The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-23
LETTER FROM BOSTON.
Dedication of the Tom Paine
Memorial Building.
An inhdel Jubilee.
e.ditor New Orleans Bulletin

the Boston Investigator. This elegant struc-
lure is no more nor less than a temple sacred
to the memory of Thomas Paine, or, as he is
commonly called, Tom Paine. II stands near
he Parker Memorial Hall, built last year to
keep III everlasting remembrance the name
and fame Of Theodore Parker. There was no
essential difference in the theology of Parker
7ad Paine. Both were simply deists, and
both are called, by al the orthodox world. in
iidels. These two magnificent buildings are
consecrated to free thought, free speech,
Tree religion; that IS to say, to the promul-
CATION Of inhdelity. It is said they are the
first and only temples ever erected in this
country for this purpose. AS our immortal
old Faneuil Hall is known through the civil
ized world as the "cradle Of political liberty !"
SO, 1t is claimed, these two halls will be known
through future ages as the cradles of religious
liberty.
Paine Hall was built by contributions of his
admirers from ali parts of the country, but
chiefly by the muniticence of James Lick, of
San Francisco, who, plainly, has no more
love for priests, preachers and kings than the
late Stephen Grard exhibited in his will.
LICK differs much, however, from Girard in
this, that he has given his millions in magni-
ricent charities daring his life a wonderful
Thing for man to do. 1t is said none but
philosophers and fools ever do IT, We prefer
TO think Mr.. Lick philosopher, and those
millionaires, rather, fools, who hold on to
their gold to the last minute, and then leave
it to be deyoured by lawyers, or quarrc]od
over by thankless aud avaricious heirs
The exercises at this dedication were GER
talnly interesting and peculiar. They con
sisted of speeches by masculine and feminine
Inidels Of note from all parts Of the country,
instrumental music the singing of hymns
written for the occasion, feasting and
dancing. Eve will make a day and night
of it, said Mr.. Seaver III his address of well
come. And they did so. The hymns We're
sung to the good old orthodox tunes, "Old
Hundred" 'Buylston, The morning light
is breaking" and the afternoon exercises
closed with the singing Of the whole of Bishop
Hebers hymn, ''from Greenland's icy noun
tains. The whole great congregation joined,
and the effect was like that produced il Ply
mouth Church when choir, and pastor, and
people, and organ swell out together in mag
nifcent unison in some familiar hymn and
tune. Whether the spirit Of the good Bishop
was present to hear for the first time in an
Infdel temple, the singing of his beautiful
verses, we leave for our Spirituali5t friends to
determine.
To spectator the singing of these Chris
tian hymns and orthodox tunes in temple
and worship which reject Christ altogether
except as a respectable citizen. good moral
teacher, Il worthy man on the whole tor a
jew of his day, was novel sensation, and at
forded great satisfaction to the great gathering
of male and female unbelevers. The Dests
have built this temple in the fashionable
quarter of our city, the new West End, in the
immediate vicinity of all the recently built
and magnificent Christian churches. Every
as the crowds of rich and faithful roll
by in their elegant carriages on their way to
these churches, and the multitudes of devout
middle classes pass on foot, they must see the |
marble bust of Thomas Paine looking benevo-
,ently down upon them from his pedestal over
the front door, and read in great letters on
several marble slabs, The Age Of Reason"
The Crisis, Common Sense, 1.-The Rights
of Man"
The hall Is oruamented with portraits of
celebrated Daists, among which those of
s oltaire Paine, and kneeiind are conSpicu-
Gus. Those of Benz min Franklin, Thomas
Jefferson, Stephen Girard, Gbbon and others
are to be supplied. The devout unbeliever
will wor ship these as the deyout believer
the pictures Of st. Jerome, St Au-
justine and the great family of saints that
ldorn the walls OF the old cathedrals.
Thirty six years ago Abner kneeand started
the Boston Investigator, and for uttering and
printing just such words and thoughts as fell
rom the lips OF many male and female speak
ars at this dedication he was accused of bias
ohemy, arrested, tried, convicted and SEN
ten ced to Imprisonment in the Leverett street
all. Many pious people thought he should
nave been hanged, or burned on Boston Com
non This would have been his fate in the good
DID DAYS of our steeple-crow and venerated
,rogenitors. But the world has moved. One
ago we could only imprison him.
Now, instead of hanging him, we hang his
picture on the wall of an elegant hall, where
ais doctrine, Free thought, free speech,
rec religion. is taught publicly three times
,yerv Sunday. Truly times change, and Bos- ,
on changes with them. This kneeland was s
. venerable man, whose long life was one
ong benetaction to his fellow men; and as he
TODD behind his prison bars his long white
lair hanging on his shoulders, and continued
0 preach of love for one God and good will
or all men, and freedom of thought and
peech, the people were astonished at his doc
rine, until, first indignant and ashamed, and l
what he was imprisoned for, they |
I length demanded and obtained his release.
4 remarkable feature Of the services at this
was the presence and performance
f Spiritualists among speakers and audience t
would S,1pppsp that Thomas Paine was a ,
piritualist. not a pure Deist. The truth is
e would have looked upon modern Spir,tu
lism as he did upon all the old Egyptian and
ewish fables. He considered all the ancient L
eigions as mere superstitions, and would q
ave found it quite as easy to believe in the :
ivinity of Christ and the modern Christian l
octrines as in the Spiritualistic teachings Of $
ne present day. 5
Mr. Seaver, editor OF the Investigator, an >
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