The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-11-13
Correspondence.
For Ire Herald Of Freedom.
Reply to Mr.. Houston.


TWIN MOUND, K. T., Oct. %, 1853.
ED. HERALD OF FREEpoM-DEAR SIR
In your issue of the 9th inst, OBJ
served letter from s. D. Houston, in
which he attempts a review of what he,
supposes to have been some
Of the views presented at a meeting of
the Friends of Progress, held at this place,
on the 9Th of Sept. last. Mr.. H. positive
ly refuses to enter into any discussion on
this subject, shut STILL" he says, ~ feel
curious to know why Humanity does not
need law p" and he so marks the quo
tation as to lead to the inference that such |
had been the affirmation of either the
speakers at that meeting or the resolutions
they discussed.
As no one who took part in tho discus
sion has seen fit to respond to his inquiry,
l, perhaps, as Secretary Of that meeting,
am not assuming too much, in attempting
to do so /; and would give him the argu-
ments adduced by the speakers them
selves, had the idea, even, been presented
by any one of them; but, on the contra
ry, they, without exception, maintained
that all matter is subject to law and the
only ground of controversy was in refer
ence to the source of that law. The sci
entifc individual (unless believer in the
teachings of the Bible,) knows such to be
the case-knows that Nature, everywhere
and at all times, governs by law that her
laws know no repeal; that there is no
Communication of her sentence no pardon
granted by any of her courts but that,
ever and forever, the same results are
produced by the same causes; regarding
it as self-evident truth that these laws
are absolute and eternal; that they rule
not only matter but mind-not only hu-
mainly but God, leaving Orthodoxy alone
in the glory of belief in Miracles"
SPECIAL Providences" and Forgiveness
of Sins )" alone in the glory of belief
that all things are governed by Being
who to-day rules heaven and earth &C
cording to his pleasure, and tomorrow
rspents that he has done SO.
Let us look at this question moment.
Friend Houston believes that Being of
"Infnite WISDOM" of Almighty power"
Is the "Creator" of the Universe that
this Being framed all the laws to which
matter and mind are subject; that matter
instinctiyely and of necessity obeys these
laws but, to bring mind into subsection,
revelation of light" is needed, else
how are these laws to be obeyed? Let
me ask, how is it that matter thus readily
obeys? and another question, What and
where is this revelation Of light ?' Does
he answer, ".he Bible Pr Unfortunately
the light of that revelation is SO obscured
by the midnight darkness of the ages in
which it was written, that multitudes Of
US are unable to distinguish in Its beams
any peculiar brilliancy above that of the
dictates of reason, or the teachings Of
common sense. Moreover, if friend Hous.
toms reason teaches him that " Humanity
needs revelation, of light on things pres
emit and things to come" my reason teach
es me that, in relation to things present
that revelation should be, at least, truth
full; if in reference to things to come, i
would be regarded as infallible; but tn,
truth is, the Bible is record of the ig
norance of the men who wrote it, and, a
might have been expected, it is false il
its theories and false in its professed facts
The revelations in science-the science o
matter and the science of mind-demon
strate the truth Of this assertion. 1t
History, its Geography, its Geology, it
: Astronomy, are alike the productions Q
men undevsloped and ignorant of tn
irst principles of the subjects on whicl
they wrote, and like display of ignol
ance and absurdity in work Of the pres
ent time, would condemn it and its authc
to endless oblivion.
But the question discussed ct that meet
8 ing was not whether God had given I
q matter law without, or to mind Law wit
revelation; but whether the matter an
mind Of the universe are selfeziaent, an
their laws inherent and, of necessity, d
pendent upon that existence Or vheth'
!, the creations oil, or emanations from SON
. fragment of that universe. If all law ha
been framed by one Great Law Giser,4
accordance with his pleasure, that Beir
|, would, Of course, have power 70 chang
: suspend or amend those lsvs ct will (ar
this our Orfhodox friends reufesent q