MR. CHARLES BRIGHT’S SECOND LECTURE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5254, 25 January 1878, Page 3

MR. CHARLES BRIGHT’S SECOND LECTURE.

The Polytechnic ,Hall was crowded last, evening to hear Mr. Bright's second lecture. The subject chosen was “ Free Thought versus Fettered Thought.” Mr. Griffiths occupied the chair, and in a few preliminary observations said he was one of the Free Thought Association who had been instrumental iu bringing Mr. Bright to Wellington. He trusted they would give the lecturer a fair hearing, and' at the conclusion, if any one desired to ask Mr. Bright any questions, he would be allowed five minutes ia which to do ■ so, Mr. Bright being given the, same time for, a reply ; and if any one wished to make a speecli he would be allowed ten minutes, Mr. Bright having the same time iu which to answer. The lecturer, who was warmly received, commenced by a quotation from Byron—'Tis a base Abandonment of reason, to resign Out right of thought; and followed it up by another, from Shakspere; What is man If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed. Mr. Bright went on to say that the majority of mankind, owing to their training in early youth, did not dare to think freely, although they would consider it an insult if they were told that such was tile case. Until thought on all subjects was free there was little ehauce of mankind advancing out of the chaotic social muddle in which it was involved. He referred to the Press of the present day as being ordinarily favorable to freedom of thought; but there were some exceptions. He quoted from a journal a strong condemnation of scepticism, conceived in a very illiberal spirit, which he had reason to believe was from the pen of a clergyman. Then he gave a brief sketch of the history of Christianity, from the time of Constantine to the great awakening of thought which brought about the Reformation, and argued that although the right of private judgment was then proclaimed, it was nevertheless virtually proscribed, and as an illustration instanced Calvin's persecution of Servetus,. who waa burnt to death. He proceeded to point out that from the early days of the Christian Church people were persecuted even unto death on account of difference of views on points of a merely doctrinal character. Alluding to the two strongest supporters of the present state of religious belief, he characterised them as being the weaker members of society—the women and the clergy, they in truth were the social supporters of fettered thought. After referring iu eloquent terms to Harriet Martineau and other women of high intellect who had enlightened tho world by their writings, he expressed the hope that the time would soon come when their training would be of such a nature as to cause them to take a higher position, and to lend their influence in support of free thought and intellectual advancement. Mr. Bright concluded a most eloquent address as follows :—“ The true worship of God is work-work for the education and advancement of humanity ; but so long as religion is supposed to be a thing of form, to be regulated and controlled by paid officials, so long will there be little real worship, and tho usurpation of authority over free thought will not come to an end.” At the conclusion of tho lecture the Chairman asked it anyone had any questions to put to the lecturer? ; No one replied to the challenge, and the meeting separated.' ’ Mr. Bright will lecture at the Theatre Royal on Sunday evening on the “Doctrine of Evolution .in Relation to Prayer.” A charge of Is. will be made for admission to the dress circle. The rest of tho house will he free.