FREE THOUGHT. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4396, 22 March 1876, Page 3

FREE THOUGHT. TO THE EDITOR.

Siu —The following quotation from one of the most famous "free thought" writers of Lis time, may be deemed worth reproducing just now. He writes—" I have consulted our philosophers, I have perused their books, I have examined their several opinions, I have found tliem all proud, positive, and dogmatising ever: in their pretended scepticism, ki.owiug everything, proving nothing, and ridiculing one another ; and this is the only point iv which they concur, and in which they are right. If you count their number, each one is reduced to himself : they never unite but to dispute. I conceived that the insufficiency of the human understanding was the first cause of this pro digious diversity of sentiment, and that pride was the second. Jf our philosophers were able to discover Truth, wlich of tliem would interest himself about it? Where is the philosopher who, for his o.vii glory, would not willingly deceive the whole huimvu race ? Where is he, who, in the secret of his heart, proposes any other object thau his own destiuction ? Tlie great thing for him is to think differently from other people. Under pretence of being them selves the only people enlightened, they imperiously subject us to their magisterial de eisious, aud would fain palm upon us, for the true causes of things, the unintelligible systems they have erected in their own heads ; while they overturn, destroy, and trample under foot all that mankind reveres ; snatch from the afflicted the only comfort left them iv their misery, from the rich and great the only curb that can restrain their passions ; tear from the heart all remorse of vice, all hopes of virtue ; and <;iii boast themselves the benefactors of mankind. 'Truth,' thej-say, 'is never hurtnil to mankind.' I believe that as well as they : and the .same, in my opinion, i.s a proof that what tltey '.each is not the Truth.'' —Gandolphv's Defence of the Ancient Faith, quoted in Gregory's Letters, vol. L, pp. 0-7.

Such are the singular expressions of a noted '• I'Vce-tliiiiker ;" they are the coiifessioi.s of one of the chief actors iv the play called ''.Natural Keligkm "--his name, Jean Jacques lious.-cau. -.1 am, &c., EXTKACT. March L'Oth.

.vihanoers payir.g a nslt to Duneitm ure often at a less to know whioh is tbe best estab'iahment to visit fur tlm purchase of drapery and clothing. Herbert, Ilaynt.s, and Co. offer sjicial advantages to the public tbat nan be met with nowhere else In the city. They laa.,. at nil limes the target and best 'vssortca stock of cv ry ehu- uf goods, imponed direct from the leading manufacturers and warehousemen at home, which, heilV baight, entirely upon ossh terms, they are enabled to offer goods of auch sterling value us cannot be equalled by any other hcuse in the trade. Every article in sloe I; Is marked at a fixed price for ready money, from which no abatement s 'ever made, so that tie.' most lnej']ierieiieed buy their goods at the same price as the best judges. Their terms are—net i-juVn, without discount or reduction of any kind. A filler df-enjiiioii o their stork will he found in an Sl'-T"- me c •„••,(: flr-t •■*'*. it >•„■< ~.,.-. - AnI i.,,i;ii.isi:: -I'i.ut iiik Tr.h'i'ii and I'liKATll.--A few drops of the iiipiid •' l'iunune" .-piiiu.leo on a wet. t,,oiii-l,ru-b product: a j,iua.-,aiit lather, whieb tl 0- | r.-u,-!ii. e'i ■:■■■'-- the ttelh froni nil p,,i-.,-iU%s er iin- , ,;„•; i- .. !...,:.„ r tl.e gum,. piLVuiUd t,.r1.,r, stops i ,],.■.,, giv..-s i.i tb,-i<.oth :i f«:tn!:ar prarh-wbiieiie.-.s, j :.;.,; „, d.-oguUul fr.igrai.ce tv the breath.' It nnncis ■■ A. in pfti■;-.-.■: 1,1 od„ur aiisiug from deca.,-,! tee'i, or ! :.,;,:..■,. :ii,.,ke. "I In- Kr.c_r.>nL I-'l rilln.-. ' t„-ii- ; ~ ~,,,„- -.1 io |,:n-t of 1,„.,,-i a,„l v.„,i |„,!,s. i- „,'.. ft ,-.* iii, iige -old ei';rj,v.l„-re nt i>t;.l. Prepared In j Ilr.Mii (j. tauxr, Mil U.\fji''J iili'.-il, [.will.in.