The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-28

1t is proposed that a park be laid out
on the farm formerly owned by Thomas
Paine. in Rochester. n. Y. and that the
park be dedicated to the memory of Paine
and Ingersoll. monuments being erected
to both these distinguished free-thinkers.
IT is also suggested that Paines monu-
ment should bear the inscription:
The World Is Ny Country and To Do Good
My Religion.
There was some talk of a monument to
Jngersoli at the time of his death: but to
those who knew him best it seemed that
We're his wishes in the matter to be con-
suited, he would prefer not a shaft of
stone. but some building devoted to the
good of humanity. Although a park is
considerably more useful than a mauso-
leum, it still seems that the money which
it is proposed to spend for monuments
might better be given to some building of
direct benefit to the needy. The man who
sand that TO do good was his religion
would certainly not consider it a religious
act to spend a considerable sum en- a
stone statue when there were people in
need OF food and shelter.
Owing to the very nature of agnosti-
cism. it has never possessed any such
organized force as is welded by religious
such thinkers In any one place; and
thought they have frequently been men who
did a great deal of good in their own way,
they have never been able to combine as
the religious people Of any one place do.
because they are not numerous enough
Moreover. the suppostion of absolute
freedom Of thought involves of necessity. a
certain lack Of unity among the think
ers. Hence there has seldom been any
organization of free-thinkers, except such
non-sectarian associations as include
chTrchmen as well as agnostics. and
whatever good has been done by the
free-thinlser has been done as an individ-
ual. and he has received little credit For
this reason, as religious people are fond
of noting. there is no such array of
schools, of hospitals. or of orphan asy-
lums to the cre,-e of free thought as
there is to the credit OF the various re-
ligious sects.
There Is no question. however. that
were all the followers of Paine and Inger-
soil to contribute something to an insti-
tuition which should commemorate their
work, it could lie made an impressive
monument enough. THESE men, in their
day and generation, did a work which
was almost invaluable They were the
prOteStanls OF tne nineteenth century. Tor
although Paine's work was mainly done
in the eighteenth. he was not generally
read until the next half century was well
advanced. There are few churchmen
nowadays vino adhere strictly to the doc
trines-some of them monstrous. cruel
and unreasonable-which were generally
believed In the time of Paine and against
which Ingersoli fought. The determined
opposition of the latter made ii impossible
for the bigots to hold their own. His
equally determined advocacy of good
works Of All kinds forced the attention of
the churches away from dogma and
toward rational conduct and belief. IL
would be fitting that some institution
carrying out the ideas which he spent his
life in advocating should be established
in honor Of him. He strove 70 make the
world brighter. happier and less diff
cult place for his having lived: and il
would surely meet with his approval If
hts memory should be honored in some
way which would add to the sum of hu-
man happiness.