The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-01

Oeen made, and that was about all. The war
had sadly 1nterered with the operations of the
committees, by scattering their membership.
But he considered the present state of the pub
Mc mind highly favorable to the creation of a
liberal sentiment All that is necessary is the
capitalization of this sentiment. We want a
good business man and lecturer to travel the
country and organize He had been in cores
pondence with an Englishman and German,
with the view of engaging their services. But
The German finally concluded that he could not
speak English plainly enough, and the English
man had accidentally become IA spirtualist
1nfdels Should be Friendly Co Each
Other.
Mr.. Menden then stated his belief that every
one present should make it his duty to intro
duce himself to all the others. To Convention
held IN New York few years ago, a friend had
come all the way from Ohio; but returned dis
gusted with the Convention and with inddels in
general because he knew nobody and nobody
knew him.
Organization the Great Desidcratum of
Infidelity.
Mr. Menden then adverted to the vast import.
ance OF an organization, believing that the scat
tered forces of inddels throughout the United
States could by this means regenerate this
prest-ridden, bigoted puritdnical, hypocritical
world, and set all mankind at liberty. A few
men in Massachusetts, knowing no such word
as defeat went to work at abolition in 1880, and
now slavery is abolished II every inddel
throughout the country would give even fifty
cents year, it would enable them to bear the
expenses of pubic lecturer. He then read
these, from Terre Haute, Indiana stated that
that place was pretty well blessed with inf
deity, only one IN htteeu trading at the gospel
shop.
A New Plymouth Rock Discovered.
Mr.. Warner, of Boston, a sharp.featured,
black haired gentlemen, who was gifted with a
very spreading style of oratory, said he thought
the unpopular1ty of their belief should not dis
courage them. Superstition and false theology
have cramped the minds of the people, and
delivered them over to the priesthood. But
we should 60 forward with the hope of final
success. So long as he had before him the sup
port OF that new Plymouth Rock, Horace Seavor,
he could labor in earnest, and would accomplish
mis- end or die. (Cheers.J
The Righteousness of Infidellty.
Mr.. Seavor, the object of this fattery re-
sponded regretting, for the sake Of ne audience,
that he was severely afflicted with q cold. He
would be delighted il he had such lungs as
Brother Warner, and the cause would prosper
if there were IN its ranks five hundred such
earnest and effective laborers. They would not
then be open to the reproach of being disciples
OF mastery inactivity. They had, however, the
satisfaction of knowing that their cause is right
and just. distinguished warrior once said
that where there we're the fewer advocates OF u
cause, each ones share OF honor was all the
greater, and disappointed politician had de-
Clared that it is better to be right than TO be
popular. He thought their cause was founded
in reason and justice, and was amply satisfied
with coming so far from home to find himself in
the presence of an audience OF intelligent, inde-
pendent, and liDeral-minded persons in favor of
the cause OF reason, liberty, and humanity.
(Cheers.)
Qualifications of Members Again Dis
cussed.
The Chairman again called the attention of
the Convention to the necessity of permitting
none out nhdels to take part in its delibera-
lions.
The Secretary thereupon moved that all persons
present who harmonlzed with the Convention
and the object they had in view, be permitted
TO participate in Its proceedings. This motion
was followed by lengthy discussion, in which
several gentlemen participated.
MIR. Thorn was particularly in favor OF per-
mittlng nybody and everybody to take part,
hoping, as ne did, that some Christian would
present himself and his arguments, to give them
a chance to combat them. Ii he could get
fair hearing in the churches, he could soon
upset Christianity. He entertained no fear OF in
fidelity being put down bS discussion. But the
priesthood was too wise, too cautious, too cum
ming to engage in this discussion. Having
found it thus difficult to engage Christians in
discussion at inidel meetings, he favored the
plan of joining lyceums and making fuss in
them generally. Many persons who did not
like to be seen at a regular inddel meeting,
would gladly go to such place ON purpose to
near mtdel doctrine.
The Secretary stated that he was an advocate
of the most unlimited freedom of Speech but as
this Convention was called for a particular pur
pose, he was opposed to permitting everybody
TO participate. Some men could talk about
nothing but politics, and if they once got started
defeated. Let us talk to the purpose. We want
a central organization, Let us have one and
Keep it. After that we can call convention
for free speech, and invite all the priests in
Christendom to attend.
The Sticking Point.
Mr. Menden then obtained the floor, and
stated that the representatives of several orga-
nizations in different parts of the country were
present and he would like to hear what progress
they had to report. He would also like to
inquire If these organizations could not Contri-
butte something towards the support OF public
lecturer. To do this seemed to be the sticking
point. man of talents is needed, but not such
a one as Joseph Barker, who got all the money
out of us he could, and then turned Christian
(Cheers)
Mir. Menden then proceeded to narrate
A Little Incident
that occurred in his office not long since, to the
following ehect:-Two gentlemen entered Mr..
Menden's Office. when this coloquy took place:-
Mr.. Menden-I think we ought TO have CEN
tral organization, to support a lecturer.
First Gentleman--Well said, but you can't do 1t.
MIR Menden-Why not? What is the reason?
First Jentleman-For the lack of organization.
Mr.. Menden-I will stake my head against a
football and that is not worth much (whether
N was the head or the football that was OF such
little value Mr.. Menden neglected to state), that
ii the truth could be arrived at, the Church gets
more thar half its support from men who are
jnfdels at heart, who desplse the Church organl-
zation, and know and feel the rottenness of re-
ligion. tApplause.)
Mr. Menden permitted the applause to lead
him from the track OF his story so far as to say
that he never attempted to disguise his sentl
ments and that he knew, as they all knew, that
relation aDas rOtteRneSS, and nothing else. Gap
plause.)
InfideIity Supports Religion.