THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1V.H. successfully with no bibles, prayer- of their lives, and I venture with no submit! I want my fellow men to The Liberal U n iversity. books or confessions of faitli laid in financial results th a t would tempt let me alone and I will let them its cornerstone. even a dry goods clerk to exchange C. E lto n B lanchard in Freethought Magazin«». alone. This is the reasoning. How easy it would la* it all men places for that reason, are most The Freethinkers of the United Dogmatic faith, however, and were awake to the importance of wort|,y of ah(j gttea for the duties States may congratulate themselves fear of hell, have made zealots, and such a demonstration In the thatt|leO nSlateSK.„iar Union that one state in the Union has zealots, in adding stars to the lieav- wav <>f contrast, remembering that courage and interest sufficient to ’ • j only i of e our population ulutinn has assigned them. I said some- one-third * enlv diadems, have ground the undertake the establishment of an are confessors of faith, which por- thing about sacrifice, but I ameer- institution of learning which may masses to found colleges, hospitals tion of course includes a large per tain that these men, as would any not only from the first, but through­ and other institutions of an ethical cent of « « hypocrites, • . 1*1 . two-thirds . _ , « L. iw/Ly man with . the « religion » • • of humanity _- while character. Now that science has out its whole career, serve humanity, are not willing to sub crlbe to the in his heart, count it a pleasure to entirely free from religious super­ largely driven out dogma’ism, the creed of any church, it may seem stition and creed; that one organi­ colleges under church control are strange that the one third of Chris­ work for a cause so dear to us. If this college can be successfully zation of liberal-minded men, the doubtless doing the race as much, tian confessors support about 1,500 Oregon State Secular Union, has or nearly as much, good as if no relgious newspapers, while the non- founded, and if others in the differ­ taken the first step in a work that pretention of Christian faith was enfessing two-thirds support eight ent states follow, men will rapidly good men the world over should made. It w’ill be confessed by all think­ Freethought papers, and these are gain courage to be free. Hypocrites encourage and commend. often in great need of funds, if the When Stephen Girard willed ing men, Christian or Liberal, that urgent calls for subscriptions past hate their hypocrisy. Many a dea­ con gets up to pray cursing himself several million dollars to the found­ the teaching of the Christian faith due is any indicate n. ing of a college under the condition will sooner or later be entirely elim I feel safe in saying that 20,000,000 for being too much a coward to inated from all institutions of leat n- assert his real convictions. Such a that no minister, missionary or is no’ a large estimate of the num­ priest should ever visit the institu­ ing and churches will evolutionize ber of able men and women who movement will save the country tion, he doubtless surprised the into places of social and ethical are rejectors of dogmatic faith, and from a crisis which will surely come ecclesiastical world. Mr. Girard culture. Dogmatic faith is dying. who could support Liberal papers. if reason is much longer outraged. The Liberal University is started, would be more surprised should he Only about one.-third of our popu Suppose each should give the very latiou are communicants in all the its organization is perfected. The know that Christian authorities small sum of one dollar a year to twenty-one protestant denomina­ rest is growth, now the tree is now control the college; that the­ the Liberal University, it would ology is taught and has a chapel tions and the Catholic church com­ mean only the value of a postage planted. The ground is opened for where Christian services are con­ bined. A large part of these are stamp a week, half the price of a the foundation of the new building. ducted therein. Thus orthodoxy merely members for other reasons poor cigar, half the cost of a drink The foundation principle of the follows the same old philosophy, than that they have faith and act­ of beer—a trifl«— yet if sent each college is to know law. Science, “there is no condemnation to them ual belief in the dogmatic creed year in the small some of one dollar as the search for this truth, will he they profess as members. Why that are in Christ.” no school in the world could equal taught within its walls. The guide then undertake at this time such a Now, as in the past, the Christian Ihe Liberal University at Silverton, —the only safe one—is Reason, and work as the Liberals of Oregon can ask with no little force: “ W hat Oregon. Leland Stanford Univer- the chief asssistant is Experience, have undertaken, the founding of a excuse had Stephen Girard to make sitv or any other, could not coin- To enumerate in brief then: such narrow-minded provisions in Liberal University? paré for worth and greatness with We need the Liberal University We are thus prepared by thes • his will? Have not colleges and it. The Christian church demands to prove to the world that men can schools been founded by the Chris few words of introduction, to appre­ one-tenth of our inconis as belong- be educated, cultured and progres­ tian world as fast as they are ciate the defense I am about to ing to the Lord. Is Freethought sive without dogma. needed? Who has led in education, make for the new college. Natural asking very much » hen it asks for We need it to hasten the élimina- evolution is retarded by creedism. in philanthropy, in reform, and two pennies a week for the Liberal tion of Christian dogmatism from Past history, such as the Reforma­ who are leading today? Have University? A volunteer does not already organized educational insti- tion, the story of the Puritans, Sep­ priests and ministers been such wait until an army of a «ertain i tutions. enemies of the young that they aratists, Quakers, etc., has proven size is in the field, nor does a true) The work .8 begun and it is m must be prohibited from setting foot that retarded evolution culminates Liberal wait before doing his pari, worthy hands. in catastrophe. Just as the waters „mil somebody else, has given a on a proposed college campus?” The location is excellent for the of the river may be held back by These same men can now turn to certain amount. The ground for Pacific coast states, and can be the ice-jam until at last the great ___L . . «»»Min nao nt readily reached hv t h even those of the Liberal University movement, the first building for the university force thus gener «ted sweeps every­ asking: “Has the country no is being broker-. Would it not he Atlantic states. thing before it, so mankind, if held Two cents a week from liberal- schools and colleges doing good a satisiacuon satisfaction to io know nu'»»» that in the i , . . . back in its natural development enough work to suit the Infidels? cornerstone of this fir,, building, minded men would give . ..n annm Has Oregon no state colleges, no and progress by some unnatural among others, your name could be lty of »20,000,000. non-sectarian schools, to say noth­ obstruction, w ill at last break away, found as one who had given one When Stephen Utrard came to and usually with loss of life and ing of several d e n o m in a tio n a l dollar, five dollars, one hundred die, though many times a million- widespread suffering and sorrow. dollars, or whatever sum your aire, his tor.nne gave him no corn- schools, that satisfy the needs of that sparsely settled, country? The A. P. A and other everyday means allowed? Is it not worth fort. He disposed of it as h,s best What justifies this so-called sacri­ indications tell the thoughtful man our while to 1« able to point to at judgment said was wisest Yet 1 fice to a cause, or rather a supposed that such obstructions now impede least one successful college wherein firmly believe that those Ll lerals cause; this struggle, work and our progress. no dogma is taught, and where who help one, five or several hum If the clergy develops a man who Christianity is Studied, just as dred dollars worth in founding the worry to found a Liberal University dares to teach disregard for dogma, (emphasis on the word Liberal)- Buddhism or any other religion, for Liberal Un.vers.ty w.ll «"d, while and we have seen them coming to this agitation up and down the whatever good it may contain? still alive, a greater comfort in the the surface here and there oi late, land about human need, etc.—what 1 understand that Silverton peo- thought that their atd was a part the “powers that be” punish the pic are heartily interested it. the of this school’s success, and this justifies it?” * . . . of . its wilj at least one solace. Even Liberals will, without think­ bold fellow by trial for heresy, COnilllK coming university, Uinvvioivv, and one ---- — — ... blasphemy or in some other effec­ respeeted citizens, Mr. John Hicks, Freethought holds no crucifix ing, feel inclined to judge the at­ tempt on the part of the Oregon tive manner silence the unruly Silverton, Oregon, is the proper over dying men and women extort- person to whom your “tithe” should ing legacies from them. Free- State Secular Union as uncalled clerical. It now becomes the duty of every 1,, -,.„t * I am also satisfied that thought appeals to our reason, ask- for, and visionary. It is a fact to Freethinker to become constructive. the men who are giving iheir time ing os in the name of the Brother- deplore that Freethought is anar­ We have seen too much time waited and energy to the font,ling of this hood of Man to lend a hand. Just chistic in its tendency. Its disci­ in contention and idle bikering. school,and sacrificing the best years now the Literal University at Sil- ples too often refuse to make sacri­ The time has come to demonstrate __________ ______ — ------------- — verton, Oregon, needs, deserves and fice or to labor that others may be to the world that education,culture ♦ The above was written by Mr. expects your co-o|»eratiou. Will it free and intelligent as themselves. and civilization are not results of