T orch of
VOL. 2.
SIL V E R T O N , OREGON, T H U R SD A Y , OCTOBER 27, 1898.
NO. 42.
A-.*.'
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But we arc to ld t h a t the bible “ illib eral” because we cry out
Ihe 5 a fe Side.
was
not
given
for
the
purpose
of
against this injustice?
Are we '
H E world is weary w ith its pain and
care.
teaching m an history, geology or “ aggressive” because we desire to !
I RS is the safe side,” says
T he world is weary w ith its c h il
ttt\ , a nd our hopes rise
the C hristian; “ for if Infi-
dren sad
\\ ith h u n g er of th e body an d th e m ind. again; we open the book, our eyes
womannooo we possess irrespective j
The world is weary in a land so fair,
\\ here joy should reign, th ere sorrow light upon the passage, ‘‘Search the of creed? “ The liberty of one man ^n biJcl and C hristian have the
walk« beside,
scriptures,” and we begin our task. ends only where th a t of another san,e destiny, nam ely, to die and
\n d silenced is song hv tea rs of grief.
If the bible is true, no am ount of begins.” But does the Infidel e n - , er,d all, but if C hristianity be true,
The world is w aiting for all guiding
m inds
investigation can harm it.
The joy such a liberty? Do C hristians whai wiH become of the Infidel?”
To lead to nobler heights all those who
more a tru th is investigated the adm it th a t he has a right to his
reP^y to this we say, th a t al-
striv e.
The world is w aiting for all helpful brighter it shines. The more error unbelief?
How can they adm it it though at death both believer and
words
is exposed to the searching light, when they teach that he thereby unbeliever fall asleep side by side
Fo soothe, and cheer, and com fort all
who m ourn,
the m ore cloudy it becomes. If the I not only lo>es his own soul, but by uPon the bosom of m other earth ,
U nsatisfied, am id th e ills of life.
bible is the work of God, the Om his influence drags o th e rs to perdi-
does not make yours the safe
The world is w aiting for all noble h e a rts
W hich yearn w ith a sp ira tio n s for the nipotent, it will bear all investiga I tion with him ?
W h a t says the sifle; because if C hristianity be true
tru e .
tion. If it is the work of ignorant Rom ish church as the rights of In- then the most of the hum an race
Ye w orkers, c o m e ! th e world has need
of you.
men, th a t fact should be shown to fidels?
In her papal encyclicals, &° ’nto eternal torm ent. O rtho-
the world.
and in all her official utterances, doxy has alw ays taught that “ m any
“ God is not a m an th a t he should she breathes the most deadly hat- are caded but few are chosen.”
The Naked Truth.
lie; neither the son of man th a t he red to the principles of religious
d n in e-ten th s of the race are
EA C H the people how to live,
should repent.”
(N um bers xxiii. tolerance, and denounces every g°’n8 *° suffer endless pain I do
Ye who know ledge have to give
19). 1 hat being the case, we can form of heresy as punishable crime. n° t Fce bow those who are going to
N atu re, wisdom will supply,
Teach h e r ch ild ren how to die.
investigate w ithout danger.— [Big Therefore, we deny th at we should I constitute a large p a rt of th a t num -
Bible Stories.
Show th e people how to w alk,
be called “ aggressive” so long as her and are to be eternally lost can
Ye whose tendons never b a lk ;
our rights are thus tram pled under c a ^ d the safe side. For it should
W ings, if needed bye and bye;
W ith th em com eth skill to fly.
Popular Objections to Infidelity. the heel of ignorance and supersti-i n°t be forgotten th a t the vast illa
Tell th e people w hat you know ,
tion.
jo rity of those who are going to
Ye whose fountains overflow ;
BY ED G A K C. B E A L L .
Moreover, if we do enjoy a com suffer the w rath of God, are profess
W h at you know not how to reach,
In v e stig a tio n ’s sure to teach.
parative freedom today, we think ed ( hristians. “ M any will say u n
T is frequently asserted th a t also >f the com ing generations, to to me in th at day, Lord, Lord,have
F reethinkers m anifest quite whom we owe a sacred duty.
Investigation.
The we not prophesied in thy nam e?
as much illib erality and ag splendid liberties of the American and in th y nam e done many’ won
gressiveness as the C h ristian s in nation are still threatened by oath- derful works?
BY W . H . B A C H .
And then will I
whom they so strongly condemn bound zealots of foreign birth and profess unto them — I never kntw
Search th e s c rip tu re s; for in them
ye th in k ye have ete rn al life; and these qualities. N othing, however, bias, who, in the name of Jesus, y o u , d ep art from me ye th a t woik
th ey are they w hich testify of m e.— could be farth er from the tru th . Is
would but too gladly betray our iniq u ity .” (M att. vii. 22-23.)
Jo h n v. 39.
it “ illib eral” to struggle for libertv? all-protecting flag, and above the
No, no, it will not do to trust
OR some tim e I have been Is it “ aggressive” to strike in self-
stars and stripes erect the bloody th at side as the “safe side” where
following the above injunc defense? It will be said, perhaps,
symbol of the cross.
Until this “ m any are called but few are chos
tion. In my hum ble opinion th a t the church no longer perse
danger is averted; until Infidels en.” We need som ething safer than
the greatest question before the h u cutes.
True, her fagots have gone are allowed to testify in all courts th at.
man race today is the question of to ashes; her thum bscrew s have
Again, we do not see --- how - it - can
of justice; until they
are ~ no longer
J
im m ortality.
W hat are the few rusted; her racks are worm -eaten,
regarded as disqualified for 'Holding ,)e
“safe side” to despise this
years we spend upon this earth, and her blood-besmirched hands positions in the governm ent; until b’fe in hopes of an o th er th a t we
even if we live our allotted “ three are too feeble to wield the sword. the money they pay into the pub know nothing of.
Il Infidelity be
score years and ten ”, compared to But from p u lp it and press, by lie treasury is no longer plundered ^rue, a ^ ('h ristia n s are supersti-
th e vast ages of etern ity , if it so tongue and pen, the venom of her for the m aintenance of superstition; (*°U8 ¡delators.
If Infidelity be
happens th a t death does not end ¡enm ity has never ceased to flow. until they are allowed to spend (,u e, ( hristians are deceived and
all?
In the past, C hristians alw ays per seven-sevenths of th eir time as are corrupting the m inds of mil-
We have been told th a t the great secuted in exact proportion to their they choose;
until they are no 'lio n s of children with superstition
God of the universe produced a power, and they do the sam e to longer looked upon as crim inals be- (hat will render them bigoted,cruel
book which is to be unto us in sp ir day.
W ith the mass of the o rth o fore God and the church; in a word, an<^ unhappy. And this is about
ation and guide, leading us through dox people, Infidelity is still a syn
until they are recognized for their (be H*ze of it. How, then, can it be
the darkness and vicissitudes of onym for im m orality and crime. A m erits sim ply as men and women, 1 h” safe side?
I he safe side is al-
this life and onw ard into another. disbeliever in God and the in sp ira
the cry of “ Illiberal L iberalism ” wayp to be fair and honorable, ft
Such b< ing the ease, in its presence tion of the bible, is regarded a pri
should be repeated no more.— [T he lrt
a ^ a y s to exam ine both
each idle tongue should be hushed, ori, as o re who knows no law but B rain and the Bible.
sides. It is safe to be on the alert
each ear strained to catch the his own evil h ea rt; one who is de
____
for more tru th .
I t is safe to accept
slightest sound; each eye opened void of both honor and reason; a
.
the truth, even when it cuts away
to its widest ex ten t and all co n tain wretch who would pollute the inno
If we were unconscious like plants old prejudices and old beliefs.
It
ed therein should be received. Re cence of youth; a creature to be are supposed to be, we could
nei- is safe not to be sectarian. It is
member it is God who speaks.
shunned as a “ moral leper” .
ther suffer nor enjoy life; at any not safe to be a p artisan , but it is
If this was told to h u m anity for
C hristians are tau g h t th a t the rate, both our pleasure and paid safe to be free, courageous and hon-
the first tim e, w hat hopes would be fear of God is not only the “ begin paiu are result of knowledge. If est in all things. It is not safe for
arouse in our breasts! W hat wis ning of wisdom”, but also the basis the evils of life balance the good of you to cling to m yths, fables and
dom we would expect to receive! of all m oral principle; and with existence, then life is equivalent to superstitions, and to leave them as
But, alas, how great the d isap p o in t such a distorted view of hum an na nothing. If the exils exceeds the a blighting inheritance to your
ment! H istory and bible do not ture, how can they regard the good, then life is worse than noth- children.—[Selected.
agree; Genesis and geology are d i A theist in any ether light than ing.
But if the good exceeds the
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rectly in contradiction; scientific th a t of an enem y to all th a t is evil, then life is worth living.—[In -
There is alw ays mist between the
astronom y contradicts all.
good?
But should we l>e called dependent P ulpit.
mind and m ystery.
The W orld’s Need.
T
O
T
I
F
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delity