Passing Notes.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 April 1884, Page 3

Passing Notes.

Mr. William Pratt, President of the Christchurch Freethought Association, left during the month on a visit to the mother country. Before leaving, Mr. Pratt was entertained by his friends. The good wishes of the Freethought party throughout the colony will accompany our stout champion wherever he may be.

The New England Freethinkers' Convention met on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of January at the Paine Hall in Boston. The addresses were interesting, covering a great variety of subjects, and the proceedings were worthy of the memorable event they celebratedthe birth-day of Thomas Paine,

Archdeacon Butt has written to the ' Marlborough Express' denouncing a Fishing Excursion that took place on Sunday. The Archdeacon says " The Sabbath was instituted by the Creator of the world and observed in patriarchal times ; again enjoined on Mount Sinai as one of the ten Commandments of God, which form the basis of all morality." This historical gem was placed in the crucible by two correspondents, with the result that the Jewish Sabbath was shown not to have taken place on Sunday ! The moral is that the practice of the piscatorial art on Sunday might proceed undisturbed from the thunder of Mount Sinai.

Mr. Bradlaugh has published a manifesto of his attiture as a Freethinker in politics, in which, referring to a hostile discussion in France some four years ago over his criticism of the action of the French Government towards the Clerical Orders, he says : — " It was urged and quite truly, that the Roman Catholic Church throughout its whole history had been the never-ceasing persecutor and oppressor of all aspirations for human liberty. My answer still was and is;—' we should fight with the pen, the press, the tongue, the school ; not the gaol or the officer of the law.' If we cannot win with reason, I will not try to win with force." The school of Edgar Quinet prefers to use the Church's own weapons in warring with the Church. Mr. Bradlaugh's doctrine from an English standpoint is incontrovertible. The French Republic would prevent the] viper from using its fangs, by drawing them.

A lively correspondence between the editor of the ' Otago Daily Times ' and a number of correspondents on the one side, and Mr. Stout on the other, has recently taken place. The editor aspersed the characters of Mr. Bradlaugh and Mrs. Besant, and Mr. Stout rejoined. At length after several passages of arms the editor became silent and obsequious. The following piece of summing up in one of Mr. Stout's letters indicates the character of the controversy:—" And now as to the charges against Mrs. Besant and Mr. Bradlaugh. I confess I am amused at your audacity to use no other word. You stated that Mrs. Besant and Mr. Bradlaugh obtained ' notoriety ' by publishing an ' unmentionable work.' I challenged this statement. You said the work encouraged prostitution and denounced marriage. I denied that, and challenged you to the proof, and you reply by quoting ' The Elements of Social Science ' and a statement by Mr Joseph Barker. . Really, sir, this is ignorance appalling in an editor. The following are facts:—l. Mr. Joseph Barker has not been co-editor with Mr. Bradlaugh of the ' National Reformer ' since 1861. If, then, the 'notoriety' was obtained before that it is pretty old. 2. There never was a Mr. S S. Holyoake co-editor with Mr. Bradlaugh and Mr Barker. 3. Mrs. Besant and Mr. Bradlaugh never published the ' Elements of Social Science." 4. They published the ' Knowlton Pamphlet," which is not the same work. 5. They never obtained any ' notoriety ' by producing or ' publishing ' ' The Elements of Social Science.' 6. Neither Mrs. Besant nor Mr. Bradlaugh ever approved of* prostitution. And now, having shown that you have grossly libelled an English lady, I feel sure that you will act the manly part by at once and unreservedly apologising to her for your untruthful statements." Orthodoxy in this instance was unequal to a manly part.

Ivo has been lecturing in Napier, and has been tempted to follow some of his opponents into the correspondence columns of the local press, where he has had it all his own way. The club of Hercules is Ivo's weapon.

Mr. William Cooper, on behalf of the Auckland Rationalistic Association, has been doing battle with one of those " funny" gentlemen who claim the privilege of slandering all and sundry under the cap and bells. The slanderer in question calls himself " Zamiel," and contributes a quantity of dull matter weekly to the « Auckland Star.' The merit of Mr. Cooper's defence and attack is in the fact that he administers the lash so effectually as to make his anonymous opponent drop his " fun," become terribly in earnest, and assume the attitude of one in mental agony.