Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-10-06
FOURTH QUARTER.
THE FREETH1NKERs' CONVENTION.

pies whose Heaven-ward pointing spires
are a standing rebuke of the principles
which this fraternity seem anxious to
disseminate. The city in which it met
is vocal with the hum of many-sided in
dustries, where order and regard for
law, enterprise, growth and prosperity
speak %eloquently of the benig On effects
of Christian institutions and of Chris
tan civilization. All this the Free
thinkers must see, but they are sure not
to give credit where it is due. The
strange spectacle was witnessed of a
body of men and women (for women,
alas, are of the membership, regardless
of what the condition of woman would
and must be without Christianity gath
cred to pour obloquy upon faith which
~emancipates and blesses, and upon in
situations but for which the light that
is about us would be darkness, and all
that exalts and adorns society be
changed into what debases and deforms
it.
One may wonder why a convention
OF this sort is held at the present day!
It is quite pertinent to ask, what good
end of any kind can such a motley
gathering possibly subserve? What ur-
gent social or other need prompts eight
hundred people to come together from
different parts of the country to pro-
claim sentiments and views which are
opposed to the understanding and the
moral sense of the community? Does
any great evil, wrong or injustice af-
fict society, and call for relief and re-
dress? Is the mind or conscience so fet-
tered that thought and speech are not
free, and the aid of such doughty
champions is invoked to bring liberty?
Are the religious and moral beliefs of
Christian men, and the fruits they bear,
destructive of the welfare and happi-
ness of the community? Does the pros
perity of the land under Christian in
situations rest on a false foundation, the
subversion of which, with the substitu-
ton of one after the F~reethinkers'
own heart, will increase this prosperi-
y, and make it more abiding? No
sensible man can need an answer to
ouch inquiries.
Among the grievances of which these
Ereetbinkers complain, as set forth in
the articles of their association, are the
following:
wv AA1AA OA4O III xCi1S4 OuS SCIVlCS uOW
sustained. by the Government shall be abol-
!shed, and especially that the use of the Bible
N the public schools, whether ostensibly as a
worship, shall be prohibited.
We demand that the appointment by the
President Of the United States or by the Gov
festivals and fasts shall wholly cease.
I'VE demand that the judicial oath in the
courts and in al other depaartments Of the
pie affirmation, under the penalties and pains
of perjury, shall be established in its stead.
1--WE demand that all laws directly or indi-
rectly enforcing the observance of Sunday as
the Sabbath shall be repealed.
We emand that all laws looking to the en-
forcement of Christian morality. shall be
abrogated, and that all avs shall be. con-
rality, equal rights and impartial liberty"
Hatred to religion, and especially to
Christianity, which has always awak-
ened the most bitter opposition of in
fidels, is the animating spirit of the con-
vention. Among the notices that were
prepared to adorn the walls of the
building in which the convention met
was the following:
1.-The Government of the United States is
not, in any sense, founded on the Christian
religion. "-GEoRGE WASHINGTON.
No man, woman or child in this
country believes that this bold state
ment expresses the real sentiment of
George Washington in regard to the
basis Of our national institutions, or the
foundation of our national prosperity.
What Washington did say and believe
in regard to the influence of religion on
society is fully set forth in his Farewell
Address, in which he says:
"Of all the dispositions and habits which
lead to political prosperity, re igion and
morality re indispensable supports. In vain
would that man claim the tribute of patriotism
who should labor to subvert these great pill
lars of human happiness, these firmest hopes
Of the duties of men and citizens. The mere
politician. equally with the pious man, ought
to respect and to cherish them. A volume
could not trace all their connections with pri-
vate and public felicity. Let it simply be
asked where is the security for property, for
reputation, for life, If the sense of religious
obligation desert the Odths which are the in
struments of investigation in courts of JUS
tice? AM let us with caution indulge the sup-
position that morality can be maintained
without religion. Whatever may be conceded
to the in6uence of refined education on
minds Of peculiar structure, reason and ex-
pcricnce both forbid US to expect that ma
tional morality can prevail in exclusion of
RELIGIOUS principles"
The above placed on the walls Or read
from the plat orm of a Freethinkers'
Convention would be q salutary anti
dote to the dishonest statement of the