THE THAMES MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4322, 7 November 1882, Page 2

THE THAMES MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sib, —Just a. few words upon Mr lleddish's criticism of the President's address. Although using the word " criticism " I have to explain that it is not quite correctly used in reference to so unmeaning and confused a medley as the letter Mr Reddish has the good nature to give us. Like the stormy petrel that flaps its wing to foretell the impending storm, our would-be champion of Christianity sounds the tocsin of alarm, lest what he has the politeness to nickname the " Freethought" Association should " subvert the religion of ihe people," including of course his own share thereof, a heavy burden he would have us believe. How an association .that does cot touch upon religion can " subvert it" nevertheless, as G.A.R. asserts and feels alarmed for, is a matter only a fool can understand; it is beyond the ken of sensible reasonable beings The poor President " cuts his own throat," over Egypt. Dear me ! Cut his throat with what ? Well, never mind that, he has cut it; and GA.R. is the .man that cannot tell how. It is very much to be regretted that G.A.R. did not read the President's address ; for if he did, valiant and religious as be would have us suppose him to be, he would Bad in it nothing that could be intelligently or logically objected to. If so reasonable a man as Gr.A.R. is, would reflect for a minute, would he not see that religions discussion would not suit an association of the general public, as our association is? And is he not well aware thaff we are blessed with churches enough, with creed's enough, to discuss religion- to his satisfaction. More than that, which is saying a gcod deal, is he not aware that religion has been discussed, and discussed, and d:s cussed, for ages, in every variety of manner too, and that G.A.R. and some more lights even now at the Thames are as far apart as you please about it. This is the good, the neK result, of how much discussion, how much religion (?) how much wrangling, how much zeal ? For goodness-sake let the Thames Mutual Improvement Association keep its hands quite clear of it.—l, am &c, A Memsee of the Association. Nov. 6th, 1882. x . j