THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BRIGHT.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 93, 6 November 1878, Page 3

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BRIGHT.

[Tho following clever piece of satirical rhyme is directed with stinging force against the doctrines of infidelity inculcated by Bright, the famous "Freethought" lecturer in Dunedin, and is supposed to have sprung from the pen of an ex-Catholic priest of that city.] From nowhere we came—to nowhere Ave go ; Created from nothing—to nothing Ave grow. Evolution is merely a Avord to express The mystic procession of pure nothingness. , ~ -, ,- There is nothing which man ever thought that is right— Now this is the gospel according to Bright. . This order of things never once did begin. But fully evolved, out of chaos did ' spring. The creation in Genesis is but a myth—4. story invented to please children Avith ; We men of this day have u good deal more light— Yes, this is the gospel according to 'Bright, . . . The religion of Christians is simply a fraud, , , Though its system of morals we much do applaud. Revelation— pshaw ! There are limits to pass— . The man Avho would credit it must be an ass But in Walker, the medium, we believe Now? U this is the gospel according to Bright. . . All sects and all churches are organised shams, . , ~ Their creeds are but digests of palpable crams ; Most preachers are hypocrites ; some ot them knaves — The priests and their flocks superstition's Ml slaves ; They all quote the devil the people to fright— Yes, this is the gospel according to Bright. All Faith is pretension, and Hope a Avild dream ; Meek Charity only a clahn to esteem. There is no divine spark in the essence of man, Ltt each live for himself, and as long as he can ! For blind's the look out when the spirit takes flight, Noav, this is the gospel according to Bright. Men of genius only can scan the unknown, No matter how diverse their teachings are slioAvn ; The ethics of Paine, and Voltaire, and Rosseau, The phvsics of Tvndall, Tom Hux'ey, and Co. : Thes 13 alone raise the mind from obsurity's night, Yes, this is the gospel according to Bright. The use of big words small ideas to express, Old infidel rubbish vamped up in neAV press ; Freethought upon subjects we don't understand, Of logical reasoning, ignorance bland. I have studied it close. Have I read it aright ? Is this not the gospel according to •Bright? X. Dunedin, August 11.