INGLEWOOD FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

Freethought Review, Volume II, Issue 15, 1 December 1884, Page 7

INGLEWOOD FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION.

11 Still tliG' l7 come.” Another gifvn of the progress of J b lb Freethought is the formation of an Association at Inglewood. The Secretary, Mr. Thomas Drake, has favored us with the following particulars : Sir. —duly received your letter containing information as to the formation of Freethought Associations, and laid same before our Committee which desires mo to thank you for your kind attention to the matter. Probably you would like some small account of our proceedings up to present date, as I know the interest you take in all local Associations which have for their object the emancipation of the mind from superstition. About six or eight weeks ago a few friends and myself, being aware that there were many both avowed and unavowed Freethinkers in the neighbourhood, thought it desirable to organize an Association, knowing that unity is strength and that a dis-organised body of Freethinkers possesses no more strength than a dis-organ-iscd army would, disbanded and spread abroad amongst the people without a leader or place of rendezvous. We therefore entered into negotiations for the purchase of the empty Primitive Methodist Chapel and section, in Inglewood Town, but these negotiations fell through and the AYesleyans rushed to the front and bought the building, evidently to keep Freethought from having a prominent position and footing, but alas ! no sooner had the “ dearly beloveds ” completed their purchase, than Freethought hammers and paint brushes were at work converting a four-roomed cottage into a meeting room and reading room, which it is proposed to open to members and the public formally on Sunday afternoon, the 30th inst., at 2.30 p.m, sharp, when short addresses explanatory of the objects and reasons for what has been done will be delivered by three gentlemen who are on the committee. There is no doubt that it is high time that Freethought made some effort to assert itself and let the world know that it is not the mean, vile thing some of the preachers of the whale story, the snake story, and other similar gullet-stretching narratives assert that it is. AVe are often defamed publicly from the pulpit, and no doubt privately during the house to house visitations of “these gentlemen,” and in our present unorganised state, not one word can be heard from us in reply. The minister from his lofty pulpit situate up amongst the ceiling joists —can make any statements he chooses respecting us, represent us at one time as near akin to lunatics, and at another as “ wishing to lead unclean lives,” as Father Le Mcnant Chesnais did lately at Wanganui, with the Mayor of that town sitting peacefully in the chair and by silence giving consent to the slander, and not a word can the Freethinker say in his own defence. Some of the newspapers are too crowded with other matters to allow religious discussions in their columns, others are too bigotted, or are the avowed organs of Superstition. In our chief town, New Plymouth, may be seen Salvation Barracks and placards about such cheerful and refreshing matters as Red-hot Shot, Blood, Hell, Hell-fire, and Damnation, and lads who would run away at the cocking of a toy pistol, “fight the good fight,” put on the armour of righteousness and the breastplate of something else, and generally get into the same pot-valiant state that Mr. Winkle did when he was about to make his renowned attack on the small boy. On our country roads the religious monomania seems to take another form, the rustic population does not go in for uniforms, cornet blowing, and parading, but it resorts to mud-holes and creeks, and gets dipped by three or four gentlemen who kindly stay amongst the settlers, live in their best parlors, sleep in their best beds, and cat up all their superfluous hams, jams, pickles, cream, and honey. They do not take money from anyone, only One Pound a head for each person when dipped and any stray five pound notes the well-to-do converts can be persuaded to give them. They have no particular religious doctrine except that you must either be “ dipped or damned,” and that you should not play music or read newspapers. There are about four of these Evangelistic teachers or preachers, and they succeed best apparently amongst settlers who live on muddy roads and swampy places where low fevers occasionly make their appearance. During the late cold winter, vehicles loaded with dripping wet human beings were to be seen taking them back to their homes, huddled together, and some have suffered from severe illnesses in consequence. But I fear 1 have trespassed to far on your space, so Hoping for the days when Common Sense may conquer Superstitions.—l am, &c., Trios, Drake.