The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-10-20
FREE THOUGHT"
DISCOVERY OF An ANn-CHkisf
oRGANIzATIONIN WHEELING.
Tom Pay neism and Ingersoiiism the
Doctrine AdVRnced-"Ihe Axe oh
Reason', and ssOrsIiOn On the
Gods" the Text Books
Points for the Divines To
upOn-A Good sub
jcct FIR n Sermon.

Wheeling, with population OF about
20 600 has teen styled, and perhaps COL
rectly, the "City Of Churches" there be-
ing twenty -seven places wherein lhe
Word OF God is propounded ana our
people listen to the doctrines o. Hoy
Writ In iaci, it is generally conceded
tina, in this city Christianity noIds su
prcme sway, and that the blole is the
only book wherefrom HnowleoSeo'
religion is cleaned But how prone are
mortals TO error, and how deceptive the
outside or surface appearance OF things
worldly. 1t is in the
INTERESTS OF THE CHRISTIAN RE-
that the reporter has investigated
this matter, in order that the d.
vines of this city, who are labor
Ing in the cause OF Christianity,
may open their eyes and by rigorous
investigation, see Tor themselves that ''all
is not gold that glitters," and that OPP
posing elemeats are daily surrounding
Them that they know not OF, that the
facts contained in this article are
made public. 1t Is that the
people who CLEAN knowledge from
the press, and are thus made aware OF
their surroundings that we iuIhll our
duty as a journalist, and publish that
which is indeed startling, and at the same
time true. In the city OF Wheeling there
are ut least two hundred men OF standing,
influence and responsibility who are
FREE THINKERS, OR INFIDELs,
as the world terms it. They are men
who stand high socially and financially,
and cannot be ignored. Of this number
perhaps One-half are Americans, while
the other half is largely composed OF the
German element On the part OF the
Germans an almost perfect organization
exists They are "Free Thinkers" IN the
fullest sense of the word, and we uLder-
stand are making active preparations ior
prominent lecturers TO visit tins city and
descant on the merits OF theology. On the
other hand, the American element Is
taking active steps, and has caused
to be distributed among their own creed
about two thousand books and tracts OF
the Truth Seeking Series tending 10
deny the scripture. o. the books dis
Lributed, over one hundred copies are OF
the book entitled
THE GODS AND OTHER LECTURES,
by Robert q. lngersoll, having for It's
motto. "An Honest O. ID the NOblcSt
Work of Man." and emblazOned on It's
title page are the words, GIVE me the
Storm and Tempest of Thought and Ac.
lion. rather than the Dead Calm OF lg-
norance and Faith. Danish me from
f len when YOU will, but first let me
eat of the Tree OF knowledge" This
book, we have been informed toy knowing
parties who have been instrumental m
their sale and distribution, has been
readily disposed of, and so great has been
the cal that large invoice Is now on
the way to this city. But the matter
does not end here, in private rooms OF
Gentlemen in this city meetings are held
nightly, where the subject is discussed,
and the contents of the books thoroughly
digested. Indeed, so far has the matter
gore, and with such success Is the move
ment meeting that efforts are now beng
made TO combine the American and
German elements, and form Al organ
cation on large scale
IN OPPOSITION TO CHRISTIANITY,
and gain such Roadway, il possible, that
such inroads may be made into tho ranks
OF the Church "a 10 deterlorate to no
small extent It's influence. These are
solid facts that cannot be gainssycd, no
matter how appalling or what Wos and
hearLachc il may cause to permeaLe the
the Christian mind, and are given that
the ministers OF this city may be the more
able to cope with the ca ger surr"u ding
them. In conclusion, and more fully To-
illustrate the true meaning OF the organl-
zstlon reierre! tc, we reproduce the FOL
lowing from Ingersoll's "Oration on the
GoIs," which speaks for itself and shows
the true object sought to be accomplished:
Thee GRAFTON EXTRACT.
If we believe in power superior to
nature, it is perfectly natural TO suppose
that such power can and will interfere
IN the affairs of this world. If there is
no interference, of what practical use
can such power be? The scriptures give
us the most wonderful accounts OF divine
Interference: Animals talk like men;
springs gurgle from dry bones; the sun
and moon stop in the heavens in order
that General Joshua may have more
time to murdcr; tls shadow on a dial
goes back ten degree to convince petty
king OF bsrbarous people that he is not
going to die ola boil; fire refuses to burn;
water positively declines to seek its level,
but stands up like wal; grains OF sand
become lice; common walking sticks, to
crafty mere freak, twist themselves
into serpents and then swallow each
other by way of exercise; murmurlng
streams, laughing at the attraction OF
gravitatou, run up hill for years, follow
ing wandering tribes from pure love of
trolic; phophecy becomes altogether cas-
Ter than history; the sons OF God become !
enamorSd OF the worlds girls; women are |
changed into salt for the purpose OF |
keeping great event fresh in the minds |
of men; an excellent article OF birthstone
is imported from heaven free OF duty; |
clothes refuse to wear out for forty years;
birds keep restaurants and feed wander
ing prophets free of expense; bears tear
children in pieces for laughing at old
mon without wigs; muscular develop.
ment depends upon the length of ones
hair; dead people come TO lite, simply to
get joke on their enemies and heirs,
witches and wizards converse freely with
the souls of the departed, and God him.
self becomes a stone cutter and engraver,
after having been a tailor and dress
maker.
The New Definition OF DciauIter.
Glass of small boys in defining words
from the new dictionary just published
"a ID. 1917.
Teacher Ito boy at head of class De