The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-11
Freethinkers Celebrate
 Birthday of Ingersoll

><Although dead for seventeen years, Col. Robert G. Ingersoll is not for gotten, and freethinkers in many Am erican communities will observe to- day the eighty-third anniversary of the birth of the most eloquent of the preachers of agnosticism. Ingersoll was primarily an orator-the greatest of his time, in the opinion of his cler- ical friend, Henry Ward Beecher- but the general belief that the still ing of his golden tongue would put an abrupt end to his influence upon mems minds has apparently not prov ed true. The thirteen-volume edi tion of his complete works, as well as the numerous editions of his lectures in single volumes and pamphlets, are said to be selling as well as ever.
 While it is usually true that a pro- phet is not without honor save in his own neighborhood and family circle, this is scarcely true of Ingersoll! His widow is to all appearances as firmly convinced as ever of the truth of the religious views so eloquently ex- pounded by her husband Although advanced in years, Mrs. Ingersol con- tinues to take a lively interest in vari- ous humanitarian movements, and she was one of the members of the reception committee which welcomed Warden Osborne back to Sing Sing after his vindication. Col. Ingersolrs Grimes Against Criminals" was one of the most powerful appeals ever voiced in behalf of prison re1orm, and Mrs. Ingersoll has felt keen in terest in Osborpes work. IngersolTs two daughters, Mrs. Eva Ingersoll Brown and Mrs. Maud Ingersoll Pro- basco. share their fathers views on religion. Both are ardent suffragists, like their mother and father, and Maud. the younger daughter has for years been prominent in the work of the, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to nimals. IngersolPs influ- ence in matters of religion extended beyond his immediate family circle, and 1t is said that scarcely a relative, by blood or marriage, of either Col. or Mrs. Ingersoll, Is now to be found in the Christian communion.
 Mrs Ingersoll was an unbeliever in supernatural religion before she mar ried the young Illinois lawyer who was destined to win such wide cele-
 
 Der of tho same family which produc- ed Theodore Parker, the famous Uni tartan clergyman, and Captain John Parker, who opened the battle of Lex ington. Her grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Buckman Parker, left her native Mas sachusetts to settle in Illinois, and was one of the first 'fnfidels" in that part of America.
 Col. Ingerson was the son of a cler- gyman, the Rev. John Ingersoll. who was native of Vermont, while his mother came of the old New York family of Livingstons, which included so many gifted men. Ingersoll's an- cestry on both sides was purely Eng fish. His father was a college man, learned in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and Intellectually far above the aver age country minister of his time. Ing erso1l was the youngest of five chill dren, and his middle name, Green, was given him in honor of the Rev. Beriah Green. The Rev. John Ing ersoll was pastor of Presbyterian church at Dresden, Yates county. N. Y., when Robert was born on Aug II, 1S33 Soon afterward he assum- ed charge of church in New York City, but the wanderlust soon seized him again and he went to Ohio. In various towns in that state the future arch foe of religion spent his early boyhood, but it was in Peoria, H., that he studied law, became Attorney General of Illinois, and started on his road to fame. Peoria has honored his memory with magnificent mon ument. "