Progress.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 1, 1 October 1883, Page 5

Progress.

Organisation is equally necessary for the wide extension of the Fx’eethought movement, and for the protection of individual Freethinkers. The time is not far distant when the different Freethought Associations of this Colony will be linked together in a federal union, with its annual conference composed of delegates from all parts of New Zealand. Organisation means strength and power for attaining results : wherever therefore a few Freethinkers are congregated, there they should form themselves into an association, hold meetings, and establish relations with other associations. By this means they will soon become powerful to command respect for freedom of thought, while they will find on their side the enthusiasm that is stimulated by work and effort.

The Freethinkers of Napier, who are strong in numbers, are about to form themselves into an Association, and hope to begin under favorable auspices. We wish them good speed.

In Patea a few very earnest and devoted Freethinkers have mooted the question of organising. There are perhaps more Freethinkers in the Patea district than in any population of the same extent in New Zealand.

The Wanganui Freethought Association has been in existence only four months, and has made very rapid advances. It commenced with a membership of fifteen, and has gone on increasing until it has a roll of about eighty. The meetings have been well attended, and the interest not only sustained but increasing.

Persecution sometimes has its uses, though we cannot recommend it. There have been large accessions of members to the National Secular Society of which Mr. Bradlaugh is President, mainly in consequence of his unjust and illegal exclusion from the House of Commons.