FREETHOUGHT IN WANGANUI.

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

FREETHOUGHT IN WANGANUI.

It is an interesting sign of the times that simultaneously in several pans of New Zealand Freethought societies have been organized. And in taking a brief retrospect of the Wanganui Freethought Association it is gratifying to find that it has made such satisfactory progress. During the few months of its existence there has been a steady increase of membership, a more settled appreciativeness on the part of the audiences, and we believe that the greater part of the work has been fairly accomplished. Freethought, however, in every essential particular, has been scrupulously kept in view—no creed has been formulated, no mental trammel has been placed upon anyone. And it must here be noted that the Association has been fortunate in possessing the services of a gentleman of ability and influence, who has ever stepped forward with first-class lectures and carried its meetings to a successful issue. Other members, too, have propounded the principles of Freethought with earnestness and intelligence, and the satisfactory result has been that we have had short lectures, essays and discussions upon a variety of subjects—science, philosophy, theology and history receiving alternate consideration. And the most pleasing feature in all this is that a free platform has been upheld. In every instance of an address or paper, criticism has been invited, and every opportunity given for free and fair discussion. We seek the truth and we afford the means to obtain it. And a review of the work of the Association would be incomplete, moreover, if we did not record the fact that the resident clergymen of the town have been courteously invited to address the large and attentive audiences that assemble every Sunday evening, upon any subject they might choose. It appears, however, that they are not at all anxious to

obliterate the dangerous errors of Freethinkers, and consequently the well-meant invitation has received no response. If a good shepherd hath lost one sheep, he will leave the ninety and-nine and seek the lost one, and return with it safely to the fold. Unfortunately, they did not know everything down in Judea. Parsons cannot see the moral of the story now-a-days ! It must also be acknowledged that the orchestra gives pleasure and variety to the proceedings ; and we are very pleased to hear that an efficient choir is to be organized. Whilst congratulating ourselves upon the satisfactory progress the Wanganui Freethought Association has made, however, we must not forget that a great deal remains to be accomplished. In a small community like ours, it undoubtedly requires no little courage to oppose those " twin sisters." bigotry and Phariseeism, always so powerful. Let every Freethinker in our midst do his duty by becoming an active or passive member ; and thereby strengthen and encourage those who are striving to rid the world of hypocrisy and superstition. The one desire is to firmly establish a temple where freedom and intelligence shall not be interdicted ; an organisation where the guiding aim and principle shall be : " Let us all be free. Free to accept the truth as we perceive it; free to believe, free to reject. Nothing but the right to know and utter the truth." And so long as a few good friends adhere to this liberal line of action, so long, we believe, will the Association be able to maintain a respectable and acknowledged position. Verb sap. Y.