NELSON FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 April 1884, Page 4

NELSON FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

. This report was received just too late for insertion in our previous issue : Nelson, 25th February, ISB4. , R > Since my last Mr. O. E. Hugo has kindly given us an excellent lecture on Evolution, of an hour and a half’s duration. It was exceedingly well delivered, and listened to with great attention, Since this we have had lectures by our President—one on Religious belief,’ and one on ‘‘ True Priests, Prophets, and Saviours both exceedingly good. We have also had several good readings by various members. I am very pleased to say that at the election of the Education Committee cur President, T. hos. Gilbert. Esq., was elected, securing votes to the number of 136, being fourth on the list of seven elected. We have three Freethinkers on the Committee, and should have had a fourth had not the voters felt too confident of his return. He had previously been in office, and from his ability and attention was considered sure of being re-elected. The orthodox party during the month have broken a lance with me through the Press, which has not acted quite so fairly as it might. However, it has kept the cause before the public, which is a consideration. Like most attempts at persecution, it has had a beneficial result rather than the contrary. . The Salvation Army is in full swing here. The attendance, as in other places, is comprised principally of children—youths and girls from twelve to sixteen years of age —with a few demented wretched creatures. The latter I sincerely hope will be benefited by their attendance. I may mention that their meetings are crowded nightly and four times on Sundays. I need scarcely tell you the pleasure we all felt at the return of Mr, C. Bradlaugh a fourth time, and the disgust at the action of other so-called Liberals in the House of Commons. On Sunday, 24th instant, one of our members, Mr. Leach, gave a reading, “ A Chiistian view of the Bradlaugh case.” and the President delivered " sketches of his life. The following resolution was passed: — “ That this Association expresses its strong disapproval of the continued exclusion of the four times elected junior member of Noithampton from the exercise of his Parliamentary duties ; and sincerely hopes that something will be done whereby the free right of constituencies in choice of their representatives may no longer be contemptuously ignored by an arbitrary and bigoted majority in the House of Commons,” I am, &c., Edward Player. Hon, Secretary Nelson F.A.

Mr. Player, Secretary of the Nelson Freethought Association, has also favoured us with the following items for the month just ended : March, 24th. Sir, — Since my last communication I have nothing particularly new to write, in consequence of our President being absent from Nelson and my having to leave town for nearly a fortnight. Last evening we were highly entertained by the kindness of Mr, O. E. Hugo us a lecture on “ Observasions on the Salvation Army, The lecture was a very able one. Mr, Hugo threw much dry humour into his discourse, and the lecture throughout was most amusing, and listened to with much pleasure and attention. . During my absence from Nelson I visited Blenheim, and interviewed many Freethinkers on the subject of forming an Association there, which I feel sure will be done at no very distant date. _ I also interviewed Captain Mac Neil, President of the Picton Association, who tells me that although it does not progress so rapidly as they could wish, it is very firmly established, I consider m so small a place as Picton. great credit is due to the officers and members. I regret my last communication was too late. I had overlooked that February was a short month. I am, &c., Edw. Player, Hon. Secretary Nelson F.A.