Image provided by: Silverton Country Historical Society; Silverton, OR
About Torch of reason. (Silverton, Oregon) 1896-1903 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1897)
THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1897. ingofthe bible in the public school^, Whilst these noble martyrs to Free- inevitable consequence of an is-1 chestra and choir furnish the an infliction that our children thought, these emancipators of obited social existence. For years musical program which is much Great interest is are not compelled to endure now, men with their telescope«, scanned liberal people have fallen into the appreciated. and all other attempts of religious the spacious realms of star land in serious error of discarding the manifested in a local organization bodies to compel the individual to search of truths, they discovered social a* wi ll as the superstitious and I remain over Sunday for the conform to their ideas of morality the wonderful system hv which the part of religion. Content that a purpose of organizing a Secular against his will and who do not see various worlds known to us revolve future heaven and hell were fanci Sunday school. We meet at 10 a. The following officers are that the crime lies in the enforcing around their centre magnet the ful visions of a distorted brain, m. such laws au<l not in violating them. stm. They also saw and proved they have ignored the fact that the elected: Mr. Perry Stewart, Supt.; that this planet, mother earth was real heaven and bell are upon Miss Ella Rawlings,assistant Supt.; Honest people only need to see these things as they are. Blind a planet, and with the other planets earth at the present moment, and Miss Florence Toft, secretary; Mrs. prejudice, unreasoning faith and pursued the even tenor of her way, that to gain the one and avoid the Perry Stewart, treasurer. There is much warmth and ear crafty self-interest are the great revolving through space around the other is a part of our every day sun also. But one thing they duties. Corisequent'y their child nestness and no doubt hut th e' obstacles to be met and overcome. Of the last three meetings, each never saw in all the thousands of ren have either been kept at home, Medford organization will lead in years of searching, and that was a or if they would have society, have point of numbers in southern Ore was better than the one before. gleam or shadow of those pearly gone to the orthodox churches and gon. I am sure much good will We had the splendid Paine Me gates, which the church teaches are Sunday schools, and it is not to be result. The officers are able and morial followed a w-eek later by a situated above, in the realms of wondered at that the vivid contrast determined and many trustworthy lecture on “Religion as a Social space, ami for this and because between the social life of the church i citizens will support them. Let us force,” and at this meeting was in they told what they knew, the and the cold, philosophical life of j build up a social and moral society troduced that great principle, the church wrote across their noble the parent, leads the children to be in this beautiful and thriving town most powerful weapon in the hands brows “Infidel.” Boor old ortho lieve that Christianity is preferable, that will rank second to none in of truth and the deadly foe of the doxy, she never changes, luit still and so hundreds of liberal children the state. I get subscribers to the church, free and open discussion leans on the rotten crutch of super join the churches. This evil can T orch and Candle and a couple of for all who wish to speak. The last meeting was held in a splendid stition, and though it is unmanly Only be remedied when the mass students for the University. The train leaves Medford at 1:40, hall on the 18th floor of the and cruel to strike a falleu'foe, we will Of liberal people realize their error, gently remind her that h'*r blunted and local Secular societies and , so I am able to reach Talent in Masonic Temple. Clarence S. Dar weapon “slander” like a boomerang Sunday schools are maintained for time to organize there in the after row was the speaker of the evening. may return to the hand that cast it the pleasure and benefit of the noon. We have a good attendance The announcement that Mr. Dar here and Medford will have to row would speak brought out the forth. Our dead heroes it cannot young. Wednesday evening February, guard her laurels. Mr. W. J. Dean largest crowd w-e have had so far harm more; neither can they defend themselves against it, but the living 17, I speak at Talent. Universal is elected Supt.; Mrs. A. Purves, and I don’t suppose any thinking can and will always be ready when Mental Liberty halt is fully one assistant Supt.; H. H. Goddard, person would consider an hour ever the lying tirades of orthodoxy mile from the depot, but I am for secretary; and II. Stock, treasurer. wasted in listening to the splendid are directed against their fair tunate to have an earnest friend in Mr. Dean is an able and experienced essay, “The Rubayyat” suggested Mr. W. J. Dean, who, despite the advocate of liberal principles and by an old Persian poem, by an an names. If the reader will hunt up his almost impassable roads, meets me with the earnest support he is cer cient Agnostic. The union will meet in the Ma authorities and references and com at the train and conveys me to his tain to receive the Talent Secular pare the dates of modern inventions home. I at once realize that he Sunday school is an assured suc sonic Temple hereafter every Sun J. B. B. with those mentioned herein, he and his wife are among the few- cess. Mr. Dean has the best pri- day at 8 p. m. will then see readily that during fearless leaders in the cause of v ate lib ra ry I h a v e seen. With such progress as this, our E ditor T orch of R eason : En the time now known as the Dark Freethought The home is very Ages, when Christianity had the pleasant. As we drive along friends everywhere ought to feel closed you will find $1.00 to pay whole power of Europe and all the through this beautiful and some encouraged. There is an old «adage: for the T orch . The first copy that wealth at her heck and call, th»* what romantic strip of country, I “ We never know- what we can do I saw was handed me by your Christian world stood compara am wondering where my audience till we try,” and a trial is all that friend, J. E. Johnson, of Yale, tively still. It will thus be is coming from, unless it be that is necessary to convince the pro Ore., with w-hom I had the pleasure seen that the Age of Ignorance the “woods and hills are alive with gressive people of any community of stopping over night. I met commenced with the introduction people,” very few’ houses being in that the local Secular organizations Michael Johnson, one of the oldest of the christion religion. sight. When we meet at the hall, I are the pride and hope of the state. Freetikers in Oregon. I also found H. D. B urrows . am convinced that this is the fact, Let Oregon demonstrate the beau that the little band of Freethinkers for a splendid audience of men, ties of the system so thor had been having a Sunday school News and Notes. women and children are awaiting oughly that every state in the and social gatherings every w-eek The disadvantages of unorgan us. Before and after the lecture Union will follow directly in during the winter that was so much so ized society is no where more ap we have singing by the young her footsteps. We are pioneers in very interesting parent than in the secular ranks. ladies and the meeting is a pleas a glorious cause persecution and that its influence was felt for People who from childhood have ant one. It is thought a Sunday abuse will be heaped upon us, but quite a ways around. Every fam lived almost isolated and alone so school can he organized, and I those who stand it now will receive ily (except one who were Catholics) far as society is concerned, become promise to c<»me again Sunday the love and gratitude of every for ten miles, took part and the day so accustomed to this kind of a life afternoon for that purpose. Among lilærty loving man and women. school was pronounced the best in that it is often impossible to awaken the stalwart supporters are Mr. Let us remember that we are build Malheur county, by the superin- them to a realization that we are James Purvis and family, Mr. II. ing for the future, that we are sow tendant. The teacher who had really social beings. Th»*y take Goddard, Mr. Sam Robison and ing the seed for the harvest of com just left for her home in the east such delight in delving into the un family, Mr. H. Stock and Mr. W. ing generations. Nothing should although a member of the disciple’s explored realms of nature or solv Beeson. Thursday evening they daunt us. To the sturdy friends church when she came w-as so over ing some perplexing problem in give me a party at Mr. Dean’s and and hel|»ers everywhere I send come by the freethought influence philosophy that they wonder why I meet nearly two dozen of the good “good speed.” N ettib A. O lds . that she agreed to come back and Talent, Ore. teach their school the next time. it is our young people are so friends, all of w-hom I cannot now- A lva A. B ranthoover . “giddy” as not to find pleasure in name. I appreciated this expres Chicago. Payette Idaho. “staying at home Sundays and sion of earnest friendship very E d . T orch :—The secular union reading some good book.” And much, indeed, realizing the people this disposition frequently runs to had to walk, many of them several of this city is making splendid pro Nettie A. Olds’ Lecture Dates the extreme of making the individ miles to get here. The young gress. Under the management of ual a stumbling-block in the way ladies are talented and the evening president Gammage and secretary 25 of all social society in the town or is passed in social conversation and Reichwald this organization will Roseburg............... . . Feb. 26 become a power against those who Cottage Grove. . . . music. community. But the individual is not to be On Friday evening I am again at are endeavoring to make innocent Eugene................... ....... „ 27-28 2 blamed. Such a disposition is not Medford, and have a larger au amusement a crime one day in Harrisburg........... ....... Mar 3-4 without sufficient cause. It is the I dience than before. The local or- 1 each w’eek, to compel the read- Albany...................