Arizona republican., 1890-12-15

of God; not self.willed, not soon angry, not
 given to wine, no striker, not given 10 filthy
 iucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of
 ing fast the faithful word as he hath been
 taught that he may be able by sound doe
 Urine both to exhoTt and to convince the
 gainsayers.-Pauls Epistle to Titus, l, 7-9,
 In a sermon delivered in the city of Phoenix yesterday minister, in re- fcrring to the recent lecture on free thought in this city, said:
 I did not attend the lecture, but l read the report of it in this newspaper here, and l wish to say right here that do not wish to offend anyone, but paper that will print reports of such lectures should not be taken into your houses
 Whether the gentleman referred to TIE REPUBLICAN or not is immaterial, but the fact that he thus attacks the liberty of the press is sufficient to merit some notice even emanatIng from an in- significant source as it does. THE RE- PUBLICAN as newspaper printed full and impartial account of the lectures of Mir. Putnam at the Opera House as a matter of news, just as it would print a full and impartial account of a lecture of missionary, or a speech in a political campaign or any other matter of general interest. Like all newspapers it knows no creed or sect. It believes that the holy Catho- lie church has great mission to per form; it believes that the followers of Wesley have done much good in the world, and that each and every church accomplishes certain good work. Like wise it believes that even the free thinkers live to a good pur- pose. It is such expressions of in tolerance, as that quoted, on the part of some persons claiming to be christian teachers that brings discredit upon the church and causes liberal minded men to repudiate all religions and become free thinkers.
 Has this teacher of religion grown so weak in his faith or does he consider his religion so vulnerable that it's followers must not even read the expressions of men who deny that there is any founda- tion for his faith? Has he grown so weak in knowledge or of the power of Christ within himself to feel that he cannot reply to the charges of hypocrisy and cant made against his teaching? It is a sad commentary on one claiming to be ordained of Christ to preach His gospel unto all the world to virtually say that he is so weak and he considers his hearers so weak in the faith that they cannot "by sound doctrine both exhort and convince the gainsayers.
 His position is that which has been held by many men in the church, and which the brightest and best minds of the world have ever been combating. It is the same as that of the dark ages which made Charles II do penace as a beggar at the gates; it is the same as that against which Martin Luther re- belled it is the same as that which burned Cranmer at the stake, and it is the same today; spirit of intolerance totally at variance with the teachings of the man who preached the sermon on the mount. It is that same spirit which prevented the split in the Methodist Church occasioned by the war, being healed and all again united.
 That great secret society whose origin dates back even beyond the building of the temple by King Solomon; whose members laid the cornerstone of the pyramids, held itself together during the greatest civil strife ever known in the worlds history. But certain churches which broke apart over questions con- nected with that strife have never yet, even after quarter of century, after all the States have become again part of the one grand Union household after all the secret societies in the land meet in grand session; after the bankers and other business mems associations hold National sessions; even after all this, they, in the name of religion, claim ing to follow and to believe in that great teacher who said "A new com- mandment give unto you: love one another," claiming this, refuse to unite. And then one of the teachers in this church says the utterances of | one who believes in free thought should | not be heard or read, by the adherents of his congregation. d
 For what breaches he the gospel? | Does he believe that Christ came to | save publican and sinner, or does he stand as one of those of long prayere in the market place who when ques- tioned are so weak in their own faith and work that they can only defend it by ignorance.
 And what is free thinker? Webster says he is "One who believes in the ex- istence of God, but denies revealed re- ligion; one who professes no form of religion, but follows the light of nature and reason as his only guides in doctrine and practice" We believe this defni- tion will hold good with every free thinker in the land. Then upon what ground need the church fear2 Is it be- cause of the charges of hypocricy and cant within them which cannot be gain saidP If any man be of the spirit what need he to fear of the raileries of those who criticise his religion2 As to daily newspapers their mission is not to save the world. They come