THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON. OREGON, THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1898.
Oregon S tate Secular Union.
Torch of R e r a n i. th e official organ of the O. 8. 8. U.. and thia column will
5
and speculating on the prospects of ior, that it was a foolish challenge,
The
h a ' ' " ' g “ glonoUS ,O U r,h> w h ile tl,e as no woman would acknowledge
Vice-presi
, devoted each week to items of interest concerning our state organization.
y o u n g lad ies a n d g e n tle m e n wore herse’.f to læ that old.
..............
, . . _
their brightest smiles and chatted dent Carsner, of Vagner, then sug
OBJECTS OF THE O. S S. U.
gested a collection to assist in de
1 The prom otion of a Higher etate of society
frolltof the Store Waved a beHUti-
.
through the teach in g of social p arity , law abid- f u l n e w A m e r i n d H a®
-^,1
At the appointed
hour the crowd fraying the expenses of the conven
:,g citizenship, tem p eran ce a n d m ental liberty
C
A m e riC d l Ila g , p u ic lia t- e a
11
was called together by singing tion. Twenty dollars and fifty
a d bj contm ing ou r Work to th in g s p e rta in in g f o r the Occasion.
to this life only.
i i e eradication o f su p e rstitio n from the
Shortly after noon on Sundi ay, ‘‘Land of Libert v”, after which cents was raised in a few moments,
’ ,i- >»f m en by tea c h in g the n a tu ra l sciences
h i the history of a n c ie n t relig io u s, show ing
July 3d, people on horseback and in Minnie P. Hosmer read selections and the meeting was dismissed by
origin, sim ila rit: - a n d aOKurdnieo.
3 For all m a n k in d freedom of th o u g h t and
from the Declaration of Independ- the singing of the chorus, “Help It
t. ual rights a n d privileges in all m atte rs cou buggies and wagons were seen trav
igion, a n d to this end the repeal of all eling toward the little cemetery in ience- Miss Ja,,e DePeatt followed i On”.
1 w- that exem pt ch u rch property from ta x a tio n :
t , force th e observance of Sunday as th e 8ab-
The sun was still high, but the
1 t h ; that a p p ro p riate p u b lic fu n d s for secta- Haystack valley where were laid to with a vocal sol°> which wa8 wel1
r in in stitu tio n s; th a t to lerate any relig io u se x er- rest, among other friends and lov-!received’ and MibS Kate I)ePeatt dancers were anxious to begin their
cii.es readings; display or prayer in any pnblic
school, body o r in stitu tio n m ain tain ed wholly or ed ones, Katie Kehm Smith and recited “Ingersoll and Jehovah”, part of the program, so the seats
n ¡ art at public expense, and generally, to ac-
Complisn the to ta l sep aratio n of ch u rch and Mrs. Maggie Carsner.
This, the which’brougbt rounds of applause, were removed from the center of
Pt ie and effect the secularization of governm ent
. J. e ta te a n d n a tio n a l.
Sweetheart Went the platform, the music was start
4 To ch arter, organize and assist nu x illiary first day of the convention, was to The 8On8
Secnlar o rganizations and Secular eunday schools be devoted to exercises at the graves I)own with the Maine”, by Mrs. ed and the fun was again com
for the teaching of scien ce and m o rality th ro u g h
out the state, and a p p o in t and com m ission lec of these noble heroes and the un-1 Ho8mer’ was appreciated by all. menced, only to cease a short time
turers and teachers,
5. To prescribe, ad opt, p ublish, sell an d d is veiling of the monuments erected J ‘ E* Hos,ner» orator of the day, for the supper hour, then to be
tribute books, pam p h lets and ¡»apers advocating
its objects and p rin c ip le s.
to their memory. The graves had was tben »Produced ai d presented resumed again with extra vigor.
ti. To protect, by every law ful m eans, a n y m em
ber whose equal religious or civ il rig h ts a re been decorated with flowers and his subject, “The New Declaration Excellent order prevailed and not
infringed.
7, Generally, to do a n d encourage every act, vines and a shade erected for the of Independence”, in a manner he- a single person failed to enjoy the
proceeding and th in g necessary o r conducive to
the a tta in m e n t of its objects.
speakers and the audience. T heifitting the occasion. The subject dance. At midnight oysters were
crowd soon assembled and the exer- of religion was not forgotten, and served, and again the dance was re
W h a t a G a th e rin g .
cises were commenced by singing orthodoxy and priestcraft were newed, not to be interrupted until
“What a Gathering”, composed for bandied with ungloved hands, day began to dawn and the stars to
A song com posed by F. 8. M atteson, of T urner,
Ore., and sung at th e u n v eilin g of K atie K ehm the occasion by F. S. Matteson, of which was wel1 received by the vanish, when to home and to bed
Sm ith's nd Mrs. M ggie Ca s n e r’s m onum ents
at W agner, Ore., th e first day o f th e T enth An Turner, Oregon.
During the sing- audience composed largely of Secu- went the dancers, light hearted and
nual ('on vent ion of th e O regon 8 ta te S ecular
U nion, Sunday, Ju ly 3, E . M. 298.
ing the veils that covered the mon- lariet8’ The address lasted over gay, though with sleepy eyes and
uments were removed and disclosed an hour, but not a word was lost weary feet. All were satisfied with
On a p leasan t J u ly m orning,
When th e F re e th o u g h t people com e,
The the celebration of our nation’s inde
And the radiance in th e ir faces we shall to view the inscriptions, Secular b? the attentive audience.
see ;
mottoes and figures of the Wett- choir san8 a 8Onbr» and with an an- pendence and the second day of
Coming from th e ir far-off places
stein Freethought badge engraved nouncement of the afternoon pro- the convention.
To the W agner p eople’s hom es,
The next day wras to be devoted
W hat a gat liering, w h at a g a th erin g th a t one on each monument.
The one Sram tbe meeting was dismissed for
will be!
erected to the memory of Katie d*nner. And such a dinner! It to the business sessions of the Un
CHORUS.
Kehm Smith bore the inscription: cou,d not be de8Cribed’ but h was ion, and the members and friends
W hat a g ath e rin g , w h at a g ath e rin g ,
relished, and that is enough. It assembled to exercise their rights
W hat a g a th e rin g of th e cham pions
takes Secularists to prepare good as voters and advisers. It is need
Of th e F re e th o u g h t cause we’ll see.
D E D IC A T ED BY H E R F R IE N D S TO A
W hat a g a th e rin g , w hat a g ath e rin g ,
things to eat, and the Wagner Sec less to say that advice came thick
WOMAN W IT H O U T S U P E R S T IT IO N .
W hat a g a th e rin g of th e Secularists
ularists beat all the rest. There er than votes, hut both were needed
th a t will be !
At the close of thesong Mr. Mack was enough to feed an army after in order to transact the business in
We g a th e r round th e precious ground
W hich holds our K a tie ’s form ,
Ramsby, a thorough Secularist and the assembled guests had been sat- a manner right and just to all. The
And tears of grief will m ingle w ith our
the oldest man in the community, isfied, but it came in good play for meeting was called to order by
sighs ;
We recall her splen d id ta le n ts,
made a few fitting remarks, wel supper. A jolly crowd had been President Geer, who impressed the
And h e r p leasan t, kindly w ays,
And the in tellectu al radiance in h e re y e s. coming the people to Wagner. The brought together and there was members with the grave duty rest
president responded, with thanks nothing to mar the occasion. Ev- ing upon them and placed the bus
From th e fruitage of her labors
on behalf of the visitors, and, after eryone was in the best of spir- iness in the bands of the conven
Shall our in sp iratio n come,
To th e S ecularists over every land and the singing of another song, intro- its and good will and good order tion.
The minutes of the ninth
sea,
duced the speaker of the day, Miss prevailed. Stomachs were filled, annual convention w’ere read and
To aid th em in redeem ing
G enerations yet u n b o rn ,
Kate DePeatt, who spoke at length appetites were satisfied and more approved, and the president ap
And from s u p e rstitio n ’s bondage set
along lines impressing the assem- than twelve baskets full of frag- pointed the following committees:
th em free.
bled audience with their duty to the ments remained to be laid away, Order of Business, C. E. Glaze of
memory of the noble ones who lay An hour or so was spent in visit- Dayville, G. C. Gillespie of Wag
T en th A n n u al C o n v ention.
beneath the sod and dedicating the ¡ng, when the seats were arranged ner, and G. R. Wagner of Monu
Sunday morning dawned bright monument to Truth, Justice and for another program.
ment; Credentials, C. N. Wagner
and beautiful, and the people of Right. Another appropriate song
A chorus, “Guard the Right”, I of Wagner, M. P. Hosmer of Silver-
Wagner were all astir. The time was sung, after which Mr. Geer, in called the assembly together. The ton, and I). C. Andrews of Lone
for the Tenth Annual Convention a few remarks, paid tributes of re- orchestra then discoursed some mu- Rock; Constitution and By-Laws,
of the Oregon State Secular Union spect to the memory of Mrs. Smith sic, and Mr. and Mrs. Hosmer ren- J. E. Hosmer of Silverton, W. IL
had arrived. The Executive Board and Mrs. Carsner. Another song dered a character song, which met Gates of Wagner, and Kate De
had decided that the little settle- ended the exercises at the cemetery with great applause and laughter, Peatt of Ashland; Ways and Means,
ment in Kahler Basin, Grant coun- and the first day of the conven- Miss Kate DePeatt was then intro- A. J. Shrum of Grade, Kate De
ty, Oregon, known as Wagner, tion. The people returned to their duced and addressed the meeting Peatt and J. E. Hosmer; Resolu
should be treated to a gathering of respective homes with a feeling of on “Adulterated Government”. tions, D. C. Andrews, A. Officer of
Secularists such as was never be- satisfaction with the afternoon’s ex- She spoke forcibly, with intense in- Dayville, and M. P. Hosmer.
fore known. For several days the ercises.
terest in her subject, and received
Vice-president Carsner caused
neighbors had gathered together to
The next day was July 4th, and great applause from her hearers, quite a heated discussion by a point
prepare for the coming event. A was to be devoted to the celebra- Many of the crimes of society she of order and an appeal. The best
large platform had been built in a tion of our nation’s independence laid at the door of religion, while of order and good will prevailed,
grove near the store.
A roof of and the cause of Liberty. A crowd the crimes of politics were charged and after some excitement Mr. Cars
green boughs protected it from the of enthusiastic Secularists, with now to priestcraft and kingcraft. Miss ner good-naturedly withdrew his
sun; a speaker’s stand was at one and then a Christian, gathered in DePeatt’s address was followed by appeal and the convention adjourn
end and a music stand at the side, the little grove under the arbor a short talk by “ Uncle Mack” ed for dinner.
from which music was to be dis- erected for the purpose near the Ramsby, who made some fitting re-
At 2 o’clock the convention reas
pensed for the dancers.
People creek. The day was .beautiful marks for the occasion. Mr. Rams- sembled and adopted the reports of
trom neighboring towns and settle- and the assembled crowd was light by, who is nearing his four score the committees on order of business
nients had come prepared to camp, hearted and gay, but far from being years,ended his talk by challenging and credentials without debate.
and officers and members of the noisy. The little boys were shoot- any woman of his age to run a foot 1 he report of the committee on con
Union were present from hundreds ing firecrackers, old men and wo- race. He was promptly informed stitution and by-laws was then
of miles away. From the flagpole men were talking over old times , by Dr. Griffin, a few years bis sen- read, suggesting some am endm ents
th