The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-29
THE LECTURE SEASON.
COLONEL INGERsoLL ON LIBERTY FOR MAN,
WOMAN AND CHIuD."

Colonel Robert G. lngersoll last night delivered his
lecture on sLiberty for Man, Woman and Chd' TO
au audience which hlled the the main floor of
Chickcrng Hall. The lecture had already been de-
livered in different parts OF tho country and
brought out furious dcnunc iations from tho
orthodox preachers. After admitting that there
were many pious people with whom he
did not agree. and humorously commenting thereon,
the lecturer remarked that the man who would deny
TO others any right which he claimed for himself was
inborn rascal He asked where the people who de-
MED his right 10 think for himself acquired their
own authority for thinking or denying his
right. Societies had rights which did not
belong to individual men. If persons got to-
gether and built a house with a steeple on
It, didn't give them right to dictate to their fell
lows. There was no slavery but ignorance, and lib.
erty was simply question OF intellectual develop
ment In exemplihcaton OF this statement tho
speaker compared the dugout canoe OF tho barbarian
to the iron-cad vessel OF the present day, and tho
tom-tom to The grand organ, and claimed that there
was the same difference between the skull of
the gentleman in the duy-out and tina. OF
an intellectual man of this generation as
there was between the implements they had
invented. Then he launched out INTO u euogy OF her
esy and herctics and alleged that the word "herctic
was applied by the jewellers IN swamps TO those living
upon sunlt hills Despite the assertions OF kings and
priests Of past ages that toms and war clubs
were the perfection OF humao invocation, the
world demanded better music and better implements
with which to Kill their fellow Christians, and II
them In direction the world had progressed but
In another 1t had not ''Phe gentlemen IN he dug
outs - idea that might made right In religion and
politics still prevailed, and 1t would still take thou
years before the world would admit that right
makes might.
The gentlemen doubtless believed in eternal pun
ishment and personal devil. Mr.. Ingcrsoll drew an
amusing picture OF this individual as having tan,
with q dart at tho END anu Otnef uSa3TeohOle lett
lures and remarked that there had not been patent
able Improvement made upon that devil In 1000
years. Everybo had right to guess the
speaker claimed, upon subject which nobody
knew anything about and 10 give his opinion upon IL.
Men could forced TO hold certain beliefs but
force could make thom hypocrites. How could all
men be expected TO think alike when nobody could
mako even two clocks which would tick the sameP
Colonel Ingersoll described the thumbscrcws, the
rack other Instruments OF torture, and explained
the Of their use IN dark ages, calling attcn-
tion at the same time the tact that had
been prosecuted for saying God was bad, while many
suffered death Tor calling Him good and express
ing the belief that He would save all men. Servctus
the speaker sad held that Christ the Son Of tho
Eternal God, while Calvin taught that Christ the
Eternal Son Of God and TOR that difference Servetus
was burned at a slow fire, while John Calvin ''stood
and grinned at him like the hyera that he was.'
That day had gone by but II any man to-day refused
TO vote Tor another because he did not hold the
creed or to pray another because he believed in
another doctrine tina. man was animated BY the spir.
which devised ana used every instrument OF torture
in the worlds history. (Applausc.)
FREE THOUGHT AND LABOR
Free labor would cothe the world in plenty and FREQ
thou ght alone would gvo II truth. Many were AFRAID
express their disbelief III the orthodox teachings
because IL would ruin their worldly prospects. 10
such the speaker :"keep still, sell your goods
ciothe your children, say Amen near the ri4
time as you can guess II, so along ana IN do your
talking Tor you.'' The lecturer claimed that
but Tor "heretics" mankind would to-day be
savages. He contended that every man mad an
aDsolu.c right TO think for himself upon evcry
subject ana to investigate every thing 81 believe
he said .rn the gospel Of this world; believe tho
tune be happy now, and that the way TO be happy
Is to make some one else So tApplausc) don't be-
iieve IN drinking skim milk III TINS world with the
expectation of having butter IN another (Lauenterl
am a ship sailing an unknown sea. don't know
tho port whence 1t sailed nor where she Is gong.
am not acquainted with the captain; not
speaking terms with the pilot; but l
know some OF tho passengers ana propose
TO have happy voyage Then II We 80
10 some glorious sunny port I'll be ready for bust
as anybody, and If We sink in chaos aud disaster
Will 10 down like man, with the ship" tap
piause.)
the speaker and he commented upon the spirit which
iostered tolerated 1t until the present ~ tell
you - he CRIED 'thc world has not been Ut for lady
or gentleman TO live IN nifty years" Then he
dwelt upon tho increased respect for culture and
ability US compared with riches. Once tae golden calf
worshlppcd; now We only worsiipped the gold
OF the calf and cyen the call was beginning to hnd
PASSED away, anu from their funerals We draw this
lesson--it takes more tnau GOLD to make man In the
the age when he wrote the ellie OF Caesar" in
oroer TO get into tue French Academy; George
Elliott greater queen IN Inc eStima-
ton OF The world than Victoria; and what O
difference there between emperor like
William OF Germany and one OF the old Type whose
only claim respect was that he had ''the DIVINE
Kerosene" poured on his headl In the matter of
opnion our fathers were slaves and their fathers
sers and II would not be time write creed until
shall have been emancipated from ali iears an
superstitions for generations. Mr. lngersoll pro-
ceedcd to give a parodied story oil the Creation and
Fall such ludicrous manner and with such facial
play and gesture TO keep his audience convulsed
with laughter for several minutes He then related
the version gwen, as he alleged, III the BOOK Of
Brahma, written four thousand years before the Ola
Testament ana asked his hearers whether ''if either
story out to be rue they would not rather be-
tho attcr' He condemned the practice oil send
ing missionaries 10 convert the hea'hcn. LET US
Tree our people al home" be sad, "and wnile
every pentcntriry is ul with heads ana stick
ing oil the WIDOWS let US stay here and see what
We Can 90 on our own soiL' tApplause.)
HOUSEHOLD.
Woman was culog Zed by the speaker IN unTDeasurcd
terms, aud no declared that no happiness 10 he
fou nd outside OF the married relation. He hated the
idea Of authority IN tho household There should be
such thing as ''tho head OF u iamly.n The lower
and more beastly man was the more he thought he
was superior to any woman that ever lived Because
a man was annoyed over the Question OF who should
be alderman from the Fifth ward crazy over
the Silver bill, or disturbed TO find out which
party the President belonged 10 Qaughterl he
sbould not 90 home like "A wild beast and expect his
vile, wearied with family cares, To sooihe HIM The
speaker pleaded Tor generosity toward wives and en-
cncy anu Indulgence toward children, claiming that
women and children should nave every right man
has and more--that oil protection As 10 women
voting, III lney 10 nc was much Oh U
gentleman TO refuse the privilege ANA II they Con-
Irlved, he ADDED ''to get tins country INTO worse
muddc than have helped 10 get II INTO myself, Will
admit they are not competent 10 vote" u.uughtcr.)
The doctriuo hcii was ridiculed u
relic OF Darbarous superstition, Dora oil the
giItiering eyes Of snakes that hung In
coils waiting for their prey, in the grlnnlng OF
nyenas and in the chatter oil dcpravcd apes 81 hate
and despise " said the Colonel, wilh every drop OF
my blood Every man that believes II must he afflicted
with least two dseascs-perilicon OF the heart aud
putrelaction OF the brain. (Appause.) l would a
thousand times rather 30 to he'll, II tnerc were one,
than 10 go 10 heaven to live with God Infamous
as punish His children Tor honestly express ng
their Opinions. The doctr OF hell forged
chan that has ever been put upon tho mnd OF man,
but want say that II will not be preached by any
gentleman five years from Ihs date
The speaker thought man had progressed from a
lower animal but he was not sure that question
no stood eight 10 seven. Laughter) lie would rather
believe the race originated IN an ape aud con-
tnually ascending than 10 believe 1t came IRON per-
fcct pair VII ell the Lord had lost money every day
since He made Them.
SCHUYLER CoLrAx ON LINCOLN
At tho last session OF the Grand Lodge