THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1897.
Ruled bv Orthodoxy.
raised in uncivilized homes. Es­
pecially so with an apathetic if not
Editor Torch of Reason:
I am pleased to see in inv old uncivilized school board. But no
days, the progress which is being infidel can get on the school board
at Turner.
made in Silverton,
School work is the work for Sec­
I hope the plan of organization
and teaching will be pushed to the ularists to turn their attention to,
fullest extent of the society’s not only to counteract pernicious re­
ability. The held is large and the ligions and also partisan political
harvest abundant if it can only be teaching, but to hold in check the
captured and gathered in. There tendency to the manipulation of the
are in this place Freethinkers school fund from the children’s in­
enough to organize, and run a terest to the church interest, sup­
church
amt
Sunday
school port of preachers, etc.
It is hardly fair to the children
that would exercise more in­
fluence than any one (probably that of the public money appropri­
any two) o f the orthodox churches ated for their education, five or ten
here, but I am the only kuown dollars per month in excess o f a
reasonable teacher’s salary should
Infidel in the place.
But it would probably be an find its way into the church hat;
utter impossibility to effect an but that such is often the case, I be­
organization here, so great is the lieve is sufficiently evident.
F. 8. MATTESON.
fear of orthodox persecution. It
has injured me: injures me now,
Some Corrections.
and does undoubtedly injure others
more or less. But that is only a Editor Torch of Reason:
greater reason why we should or­
I have just been reading an ar­
ganize. Orthodoxy persecutes most, ticle in the Torch of April 8th en­
those who fear it most, and the titled “The Exodus of the Jews,” by
weak and defenseless. The or­
thodox devil is a coward, and like H. I). Burrows, wherein I found
an Indian or a wolf, seldom faces a the following mistakes, which I
courageous and able antagonist. thought should be corrected: .
Square contest in the open field is
1. Reference is given to Genesis
not the fort of orthodox Christian­ lo: 13, where God is said to have ____
ity. But I have neither ability given certain promises to Abram,
nor means to expend in the work
in Turner, or I would treat myself and which Mr. Burrows says hap-
to a missionary racket; and it pened 1913 B. C., which is correct
would make a racket here. But according to Bible chronology, but
success would mean a good deal of he then says the above date was
improvement in the future lives of “ just 257 years before the flood be­
gan.” This is a mistake for Abram
the young people.
DEALER IN
The gentlemanly and lady-like did not live before the flood. See
conduct of the Silverton Secular Genesis 7:7. According to the same ( hem icals, D rugs, M edicine, Toilet A rticles, P erfum ery
students is as it should be, and it chronological references the flood
and Soaps, S tationary, P a te n t M edicines, P ain ts
is to be hoped that the teachers commenced 2349 B. C., making the
and Oils, Combs and B rushes, Etc.
turned out by your school will above referred to conversation be­
teach similar conduct wherever tween God and Abram to have
taken place 436 years after the
they go.
SILVERTON, OREGON.
Come to Turner and see the con­ flood instead of 257 years before.
2. Mr. B. next refers to Genesis
trast under religious teachers.
Oue always knows when it is recess 47:27, giving the number 70 of
or “school out” by the Comanche Jacob’s household that entered into
yell, and shouting, screaming, Egypt, and stating that this hap­
scuffling, stone throwing, quarrel­ pened “706 B. C., just 50 years be­
-DEALERS IN-
ing, impudence, profanity and even fore the flood liegau.” This is a
obscenity, which is the order along mistake; it should have been 1706
the walk to and from the school B. C., and 643 years after the flood.
3. Again Mr. B. refers to Noah
house aud even on the campus;
and ladies and even men who like and “the greatest zoological collec­
to go along undisturbed, not in­ tion on record in the year 1656
frequently wait until the hulliballoo B. C.” It should have been 2349
Corner Hain and Water Streets
of the pupils is over before B. C.
The rest of the piece as far as I
SILVERTON, ORE.
passing along that street, or
take another street to avoid the can see is correct.
MICHAEL JOHNSON.
uncivilized racket which pours
Vale, Ore., April 16.
from the Turner school house.
JOHN HICKS
SAMUEL AMES
There has never a known Free­
Room in Heaven.
thinker taught school here; the
teacheres having mostly been
The Freeman says: “It has been
Methodist and preachers at that; estimated that 750,000,000 of the
DEALERS IN
and the present one is a Methodist family of man are heathen, while
preacher’s wife—very pious.
Protestants number only 30,000,-
If secular teachers can’t improve 000.” And then, “a large number
on such a way of doing they ought of the nominally Christian are
A G R IC U L T U R A L IM P L E M E N T S
be ashamed of themselves. Yet really ungodly or godless.” This
the parents are as much to blame is rather a poor show for a faith Guns, Fishing Tackle, Cutlery, Sporting Goods Etc Etc
as the teachers. It is hard to with divinity at its back for near
civilize at school, those born and nine hundred years.
SILVERTON, OREGON.
J . IC. H a m m o n d
D R U G G IS T
C u s ite r & D a v e n p o rt
A p ercha
Hicks & Ames
f D nU vare.T in w are, Stoves,