The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-03

sets House OF Representatives, VINO "maue stump
speeches to the Almighty on railroad bills and wo
man suffrage" The proposed religious amend
ment would disrranchise such men as Lincoln Gar
rson and Sumner. To make the constitution the
istc even would be to expatriate OF the best
men in the country. Equal rights was the Ameri-
/ can idea, and there was no right SO sacred as
/ thought on the highest themes. The logic OF the
proposition would invoye sectarian fight for the
ment had fostered free thought and it had
no right to declare It g crime by statute
snactme mt BY stamping Coo on the cons
more than before. The nation would be judged, not
present pointed to Sunday freed from all govern
mental restraint. The American people and the
the American ioSy there was held
for organic iesom In the administration Of the gov
ernments: What was wanted was not religious
amendment to the constitution, but religious
amendment to mems lives.
THE ESSAY DISCUSSED.
Among those who participated In the discussion
! OF Mr.. Chadwick's essay were Rev. Rowland Con-
nor and Mrs. Celia Burlegh. The latter, besides
advocating free religion, took occasion to ad-
vocate the claims Of her sex for civil well
as religious rights, and In her arguments she
obstacles to the reimbursement Of Women and her
remarks in this direction were warmly fppauded.
THE VENERABLE LUCRETIA MOTT
was the next speaker introduced. She was the
same in personal appearance and wearing apparel
as during the anniversaries OF the past quarter OF
century, and in vgor and eoquence she was az con-
spicuous and entertaining as ever. She said she
wanted to defend st. Paul against some things that
was not so much that of the bachelor Apostles as
nc was OF some OF those who interpreted his say
ngs. As to the matter OF free religion she felt that
was progressing and that the prayers OF the sons
aof God during the many long years OF the past had
abeen answered. She did not believe in humanity
teaching and asserting that the hearts Of humans
are naturally bad. They should cast or all these
4 mistakes of old theology and accept the new and
q In life of righteousness, and 20 upward and on
ward to the promised land. 1t Is time, she added
for our religion to be applied to the life 1t now
n 10 q
life. Like william Penn she thought religion, free
y dom and common sense ought oil to go together.
3 paid an eloquent compliment to what she termed
q New England culture and her excellent common
such educational Institutions would prevail in her
= resident State OF Pennsylvania.
N DASH AT THE BACHELORS.
d The elderly A. Bronson Alcott, regular enclyco-
5pedia OF ancient history, undertook to give some
81 of mis- ideas OF the distinction between the
and the injustice Of the civil laws applied
" He a friend to the civil as well as the re-
"a ligious rights OF the Women, and to secure the
E ton similar to the laws OF ancient Greece by which
- all men who neglected to enter the connubial state
Esa and multiply Gods Image should be deprived oil
Ia taking any part in the control OF public affairs. He
ff shought that the community of the later ages
81 should not ignore the thoughts and ideas of the
~ more free expression of thought III the churches
u the present day. As for himself,
I'll He NEVER WENT TO CHURCH,
81 for the reason that he was not allowed to speak
rs He hoped and believed the time was coming when,
81 instead OF listening to sermon the people would
~ come together and discuss and converse in free
@ and easy manner upon religious matters. This
feeling, he said, was growing in the West, and 1t
e. the great movement. What we want to DO is to
get some religion into our heads, and then we will
" have 1t In our hearts. We must deal with ideas
Ea ilrst, for they rule the world.
VI RELIGION DEFINED.
IA Rev. Dr. Barto, or Boston, who was next called
Ia upon, said there had been great many attempts
81 to define religion, and he would attempt an original
81 definition OF his own. Religion he believed to be
~ rirhf nf q na
faculties and affections OF the human mind. Abra-
n ham Lincoln, with his jokes; soldier the battle
81 were truly conscientious In what they were. Free
III religion, he said had been beacon light to him
n Calvanisn which was nstilled into his mind III his
ka early days. Then, IN his youth, he used to 60
d around praying to God to forgive him, miserable
sinner, when, IN fact, he had never committed any
~ SIN. such instruction, he said, he did not think
g benefited hun, but, on the other hand was posi-
n tive injury to his spiritual welfare What We want
81 is truth and freedom, and have religion teaclied
81 positively and not negatively Let every speak
"a out freely and the mutual benefits will be tremen-
va dous. We must have no issues of any Sort and we
~ must not be arrogant and bgOted, but allow the
r. utmost freedom TO everybody.
" THE FREE RELIGION CAUSE IN RHODE ISLAND.
me Secretary OF the Convention here read q let
Ter from Rey. Howard NJ. Malcolm, OF Newport, H.
" l., In which he fully sympathzed with the cause
h but was unable to be present to participate In this
II meeting. similar letter was also read from Rev.
T William T. Shefield, OF Rhode Island. The Secre-
IA tary explained that Rev. Mr.. Malcolm took active
part In the Convention OF three years ago. and that
Il by the Baptist Society In Newport, OF which he
4 was pastor. He had learned since however, that
a HIM so far that his church had abandoned its
81 ancient creed and adopted the broad and LIBERAL
N Platform OF free religion.
q ENCOURAGING REPORTS FROM WESTERN NEW YORK
81 AND PENNSYLVANIA.
me secretary also reported that the association
n known as the German Independent Congregations
of the United States arrayed on the side Of
a free religion, and the Radical Club OF Syracuse N.
NJ T., had not only been progressive and Industrious
y in the cause, but was well represented at this
a meeting Other and equally encouraging reports,
81 he said, mad been received from other sections OF
n the country during the year.
81 IS RELIGION PERMANENT OR PERIsHAsLEg
81 At this point @. ID. b. Mills, Of Syracuse N Y
J; read an essay on the question. Does religion
y represent permanent sentiment OF the human
q mind or is it perishable institution ~ He took
81 the afirmatve-that religion Is permanent--and
u was replied to BY Horace Seaver, editor OF the Bos.
"a ton Investigator, who maintained that religion is
tent to let the future take ITSELF He believed
4 In the world thinking for itself without any perse
"a were abolished the world would be better and
"a there would be more OF humanity and more Chris
g tans and we might have something approaching
~ heaven right here on earth. He supported free re-
n igion because 1t allowed perfect liberty OF thought
U aud expression and such convention as he ad-
& dressed he regarded OF the cheering signs OF
"a the day that every man and woman would enjoy
q the right OF thinking for themselves. Mr.. seayer
"a was followed briefly by Giles E. Stebblns of he.
IA troit. He said he was SpirituaIist and fully en-.
Y; dorsed the free religious movement.
al THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY
n was the subject Of lengthy essay by Mr. Frothlng-
N ham during the evening session 1t was in some
prospects painfully abstruse for ordinary intelects
k5put was. nevertheless, an able and eloquent de-
N fence for the freedom and liberty In religious mat
~ tiers which the association advocates. After the
"a essay Lucretia Mott again addressed the meeting
e. and she was followed IN turn by Mr. Lott, OF Phila-
N delpAia, representative OF the German Inde-
Is pendent congregations Of this country. He ex-
pa pressed in behalf of his organization, full sym
~ pathy with this free religious movement and eX-
"a pressed the belief that similar sentiment was OBJ
~ tanning ground In Germany
M ANESDMENT or THE ASSOCIATIONS CONSTITUTION
"a Previous to the public meeting there was formal
gathering OF the association for business purposes
E3 In which the constitution amended in such a
a manner as 70 remove any barrier that possibly
~ might be imagnatively made by those who desired
the associationto be in the interest of free thought
~ aud not by inference exclude an honest-thinking
AZ atheist. Before the adopting OF tho amendment