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...................