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Blue-grass blade (Lexington, Ky.): n. Sunday, November 7, 1909.

Blue-grass blade (Lexington, Ky.): n. Sunday, November 7, 1909. Blue-grass blade (Lexington, Ky.). 400dpi TIFF G4 page images Blade Publishing Co., Lexington, Kentucky 1909 blu1909110701 These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Blue-grass blade (Lexington, Ky.): n. Sunday, November 7, 1909. Blue-grass blade (Lexington, Ky.). Blade Publishing Co., Lexington, Kentucky 1909 $IMLS This electronic text file was created by Optical Character Recognitio n (OCR). No corrections have been made to the OCR-ed text and no editing has be en done to the content of the original document. Encoding has been done through an automated process using the recommendations for Level 1 of the TEI in Librar ies Guidelines. Digital page images are linked to the text file. flIP i iii J f fi BLUE GRitSS BLADE4 t Volume XVIII LEXINGTON KtHBOVEMBER 7 1909 Number 30 DEVOTED TO THE PRo ffQ fifknF FREEDOM OF THOUGHT Wing I j BybOlvWCurtis r The man who wins istliewhoj t The man who makes thand buzz The man who works andtflMnnn who nets Who builds on the basis ofid facts Who doesnt sit down to mand dream Who humps ahead witl foand steam Who hasnt the time tofu d fret But gets there every ti iibet The man who wins is the m u who bears A smile to cover his blir f cares Who knows that the su shine again That the clouds will need the rain Who buckles down Towork And never gives up ani will shirk Till the task is done I 4is sweet tWhile the temples throb r red bloods heat The man who wins is who climbs The ladder of lifo to y chimes Of the bells of labortM of toil And isnt afraid his s If ho faces the glowofaiing sun And works in the ligh i task is done r A human engine withamAnd a hundred and fife w of steam r r n 2 BLUE GRASS L DEIA Freethinker on the Defensive Honesty Demands We Discard Opinions Shown To Be Erroneous Conclusion of a Strong Logical and Argumentative Discourse IIBy Lou Lawrence The study of the philosophy of human life is a mental process the practice of its teaching is a moral one Common honesty requires that we discard opinions when we see them to be erroneous It is a crime to conceal a crime it is an error the conceal an error it is treason to abet a traitor it is falsehood to support a falsehood and it is tyrannous to march onlyifor mental is to assist in clogging the wheels of Progress To endorse an opinion which is not believed is to live a lie To refuse to apply the light of science to the care of both body and brain is to throw our weight against the advancement of the race In matters of religion what is the part of the honest intel ligent progressive lover of the human raceman or woman What but to open the windows of the mind and let the light shine into it What but to look facts in the face and embrace the conclusions they present us to think to investigate and to decide for ourselves and to accord to others the same you my sisters follow this course you will be living up to the demands of the age When you have conscientiously taken these steps if you still feel your present religion to be true it will be your duty to put it in practicenot a half hearted perfunctory sort of practice but a genuine enthusiastic devotion which will tell for righteousness on your own life whatever may be its effects on humanity at large But if on the other hand you are convinced that your creed is founded in error that the demands of your church are robbing other reforms of the needed support that unquestioning adherence to a creed formed in the darkness of the past is no more than voluntary mental blindness it will be your duty to stand apart from your old associates and prove yourselves true soldiers doing battle for the uplifting of humanity II But what would the world do without religion 1IIAye theres the rub But that question has no peed to trouble anybody who has lost faith in religion The consequences will be but a repetition of what has happened over and over again in the history of the human race Hundreds of gods have died and been buried First the sun moon and stars were believed sprayedtotheir hunting expeditions and for skill in murdering their enemies But these gods diedthat is they died as godsand yet the sun moon and other heavenly bodies remained Indeed it may well be said 4n passing that men wero nearer the proper worship when they fell vn upon tueir knees before the sun than they have over been since Outside the earth on which we live the sun is the phenomenon of the universe which is of most importance to us and without which man would never have existed Tire sun the center and source of the solar system might with a very little stretch of the imagination be said to be the creator of the earth and the father of the mainfold life thereon Poetically speaking tie sun is tho father and the earth is the mother of us all Mankind has also believed that trees and animals wero gods and have made sacrifices to them and prayed to them and decorated them But these gods died and yet tho trees and animals remained begantoof NatureNeptune tho god of tho sea Thos the god of thunder The voluptous and sensuous Greeks had a whole galaxy of gods made in their own images and the brave old Norseman had his divine family whoso characters almost com philosopherBut and Isis are dead yet the sea and sky wisdom and culture love and motherhoodremain And some day if Jehovah Allah and cemeterytheWhen the churches and the godidea have passed out of ex istence the family the school and tho platform will be left Instead of the worship of a supposed Omnipotent Creator there will then be the study of the sciences which explain as far as investigatethemthe blessings of health and strength there will be the study of the laws of right living which show a surer way to the attain ment of these blessings Instead of kneeling in worship before the mother of Jesus man will still do reverence to the mothers of men Instead of teaching children to pray to a father in Heaven I they will be taught respect for and obedience to their fathers on earth When it idno longer necessary to go to church to prove ones loyalty to god men wmcn and children will have time to investigate their duties to their country to the world and to each other When it is no longer thought needful for man to do tho right to win the favor of an mnipotcnt tyrant in the skies a righteous life will still be necessary tlIcommend him to his fellowmen and satisfy his own conscience When the churches and religion are gone the Good and the Beautiful Industry and Art Truth and Justice Honesty and Loyalty Virtue Love Liberty and Fraternity will endure When God I is gone MAN in his majesty will remain- I shall call attention to but one more point commonly urged Clnistians41hey 1injuresdegree of intellectual culture of those with whom his lot is enstIAmong the negroes of our Southland a reputation for wuld bo likely to give a man full possession of the other side of tho street Among the unlettered in Catholic countries his presence would cause many a poor creature to make the sign of the cross Both these intellectual back numbers would bo likely to think him little removed from a devil incarnate But among tho most enlightened people of the roost enlight ened countries skepticism means no barrier to social preferment In witness thereof I will but mention the fact that the man who will occupy the chair of tine chief executive of this nation for the next four years is a Unitarian and Unitarianism means J j BLUE GRASS BLADE 3 no more than a belief in one goda deification of the Forces in Nature or a faith in nothing at all at the mere pleasure of the professor Religious skepticism never stood between Huxley and an in vitation to dinner It never causer the wisest and best of Englands scholars to miss a possible opportunity of listening to Tyndal Spencer Mill Lyon Leckey or Darwin Between these two extremes the degree of tyranny with which society punishes the mental honesty of the man who dares to question its religion is marked by a thousand flnq grad uations and to these the skeptic resolves to submit or else he plays the hypocrite And I tell you the hypocrites are not all in the churches But while a reputation for skepticism may and frequently does injure the usefulness of the average Free thinker to the average society of his own day the value of his life to his race is ever a blessing It is only as men have had the courage to face the opprobrium oftheir fellowmen that knowledge science art industry morality even religion itself have been improved It was through the courage of its early votaries that Christianity one of some four of the best religions we have today won its way to public favor and it will be only through the courage of Ratianalists that Rationalism will ono day como to bless the world But Rationalism will never die There is nothing in its teach ings to bind men to a dead creed What it offers to the world it offers as the best deductions from accumulated knowledge But as the sum of human knowledge may be greater tomorrow than it is today Rationalism may have something better to offer in the future than it has at present It asks no favor but the acceptance of demonstrated facts and the use of the reason My friends what would you have the Freethinker do He has weighed the evidence in favor of your religion Ho has studied its history analyzed its foundation considered its prom ises and its threats His reason rejects its assumptions His judgment refuses to accede to its demands To him it is a mere superstition and itsIt God is a monstrous myth He looks around him and finds a superabundance of churches and a lack of libraries and hospitals Ho sees women drudging to decorate temples for the pleasure tit a hypothetical God who had power to build a universe and children saving their pennies to publish the will of a being who has the strength to rouse an Hertion of ideas which are contradiction to known facts He knows Second Attack by Far Western Advocate of Single Tax Theories as Impugned by Noted Author By Louis Bowerman I had not thought to answer Mr Haus mans rejoinder to my articlo of August 8th I read this rejoinder with care I had hoped that a presentation of the facts might awaken Mr Hausman from the superstitious lethargy scientific though it is which I charged him by im plication I realize now that so far as the understanding of political economy is cerned I was dealing with a child It is not therefore with any expectation of open ing the eyes of Hausman that I write for I believe it impossible but there are those i that there is enough of the known the proven the temporal to fill mans life to the uttermost and that in the struggle for life health and happiness man has no time to waste in blind adoration of an unproved It God And why must ho not publish his convictions to the world Why should he not say to his brother Take your eyes from youStoplive so as to merit joy and gladness here and now In common with all men the Freethinker has aspirations to benefit his fellowmen and obeying the law of progress which impells men to try to lead others to the new light which they have receivedto banish the delusion under which their brothers labor his first impulse is to combat the dominant religion He feels this to be incumbent upon him It is for him what the world calls a duty Because a man has outgrown his religion it does not follow that he has relinquished his love for his fellowmen Hope is an instinct of the human mind and when men have ceased to hope for a heavenly home for themselves beyond the skies they will begin to labor for a better home on earth for their race Just as the religionist exerts himself to win future happiness for himself so the Freethinker who merges himself in the race exerts himself for the future welfare of humanity They are slaves who will not choose Hatred scoffing and abuse Rather than in silence shrink From the truths they need must think They are Slaves who dare not be In the right with two or three And the Right for each individual is the Truth ns he sees it It is the Freethinkers knowledge of the beneficence of the message ho brings mankind which gives him the courage to bear whatever of censure and unhappiness society may be disposed to heap upon him This is the reason for his refusal to listen in silence to the propagation of what he considers to be a harmful fallacy Neighbors may stand aloof friends may turn aside patronage may be withheld but he keeps steadily on in his course And why because his conscience has greater terrors for him than public opinion Barnesville Ohio JMore Criticism for Dr Hausman of your readers who may not be aware of thin history or nature of the Single Tax and who may be misled by the vague bold unsupported and incorrect statements made by Hausman in his several replies to the sake of truths in defense of that liberty which means equal right which Dr Hausmnn denies because I am uncompromisingly devoted to the cause of justice I wish to analtzo the statements of Mr Hausman and reply to them with that calm reason which lie so greatly admires and so lamentably lacks In his reply to mo Dr Hausman headed his article with the declaration that the longer wo have old opinions the more wo have become attached to them the harder it is to discard them This depends a good deal on the character of a mans mind As a man thinkcth so is he II I am glad to say that I am fortunately not within the scope of such a law He also ironically remarks that many people sider it a roof of character when they stub bornally refuse to admit an error and change their opinion I may also add that it is an indication of something deeper than bigotry for one to pretend to deal authoritatively with matters which ho him self though unawares admits he does not understand Mr Hausman does not con fine his arguments to the text but resorts to the linking of contemptous reference to religious finatics with the attitude of an opponent in the field of political economy Hausman charges mo with abuse After 1 IA If L J 4 BLUEGRASS BLADE all abuse is better than deception I wish to say that 1 have said nothing concerning the trinity or immaculate conception and there isno reason for reference to such matters except it be to unjustly prejudice socalled Freethinkers against the argu ment of his opponent which besides being contemptible indicates mental inefficiency and is the peculiar prerogative of the Hausman has said I did not argue the cause but merely gave vent to indignation Yet he undertook to reply to me using almost twice the space used in his reply to Dr Barnes In answer to my proof that the Single Tax is already in force which Mr Hausman had denied to be possible he cited figures which while ho deemed them conclusive simply sup ported my contention In 1890 he says New Zeland collected 2849980 from direct taxation and 7909 515 from indirect taxation In 1908 2089230 was directly taken from land land alone besides 13820975 from R R Land value constitutes on an average over 60 per cent of the assets of R R To support my statements that the Sin gle Tax is already applied in New Zeland I further quote the speech of Hon George Fowlds at Grey Linn New Zeland U Apart from pastoral leases only 778087 acres of crown lands remain During the three years ending 1906 the land parted with totaled 1158861 acres so that what was left would only do for another two years at that rate A British Parlimontary document was issued last year showing the effect of land vdlue taxation in Nek Zea land New South Wales and South Aus tralia I quote from itU It stimulates buildingU It renders it unprofitable to hold land for proapectiya increment in value It has compelled owners either to use or to dispose to those who would use What does this mean Is it not plain Regardhtg Hausmans reference to transportation communication otc it ought to be evident to any child that if the government owns them the government takes the land value for common use But why does Hausman deny that the Single Tax is in partial operation in New Zealand Is it because he has become so attached to old opinions that it is hard for him to discard them Probably- In his reply to Dr Barnes he says 3rd Paragrah In as much asphe does not understand how the socalled Single Tax can be practically applied and abolish pov ertyuI have an animus against it Thinkof a philosopher having an animus against a thing he does not understand Outside of the futile attempt to refute the world known fact of Single Tax in New Zealand Hausman did nothing to evade I had stated several of his arguments and shown them untenable Nay even made it plain that he had contradicted his own statements With the sagacity ofa re ugious hypocrite be ignored the plain facts and glided sinously around each proposi tion presented A fair man will admit his mistaKes ilausuian euscouscd himself be laud a bulwark of religious prejudice hop ing that the glitter of this prejudice would blind all eyes to the force of his oppo nents arguments I would reader to compare the arguments again Mr Hausmau though he regards him self as a man capable of ana lizing the profoundest questions does not understand and has not taken the trouble to discover what is meant by the Single Tax In his reply to me he stated that it was a modification of Taxation merely to indicate the ownership of the state In the original chapter of the Origin and Des tiny of Man he stated George had only to do with the relation of Capital and Labor In his reply to Dr Barnes he says nobody seems to have any definite idea how it is to be practically applied and again as if the mere taxation of land was identical with Henry Georges propo sition These statements are proof con clusive that Mr Hausman knows nothing about Single Tax has read very little and althdugh a sotcallcd philosopher belongs to that class of scientific dogmatists who put more confidence in a dream than they do in the facts In proof of this I quote from Progress and Poverty The simple yet wagesincreaseextirpate pauperism abolish poverty give remunerative employment to who ever wishes it afford free scope to human powers lessen crime elevate morals and taste and intelligence purify government heightsistion Prog and Pov Book eight Chap 11 If Mr Hausman read this book he read it with eyes closed cars plugged and his brain burdened with the prejudices of monistic philosophy Tho term Single Tax is a misnomer It would better be termed The just Return The term was applied by adherents to that system Or ratker the moral law discovered by Henry George The proposed system is simply this The abolition of all taxes except a tax on land values We say tax for convenience but the return of land values to the State would not be taxation Why Land value or location value is due to the presence of population As population increases and the benefit to be derived from their activities increases the value of location or land value increases It will at once be evident to any intelli gent man that it is a product of social growth Now society is a partnership Land value is consequently a partnership value or common property No individual has a just right to appropriate it Society has a just and partnership right to it and it will be evident that when the individual pays back to society the rental value oc cupied he is only compensating for benefits bestowed Let us concretely consider it A and B live on variously located lands or location As annual location value is 500 Bs is 100 Therefore A is deriving 400 worthmore benefit from associated ac tivity than B A compensates society for 500 of Benefit B for 100 of Benefit Each has paid to society according as he has been benefited Society has no just right to appropriate the effort of individual labor for the indi vidual alone is concerned in its production and conversely no one person has a right to appropriate what is conjointly produced by and belongs to all To one who has not repudiated the idea of justice this will Hausman says II nobody seems to have any idea how it is to be practically applied This is untrue Let us make it plain We now tax all forms of labor products and some land value The Single Tax is to bo applied by abolishing taxation of labor products abolishing all indirect taxation and increasing tho tax on land value Is this plain Mr Hausman admits a laud tax high enoughand progressive will check land monopoly He then asks will it abolish poverty and secure equal rights and replys no only cooperative labor can do that How he can believe that co operative labor can secure equal right or abolish overty I for one cannot under stand If the wealth resulting from labor is not equitably distributed all the coop eration possible will not abolish poverty and equal right is not a condition conse quent on cooperative labor Cooperative labor is with us today and was in the South in slave days but there were and are no equal rights Special privilege is uni versal and is all due directly or indirectly to land monopoly The only way to abolish involuntary poverty is to institute the con i libertyThestore to every individual equal right to the use of land Now the Single Tax will accomplish this result and is rapidly ac complishing this result in Now Zealand and Australia Let us show how tho Single Tax will abolish poverty Tile reason for poverty is the extortion charged for tho use of natural opportunities which drives men into centers to compete against each other for wagesa condition of more men than jobs Tho law of supply and demand governs wages If we can make moro jobs than men the consequence is apparent Now if the rental value of land is taken for socialuse then no man can hold land for speculative I BLUE GRASS BLADE 5 purposes because it will be unprofitable This means that land now held idle will be relinquished and the worker can gain access to it without expense This will at once reduce the supply of labor and in crease jobs Being no longer forced to work for others or to purchase the oppor tunity to work land for himself there being no barrier to free employment it is evident that wages must rise and ulti mately to the point where each may retain the full product of his labor Mr Hausman very blindly avers that the Single Tax means confiscation of land This like the rest of Hausman statements is untrue Outside of uses the reason for the monopoly of land is the advantage it gives of appropriating the increase in lo cation value due to the collective effort To take rental value for the common good would not be cnfiscation but M will be evi dent to say to land lords here to force you have been confiscating public values Henceforth you shall not confiscate public values The Single Tax is not confisca tion of land but it is a simple efficient and just method of abolishing a system which forestalls opportunity and confis cates public property Land will be untarily relinquished when it no longer enables robbery and tribute We have a country three thousand miles long and about two thousand wide We have not a population sufficient to develop one twentieth of its area and yet it is entirely in the grasp of land lordism Single men own estates as largo as France Vast areas of the most fertile land is owned and rack rented by foreign landlords The pope is a landlord Investigate the facts and you may be appalled How may we expect to free the people if wo do not first froEi the use of natural opportunities Rent is tribute to a landlord Tribute means tyranny The Monistic Philosophy as taught by Mr Hausman is that very chimerical measure which is causing energy that might servo useful purposes to bo wasted in fruitless endeavors and therefore an impedient to progress It is of course in the short space at ones posal impossible to explain in detail the results which will follow the institution of the Single Tax Thewide awake those who esteem truth higher than personal pride will investigate without prejudice and such have already been referred to Prog and Prov Mr Hausman referring to the equal right which Dr Barnes defended says there was no trace of these ethical principles before nor apparent during tho ono hundred anti thirtythree years that have elapsed since their embodiment in tho Declaration of Independence We can only lay such a claim to ignorance I quote from the savage Tecumseh in his speech to Gov Harrison The way the only way to H check and stop this evil is for all the red men to unite in claiming a common and equal right in the land as it was at first and should be yet for it never was divided but belongs to all for the use of each Thus do we call up the poor savage un schooled in monistic vageries to rebuke the modern scribe who having lapsed into the hard and unsentimental condition of a quartz crystal would deny to the aboriginee a higher sense than the monistic doctrinaire possesses a sense of justice and a comprehension of equal rights- I think I have answered the question did Marshall Field steal itnnd showed what ho stole I am accused ofHabuse and billingsgate It is now time for Mr Hausman to accuse me of forcing him into unlimited contradiction and exhibition of ignorance Robert Ingcrsoll told the Edi tor of the New York Observer that open confession is good for the soul I mire the phrase Let us hope that Mr Hausman will take it to heart and become sentimental just long enough to feel tho sense of justice long enough to admit fairly and squarely that ho knows nothing of the philosophy history or practical ap plication of what is known as tho Single The Sixth Sense Fallacy Franklin H Heald Replies to Critics Who Discussed His Propositions in Blade Several Weeks Ago By Franklin IT Heald I notice that some time ago two indi viduals viz Augusta Forrer and Joseph LeboloCarey of Mena House Sand ringham Road Birkdale Lancashire Eng land have joined forces to anhilato my Materialistic ideas of the sixth sense and after some seven columns of quotations and objections ask me to tell them some more about the sixth sense This I would bo glad to do but there is little more to tell I will however explain that these critics have begged the question by continually harping on the title which the Blades editor correctly gave my arti cle The Sixth Sense Fallacy and inti mato that I proclaim in the title of the article that there is no physic sense and then go on and prove there is To begin with let me state that I think and write in tho American language and Websters Unabridged g esHfalllcy as menningHI Deceptive or false appear ance 2 A deceptive argument either of which definitions make the Blade edi tors title to my article correct Perhaps if lIe had said sophistry insteadof H fallacy they would have understood my Tax and admit that he is not competent to deal with that question- In the last paragraph of his reply to Dr Barnes he says he could not find the name of Henry George in the Brittanica or John sons Encyclopedia Did he find his own name therein Presumably we are to be lieve that he is therefore of no consequence Why am I not justified in referring to him as of no intellectual importance Does such a resort constitute an argument Henry George is known throughout the world Though a private citizen he was reverently accorded n public burial Mil lions of copies of his writings have been published Yet Mr Hausman must now go to his book shelves to find who he was and what he stood for and this from one who essays to write on the profound sub ject of the Origin and Destinay of Man The world moves rapidly toward the real ization of the truths taught by Henry George and while it does what I said fore becomes all the more evident H Mr Hausman lies prone on the couch of con eeita stupid somnambulist lured to in tellectual rest by the sensuous sophistries of an ismntism and opiated with the fond expectation of applause Scio Oregon i meaning better in the old country but it seems plain to me that the title and argument both show plainly that there is sup posed to be a sixth sense but that in the human animal it givesH1 A deceptive or false appearance and that New Thot nndold country people give H2 A deceptive argument I most certainly admit and have always said there is a rudimentary instinct called n sixth or psychic sense which reason is gradually and surely crowding out of the most intelligent part of humanity and pos sibility this aforesaid rudiment is stronger in England than America stronger in India than England and still stronger in Africa than in India Like cheese it gains strength with ago The last sentence is an example of fallacy which I give to illustrate the meaning of fallacy in America and the proper simile would beunlike chose as we follow its history hack it becomes stronger Few Materialists will deny that human beings have evolved from animals of a lower order and few will deny that the psychic sense is strongest where reason is weakest Columbus did not see the now world with his psychic sense as these old world critics would have us believe but on tho contrary ho used his reason which had evolved in its stead People who de J I6 BLUE GRASS BLADE pended more upon their psychic senses be ing largely in the majority considered him insane when they listened to his reasons but he made good as reason always does The psychics of Western Europe drew the conclusion that the end of the world lay at the horizon of their vision but the reason of Columbus solved the problem and it is often easier to furnish good and sufficient reasons than to furnish others with intelligence to understand to babes allow me to say the less intelligence they have the younger they are when they can take care of themselves A female negro babe will often walk at the ago of four months while a very intelli gent white male child will not walk until he is twenty months old The same is true of stock A scrub calf will stand up and walk soon after she draws her breath while a thoroughbred will be several days getting control of his legs They arc right about iron bars being psychic as in proportion to their intel Old Time Freethinker Sends in a Few Scraps for Publication By Joel M Berry Being confined here in a Military Hos pital for the last thirtytwo years I have no one to whom I can refer to write a record for me so I concluded to do it my self at the risk of being called an Egotist or any other kind of a tist Comparatively few Liberals living today have served longer in the ranks than I have and but very few perhaps have done less than my self for the good of the cause outside of a firm and never fading belief My efforts for the good of the cause have been very futile Not being able to get out and as sociate with those I love my life here has been a dream One thing however has been a great comfort to me I have got to read a good share of the Liberal publications for the last thirty years We have Inger solls and Darwins works here in the Home Library The good Christian spends most of his life in making preparations for the life to come but in our case I want the Lord to make all the reparations if any is needed He had things all arranged for this life when we entered it ho must do the same for another life if indeed there is one Seeing the interesting and valuable Lib eral record of our comrade Andrew Jack son Boyer in the Blade of September 12th reminded me that perhaps I might say something on that line not altogether uninteresting to the readers of the Blade ligence they are probably more psychic than any other object which moves and they only move as compelled by heating and cooling The magnetic needle which they recite is no exception as they may easily prove by heating it Now in conclusion I wish to defend my position regarding women I have no fight with women and therefore deplore Mr LeboloCareys theory that English wo men are entering a cycle of alternate sexual hegemony wherein they will fur nish the reason while their sexpartners are destined to filla psychic and inferior position in society Women have always been our mothers probably always will be and as such may we not still hope they will always have more motherly sympathy than reason for mark well my wordsif ever women reason without sympathy or with it then the evolution of most intel ligent portion of the human race will end reproducetIteir IPersonal Reminiscenses It was in 1857 that I threw off a ministers costume composed ofan ignorant faith and belief and fitting so tight that I had hardly room to breathe and dropped it for a suit of Freethought with plenty of room and the privilege to think and rea son for myself By some good luck I got and read Paines Ago of Reason That did the work and from that day to this I have been a staunch Liberal and defend er of the faith This all happened over fifty years ago Iam now nearly ready to pass in my checks but I will do it with a smile Death or the future has no fears for me I would love to see the Liberals of this country organized on a solid founda tion before I go then all will be well For over fifty years we have watched the progress of the battle between Free thought and religious slavery with interest and our experience at times has been al most charming For a long time it was not safe for a Freethinker to express his opinion publicly He had to watch the corners carefully for at that early date in 185657 a good Methodist minister would just ns soon skin an Infidel alive as he called him as to preach a sermon and at the same time claim he was work ing for the Lord For several years the progress was very slow but still you could notice year by year a decided change in favor of Freethought Ministers after preaching Christ and him crucified for years began to reject him and come to the front and today the harvest is ripe and the Liberal element of the country are just on the eve of organizing their forces and going to work in earnest Success to the grand undertaking and in case it proves success too much credit cannot be awarded the untiring faithful efforts of the Editor of the Blue Grass Blade in bringing about the movement We are not yet quite through with the Liberal record we started out to write At the time we changed our Ministers suit in 1857 I was stopping with an uncle in McConclsville Morgan county Ohio Im mediately after change ofsuits I was offered the Pastoral of the University at that place but did not accept Instead I concluded to take me a wife So on the 4thof March 1857 at McConclsville Ohio I was married to Miss Martha A Bean of Zanesville Ohio And at this writing I am leased to say that we are both still living Mrs Berrv being 77 and myself 7811rs Berry lives at No 115 North 1 1oftirely to live with her but go to see her frequently and spend the day We raised a son and a daughter who are both still living and both sound Liberalists So you see Mr Charlesworth that I have a living witness to every statement I have made in regard to my record as a Liberalist Natl Military Home Ohio A GOODBYE AND A TEAR By Eugene When last I saw that sad sweet face She smiled at mo with friendly grace Few words were spoken a gentle token a hand shake and goodbye And as she sped upon her way In her hand a sweet boquct I saw and with a smothered sigh My life my love my all Id pay For the tear drop that bedimed her eye No one to me has over said No one but she a tear has shed No friendship ero so true so brace Illtcherish it unto the grave May heavens blessings on her descend Is the rayer of a true and loving friend A thousand worlds if I could buy the tear drop that bedimed her eye But like an echo in the morn tis gone tis gone Beyond the vale of earthly care To mingle with loves dew drops there Where tender hearts and loving song Are united in that great beyond Where all is love no sorrow there A thousand worlds if I could buy the tear drop that fell from her eye ft BLUE GRASS BLADE 7 f National Organization of American Freethinkers I OFFICIAL CALL FOR CONVENTION f In the name of and by the authority of the persons whose names are hereunto affixed Freethinkers of the United States of America who having in writing duly expressed themselves as being in favor ofn new national organization that shall undertake and maintain a systematic and advised propaganda of Freethought principles all persons who hold and believe that the doctrines theories and teachings of the orthodox Christian church regarding the universe and tho origin and destiny of mankind are erroneous and who believe that happiness and morality can be better subserved by a study and observance of Natural Law than through the medium of prayer faith or god worship who reject all phases and forms of superstition and idolatry who are free and who desire to be free from orthodox religious restraints in matters affecting human action and con science who believe in a full and complete separation of church and state with all that such separation implies are hereby called to meet in National Convention in tho City of St Louis State of Missouri on Sunday November 14th 1909 at the hour of oclock a m for the purpose of devising and adopting a declara tion of principles as a basis for such organization a constitution and bylaws for its proper and effective management and its better government to elect officers to outline and adopt a sys tem of progagandn and to do all other acts and things that mayor shall bo pertinent to and shall best subserve and aid in the accomplishment of the objects and purposes herein expressed Hotel Accommodations Arrangements have been made and completed with the management of tho Laclcdo Hotel at Sixth and Chestnut streets in the City of St Louis for the accommodation and entertainment of all Freethinkers attending the convention at fairly reasonable rates This hotel is conducted on tho European plan and pro vides sleeping accommodations only There is a well appointed restaurant in connection with the hotel at which good meals can bo had for small cost Tho hotel rooms vary in price and range from 50 cents to 100 per day according to quality of room or whether two occupy tho same room The cost of meals will run from 20 cents up Tho hotel is large and commodious It has ample facilities for tho accommodation of all who wish to attend and is situated in the heart of tho business district Business and Social Owing to tho great distance that some of those attending the convention will have to travel and recognizing the natural desire for sufficient social intercourse during tho convention that such a gathering must create there will be an informal social and business gathering of the Freethinkers attending tho convention and those residing in St Louis and vicinity in the parlors of the Laclede Hotel on the Saturday night after supper preceding the Sunday of tho convention This will afford an opportunity for renewing old friendships and forming new ones In order to facilitate tho business of the convention there will also bo an informal caucus to prepare an outline of the workof tho convention select and appoint tho several committees name a temporary chairman and secretary in order to facilitate thi business of tho convention and assist in the speedy dispatch tat its business The caucus will first designate a temporary chairman and secretary given due authority the temporary chairman will thereupon appoint the following committees andbylaws l earlySundaysubmission when the convention is properly called to order The Convention Tho Convention proper will be called to order promptly at 9 thetemporary shallbeELEVENTH AND LOCUST STREETS Organized Societies Allorganized Freethought societies national state or local FreethoughtthisConvention beAllwelcome Charter Members principlesshall attend the convention in person and all persons signifying writingaddressedconvention and all those whose names are appended to this call shall be deemed and recorded on the books of the organization as charter members thereof General Invitation andfraternal a gods who believe in the worship of work and who desire to thehighwo are SercombChicngo KHenryC Coon Bartow Fla J C Watkins Kanawha Falls W Va DennisonOhioPittsburg Pa Carl Baerwalde Cleveland Ohio Charles F Randall Cherokee Okla J M Reed Chicago Ill J M Frost Tampa Fla Wm J Howerton Tularosa Texas James S Davis Waynesflcld Ohio James ONeal Ft Smith Ark E A Fitch Wilmington Vt R G Earle Pine Grove Ark Ella P Hunt Moline Kan Emily C Jones East Lynne Mo Anna 0 Jones East Lynne Mo Mrs Nels Johnson Higgins Texas AngelesCalBoyor Washington D C E G Nichols Norgo Va Joel M Berry Nat Mil Home Ohio Harold Banning Mt Vernon Ohio Charles G Brown Ithaca N Y H M Fisk Pella Iowa A J Carson Ardmoro Okla George C Bartlett Tolland Conn Moragn Wamsley Cincinnati Ohio Oscar A Janickc Louisville Ky W A Cooper Milo Mo Manly A Brigham Rumford Me f Y r 8 BLUE GRASS BLADE 11 BLUE GRASS BLADE Published weekly at Lexington Ky rounded Charles Chilton Moore In lilt and edited by hIm until his death February 7 1W JAMES E HUGHES Publisher and Manlier JOHN CHARLESWORTH Editor 1211 N Limestone Street Lexington Ky P Box 13 SUBSCRIPTION RATES By mall postpaid lllt per year In advance Five new yearly subscribers at one remittance SlOt each Five trial subscriptions sent In with one remittance for six months II cents each Trial subscriptions II cent per month Foreign subscriptions postpaid SN per year ADVERTISING RATES Ono Inch single column Insertion It cents one month or four Insertions llH six months JBOt one year S8ll Quarter column single Insertion 200 one month 4H six months IWlt one year SlttO Half column whole column or larger advertisements at special rates upon application The publisher has the right to reject any and all advertisements offered GENERAL BUSINESS RULES ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS to the Blade will be discontinued at the expiration of the term for which the subscription has been pall up is advance The address slip on the paper will show scribers the date of expiration of subscription Back numbers or numbers omitted will be sent If asked for upon renewal Ir case of dlselntlnuanc SHOULD ANT SUBSCRIBER change his or her address advise thl me giving both old and new address as desired Opublication of the Blade to at 1SI1M North Lime rmt1go Lexington Kentucky te which all Freethinkers will given a hearty welcome TUB BLADE Is enter at the Peitofflce at Lexington Kentucky as eemdolais mailing matter ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO THE SLUm GRABS BLADE P Box til Lexington Ky THE ST LOUIS CONVENTION Nearer and nearer draws the convention By the timo this issue of the Blade gets into the hands of its readers the Editor will have started on his trip to wards St Louis to get ready for the big gathering Every day brings moro encouraging letters and promises ofsupport Others write of their intention to ho at the convention and at this writing we feel justified in assert ing that it will ho one of the best and largest gatherings over held in all America in the name of Free thought Letters aro still pouring into the Blade office from all sections of the country approving the plan as outlined and expressing the hope that much practical good willresult from tho mooting Remember friends that tho meeting is scheduled for Saturday night and Sunday November 18 and 34 So arrange your business and domestic affairs that you can leave both for a brief season and be at St Louis to take part in the work of the convention All the arrangements are complete thanks to Brother W 0 Cope and Dave tho latter being tho proprietor ofa Bargain Book Store but a fearless Freethinker Nothing now remains to bo done so far as tho local situation is concerned but with everything in readiness it is now up to the Freethinkers of America to make the plan of organization a success Only a few years ago and tho public press practically ignored all such gatherings of Freethinkers and if men tion was made in public print at all it was to ridicule and oven misrepresent Such tactics were then believed to be popular Today things have changed Innumerable elements of great strength and influence are now practic ally on our side Freethought is rapidly growing into public favor Since tho official call was first issued news paper reporters and correspondents representing some of tho largest papers in tho country have called at tho Blade office to secure information concerning the convention and what it proposes to do Each of the three daily papers lisped in Lexington have sought after this information andIsome good notices have already been given of what wo propose to do at St Louis This manifest interest on the part of the press indicates a great change in public sen timent and offer additional arguments in our favor indi cating a healthy public sentiment towards the principles of Freethought It is our own fault if we permit this grow ing sentiment to become dormant for lack of utilizing it Let us take all possible advantage of the opportunities thus opening to us secure all possible publicity and push the movement with a vim and vigor hitherto unparalleled in tho history of our republic It has been stated especially ill the New York Truth seeker that this movement for national organization is confined to Mr Oharloswortli and the Blue Grass Blade constituency and some others This is not a correct statement concerning tho situation While Mr Charles worth and the Blue Grass Blade first brought out tho sug gestion of a national organization those included under the designation and some others have become more formidable factors in tho movement Instead of attempting to give tho proposed organization an exclusive coloring a far more preferable proceeding would have been to announce the fact that its doors aro open to all who love man kind better than fancied gods and who can agree with such elementary principles of organization as it may adopt and express a readiness to aid in its propaganda Of course in its conception tho Blade began this worksinglehanded Once it had got under way others fell in lino and now it has tho support and backing of several other Freethought J publications as wo have told from timo in these columns However tho now organization cannot be made exclusive It would not bo a Freothought organization if it was made exclusive Tho primary object in view is to afford tho means for a closer union and a bettor cooperation of all the Liberal forces in America to tho end that our principles may bo moro widely known and better understood by tho people If all these elements would but unite tho organ ization would become a great power for good in the country Tho Editor will bo absent from tho Blado office for about one month while on this mission of Freethought As a result wo crave a kindly consideration at tho hands of our readers for any shortcomings that may appear in its col umns as we have no ono upon whom we can rely to do the ij 11 I InDGRASS BLADE 9 work of the Blade in our absence The Editor will send in a letter from each point where lectures are given and will give a full report of the convention The lecture dates are printed elsewhere in these columns Filled with bright hopes for what the convention will do we start upon our mission cheered with the prospect of meeting so many at St Louis for the work wo havo in handLet us all get together Now for St Louis November 13th and 14th Our friends will observe that up to this time there has been no call for funds wherewith to pay the expenses of this convention The Blado did not feel authorized to take such an important business matter into its own hands Wo had felt and still feel that the expense of the convention can bo well taken care of by the friends who attend it Hence wo preferred to permit this matter to bo developed by the convention itself And yet wo do not go into the campaign without fair prospects Some time ago G W McCormick of Mt Sterling Ky sent the Editor one dollar to help pay the cost of holding the convention Sinco that time Dr E B Foote of Now York City has sent a check for ten dollars payable to the Editor in person for the reason that no officers have yet been elected This makes eleven dollars which we will bring to the conven tion contributed to help in defraying expenses Dr Footos letter appears elsewhere in this issue A WAIL FROM THE LOST f Our State Universities are ungodly Christian students have too much academic freedom and when they graduate they do so with different ideas on Christianity That sends children to hell Christianity in the college must bo re enforced I am in favor of each church having a building insido of the grounds of the state universities The foregoing language is attributed to a Presbyterian preacher Joseph W Cochran and was used by him in an address before the annual meeting of the Illinois Presby torian Synod at Chicago In tho light of recent develop ments which clearly portray tho breach between the school men and tho church ono may understand tho extremities to which the church is being forcibly driven in an effort to retain oven a semblance of its former prestige The quotation betrays an evident uneasiness a feeling of fear andunrest a realization that tho reign ecclesiasticism is rapidly approaching tho end That state universities are ungodly and that such an admission is made by one high in orthodox councils may be looked at as a rather favorable omen for the future of education and it may bo remarked that once tho educational institutions of a state throw off tho yoko superstition tho students and teachers will fairly rovol in that academic freedom which the godly so complainingly deplore Is it possible that any seeker after knowledge can havo too much freedom in the pursuit of information Would not tho slightest re LA striction act as a preventive ofa thorough education Would tho orthodox institutions of the country attempt to fix the mental status of tho people establish a limit and prohibit aught beyond the lino it had thus drawn Any effort in this direction must naturally provoke a more ser ious conflict than is now pertaining As for students holding different ideas on Christianity it isa matter of common knowledge that even preachers of tho same secta rian denomination do not view Christianity exactly alike and this difference becomes more marked between preachers of different sects Just as an object of vision will assume as many different aspects as there are view points so it is with all speculative matters only more strongly defined in that tho human mind with its diversity and complexity must inevitably form and entertain different notions con cerning ono and the same subject Were it not for the horror of the thought there would be something amusing in tho declaration that for this dif ference of opinion children must be sent to hell We had concluded that hell had lost caste except among tho most ultraorthodox That a child should bo sent to hell simply because it cannot believe as this preacher believes is a doctrine too revolting to be seriously discussed in this day lmdageand it belongs only to the sav goand ignorant past though seemingly well apportioned in the mind of a Presbyterian preacher in Illinois But Christianity must be reenforced Aye theres the rub as Hamlet is reported to have said And to do this the same preacher would permit each and every conflicting Christian sect to erect and maintain we presume at public expense a church building on the grounds of state univer sities And why Simply to reenforce Christianity Tho creed this senseless superstition advances has not the inherent strength to support itself and tho doctrine must bo crammed into the minds of students In other words if the seekers after knowledge do not turn to orthodox chan nels orthodoxy must be forced upon them to tho end that orthodox Christianity shall be reenforced To what end Because as this same preacher has said There are not enough men taking up divinity courses Recently we had a call from Colorado for fifty ministers and wo had only two that we could send Thus out of the words of his own mouth is this preacher convicted His interest in the matters outlined is purely personal There is no thought for the general welfare the happiness and freedom of the race but the church and its perquisites constitute the solo motive that actuates him in his diatribe against tho educational institutions of the tho suggestion that each church bo permitted to havo a building inside the university grounds we may per ceive a double meaning Realizing that the Presbyterians alone could not secure such a privilege tho idea is thrown out that all sects be accorded equal privileges in fact any thing so long as the Presbyterians may get there Let us suppose that such a scheme could be permitted Aside from from the fact that frequent disputes must crop out between u iill nn GRASS MIso many conflicting petty Christian sects additional acres of ground would have to bo purchased to make room for them Imagine the struggles that would ensue for special place power and privilege Imagine the prayerful importunities the students would have to face from the prose lytingwork of the church leaders Imagine the students in the chemistry physiology botanical and other natural science classes stepping from the class room into one of the church buildings and hearing doctrines promulgated that are in direct conflict with his class room work Imagine the veritable tower of Babel that would exist There would be Methodist hell fire Presbyterian damnation Catholic indulgencies and dispensations Hardshell Baptists with a coldwater bath Campbellites with immersion and conver sion Episcopalians with baptism by sprinkling until the students would feel that the advocates were fit for treasons stratagems and spoils especially the spoils Nay nay Pauline The state must keep every Christian denomination off the university grounds If Colorado wants Presbyterian ministers the Presbyterians must spend their own time and money for the supply and not look to the ex penditures of public money The children going to hell bugaboo simply means that they are not falling into the coldand cruel embraces of Presbyterianism When the paid advocates of Christianity in any of its forms begin to cry out with alarm at existing religious conditions among the people especially as regards our state educational in stitutions there are grounds for hope that the end of the conflict is approaching and mental freedom the further moraluplift of the race are coming into their own Another and very practical question is whether or not any of the students would take advantage of these enlarged opportunities to become slaves to superstitious creeds It is a well known fact that through the continued and per sistent efforts of tho preachers several of tho state univer sities have a branch of tho Y M 0 A which has no other object in view than to keep tho young men well within Christian lines Do the majority of students appreciate these branch organizations I The preponderance of the evi dence would prove that they did not The State University of Kentucky is located in Lexington It has upwards of ono thousand students in attendance It has also has a branch of tho Y M 0 A The college boys edit and publish a rather gossipy weekly paper entitled The Idea Tho columns of this paper are open to all departments of tho college to exploit their peculiar advantages andrecount their growth The Y M 0 A branch gets in it every week In tho issue of Thursday Oct 28th the managers of this college Y M 0 A branch made the following confession Tho fellows do not take the proper interest in this workand we do not have anything like as many at these meetings as we should have Thus do tho University students furnish a complete answer to the attempted intrusion of superstition 7T IPI1f A THEOLOGICAL JOKESMITH Dr Francis L Patton President of the Princeton The ological Seminary is rather consistent as a professor of orthodox Christianity but it must be admitted that as a thinker and an observer ho is something of a backnumber He is a pecterist with his face over towards tho past and would rely on supernatural remedies for natural ills offer prayer and faith instead of work and service to relievo hu manity from tho evils by which it is cursed and afflicted In a sermon recently delivered by him in a Presbyterian church at Pittsburg he is quoted as saying Tho solution of tho problem with which society is con fronted will not come from Socialism on tho one handor from political economy on tho other but from the sermon on tho mount Although tho statement concerning the efficacv of So cialism or political economy to right social wrongs may bo subjected to serious criticism ono may as well expect ma terial help from a painted echo as to look to tho sermon on tho mount for any solution to presentday problems Put into practice the principles enunciated by tho sermon on the mount would rob human life of its garden roses and fill tho hand with tho artificial flowers of faith Tho doctrine of humility selfabnegation and nonresistance to evil is not calculated to produce a brave and free people but would make men and women abject mental cowards and slaves What is the sermon on the mount doing for man today Innumerable fields have been opened by science for tho ben efit of man and yet every night a million Americans go aupperless to bed Does tho sermon on tho mount offer a remedy Feed my lambs cries the interested timeserver of Mammons hosts but from the dark cloud oforthodox despair no helping hand is stretched Socialism maynot solve the pressing problems of the hour but its very exist ence in America today is a protest against tho conditions that have obtained and now exist wrought by tho sacerdotal follies of those who would turn to a gross and sordid su perstition Political economy may not succeed in furnish ing a remedy but if all men could bo given ft proper under standing of the science of government there would soon bo a vast improvement all through human society Ignor ance of social and physical facts ignorance of natural law andabundant faith in the sermon on the mount would make a sorry world indeed Time was and not so very long ago when tho ministry was venerated by a majority of men but the foolish twaddle of such pretentious pietists as the head of Princetons preacher factory has made it a byword and a reproach This is not because the ministry has become any worse but that the world is growing wiser and refuses to bo longer duped by hollow pretense and meaningless sophistry and declines to recognize their fiat as final in matters of morals or of social import The average preacher knows no moro of the science of human society than he does of the great gyasticutus of Timblecute and Dr Patton appears to know even less hence his reference to the sermon on the mount r I InGRASS BLADE n as the panacea for political and social ills For nigh two thousand years its paid votaries have held sway and domin ion over the mind and brain of men and men are drifting further and further from its teachings with every passing day There has never been an advance made in science never a deathblow dealt to a debasing superstition never a new truth declared to the world never an upward step taken from the sweltering chaos subterbrutishness but what these professional skypilots have blocked the way with their arrant follies anent the sermon on the mount False education and orthodox hypocrisy have ever stood in the pathway of our car of progress bidding it stand like Joshuas moon in Ajalon filling the world with doleful jeremiads because it wouldnot await their pleasure But the stage scenery has been pulled from the sacerdotalcast exposing their bogus terrors It is highly probable that many in the congregation to which Patton preached his superstitious nonsense ventured to disagree with him if in secret The same may be said ofmany other church congregations As a rule the people pay little heed to musty sermons A little practical exper ience serves them in much better stead Fortunately the race has long ceased to regard the sermon on the mount as the beginning and the end of wisdom Fortunately also many who profess to believe in what it teaches decline to follow those teachings realizing that if they shouldever be universally adopted and practiced our civilization would disappear and the race sink back to savagery and theolog ical barbarism Clearly if this is the best that Dr Patton can do he ought to resign his post and take up some practical and use ful occupation He would perhaps make good as a theo logical jokesmith In a personal letter to the Editor Franklin H Heald announces that ho is back again in Los Angeles and will re sume the publication of Higher Science with the beginning of the coming now year The more Freethought publica tions the better and the better will our principles receive an efficient advocacy The police department of Philadelphia is making itself ridiculous because of its treatment of Emma Goldman Bluecoats with clubs and pistols have not only denied her the right of a public meeting but they have forcibly prevented her from receiving invited friends at her humble abode in the Quaker City This is getting too near like official Russia and no such proceedings can stop free speech When a nations tongue is tied its pen is turned loose t EDITORS LECTURE APPOINTMENTS- With regret we have been compelled to cancel an ap pointment at Cardwell Mo or in other words to postpone it where a date for a joint debate had been arranged with a Campbollito preacher Cardwell is situated 250 miles south of St Louis and the length of time it would occupy to make the distance for one appointment and return did not justify the expense and encroached too much on the time we have at disposal As we are contemplating a trip to Oklahoma during the spring for other debates we expect to fill the Cardwell appointment at that time The following dates have now been settled We could be pleased to meet as many friends of the cause at each place as possible Friends residing in the vicinity are asked to make an effort to be in attendance It will be seen that we have six days betweenDecaturHl and IndianapolisInd which ought to be filled Can not some of our friends in Illinois or Indiana arrange for two or three lectures on those vacant days If so write to the Blade office at once The lecture dates as arranged are Covington Ind November 8 9 and 10 Marshall HI November 11 and 12 St louis Mo Convention November 13 14 and 15 St Ansgar Iowa November 17 Shennadoah Iowa November 18 19 and 20 Dahlgren Ill November 22 Decatur Ill November 23 24 and 25 Indianapolis Ind Convention December 4 and 5 Signor Orlando keeper of the seals for the Italian government threatens trouble to the church because of its stubborn persistence in ignoring the civil law regulating marriages For fifty years the law of Italy has required an observance of the provisions of the civil law which must in all cases precede the religious function but the church has gone right along marrying people without regard to these requirements and Sig Orlando having asked for andreceived official figures upon these marriages is now threatening to illegitimize each and every one unless the civil codo be compliedwith How anxious the church is to obey the law aand how anxious it is to compel the people to obey law when that law is favorable to her own interests Success to Signor Orlando Holding that the church is no longer the power house of life Rabbi Leon Harrison of Temple Israel St Louis turns to and endorses the religion of the future as an nounced by Professor Eliot thus adding one more strong recruit to the now philosophy Antiorthodoxy is rapidly becoming more and more popular and stronger reasons are constantlyarising why the now organization should be startedas soon as possible A friend in Buffalo N Y writes back to the dark ages and sends us a onecolumn clipping report of a meet ing of preachers in that city for the purpose of collecting a big sum of money to spend in foreign Christian missions A comparison is then made that we are to meet at St Louis to be moving forward while the cohorts of su perstition are meeting in Buffalo to move forward back ward r i 12 BLUE GRASS BLADE Unanimous for Organization Splendid Offer of Financial Help Our Friends Must Seize the Present Op portunity On to St Louis Makes a Splendid Offer CHICAGO ILLAs I have not seen a copy of your paper for a long time I wil inclose four cents for back number I have a copy of the Truthsccker before me and notice your purpose of a nations organization I hope to learn more of this later us I have a few thousand to put in with anyone or any society equal amount for the purpose of erecting a building that will afford a perpetual income to promote the cause by long time lease or corporative perhaps Please advise There is a society of Freethinkers called L M 0 Do you know their addressf Yours truly WM FOSKET Heartily in Favor ELLSWORTH MICIII wish to say that I am heartily in favor of the Organization for Freethinkers on the lines you have though I can not attend I wish to become a member I think that it should adhere strictly to Freethought and Freedom of speech and press but not get switch ed off on any sidetrack Fraternally yours FREDERIC L CHURCH Must Be Made Popular LUBBOCK TEXAS It is said that It there is nothing ina name nevertheless names convey first impressions and often an expression of purpose especially the names of organizations I do not like the name Agnostic society as suggested in the able address of Brother CiilbeTtson because wo do know and assert some things The great Ingersoll was Agnostic only as to the unknownable I like such a name as American Liberal Society assuming that wo are to be liberal in all things whether religious political or social I like the name too and motto or creed of the In dependent Religious Society at Chicago since the name tends to suppress suspicion and their motto as I remember itHIn things certain unity in all things Liberty can be subscribed to by all classes from the liberal Christian to Atheists Some widely object to the word religious but I take it to mean that we are an or ganization with special reference to re ligion and I believe such a name would help us being but a step in advance of Unitarianism and surely a step at a time n is enough Let us keep close to the crowd and try to make this movement popular Sincerely for success RAY L SHOWATHER Gives Sincere Approval MERKEL TEXAS I wish to express my sincere and hearty approval of the National Organization of Freethought de signed to be established at St Louis in NovemberI believe that the greatest bless ing that could be bestowed on the human race would be to slough off that old scab of superstition While it is not possible for me to be in St Louis at the time spec ified for the meeting I shall be glad to become a member With best wishes for your success I am most sincerely GEO A WATFORD From a New Recruit HIGGINS TEXASI am just in re ceipt of the Blade and in looking over the official call for a National Convention it made me feel like I was not doing my duty so I am a little late but hope you will add my name to the list of charter mem bers I am not able to attend the Conven tion but hope those present will provide some kind of an emblem so we may know each other I lived in Fort Smith Arkan sas for nineteen years before I made the acquaintance of James ONeal of that place and through him I became a sub scriber to the Blue Grass Blade- I believe if we could adopt some kind of an emblem wo could cooperate in the va rious localities and bo able to distribute literature to better advantage I am will ing to abide by the division of the mem bers of the Convention at St Louis No vember 14 1009 Will help to keep the movement alive and do all in my power to spread tho gospel of truth and hope to live to see an organization in every state and territory of the United States NEB JOHNSON Contributes To Expense Fund BOWLING GREEN KYI am glad that tho time has come when tho Freethinkers of America see the necessity and realize the importance of getting closer gether concentrating their efforts forming an organization and letting their power be felt in the world It is a move in tho right direction Sorry that I cannot tend the Std Louis convention Enclosed please find one dollar 100 which you may use as my dues or in any way you may see fit for the good of the cause If you have another Blade subscriber or know of another Freethinker in this Warren county or Bowling Green Ken tucky please give me name andaddress We need to know each other We not only need a national organization but we need State organizations district and county organizations Let them come Tile time is here Wo must have them The national organization will never reach the masses until we get them We must draw our people out Give them an opportunity to show where they stand Lot the world see that we are a powerJESSE RUSSELL Has Become Interested GALT CALI have lately received probably at the suggestion of some friend a few sample copies of the Blue Grass Bladea very useful and attractive paper new to me I was much interested in Dr J F Wet zels article Morals Health and the StatePart 3 in October 10 issue As I had once written something like it be ing induced thereto by Langdon Smiths poem of some dozen or fifteen years ago I have reference to its graphic and poetic description of Evolution- I would thank you for its two previous parts and any more which may be pub lished That part of it is very fine as was the old poem Enclose stamps for the num bers and hope to send for a few books soon especially the two advertised on your last pageC M LOVETT Cant Do Without It MILLER CITY OHIOI will now re new for the Blade with a new subscriber I send in one year with my own so find check for the amount I could not do with out the Bluo Grass Blade Long live the Blade Organize for Freothought Iwill be with you as long as life lasts fighting to free tho mind of all ecclesiastical super stition LEWIS E DEUBLE M D Another New Subscriber BUCKEYE CITY 0 Enclosed find one dollar and a half 150 for which send no Blue Grass Blade for one year mencing with October 10th issue Can you send me the issue with account of Buckeye Secular Union Mooting at Columbus some time ago I requested Editor of Columbus Dispatch to givo it in his paper jut foiled to see itW E NELSON If IBJE GRASS LADE 13 It Oamee Allee Ritee SHILOH OIfno liavee how can nee 1as the Chinaman would say But now I have itand here is a post fficc money order to the tune of one dollar and a half 150 to push forward one year the date on my tab Long live tliti Blade I presented one subscription last year but am unable to do so this year Wife baby and I attended the Buckeye Secular Union Convention at Columbus September 12 It was a quite successful affair but we certainly did miss you and Dr Wilson Do be sure to bo on hand at Cleveland next September I have kept silent on the question of Nationalorganization since I have seen what an uphill business it issome failures and some almost failures I have belonged to three National and two State organiza tions With love to yourselves and fam ilies I am CIIAS R KIMBERLY Pays for Hauemans Book LOS ANGELES CAL Enclosed here with a postoffice order for two dollars 200 for Dr A Hausmans book Mans Origin and Destiny Please acknowledge the same and give my warm regards and good wishes to my esteemed friend John R CharlesworthCHARLES C DeRUDIO Major U S Army Retired Sends For the New Book GRAND FORKS B CPlease find en closed postofllcc order for two dollars for which please send me one copy of Dr A Ilausman Mans Origin and Destiny M MILLER Will Send the Dishes STATION 15 OHIO Enclosed find postofllce order for one dollar and a half 150 Please send Blado to E 0 Wagoner Lock Box 015 Dennison Ohio This entitles Bertha Wagner to a set of your dishes which was offered for seven new subscribers at one dollar and fifty cents apiece That is if you are still giv ing dishes if not no harm done I will still do what I can for the Blue Grass BlndeJ II BOWAN A Forward Movement BUFFALO N YIind clipping en closed of which you can make some whole some comment against this Herculean Move Backward And ours as a forward coining almost simultaneous You will please add my name to tho list you present to the St Louis Organization Meeting I am now past eightyseven and too feeblo to travel or would like to be presentT HART Straight to the Point CAPRON OKLATho Blade came to hand today and I see the call for the St Louis Convention has been made I am sorry I cannot be with you but it willnot be possible However if the principles of Freethought are adhered to it is an as sured success and you can count on my cooperation in any capacity not beyond my ability Of course Freethinkers like all the rest of humanity differ on many subjects but wo can certainly unite on the following declaration of principles FirstAntagonism to any form of re ligion based on supernaturalism SecondThe right of all to dq their own thinking and to give it free expression ThirdTo demand the free exercise of a citizenship in every part of the Union for Freethinkers Let us make our platform as brief as possible consistent with clearness of expression With many good wishes I am Fraternally yours CHAS F RANDALL Sends a Humanitarian Pennant SAN FRANCISCO I am n subscriber to your paper Enclosed you will find Post Office order for seventyfive 75 cents Balance of years subscription I send you in separate Postofflco package a Pennant flag for the Materialist Convention to adopt if they think best It is a novel name meaning Emancipation From cu pidity and ignorance or superstition I am wellacquainted with President Wetzell and Hausman and as they have in past shown We must organize to show the world that tho golden rule never has is not now and never will bo practiced under the rule of gold and tho hydropliobitos the rock in church who are money mad are not tho best I would attend the convention if possible It will have my earnest and best wishes Would that I could be there to moro fully represent the pennant as tho tie that binds Yesterday wo had estab lished on Market street this city the nese dragon an hideous conception of an unseen Monater that has for five thousand years been the emblem of superstition and poverty claiming millions of human be ings and the historical missions with their crosses attached represented in parade The killing ban tho soldier in the man of war vessels visiting hero and our own killing machines had a militant parade Monday of this week educating the mind to militancy It is time we organized against these and how I would love to bo there and to bo in this grand undertaking If they should not adopt tho pennant please return itcollcctC A JENKINS We have received tho pennant and will bring it to St Louis Ed About the Name WORGE VAIsee from the Blade there are some writers who rare in favor of an organization of Freethinkers with a big 0 that would join no organization that imbodied the word church as a title or in its workings Now if I understand the meaning of tho word church it belongs taking it in a broad sense as much to an Agnostic Infidel or Atheist us it does to a Christian Mohameden or Greek Isee too this same writer is in favor ofnn organization with degrees as Free Masonry or other secret organizations This is my plan which I have thoroughly mappedout with three degrees I have always con tended that people who wero blind deaf and dumb to the truth should bo anitiated into its mysteries admitting all truth totbo a mystery until property understood Tho same as should it find a watch never having seen one before its workings would be a mystery to me but being the truth to one more informed I would also have a small emblem or badge for each member t to wear either as a pin or watchcharm This would be a small balL representing this great big world we happen to be ex isting on And I would have written or engraved on it in small letters or the first letter of each word these sentences of Tom world is my country i To do good my religion This brings me back to tho word church again which in a universal sense is ap plicable to any religion I am in favor of this organization being called the Church of Truth for several reasons My most important reason is that one of the objects of this organization is to lift poor helpless hypocrites out of the quagmire of Christian superstition and ignorance to the elevated plain of truth self reliance and 011CstytI have come in contact with quite a until her of people in the past fifty years of my natural existence who would be glad to bo with us but who are afraid to shulIff the shackles of the word church for fear or going to the D or for social or financial we to incorporate the wordchurch in our organization we would catchall those which would not only add to our number but would help in a financial way The majority of mankind are getting tired paying some one else to do their thinking and we could very well afford to teach them to do their own thinking for half what they have been paying the preachers Then too wo could give them a brand now church in return for their old one where they could quicker and have moro fun in ono meeting than they could have in tluir old ono in a life time Hoping sco you and tho devil that is tho Blades devil and all tho rest of the staff at St Louis November 14th Iam yours for truthE G NICHOLSI c po W II BLUE GRASS BLADE j Be Sure and Subscribe For Secular Thought Fortnightly Journal of Rational Criti cism In Politics Science and Religion Organ of the CANADIAN SECULAR UNION AND THE TORONTO SECULAR SOCIETY Editor J Spencer Ellis Published at 185 Queen St West To ronto Canada Terms U per annum In advance single copies 10 cents All communications for the Editorial de partment should be addressed J Spencer Ellis Secular Thought 185 Queen St West loronto Can All Business communications orders for books printing etc should be addressed C M ELLIs Proprietor and Publisher Secular Thought Toronto Can THE WORLDS BEST WATCHES The Worlds Best Watches Mens Regular 18 size Hampden Special Ry 23 Jewels 26 New Ry 23 Jewels 20 Dneber Watch Co 21 Jewels 15 Dueber Grand 17 Jewels 8 15 Jewels 6 7 Jewels 450 Elgin or Waltham Veritas or Van guard 23 Jewels 29 Father Time or Crescent Str 21 Jewels 2250 B W Raymond 19 Jewels 20 Same A T Premier 17 Jewels 1850 Wheeler or P S Bartlett 17 Jewels nickle 9 Same gilt 7 15 Jewels 6 7 Jewels 5 all in Silverine screw case In 20year Gold case 3 or in 25year case 5 more Every Watch fresh from factory prepaid with guarantee Send for prices of Watches not enumer ated here or order from any of my old pricelists Chains Fobs Diamonds Jewelry Optical Goods Freethought Badges Ingersoll Spoons Ring Gauge and my great little tract Theism In the Crucible free OTTO WETTSTEIN LaGrange Cook County HL lIJ The Woman and The Prospector Is the title of a romance every man woman and child should read It should be in the hands of all who are opposed to supersti tion and graft as it Is a protest against vaccination vivisection medical legislation and the administration of drugs to human beings at the same time points out the only method for the cure of the consump tive The booklet is really free but the cost of advertising and postage we figure at 10 cents so If you wish a copy send us 10 cents A M PARKER OANOERI AFFLICTED LISTEN I CURE all external Cancers Tumors Wens Carbuncles Fistulas Felons etc Remove Birthmarks and other unsightly growths that disfigure human beings Can cers a Specialty I use liquid remedies I do not use knife or plasters Cure is abso lute unless beyond the power of man If you have a suspicious growth dont wait until one foot is in the grave and the other caving in Please dont cry Fakir Fraud Graft etc until you investigate Write for free booklet DR H H DOW 858 N Raymond Ave Pasadena Oalif WANTED Men or women to learn the burbers trade or ladies beauty parlor work This is the largest college in the States A 15 tuition includes everything Steady practice wages while learning and position afterwards Write for catalogue PALMER BARBER COLLEGE 305 W Jefferson St Louisville Ky PLANFTSAIon iesaiptlnnoimit Murrays Clearance Sale 75c for 30c postpaid Byrons Forbidden Fruit Paul Berts Jesuit Morals Tolstois Root of Evil Sil coxs Sacredness of Man Livingston and the Boers Murrays British Landlord Moses and the Prophets 30 Propositions of a Pagans Religion The Open Challenge Ten Commandments Bible Texts etc etc The total retail price of the lot comes to 75 cents I will send the whole together postpaid for 30 cents NORMAN MURRAY 246 St James St Montreal Canada L JUST OUT NAMING SONG AND BURIAL SONG FOR FREETHINKERS Each a Duet and a Concert Piece for Piano Also Variations for Violin Flute or Bells PRIDE 25 CENTS EACH I have composed these songs for the benefit of Freethinkers or men of Common Sense who do not wish to insult our Cre ator with Bible rot QUIRIN BACHLER 2277 Fulton St Chicago HI Give Em Fits IHmiThats what SCARLET SHADOW Walter Hurts great rad ical novel doss to the forces of bigotry and su perstition And the sec ular press of the country goaded by the church element Is throwing a over It too No other novel of this decade has been so widely and so bitterly denounced by orthodox critics which Is sufficient proof that It Is all right It has cre ated a sensation In con servative circles and aused consternation among the clergy It Is enthusiastically endowed by leading Freelthlnkers through out the world You aL know how Hurt can write and In this book he at his best It Is an elegant volume fit to ornament the finest library containing pages printed on heavy eggshell paper and bound In oxblood cloth Price 160 GRASS BLADE Lexington Ky BOOKS BOOKS THE MASTERPIECE LIBRARY Cheap reprints of tho Masterpieces of the Great Modern Authors on the Christian Superstition published for Missionary pur poses by the Rationalist Press Association of London England The Riddle of the Universe Haeckel EducationSpencerThe the Idea of God Grant Allen Origin of Species Darwin Emersons Essays Herbert Spencers Philosophy Creed of Christendom Greg Spencers Essays Ingersolls Lectures ands Essays In volumes Palnos Ago of Reason The above is only a selection out of 75 Complete list mailed on application Price 25c each postpaid Six copies to ono ad dress at one time 125- N9RMAN MURRAY 246 St James St Montreal Canada Naumans Orchestra E D NAUMAN Violin ANNA L NAUMAN Piano OTTO S NAUMAN Cornet or Clarinet Other Instruments Added If Desired Over 500 pieces of the beet music suitable for any program always on hand Phone 128 12 Lock Box 800 SIGOURNEY IOWA A TRIP TO ROME By DR J B WILSON This work is acknowledged to be one of the best descriptive literary efforts of the centuryA Freethinkers view of the old world and what he saw there OlothI25 postpaid BLUE GRASS BLADE Lexington Ky Evolution of the God Idea The Evolution of the God Idea by the late Grant Allen is one of the most remarkable books of the century 63000 copies have been printed and nearly all cir culated by the Rationalist Press Asso ciation of London in cheap form and is now offered for 25 cents postpaid by the American Agent of the R P A NORMAN MURRAY 246 St James St Montreal Canada BILLS fWENUE makes you cheerful and personaldepartment YOUYouwith Interest for what Dill has to say next flMBRIOrtNMrtDONNfVlsaer lat running in the WHEEL byMaryfiction since Grant Allen and Is a beautiful presentation of the essentially modern problem of the Woman In Business THE WHBBL OP LIFB A monthly periodical It deals with OKIOINH the origin of Marriage of Ethics of Religion Brotherhood of the belief In Immortality It treats broadly of Love of Human Instincts and Ideals It takes In subjectsIndust Is shaken outand they become as In teresting as a novel to even the casual reader Send cents for aslx months trIal subscription or a quarter for a year fDRONEauthor of A LITTLE BROTHER OP THE KIUII sent without extra with 0nonthstrial subscription the WHEEL ONLINE Address LIFE PUB CO Desk A St Louis L BLUE GRASS BLADEt55e SearchlightA Monthly Published by J D SHAW Waco TexasI Price of Subscription 1 a Year Single Copies 10 Cents t Write for a sample copy which will be sent free THE AMERICAN JOURNAL O- FEUGENICS Formerly Known as Lucifer the Light Bearer The Pioneer Journalin Modern Times r an old and almost forgotten science tl most important of all sciences a so nee successfully and openly taught and practiced by the ancient Greeks and Egyp tians but ignored defeated scorned by all modern nations vizthe Science of Right Borning the Science of Good Generation The Century Dictionary thus defines Eugenics The doctrine of Progress or Evolution especially in the human race through improved conditions in the rela tions of the sexes Its central thought is freedom of Moth erhood the SelfOwnership of Woman in the Realm of Sex and Reproductionin telligent and responsible Parenthood This much neglected this tabooed dis graced and almost unknown science was named Eugenics by Francis Galton a cousin of and cqworker with the great Charles Darwin and now both in England and in Continental Europe is beginning to receive the attention its importance demandsIJ 1tThe American Journal of Eugenics is now in its 30th year of publication sus tained by a long list of able and well known contributors women and men of nationaland international reputation it is now published bimonthly standard mag azine sizeat Los Angeles Calif price 1 a year postpaid single copy 15c Trial subscribers will receive three back numbers less than a year old also a copy of the booklet II Institutional Marriage a lecture by the editorall for 25c in stamps or coin For sale by newsdealers or sent postpaid by the editor and pub lisher Moses Harman with lists and prices of standard English and American Eugenic publications Address 1319 Kel lam Ave Los Angeles Calif uIJ r Id r I Mans Origin and Destiny By Dr A Hausman Alamedaf California IThISis the Greatest Book of modern turns on the theory of Evolution applied to Sociology U will shortly be issued in hook form by the Blue Gras Blade making a book of nearly 600 pages The author has dedicated it to Prof Ernst Haeckel and tiu great Jena philosopher has accepted the dedication J ii200 200t i Subscribe Now and Save MoneyA- ll charges of postage will be prepaid upon advance subscriptions The first chapters are now in the press and publication in book form will immediately follow its serial publication in the blade columns ascribe Now Subscribe Now JAMES E HUGHES Lexington KyI 1909 1909 Blue Grass Blade Bound volume Containing Fiftytwo Copies of The Blade and all handsomely bound in Blue Buckram with gold letters 300 Reduced from last years price 300Subscribe NOWand get your name on the list in time A STILL BETTER OFFER For Five New Subscribers For Five New Subscribers- We will send ONE COPY of the Bound Volume FREE OF COST To any person sending us five new subscribers in one club at the regular rates before Dec 31 1909 THE CLUB IS PREFERABLE GET UP ONE SECURE A COPY FREE BLUE GRASS BLADE Lexington Ky ItIi L L JIl d J

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