Passing Notes.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 6, 1 March 1884, Page 4

Passing Notes.

We publish in our present issue the first part of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s Retrospect and ProspeCt of Religion, The concluding part will be given in our next. Though the essay has gone the rounds of the press, we have thought it desirable to publish it in the Review for future reference. The advanced proof was sent out to Sir George Grey, an old friend of the author

The Pall Mall Gazette has a bitter parody on Tennyson, ending:—

Alfred, Alfred Yere de Vere, If time be heavy on your hands, Arc there no toilers in our streets

Nor any poor in all these lands ? Oh ! teach the weak to strive and hope Or teach the great to help the low ; Pray Heaven for a noble heart, And let the foolish title go.

The following is from the ‘ Auckland Star’ and is self explanatory : —To the Editor : Sir, —In your issue of last evening is a police report of the trial of two boys for defacing with paint the Wesleyan Chapel, New North Road, and the case is headed, Young Freethinkers.” I have read over the report carefully and cannot discover any allusion to Freethought or Freethinkers. If anything appeared in the trial to warrant the heading, please give it publicity. If the heading was the result of accident or other cause, please correct it. Many besides myself will be interested with your explanation. 1 trouble you because I am a Freethinker and from my knowledge of Freethinkers generally, and in Auckland, am of opinion that though in the matter of credulity they are not equal to Christians, in the matter of conduct they are. —Yours truly, A. Campbell.—[We must really decline the task of conducting a research into the religious or non-religious opinions of these young scamps. Our correspondent will, ‘ however, admit that whatever their title to the use of this cherished designation on a religious ground, they certainly exhibited considerable freedom of thought on the subject of property rights. —Ed. E.S.] [The editor hardly does justice to himself as a man of candour and plain dealing. He has no objection to libel a society of men at least as honest as himself, but he declines “ research” into the fads on which his allegation was based. He may be left there. — Ed. F.R.]

‘ The Christian Record’ is offended because the “ Sacred Name” of God was not mentioned in the break-up of the Dunedin High Schools for the holidays, and arrives at the conclusion that “ the whole thing was, in a word, intensely heathenish.” The ‘ Record’ is weak in its ancient history ; the heathens, like good Christians, were always invoking the “ Sacred Name” of their guardian divinity. In truth the heathens were perfect models of devotional feeling and expression.

The man Edwards who ruthlessly destroyed his wife and four children at Ormondville on the 10th Feb., is a Christian, believes in the immortality of the soul, and that murderers will be happy in the company of those they have murdered when they are “ safe in the arms of Jesus,” Edwards, in his confession, says : “ I believe I will be hung for.it ; I deserve to. I hope they won’t keep me long. I want to meet my wife and family. I think I will go to the same place as they have, as they will forgive me.” If the man was not insane when he committed the deed, a Christian priest will take care that he is washed in “ the blood of the lamb,” and be better off than those who believe in a life of kindness and good works—than the tender husband and provident father. Such is Christianity !

Freethinkers must follow with peculiar interest, and with feelings of pride, the events in the Parliamentary career of Charles Bradlaugh. His conflict with a bigoted, tyrannical, and utterly unscrupulous majority in the House of Commons has passed through many stages, each repulse appearing to be only the prelude to some more daring attempt to assert his clear and indefeasible right and title to represent Northampton. Mr. Bradlaugh went up to the table the other day and swore himself in. Mr. Gladstone offered .to prosecute him if the House so directed—a course which would not have been unfriendly. But the leader of the Opposition came forward with his resolution to exclude the member from the precinCts of the House. Mr. Bradlaugh at once resigned, and appeals again to his faithful constituency, which will no doubt still prove true to the cause of liberty. [Since the above was written Mr. Bradlaugh has again been returned.]

Mr. Joseph Symes left England in the beginning of January for Melbourne, whither he proceeded at the invitation of the Frecthought body of that city. Before Mr. Symes’s departure, his friends gave him a farewell supper, Mr. Bradlaugh presiding. A purse of sovereigns was presented, containing the spontaneous gift of Freethinkers throughout Great Britain. The President delivered an eloquent valedictory address, and Mrs. Besant, in terms alike graceful and eloquent, presented the purse and the following testimonial: —

"To JOSEPH SYMES,

Vice-President of the National Secular Society , and one of its “ Special Lecturers,

Sir, —By resolution of the Executive of the National Secular Society, and on behalf of the Frecthought Party in Great Britain, we take the occasion of your leaving England on a lecturing visit to the Southern Hemisphere to testify to you our good-will and affection, and our wishes for your health and prosperity. We desire to place on record our thorough appreciation of your devotion to the Freethought cause, and our recognition of the brave work you have done with tongue and pen during the time you have been active in our ranks.

“ We bid you farewell in the full trust that you will win honor and respect amongst your new friends on the other side of the Pacific, and in the hope that we shall soon be able to welcome you back to your place in our midst.

(Signed) “ Charles Bradlaugh, President. " Robert Border, Secretary.

The proceedings denote the sterling character Mr. Symes has earned in the mother country among Freethinkers.

The annual gathering of the members of the Dunedin Freethought Association to celebrate the birth of Thomas Paine as held in the Lyceum. Mr. Stout presided, and delivered a short address. Mrs. Clutsam sang a solo very effectively ; Mr. Hopkins sang “ The Death of Nelson,” and was encored; and the Lyceum choir rendered a number of selections in a very pleasing manner. Mr. Charles Bright delivered a very eloquent address, in the course of which he said that Thomas Paine had been more calumniated during his life and since his death than probably any other soul that had

existed on the planet. No doubt the reaction that had sprung up would go on until the man who had been scandalised would be idolised. It had taken 200 years to vindicate the reputation of Oliver Cromwell, and Cromwell had not been half as much cursed as Paine. Had Paine merely struggled as he did for liberty in America, he would have been worthy of honor ; had he but contended as he had done for the rights of man, his memory should be revered ;but when to these things were added his labors to free mankind from superstition, it is indeed well that they should hold in honor the birthday of this hero of liberty, Thomas Paine.” At the close of the concert a ball was held, at which there was a fair attendance.

The Trades Unions and Councils of the Colony will in future be represented by a paper specially devoted to questions affecting these bodies. The title is 1 Labour,’ and, from the first numbers, it would appear to have set itself the task of vindicating the rights and interests of the working classes. If it will earnestly attempt the solution of certain problems which are vexing the souls of English economists, there is a wide field of usefulness before it. The nationalisation of the land, Malthusianism, and taxation are question's on which it might speak to the purpose.

Two large inscriptions of Nebuchadnezzar have been found on Lebanon by M. Pognon, Assistant-Consul of the French Republic at Beyrout. The two inscriptions each contain a different text. They commence with the titles of the king: “ Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, the Illustrious Pastor, the Servant of Merodak, the great Lord, his Creator, and of Nebo, his illustrious son, whom his Royalty loves.” One inscription enumerates the wines figuring on the table of the god Merodak and of the goddess Zarpanit. The more evidence comes to hand of the religions of Babylon and Assyria, the stronger the proof becomes that Christianity is largely indebted to them for its central doctrines.

Col. Ingersoll says:— The great objection urged against me by my opponents is that I am constantly tearing down and never build up. Now I have lately published a little book in which I have endeavored to give most of the arguments I have urged against the Pentateuch, and the motto upon the title page is —‘A destroyer of weed 1 !, thistles, and thorns, is a benefactor , whether he soweth grain or not.' I cannot for my life see why one should be charged with tearing down and not rebuilding, simply because he exposes a sham, or detects a lie. I do not feel under any obligation to build up something in the' place ot a detected falsehood. All I think lam under obligation to put in the place of a detected lie is the detection.”