{ title: 'The olive branch. (Utica, N.Y.) 187?-18??, January 01, 1878, Page 3, Image 3', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/np00110003/1878-01-01/ed-1/seq-3/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00110003/1878-01-01/ed-1/seq-3.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00110003/1878-01-01/ed-1/seq-3/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00110003/1878-01-01/ed-1/seq-3/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
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January, 1878. The Olive Branch. nature of the human structure clearly proves the right to think. If there is no freedom of thought for the individual, there can be none in a larger sense. The cla'm of independence, in a national sense, or the Declaration of Independence of our fathers, that we glory in, is b ut the beginning, the blossom and full blooming of individual thought; but the unitizing of the individual right to think, is but the accumula'ion of this element and power, and those who w ere engaged in the framing and pro mulgation of that declaration of freedom, had no right w hatever to make it, unless it be based upon the right of every individual to th in k for themselves. Religion is not debarred from this necessity, any more than the mere concerns of business, in life. The right of freedom to think relates to religion more th at all else. It relates to the m oral force, with a grander scope, covering the necessities of human life m ore than it does any other interest in th at life. In this m ortal form, the priest may deDy men the right to think. As you read the h istory of the race— the history of the past—you shall find priest craft and king-craft and their interests united. One holding with iron grasp, the physical condition of mankind; the other holding the spiritual and moral powers of the race, and controlling them. If mao could be relieved from and brought u p out of the influence of such a combination of tyranny, be had first to gain physical freedom. But th at could not have come as a boon to m ankind, to the extent it has in this new w orld, unless preceded by free thought, which finally blossomed out into the beauty and glory of freedom in this free land. The physical bonds must be striken from the race, first, before spiritual freedom could be realized. The right to think, in the individual, lies at the basis of the acquisition of all knowledge and experi ence in life. The laws of experience in life, the laws of growth, development, all these are embraced within the right to think. The being wlio has not this right, has not the power to exercise it. If man •did not possess the power to think, even the m ighty Inspiration of the Infinite could never touch or quicken his soul. W hat is this human structure, physically, without the power to think ? The right to think can be demonstrated by any being who has the power God lays no embargo upon the right of the individual to think. You may question Him as you will, and never get a frown from God. But you can’t question a priest five times, w ithout being sent straight to per dition, and never could in any age. But you may question the All F ather eternally, and only smiles and joy and rejoicing will answer you back and encourage you to search for the cause of all things. The power and right to think is a primal necessity of being. It follows, then, of necessity, if men possess the power of thought, by the decree of the Infinite, there mst be a natural avenue to express that thought. What is it ? T he grand possibility of speech, by which soul communicates w ith soul. There are other ave nues th at the soul employs; the intuitions of being, that not only express, but reveal the inner depths, as speech never can. But the glory of speech, and the necessity of speech, are seen in all the conditions of life, manifested by joy inexpressible, that each being possesses the possibility of expressing the thought that each has the right to think. This is the natural consequence, then, of free speech The natural sequence to the existence of free thought in the mind —the power to think. Next comes, of necessity, the power to express th at thought. Tn this, as in the blos som, the power of thought is the bud, and the floral kingdom, in all its m atchless beauty, possesses nothing like this. “ Solomon, in all his glory,” was not array ed like a human mind, budding in infancy, in the power of th o ug ht—the bud unfolding in speech—the sweet and perfect blossom of tbat bud ; giving forth the fragrance of the soul, which is perfect love. To realize the fullest development and benefit of Free Thought, there m ust be Free Speech. W hoever seeks or attempts to abridge either, is an enemy to m an k in d ! As Free T hought is the bud, Free Speech is the blossom, and these ever give promise of fruit which is found in a free religion. These three form a glorious trinity, and become the basis of all true government. The cultivation of the moral powers of mankind lies at the foundation of honest, good government, as certamly as they do of a true char acter for the individual This is that intellectual quality called conscience, w hich is the only true measure of men or nations. It is the ripe fruit of bud and blossom in all possible growth and develop ment in both individual and national life, not only in this earthly condition, but in the unfolding and blossoming in a higher state of existence. For this is the measure of m< n—the measure of angels— light divine This is the fruit, the ripe fruit. It is the full orbed glory of that living power. Develop ment of fruit in all that pertains to this life shows this natural truth, and reveals the basis of all things w ith Gnd or man. An intelligent conscience encompasses all th at is good, all that is pure, all that is holy, all th at is true and sincere; and naught else. This is the sum total, the vital essence of free religion, “ pure aud undefiled” from taint of creed, or tyranDy of pope or priest. There are other elements of m ind; and all n ature’s force? are employed in the m ingling and intermingling of these elements, blossoming in the life of the lower forms of existence ; in th s base of the brain; in that which pertains to the physical forms of life. But the ripe, rich fruit of the freedom of speech is the freedom of conscience. The evidence ol this is seen in the history of the race. It is because conscience has been the polar star to some brave and heroic souls in every age, that man has advanced to his present spiritual development. It is because con science, as a mighty sovereign, held sway in some minds, in every hour of peril, in the ages past,that the purple flowers of m artyrdom and patriotism still bloom upon the graves of the dead centuries! It was con science in heroic souls th at has made possible the ever widening pathway of human advancement up the rolling centuries, sprinkled with the blood of m artyrs and patriots in each succeeding age. It is because there is a co\science in man that the grand progress of the race has been possible, from the earlier forms of human life to the present intellectual state. There are unmistakable signs in history, of growth, advancement, and pro gress, from the lower conditions in which the race once existed and out of w hich it came. Yes, it m ust come! There was no other way by which it could come, by w hich the glorious estate of true manhood —a true life—guided by the divine light of con science in each individual, can be reached Would vou know the m easure of a nation’s conscience, take the true measure of the conscience of every man, woman and child tn it; you will have the sum total ot'-ihe nation’s conscience Just in proportion, as you m easure that, you will find out the standard of justice in the national life. AndJ), w hen you tu rn w ith saddened gaze to the «ad havoc that war is making at this time in the East, can you not gauge the conscience of those nations, iD their death struggle for the mastery ? W hat elements are chiefly manifest in this bloody contest ? The voice of reason is hushed in the din and roar of battle, and the light of conscience is shrouded w ith the black pall woven of selfishness, strife, and carnage. Mad ambition, hatred, and revenge rule the hour. Again the Cross and the Crr scent are in a death grapple. Blood-stained w ith past contests in the interest of religion, these same emblems of national godliness and piety are now waved over gory battle-fields, of butchery and slaughter. As the thumb-screw rack and gibbet was once used in the interests of religion, so it is claimed that tbis slaughter of human life, w ith all the desolation that war can bring, is iu the interest of religion. In the light of what history reveals—the desolation th at the present religious war is making, the fear, the awful trep idation, the envy, hate, and malice, the united blus ter, and fan-farade made by most of the clergymen of U lica, because one solitary infidel came here and uttered his thoughts in a manly, honest, straightfor ward way —in view of all this, and much more we might present of ostracism and persecution at the present day by the leaders and professors of secta rian C hristianity —falsly called religion-'im I not justi- fled in exclaiming, as did the heroic M adame R oland, whose indignant gaze fell upon tl: e statue of Liberty while awaiting her execution — “ Oh Religion ! w hat crimes have been, and are being committed in thy name !” W hy is this, do you ask ? Measure the conscience, and you shall find the answer. See those ruffianly fluUies pounding each other’s faces to jelly. Measure their conscience. See two religious nations engaged in wholesale butchery of human life. Measure their conscience. See men who Claim to have “ grace divine”—“ wisdom from on high”— who preach and profess to be governed by the spirit of paace and good will to dll men, unite to assail and destroy the reputation and usefulness of an honest, upright, intelligent, good man, by shouting “ In fidel,” “ H eresy,” “ Blasphemy”—simply because there is an honest difference of opinion, and the said “ infidel” has the ability and courage to express his thoughts. Measure their consciences. W b at do they aU need? A baptism of free thought and true religion. If the champions of the prize ring had a higher development in thought, and con science to correspond,the world would not be shock ed w ith their disgusting brutality. If the masses In Russia and T urkey had been favored w ith the free dom of thought—of speech—of the press, and could have known and felt the influence of freedom in re ligion—the full power oi an intelligent conscience— the horrors of the present desolating war w ould have been avoided! Had the clergymen of this city been filled w ith the spirit of our Elder Brother, whose glorious life they profess to follow and emulate,they could not have sneered at and unitedly assailed an honest m an, because of a difference of opinion! All that was essential in the teachings of Jesus was de clared by H im to be embraced in “ C harity.” Blessed Charity! How these lamb-like “ followers of the Lamb” have illustrated it! W ith such a religion, how long will it be before these reverend tigers and infidel lambs w ill lie down in peace together! Then will the m illennium have dawned! W hat does humanity need? More “ Free T hought,’’ “ Free Speech” and “ Free Religion;” “ More Light,” “ More R oom,” more, better and grander opportunities for every human soul! W ith these must come intellectual development; a broadening and deepening of the individual and public con science. Then shall men learn w ar no m ore; but peace, love aud good w ill sball blossom everywhere in human life, just in proportion as Free Thought, Free Speech, and a Free Religion are understood, appreciated and enjoyed, as the fulfillment of that God-derigned liberty which is the natural right of every m an, woman and child. THE .T R U M P OF F R E E D O M . Awake ye slumbering sons of earth, Let freedom’s call dispel the dearth W hich, like a cloud, doth hide the light From true investigation. A call to arms once m ore resounds, W ith clarion tones the bugle sounds. It calls the valiant forth to fight For m anhood’s preservation. The cannon’s roar—the glittering spear That fided your land w ith sorrows drear, Now yest in peaoe. Yet, freedom’s cause Lies bleeding at your feet ! From priestly halls a sound is heard, Like that w hich led to C alvary’s deed! “ T he right to think, the right to praise, Must m eet w ith sure defeat. “ O ur creeds and customs m ust survive W hat e’er the cost—’tis thus we live; ’Tis thus we hold the w orld in awe And m ake it do our bidding. “ Should we admit the right to think, Or from G od’s fountain let m en drink, Our crafts w ould then in danger be — Likewise our easy living.”
