MR CHARLES BRIGHT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 30, 4 February 1878, Page 4

MR CHARLES BRIGHT.

4ZULV VAA£V-LVJU.LUO JJt\i.KXO.X, The writer of " Passing Notes" in the Otago Witness thus alludes to Mr Charles Bright, his " Free Thought" lectures, and his followers: — "Mr Charleß Bright will return to Dunedin in less than a fortnight, and it is his intention to take still further steps to explain to the people of this city the mysteries of ' free thought.' The word 'mysteries' is usnd advisedly, for although Mr Charles Bright, doubtless knows what ' free thought' means, his explanations, so .far, have not been particularly lucid. Admitting that the Jarge audiences that, assembled in. tbe Princeß's Theatre a few months ago to listen to Mr Bright -were composed of men and women of average intelligence 1 —although it is possible the followers of the eminent lecturer will think that this admission does not go far enoughit may be said without hesitation that Mr Bright'a efforts to enlarge the minds and extend tbe sympathies of his hearers, have not been attended with any marked degree of suocess. I9 is to be feared that the growth of ' free thought' in this city at any rßte, does not necessarily mean the putting aside of bigotry and intolerance in matters of religious belief. The men and rwotnen who under Mr Bright'a tuition, profess to throw* the light of reason' on the words of the Old and New Testament, do not appear to grow large-hearted and charitable towards their less enlightened fellow-beings, but, on tbe contrary, hug themselves closely in the belief that they, and they only, are on the right path. The disposition that tha ' Freethinkers' betray, to sneer at those persons who are still confined to the narrow paths of orthodoxy, and to apeak in an offensive tone of levity of things that are held sacred by others, does not increase one's opinion of the merits of the new system. It is to be hoped, however,, that Mr Charles Bright will sot do much barm. The majority of men and womem require a stimulent of some kind, and while some prefer whisky and water, others are benefited by a little religious excitement, especially if occasioned by the pulling to pieces of old creeds. Tom Poyae did not do a vast deal of harm, and • Tom-Payne-and-water' may prove a harmless mixture after all."