CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1934, 9 March 1885, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor. Sir,—As the doings of the lately Btarted Freethought Associations are causing some adverse commont based on false statements as to the character of our Sunday meetings allow.me to give one or two reasons that induced me and many others to take an active part in the organizing of such a society. It is iii tho first instance to provide a meeting.place, where people can discuss religious and social subjects without the threat of eternal punishment suspended over their, heads like the sword of a Damocles, Further to give persons not attending any of the churches a chance to spend their Sunday afternoon and evening in an enjoyable and rational manner. 1 can.seesomeof the pious English hold up their heads in disgust at what they are pleased to call our desecrating Sabbath practices. Perhaps they are aware of the existence of other Christian nations holding different y,iews. on the question of Sunday observance. Look at Germany, the Sunday evening you'll find theatres,: concert and lecture halls !.open, and the few working, to provide recreation forVtthemany, and Wen the Emperor William known for his thorough Christian instinct and head of the Protestant Church, hardly, ever fails to attend, the Sunday performance. As there has been some disparaging statements circulated as to the manner in which our gatherings are conducted, I may mention that they are, to some extent open to the public, andl hope, Mr Editor, that you will favor us with your presence, judge for yourself and assist the weaker Bide in getting fair play, In the meantime I challenge contradictions that our meetings will tend to develop suoh a spirit of larrikinism and rowdyism among the rising generations, as the gatherings of a oertam religious seot, While holding out the right hand of fellowship to all, wo want people to judge us irrespective of our oreed and to believe that man, be he Christian, Theisfc, Spiritualist, or oven an Atheist, may be" a man for a' that." It's coming yet, for a' that, That man to man, the war 1 o'er, Shall blithers be, for a' that. Yours, etc., "A\ Keisenberg. Masterton, 7th March,' 1885,'" ''' A CORRECTION, (To the Editor.) Sir—You are slightly in error in describing the "sound of music and revelry" (asjouput it) heard last Sunday, as a social re-union of Jrench and German religionists, as it was nottiing of the kind but the weekly re-union of tlie members of the newly formed Freethought Association, who hold their meetings every, Sunday evening for the purpose of mutual improvement and recreation. Selections from the best authors, and papers on subjects of social interest are read by several of the Association, and. musical selections by the band, which I am proud to say, is composed by most of our best local musicians, The Association has about 50 members and the proceedings are conducted with as much order as the services of the most fashionable church in the District. By kindly inserting sorting the above in your valuable paper you will prevent any misrepresentation as to the object of the meetings being made by individuals who are not in pur way of thinking, and oblige Yours &c., A Member,