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

Bigoted, Puritanical, Hypocritical World"
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In the columns of a morning contemporary
we discovered the following adverLisement:-
bB@ INFIDEL CONVENTION ON SUNDAY
Bltn Instant, IN MItchelPs Hall No 30 Fourth
street, above Vine at o'c ock z. NJ Delegate, and
others will punctuallv attend, among whom are
many of influence and talent In the evening
addresses Will be Delivered the advantages of
Free Inquiry, etc, by Horace Seavor etc. OF Boston
ana othels OF consequence, to which the pubic are
INV ed
Regarding it our duty as public journalists to
furnish an exact record of events as they occur
no matter what may be their tendency; and,
moreover, considering the arguments generally
brought by inhdels to the support of their views
as the most effective that can be used against
them, our reporter was instructed to repair 10
the scene and ascertain what tn sc persons "of
influence and TALENT" and such 'others of con-
sequence" as might be present might have To
say for themselves and their belief.
TN arriving at the designated number we
found that the Convention was 10 be held in n
trangular-shaped upper room, which, during
the week, is used tor dancing purposes II was
capable Of holding about three hundred persons
but seats we're arranged for only one third of
that number, showing that the inhdeIs them
selves fully realized the fact that they are few in
numbers and far between.
At 2 o'clock, the hour fixed for the opening of
the convention, nineteen persons in all were
present. Eighteen OF these we're men; the nine
teenth was boy Fourteen sat with their hats
on; the remaining five with their hats Off
While awaiting the arrival of those who had
disregarded the promise in the advertisement
that delegates and others would Dunctually
attend"
DesultOrY Conversation
appeared to be the only thing IN order, and this
was kept up in a very earnest manner
The question under consideration by most of
the takers was the character and nature of a
Christian. But, although our reporter was as
attentive as could be, he failed to overhear any
satisfactory solution of the problem The dne
arts also came in for share of attention, and
the tastes therein of several individuals present
were freely ventilated. As an incentive to this
line OF thought, one person kindly dI ew from a
pocket in his coat-tail roll Of cheau engrayings
which he distributed about him tor examination
The record OF Miss Anna q. Dickinson was
also gone into, and the fact arrived at that she
was "a Lincoln woman whatever that may be.
Two persons-evldently ''of consequence "
else they would not have been IN possession of
so much reacy money-retired to q corner of
the nall to arrange some financial matters, and
with such great success that considerable sum
changed hands during the operation. As 10
those who had no appetite for discussion, or no
pocket Tor hnancier1ng, one occupied himself
with newspaper, and half dozen puddled the
moor with tobacco juice, while another sought
oblivion in hearty attempt at whistling.
In this way the time passed, until quarter of
three, when about seventy-hve persons were
present, among them five ladies of unpreten-
tious appearance.
The Convention Organizes,1
Mr.. Beckett arose and moved that the Conyen-
non organize by selecting as Chairman Mr.
Walln, of Philadelphia, which motion pre-
vailed, as matter OF course. Tue Chairman on
taking his seat at q school desk on one side of
the room, proved TO be little, old gentleman
with grey bair, huge moustache andAa yerv
slippery tongue. He sugges ted the propriety Of
appointing the other customary otficers where
upon Mr.. Beckett was selected for Secretary, and
Mr.. Mendon. of the Boston Investigator, for
Treasurer. ava
The Chairman then suggested that it would
on, Resolutions and Address. The proposition
did not meet with especial favor at first but
nnally prevailed, and the following gentlemen
were constituted the Committee: p Messrs.
Horace Seavor, Lilly, and Richardson,
The Convention Hard to Find.
The Chairman here stated that he understood
several gentlemen TO have experienced sowe
ulhculty In finding the hall in which thev were
as embed. He suggested that some person
noHn.eer 10 stand at the entrance, and inform
passers-Dy that the In6del Convention was
within. A person volunteered to do this dntu
and lett the hall for the purpose. But HEINZ,
aeSlrons OF witnessing the proceedings, he wrote
one sn9 9 81 paper, hPe measuring three inchesgby
and then returned "-'N WV pihS'
Atlbis point there was a lull in the proceed
mgs, Which was finally interrupted nv a gentia-
man rising to discuss the subject of
Qualifications for ParticIpatin0 In IN.
Convention.
lie stated that at the last convention of tbis
character held in the city, the first thing done
was 10 ascertain the belief of those who were
present, SO as to prevent any one who was not
an lnhael from voting on any question brought
before them. He did not apprehend any troubIe
at present. but some years back there 6ad been
eohVehuons held here which were interrupted
Dy OUTSIDERS: On one occasion Presbyterian
PIleSt priest had insisted on speaking, until he was
finally shut up!
The Vice-Presidents.
gentleman here arose and inquired if the
convention had yet organized.
Inc Chairman informed HIM that it h ad
Ihen," said he, n don't see how II can be. as
we nave not elected any Presidents.
uont think the Convention is organized until
we nave at least one or more Vice.Presidcnts.n
The uneasiness of the gentleman's mind was
renewed on this point by the selection of Messrs.
Seavor, Custer, and Miller.
- MIR. Miller stated that ii would be impossible
for him to attend during the week from which
we would infer that the Convention is To re-
main in session several days.
AT this point there was another lull after
which the Convention listened to the
Report of the Secretary.
He stated that things stood pretty much 40
'hey did year ago, since when he had passed