The new North-west., 1885-11-06
ANOTHER SHOT FROM CASTLE FERGUS
An Old Friend Still Persists In Preaching In
Season and Out OF Season.

Editor Neao North Vest
FRIEND MILLs:-I find the following in
your issue of the second inst:
"Our old friend, Hon. James Fergus, init
mates in a communication to the Independent
that Corresponding Secretary Hedges gave
him left-handed compliment in the NEW
NORTHWEST CO ncerning his speech to the
Pioneers. We do not think, Uncle Fergus,
that Judge Hedges did so. 1t was probably
the editor and publisher of this paper. We
think you avow your infdelity 'out of sea.
SON." p
The language took exception to in your
paper was over the signature of Judge
Hedges. Corresponding Secretary of the Old
Timers Association, and of course purported
to be from him; but If you claim the article
over his signature as yours, all right. There
have been several editors and preachers
after the old man already and although In i'll
health, very busy and not aching for noto-
riety would just as soon take in another
as not. All discussions Of this kind help
out free thought. No reform was ever in
augurated without discussion. 1t Is the dis
covery of scientific truths and common sense
facts that have liberalized and are still liber-
alizing your beliefs, and while men of liberal
ideas would like to see the human family
discard all the old myths, they are pleased
at the steady everyday progress in theolog.
ical beliefs.
About displaying my infidelity. II uu-
derstand what infidelity is, think We have
all more or less of It. A century ago with
your present belief you would have been
considered An infdel. Henry Ward Beecbsr,
the ablest man you have in your pulpits,
does not believe all his father did. Those
you are pleased to call infdels are only lit
tie in advance of him, but he Is getting
nearer them every day. Some years ago a
friend called me an infidel. 1 asked him
what infdelity was; he replied, unbelief.
had then in my possession work giving the
titles or names Of all the known religious
sects or beliefs. / read the titles to forty
nine, then asked him II he believed in any of
them. He said "No." replied, "Nor
either, nor in yours; so that am only
fftieth part worse infdel than you are"
About displaying my infdelity "out of
season." We have prayers at our baptism,
at our marriage, at our funeral, at our meals,
in our legislatures, in our churches, by men
paid on purpose to pray and preach for us
and often not very good ones at that-and 1t
is all right, because we were educated that
way, and 1t Is rather fashionable yet to up
hold IL, but let an old farmer while tracing
the progress Of the human family but touch
on aud recommend the improvement Of one
Of the most potent influences that control
the human mind, and he is displaying his
infdelity out of season. I had expected
something better from the usually liberal
editor Of the NEW NORTHWEST. Friend
Mills, IL Is too late in the day to muzzle hu-
man thought, The world moves. One mans
rights are just as sacred as another's. Think
the best way Is for every man and woman to
be allowed full liberty TO exercise the right
of free judgment and free speech, so long a.
they do not interfere with the rights Of 9TH
ers. You do your own thinking and give
free expression to your own thoughts when
you see lit and allow me the same privileges;
~ there is possibility that am Just - ca
pahle OF judging what Is right and proper in
matters OF this kind rs you are. Respect
fully, your friend. JAMES EERGUs.
Friend Fergus: And still your remarks TO
the Pioneers were sadly tout Of season"
We cannot say less and do not care to ssy