The times., 1899-05-15
THE SECULAR LEAGUE.
Retiring President. MIR. Kirk, Re-
plies 10 the Rev. DIR. Mnckny-Snith.

Retiring President. Mr.. Kirk, Re-
plies 10 the Rev. DIR. MnciSny-Smith.
At the opening OF the Secular League
yesterday afternoon the retiring President.
H. c. Kirk, by way of a prelude, said. in
part: The Rev. Alex. Mackay- Smith. of
this city. on several recent occasions. l
understand, has seen fit to sneer at the
Secular League from his pulpit. and to
liken it TO Herod of old, and other perse-
cutors of Jesus. The difference between
the reverend gentleman and the League
is, that he advocates a view of the great
teacher based upon dogmas of the Church,
which no one can comprehend, while the
League advocates view which is more
kindly because in accord with recent re-
search, and at the same time comprehen-
sible. II is true that DR.. w A. Crotfut
delivered before this body about a year
ago. rather bitter invective entitled mo
Jesus Myth" directed against the exist
ence of Christ, but that he has modified
his views may be inferred from the fact
that this very morning he invited me to
attend the Bible class at the Unitarian
| Church, of which he is now a member.
That no great secularist. or freethinls-
er in the past or present has ever held any
I but kindly feelings toward the real person.
age known as Jesus Christ, so far as his
identity and language can be critically
determined, may be shown by extracts
from their writings"
Mr.. Kirk then quoted from Yoitaire
in his Dictionary, first published in this
country by John Quincy Adams page lsi,
on the person Of Christ. as follows:
Jesus WIS born under the Mosaic law: be was
circumscribed according to that law he full
filled all its precepts; he kept all its feasts; he
did not reveal the mystery OF his incarnation;
he never told the Jews he was born of virgin;
he received Johns blessing in The waters OF the
Jordan, a ceremony TO which various OF the Jews
submitted; but lie never baptized anyone, he
never spoke OF the seven sacraments; he inSti-
tuted no ecclesiastical Hierarchy during lis life.
lie concealed from his contemporaries that he
the Son Of God, begotten from all eternity,
consubsanfiai with his Father, and that the Holy
Ghost proceeded from the Father and the Son.
He did not say that his person composed OF
two natures and two wills. He left these mystcr-
les to be announced TO men in the course OF time,
by those who were TO be enlightened by the Holy
Ghost. 50 long as he lived he departed in moth
ing from the law Of his fathers. In the ewes
of men he was more than Just pleasing
TO God, prosecuted by the envious, and CON
deTlned to death by prejudiced magistrates. lie
lett his holy church, established by him, to do
all the rest.
Extracts from Mr.. Ingersolls writings
were also read, and the subject discussed
by Maurice Pechin, General Birney. and
others. A review of secularism in Wash
ington in past and recent years. brought
out many interesting "reminiscences.
Officers were elected for the ensuing year
as follows: President. Gen. William Bir-
ney; Vice President, David Eccles; Secre-
tary, Mr.. Selah: Treasurer. Miss Henrietta
C.. Morrison. Arrangements were perfected
for holding the banquet at the Dewey this
evening, and the Secular League adjourned
for the season.