THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1897
Torch of Reason
and in many ways cultivating the
S ave th e D erelict of C h ris tia n ity . the teachings of the bible we would
not work for their propagation, but intellectual faculties and gaining
When parents are cruel, exacting, we honestly believe that Secularism social ideas that make us civ­
The C d !) Seculer F e p r F cb lh U d tn the and tyrannical with their children, is right and that on account « f it- ilized and happy.
Yes, we must, if we are just, give
the children are apt to goto the being right, it will, as soon as prop­
Pacific Coast.
the chri-tian church credit for all
Published Weekly by the Oregon State had when tln*y are once out from erly present» <1 to thinking people, the good it has done and we do n<»t
under the galling yoke, and even he hailed with gr.-at delight as the
Secular Union.
wish'-« - y *>»
think that w-' ad­
while th' »•' pai'f.’i-think they have- CTue savior of men. - -
There are a few determined men vocate that the mistak» s of Chris­
full control, the children may he
J. E. HOS’d S a .................... Editor.
tians are any worse than the mis­
P. W.
- - - B is in ; s s M anager rebelling against their harsh treat­ and women who nmlerstand tin*
ment and doing the very things great beauty and power of this re­ takes of Freethinkers. If a Chris­
E ntered at the ixistoffice at Silverton, that the poor mistaken parents ligion of humanity and what far tian is honest, and is tr\ ing to do
O ie^on, hh h vo ih I cla^s mail m atter.
reaching benefits it will confer U| on the world good, he should not be
wished them to avoid.
The same thing is true of tyran­ our race when once it is universally condemned, and we believe that
H l’ ltSC HI P l IO S K A TES.
nical governments, and,once having accepted and with an energy that there are m«ny who claim to be
(•re Y ear, in Hilvunce..........
........... f l
Six MunthH, in ad v an ce......................................
Secularists who would do well to
'I h r-e Month*. in advance . . . . ....................
“•* lost confidence in the g »verning knows no failure and a determina­
In Clubs of i or m>»r« one year, in advance. . ~ •
Money *hould bo eont by registered le tte r or ability of their rulers, the people tion that nothing can conquer they study the principles of Secularism
money order.
. . .
Pie ne rend ns the nam«** and ed trer-ea o f Sec- are very apt to break away, and, are planning a campaign against from some sincere, earnest Chris­
ularirta who are n o t regular subHcriber*.
not
having been trained in the world—a campaign that will tian.
The good part of Christianity,
seif government, they are quite sure win a victory that men and women,
THURSDAY . . FEBRUARY 18,1.11.297.
to make many mistakes; and, as yet unborn, will honor as the great­ that part which teaches the golden
rul«*, that part that teaches our
was the ease in the French Revolu­ est triumph of our race.
Character vs Talent.
tion, the pent up feelings of the
These determined forerunners duties to our fellow men, that part
people may find vent in unreason­ may be found in different parts of that embraces the great principles
There are many people who have
the world, hut thanks to infidel and truths that have been taught
much ahilitv along certain line« able riots and bloodshed.
Now in every age there are good philosophy they can communicate by the great philanthropists of all
who are very detrimental to society
ages, whether Christians, Buddhists,
on account of this ability being I results and had results coming from with each other and their duties Pagans, Jews or Freethinkers, the
coupled with a low moral charac­ their respective causes, the roots an«l privileges are becoming better
secular part is not to be condemned
ter. A young man who haw a com­ of which may reach way down into understood every day.
One of their plans is about to he and if a Christian can not leave his
manding appearance, musical abil­ the past epochs of history. We
church and bring with him the
ity, and pleasing manners may believe that this age is one in completed. The fortification known
good that is in it, if he cannot be
completly capture a young lady’s wdiich great changes are taking as the Liberal University will soon
better than he has been in the
affections and at the same time he place in regard to the old forms of be erected. The grounds are selected.
Christian church a better citizen,
may he her worst enemy. And so worship an<l that the pendulum of The plan of the building is drawn
a better father, a better brother,
it is in social circles. Many peo­ popular thought is rapidly swing­ and soon will be thrown on the
a better friend, then he had better
ple who are talented ate the very ing away from the superstitions screen of the astonished world
stay, for the world has enough evil
worst enemies that society has, for and dead religions of past cen­ by (he searchlight known as
Other in it already.
by their talent they become leaders turies, and as the people begin to the T orch of R eason .
We condemn evil wherever found
and then gradually lead their cap­ realize the wrong that has been workers will reproduce the picture
and the evil in the Frcethought
tives to the poisoned fountain from «lone by men who have pretended and soon all the friends of human­
ranks should lie condemned as
which they draw their own nox­ to be in communication with an ity will know of our progress and severly
as that in the Christian
omnipotent and loving father, when then with their help we will soon
ious draught.
churches.
A Freethinker who goes
Talent is necessary and without they begin to understand the fraud be throwing the wonderful bombs home drunk and beats his wife and
ab ility any wurk cannot succeed that has been perpetrated upon us i of truth into the ranks of ignor­ who cares nothing about making
but the first test of ability should in the name of a mythical savior, ance, hut instead of destroying our others hap™’ or leaving the world
be character, for without this as a they are apt, very apt to go to ex­ enemies, they will prove missiles of better is « : g the world more
harm perhaps than one who, al­
foundation no work can be built as tremes. The pendulum will, with­ love that will convert them to the though he has much superstition, is
it should he built; and tin* individ­ out a doubt, swing too far for the only true religion, the religion of trying to do something for his
ual or organization that starts out best interests of humanity. The doing good.
fellowmcn.
Until w»‘, who are strong in the
with a low moral standard expect­ yoke once broken men and women
ing to move rapidly toward success who have been good only because T he Good Done by C h r is tia n ity . belief that Secularism is the salva­
tion of the world, furnish a better
with talent alone, is like a wild of fear, are sure to make many mis­
home for Christians who have be­
It is a wise thing to try to find come disgusted with the mythical
engine on the wrong track. Sooner I takes that are neither to their ad­
or later there will he a crash. Let vantage nor a remedy for the evils as much good in everything as pos­ part of their religion, we must
sible,and although many things are expect them to stand aloof, but let
us learn a lesson from our past ex­ of the past.
Secularists, before it is too late to more evil than good, yet we know us once show conscientious Chris­
periences as individual^ and as an
prevent much of the mischief that of no religion that has no good in tians that we have something better,
organizainn.
something that contains all the
We must know that success will may come from the breaking up of it whatever, and we believe in al­ good part of Christianity and none
never he reached in accomplishing the old rack-heap of orthodoxy, let ways giving credit where credit is of its many evils and they will
the grand objects for which we are us drill a life-saving crew that due. The Christian church has leave their poor old stranded
otganized until we have a large, will rescue the perishing and care done much good because it has had wreck and pull for the shore of
! reason and common sense. This is
well organized, determined army of for the dying.
all along a secular part connected our grand and glorious work then,
There are many who are break­ with its superstitious part and, al­ full Hedged Secularists, to build up
men and women of high moral
character and we can never have ing away from the old teachings, though hindered and often times a pure, clean society that will ap-
this until our first concern is in re­ and it is of paramount importance entirely destroyed by its evil teach­ peal to those who have become dis­
gard to the moral status of our that we build an organization that ings, the good part has at times gusted with evil in all its forms
will prevent the evils which may been a great help to the world and and who wish to save the world for
members.
humanity.
Liberal friend, the past is past— come from these derelict products some of the advocates of Christian­
We understand perfectly well
of
Christianity.
For
if
they
are
set
gone with its victories and defeats.
ity have been brave and good men that for every effect there is an
adrift
in
their
weak,
undeveloped
efficient cause, and so we condemn
Let us now* for the sake of our
and women.
The churches and Sunday schools no one no matter how bad he is,
fellow men, for the sake of the boys state without guide or compass,
but we do condemn and will work
and girls who will be very much they "’ill hinder the great onward have done a great deal in the way for the discontinuance of the causes
of perfecting the human of education for, no matter if their
like the pattern we make for them, movement
that bring about such conditions,
race instead of becoming what they
and for the sake of coming genera­ may become, promoters of hap­ work has been bad in many re­ and we sincerelv believe that the
tions hasten to correct our own piness and champions of the rights spects, yet we can not deny that surest way to do this is to build up
mistakes and set the moral stand­ of man.
wherever men, woman and child- a society that will be free from the
great social corruption and mental
ard of our beloved union so high
ren meet regularly for the study of slavery that is ruining every good
How O ur W o rk P ro g resses.
that all may see our good works
any subject, much good must come and beautiful thing in this, what may
ami glorify humanity which is on
If we thought that the teachings from it in the way of learning to become a beautiful dwelling place
earth.
of Secularism were no better than read, becoming interested in history for the children of men.
e