The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-29
INTENNELY INaERsOLLIC.
A Talk with Mr.. schuetz, the
Free Thinker speaker.


Turner Hall, on Tuesday evening, was
the subject OF much comment In the city
yesterday, and representative Of this
paper determined 10 seek the lecturer and
ascertain from him some particulars Of
the Free Thinking element, moi given in
his address. Accordingly our embryo
interviewer called at the Stamm House,
where Nj, Schuetz Ia stopping and asked
TO be shown 10 that gentleman's quarters.
"Thirty" was announced as the magic
number, and with this as his cue the sable
hued Anglo-Airican who bdunces the
baggage At the hUtelto took our represents
tive under convoy and started Tor the
upper floors.
Upon the second floor, in n pleasant
room, the windows Of which looked out
upon the river, the Free Thinker writer
and speaker was found writing at small
table, in the midst Of u perfect chaos Of
books, periodicals., newspapers, maya
zines, and other valuable accessories to
oratOry and composition.
SMALL, BIG MAN,
ii we may be allowed the expression
or, rather, a man Of small stature and
large body, he looked up as we entered,
showing an immense, shaggy head, the
hair pushed back from broad forehead
and standing about in the widest disor.
der. The face was u pleasant one, how.
ever, and a kindly voice bid us welcome.
The owner did not rise, and we noticed
at hissIde q pair Of crutches.
When informed Of the object OF our
visit Mr., Schuelz smiled pleasantly, and
remarked that men in public life should
always be accessible TO reporters.
Referring to remark made by the re.
porter, 10 the effect that hia lecture had
somewhat startled the community, Mr..
Schuelz Baid:
ut may be so, but why, am at loss
to understand. With religious progress
all other progress Is connected,
THE NEWEST RELIGION
always has the great geniuses, the great
minds Of the country. II was 80 when
the Catholic religion was new and after
the Reformation every great genius be-
came Protestant, France may seem an
exception, but the great French Revolu.
tion WA in itself a reformation. Since
the days Of Alexander Humboldt, no man
OF science believes In the doctrines OF any
church. All great poets and philosophers
are disbelievers-neilher Goethe nor
Schiller were believers in the church."
The speaker found some difficulty in
selecting suitable words 10 convey his
ideas, and at the conclusion OF his re-
marka expressed his regret that lie was
not more familiar with the English Ian
guage, so that he could make bis mean
ing clearer.
Being assured that he was perfectly un.
derstood, in reply 10 request for some
account Of his life he said:
II was born nj Edingen, near Heidle-
burg, in Germany. My parents had an
educational institution, and at an early
age | became student Of philosophy,
natural science and philology. When
sixteen or seventeen years Of age
IHECAME A FREE THINKER,
and commenced lecLuring in 1868. In the
spring Of 1871 l came to this country,
and am now residing with my family al
Carver, Minnesota. Besides communi,
ty Of about thirty Free Thinkers in Car.
yer, I have five other small communities
in the vicinity, where | preach once each
month. lam also writing book, which
occupies great part Of my time. There
are great many German Catholic priests
in the vicinity Of Carver, and ON the oath
Of May last they notified me 10
LEAVE WITHIN TEN DAYS,
and az didn't go they deiacel the house
where live with tar, and annoyed me in
other ways. But it's all over now"
In answer 10 query as 10 the number
Of Free Thinkers in America, Mr.. Schueia
said that there were not many, perhaps
twenty associations, known "a The "Uniou
OF the Radicals" Six lecturers were EN-.
ployed 10 speak 10 these twenty associa.
'tfoHa, and they were stationed respect.
lively at San Francisco, St. Louis, Carver
Minnp Milwaukee, Wis, gainesville,
Wis, and Sioux City, Iowa.
ABE THE TURNER'S FREE THINKERS?
"rhere are about two hundred Turn.
vereins in the country" Mr.. Schuetz con,
tinued, "whose principles are subslan.
tally the same as ours.a
"DOes il follow, then, that all Turner's
are Free ThinkersP We asked.
YES" he replied; "alI Of them are
Free Thinkers, but there may be some
who do not conform exactly 10 the Mai.
form Of the Free Thinkers. / began Inc
agitation in the Turnyerein myseif soms
three or four years ago, and | now speak
in come sixty Turnyereins.''
Reporter-"Is there an organization Of
Free Thinkers In this CITY %
Mr.. Schuetz-"No, there is no lepiti.
mate organization here-it ia loo difFienlt
always 10 have an organization. When
there is Turnyereiu in a place IL ia moi
necessary to have another Organization
v.u,r rorsr,rrrro ,nvr r.,,S,,,roS
R.nor,sr-UNov .sL NJ. Sol,.,. :,
Websters definition Of The word iFree
Thinker comedies with your yiews?D
Mr.. Schuetz-"Certainly | believe
there ia no hereafter: the rood il in onr.
selves: nature il our good and 10 bs oood
il our rreatest happiness. Free Thinker
do not all entertain The same opinions
however, they simply think according ~
their reason. II man ncts accord
Ing to his conscience he NAV be
Lappy here; il ia against the laws Of
nature that man NAV live After
he Ia dead. Free Thin ara 40 rnIa