Rational Society.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1633, 9 March 1886, Page 2

Rational Society.

■ REPORT OB 1 COMMITTEE /OF „-.,. . MANAGEMENT,. „., . /

To the members of the Rational Society., ; . '._"' ' • . .! , 'Gentlemen, — We have ' much "pleasure 1 ; m presenting this our third quarterly re-" port, together with balance-sheet, sei ting forth a full statement of all receipts and expenditure from Ist December, 1885, i>to pth , March,, *1886,., i conjinhtee have again the satisfaction of reporting considerable,* prqgress m conned-, tion with Lyceum matter's, impart from our usuaL platform fdiitiiie} we have beejn, favoured with the presence of Miss Tessy Chapman, who gave two lectures m the, foresters' Hall and two m the Lyceunu Mr Isaac Selby also gave one lecture &nd ad address m the Lyceua» t oneach.qccaßipn ther£ was a fairiVgodd attendance ; their visit may he considered to be productive of much good, tending to remove to a great extent thef 1 prejudice entertained by many with regatd to our Institution. In fact during tt^e past' quarter much energy has been thrown into the work,. and .our ... numbers have' considerably increased, also a great quantity of Rationalistic literature has ■been sold and there is an evidence of much g-ood having been done by that means. Our balance-sheet again speaks favorably for itself, the total receipts from all sources including balance from last quarter was £37 8s 7d, and the total expenditure £31 3s 6d, leaving a credit :cash balance m bank of £6 5s Id, our; total assets are £2817s 7d, which after deducting , all , liabilities to date leaves 'a credit balance of £21 4s 7d, our financial .position is therefore m every way moist satisfactory. Itis particularly desired that every member should feel himself to an extent responsible for the continued sue cess of this Institution and lose no effort that will have for its tendency of more effectually cementing ourselves together by working assiduously"* shoulder %o shoulder for one common cause, foriit must be borne m mind that bur labor is for right against might, truth against superstition and error. We are pleased to, be- able to, congratulate the. Society on what we 'hope will be a firm and lasting j. basis, and would earnestly, solicit, .the 'support of every Freethinker oh its behalf, „. We are also pleased to iindtho Liberciior has a goodly circulation m our midst, and it is likely to be of great assistance m, disseminating Rationalistic* ;. tenets,, The Committee . has much pleasure m tendering its hearty thanks H.o ,:Miss Minnie Walton for her regular! 'punctual .attendance and the ability displayed m her musical selections whilst presiding at the piano, also to .Messrs A. Hewitt and N. M. Person for iheir vocal contributions, the interest^ they have taken iv the singing Has added consider ably, to, the , success' of the" Society^ and. are to be, congratulated for their retjiilar attention m persistently fulfilling their Belf4mppsed duty;, 6n their .'behal£ we would, entreat members' to conie 1 iot;Ward and assist them t in the singing, 'so that*: '.}*y. your- help tlieyhiay he able tofcrni a ' good choir. : . We should; also be gldd ; if other members would 1 come forward and give an address, a reading,, or a lecture^ occasionally, as we bfelieve fresh speakers on the platform, would even mote aadjto the interest already shown m th'e suefcess of this mbveuietit. In cbnclusion ib& committee again haye 1 to |reeorH n th'at durinsfthe past quarter' invitations have been published to all the clergy of-/Pal-merston North, inviting ' them' to public debases or that they 'would give us an address, when every courtesy arid attention, would be given them, but there; is not. one of .the clergy ' or laymen that have the moral courag& of their opinions, to "_ come and express : ; tnemselves ein! a publid platform, yet' 'scfeehed behind a pulpit they continuously 'mfsrepresent and prejudice iheir, hearers against us, I and the clergy m their frequent uncalledfor visits from house to house pass Remarks which are misleading and with the unthinking portion cause' -unkindly feelings against . us ; but this can only; : last for a little, for the public are beginning to investigate the foundation of ; their faith, and many are daily finding that it is built only on error and super- ; stition, ?' Light more Light/ .'"' . • ■■■>.. -I ■> Thomas :Haj.l»' ; Hon.' Secretary to the Rational Society.