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THE WORLD IS MY COUNTRY; TO DO GOOD IS MY RELIGION TOM PAINE.
, DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU CONFUCIUS.
EDITED BY A HEATHEN IN THE INTEREST OF GOOD MORALS. . ' ' PUBLISHED WEEKLY; 11.00 A YEAR IN ADYANCS
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VOL. VIII. NO. 44 LEXINGTON, KY SUNDAY. DECEMBER 10. E. M. 299. $1.00 A YEAR
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A BETTER FUTURE.
BY AN EX-MINISTER,
ILDITOR J3LU1 UKASB 1JLADE: I
If you wish this natlooHo be made
better, then please read and work
against the danger of overpopulating
It. which has caused Europe ana
China to work for nearly starving
wages.
Work against marriages of bad
characters, bad health, drunkards,
unsound minds, and tbe extremely
poor. 1
ignorance nas no moral rgnt to
people this world with criminals,
scrotula and consumption.
The raising of good, sound and In
telligent children we owe to human
ity, justice and future generations.
There should be stringent laws for
the betterment of the present and
future generations.
. Any person sustaining or work
Ina for any laff that Is for the inter
est of the minority, and detrimental
to the majority must be a supers tl
tious bigot, ignorant and naturally
mean.
We Liberals are in the minority
and powerless to pass any law. The
Bible teaches to marry and "replen.
ish the earth." , Only proper per-
anna ahnuM'hn allowed to marrv.
Which is the better, never to have
been born or to have been born, and,
at tbe age of 90, have the man to
say that the misery has been greater
tban the joy or liter
If you say it is the man s own
fault: that he could have lived a dif
ferent life, and could have had more
happiness than misery, then why
can t you make yourself President
of the United States; why do you
get sick; why don t you have all tbe
money you wantr
Instead of our being free agents
we are merely tools; creatures of
chance, governed by outer and inner
circumstances and abilities
If the Bible be true, as they sat it
is, 'taca agrt.h.Li y of tae mifjiuvT
hereafter, will be far worse than in
present life; for from the Bible
teaching we may be assured that
most of the people will go to an
eternal hell. -You say It is their
fault; that if they believe the Bible
and do right they will go to heaven.
But will your answer lesseu their
sufferings in hell? -
When Christians ask us to believe
their Bible, the main evidence that
they offer us is, that its supposed
authors said tl.ey were prophets, or
inspired, and that their book is the
word of God. If th Is be true reason
ing then why not also believe tbe
Koran of tbe Turks and the Vedas
of tbe Hindoos? Those books are
also claimed to be inspired and the
believers in them call the believers
In the Bible, heathen.
The Hindoo inspired books also
have a crucified Savior wbo arose
from the the dead 3100 years ago, to
save tbe world.
The Christians next strongest ar
gument is that the civilization of
the Christian nations Is due to the
Bible.
If this be true how do you account
for the civilization that China and
Japan have?
Neither of those nations believe in
Jesus, or our Bible, except a very
few who, from various reasons have
been persuaded by tbe Christian
missionaries. How do you explain
that their civilization is so far ahead
of our Indians, who for generations,
have had the Christian religion
preached to them?
The Chinese and Japanese have
laws to punish crime; they have hos
pitals and asylums, and tate care of
their poor as best they can.
Col. Hall, an English officer,. says,
aftei living one year in Japan, "For
honesty, charity and polleness tbe
Japanese excel the Christians."
Capt. Cardonette, of 191 Marcy Ave,
Brooklyn, N. Y., a Christian, says
that he has found the Mohammedans
more honest and temperate than tbe
Christians. There was a t'me when
Egypt was the first nation in the
world. Could not an Egyptian then
have said Egypt is the most Intelli
gent, most civilized and richest of
all the nations and was made so by
its religion? Would that have
proved that its religion was of more
than human origin?
Christians say that disbelief of the
Bible means the downfall of man.
We have all known naturally good
men who were Christians and turned
to be Liberals and remained just as
good citizens, and we have known
bad Liberals who became Christians
and remained just as bad.
Principle is muepent ana is not
made by belief in future punishment.
Christians are as badly mistaken
as they are honest In testifying to
their holiness, changed bearts ana
sanctldcatlon. It they could just
get over their nightmare long enough
to reason and investigate right they
would soon see their mistake. Tbey
are prone to judge all men by their
1'auline maxim that "the wisdom or
this world is foolishness with God."
To this we reply that tbe wisdom of
tbe religionist s, foolishness witb
the scientific investigator.
For years I was a Christian, ex
perienced holiness and felt save' by
tbe same Imagination that deceives
thousands to say they are saved,
When I saw the. Bible could no more
be proven inspired than any othet
book, I left tbe church and told my
brethren why I did so.
I will defend what I here write in
any newspaper, against any one wbo
believes that tbe Uible can stand
public debate.
A Brooklyn student asks "How
could we have known right from
wrong had it not been for the Bi
ble?" When people had so evoluted
that they could reason that twe
banos bad more fingers than one;
that it was shorter to cross a stream
tKon A rrrv nrv ft an1 a hmi rA tm aarl
that mutilation of the body caused
pain; that it was unpleasant to
have property stolen, then right ana
wrong were realized, and these
things were matters of experience
long before any of our Bible was
written; before our ancestors had
invented the alphabet.
Christians ask: "If you can be
lieve In Washington and in the Czar,
why can t you believe in Christ I
We believe It highly probable that
there was a man named Jesus, more
or less like the one mentioned in the
New Testament, but we are unable
to believe that he arose from the
dead.
If the histories of Washington and
the Czar told us that they arose from
the dead, walked on tbe water, or
made the earth shake we would be
unable to believe such parts of their
history. .
Christians say the Bible mustjbe
inspired because prophecies have
been fulfilled. If there Is anythina
In this then why are not the millions
.todajUMpjLrjjq-wj'ifirnphnry
that come to pass f 1 can reme
ber tbat lamine, wars, and rumofrj
of war have taken place in the past
and that there had been prophecy
tbat these should take place, and yet
tbe fulfillment of such prophecies
was no evidence that the prophets
who predicted them were inspired.
And no stronger fulfillment of prop
hecy than these can be proven by
the Bible.
Christians say that the coming of
Christ was foretold. There is noth
ing strange about that; fiction is
easily dated back, and dreams are
unreliable.
It the Bible was written by in
spired men who could foretell things,
as the clergy would have i's believe,
why did tbey not make their proph
ecies clearer and more perfect than
uninspired people could hardly
guess?
Jf they had prophesied that a cy
clone should strike St. Louis in May
1896, and tbat in 1893 the United
States would go to war with the
Kingdom of Spain, and had so ar
ranged that one similar prophesy
would be fulfilled once in every fifty
years, it would have bad more weight
with thinking people than the repe
tition of the stories about Samson,
Babel, the Ark, the serpents of tbe
Old and New Testaments, and about
the reserrections of Lazarus and of
Jesus.
Many Christians will not inves
tigate; they think it is a .sin to do
so. No religion is worth anything
if it will not stand investigation.
Any religion that will permit the
worst of murderers to enter heaven
by faith and baptism while their
victims are in hell for honest faith
in Ingersoll's doctrine, can have no
connection with justice.
Many Christians believe in a Dev
il who, they say, is all over the
world at. the same time tempting
people to do wrong. It you had
sheep which you wanted to keep
and a wolf daily got among them,
wouldn't you kill that wolf if you
could?
It you would kill the wolf, how can
you believe that a just God wou.d
not kill tbe Devil, aud, thereby, keep
tbe majority of his children out of
an eternal hell? Why should this
Devil who is In another world, tor
ment sinners who are his friends in
this one, merely to please God, who
Is his enemy?
If God is Infinitely wise can he
frame any exouse for creating the
Devil, it he Is opposed to tbe suffer
ing of the majority of the people in
the Christian world?
II suoh results follow as the clergy
would have us believe, what sad
tidings has Christianity brought?
It the passengers on somo great
ship were told tbat the ship was to
be wrecked, and that only a few
would be saved, and all the balano
ould go to the bottom would they
call it "glad tidings of great joy?''
According to tbe Uible nearly all
will go to an eternal bell tbat is rar
worse than drowning.
Christians say that all the boo if s
believed to be the word of Goti by
the heathen nations are human in
ventions and false. Our book, called
the Bible can, In the same way, be
shown to be a human Invention.
They say to us: "What will you
give us tbat is better than the Bi
ble?"
We would give them a higher
morality without a useless Christi
anity. It cannot truthfully be said
tbat tbe man wbo attacks Uuddbism
attacks all morality. He does not
attack goodness, iustice, mercy, or
anything that tends in his judgment
to the welfare of mankind, but he
merely attacks Buddhism.
So one. In attacking Christianity
does not attack kindness, charity,
or any virtue, but he attacks some
thing that has been added to these.
He does not attack the fruit or the
flower, but the parasite.
Truth is better than falsehood
We would give you the religion of
reason and humanity Instead of
that of the Bible that tells you that
most of the people will go to bell.
The. fear of that awful punishment
has caused many good people to go
to insane asylums.
We would lessen the danger of re
ligious wars and stop the expense
of keeping up 113,000 preachers and
40,000 priests in tbe United States
alone. We would give you just and
impartial laws and repeal tbe relig
ious, and partial laws, which are
many, and which furnish big pay
for preachers, for penitentiaries,
soldiers and law makers.
We do not want the Bible forced
upon the minds of our young in the
publio schools One of these partial
religious laws in some of our states,
is that-no Liberal can hold any pub
lic office, nor will his oath be taken,
no matter how honest and upright
he is, while, in these same states,
bad Christians can fill these offices.
Sat grk&iagjh-ear-tbot teore .are
no bad Christians; that all bad peo
ple belong to the Infidel rank.
Christians claim credit for all the
good done by Liberals while they
charge all of their crimes to Liber
als. They generally say that the
morality taught by them is higher
than that taught by others, and yet
when they read our books and
attend our Liberal Sunday Schools,
they learn that there can be no bet
ter morals than those taught by Lib
erals.
Liberals have never ' advocated
partial laws such as have been pass
ed by Christians, But good Chris
tians are no more guilty of passing
partial laws than good Liberals,
though these unjust laws, as a gener
al thing, have been passed through
ignorance; and this is why I call your
attention to the fact that there are
superstitious and bad, as well as
good, Christians.
Tbe Bible says that "There is
none good; neither indeed can be;"
and we often hear the best of Chris
tians pray. In public, for tbe for
giveness of their sins. Are not
these confessions evidence that the
Christians are a little bad?
The percentage of morality varies
in Christians. Some may have 99
per cent, others 95, 90, 70, 40, 20, 10
1, 0. All who believe in the Inspi
ration of the Bible and the resurreo
tion of Jesus are Christians. Thus
H. H. Holmes, Rev. G. E. Morrison
and Charles Guiteau were Christians.
If these scoundrels had pro
fessed Liberalism we would be
fair enough to own them as bad
Liberals, but they all professed
Christ and we will be fair enough to
oall them Christians.
To further prove that morality and
religion are not synonymous, and
that there are bad Christians as well
as good, I will quote the report of tbe
Chap'ain ot the Ohio Penitentiary.
Males registered at his office for
the year 1879 were 601.
Parental church relations were as
follows: Catholics 133; Methodists
172; Presbyterians 09; Baptists 66;
Congregationalists 11: Episcopa
lians 33; Lutherans 23; Christians
or Campbellitcs 17; United Breth
ren 11; other denominations 26;
those professing no religious belief
44.
From these figures one Can easily
asoertain whether Liberals or Chris
tlans furnish the greater number ot
convicts.
A few years ago, J. B. Wise, a
one-armed school teacher, of Clay
Center, Kansas, was convicted by
the United States Court for sending
through tbe mail, Isaiah, 36-12, and
Chas. C. Moore, an ex-Cbristaio
preacher, ot Lexington, Ky., who
learned that the Bible was no more
Inspired than auy other book, and
then published a Freethougbt, Pro
hibition paper, was In 1899, convict
ed of a similar offense, and sentenced
to two years in the penitentiary, by
United States Judge, Thompson, of
Cincinnati. These two men were
prosecuted by preachers, and these
two cases are but a small per cent of
the punishment that has been inflict
ed In tbe last 20 years, on Intelligent,
noble men wbo honestly worked for
the betterment of the human race.
The work of these men did not
please the clergy. They feared that
such would drive many of them to
earning their living by hard work,
Instead of by preaching a few hours,
each week to their believers, for sala
ries. There is no doubt that the majori
ty of priests and preachers are sin
cere, and honestly believe that they
are engaged in a noble work, but it
is only because they have not inves
tigated right. I most cheerfully ad
mit that thousands ot ministers are
endeavoring to do good; tbat they
are pure, self denying men, who are
trying to m ike the world better, but
there is a frightful defect in their
philosophy.
Tbey say to the bank cashier, "You
must not steal; larceny is wrong,
and is contrary to all laws human
and divine, but if you do steal every
cent in the bank, (Jod will as gladly
and quickly forgive you in Canada as
he will in the United States."
On the other hand Liberalism says
there is no being controlling tbe
universe who rewards virtue and
punishes vice. Every act has its
necessary consequences. If the act is
good tbe consequences are good. If
it is bad the consequences are bad,
and must be borne by the actor.
Liberalism says to every human be
ing, " You must reap what you have
0t TV U.
If all men knew that they must
abide the consequences of their own
actions, the world in my judgment,
would be better.
Freethought has attacked the doc
trine of the atonement. The Inno
cent should not suffer for the guilty.
and it the innocent do suffer for the
guilty that does not justify guilt
XhIi4MNSaMSBBMMSl
dence we can produce that has care
fully been selected from histories,
and from various parts of the world,
to prove that all tbe world's claimed
inspired books are no more inspired
than any other books.-
If any one wants to know the truth
about religion he should read some
of tbe following books that can be
bought of Peter Eckler, 35 Fulton
Street, New York City, or the Truth
Seeker, 23 La Fayette Place, New
York City, at prices ranging from 5
to 25 cents.
, The Rev. Field-Ingersoll Discus
sion; the Judge Black-Ingersoll
Discussion; In these two pamphlets
both sides are most ably represent
ed, and argued as to whether religion
is divine and beneficial, or the con
trary; also "Which Way," "The Age
of Reason," "False Claims ot the
Church," "Why don't God Kill the
Devil?" "How to Reform Mankind,"
"The World "8 Sixteen Crucified Sav
iors," "Ingersoll as he is," "Inger
soll to the Clergy," "Blue Laws of
Connecticut," "Infidels andCharity"
"Superstition," "Has theuniversea
moral Governor?" "Crimes of
Preachers" and "Was Lincoln a
Christian?" The last named only
consists of authentio testimonials of
Lincoln's widow, and many other re
spectable citizens of Springfield, 111.,
who were well acquainted with him,
showing that the President died a
Liberal.
Other valuable books are; "Was
Jefferson a Christian?" consUting
ot reliable statements, (showing clear
ly that be was a Liberal. "Was
Washington a Cbrisiain," "Infidel
Death-bed Testimonials." "Rey
nold's Blasphemy Trail," giving
details ot Christain New Jersey pros
ecuting a good man for having ex
pressed his honest opinion about re
ligion. "Studies in Theology,"
"Tbe Bible against Itself" and "150
Contradictions."
Tbe last three can be had by ad
dressing Tbe Independent Pulpit,
Waco, Texas.
Tbe five leading Liberal papers
are, Tbe vorcn oi ivason,
Silverton, Orrgia; Independent
Pulpit, Waco, Texas; Freetbought
Ideal, Ottawa. Kansas; Truth Seek
er, 28 La Fayette Place, New York
City; The Investigator, Uoston,
Mass.
All fair minded seekers of informa
tion should read" these bioks and pa
pers, for tbey read equally well on
each side ot the subjects that they
discuss, and are far more liable to
give accurate information than those
written lu the Interest of only one
side.
Christian millionaires, one dollar
spent tor reform is better than hun
dreds spent in other directions.
Remove the clouds of Ignorance
and religion from the minds ot the
poor and middle classes ot the oeo-
pie, and partial laws will cease, and
you will no longer hear the cry of
iioi u iiiiiicb, list B, m . . 1 1: , uai
times and crime are toe productions
of ignorance, and the darkest of all
Ignorance is superstitious religious
belief.
Thousands of millions have been
paid in the last 1500 years, by hon
est, ignorant people to keep up re
ligion far more money tban tbe en
tire world has today.
Thousands of millions have been
taken from the people to pay Interest
on war debts, and to manufacture
weapons by which one Christian na
tion wants to vanquish another.
Do you call this civilization?
Would it not be better that your
name should be read by future gen
erations as a light giver, or a teach
er of morality higher tban the world
now possesses, than to say you were
worth 3,000,000, and gave $50,000
to tbe church?
Christians pray for the sick to re
cover; in times of drouth they pray
for rain to fall, and if these happen
they will say that their prayers
have been answered. But these
things are ruled by the laws of na
ture and would have happened just
the same if they had not been pray
ed for.
If prayers are answered in forgiv
ing sins, or in other ways, then why
not pray for rain to fall In the sun
shine, when no clouds are visible?
Then it would win for you believers
in prayer, the world over-
But the light of reason has dawn
ed, and people seek tangible evi
dence, and they cannot see that
prayers are answered.
The supreme power we can neith
er help nor hurt by our prayers or
curses.
Some years ago thousands prayed
for the recovery of President Gar
field. He died. Then Christians
said that God saw fit to take him
away. If God sees fit to do as he
pleases then why pray for anything?
PrayerJs principally directing and
requesting. They request the wisest
being to do things they want him to
KT jaw. yiinUj
T
change his mind by prayer?
When Christians are cornered on
this point tbey fall back on the Laz
arus story. But, Christians, before
you can prove anything by the Bible
you must prove tnat iv is autnentio.
You must prove, beyond tbe pos
sibility of a doubt, that it could not
have been changed since first writ
ten, and you must remember that
printing was not invented until
1438.
You must prove bevond the pos
sibility of a doubt that Paul, Peter,
Mark and all of the supposed authors
of the Bible were, actually inspired.
ibe saying tbat tbey were inspired
if indeed they ever said so is not
proving that tbey were Inspired. It
tbey were Inspired they could only
know it themselves, and you can on
ly have their word for it in writing
or print.
If It be possible that thouands of
American citizens were humbugged
by Jo Smith, to believe that the
book of Mormon was inspired, while
in It you read acoounts of miracles
having been performed, can you not
understand that it was far more pos
sible to humbug people with religion
IS'J'J years ago, when tbe masses
were more ignorant than now?
It you want the present supersti
tion continued how do you expect
the race to bd bettered by teaching
a falsehood? Would it not be better
to teach that the wrong doing of
each person will follow him until he
has paid, in this life, the penalty of
his crime?
The doctrine ot the forgiveness of
sin has been pernicious in its effects
upon society; and society bas been
partially demoralized by this doc
trine that the vilest sinner may.
at any time, obtain complete for
giveness for all crimes committed.
The principles of moral science
teach us that this is impossible;
hence it will be seen that no sn can
be forgiven but must work out its
own legitimate consequences.
Christians ask us "If the Infidel
dootrine is right why does it not
grow more rapidly?"
When you are forcing your Bible
into the Dublio schools, accord i no- tn
the Michigan Supreme court decis
ion, and according to Judge Edwards
decision in Waverly, Pennsylvania,
and forcing children into Sunday
Schools, refusing to bear our evi
dence in your churches, punishing
honest men for "ending through tbe
mails what Christians are allowed to
send, allowing churches to go un
taxed, voting for dishonest believers
rather than for honest Liberals, hav
ing hundreds of millions ot dollars at
your command, paying over$100,0OO
yearly out of publio treasuries (is not
tbis an underestimate: .Editor) to
chaplains, for which this Govern
ment taxes tbe unbeliever, la it an
