The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-08-11
THOSE INFTpFrL TRACTS. I

To the Editor Of the Caro Bnlietn, 9T
As there has been several communica-
lions concerning infldel tracts going the
rounds of the city papers, we wish to offer
a word N reply to our friend, Fairvicw,
whose scriptures appeared in the Cairo
Paper, ofJuly 81. " t
Wsdo hot wish to enter into any con.
troversy on this matter, as wehave neyet
seem the pamphlets, but we think Fair.
views psper open to criticism, and there.
fore proceed to criticise.
According to Fairvicw It is q misnomet
to call tracts inadel that consist wholly Of
extracts from that divine book, the Hol
Bible. Now, will our friend Fairvicw be
s,,kind % " express how book can be
divine booka molly book, and be given
wholly By Inspirations from the pure sane
ton of high heaven nd contain language
'that no respectable minister would dare
read to his congregation; language unfit
for tho family altar how such al
book can contain vulgarities, obscenities,
&cY Byso doing he will lay us under ever
lasting obligations to him. For to US his
language Is absurd or his ideas Of tho di.
vino and holy are very different from
ours. sr
But, hosays, that no one pretends that
the vulgar and obscene portions Of
the bible are inspired. Then why
keep those uninspired portions in It,
or " the vulgar and obscene portions
are in thsir proper place in the bible, why
not and TIE writings of Aristotle or in
crease the lascivious songs of Solomon by
some selections from Byron and Burns2
And, y medley Of obscurity and beauty,
Of vuleafity and absurdity, is evidence Of
divine inspirAtion, we confess chat the
bibls 4 roplete with evidences of being the
most divinely INSPIRED book in the,wofld;
and, b. yhis fnle, we:could allow Shakes
peare, Fopc and Byron small modicum
of divine inspiration. Fairview says that
those men who. circulate 1.-The said tracts
desire to bring the bible into disrepute.
Now We do not like to judge of mems in
tentions, and when we do SO we like 10
Judge with charity,land $50 we offer this
opinion: That their object was but to
bring those obscenitiss and vulgarities.
etc, into disrepute, and our friendr Fair
view has quite effectually aided them in
this matter. And va now wish to ask,
our friend, F., OF any other man, what
that portion of the bible That is not ft'for
the pulpitnor for tho family circle and al
tar is fit for? =
Is it not as meet that the minister should
expound in the pulpit and the father read
TO his wife and daughters, as the wife and
daughters should read it in their lone bed
chambers just before going to prayer :?
We further desire to ask Mr.. Fairview,,or
any other man, what and where is the au-
thority to decide those portions as unin-
spired, while receiving the rest as inspired
He says it is merely record of bad pas
sions, the superstitions and ignorance of Il
grovclling and debased people, and this is
SAoSN'y IhO iNCu "a ~, bhoIO~
FORE as such, is Of no greater authority
than amy other history. Far be it from
any infdel to ascrbe the vulgarities and
obscenitcs Of Jewish history to the great
God of the universe. The infdel idea OF
God is too exalted, too pure, too noble,
and grand for that and the object of circu-
lating these tracts is for the purpose of dis
sipating the God debasing ideas of the BIZ
bic. ~ A." 81
There are portions of the bible that "are
a. pure as the descending snow" we glad
ly admit, and we also admire these as tru-
ly and as fcrvently US our friend, F., or any
enc else. We find equal beauties and pu-
rites in the writings of Courteous and iu
many Of the old Hindo religious books and
in many Of tho writings Of tho Grecian
Sages; and, likewise, We admire and love
them. In fact, it has been alifelong mot
to with us to love and adore truth and
beauty wherever found, whether en-
christian or heathen ground. And forthis
reason we think it best TO have the
"uiarred carnations of men who know
nothing and had not cyen a foreshadow!
ing (givcn them, either by divine or any
other inspiration,) of our advanced
civilization expdSssd from tho bible.
The golden rule, though mot Original with
the christians, is indeed bSsutI&i, ma VIC.
admire their taste 10 adopting Il though
its origin is found in the Oldest Asis{ic'
religions. so a II. ~
Infdels do not think Il msss ahat
obseenity and purity should associAts.
We confess our inability to has The pobs
OF F,s reference to discardlRg wife, etc,
because public sentiment wouh not allow
of their public nude exhibitioa. Again,
We say VIC think the circulation of the
said tracts was actuated by desire to ele
yath fraternize and purify pub
lie sentiment by showing the
absurdity of 1000 Years old ideas. Fair.
view says portions of the bibleare shock
ing'y obscene and nasty and uses his
judgment to detect these portions, and to
decide upon the merits OF the whole. New
we are not willing to think that "Fair.
| view has monopolized reason iana ;,dr