The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-03
Anniversary Of the Free Religious
Association at Boston.
Voltairean Vagaries and Reli-
gious Ramblings.
Collection Of the Clans Of Greed
Of Creedlessnsss.
Addresses by o. B. rockingham, A. Bronson
Alcott, G. A. Bartol, Lucretia Mott,
Horace Seaver and Others.
BOSTON, May 81, 1872.

most important features OF anniversary week In n
is the al meeting OF the American Free "
Religious Association II is organization which "A
was born here five years ago, and Its successive IA
meetings ever since have increased not only In Ea
general interest but have been regarded with ~
degree Importance in the religious world which n
the projectors hoped for but dared not anticipate n
The first meeting conspicuous for the number IS
OF radical reformers who always appear upon the N
surface OF most new movements of religious, E}
moral social nature These hangers-on, however,
are In the minority, and the association as 1t now
exists comprises and reflects the sentiments of
some OF the leading religious minds OF the country. Is
The stated s.
OBJECT or THE ASSOCIATION.
IA to advocate Free rational ana practical religonk
0 religion free from dogmatism ecclesiastcism, y
ignorance, superstition and foly rational in &C
cepting every result of science and sound learning
without seeking to harmonic 1t with Church, Bible
creed; practical In aiming at the highest welfare
and perfection Of mankind In this life, without #
seeking to rescue them from an imaginary hell
hereafter. In BRIEF the association aims to scatter
broadcast the seed-thoughts Of the wsest, rpest,
and yet boldest radcalsm OF the age, and thereby
educate the people in the principles Of higher and
truer civilization.
THE CONVENTION
was, of course held beneath the roof OF the re-
morning session was not large but in the afternoon
1t was percepubly increased, but, account OF
stormy weather, hardly mp to the numbers usually
present. All the early friends OF the movement
were on hand, excepting, perhaps, Colonel
Thomas W. Higglnson, OF Rhode Island, anu
Frank b. Sanborn, OF Springfield. Among
those conspicuous the platform were
the irrepressibe Lucreta Mott, Mrs. Celia Bureigh
Mrs. J. 7. Sargent, Rev. Samuel Johnson, Bronson
Il nj lass
renown. The general audience was one Of the most
Intelligent body ofman and women assembled at
any OF the anniversaries OF the week, and their In
terest in the various essays and addresses was very
marked
ADDRESS BY DR.. TRoTHINGHAM, OF NEW YORK
Rev. o. B. rockingham, of New York. presided,
and in calling the body to order INDUCED in brief
speech. The Roman Catholics, he said have a Y
saying, "Bessed is the that the rain falls on.
trust that the rain is falling this morning, not on
cause, but on living seed. Qaughter.) will say
few words to you descriptive OF the position which
Che association holds at the present time; for 1t has
necessarily changed somewhat with the order OF
things, with the currents OF sentiment in the
community ana with the progress that has
been made In society by thought In religious
opinions We went very much a. the Israe-
iites went out from Egypt, not knowing whittier they
went, but having call to go. The flesh pots were
very full very rich and very savory, but they were
not for US any more. So we went out into what we
supposed to be a wilderness, but what has proved
to be garden; hut having no extensive commits
sary. fine allies glorious affiliations, taking
the morrow as we found IL In the wilderness and Z
our chance for mamma and quails, which did not
quite so freely according to the fable they
came to the lsraelites. We went out with faith.
That was all. No baggage wagons, no fine horses
no caparisoned steeds finished armor, no y
swords: but with faith with an idea, and ready
to go whithersoever 1t might lead. We had each OF
us his own thoughts about things, about God and
man, the past and the future, the immor
taty OF the soul; but, deeper than all this
this all aside for the present, do each one his
thinking In his way, but all 20 move forward Z
in the broad way towards the promised land Our
faith was IN an idea and it ths-thst the human
mind was responsible simply to itself to no insttu-
ton to no tradition to no Church to no organize
ITSELF for its own faith; that its religion was to be
its own religion. spontaneously developed asst went
purpose differently but we all held together as we \
entered the wilderness; We found there groups,
living ntsnts. each in his own way. we met these
people, and they said, ''why don't you join Us and
Ne down under our trees accept our neigh,
borshipS You win find this far enough to go" 7
Your oasis Is very pretty. your grass is very green
your water Is very pure, your dates are very sweet
you viii not critcise Us and win not crticlse
you" Then there were others who said-sometmes Z
n Ntte unkindly-"l gu are going on Oh II IoOtS b
errand. Thousands have gone on before ,you, and
they have starved and vou like them viii not find
the mama and You VIII not eat the qnais; GiveE
ideal fancy. Let 1t 60" We said, "Brethren, no.
We have calling, and our calling bids us go on:
and we are going on. 10 may be that we shall find
no mama. hut what of that No prophesied faith,
Sn, we can do without that II the promised land 4
WHO come after US cannot fail to ind find
i've years. When we began we built platform,
and a. symbol invited upon It members Of all
characters aud OF all sectsRoman Catholics, Pres
oyterians Episcopalians Congregatonalists. We
made no distinction whatever hut said, "Come Say
your say stand side by SIDE" Because we assumed
20 have no creed OF our own we ha1 no dogma; we
SiSned TO get symphony OF faith If we might
that was delivered to the sensen Then we tried
another experiment. We stated the doctrine OF the
religions were OF one stock, that they all came
from the same great source, the human sou Well
soe es assemblies Eren haye taken up the same strain
changed the whole basis OF discussion on this sub
Icct Of ancient RELIGIONS has made them turn TO-
ward the future; made them TO utter the same suo
stantial truths, and has substituted for
Hgnsons sympathy ~ of religions the
have nothing more to do with that ques,
ton. Then we undertook in few profound
70 go down to the foundations OF all religions Mr..
johnson, Mr.. WATSON, Mr.. Abbott, Mr. Hgpinson
ring. These questions for the future, rather
for the closet than for the work people; and
1--WE turn again 10 our Hrst position WIN something
more OF practice and OF purpose; We wage war
n Ow against dogmatsm, superstition, ecclesiasti- \
RI, W. ritnalsm-n fact, against every form OF dom
nat. On over the human mind. We do not attack
Chri, tanity unless be true that Christianity and
secta tanism, ritualism, ecclesiastcism, bigotry
and Ell, erstitiop stand OF fall together Then we
are foes TO Christianity. loud appause.)
LIBERTY AND THE CHURCH.
Row Ioh w. Chadwick was then introduced, Is
and read :, eper upon Liberty and the Church in
America here were three relations which could +
exist between inc onnrcn ana dne state Inere
ment and 'a chu -ch and State Independent. The
State religions gave premium TO fools
and evconhonis This was amply proven In n
the history ~ Tn gland. The suhordinatlon Off
religion 10 tho Sta, . was mainly hurtfu TO
yelieon ana fmo sn 'dnaton OF the State to reli-
zion was manly huptg, to the state. Everywhere
In England the old relo tons OF the Church and "a