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

IS UDON as Ouu OS TettJtOn
migrate Christians.
Mr. Thom-We have come here, many of us
at considerable expense, to organize an lnddel
meeting. / understand the motion to be simply
to extend our courtesy to all present who favor
such an intidel organization, and that 1t ls not
for the purpose of pleasing migrate Christians,
who may come here for the purpose Of com
mentng on our views. (Cheers.)
Mr.. Seavor sustained this proposition by
saying that no one present had any desire to
please Christians. He thought an inhdel had
no business in a Chri stan convention, and by
the same rule no Christian had any business in
an infidel gathering.
Mr. Menden did not believe there was a single
Christian present, but at the time he spoke his
back was turned to wards our reporter
At this point the debate was closed by the
previous question being demanded. Several
persons still made an attempt to speak, when
some one SAID he hoped that nfdels would not
set the churches bad example. The motion to
invite all who sympathized with the objects of
the Convention to participate in its delibera-
tions was then passed, with but one dissenting
vote.
UtIIitarIan.
Ten minutes were then allowed the repre-
sentatives of different organizations present to
report their progress, with the provision that
no one was to speak mo .e than twice.
Under this ruling, gentleman gave a history
OF society in Philadelphia which met every
Sunday to discuss all questions which pertalned
to the welfare OF the human race. This
society was termed Utilharian," and
found great strength in this very title, as many
would attend its meetings who would not go
near regular inhdel meeting. For his part, he
considered opposition to Christianity as alto
gether too narrow platform. He thought that
Christianity 11dS only one of the crying euTts
ocbach C6t1Cted humanity He wanted the name
OF the "Inndel Association of America" changed
to "Utilitarian."
John O-w-e-n.
About this time an elderly gentleman, closely
mUt1ed in a snutf-coloTed overcoat, watched
his opportunity, and gaining the floor, desired
to know of the Char il he could be permitted
10 say few words.
The Chairman evidently had suspicion that
there was something wrong and asked the gen
tlemans name.
"Owen," was the response.
The Chair-What is it?
Mr.. Owen-0Sen; John O-w w-e-n-John Owen.
There being no objection, Mr.. Owen pro-
ceeded as follows
My Honorable Friends, and my Honorable Mr..
Chairman:-l heard this gentleman, Dut could
not understand what he said No doubt great
many understood him, but did not. | am an
intdel l am an intidel myself Why am l an
in6del? will tell you here why am an in
tidel. will answer the question myself lnfdel
signifies nfdelity. but TO a church, and not to
your dear wife. Now is your wife church. or
is church your wife? No doubt gentlemen
have been entertained by this familiar CONVEX
sation, whether they are gentlemen or not; but
| appeal to you as a man. Inddel springs from
infdelity.
The idea that Mr.. Ovens speech was a little
mixed had become quite general by this time,
and his last brilliant statement brought out seve
raj cries of 'order."
Mr.. O-w-en-Exc me, gentlemen, but you've
got to hear me
The Chair-We are now listening to reports
from persons here belonging to different organl-
cations throughout the country.
Mr.. O-w-e-n--In other words, then am an
infdel.
The Chair-Yes, yes; we all know that.
Mr.. O-w-e-n-l don't wish to expose this Con-
vention to the community.
The Chair-The Convention does not wish to
be exposed. You can sit down.
Mr.. Owen did not sit down, but renamed
standing for some minutes, gazing with, mouth
wide open, at the gentleman who took the floor
He was finally satisfied, and thereupon assumed
a sleeping posture.
A gentleman then proceeded to discuss the
subject of effective organization, pointing out
the different steps in the order in which they
should be taken. He gave an account OF the
"Utilitarian Society" of Philadelphia, and its
character, holding it up as a model. In this
way an influence could be welded that would
shake Christianity to its centre.
By this time Mr.. Owen had recovered and
he again suddenly made himself heard as tol-
lows:-Infdelity inndelity you must keep in
Speak louder to the audience, we can't under
stand you.
An Itinerant InhdeI Wanted.
The speaker then continued, stating that he
had left home and come to the Convention on
purpose to ascertain If it were not possible to
devise some plan for sending forth an itinerant
preacher OF inddelity.
If such man would come within fifty miles
of the speakers home, he would hire hall for
him and nav his expenses and then see him one
hundred miles on his journey away. He also in
formed the Convention that before the loss OF
his eyesight he had read and studied great
deal; but his course of study seemed to have
been restricted to a work called the "DeVils
Book" which appeared to be mixture of
Latin, Greek and Hebrew, for all he knew,
and which had been borrowed by one doctor,
one lawyer, one member of the Legislature,
and TWO or three other persons. He thought
that if The itinerant would only turn up and
devote little time to the study of this book, he
ttanity.
John O-w-e-M Desires to Hear SOme-
thing About Infidelity.
Mr.. Owen here interrupted the speaker, to
say:-I want TO hear something about inf
deity. Keep to the question. / tCres of
''Sit down ~ sit down!") We want the gentle
man to speak on ln6delity. (Cries of "Order ~
''oTder ny
Mr.. Owen sat down at last, and listened
attentively for awhile to the next speaker, who
addressed the Convention In a low, sing.song
tone. 1t was evident that, like most of the rest
Mr.. Owen could not get the speakers drift,
and so great was his disgust thereat that he
shrugged up his shoulders and left the hall.
After the departure Of Mr.. Owen, the pro
ceedings became so intoerably dull, that oul
reporter, at quarter to o'clock, gathered VI
his notes and beat retreat. The example thus
set was followed by many others.
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