Part I. Inharmony of Nature and the Lot of Man with the Goodness and

Wisdom of a supposed DeityóWhy a Creator is ImaginedóDifficulty of the Act of CreationóBelief in Supernatural BeingsóBelief and Worship among SavagesóQuestions of Origin and DestinyóProgress impossible without Change of BeliefóCircumstances Determining BeliefóHow may the True Religion be Ascertained?óProsperity of Nations nor Virtue of Individuals Dependent on Religions or GodsóUninspired Books SuperioróPart II. The Christian ReligionóCredulityóMiracles cannot be EstablishedóEffect of TestimonyóMiraculous Qualities of all ReligionsóTheists and NaturalistsóThe Miracle of InspirationóHow can the alleged Fact of Inspiration be Established?óGod's work and Man'sóRewards for Falsehood offered by the Church.

HUXLEY AND AGNOSTICISM.

Statement by the Principal of King's CollegeóOn the Irrelevancy of a Lack of Scientific KnowledgeóDifference between the Agnostic and the Christian not in Knowledge but in CredulityóThe real name of an Agnostic said to be "Infidel"óWhat an Infidel isó"Unpleasant" significance of the WordóBelief in Christó"Our Lord and his Apostles" possibly Honest MenóTheir Character not InvokedóPossession by evil spiritsóProfessor Huxley's Candor and ClearnessóThe splendid Dream of Auguste ComteóStatement of the Positive PhilosophyóHuxley and Harrison.

ERNEST RENAN.

His Rearing and his Anticipated BiographyóThe complex Character of the Christ of the GospelsóRegarded as a Man by RenanóThe Sin against the Holy GhostóRenan on the GospelsóNo Evidence that they were written by the Men whose Names they BearóWritten long after the Events they DescribeóMetaphysics of the Church found in the Gospel of JohnóNot Apparent why Four Gospels should have been WrittenóRegarded as legendary BiographiesóIn "flagrant contradiction one with another"óThe Divine Origin of Christ an After-growthóImprobable that he intended to form a ChurchóRenan's LimitationsóHebrew ScholarshipóHis "People of Israel"óHis Banter and Blasphemy.

TOLSTOY AND "THE KREUTZER SONATA."

Tolstoy's Belief and PhilosophyóHis AsceticismóHis View of Human LoveóPurpose of "The Kreutzer Sonata"óProfound Difference between the Love of Men and that of WomenóTolstoy cannot now found a Religion, but may create the Necessity for another AsylumóThe EmotionsóThe Curious Opinion Dried Apples have of Fruit upon the TreeóImpracticability of selling All and giving to the PooróLove and ObedienceóUnhappiness in the Marriage Relation not the fault of Marriage.

THOMAS PAINE.

Life by Moncure D. ConwayóEarly Advocacy of Reforms against Dueling and Cruelty to AnimalsóThe First to write "The United States of America"óWashington's Sentiment against Separation from Great BritainóPaine's Thoughts in the Declaration of IndependenceóAuthor of the first Proclamation of Emancipation in AmericaóEstablishment of a Fund for the Relief of the ArmyóH's "Farewell Address"óThe "Rights of Man"óElected to the French ConventionóEfforts to save the Life of the KingóHis Thoughts on ReligionóArrestedóThe "Age of Reason" and the Weapons it has furnished "Advanced Theologians"óNeglect by Gouverneur Morris and WashingtonóJames Monroe's letter to Paine and to the Committee of General SafetyóThe vaunted Religious Liberty of Colonial MarylandóOrthodox Christianity at the Beginning of the 19th CenturyóNew Definitions of GodóThe Funeral of Paine.

THE THREE PHILANTHROPISTS.

I. Mr. A., the Professional Philanthropist, who established a Colony for the Enslavement of the Poor who could not take care of themselves, amassed a large Fortune thereby, built several churches, and earned the Epitaph, "He was the Providence of the Poor"óII. Mr. B., the Manufacturer, who enriched himself by taking advantage of the Necessities of the Poor, paid the lowest Rate of Wages, considered himself one of God's Stewards, endowed the "B Asylum" and the "B College," never lost a Dollar, and of whom it was recorded, "He Lived for Others." III. Mr. C., who divided his Profits with the People who had earned it, established no Public Institutions, suppressed Nobody; and those who have worked for him said, "He allowed Others to live for Themselves."

SHOULD THE CHINESE BE EXCLUDED?

Trampling on the Rights of InferiorsóRise of the Irish and Germans to PoweróThe Burlingame TreatyóCharacter of Chinese LaborersóTheir Enemies in the Pacific StatesóViolation of TreatiesóThe Geary LawóThe Chinese Hated for their VirtuesóMore Piety than Principle among the People's RepresentativesóShall we go back to Barbarism?

A WORD ABOUT EDUCATION.

What the Educated Man KnowsóNecessity of finding out the Facts of Natureó"Scholars" not always Educated Men; from necessaries to luxuries; who may be called educated; mental misers; the first duty of man; university education not necessary to usefulness, no advantage in learning useless facts.

WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS.

Would have the Kings and Emperors resign, the Nobility drop their Titles, the Professors agree to teach only What they Know, the Politicians changed to Statesmen, the Editors print only the TruthóWould like to see Drunkenness and Prohibition abolished, Corporal Punishment done away with, and the whole World free.

FOOL FRIENDS.

The Fool Friend believes every Story against you, never denies a Lie unless it is in your Favor, regards your Reputation as Common Prey, forgets his Principles to gratify your Enemies, and is so friendly that you cannot Kick him.

INSPIRATION.

Nature tells a different Story to all Eyes and EarsóHorace Greeley and the Big TreesóThe Man who "always did like rolling land"óWhat the Snow looked like to the GermanóShakespeare's different Story for each ReaderóAs with Nature so with the Bible.

THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.

People who live by LyingóA Case in pointóH. Hodson Rugg's Account of the Conversion of Ingersoll and 5,000 of his FollowersóThe "Identity of Lost Israel with the British Nation"óOld Falsehoods about InfidelsóThe New York Observer and Thomas PaineóA Rascally English EditoróThe Charge that Ingersoll's Son had been ConvertedóThe Fecundity of Falsehood.

HOW TO EDIT A LIBERAL PAPER.

The Editor should not narrow his Horizon so that he can see only One ThingóTo know the Defects of the Bible is but the Beginning of WisdomóThe Liberal Paper should not discuss Theological Questions AloneóA Column for ChildrenóCandor and KindnessóNothing should be Asserted that is not KnownóAbove All, teach the Absolute Freedom of the Mind.

SECULARISM.

The religion of Humanity; what it Embraces and what it AdvocatesóA Protest against Ecclesiastical TyrannyóBelieves in Building a Home hereóMeans Food and FiresideóThe Right to express your ThoughtóIts advice to every Human BeingóA Religion without Mysteries, Miracles, or Persecutions.

CRITICISM OF "ROBERT ELSMERE," "JOHN WARD, PREACHER," AND "AN AFRICAN FARM."

Religion unsoftened by InfidelityóThe Orthodox Minister whose Wife has a HeartóHonesty of Opinion not a Mitigating CircumstanceóRepulsiveness of an Orthodox LifeóJohn Ward an Object of PityóLyndall of the "African Farm"óThe Story of the HunteróDeath of WaldoóWomen the Caryatides of the ChurchóAttitude of Christianity toward other ReligionsóEgotism of the ancient Jews.

THE LIBEL LAWS.

All Articles appearing in a newspaper should be Signed by the WriteróThe Law if changed should throw greater Safeguards around the Reputation of the CitizenóPains should be taken to give Prominence to RetractionsóThe Libel Laws like a Bayonet in War.

REV. DR. NEWTON'S SERMON ON A NEW RELIGION.

Mr. Newton not Regarded as a ScepticóNew Meanings given to Old WordsóThe vanishing Picture of HellóThe AtonementóConfidence being Lost in the Morality of the GospelóExclusiveness of the ChurchesóThe Hope of Immortality and Belief in God have Nothing to do with Real ReligionóSpecial Providence a Mistake.

AN ESSAY ON CHRISTMAS.

The Day regarded as a HolidayóA Festival far older than ChristianityóRelics of Sun-worship in Christian CeremoniesóChristianity furnished new Steam for an old EngineóPagan Festivals correspond to OursóWhy Holidays are PopularóThey must be for the Benefit of the People.

HAS FREETHOUGHT A CONSTRUCTIVE SIDE?

The Object of Freethoughtówhat the Religionist calls "Affirmative and Positive"óThe Positive Side of FreethoughtóConstructive Work of Christianity.

THE IMPROVED MAN.

He will be in Favor of universal Liberty, neither Master nor Slave; of Equality and Education; will develop in the Direction of the Beautiful; will believe only in the Religion of this WorldóHis MottoóWill not endeavor to change the Mind of the "Infinite"óWill have no Bells or CensersóWill be satisfied that the Supernatural does not existóWill be Self-poised, Independent, Candid and Free.

EIGHT HOURS MUST COME.

The Working People should be protected by LawóLife of no particular Importance to the Man who gets up before Daylight and works till after DarkóA Revolution probable in the Relations between Labor and CapitalóWorking People becoming Educated and more IndependentóThe Government can Aid by means of Good LawsóWomen the worst PaidóThere should be no Resort to Force by either Labor or Capital.

THE JEWS.

Much like People of other ReligionsóTeaching given Christian Children about those who die in the Faith of AbrahamóDr. John Hall on the Persecution of the Jews in Russia as the Fulfillment of ProphecyóHostility of Orthodox early Christians excited by Jewish Witnesses against the FaithóAn infamous Chapter of HistoryóGood and bad Men of every FaithóJews should outgrow their own SuperstitionsóWhat the intelligent Jew Knows.

CRUMBLING CREEDS.

The Common People called upon to Decide as between the Universities and the SynodsóModern Medicine, Law, Literature and Pictures as against the OldóCreeds agree with the Sciences of their DayóApology the Prelude to RetreatóThe Presbyterian Creed Infamous, but no worse than the CatholicóProgress begins when Expression of Opinion is AllowedóExamining the Religions of other CountriesóThe Pulpit's Position LostóThe Dogma of Eternal Pain the Cause of the orthodox Creeds losing PopularityóEvery Church teaching this Infinite Lie must Fall.

OUR SCHOOLS.

Education the only Lever capable of raising MankindóThe School-house more Important than the ChurchóCriticism of New York's School-BuildingsóThe Kindergarten System RecommendedóPoor Pay of TeachersóThe great Danger to the Republic is Ignorance.

VIVISECTION.

The Hell of ScienceóBrutal Curiosity of VivisectorsóThe Pretence that they are working for the Good of ManóHave these scientific Assassins added to useful Knowledge?óNo Good to the Race to be Accomplished by TortureóThe Tendency to produce a Race of intelligent Wild Beasts.

THE CENSUS ENUMERATOR'S OFFICIAL CATECHISM.

Right of the Government to ask Questions and of the Citizen to refuse to answer themóMatters which the Government has no Right to pry intoóExposing the Debtor's financial ConditionóA Man might decline to tell whether he has a Chronic Disease or not.

THE AGNOSTIC CHRISTMAS.

Natural Phenomena and Myths celebratedóThe great Day of the first Religion, Sun-worshipóA God that Knew no Hatred nor Sought RevengeóThe Festival of Light.

SPIRITUALITY.

A much-abused WordóThe Early Christians too Spiritual to be CivilizedóCalvin and KnoxóPaine, Voltaire and Humboldt not SpiritualóDarwin also LackingóWhat it is to be really SpiritualóNo connection with Superstition.

SUMTER'S GUN.

What were thereby blown into Rags and RavelingsóThe Birth of a new Epoch announcedóLincoln made the most commanding Figure of the CenturyóStory of its Echoes.

WHAT INFIDELS HAVE DONE.

What might have been Asked of a Christian 100 years after ChristóHospitals and Asylums not all built for CharityóGirard CollegeóLick ObservatoryóCarnegie not an Orthodox ChristianóChristian CollegesóGive us Time.

CRUELTY IN THE ELMIRA REFORMATORY.

Brockway a SavageóThe Lash will neither develop the Brain nor cultivate the HeartóBrutality a FailureóBishop Potter's apostolical Remark.

LAW'S DELAY.

The Object of a TrialóJustice can afford to WaitóThe right of AppealóCase of Mrs. MaybrickóLife Imprisonment for MurderersóAmerican Courts better than the English. BIGOTRY OF COLLEGES. Universities naturally ConservativeóKansas State University's Objection to Ingersoll as a commencement OratoróComment by Mr. Depew (note)óAction of Cornell and the University of Missouri.

A YOUNG MAN'S CHANCES TO-DAY.

The Chances a few Years agoóCapital now RequiredóIncreasing competition in Civilized LifeóIndependence the first ObjectóIf he has something to say, there will be plenty to listen.

SCIENCE AND SENTIMENT.

Science goes hand in hand with ImaginationóArtistic and Ethical DevelopmentóScience destroys Superstition, not true ReligionóEducation preferable to LegislationóOur Obligation to our Children.

"SOWING AND REAPING."

Moody's Belief accounted foróA dishonest and corrupting DoctrineóA want of Philosophy and SenseóHave Souls in Heaven no Regrets?óMr. Moody should read some useful Books.

SHOULD INFIDELS SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SUNDAY SCHOOL?

Teachings of orthodox Sunday SchoolsóThe ferocious God of the BibleóMiraclesóA Christian in Constantinople would not send his Child to a MosqueóAdvice to all AgnosticsóStrangle the Serpent of Superstition.

WHAT WOULD YOU SUBSTITUTE FOR THE BIBLE AS A MORAL GUIDE?

Character of the BibleóMen and Women not virtuous because of any BookóThe Commandments both Good and BadóBooks that do not help MoralityóJehovah not a moral GodóWhat is Morality?óIntelligence the only moral guide.

GOVERNOR ROLLINS' FAST-DAY PROCLAMATION.

Decline of the Christian Religion in New HampshireóOutgrown BeliefsóPresent-day Views of Christ and the Holy GhostóAbandoned Notions about the AtonementóSalvation for CredulityóThe Miracles of the New TestamentóThe Bible "not true but inspired"óThe "Higher Critics" riding two HorsesóInfidelity in the PulpitóThe "restraining Influences of Religion" as illustrated by Spain and PortugalóThinking, Working and PrayingóThe kind of Faith that has Departed.

A LOOK BACKWARD AND A PROPHECY.

The Truth Seeker congratulated on its Twenty-fifth BirthdayóTeachings of Twenty-five Years agoóDodging and evadingóThe Clerical Assault on DarwinóDraper, Buckle, Hegel, Spencer, EmersonóComparison of PrejudicesóVanished Belief in the DevilóMatter and ForceóContradictions Dwelling in UnityóSubstitutes for JehovahóA Prophecy.

POLITICAL MORALITY.

Argument in the contested Election Case of Strobach against HerbertóThe Importance of Honest ElectionsóPoisoning the Source of JusticeóThe Fraudulent Voter a Traitor to his Sovereign, the Will of the PeopleóPolitical Morality Imperative.

A FEW REASONS FOR DOUBTING THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE.

Date and Manner of Composing the Old TestamentóOther Books not now in Existence, and Disagreements about the CanonóComposite Character of certain BooksóVarious VersionsóWhy was God's message given to the Jews alone?óThe Story of the Creation, of the Flood, of the Tower, and of Lot's wifeóMoses and Aaron and the Plagues of EgyptóLaws of SlaveryóInstructions by Jehovah Calculated to excite Astonishment and MirthóSacrifices and the ScapegoatóPassages showing that the Laws of Moses were made after the Jews had left the DesertóJehovah's dealings with his PeopleóThe Sabbath LawóProdigiesóJoshua's MiracleóDamned Ignorance and InfamyóJephthah's SacrificeóIncredible StoriesóThe Woman of Endor and the Temptation of DavidóElijah and ElishaóLoss of the Pentateuch from Moses to JosiahóThe Jews before and after being Abandoned by JehovahóWealth of Solomon and other Marvels.