The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-07-17

Truly yours, M. A. 5.
Judge Hoadly and the Free
Religious Association. !.
Correspondence Between Judg'
HOadly, OF Ohio, and the Presi.
dent, of the Free Religious
Association, on the Mean
ing of the Association. =
-.
49, Boston Index.
CINCINNATI June p. 1883.
MY DEAR Mr. Potter: As the news
papers hav" iufor nd you, have beef
nominated as the Democratic candidate
for Governor of. Ohio. Almost imme
diately upon the heels OF this nomina
ton came a series OF charges in the Re
publican pr IS: first. that ! am an athe
ist; secondly, that l am an agnosic
thirdly, that, by reason OF my connec
ton with the American Free Religious
Association. am pledged to the des
truction OF the Christian reli zion and o
Christian principles. telegraphed yol
on Saturday last for copy OF the con
stitution of the Free Religious Society
I think I understand the constitution
but should be glad TO have authentic
documents before me. When | wa!
asked. many years ago to become /.
Vice-P.esident OF the American Fret
Religious Association, of which-as yol
are aware, 1 have never been able to at
tend any meeling-three circumstance
strongly impelled rue to yield graceful
assent; namely, first, the character o
the men CONNECTED with The society. A
the head OF the list OF Vice. Preti ient
was the greatest American then living
Ralph Waldo Emerson; and with hin
were associated that eloquent politics
orator anG leader Of the progressive Re-
pubIicans OF New York, George William
Curtis, editor OF HarDer's Weekly Jour,
nal Of Civilization, that robust and elo
quent divine, as truly man OF God a.
any who stands iu anv American pulpit
Robert Collyer; that learned savant anf
teacher OF science, E L. Youmans,; O
the Popular Science Monthly; tina
scholar, preacher, soldier, statesman
who first led the colored men OF Americ.
to fight in the battle array for theil
country, Thomas Wentworth Higginson
the rabbi OF the synagogue Of nv owr
city, my personal friend, Dr.. Isaac NJ
Wise; and other gentlemen and ladie:
whose efficiency in the work OF philan.
thropy, high standing In society, and
established and deeply religious charac
ter gave assurance that the work oil
their hands would be one to the build.
ing up Of true religion And. secondly
| was attracted by the pledge OF one -oi
the articles OF the constitution. that nc
man by joining the American Free Re-
ligious Association surrendered any re.
ligi 'us opinion or gave assent to any
religious dogma. And, thirdly, be
lieved with my whole heart in the funda
mental principle of the society; namely
in the advancement OF religion and mo-
ral,ty To- the spirit OF liberty These
views I It'll entertain. And I have beer
glad to know that 10 the years that bavt
passed, during which I have been pre-
vented by 'remotness of residence from
attending any OF the meetings OF The
society. there have appeared on its plat,
form, at its anniversary meetings and
elsewhere, men of all shades of religion.
opinion including Evangelical Chris
tians.
Now, It is sail publicly that In some
way this society is pledged to receive nc
members or to have no affiliatior
with persons or societies who recognize
the Christian name. have not the ex
act alleged phrase before me, or'I vonld
Communicate it to you. I never heard
OF any thing of this kind before; but
a Wait with anxiety the receipt OF {
copy OF the constitution in order that ]
may know whether the freedom which
have supposed was characteristic OF ths
American. Free Religious Association
which has included men like Rober
Collyer and James Freeman Clarke. ss
sociated on it's platform with men lik.
'Minot j. Savage, John W Chadwick
and yourself and your associate, Mr.
Underwood. is really hampered by any
such statement in the constitution
Please send me copy of the constitu
ton at once, and greatly oblige you
friend. GEORGE HoADLY.
Rev. William j. Potter, 3 Trenon
Place Boston, Mass.
BosToN, June 80. 1883.
HoN. GEORGE HoADLY-Ny Dear Sir
Ia reply to your letter Of the 9Th inst.
I hsstened to say that q copy Of tn,
constitution OF the Free Religious Hs
sociation has been sent to yop. II yo'
have received it you have already beef
made aware that your understanding o
1t, as expressed in your letter. was cor
rect in every particular. But lest :tha
may have failed to reach you, let fn
quote here the articles which define oh
jects and membership OF the association
They are as follows: rT ;
/. This organization shall be calle,
the Free Religious Associa ion, its oh
jects being to promote the practical In
terests Of pure religion, TO increase fel
lowship 10 the spirit, and to encourag
the scientific study of mans religion
nature and history; and to this end d
persons interested Ia these objects ar
cordially invited to it's membership. /,
2. Membefship in this assccia.i I,
shall leave each individual responsible
for lis own opinion alone, and affec
In no degree his relation to other asse
Citations; and nothing in :he name o
constitution OF the association shal
ever be construed as Inning member
ship nv any test of speculative opinion
or belief, or as defining the opinion o
the association, collectively considered
with reference to any such opinion o
belief, or as interfering in any other va.
with that absolute freedom OF though
and expression which is thena'uralrigh
of every ra ional being. Any perso.
desiring to cooperate with the assoeis
tioR shall be considered a member, will
full right to speak in its meetings; bu
an annual contribution OF 81 shall b.
necessary to give title to vote; pro
vided, also, that those thus entitled maj
at any time confer the privilege of vo
ting upon the whole assembly on ques
tions pertaining to the management O