Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-01-30


TALK BY TEE LIBERAL LEAGUE LAST
NIGHT.
Last evening at Talmadge Hall the birthday
of Thomas Paine was celebrated under the
auspices of the Liberal League. There were
present about seyenty-fve persons, among
meetlngto order; Major j. Weed Corey, who
presided James Holmes, Col. W. H. Burr, J -.
J; J. COMBS, George Holmes; Or. Wanstall, ].
son, Dr. VIM. Boyd, Mrs. Dr. Ellis, DR.. Wright
and Gen. J. c. Smith. twas 81 o'clock when
the nie Ssssemoiage was called to order by Col
Thomas Paine because of his great services to
mankind andtO his country: and though they
were lew IN number. when they assembled for
full.
PAINE NOT AN ATHEIST
MAJOR Corey followed, saying that they
claimed the right to do their own thinking
and speaking, and We're in favor of universal
mental liberty for all persons. One of their
objects is to maintain the principles OF the
brought into existence were it not for the in.
fiueEce of Thomas Paine. He then glanced
over the life of Paine. noting the principal
events, and claiming that it was Paine who
dent States and Time which tried mems
souls: words now used frequently. but the
credit is seldom or never given the author. He
quoted from Paine as to his escape from the
gullotine, that life was saved by the interDO-
SitiOn of Divine Providence, and also from
his Age OF Reason the words: Il believe in
one God and no more, and hope for happi-
ness beyond this life, and for these sentiments
he had been reviled. Tom Paine was not an
atheist He wrote against atheism, and the
speaker predicted that in less than ten wears
IrlnItari anS will be appealing to the works of
Tom Paine to prove the existence of a God.
PAINE THE AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
'0l Bur- next spoke and referred to the
challenge OF Bob IDpprSOn for proof that Paine
died drunken. beaStly death, and claimed
that he had forever silenced that SANDER. 1t
was significant fact that III the lecture of IN
geISUIl on Ghosts" the name of Paine was
always received with applause. He claimed
that Paine and none other was the author of
the letters OF JuniuS, and also the author of
the Declaration OF independence, which had
been claimed by Jefferson, and that was the
Whltest lie ever told by that great statesman.
MRS. DIR. LAWRENCE ON THE SUBJECT OF HELL.
Mrs. DIR. Lawrence next spoke. and remark
ing hat the God of the Old Testament was
represented as tyrannical one, she said that
all the predictions OF the prophecies were full
filled III the birth of the Saviour. In Chris
tlahity there was panacea for all ills-that
IS pure Christianity, but. she asked, are the
teachings of Christ followed? In the churches
there are long, meaningless prayers and SEN
tImental songs, which they call religion. The
people do not get the truth. Costly churches
clouds, and they are dedicated to fashion. To
do good was her religion. Tom Paine was
Tor speaking his mind, and if Christ
came on earth to-day she thought he would
again Scour%e them out of the temple. She
read the report of the atrocities in the Tren-
ton penitentiary, and said that no one could
commit them unless they believed in hell and
eternal damnatiOn He'll was q necessity with
the ministry. for if there was none their occu-
patton would be gone. She hOnOred Paine for
his manliness and speaking his Thoughts
Col Bingham in few remarks cOngratu-
lated the audience on the celebration and the
meeting closed.