The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-28
TIE FREE THINKERS LECTURE

Mr. Fritz Scbuelz, speaker of the free
religion congregation in Carver, MID
nesots, addressed fair audience OF
German ladies and gentlemen IN the
Turner hall last night. After oeing IN
troduced by Mr.. Chas. Blechsmidt Do
remarked tnat the subject OF bis lecture
would not he exactly as 1t had oeeh al,
nounced; "Moses, Christ Lutnef anu
the Reformation" but this would De the
introduction 10 his speech, while the
real object would be to show that zine
Prosperity OF the Nation Depends upon
the Progress of Religion"
The speaker said 1t seemed, at hrst
sight, impossible to speak about the pro-
qfess of religion. 1t does not agree witn
the idea OF the highest revelations. Ii
religion is is 10 be our guide and strong
hold; if It's commandments are to be 1or
all people and all time, must IL not
remain constant and unchanged! history
shows US that there is progress IN re-
llgion. though it is OF like the progress
in science; it is slow progress, and Vis''
bic changes only occur once In three
hundred, or four hundred, or 10 thou-
sand years.
From the want to explain the creation
and the incorrect changes IN the same,
sprang up the idea OF Jehovah, the eter-
nal, always creating spirit; from him de-
rlves nature aud man; the latter wants a
purpose and guide, and gets 1t through
the ten commandments. If he follows
them he earns eternal bliss; if not, eter-
nal curse.
The religion of the Jews was prsc-
tical religion, tending to enjoy the things
of this world. Religious, political, mill
tsry government was all in one hand, IN
that of their highest priest. Moses solved
the social question successfully IN assign
ing to every family certain portion o:
land, and securing the same by strict
and clear laws to the rlghttul successors
of the families. The political organlza-
ton was such as to afford bodily welfare
and comfort to the people, and to help
them to become prosperous and rich.
The Christian religion was just the op-
posite. 1t denounced the body and the
pleasures of this world, and only de-
inanded pure and faithful heart. Christ
wanted man TO care not for the world
and its necessities, but leave all to his
Father. 1.-THE lilies of the field toll not,
neither do they spin, yet Solomon IN al
his glory was not arrayed like one OF
these" Nor did Christ lay much I'M
portance to the political organization OF
his people, nor does He favor marriage.
1t is blessing of God to be single. All
that IS wanted to earn eternal JOY and to
see God, is to possess the truth and pure
ness of heart. But how can we possess
the truth if we do not know it ourselves,
but only have to believe what others tell
us, to whom it was told again by others?
What other truth can there be for US than
that which we find out and recognize
ourselves2 Christ has not given
HIS disciples the means by which
to know the truth He only said: 81
am the truth, he who believes in me
will have eternal life, but he who does
not believe shall be cursed"
A religion which demands the follow
ing of the truth must allow the search
for it. To this thought OF Martin Luther
we owe the Reformation, which Is the
betrothsl between religion and science,
but science remained in servlLude to re-
ligion until the great Thomas Pane put
reason on Its supreme throne above re-
ligion and said, What l recognize by
nv human senses is truth, there is no
revelation, but what reveals itself to
myself" Thus has religion progressed
from step by step to the religion OF the
Free Thinkers Of our time.
The lecturer then went on to show
what great influence religion has IN
the social welfare, political government,
education and mental and bodily health
of q people.
The religions which divided the people
into castles, like in India, proved disas.
trous to its followers The Christian re-
lgion was the first that declared all men
equal, but only after their death. Real
equality only exists in countries like ours,
where freedom in religious matters forms
one of the fundamental principles OF
the Constitution. How intellect and devel-
opment depend upon religious progress
is shown by the fact, that Us soon as the
Christian religion was founded, only in
its ranks great men sprung up. Alter
the Reformation the greatest thinkers
were ali Protestants. In our advanced
century most of the celebrated scientists
are Free Th!nke more or less. Medicine
has made great progress as science,
and religious superstition is overcome,
Previous To the Reformation schools we're
almost exclusively for the benefit OF the
Catholic clergy; after the Reformation
Inc Professionals mad TO learn to read IN
order to be able to read the Bible. This
started the public schools, but In Europe
there is yet the division between The
children Of the poor, who only learn to
read, write and cipher, ard The prlvl-
legged. who stLdy Latin and Greek, and
look down with scorn on the man who
is not student. The free school sys-
TEN, with equal rights to all children, can
only develop itself in a free country, |
where no distinction is made on account |
of politics and religion. Not less strlk-
ing and beneficial is the influence which |
\ tree government and q liberal think |
ing people have in the newspaper press, |
and literature IN general.
The speaker wound up by showing that
a monarchy only can exist with..an estab.
lished religion, and a Democratic repub-
lie only with religious freedom.
His speech, of which we give here only
the outlines, was rendered in very pure
German, and in an eloquent manner.
Though the lecture lasted fully two
hours, and the hall WAS very cold, the
audience listened with increasing interest
until the last word, and rewarded the
lecturer with hearty applause.
As desire was expressed to hear an
other lecture by Mr.. ocheutz, he consent
ed to deliver lecture about "The
Child" when arrangements for hail
IAN be made.