The Washington herald., 1907-10-07
LIES END A DREAM.
Secular Leaguers Profess No
Fear of Death.
FIRES OF HADES ARE BANKED
Speakers at First Fall Meeting ScOff
at Christian Funeral Services.
Churches TO Helping the Poor.
Tributes 10 Memory of Gen BIrney.

Those idle dreams of youth or the
maturer fear OF an older age that there
is some place of punishment waiting for
men after death were shattered by one
master blow yesterday when Dr. w. A.
Crcffut, speaking before the first fall
meeting Of the Secular League, said:
"HelIs fires are banked" This statement,
unqualified as II was. was greeted with
applause.
But hades and its banked fires was not
the only thing which was put out of
commission at yesterday afternoons
meeting. The fear Of death, which one
lady declared ridiculous; the ceremony
which surrounds the burial Of a Christian,
and many other things came in for dis
cussion. Every time religion, as it is gen
orally understood. was mentioned the
members had a hearty laugh coming,
and most of them didn't hesitate a min
ute about taking it. in fact, the meeting
was almost one laugh from beginning
10 end, for religion came in for many
raps. Consequently, everybody was hap
py. and when the plate was passed. the
suggestion Of J. J. Shirley, the president
Of the league that il be well filed was
carried out
Rudyard Kipling was mentioned as soon
as the door was passed, while such shin
ing lights as Thomas Paine, Robert niger
soil. and other agnostics were common
words upon the tongues OF the speakers.
kipling's verses. said 10 be dedicated to
The capitalist class, We're declared 10 pre-
sent some Of the evils that the Socialist
party is pledged TO eradicate.
Gives Principles of League.
President Shirley opened the meeting
with an address disclosing the purposes
Of the league. He said that the league
believed in freedom in a great variety
Of subjects. and is opposed 20 dualism,
and that 1t rather favOrs mouism.
DIT W. A. Croffutt then paid a glowing
tribute 20 the memory of the late Gen.
William Birney Or. Crofut gave a
sketch Of the life Of Gen. Birney, and
told Of his famous father. who had been
one of the great statesmen Of hts time.
He said that Gen. BIrney had been IN
spired in his youth by the knowledge OF
the struggles of the French for a repub-
lie, and that under this inspiration he had
gone 90 that suffering country 10 lend
his ala IN the downfall Of Louis Philippe
Later he returned 20 the United States
and assumed the edit0rship Of a news
paper In Philadelphia
When the civil war broke out Gen.
Biuey enlisted as a private. Dr.. Croffut
told many incidents Of Gen. Brney; incl
dents in which the character Of the man
was illustrated.
II. w Se.ah. IN speaking Of the general.
took occasion to gently rap the new
Episcopal Cathedral in this city. He said
that the 100000 which, IL is reported.
will be expended in erecting this edihCe
could better be spent in alternating the
condition of the poor.
Would spend Catholic Wealth.
Mr.. Selah said that Il is reported that
In the keeping OF the Pope at Rome there
is more ihan the wealth Of whole ma
ton. He suggested TO the meeting that
this treasure should go to the relief Of
Ireland
One Of the ladies then took the floor.
and said that she. too, knew Of the many
great qualities of the late general. She
expressed surprise that anybody feared
death. and said that several times she
had been in the very presence Of that
popularity feared creature and not a fear
did she have She said il was amusing
to observe the way Christians act al
funerals. because. she said they believed
that they knew where the departed have
gone She laid % down as a rule. how
ever, that about this departure business
no one knows anything, and candidly ad-
mitted that she, FOR one, does not have
the remotest idea about what is coming
to her in days hereafter.
one OF the other members said that
he does not believe that Mr.. Selah was
exactly right about that cathedral He
said that he was present when the corner
stone was laid by the Bishop OF London
last week. and that he believes that in
fifty years the doctrine preached there
will be the brotherhood Of man. He said
that he IS q conservative, although some