Gems.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 6, 1 March 1884, Page 13

Gems.

A politician thinks of the next election ; a statesman of the next generation ; a politician looks for the success of his party, a statesman for that of his country. The statesman wishes to steer, while the politician is satisfied to drift. “ Justice and equity were foreign to the Roman creed. Why should man try to be better than his God ? A God to whom they were taught to ascribe a monstrous system of favoritism : arbitrary grace for a few children of luck, and millions foredoomed to eternal damnation.” Feuerbach. A female missionary who has been labouring in China says she was often bothered by the Chinese women, who wanted to know her age, and whether she was married or not. In one case a woman, turning to a about her, said in a tone of surprise,—“ Forty years, and not married yet ?” and she kept repeating this as though she was much shocked at the intelligence. l> It is far better to love your wife than to love God. You cannot help him, but you can help her. You can fill her life with the perfume of perpetual joy. It is better to love your child than to love Jesus Christ. If he is God you cannot assist him, but you can plant a flower in every footstep of a babe. The most sacred temple is a home, the holiest altar the fireside. —Robert G. Ingersoll.”

“ It is said that the King of Morocco, Muley Ismael, has five hundred children. What would y'ou say if a dervish of Mount Atlas related to you that the wise and good Muley Ismael, dining with his family, at the close of the repast, spoke thus : —‘ I am Muley Ismael, who have begotten you for my glory ; for I am very glorious. I love you very tenderly, I shelter you as a hen covers her chickens. I have decreed that one of my youngest children shall have the kingdom of Tafilet, and that another shall possess Morocco ; and for my other dear children, to the number of four hundred and ninetyeight, I order that one-half shall be tortured and the other burned, for I am the Lord Muley Ismael.”’— Voltaire.