Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1891-03-20 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

SERGEANT QUINN.  ADVICE TO "FREETHINKER." To the Editor of the Nelson Chronicle.  Sir,--Under the above heading a correspondent styling himself "A Netherfield Primitive Methodist" in your issue of the 6th inst. made a weighty deliverance on the subject of Freethought and the perils of attending an abandonment of orthodox methods of thinking in relation to the inspired Word of God, and if the function of adviser has not be copyrighted by "A Netherfield I'. M.," I should like to be allowed to give supplementary advice to "Freethinker." In the first place I would recommend " Freethinker " in future wh n writing to the papers to "ventilate his pet theories" to content himself by simply making assertions, as it is apparently useless in the estimation of "A N. P Ill." at least to follow a course of treatment based on the results of scholarly and honest investigation, such as we find most abundantly in the best literature of the present day. Don't be too precise "Freethinker," as it is found that a too rigorous application of facts to fancies is uniformly destructive of the latter. It is better to discard logic and arithmetic rules, to condemn as ‘• muddy " and mischievous the teachings of history and the deductions of science, than that we should give up our "fondly cherished errors." I would further advise • • Freethinker" to cultivate a " spirit" of greater docility; in other words, if he is told than an Almighty God made the world for his own pleasure and that his wisdom and beneficence are as boundless as His power, he must not suffer any observation of facts to disturb his belief in the existence of such power, wisdom, and love. Faith can see clearly enough that God possesses all these attributes, in spite of the orthodox admission that an Evil One has been created to propogate universal disaster in the world. Be docile, and have faith in spite of facts.  Again "Freethinker" needs greater reverence for the Bible—that "book of books," in whose sacred pages are recorded such simple and easily understood stories as the drowning of the world because God's pleasure in regard to His own perfect design could not be realised by Ills power, which shows so simply and satisfactorily how His unchanging goodness turned into barbarity and cruel anger. How edifying to read that His most approved and honoured servants are those whose moral conduct is adorned by such petty offences as perjury, theft, adultery, and murder. Yes, "Freethinker," fall down on your kness and adore this good God. Close your eyes, open your mouth (but mind your jaw) as you read such accounts as that of the slaughter of 300 Philistines by Samson with the jaw-bone of an ass, and the still more credible story of the visit of Missionary Jonah to the whale's capacious dining-room. If you wish to know the " truth " you must swallow both the whale and the refractory Jonah. Now to learn the process: attend the wonderful ministrations of the select class teacher, where you will be required to exhibit docility, ask no inconvenient questions or you will lay yourself open to the charge of 'being a "Stripling of a Sceptic," and miss finding the " saving truth" into the bargain. Further, and this is important. Submit yourself and the solution of your doubts to the lads of eighteen," and your cheek will be purpled by the blush of shame that ever you had the temerisy to use your "God-given reason" for the purpose of finding the truth. Renounce your thinking and be a man, a real ''converted Atheist," and earn the great distinct of being biographed by that most celebrated and veracious author of the 'Converted Atheist shoemaker"—the Rev. Hugh Prices Hughes.— I Yours, MODERN mEnlin)