PUBLIC MEETING.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 April 1884, Page 6

PUBLIC MEETING.

On the evening of the nth March a public meeting was held at the Town Hall. Mr. Stout presided, and delivered an eloquent address on “ Freethought in relation to the State.” He said the crime of blasphemy was unknown to the law of the colony, quoting the following case in point: “ Hitherto there

had been no such thing as blasphemy in New Zealand, for the obvious reason that . before there could be blasphemy there must be some religion recognised by the State. This was clear from the case of Regina v. Gathercale, in which Baron Alderson said : ' The point is whether there is only a libel on the whole Roman Church generally, or on Stouton nunnery. Tn the former case the defendant is entitled to acquittal. A person may, without being liable to prosecution for it, attack Judaism or Mormonism, or even any seel: of the Christian religion save the established religion of the country ; and the only reason why the latter is in a different situation from the others is because it is the form established by law, and it is therefore a part of the constitution of the country. In like manner, and for .the same reasons, any general attack on Christianity is the subject of a criminal prosecution because Christianity is the established religion of the country.' " In the criminal code introduced last session but held over, there was a clause creating the crime of blasphemy. [We printed the clause in the December number of the Review.] Mr. Stout concluded his speech (to be published in our next) by moving a resolution, " That in the opinion of this meeting of Freethinkers assembled it is unwise, unjust, and unconstitutional to create what are termed crimes against religion in New Zealand, and this meeting protests against the blasphemy clause in the proposed criminal code, which purports to create such crimes." The motion was seconded by Mr Rutherford, supported by Mr I. N. Watt, and carried unanimously.

Mr Charles Bright gave an address on " The Fellowship of Freethought throughout the World," concluding by proposing the following resolution : " That this meeting of Freethinkers of New Zealand in conference assembled desires to express its sympathy with Charles Bradlaugh, member of Parliament for Northampton, in the arduous struggle against bigotry and injustice in which he has been engaged for the past four years, and its hope that ere long he may be completely triumphant, thus achieving a victory for freedom of conscience which will be hailed with delight by Freethinkers in all parts of the world." Mr Dickson seconded the motion. Mr Farnie, speaking in support, remarked that the majority of young men of his acquaintance were Freethinkers, but they were not members of the Association. He argued that if there was any occasion to take part here in any such struggle as was going on in England at the present day, Freethinkers in New Zealand would see the necessity of joining the organisation. The resolution was carried with enthusiasm.

Mr Willis, delegate from Wanganui, gave an interesting address. In Wanganui they were surprised that such a large city as Dunedin should only have one Freethought Association. There was a Freethought Association at Woodville, and it was proposed to form one at Palmerston North, and another at Patea. He proposed, " That this meeting is specially desirous of holding out the hand of fellowship to all lovers of freedom in New Zealand, and hails with satisfaction the commencement of an organisation on behalf of freethought." Mr. W. N. Merry seconded the motion, which was carried.

On the motion of Mr. Low, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the chairman.

Mr. C. Bright proposed that a vote of thanks should be passed to the City Council for the use of the Town Hall. He was aware that the request for the use of the Hall had only been granted because the privilege had been previously accorded to a religious body, and in common justice the application of the Freethinkers could not be refused. But still " common justice "to freedom of thought was such an unusual thing that in this instance the meeting should not allow it to pass without special recognition. The Chairman remarked that the Council's action in this matter was a good omen for this colony it indicated that in future there would be no such thing as one religion being recognised as having one position more than another.

The vote of thanks having been passed to the Council, the meeting terminated.