all around. No matter what we believe, shake hands and let +it go. That is your opinion; this is mine: let us be friends. +Science makes friends; religion, superstition, makes enemies. They +say: Belief is important. I say: No, actions are important. Judge +by deed, not by creed. Good fellowship—good +friends—sincere men and women—mutual forbearance, born +of mutual respect. We have had too many of these solemn people. +Whenever I see an exceedingly solemn man, I know he is an +exceedingly stupid man. No man of any humor ever founded a +religion—never. Humor sees both sides. While reason is the +holy light, humor carries the lantern, and the man with a keen +sense of humor is preserved from the solemn stupidities of +superstition. I like a man who has got good feeling for everybody; +good fellowship. One man said to another:</p> +<p>"Will you take a glass of wine?"</p> +<p>"I do not drink."</p> +<p>"Will you smoke a cigar?"</p> +<p>"I do not smoke."</p> +<p>"Maybe you will chew something?"</p> +<p>"I do not chew."</p> +<p>"Let us eat some hay."</p> +<p>"I tell you I do not eat hay."</p> +<p>"Well, then, good-by, for you are no company for man or +beast."</p> +<p>I believe in the gospel of Cheerfulness, the gospel of Good +Nature; the gospel of Good Health. Let us pay some attention to our +bodies. Take care of our bodies, and our souls will take care of +themselves. Good health! And I believe the time will come when the +public thought will be so great and grand that it will be looked +upon as infamous to perpetuate disease. I believe the time will +come when man will not fill the future with consumption and +insanity. I believe the time will come when we will study +ourselves, and understand the laws of health and then we will say: +We are under obligation to put the flags of health in the cheeks of +our children. Even if I got to heaven, and had a harp, I would hate +to look back upon my children and grandchildren, and see them +diseased, deformed, crazed—all suffering the penalties of +crimes I had committed.</p> +<p>I believe in the gospel of Good Living. You can not make any god +happy by fasting. Let us have good food, and let us have it well +cooked—and it is a thousand times better to know how to cook +than it is to understand any theology in the world.</p> +<p>I believe in the gospel of good clothes; I believe in the gospel +of good houses; in the gospel of water and soap. I believe in the +gospel of intelligence; in the gospel of education. The +school-house is my cathedral. The universe is my Bible. I believe +in that gospel of justice, that we must reap what we sow.</p> +<p>I do not believe in forgiveness as it is preached by the church. +We do not need the forgiveness of God, but of each other and of +ourselves. If I rob Mr. Smith and God forgives me, how does that +help Smith? If I, by slander, cover some poor girl with the leprosy +of some imputed crime, and she withers away like a blighted flower +and afterward I get the forgiveness of God, how does that help her? +If there is another world, we have got to settle with the people we +have wronged in this. No bankrupt court there. Every cent must be +paid.</p> +<p>The Christians say, that among the ancient Jews, if you +committed a crime you had to kill a sheep. Now they say "charge +it." "Put it on the slate." It will not do. For every crime you +commit you must answer to yourself and to the one you injure. And +if you have ever clothed another with woe, as with a garment of +pain, you will never be quite as happy as though you had not done +that thing. No forgiveness by the gods. Eternal, inexorable, +everlasting justice, so far as Nature is concerned. You must reap +the result of your acts. Even when forgiven by the one you have +injured, it is not as though the injury had not been done. That is +what I believe in. And if it goes hard with me, I will stand it, +and I will cling to my logic, and I will bear it like a man.</p> +<p>And I believe, too, in the gospel of Liberty, in giving to +others what we claim for ourselves. I believe there is room +everywhere for thought, and the more liberty you give away, the +more you will have. In liberty extravagance is economy. Let us be +just. Let us be generous to each other.</p> +<p>I believe in the gospel of Intelligence. That is the only lever +capable of raising mankind. Intelligence must be the savior of this +world. Humanity is the grand religion, and no God can put a man in +hell in another world, who has made a little heaven in this. God +cannot make a man miserable if that man has made somebody else +happy. God cannot hate anybody who is capable of loving anybody. +Humanity—that word embraces all there is.</p> +<p>So I believe in this great gospel of Humanity.</p> +<p>"Ah! but," they say, "it will not do. You must believe." I say, +No. My gospel of health will bring life. My gospel of intelligence, +my gospel of good living, my gospel of good-fellowship will cover +the world with happy homes. My doctrine will put carpets upon your +floors, pictures upon your walls. My doctrine will put books upon +your shelves, ideas in your minds. My doctrine will rid the world +of the abnormal monsters born of ignorance and superstition. My +doctrine will give us health, wealth and happiness. That is what I +want. That is what I believe in. Give us intelligence. In a little +while a man will find that he can not steal without robbing +himself. He will find that he cannot murder without assassinating +his own joy. He will find that every crime is a mistake. He will +find that only that man carries the cross who does wrong, and that +upon the man who does right the cross turns to wings that will bear +him upward forever. He will find that even intelligent self-love +embraces within its mighty arms all the human race.</p> +<p>"Oh," but they say to me, "you take away immortality." I do not. +If we are immortal it is a fact in nature, and we are not indebted +to priests for it, nor to bibles for it, and it cannot be destroyed +by unbelief.</p> +<p>As long as we love we will hope to live, and when the one dies +that we love we will say: "Oh, that we could meet again," and +whether we do or not it will not be the work of theology. It will +be a fact in nature. I would not for my life destroy one star of +human hope, but I want it so that when a poor woman rocks the +cradle and sings a lullaby to the dimpled darling, she will not be +compelled to believe that ninety-nine chances in a hundred she is +raising kindling wood for hell.</p> +<p>One world at a time is my doctrine.</p> +<p>It is said in this Testament, "Sufficient unto the day is the +evil thereof;" and I say: Sufficient unto each world is the evil +thereof.</p> +<p>And suppose after all that death does end all. Next to eternal +joy, next to being forever with those we love and those who have +loved us, next to that, is to be wrapt in the dreamless drapery of +eternal peace. Next to eternal life is eternal sleep. Upon the +shadowy shore of death the sea of trouble casts no wave. Eyes that +have been curtained by the everlasting dark, will never know again +the burning touch of tears. Lips touched by eternal silence will +never speak again the broken words of grief. Hearts of dust do not +break. The dead do not weep. Within the tomb no veiled and weeping +sorrow sits, and in the ray-less gloom is crouched no shuddering +fear.</p> +<p>I had rather think of those I have loved, and lost, as having +returned to earth, as having become a part of the elemental wealth +of the world—I would rather think of them as unconscious +dust, I would rather dream of them as gurgling in the streams, +floating in the clouds, bursting in the foam of light upon the +shores of worlds, I would rather think of them as the lost visions +of a forgotten night, than to have even the faintest fear that +their naked souls have been clutched by an orthodox god. I will +leave my dead where nature leaves them. Whatever flower of hope +springs up in my heart I will cherish, I will give it breath of +sighs and rain of tears. But I can not believe that there is any +being in this universe who has created a human soul for eternal +pain. I would rather that every god would destroy himself; I would +rather that we all should go to eternal chaos, to black and +starless night, than that just one soul should suffer eternal +agony.</p> +<p>I have made up my mind that if there is a God, he will be +merciful to the merciful.</p> +<p>Upon that rock I stand.—</p> +<p>That he will not torture the forgiving.—</p> +<p>Upon that rock I stand.—</p> +<p>That every man should be true to himself, and that there is no +world, no star, in which honesty is a crime.</p> +<p>Upon that rock I stand.</p> +<p>The honest man, the good woman, the happy child, have nothing to +fear, either in this world or the world to come.</p> +<p>Upon that rock I stand.</p> +<div style="height: 6em;"><br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<br /> +<table summary="" border="3" cellpadding="4"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td><big><big><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38813/38813-h/38813-h.htm"> +TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ALL 12 EBOOKS IN THIS SET</a></big></big></td> +<td></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> +<br /> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /></div> +</body> +</html> |
