The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-03
GOD IN POLITICS,
The Case OF the Quaker ThOFne,
Expelled from the North Caro-
lima LegiHlature tor Atheism.

| INtpEGhSHbAklNe9 lWluiEAHb lhtV tle Guu
stitutional right Of J, William Thorne
the member from Warren county, 10 {
seat on that floor. But few members oi
that body had any idea as to what charge,
would DO preferred against the member
and did not care enough about 1t to in
quire, The resolution was referred Il
the Committee on Privileges and Elec
tions, who considered the matter in pri
vate sessions, sent for persons and papers
obtained all the evidence they could get
and on Saturday last, through theil
chairman, Mr., MOring, submitted re
port OF their action without making any
recommendation. Mr., Moring asked fol
the reading Of the evidence, whereupOr
the clerk first read pamphlet writer
by ThOrne, In which no denounced thu
Evangelical religion as tending to evi
and the cause OF all the crime now exist
ing, God US q Shylock, and the Trinity
and Resurrection as mythical supersti
tions. E.t
Then followed the sworn evidence o
Thorne, In which hc stated that he bclieV
ed in a God. but not in charactcrlza
tion attributed to him by Christians
etc, Also the evidence Of Others that he
was q member Of good standing OF thu
Progressive Order Of FtiondS," etc,
Resolutions Of expulsion were offered
by several members, and the further con
sideratiOn postponed till yesterday.
Before the hour Of 70 o'clock yesterday
tho galleries and lObbies commenced t
fill up, and when the special order wa
called quite an audience had gathered Il
hear an ecclesiastical discussion.
At IL o'clock the Speaker announced
us the special order the consideration o.
the resolution offered by Hughes, colOred
and n substitute therefore by Mr., MOrinL
for the expulsion Of j. William ThOrne
of Warren, from seat on this iloor.
The substitute OF Mr.. M0ring was adopt
cd, after which tho Speaker announcet
that tho gentleman from Warren was en-
titled to the lloOr
Mr.. Thorne came forward tothe center
Of tho aisle (llaving weak voice. and
took the floor In Ills own defense. LII
said he felt q delicacy in taking u stant
on this floor to speak In his own behalf
but st. Paul had passed through the SAINT
ordeal, and he could stand 1t, Mr.
Thorne asserted that he never denied III
eristcncc Of God, and now had in his pos
session thirteen letters from prOniinCn
men in Pennsylvania who had know
him we'll for many years, certifying no
only that ho was n member Of the Pro
gressive Order Of Friends In that State
and n trustee Of its church property, bu
that they Ind never heard him deny th
existence Of God. Ile beliered in Coz
but not all the characterizations attriE
uicd 10 Him. -.
He then referred to the existing llllier
cnces Of Opinip peryading oil tho Evan
gelical churches Of the present day; tha
all differed Us to the construction oi til
Bible and its teachings. lie referred I
tho fact that not until 1913 was an.
Catholic permitted to hold OIlIce, bu
through tic wisdom and instrumCntalit
Of those great men, GastOn, MacoI
Bryan, Badger, and others the rcstriCtio
was wiped from the Constitution, and
was not the intention Of these great me
that any religious test for Office Shoul
l eyer appear on that sacred inStFlimer
0 again.
The Constitution IN II was, he contint
ed, did not reach even the charges again
G him, asserting that the IIindOO, Mort
0 American Indian, or Mohammedan, d
, Of whom believed in Supreme Beinl
, could hold office In this State. He reie
red to the free Constitution OF VirSlni
! frat framed by Thomas Jefferson, etc.
0 lie said tIlat II he had erred In u
@ pamphlet referred to, he would like to |
convinced, and was open for conviction
lie was In search Of truth and that WI
Il his only object. Hero he quoted irOi
y Milton on tho subject OF TRUTH .,
3 lie concluded by saying that th
. House attempts 10 find out every idea
: God, as conceived by all who differed
u religious faiths and creeds, II had a Stt
o pcndous Job before 1t. lie would hcl
Q rest his case, but reserved the right to. r.
I, ply when the argument was concluded,
" "Mr. Oaksnith then moved that IL
; House go into the Committee oil u
Y Whole to consider the resolutions. =
II Mr.. Patton objected, and the motto
n was voted down. O.,
Mr.. Ward, colored, read speech ~ d
fense Of Thorne, In which he claimed tn
d The House did not have the constitutions
n right to cxpel member OIL account
n his religious belief, etc. :,
Mr.. Green favored expulsion. lie sa'
4 Il was with exceeding regret that 10 til
& enlightened period Of the worlds hiStoI
the House OF Represent ntatives was cAllt
upon to eSpel n member for intldelity,
d more appropriately speaking, atheist
y Mr, Green proceeded 70 read from g
!. tracts from hiS published pamphlt
n showing thatit was clear that he was
- atheist, etc. and for one, though It W
u painful to his feelings, he would vote Il
V Immediate expulsiOn,
!. Mr.. Mendehhalt said he did not rise
II defend lhe man, but the principle u ca
F" ried out, was antagonistic to our ConSt
tuition. As this discussion had ASSUME
40 vide a scope, and tho House was no
Y, gittingas an ecclesiastical COURT le won
=, proceed 10 speak Of the church. In whit
~ Ee was born and raised, the Society
IL Friends, which embraced every word al
h. sentiment Of the Holy Bible, and y
Il differed as To certain charaqteti1ations
I The Scriptures with other reli igious erect
4. ife referred to Guston's Language,
81 which he stated, in effect that no MI
Al should be deprived Of holding an otiice
~ ostFacised on account Of his teliglO
, faith, lie hoped the House would pati
:, . and net slowly on this matter.
ID Mr, Patton hsaid II waa very clear tn
ID this man did not believe In The God q o
10 C5nsliiulion, or he would not have iss!it
y |! such an Infamous, blasphemous circula
II that he was Unfit 10 ningle or associn
+. With members on this iloor, and sliotl
u be summaFily expelled. ,
;. On motion Of Mr.. Glenn, the lnttli
" :. consideration was postponed Until ~
. o'clock,
10 Ntdltr SESSION.
ss The discussion was resumed at u
/. o'clock, when Mf. Thofne came t9rwa
!. and promulgated the following addition
! creed TTkere Is but one living and tn
y God; everlasting, without body, OF par
a or passions, Of unlimited power, wisdo
Z. and goodness; the maker OF all thing
d visible and invisible" .,,,
a Mesta, Gudger and Walker, arm,
% with tho odions pamphlet, made q! illrio