WENDELL PHILLIPS’ RELIGION.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 11, 1 August 1884, Page 4

WENDELL PHILLIPS’ RELIGION.

We know what Mr. Phillips' opinions were on religion j for, in a conversation that we once had with him on the subject, he informed us and his religion came as near to that of Thomas Paine's as any of which we ever read or heard. It was simply "to do good," and that was what Paine said was his religion. We suggested to Mr. Phillips, in the conversation to which we allude, that his friends would like to have him give a lecture expressive of his views of Christianity. He said that he would, and he did. The lecture was given in the Indiana Place Chapel (formerly Rev. J. P. Clarke's). We were present, and heard Mr. Phillips say that Christianity, as he understood and believed it, did not consist in joining a church, nor in subscribing to a creed, nor saying prayers, nor hearing preaching, nor belonging to any sect, but that it meant an upright and useful life, and in being kind to the poor, the unfortunate, the outcast and the oppressed ; and, in this connection, he mentioned the benevolence of the Good Samaritan, whose conduct Jesus approved, though, said Mr. Phillips (with a twinkle in his eye), as that philanthropist was travelling on Sunday, some people probably called him an infidel ! The religion of Wendell Phillips was in no sense theological, but entirely philanthropical; and, whether he is called a Christian or by any other name, his whole career illustrated the truth of the familiar couplet of Alexander Pope : ; " For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight : His can't be wrong whose life is in tho right." 1 —' Boston Investigator.'