4
IK E TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, SEPTEMBER 27, E. M. 300 (1900.)
known to Secularists than through room very much, and although we rest, is not at all hurt by the idea.
the Liberal novel, but we are very are in good condition to handle To them a thousand years is but a
The Only Papr of Its Kind.
sorry to see that Liberal novel­ our increasing classes better than day. When one goes to sleep at
ists are making the same mistakes ever before, yet we will be embar­ night, is it a matter to be very
Published Weekly by the Liberal Uni­ that many Liberal lecturers, teach­ rassed some this year for lack of much regretted if he sleeps eight
versity Company, in the Interests of ers and organizers have made and recitation rooms, and will be ob­ hours instead of six?
He is un­
Constructive, Moral Secularism.
many of them still so sadly mak­ liged to utilize the office, assembly conscious all those hours and it
hall and cloak rooms for that pur­ would be no difference to him if it
J. E. Hosmer,.....................Editor ing. The pendulum of thought has
pose. Our building is planned to was years or ages instead of hours.
P. W. Geer,.....................Manager started back from the extreme,
dogmatic, superstitious, Puritanic accommodate a larger number And then is it a matter to be very
Christianity and the very thing than we may have this year, but much dreaded that while we are
Entered at the postoffice at Silverton, which might be expected is taking it must be remembered that it in a healthful sleep, that we
Oregon, as second-class mail matter.
place. The pendulum is swinging takes as much room for one hun­ do not recognize nor think of our
clear over to the other side.
To dred students, when all grades are friends, and if we know not any­
bring the world’s thought to an represented as it does for three thing for eight hours, would it hurt
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
equilibrum over truth—thought’s hundred; for it matters not wheth­ us to be unconscious of them for a
er we have ten in a class or thirty, whole week, a thousand years or
One year, in advance...................... $1 00 center of gravity, to rest and then
Six months, in advance.................
50 move forward is the object of every the recitation rooms must be occu­ forever?
Then why should the
Three months, in advance..............
25 intelligent Secularist; but we must pied with the class to the exclu­ idea hurt us now?
In clubs of five or more, one year,
in advance....................................
75 see the danger and learn to fight sion of everythi ng else.
Christianity teaches that death
Money should be sent by registered the other extreme—libertine Lib­
We think we have done well in is an eternal nightmare with ap­
letter or money order.
eralism—or the victory over ortho­ getting as much done as we have, propriate cramps, or pleasurable
doxy will only result in a humili­ but we very much want to paint feelings, according to the deeds
ating defeat by
as bad an that part of our building which is done in the body, while Science
Notice!
evil. In a so called Liberal novel, completed, build the “ west wing,” teaches the painless, thoughtless,
we recently read with sorrow the put in electric lights, a steam heat­ natural sleep of all. Which is the
A hand pointing to this notice denotes
that your subscription has expired. approved licentiousness and evil ing plant, grade and decorate the happier teaching?
You are earnestly requested to re­ habits contracted by the hero, who grounds and build a good fence.
Some Christians think that they
new so that you may receive the pa­
This is what we want to do right “will sleep, but not forever; there
per without interruption. We have de­ was very nicely shown to have
cided that it is best for all concerned evolved out of the old crude notions away.
We can’t progress unless will be a glorious dawn.” But if
that we do not send papers longer than
the time paid for unless so ordered. of his creed. The author represent­ we do. The work demands it and to sleep a thousand years, is not
This will prevent any loss and we will ed this hero, who had been a Meth­ more.
We should have a paper considered bad, why should eternal
know just where we stand.
We are rest be looked upon with dread?
We request you to send us the names odist preacher, as drinking and cutter and a larger press.
of Secularists who might become sub­ smoking cigaretts and as doing all losing by not having them.
We And as this idea of perfect rest is
scribers and we will mail sample copies.
manner of evil things and that, know that these things cost money in perfect accord with Science, why
too, in such a way as to lead an un­ but what these things with our not get used to it and learn to like
T hursday , S ept . 27, E. M. 300. wary reader, and especially the labor can accomplish is worth a it? \\ e can all learn to despise
young, into the belief that these million times any amount of mon­ the fooli3h notion of meeting with
awful evils are pleasures to he en­ ey; and a little from each Free our loved ones after we are dead,
A M IS T A K E N ID E A .
Thinker, who is able, will give our for whole nations have done so and
joyed by the truly wise.
There is a mistaken notion that
The pendulum is truly swinging university such a boost that it today, although the Brahmans have
Secularism applies only to the back, but we must check it. We will command the respect of the other superstions, they long for
question of religion.
We hope must fight every evil
that world. -If we workers were being “nervana” (perfect rest and forget­
that every true disciple of Human­ robs man of his freedom of paid salaries such as the president fulness) as much as the Christians
ity, will help correct this false idea. thought, whether the enemy lurks and professors of other educational do for their heaven. Of course
Secularism pertains to everything in the
halls
of
learning, institutions are receiving, it would their foolish, unscientific idea of
that affects this life, and of course in the church, or in the so- be impossible to build at all, but only re-incarnation, coming back in some
as its truths come in contact with called Liberal literature.
The by working for nothing and put­ animal form until they are good
the old dogmas, the greatest hue world is rapidly swinging away ting every cent we can get above enough to deserve rest, and their
and cry comes from that camp, from the crude religion of our fath­ actual expenses into buildings, etc. other Christianlike superstitions
because the very existence of “thy ers with all its old nightmare of are we able to build at all.
seep them back.
But
it is
church” is dependent on keeping Gods and ghosts, but if we would
We hope that none of our friends plain that people can learn
people from investigating or trying save Humanity from the awful will call us beggars, nor feel of­ to love the idea of eternal rest, and
to find the truth.
catastrophe which that extreme fended at our plea for help, for we they will iearn it, when they see it
The church has an ultimatum. falsehood would naturally bring to are not the kind of people who is without doubt the true solution
The bible to them must be true and people of but meager knowledge need to beg for ourselves. We of what has been a very hard
any new thought is an offense; of nature’s laws, we must avoid say to all free thinkers: “ We problem.
while Secularism proves and re­ the awful results of the other will put into this great work all
But some think that if death
proves all things and holds fast to falsehood that has always resulted that we have.” What will you
ends all it furnishes them an ex­
that which is good. No true Secu­ when the semicivilized peoples of do?
cuse to do wrong.
Such people
larist would be hurt to learn that the past discovered their religion to
have the false notion that doing
the world, which he has always be a fraud.
G IV E US A R E ST .
wrong is fun.
Wrong is that
supposed to be round,'has been prov­
Progressive, moral Secularism
en to be a cylinder, but Christians alone can now save the world from
The main reason that so many which hurts us, and why should
feel very bad to have even a doubt a licentious, degrading retrogres­ people believe in the immortality anyone be so foolish as to hurt him­
expressed in regard to things that sion. We must work while it is of the individual is because of their self?
If it made men happy to
the bible claims to be the truth. yet dayI
great dislike to the idea of sleeping
cheat, st^al, lie or murder, it would
so long after they die. They are
We must not forget that Secu­
larism reaches out and takes hold
not very particular whether their not be wrong. Those who have a
W H A T NEXT?
of every department of life and
spirits are immediately awake or desire to do these things and are
beautifies it by its honest search
whether they wait a few years for only restrained by their belief in
Now that part of our main build­ the resurrection, but how awful it immortality are not in their right
and quick discovery of the truth.
ing, for which we at first laid foun­ seems to them to go to sleep and
mind; and it is reasonable to sup-
dation, is nearly completed, the never see their friends auymore. ' pose that in less than one hundred
FROM W RO NG TO W RONG.
This idea is firmly fastened upon
vs ise thing for us to do, according
i years the belief in the eternal life
the
minds
of
Christian
people
by
he­
There is perhaps no better way, to the best judgment of those who redity and by early training. One 'of individual men and women will
outside of a Liberal educational in­ have had the best opportunity of who has not had spirit-beleiving be as far behind the times as is the
stitution, to educate the public knowing, is to go right ahead with ancestors or been moulded when
mind into the great truths alone the “west wing.” We need the young into the dread of eternal belief in miracles and witchcraft
i today.
Torch of Reason