LIBERALISM.

Freethought Review, Volume II, Issue 21, 1 June 1885, Page 6

LIBERALISM.

(‘ TRUTHSEEKER ANNUAL.’) The term “ Liberal,” as you arc aware, is capable of a large variety of meanings as applied to personal life, party politics, and religion, and, according to Webster, signifies a broad, generous spirit and a larger freedom. With many people the word Liberal is used in a very loose manner, and really means little or nothing. When applied to Christians, it means that they have made a departure, at least in a degree, from an orthodox faith, and at best arc unfaithful to the tenets of Christianity, and arc really not Christians at all. When the word Liberal is thus applied to milk-and-water Christians, like Henry Ward Beecher and others, it is simply a sugar-coated name for unbelievers or Infidels, and is at once anomalous and confusing. do believe certain things, is to be a Christian—a good or bad Christian, as the case may be. To disbelieve certain things essential to the Christian faith, is to be an Infidel a good or bad one, as the case may be, as none of the various religious or irreligious beliefs have but little, if anything, to do with the moral status of the individual. To enjoy mental freedom, joined with a broad and generous spirit, is to be in the highest and best sense entitled to the name of “ Liberal.” Liberalism is a growing state of the human intellect, which can find no limit to its development, and, consequently, can never become sectarian and crystallize into bigotry, as is possible to all other seeds and isms. Liberalism, of necessity, must be both constructive and destructiveto break down the false and build up the true. 1 iMatcilahsts, Spiritualists, Deists, Atheists, Agnostics, and all other Freethinkers, are Infidels, and yet, after all, may not be “ Liberals in a technical and proper sense. 1 It is baldly sufficient to the grand work and purpose of Secular Liberalism to say, I am an Agnostic, Materialist, or Spiritualist, and yet be wanting in the true spirit of Liberalism, which is a love of truth and a helping hand to advance its true interests among the people. I am a radical man and rejoice in radical thought and radical people, and especially such as have the good sense to know what to be radical and positive about. True Liberalism, in its methods of work, is conservative in its beliefs, but radical and positive in its affirmations, when based upon a scientific knowledge of this world and this life. * & We can know some things about which we can afford to be radical and positive relating to right, physical, mental, and moial culture, and the attainment of usefulness and happiness while we live here. As to another world and life, at the most we can only hope and believe some things about which we cannot afford to be cranky and dogmatic. One can haidly be too radical in absolute knowledge, nor yet too conservative about open questions or forms of belief, as all clear-headed thinkers must see that there is, and must be, three distinct realms of thought theory, belief, and knowledge— and that theory and belief aic simply incipient stages in the attainment of knowledge; and one ounce of fact, as an antidote to ignorance and evil, is better than a ton of theory and belief unsupported by fa A. J True Liberalism worships at no shrine but that of truth; has no faith except that faith which takes root in knowledge, and no hope save that which is based upon the evidence of things seen and known, and the grand possibilities of human nature inherent in the nature of things. True Liberalism implies a hearty concern and co-operation in every feasible method of warfare against religious superstition, and the complete secularization of state and school. And to this end our national and auxilary Leagues based upon the Demands of Liberalism, are instituted’ as also for the promotion of a better harmony amoim Liberals. For what better am I that I have rid myself of Methodism, or some other ism, if I have then set about the work of taking on another cargo no less full of rubbish than the first ?

A conservatism that weighs well the assorted cargo as it receives it on board, and then cuts loose from the crumbling, worm-eaten wharves of every secfl and ism, and moves out into the deep waters of mental freedom and toward some objective point, and tries to reach somewhere, is far more to be commended than the utter waste of so much vital force in the vain endeavour to solve problems which defy our solution at every turn. Our salvation from the hells of ignorance and every hurtful thing takes root in the soil, and not in the clouds. This world is full of goodness, duty, and beauty to the open eye, listening ear, willing heart, and helping hand. True Liberalism implies organization and unity of aCtion. Individuality, and a self-poised selfhood, is a precious thing; but transcendently more grand and to be desired is it to join hands, and thus utilize our scattered forces in the accomplishment of a grand success. As Materialists and Agnostics we are almost powerless to reach the desired end. As Spiritualists, except in a few large cities, we are also weak in numbers to cope with the fashionable church craft. But as Liberals, including all phases of Freethinkers, we are strong in numbers, and may, if we will, be powerful in our influence to create public sentiment in favour of secular free thought, free speech, free school, free press, and free manhood, and, as Liberals, standing heart to heart united in the cause of every true reform, and aggressive warfare against false religion and the bloated shams of society, however time-honoured by usage, or in whatever form. But what can we do to advance the cause of Liberalism? First of all, take a Liberal paper, and thus come into contact and sympathy with the cause abroad, and by the circulation of your paper and books, extend the principles of Liberalism among your friends and neighbours. Secondly, lend a helping hand in the campaign inaugurated by the National Liberal League, to Brothers Watts and Putnam and to all other good speakers who can entertain and instruct the people. One or two live men or women in every community can, if they will, open the door to our travelling speakers, and thus help the cause of truth; as by public meetings and favorable notices by the press we can hope to create public sentiment in favour of our noble cause. How many times have our hands fallen to our side, and our courage been almost paralyzed, by the half-hearted, cold-blooded replies to our letters from those who should extend a cheering word and a welcoming hand. Don’t do it, Liberal friends. We have but few able Liberal speakers in the field, and they are but poorly paid. Do not drive them from the field for want of a generous sympathy and support. Sincerity of purpose and true genius unite men and women in a common cause to do good; while fanatical crankism and the mildew of Sectarianism, through fear of absorption, spreads disunion in the ranks of Liberalism. Let us join hands, dear friends, in a common cause, inspired by that grand and wide-reaching motto, Universal Mental Liberty. J. L. York.