CHRISTCHURCH FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 February 1884, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

The President and Corresponding Secretary forwards us a brief epitome of the last month’s proceedings of the above Association : church, January th, 1884. Sir, —On Sunday, the 23rd December, Mr T. 0. Farnie, M.A., from Dunedin, kindly gave us a very interesting address upon the ‘ ‘ Life and Labors of Martin Luther.” There was a large attendance, although the weather was unfavorable. The same morning there was a distribution of a number of pretty prize books and toys to the children attending the Lyceum, 61 being present. On Sunday, the Gth January, a Mr S. Parker, one of our members, gave an original address upon “Jesus of Nazareth.” The subject was well handled, and elicited considerable applause at its conclusion. This gentleman has frequently given original papers upon various subjects, showing marked care and ability in their preparation. Our Hall has been recently decorated with heraldic shields and banners, bearing the names of Galileo, Spinoza, Bruno, Voltaire, Paine, Lyell, Darwin, Denton, Huxley, Ingersoll, Herbert Spencer, and Tyndall, and the effect is considered very good and appropriate. It is also intended to add the names of some of the eminent women who have distinguished themselves in literature and Freethought. Our financial position at the close of 1882 rendered it necessary to devise means for increasing our income, and as it was considered inadvisable to raise the subscription of members, it has been decided to try the plan adopted by the Dunedin Association, viz., to reduce members’ subscription to 5s per annum, payable in one sum at the beginning of the year, thus lessening the work of the Secretary, and to charge all adult males Cd admission to the Sunday evening meetings. Hitherto non-members only have been charged admission fees, females being free under the past and present arrangement. “ Ivo ” has arrived in Christchurch, and purposes lecturing in our Hall next Sunday, and also on Wednesday, the 23rd inst., pending further arrangements. We have decided to hold our annual pic-nic on Sunday, the 10th February. In my last report there was an unfortunate omission of the first part of a paragraph, which made the part printed very weak and inconsequential. It referred to my having named five children in the Hall, and went on to say that “ this with four secular funerals,” etc., etc., gave sufficient reason for the remarks which followed. I send herewith the names and addresses of ten more annual subscribers to your excellently conducted He view, which I hope soon to increase to fifty. Yours truly, William Platt, President and Corresponding Secretary O.F.A. [Wc regret tire omission, which was accidental. Ed.l