CANTERBURY FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 3, 1 December 1883, Page 6

CANTERBURY FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

Under date November 19, the Corresponding Secretary, Mr. W. Pratt, writes :—I have the honor to forward you the following report of the proceedings of the above Association since my last communication : On Sunday the 21st October, Mr. T. Parker gave an original address upon Health, which was both interesting and instructive, and it received well merited applause from a large and appreciative audience. On the 28th instant, Mr. Thomas Williams, in conjunction with a local Artist, provided a good and most mirth-provoking entertainment. The holding capacity of our Hall was taxed to its utmost limits. A dioramic view of some well read scenes and events comically treated, was gradually unrolled to appropriate music, and explained by Mr. W., an apt student of the Artemus Ward school, and his quiet impromptu drolleries, free from vulgarity, kept the large audience in a state of convulsive laughter the entire evening. On the 4th November, Mr, E. M. Clissold chose the “ Bible in schools" question—which still surely agitates the clerical minds for the subject of his address, which rivetted the attention of the audience for over an hour, and elicited frequent bursts of applause during its delivery. November nth and 18th.—On each of these evenings, suitable readings were given—discussions, Shakesperian recitals, music, and singing filling up the programme, The average attendance of children at the Sunday Lyceum is 50. In addition to the marching, singing, reading, calisthenics, and teachers’ addresses upon some suitable and interesting subject, good progress is being made in the theory of music (old notations) under the able direction of Mr, J. M. Thompson. I also send herewith a copy of a letter (suppressing the name and occupation of the writer) as evidence of the spirit animating the consistent Freethinker, and also as supplying the certificate referred to by Colonel Ingersoll in the following words, “ that every individual not perfectly free to act according to his honest convictions, is a certificate of the meanness, and intolerance of the community among which he resides.” Dear Sir, — Having read in the Freethought Review No. 2, Nov. 1 st, 1883, Constitution and Rules suitable for adoption by Freethought _ Associations, and doubting not but the Christchurch Association is based on similar principles, I have determined to ask

for enrolment in your Association By reason of my peculiar employment I perceive it would be imprudent for me to make any intrusive attack on the superstition of the majority, or even any public avowal of my own belief, nor does it appear to me to be at all necessary, but this much I think is demanded of every man—that he contribute as far as he is able towards the propagandism of the tenets and principles in which he himself believes. I may not take active part in Freethought beyond the limit of my own family of eight individuals, who are growing up, and shall be in positions free to profess and follow their principles when they become men and women, but I presume there is nothing to hinder my being enrolled with Freethinkers, and contributing by quarterly or other subscription towards the cost of Freethought propagandism. I shall be much obliged if the Secretary will be good enough to send me copy of constitution and by-laws, and communicate the necessary information for acquiring membership. I remain, &c., Wm. Pratt'Esq., President Freethought Association, Christchurch. Canterbury, Nov. 9th, 1883.