FREE THOUGHT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 272, 16 November 1877, Page 2

FREE THOUGHT.

TO TUB EDIIOE Off THE * EVENIN<S Mill,.' Sra— l have just one word more to say in connection with the lecture of Mr Bright I have already expressed myself as to the mode of treatment of this great subject by the lecturer. I now wish with all respect to put on record my view of the conduct of a part of the audience, who sympathised with the lecturer s views. In presuming on the expression of an opinion as to tha exhibition of feeling indulged in by these gentlemen I must ask your readers clearly to understand that I do not refer at all to their opinions or belief. Every Jman's religious faith is a sacred thing. I can well understand how many minds fail to receive the Bible as a revelation from God. lam not a stranger to the difficulty of belief. I have a painful acquaintance with the agonies of doubtagain and again hare I gone through the fierce fires of scepticism, so that I can appreciate the difficulties and sympathise deeply with the sincere miuds who are battling with the great problem of life. My experience has taught me that it is a terrible thing to battle with doubt, to grapple with the ghastly spectacle of unbelief, to feel that your old formulas, and creeds, and catechisms grow to be too narrow; and that they have to bs given up or transformed from a new stand point into living verities. « Awful is this watching place." Happy is the soul that comes up out of the lonely dreary desert with chastened feeling and humbled soul, with & clearer conception, and a truer realisation of God, and beyond all a firmer, more intelligible faith in Christ. m the doubfc, the strife, Ahe faint, perplexing dread removed, and the radiant light of His presence, and Hia love crowning his head, and irradiating his soul. Alasl how many go down into the abysmal darkness of despair and death. Now, Sir, my regret is that this solemn, this tremendous matter was not only treated as I have shown it to have been; but that it was received— not the argument, for it was destitute of that— but the scorn and concempfc so freely indulged in was received with a gusto and outbursts of applause that seemed to me at least to tell of some personal gam, some personal triumph achieved. Now to my mind such an exhibition was a most humiliating spectacle. It was ao because I fail to see how, even supposing that Christianity was proved to be nothing more than a system of human philosophy, any man could rejoice at it; how, indeed, ifc could be anything but a matter of sincere regret to every rightly constituted mind. For what does it mean? Why, the robbing of the world of ita belief in a living Saviour, in an omniscient, compassionate friend that bears " a filial part" in every human sorrow, the dethroning of the Destroyer of the tomb! Star of the living and the dead. * * * * ' Light of the morning sure! the proving to the world that there was no immortality, no eternal life. This would be a work that scarce a fiend would lau^ h at Ard when men of mature yeara, the heads' of families, are found to chuckle, and stamp and cheer uproariously over such au imagination, it is, to say the least, a very humiliating and painful spectacle. I have no intention of engaging in any controversy on this matter, but " Inquirer " is curioua as to my proclivities and identity Why he is so I know not. I would rather not know who he is. He supposes lam fond of writing. I say "Yes" to the soft impeachment. May I ask what then? I have used up I know not what quantity of printer's ink. I have written on social and political questions' for many years, touching now and again on things theological and ecclesiastical. I have also tha satisfaction of knowing that my writings have been influential and valued. I trust this piece of information will be equally gratifying to "Inquirer." He asks am I "Cerip" Am I a very adjectivial "Pedagogue"? Well suppos I am. What then? One of two things only as far as my conception of the enquiry goes. Either what I have said is to be judged by whom I am and not upon its merit, or according to the code of liberty of •« Inquirer;" such persons as "Cerip " and « Pedagogue " are nofc to be allowed free thought and free utterance But suppose I am neither one or the other again, what then?— l am, &c, ' p Nelson, November 13, 1877.