THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, JUNE 21, 1900.
2
F o r the T orch of Reason.
Idealistic Fallacies.
BY H ERM A N W ETTSTEIN .
“ What either consciousness and
the objective reality is in itself we
do not and cannot know.” says M r.
’ .............
•
May 31.
Science had better retire, then,
into“innocuous desuetude”,for what
use is there in seeking what is be­
yond finding out?
“The two (above mentioned) fac­
tors constitute a synthesis which is
the basis of all knowledge”, he con­
tinues. The synthesis being admit­
ted, concedes knowledge of the
same, as well as “the basis of all
knowledge”.
“ What the world is except in re­
lation to consciousness we do not
know.” Is not that enough? If
we are conscious of a thing and
know its nature, what can there be
outside of our knowledge of it?
Why assume something not the
least in evidence or that transcends
our knowledge?
“What consciousness is except in
relation to what is perceived, and
what is conceived as objective, we
do not know.” Consciousne.-s is
now beginning to be generally re­
garded by Science as one of the
properties of matter, though in an
inconceivably lower form than the
mind we are conscious of through
the process of cerebration.
“Our world is the perceptive and
conceptive world.” Would it not be
the same world if our perceptions
and conceptions were annihilated?
Did it not “once uj*»n a time” exist
without them? If so, then it is ev­
idently not a perceptive and a con­
ceptive world. Only sentient beings
are perceptive and conceptive.
Where is the world’s eensorium to
make it as claimed by Mr. Under­
wood?
Our consciousness with its con­
comitant judgment tells us w’hat
the world is, as far as it can come
within reach of our senses, hence it
is not unknowable. Its relation to
our consciousness covers the entire
field of known existence. If there
is anything beyond the known,what
is it supposed to be?
“The so-called properties of mat­
ter are, in final analysis, states of
mind.” Were they also states of
mind before organic life appeared
upon the face of the earth? Think
of divisibility, impenetrability, ex­
tension, etc., etc., being in their
final analysis states of mind before
there was any mind to take cogniz­
ance of them! Yes, and after,
too! No philosophy which can
transmogrify a physical property
into a state of mind can have any
standing in court (to paraphrase
Mr. Underwood’s words).
“ Phenomena are facts of con­
sciousness.” An aurora borealis is
a phenomenon. They occurred be­
fore organic life was evolved. How
Travels.
prejudiced mind. It is hard to
could they at those periods in our
advocate any idea in that organiza­
world’s history be facts of con­
BY P E A R L W . G E E R .
tion and not have it contradicted
sciousness? And do these phenom­
bv a majority of those in attend-
ena not now occur irrespective of
I have been very fortunate in ance. That makes things lively
whether they produce a state or a
fact of consciousness or not? Do having the opportunity to visit the and the society does a great deal
they depend upon any one seeing different Liberal societies of the of good.
The Liberal Society of Manches-
them?
Isn’t a rainbow formed East, where I rind much positive
whether it is seen ct not9
> I »nd-constructive work being done. I t«*r, K . H., I-hape.. to visit. The
There is nothing “in co-operation Of all I have attended I rind that others which I haven’t visited have
with consciousness that gives rise the Chicago Liberal Society, the adjourned for the summer, so I
to the perception and conception of Ohio Liberal Society of Cincinnati, shall be deprived of the pleasure of
things objective”. If there were, the Friendship Liberal League of meeting with them. It is indeed
Science would have been on its Philadelphia, and the Brooklyn encouraging to see so much organ­
track long ere this. Consciousness Philosophical Society are apparent- ized work being done in the Liberal
is all-sufficient in itself for the cog- ly the best organized and draw the ranks.
niticn of things objective.
largest crowds, and all seem to do
I found Mr. Henry Rowley at
“We know color only as a sens- an equal amount of good. The the Brooklyn Philosophical Society,
ation.” Yes, and that very sensa- Chicago organization is the voung- where I bad a short chat with him,
tion, analyzed by our knowledge of est and is different from all the rest, and then met him later at his
it, tells us what color is. We know It more nearly conforms to the line office in the Park Row Building, in
everything as a sensation, but that of work adopted by the Oregon New York. Mr. Rowley ranks as
sensation constitutes our positive Secular Churches. Dr. Gregory is the best Liberal orator in New
and unquestionable knowledge of the lecturer, and around him the York now, and his lectures are
it. We see a man commit a murder. society grows.
The officers and well received wherever he has faced
It is only a sensation, but that members are all loyal to the cause an audience. He spends a short
“sensation” passes for positive for which they work. Mr. C. E. time each day reading, and as a
knowledge in court all the same. Levi deserves great credit for the consequence he has a store of know­
To consider a sensation insufficient work he is doing in Cincinnati, ledge on which he draws on when­
for knowledge is to doubt the evi­ where with others he has made the ever he consents to lecture, and the
dence of your senses.
Liberal society a credit to the cause. preparation of the lecture is no
“We know vibrationsof the ether This society does not have a regu­ trouble to him. Mr. Rowley is
only as a conception.’’Would he also lar lecturer, but depends on getting deeply interested in the Liberal
know them “only as a conception” the very best talent obtainable. The University, and he took particular
if they should happen to hit him in Philadelphia society is run on a pains to inquire into every detail of
the form of a lightning-stroke?
similar plan and is largely attended our work which pleased me greatly.
The relativity of knowledge is “a by an intelligent class of people. At the conclusion of the interview
mountain made out of a molehill”. They have had much to contend he showed that he was satisfied
It is “much ado made out of noth­ with and a disturbing element has with my answers to his questions,
ing”; “much cry and little wool”, tried to wreck them, but the society for he decided to support our insti­
since it is a self-evident proposition is now on a splendid footing, largely tution with a very liberal yearly
that no one has ever disputed.
on account of the work doue by allowance, one-half of which is to
Mr. Longford, Mr. Wilbur and be forwarded to us every six months.
For th e Torch of R eason.
many others.
At the Brooklyn He not orly does this but he knows
“Ouilded” Points.
Philosophical Society I saw the of others who he is certain will do
largest audience of intelligent peo­ as be does on bis recommendation.
BY JO H N P. GUILD.
ple I have seen for some time. I If others will only do in proportion
didn’t have much of an opportunity to what Mr. Rowley is doing we
A school is not prized by it size, to find out the workings of the will be allright.
but by its wise.
society, for the whole afternoon
Miss Schachtel said that if I
An infinite personality is infinite- was g'ven 1° ^ r- I entacost and would call to see her she would
ly impossible.
there was no discussion. This is give me some money for some stock
one of the oldest societies and one in the Liberal University Company,
rovei s are usua y repeate in
the ^est respeCted. Mr. Henry She didn’t know that I would be
proportion to t leir a sur lty.
Rowley deserves great credit for pleased to call without any money
If all the earth were gold, what what he has done on behalf of this consideration, but I accepted the
would an ounce of dirt be worth?
organization.
bribe any way. Now Miss Schachtel
At the Washington, D. C., Secu- made me promise to not write any
The mathematical sciences get
along without God, because they !ar Society I had one of the pleas- j eulogy on her for ’ the Torch, and
antest times of my whole trip. The that is about the worst punishment
are able to prove themselves.
meeting I visited was not very well I have had to endure lately. I had
Any opinion that appeals to God attended, but the enthusiasm can , 60 mauy nice things in mind to
for confirmation is very suspicious not be excelled anywhere. The , say about her, and all of them true,
of its own verity.
population of Washington changes . that she is real cruel to deprive me
A little farm well tilled; a little every four years, and it is hard to of this opportunity of showing what
school well drilled; a little head build up anything permanent. I I can really write in praise of a
well filled; a little hand well skilled; think the Washington society needs lady. But since she requests it,
a little home well willed, is better more youug people.
11 won’t say a word but leave the
than the biggest run wild.
The Manhattan Liberal Club is reader to judge what 1 would
When the people quit trusting different from them all. There you have said.
the Trusts, there will be no Trusts. w^ll find your cranks who are fond
We went to the theater to see the
.
,
, . , , of fight. It seems to me that each play “Quo Vadis,” the play with'
Savings
banks
are
shaving
,
.. , ,, the Liberal
T u , only
i ly one really
n sensible
... character
.
,
®
,
,
, . banks,
.
person who
attends
and
L, . goes there
..
... the firm
-
• when people
. . . get shaved
. in
, them Club
with
con- in it, namely Pretonius. The others
they . get
what
they
bargained
for
in
t
. , , x
,
viction that he alone has the correct are so devotedly religious that rea­
such barbe(a)rous places.
,
-
,,
r
solution for all things, and the son stands no show with then).
The best way to kill your own fol- others are all wrong It is an in- When Eunice said that a new
ly is to exploit it; then if it don't terestiug time one may have there power (Christianity) bad arisen in
kill itself, or kill you, someone else and there is much to be learned by the world, the assembled audience
will kill it—maybe you, too.
(one who will go there with an un- cheered with enthusiasm.* It is