The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-17

nihcant thing as tho worlds established
codes OF labor and rest. Ho should, at least,
DO mentally and psychically strong enough to
resist all conformation to Christianity In any
form. even In the rest days.
The hall Is wide. short. barc, gray. and cheer
less. There IL q table of atheisito lite nature
Mt the entrance. presided over by n pale youth
VINO suggests n diet of bread and tea. with
meat as an occasional luxury. Scattered
about in liberal attitudes of repose and com.
fort are the struggling nuclei Of an audience.
rho platform is occupied by n cheerful. ven-
cradle President. and a slight, blond wo-
man. fashionably attired. with signs OF tho
approaching degrees Of the passe.
Utter absence Of conyentionality. of es.
tablished rules OF precedence, and pollteness
even. characterize the assembly. Your lib.
notch, even II he does condescend TO recognize
the sabbath IN, his own peculiar way.
rises and Introduces the blond woman as the
speaker OF the afternoon; The unconyention-
and tho lecturer begins,
Her voice Is wide, harsh. and unpleasantly
Earring, TO musical sensibil!ties. She takes
her audience into her confidence at once with
q most womanish giggle. and makes n few ia
ce,ious remarks. During the course OF her
afnln in n coarse. indelicate Joke.
inadelity. heresy, socialism, illogical con
T m%Fs. a ' rlSa t tro% Se, SsF lives y; svf here pU %Sa i Sss
looking beyond. for purer patriotism. for
more equal division OF this worlds goods.
eral degcneracy OF the republic. of the iniu-
cncc OF worn-out church going On citizen
eiicits widest applause and demands for
more, Then she sits down with "A smile OF
conscious triumph.
sion of the question under consideration.
ono after another OF tho members rise and
discuss" Bitter invectlye follows cold
scorn. subtle analysis trots hand IN hand with
amusing nnocdotc. The audience ,pplauds,
puts It's money in the c3lIec,i9T box; and re,
Leaving out the minor incidents OF Sabbath
course. All doubt II Is. not doubt alone of tho
a%ccc2tcd teneis OF Christianity. but doubt Of
Intellectual. In other words. atheist as lie his,
he h~esitatep on a suspended gnngway OF iLeth-
cient reasoning between the shore OF iChris'
tianiiy and the ship Of absolute Inldelity.
His discourse Is u mixed metaphor and ny
pcrbolc Of Christian illusions and scientific rea-
sonings.. Try ms he may, the familiar falla-
clos OF heaven and he'll creep into his mind.
The iulltration OF countless ages OF belief into
t tlr MiHM!" ~. lie dtsbsIio"Ss in n anythinG pHu hut
scientific Hnnihllation or change, yet he speaks
OF II heaven, and It's possibilities; he scorns tho
idea Of punishment, yet he makes tortu ring nj.
iusions 10 u hell. lie disdaihs the efficacy OF
prayer, yet he %ndiuIcs his audience in prayer,
ful 'orm 10 Censc implorinR thu / something
themselves which he tacitly admits Is tho soul,
Taking the Bible rs his text, he hurls him
sell at II Win i"fnCltN, ana tears II into sheds
with unspariEg cpithet. lie even denies It's
literary hetuty, lie docs Il all with a rant and
a howl; the a~tLGistic mob is moved into noisy
acgui"sConco. lie boots nj the Bible readers,
and nOn-liihlc readers hunt M his reference.
and put their own construuction thercupon.
His very attacks upon tho Bible. humanity,
and tho law presuppOsc n stronger mower Oh
the other side than on his W II clear
truths OF his unhalief. and hides his shrinking
heart behind q shower OF noisy words. The
simple necessity OF defence Indicates the nm,
tennhleness OF his position and the Insecurity
of his opinions.
Briefly. Lho Boston atheist II superficial.
Aatheistic mise onuries are needed here. II
one must DO a liberal, intidel, atheist. or any
other thing, he should be so heart. soul, body
brain. ...t