Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-05-29
LIBERAL UNION MEETING.

SAID That Tor centuries the word inhdel had
been applied as term of opprobium to those
who dared TO step aside from the usual cur
rent OF religious thought. From boyhood he
had been taught that iufidels were bad men,
and not until late in life did be discover the
tallaoy OF measuring human character by any
form OF religious belief and that the moral
LIE o. the world in but small degree depends
upon religious beliefs. The Brahmin regards
as intIdel all who do not embrace his creed
The buddhist and Chinese take similar view.
The descendants Of Abraham regard those as
inhdel who do not accept Moses and the
prophets as ultimate, Mohammedsns boldly
call all inhdel who do not shout for Allah and
bow the head towards Mecca and call Mo-
manned the prophet OF Cod. The Roman
Catholic pronounces all infdel and hereto
who % not admit as true the immaculate
conception, the infallibility of the Pope, and
yield unquestioning obedience to bishop and
priest. The Protestant Christians hold all to
be inhdel who deny the plenary inspiration
of the Bible and the divinity of Christ,
Thus it has been all over the world, in all the
ages OF the past the devotees of every re-
ligion have looked upon all others as intidels
who DO not embrace the faith they hold, and
do not see the truth they zee &, and
worship the same God IN the same way they
worship him.
II is claimed that God wrote book, and it
is generally admitted that this book is not
easily understood, and prior to the Reforma-
ton the people were not allowed to read the
book, and comparatively there was but little
inhdelity in the world; but when it was
placed in the hands of the people and read,
honest differences as to its origin and mean
ing grew up; thus unbslief or infidelity was
born-simply struggle for liberty and truth.
Religion, like everything else, is the subject
OF evolution; change and progress is the law
Of the universe. We are standing still in
nothing. The philosophy, art, science and
religion of five thousand years ago, or of one
thousand years ago, did not contain the sum
total of knowledge of to-day. No, the world
moves, and these religions Of the past have
been the clothiugo Of the childhood of our race,
the stepping stones to higher truth, the eye.
sight of an age when the eye was dim, and
adapted to the people who originated them.
The religions of the world have grown
from one parent stem, and SO far as may be
known ancient India is the birthplace and
common mother OF the religions, morals,
literature and languages OF the human race,
and with China alone India completes for
priority in civiliz alton and early history
The best Oriental scholars inform us, such as
Colebroke, Sir William Jones, Weber, Max
Muller and others, that this early religion of
men, the Brshmin, inspired Egyptian,
Hebrew, Greek md Roman civilization, and
still permeates the economy of all European
laws. Cousin says the history OF this early
Hindoo philosophy is the abridged history OF
the philosophy Of the world. And thus did the
wise men of India precede the wisdom of
Moses, and give her laws, customs, morals
and religion to Egypt, Persia, Greece and
Rome. Thus it happens that the story Of the
Is. he ~ =
many centuries older than the Virgin Mother
of Bethlehem, and it is a strange fact that inf
deity to day consists in not believing that
that which was written first WAS
copied from that which was written
last, and if he could believe that Brah-
minism and Buddhism were copied from
Christianity, if he could believe that the
beautiful Vedas and Scriptures of the Hin
docs were taken from the Hebrew, and that
all of the civilizipg impulses and moral life
of the world had emanated from Christianity,
ne might be Christian instead of an infdel.
To my mind said the speaker, infdelity is
noble, two-sided search after truth aud
as inspiration is an inbreathiHg from the
infinite universe, so also is intidelity an in
spiration quite as much as the religious
thought of the world. Infidelity is not un-
faithfulness to duty and truth. Free think
ing is not loose thinking. Let no man pride
himself on being an in6del. unless he be a
seeker and lover of truth. True religion is
simply goodness and infdelity is liberty
the day star and hope of this world. which
has lifted our race from barbarism into the
sunlight of higher civilization and freedom.
DECORATION DAY.-To-morrow is Decora-
ton day, and is to be appropriately cele-
brated in this city, under the auspices of
Sumner Post of the Grand Army of the Re-
public. The Post invites all ex-soldiers,
sailors and citizens generally to join with its
members in observance Of the day. A dele
CATION of the Pos. will visit the New Helve-
tia Cemetery and decorate the graves of
Union soldiers. Societies wishing to take
part in the procession will report to the Post
Commander, at Grand Army Hall, K street,
between Fifth and Sixth, at A. " Pro
csssion will move at 10 A. N. sharp. The
military will form on X street, right resting
on Fourth street. Civic societies and citizens
will be assigned position by the Post Com
mander. Line of march From Hall on K
street, to Second, to j, to Tenth, to City
Cemetery. Grand Army Hall will re-
main open for the reception of
floral offerings. bouquets, etc.. from 7:30
A. NJ. till the procession moves. Literary ex-
ercses at the theater in the evening, CON-
mencing at o'clock. Doors open at Z. This
being a legal holiday, it is expected that all
citizens will assist in helping to celebrate the
day in fitting manner. The Post has also
invited, and it is expected that the children
of soldiers will take part and form quite
feature of the procession. The programme
at the City Cemetery and at the theater is
published in another column. The Woodland
military company will arrive here tomorrow
morning, and will take part in the celebra-
pf
of this city, has been detailed to meet them
on their arrival and with squad of men
from Company B to escort them to their
place in the procession.
DROWNED AT PoRrLAND.-News has been
received here that n. J. Wilson, young
man employed as draughtsman in the Oregon
Railway and Navigation Company's Office,
formerly of this city, was drowned late
afternoon at Portland, Oregon, by
the capsizing of sail-boat He attempted
to swim to shore, then turned back to a
row boat which was coming to his rescue, but
drowned before it reached him. 1t was
thought that he was seized with cramps and
became unable to swim longer. Three
others who were in the boat with him chung
to it and were rescued At last accounts the
body had not been recovered. The widowed
mother of deceased resides in Santa Cruz.
POLICE CoURT.-Saturday Judge Henry
disposed of Police Court business as follows
All Sam was held to answer on charge of
burglary of a wood car Daniel Kennedy,
battery, discharged; Mrs. Hazelback, dis.
turbing the peace, continued so June Sd
Henry Wilson. petty larceny, discharged
Lena Dubois, battery. continued to june Sd
James Crowley, drunk, discharged ; All Sing,
All Sooy and All Gooy, gaming, continued to
May 31st; L. Kavanaugh was cent to the
county Jail for thirty days as a common drunk
ard; Jake Smith, disturbing the peace, fined
S15.
OPEN AIR CoNoERr.-There will be given
at the Capitol Park grounds this evening an
open air concert by the First Artillery Band.
The concert will commence at P. II. The
following is the programme of the music that
will be rendered March, Step Out )" Cen
tennial overture waltz, Helena :" schot-
tische, Kentucky Jubilee Singers; ro-
mama, "Spring Violet" cornet solo by G.
w. Bragg polka. from opera of " Patience :"
grand concert galop Home, Sweet Home.
SHOOTING AT FRANKLIE.-A correspond
ent informs US that at Franklin, in this
county, on Saturday evening last, Joe
Adler q harnessmaker at that place. was
shot by man named Alexander A. Marsh
The bullet passed through Adler's arm and
lodged in his right side. The wound is rot
considered fatal No arrests were made at
last accounts. Our correspondent adds:
1--WE have no constable. Shooting is free
around here"
New FIRM.-A new firm. consisting of r.
W. Lewis and A. J. Johnston, will open
lob printino offica at 410 T street the loca-
ton formerly occupied by A. J. Vermilya
for Coroner's rooms. The premises have been
remodeled and very neatly reftted and fur
nished for their new use. Messrs. Lewis &
Johnston are old residents of Sacramento,
aud have long been engaged in this line of
the printing business.