The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-04-07
Meeting OF IDfiieIs, Yesterday.


Meeting Of InfideIs, Yesterday.
About three or four score Of discreet and discern
ing looking individuals, took their seats in Nation
al Hall, yesterday afternoon, and said nothing for
fully halt an hour. There were but two females
present, who, at length, got together, and passed
the heavy moments away Ia rather an animated
conversation, the subject Of which, il is to be re-
GREETED, was not audible. When the audience was
pretty well tagged out waiting, Mr. VAIL assembled
the rosrum and spoke tor some time in rather an
indistlnct manner, observing in The first place. that
the body to whom the title OF lntides was applied,
mad little to do with it themselves; its bestowal
was quite gratutous, just that of Yankee was ap-
pied to portion OF the American people and in
such cases, 1t frequently happened that names be.
slowed were taken away after they had become
respectable and dgned by the owners and so ought
to be III their case The term Inf lei its geaea SENSE
meant merely al unbelever 1t applied by the Ma
hometans those who not believe in their religion
by Christians in like SENSE and by several other bodies
Of men too IN that sense Of the term they most de-
cidedly lniies, but in the higher and philosophical
sense they were also naels holding those tone
or cIseds imposed upon by superstition discard.
ing those tables ncalcatea In the nursery and by the
schoolmaster Having arrived manhood they thought
for themselves, and III that sense certainly
deserving Oh me name OF Infies and like all other
imputaton OF religion but they had much OF chris
tiany an heIr system as to TRY all things fast that
which is good" There were far more such than was
thought, and he half those who acclaimed against all
but Christianity did not understand or respect either
their religion consisted Of attending church they
would their business the merchant It with the
same feelings as be went to the Exchange-to make as
much as he could out Of it. They reved and held
up to scorn and told frequently that they could not hold
together for other than the foolish doc
riRe they nculcated their principles had been misrep
resented BY men, who were silly enough to think that
cause they did not to church regularly profess to
believe what understood practised-they were
inhdes, unbelievers and all the 1t was said too
that they were nominay christians but admitted that
they SO, they going to be so any longer
they were just them going to take step obviae that
difficulty and give their reasons for becoming distinct
body hereafter They ABOUT to present comman
ing and resoue FROM and for doing they would be
nounced by those very who upbraded them now for
lived Once they organized the intelligent and the edu
Gated would oa them the business men would be with
them Tor It was wetknown fact that by far the greater
portion OF tue talent the learning the intelligence Of the
country, were unbelievers, and only waited the mo-
ment ere they joined it. Not OF those who went
church. not for the benefit Of the thing TOR the
look OF it, to crafty their families and conform to re-
spectacle custom-would stay away from them These
might be called the dead weight party just as such
party existed in politics did in religion they formed
the fanatics forming the soul of church This
dead weight party protested religion and cAurch
three times day. solely because respectable; but
whenever the iniels became organized notorious fash
ionsbe and respectable they would be Joined by whole
hosts Of such christians He recollected Sunday
meeting acquaintance who was reputed us q very
tsnceIe Methodist; they had chat and long walk
together and as was he time OF church service he OBJ
served to his friend that he thought &c he neg
lected church and preferred walk the other replied that
he did not feel anxious about going, he thought he
could gain much in conversation az by sitting in
church, that ut hest he only for the SAKE OF
example, and not ior any good there in it, Then
again. they very certain to have large class that
might justly be styled fools-whou, which they could
do very we'll IT was true and this topic he might re-
mark that it was singular how many there
and other large cities who were guided in their actions by
curiosity-who 60 with the crowd no matter whether Il
be to church. the theatre any otner place The pre-
an amount Of far in Of the existing in
particularly those Of religion In Europe the
institutions were before the peoples here the people
in advance OF their Institutions for although the impor
lance Of educa alton spoken Of and recogniz ed
fact that their learned establishments colleges aud AGA
denies the masquerade obstac to the spread
Of science; were checks upon philosophy, and Toes to
truth that might be said that the bulk OF the eople
superior the learned Doctors professed erd
tcn In these colleges, because they sought truth from the
strength OF theii minds, and the force of common
sense and they the authors any valuable disco
OF science although the Gera took good care TO a
propate to themselves by subsequent but better pub
lished claims. Such in the case Of Dayspnort
poor working blacksmith who discovered the Gsivanic
Magnet long before the learned dreamt of H. The
religion OF the day from which 1t was an alleged crime
to oissent first assumed revelation and then made all
their doctrines in accordance with that and whatever
difference exists other matters all sects agree in sun
pressing enquiry on this subject but what the fact
At the present moment nearly all educated people
upon religion as humbug the greater part OF practical
business know better than to be guled by but STILL
for the sake OF they LEI their families 60 on
and jog along others through the world He
would repeatA 1.-THE mass OF the intelligent aud
the wealthy Of this country infaels. sHch
being the state OF tho world now, few Of them had
been asking each other why they should not have Cen
yention He believed it quite practicable and quite
desirable. At first they might not have many present
but they would 90 on, and ncreaseiand multiply until in
few years, they would comprise a very numerous and
influential body. They had but to make beginning
Some time ago Finance Committee had be en- formed
and that Committee ho had called that present
meeting for the purpose OF showing might be done
They did propose TO organize under any particular
form or name-whatever their wisdom night open upon
library would be as good any at oil events orma-
ton OF societies woui be found efficient in the support Of
truth as well as error.
MEMBsR--Woud it not DO well to stop here and ap.
point chairman, snd organize the meeting.
Mr.. VAIL-N IL not necessary | am going merely to
explain as of the committee vino called The meeting
MEMBER-l am aware sir you are chairman Of that
committee but not OF that meeting and suppose every
meeting has the power Of selecting its officers in
regular way.
MIR. vAiL- am rather sorry the gentleman interrupts
me In this way had he thought proper apply me in
private would have given him any information could.
There are good reasons for dong doing this
our first mceting-who knows how many are opposed
20 uswho knows but there may be clergy present
We want to organize pr,dentJy and and see
that none included but those sincere in wish
log well to the When the business trans acted
they could then organise and appoint any officers they
ed, he would say nothing against it. (Cheers)
MsMsEa- would not wish TO interrupt the meeting
put N"uiu hhc 10 nave ~ quarry otEdHlZtt
Mr. v.n-sir, this interruption may be well intended
on your part, bat -
MfMsEa Then | perceive you DO not wish to hear
what have got 10 will not listen to my reasons
MIR. Vau-H the gentleman promises 10 he bief will
give way for his explanation.
MrmpsnI will take my own time, sir en- not to be
dictated TO by any person.
SsMr. VuL Neither Will |, sir addressing the
meeting, and will no. give place to you You may,
therefore, sit down; or il not, go out, air
MsmBsR-Very well, sir will 20 out.
Me- vA,-keep your seats, gentlemen this ndividua
will not disturb us longer
Mkmpss (wslking out) You nigh, hear more ofths
yet.
advantage Of organizing into separate body one oil
which weud be their fuller enjoyment OF the absolute
lgous liberty which established by the constitution
ofths country but which often dsregarded ia The
case OF men who objected Jurors grounds
vi skeptcism besides this the building Of hall and the
formation OF library would follow their organization.
Alr Lun'rcH followed, and suggested caution in the