The Church & Freethought.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1756, 6 November 1885, Page 3

The Church & Freethought.

To the Editor of the Standard. Sir, —I had hoped that “Truth Seeker ” would have been able and willing to furnish clear and definite answers to my questions. He has deigned to answer one only; and that by quoting the definition of a freethinker as given by the Hon, R. Stout. This seems to me to be a singularly misleading definition, and one likely to do a good deal of harm. He says, “ they,” i.c. the freethinkers, “ were bound to maintain liberty and absolute freedom of speech and thought,” and, of course, of action also. None should know better than lawyers that our courts of law exist mainly in order to curb and subdue such an “ absolute freedom ” as he speaks of. He knows too that by appearing to prosecute or defend persons who have exercised this “absolute freedom” of thought, word, and deed, adds very materially to the incomes of lawyers. It is owing to this exercise of “ absolute freedom, &c., &c., which gives rise to actions for libel, defamation, blasphemy, breach of promise, and of contract, &c. &c. How, then, can a wise man say that we are “ bound to maintain liberty and absolute freedom of speech and thought ” without adding the very necessary caution ‘ with great limitations’! But, perhaps, he was speaking only to the “ intelligent men of the age ” who call themselves freethinkers ! Anyhow, if there be any limitation whatsoever to be placed upon thought or speech, it is idle and absurd to talk about maintaining “ absolute freedom of speech and thought.” Yet, I think, it would have been better for “ Truth Seeker” and his cause, if he had allowed his letter to end with Mr Stout s definition ; because, the remainder of what he has written does but prove beyond all question that Mr Stout was sadly mistaken in h ; s opinion which is thus expressed “It seemed to him that the term ‘Freethinker’ was generally misunderstood. He was looked upon as a person whose sole object in life was to attack other people.” Just so ; and “ J ruth Seeker” shows conclusively that the general opinion is correct by proceeding to attack and abuse the Church and Christian people with such violence (not bitter hatred) as would scarcely be met with among the inmates of a lunatic asylum ; and one is tempted to inquire whether “ 1 ruth Seeker” has at any time during some painful accident or dangerous sickness, been the recipient of tho sympathy and kindness and love of Christians, and now in a way, not wholly uncommon, desires to manifest his gratitude in return ! But, Sir, 1 need not occupy any further space in your paper i to point out the abusive nature of twoilurds uf the letter I am considering—it 1 speaks sufficiently plainly for itself. Still, 1 would just request him to prorc, by giving facts which shall be capable of easy verification, his assertion that “it was not ’ all Christian money by a very long way” - which built and now maintains hospitals ■ and kindled institutions mentioned in my > former letter

iu taking my leave of this subject 1 must express my extreme regret at being the innocent cause of affording “ Truth Seeker ’ an opportunity of publicly venting Lis spleen by a manifestation of his inveterate animosity to the Church, including both ministers and people, in a most impartial manner. I thought, when I wrote my first letter, that he might have been, like myself, a Christian and freethinker combined. I was mistaken. I add, that not one word in my letter can be construed into a charge against Trmh ■Seeker ” of “ bitter hatred against Christianity,” and he knows it. He is right, though, in saying “ that the condition of the Church of the present day,” &c., &c , is hastening the doom of Christianity. Doubtless, for Christianity is to-day mure widely spread and embraced, and is a more powerful agent for the

good and well being of the human race than ever before ; so that we may with confidence look forward to the consummation of its doom at no very distant date when “ the earth shall be tilled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” I am, &c , Senbx, Greytown, Nov. 3, 1885.