Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1956)
Organized Antireligion Move Fades Statesman, Salem, Ore, Fri., June 1, 06 (Sec I)-3 OPEN FRIDAY By GEORGE W. CORNELL Astariated Press RelltlM Writer Things are quirt- today in the atheist camp. Its ranks are scat tered. I 'To tell the truth, we aren't very active anymore," said j Charles Smith, long-time prest-! dont of the American Assn. for 1 the Advancement of Atheism. As an organized movement, an tireligion in the United States has dwindled to a mere skeleton of its one-time robust dimensions. Local branches have died out. The so-called "Damned Souls" clubs are gone from college camp uses. The old fire with which ath fists once tangled with the church es has faded. i Atheists Independent "Atheists aren't very good at keeping up organizations," said Joseph Lewis, president of the Freethinkers of America. "They're rather independent-minded." His organization, which 20 years ago had branches in about 10 cities, j now has none. It no longer has a paid headquarters staff. Its j weekly meetings, which used to draw 200 people every Sunday, I were abandoned in the 1940s. Organized interest has lagged, Lewis said, because "the opposi tion isn't as strong as it used to be." "There's been a considerable liberalizing of religion," he said. "The lines of conflict aren't as clearly drawn. But from the stand-' point of intellectual growth, athe ism is increasing." j Brioches Disappear Another organization of atheists and agnostics, the National Lib eral I-eagu'e, also has shrunk rad-' ically. None of the approximately 2no local branches it had across the country in the 1930s now re-' main. The association headed by Smith also has lost all the dozen or so local chapters it used to have Its weekly lectures, which formerly averaged 400 paid admissions, now draw only a handful admission free , "It's hard to get anyone out for a meeting anymore." Smith said. ' "We don't have the great ora tors we once had. There used to be a dozen of Jliem touring the country back in the late 19th Cen tury. That was the most vigorous period for atheism." Inrrrsoll I.vs Over Those were the days of Hubert fi Ingersoll. eloquent champion of American atheism, and his slashing war on religion as super slitition and a roadblock to sci entific progress Thousand swarmed to hear him. Nowadays, Smith said, things are a bit too tame to suit the cause. Why, he added, a dedicated ath eist can't even get himself arrest ed anymore Xo dramatize an is sue. , Just recently, his organization i tried to provoke an arrest by de-! tying a post office ruling against mailing some material harshly lambasting the new "In God We Trust" mottoes on postage stamps. Cannot Get Arrested "We wanted an arrest." Smith sajd, "but all they did was seize the material." Things were different back in 1!)29 when Smith got failed in Little RnVk, Ark., for blasphemy he'd been denouncing a proposed law to ban teaching of evolution. His appeal was dismissed after five years untried Organized atheism suffers. Smith said, both when religion is too widespread and influential, and when religion takes more rational positions. As for present signs of strength ened religion. Smith said "some nf the evidence is hard to ex plain away." but that he felt the growth of church life is mostly as social centers Subscribers Dwindle Smith, a white-haired man nf 68, publishes the country's oldest, continuous atheist periodical. 'The Truth Seeker." a monthly founded in 1873. In the early era. it had 10,000 subscribers. Now about 2.000 Despite organizational losses, Lewis also maintained that "or ganization does not reflect our strength" and that current church growth is based on social, motives Ingersoll Needed "If an Ingersoll arose today," Lewis said, "he would draw 10 times as many as in his own day. and be just as great an attrac tion " Both Smith and Lewis cited his torical cases where churches condemned scientific discovery. "But most of this is in the past." Lewis said "The religious lead ers no longer object to science. They're afraid to face the opposi tion any longer. That's why I say the tendency is toward atheism." BEFORE . . You buy Spinet Organ . . . Have You I Heard And $ Played... P!53 m P. S. You'll be happier , 9 M with a Baldwin! , Rentals and lessons J 1 ZOBELS j V. 519 Court St. jj&l A.M. lo 9 Ml. liberty trect court treet wmm DOWN mail II II - B mm J WEEKLY ROBERTS' OWN "SLVMBER QVEEX" BRAND MADE JUST FOR US BY FAMOUS FARIBO OF ioo ewe mnmi wool AIL FJRST QUALITY GUARANTEED MOTH-PROOF FOR FIVE YEARS . JUMBO SIZE! 6 FT. WIDE, 7Vi FT. LONG 8" LUXURIOUS SATIN BINDING 10 LOVELYCOLORS: Berry Wine Forest Green Citron Yellow Fiesta Rod C4pprton Peacock Blue Carnation Pink Mint Green Camellia Rose White Here it is! . . . the once-a-year June Blanket Sale you'ro expectingl Planned last winter . Faribo Mills keep busy during slack summer months, Roberts gets superior blank ets for- special prkesl Order today . . . use one of the convenient arrangements below. COME IN, PHONE IN, WRITE IN: Roberts Bros. : 177 north liberty, Salem Oregon Quantity 1st Color Choice I 2nd Color Choice I """" T ! City Slate Name Address - j fheek or M O. Chg. C.O.D. j I have a charge account. Please jend now ! and bill me in October. ! Lav a-way for me. I'm enclosing 50c pet ! blanket. REG. 18.95 NOW FOR OR 14.95 EACH SELECT NOW. HAVE YOUR CHOICE OF THESE SUPERIOR BLANKETS THIS WINTER CONVENIENT WAYS TO BUY: 1; 50c DOWN, 50c WEEKLY ON LAY-AWAY 2. ROBERTS' "BUDGET" GIVES YOU 6 MONTHS 3. CHARGE NOW, IF YOU WISH. TAKE YOUR BLANKETS AND WE WON'T BILL YOU UNTIL OCT. ORDER TODAY-USE COUPON TO LEFT Domestics, downstairs LADIES FAIUI DUSTERS Reg. 1095. I'nlined. 2 OO styles. Black, navy or f beige. Siies 10 to 16.-. W Fashion Second Fleer LADIES JERSEY DRESSES Multicolor paisley patterns and stripes. Rayon Qft jersev. Sires io to 18. "V 14'j to 204 Dresses Second Floor BESTFORM BRASSIERES Nylons, cottons, satins. A variety of stvles. I Values to 2.50, I Foundations Second Floor LADIES SHORTY COATS 100 wools. Novelty fabrics. Assorted styles, t Complete sire range. I I Values to 29.95 . ... II Coats Second Floor LADIES LONG COATS Values to 49 95. Just 30 reduced tf" for clearance better j coats at a savings Coats Second Floor BOYS SPORT SHIRTS Plaid ginghams, short sleeves, Sizes 6 to 16. t9 Regular 1 69 value. I Assorted colors I Boys Mala Floor BOYS LINEN PANTS Reg. 2.98. Colors are pink 4 MO or red. Washable. I nT Siies 6 to 18 I Boys Main Floor BOYS POPLIN JACKETS Reg. 5.95-6.95. Asst. colors. Water 99 repellent Broken sires 4 to 18 Boys Main Floor BOYS 10-OZ. JEANS Heavyweight. Sizes 6 to "I tA 12. Doubie knee. Ilein- I-7 forced at points of strain. Boyt Main Floor BOYS NYLON STRETCH SOX One size fits all. M L. j Pastel colors All " nylon. Reg. 59c J MEN'S BELTS Value to 7.50. Asst. fine V leathers. Colors. I Novelty buckles " Men's Main Floor MEN'S NECKTIES One group of famuus name tics. Assorted A paterns. Values to $2. LLJ rayons, silks I f Men's Main Floor MEN'S DRESS SHIRTS Famous "Fruit of (he Loom'' White & colors " QQ All sizes. 7r For Father's Day .... I Men's Main Floor MEN'S COTTON ARGYLES Beautiful selection of f multicolor hlocked jVf patterns. All sizes... J w Men's Main Floor INDIAN HEAD FABRIC Reg. 79c if perfect, f" 36" wide. 11 1 d- 12 asst. colors V Fabrics Mezzanine BUTCHER LINEN PRINTS Reg B8c yd. 45" wide crease C"0 resistant. Multi- Jf color prints . . . J f yd. Fabrics Mezzanine FINE COTTON PRINT FABRICS Values to 1 50 Broad clothes Embossed Fine cottons ill at a savings J V yd. Fabrics Mezzanine POLISHED COTTON PRINTS Keg. 98c yd. Klrral Cd multicolor pattern.1. W . Polished cotton J S yd. Fabrics Mezzanine CHROMESPUN TAFFETA Reg 98c Solid color irridescent. 45" P" ' fj wide For dresses, 11 dresses J V yd. Fabrics Mezzanine BLANKET BINDING Kxtra wide 8" rey 29c d Assorted pastel coicirs II) I yd pieces 10 yds. I Notions Mezzanine LADIES SLIPS Values to 5 95 All ':lnn OO with nylon lare trim S Speriai purchase' J Lingerie Main Floor BOUFFANT SLIPS 5 95-7 95 values 99 Beautiful new colors Extra full cut All Sizes J Lingerie Main Floor SPECIAL PURCHASE OF NATIONALLY KNOWN FAMOUS MAKER'S f Choose your favorite sportswear now . . . anil at lhM tpoclol Spocialsl Exciting colors: solid black, rod, poriwinkU, avocado; prices ... the picking's a real joy from Sail-Mate anal Sailcloth star-print in blue-red and avocado pink; alphabet print In pink or blue combinations. Broken sixes 10 to II. REG. 4.95 EACH PEDAL PUSHERS DANDY PANTS TAPERED CAPRIS Sportswear, second floor Sorry, no mail, phone orders REG. 3.95 SHORTS 1.99 REG. 5.95 JACKETS 3.99 2P Character or Bold Stripe Beach Towels .88 Reg. 3.98 36x72 Even if you're a six-footer these towels will provide perfect cover for beach or backyard lunningl Bright new assort ments: geometries, scenic, character prints all specially de signed in bold and dashing colors by top-notch artists. REG. 2.98, Dazxling Striped Beach Towels, 1.88 giant 36x72 size I Domestics, downstair I1 .7r,-"'1T"V''" - v I --.I I' i a ..."V X u. W vW,-J.mmmmmm SUMMER WEIGHT WINGS SHORT SLEEVE SPORT SHIRTS Specially purchased from one of America's best-known sports shirt makers . . . with value-ful features comparable to shirts ol $4 V5 quality! Slyied and tailored with ill the unmistakable marks of quality that makes "Wings" so famous moored pocle's matching designs; collars with staj: generous and comfortable sides' Buy a whole season's supply while they're available at this low price. Men's furnishings, main floor e Breezy Batistes e Imported Indian Madras a No-Iron Cottons e Fine Ginghams e Sizes S, M, L. XL e Windowpane and Ovorplaids e Woven Checks o Novelty Prints e All guaranteed unconditionally washable WE GIVE AND REDEEM JhflGREEN STAMPS