Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-07-12
j. Forgery 70 be Used in the Cam
paign.f


paign.f
The Ohio State Journal, and several
other newspapers ininical TO Judge
Hoadly, have published the following
compilation Of misquotanons, which
are believed TO be forgeries, origina-
ting in the Cleveland Leader: ,7
at is fact which will not be denied
that Judge Hoadly Is the viee-president
of the "Free Religious Association y
This Is an organization having its head
quarters In Boston, and the object Of
which Is ITO promote the practical in
terests Of pure religion; to increase fell
lowship in the spirit, and to encourage
the scientific study Of mans religious
nature and history, and it seeks these
ends by the method Of perfect liberty of
thought 1t seeks ITO subject the ira
ditional authority of all special religious
and alleged revelations, the Christian
no less than Others, to the Judgment of
scientific criticism and impartial reason.
IL would thus seek TO emancipate re-
ligion from bondage to ecclesiastical dog
matism and sectarianism.p The society
furthermore Excludes from its fellow
ship all societies bearing Christian
name, and specially emphasizing by
creed or ceremony a personal deity.n !
The report ofthe executive committee
of the society made to the meeting held
a few weeks ago, at which Judge Hoad-
ly was elected vice-president, notes with
evident qualification "the general de-
cline of interest in the old theologies ev-
erywhere reported, and constant in
crease in the number who stay away
from ehuch, and who are ready for the
principles which free religion repre-
sents.nt m4.l la 9 ~
What we have quoted above is from
the hpdeT of June Z, well known inf
del paper, the organ of the society, and
sustained by direct contributions of the
society.
The following is a genuine extract
from the IndeT, and gives the constitu
ton and organization of the associa-
ton:
The Free Religious Association was
organized in 1867. Though having its
headquarters in Boston, it is a national
organization, and has members and off.
GERS in various states of the union. II
has the following constitution:
First-This organization shall be
called the Free Religious Association
its objects being to promote the practi
cal interests ofpure religion, to increase
fellowship in the spirit, and to encour
age the scientific study of mans reli
giOus nature and history; and to thi,
end all persons interested in these OBJ
jects are cordially invited to its member
ship. .
Second-Membership in this associa
ton shall leave each individual respon
sible for his own opinions alone, ant
affect in no degree his relations to othe
associations; and nothing in the nam,
or constitution of the association shall
ever be construed as limiting member
ship by any test of speculative opinion
or belief-or as defining the position o
the association, collectively considered
with reference to any such opinion o
belief-or as interfering, in any othe
way, with that absolute freedom o
thought and expression which is tn
natural right of every rational being
Any person desiring to cooperate witt
the association shall be considered
member, with full right to speak in it
meetings; but an annual contribution
of one dollar shall be necessary to Civ
a title to vote-provided, also, that thOs
thus entitled may at any time confer th
privilege of voting upon the whole at
sembly on questions not pertaining t
the management of business.
! Third The officers ofthe association
shall be a president, twelve vice-presi
dents, a secretary, an assistant secre
tary, treasurer, and twelve. directors
They shall be chosen by ballot at tn
annual meeting of the association; an
+ the president and vice-presidents, set
retaries, and treasurer shall hold thei
offices for one year, or until their sue
cessors be chosen. The directors sha
| be chosen for four years, and, at the eS
piration of that term, shall not be elig
BILE for reelection until after two year
One fourth of their number shall b
chosen annually; but, at the annus
meeting of 1882, the full number (
twelve shall be chosen i'm sections (
three respectively for one, two, thre
and four years. The president, seer
, taries, treasurer and directors shall tx
gether constitute an executive commi
tee, intrusted with all the business an
interests of the association in the inte
i i'm of its meetings. They shall hay
power to fill any vacancies that may o.
cur in their number, or in the list I
vice-presidents, between any two al
nual meetings. Six members of the e,
ecutive committee shall constitute
quorum.
Il. Fourth The annual meeting of IL