The San Francisco call., 1896-04-20
DR.. J. L. YORK'S LECTURE.
He Speaks of the True Meaning of
Aoposticisno and Liberalism

He Speaks of the True Meaning OF
Agnosticism and Liberalism.
DR.. J. L. York, the Liberal lecturer, las,
evening addressed large audience in
Scottish Hall on the subject of "Agnos.
ticism and Liberalism" In the course oi
his remarks he said:
Agnostieism and liberalism are twins, born
of freethought, and like the Siamese twins
they cannot live apart. Their lie and mission
are one, 10 promote mental lie In mankind
The word agnostic means two things, first
that do not know; second, that beyond, and
outside ofmy natural senses-nothing can be
known.
We are grateful to Professor Huxley for this
word, as il helps men and women to be honest
and not 10 pretend to know what they do not
know.
Agnostieism is the beginning OF wisdom, be.
cause to know that we do not know, and adj
nit it, is to find out our limitations 1t opens
the door for knowledge and advancement, as
no one tries 10 find out that which he thinks
he already knows.
TO be an agnostic and not to know anything
is not credit to any one To make full
diet three meals day OF agnosticism would
be TO live on the wind and skim milk. But
sgnosticism as the dessert to the full meal is OF
great benefit.
Human advancement depends on what can
and must be known and not upon specula-
ton about the unknown and unknowable.
AgnosticiSm is simply q negation or denial
which in its right use stands in the Way to
challenge all pretensions. And in connection
with free thought, its mother. and liberalism,
its twin sister, not only denies the false, but
also shows the truth and leads the way. This
is the true function OF agnostieism. II shall
have something to affirm, to refute that which
it denies, and thus becomes a builder of the
new as well as destroyer of the old idols oi
thought.
Liberalism is on the move, and it is highly
gratifying TO me to know that liberalism under
the name of free church-or the church mill
tant, or any other name. so that liberal ideas
are promulgated and humanitarianism and
true reform is fostered and pursued, instead OF
superstition and priesteraft
In THE CALL of last Monday-you should all
read tive were made happy in reading an ac.
count OF one OF these free churches or
churches militant in Chicago that called Col
onel Ingersoll to address them on liberalism
which he did to an immense audience.
Inc SUBJECT matter uttered by the great ag.
nostlc and the prolonged applause of his senti.
ments goes 10 show that the trend OF thought
In that $50 called church is in hearty symDe-
thy with true reform and the religion of I'm.
manity and liberalism. 1t also shows that the
Dars OF orthodoxy and sectarianism are break.
ing down and giving way before the rising
tide OF reason, intelligence and gospel of com.
mon sense.
The hope of liberalism is to hasten the dav
Wnen men Dy intelligent cooperation hall as.
sert their natural rights to life and henni.
ness on Tree soil; when the grinding wheels
OF monopoly shall cease 10 absorb and control
the natural gifts and advantages of life and
prosperity; when selishness and greed viii moi
eat up the substance OF the toiling, helnless
poor and equality and justice shall ch racterize
the laws and usage of better civilization
when there shall be no more war and the anoai
OF peace and good will shall rule the world.
and woman shall cease to be slave OF snner
stition SUI and raise her babes in the lap CT reas on
ana common sense; when popes and Einas
and priests and thrones shall be NO no,a q -
religion consist simply in doing good, and :
new faith shall gid our skies with briehte,
nope ana promise for mental freedom ana the