The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-06-26
A CORRECT REPORT OF THE Lee
TURE AT THE COURT HOUSE LAST
FRIDAY EVENING
To the Editor of The Dillon TRlHu NE:

AS neither your paper nor its neighbor
has done justice to the lecture ON Mental
Liberty" by Nj. Putnam, and as there
seems to De some misconceptions in the
popular ,i,s.d, regarding the purpose OF
that lecture, would beg short space in
the TRIBUNE, tor fuller and more appre.
cia,ive report OF the address.
We may preface our report by saving
that Mr. Putnam is not, as some ignorant.
ly suppose, Gen. Israel Putnam, tamiliarly
called, "old Put" the hero OF Bunker Hill,
but is u member OF the Secular Union, a
peaceable organization whose mission is
to rescue Christians from mental slavery.
Your reporter, Il little late, found large
ana enthusiastic audience to greet the dis.
,inyuished lecturer. Ut was free le.ture.)
The house was SO packed and damned
that many Of us had 20 stand, but man.
aged to secure place near the door. at.
tording fair view Of the speaker. and an
opportunity 70 retreat in Case the argu.
nents became too staggering. The lee
turer after announcing his sub ect Mental
Liberty, launched forth. At first the
speaker was rather subiued in his tones,
anu his face wore tired look. The inkv
cloak and customary suit OF solemn black,
the windy suspirasions OF to, ced breath, the
fruitful rivers OF the eve, and the detected
'havior OF the visage which, As Hamlet oh.
served, usually denotes the condition of
the mourncr, were not lacking, but wheth.
err the orator was still wrestling with the
stupor produced BY a too hospitable sup.
per, or mourning that his audience were
not th,r>ting tor the gushing waters Of
"Mental Liberty" We had no means OF
definitely knowing. Blu, after awhile the
lecturer quickened. His movements be.
came lively, and his gesticulating loud.
He first treated his hearers to rare bit @,
history. A few Christians several hun
bred years ago had met and decided that
certain writings were inspired. He there.
fore could not believe these writings in.
spired, If members Of the Secular Union
had made the selection, he would have
been content. but Chrs,ians-rshaw! his
contempt was too deep ior u,,crance.
Continuing, the speaker declared that MS
mission was to lit the veil from the Flu.
synian mysteries, to rip the title page from
4 Book several days older than the
Secular Union. and TO set up before the
con light Of Putnami>,n. The Bible in.
nine:v.nire crimes. lie had counted
them. lie would say an even four thou.
sand. but did any one think him base
enough to tell a lie for the sake of one poor
little pitifu crime: lie wouldn't mention
these crimes, however. as he had too many
other important matters to relate-an
omission regretted by the audience as they
were left in doubt whether among the
three thousand nine hundred and ninety.
nine he included the ten commandments
The lecturer then gave some sound adj.
vice to the Dillon people. Go home and
read your Bible, Read it from beginning
to end. Let no punctuation mark escape
your vigilance. Then you will become
member of our glorious Secular Cnion
The Christian does not think. No Chris.
tian ever did think. St. Paul, Newton,
Shakespeare. Webster. Milton and the 20
called great that have been s'as thick as
antunnal leaves that strcw the brooks of
Eallambrosa.' or army worms on Ne.
braska rancho, were unreasonable auto.
mata. Here the speaker placed his left
thumb modestlv upon his massive brow,
and remarked: "Behold the thinker" zap.
rlause.l lie was willing to be influenced
BY the Bible. as he was willing 10 be in
fuenced By a Beadle Dime Novel. or anv
other standard work He was willing to he
influenced BY Jesus. for Jesus was one Of
the greatest reformers. in religion radical
Of the most advanced type. and did not he.
lieve in the church. tor he lad commanded
his followers not 10 worship in the svna.
.ogue. In proof Of this assertion. the lee.
turer quoted the we'll known words OF our