WANGANUI FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 February 1884, Page 5

WANGANUI FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

The Secretary has kindly forwarded us the following particulars : Wanganui. January 24th, I‘BB4. Sir,— On the 6th instant, the Wanganui Freeth ought Association held its first half-yearly meeting in the Academy of Music. The gathering was a large one, and it was shown that on June 3rd, 1883, the Association began with only six members, whilst now the actual membership, active and passive, amounted to 85, most of them beiii"financial to date, which is considered an uuuiistakcable proof of the

vitality of the Association. The papers and addresses contributed by members and friends-of the Association during the past half-year were very favorably commented on, the universal opinion being that the Association had within its ranks some very able exponents of Frcethought. The financial statement showed a small deficiency, which was at once subscribed in the room, so that the new year might be entered upon untrammelled in a pecuniary point of view, A library -has been formed consisting of some fifteen volumes of Freethougiit literature, some having been presented to the Association some time since by an unknown friend in the Wairarapa, the others by members. The importance of a library to other organisations of a similar character is looked upon as very great, and I am pleased to see a beginning to this essential part of Frccthought propaganda. I understand the leaders of a section of the Salvation Army have arrived in Wanganui, The result of their campaign will no doubt be looked upon with considerable interest. I hear that “ Captain ” Ted Wright seemed surprised at the existence of a Frccthought organisation in Wanganui, and expressed the opinion that “It is time we came.” Yours faithfully, J. J. Bitckrell, Secretary, W.F.A.