Boston Investigator, 7 Mar. 1834, p. 1. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers.
CELEBRATION OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THOMAS PAINE, IN PHILADELPHIA, PA.
The Association of Free Enquirers of this city, with a number of the friends of Civil and Religious Liberty, met on Wendesday evening at the Military Hall, to celebrate the birth-day of this great Apostle of Liberty.
An oration suited to the occasion, was delivered by Mr E. Thompson, after which the company sat down to an excellent supper prepared by Mr Thomas Bradford.
Mr John Caney, presiding, aided by Messrs. Kennedy and Rankin, as Vice Presidents.
After the cloth had been removed, the following regular and volunteer toasts were drank, with original songs, recitations, &c. enlivened with music of an excellent band.
- The day we celebrate.—The day that gave birth to the Apostle of Liberty, the advocate of the ‘Rights of Man.’ Posterity will do justice to his memory. Three cheers. Air, Liberty Tree.
SONG.
Written for the occasion by Mr W. Burke: Liberty Tree.
When tyranny struggled a realm to retain,
In the thriving domains of the west,
And sought for her minions this refuge to gain,
This home for the freemen oppress’d.
Brave men started forth undistinguish’d, unknown,
Till freedom was heard to complain;
By the pen and the sword their devotion was shown
And their path was prescrib’d them by Paine.
The Empire of bigotry, vast in extent,
And more rigid than tyranny’s sway,
Would quench every glimmer of liberty sent,
To illumine life’s oft-clouded way.
Society witnessed the monsters advance,
But deem’d every struggle in vain,
Till philosophy baffled its progress in France,
And the world was awaken’d by Paine.
Columbia nobly disputed the right
Which monarchs assert to their throne;
Years have passed, she has risen in glory and might
While her populace govern alone.
Hence kingcraft is banish’d, still priestcraft survives
And hopes through all time to remain,
Though the learn’d and the honest have wasted their lives,
In opposing its dogmas with Paine.
‘Tis useless to boast of the freedom enjoy’d,
While our reason itself is enslav’d,
And vain was the valor our fathers employ’d,
And in vain were the dangers they brav’d.
If we yield to the priest what was wrested from kings,
And in darkness consent to remain,
In spite of the knowledge which history brings,
And the legacy left us by Paine.
- Common Sense.—A bright light amid the darkness of the Revolution, it guided the steps of our patriot sires to the haven of Independence.
Air, Hail Columbia. - The Rights of Man.—Honor to all who assert and maintain them: palsied be the arm that would aid to overthrow them.
Air, A man’s a man for a’ that. - The Crisis.—Indeed a Crisis: May our Legislators, animated by the spirit of ’76, merge all minor considerations in love of country, and thus ensure the safety and permanency of our republican institutions.
Air, Star Spangled Banner. - The Age of Reason.—Its sun has arisen, and his dawning rays have enlightened the earth: May we soon witness the power and splendor of his meridian beams. Nine cheers.
Air, Hail to the Chief. - Thomas Paine.—Calumny and detraction have exhausted the arrows of their quiver, and he still stands in bold relief—the champion of Liberty. Nine cheers.
Air, Washington’s March.
SONG.
PAINE: THE CHAMPION OF LIBERTY.
Written for the occasion by Geo. R. M’Farlane: Air American Star.
In days long gone by, when oppression dark lower’d
O’er this ‘land of the free and the home of the brave;’
And each patriot’s choice, by fell numbers o’erpower’d,
Seeem’d the chains of the tyrant, or Liberty’s grave.
When the bright star of freedom arose in the west,
On a nation determined their rights to maintain,
Then first in the ranks of her bravest and best,
Stood The Champion of Man and his Liberty—Paine.
Though countless the hosts of oppression rolled on,
And hopeless the cause of Columbia appeared,
Still true to that cause stood each patriot son;
Nor the threats, nor the frowns of the tyrant they fear’d,
But they gave forth the fiat, that man should be free,
Nor longer the subject of tyrants remain,
‘Common Sense’ had gone forth and confirmed the decree
From the pen of The Champion of Liberty—Paine.
Whatever the shape that oppression assumed,
He combatted still for the rights of mankind,
The rays of his genius old Europe illumin’d
And tyranny quail’d at the light of his mind.
When the king and the priest had together combin’d,
In unholy alliance, their ends to attain,
To build up their thrones on the ruins of mind,
They met their rebuke from The Wisdom of Paine.
Then blest be the day, ever hallow’d the hour
That gave to the champion of liberty birth,
May it ne’er be forgotten while memory has power,
Or liberty dwells on one spot of the earth;
And may all who assemble to honor his name,
The truths he proclaim’d, still with boldness maintain,
And cherish forever the generous flame
That was lit by The Champion of Liberty—Paine.
Then freedom’s bright wings shall o’ershadow the world,
And man be the slave of his tyrants no more,
The flag of man’s rights to the wind be unfurl’d,
And the days of oppression be number’d and o’er,
Then fell superstition shall triumph no more,
But silence shall flourish and reason shall reign,
The glad songs of freemen shall sound from each shore,
In praise of The Champion of Liberty—Paine.
- Liberty.—Long a wanderer of the earth, scorned and opposed by crowned and mitred oppressors: may she soon find a home in every country, and in every clime. Six cheers. Air, Marseilles Hymn.
- Slavery.—The foulest blot on our national escutcheon: Immortality to the man who wipes away the stain. Air, Galley Slave.
- Education.—May our legislators soon be able to devote to this part of their duty, the time now spent in chartering banks. Nine cheers.
Air, Yankee Doodle. - Stephen Girard.—May his benevolent and liberal intentions be speedily carried into effect, his will fulfilled to the letter, and his college preserved from the contamination of clerical or sectarian influence. Nine cheers. Air, Orphan Boy.
- The memory of Thomas Jefferson.—Endeared to every freeman by the exertions of a long life spent in the cause of civil and religious liberty.
Dead March. - The Rank and File of the Revolutionary Army.—Like the leaves of autumn, they are falling round us, and will soon live only in the recollections of their grateful countrymen. Auld Lang Syne.
- Woman.—Debased and degraded under all superstition, she should be the first to urge their downfall: May the progress of reason soon restore her lost rights, and proclaim her equal to the Lord of Creation. Eighteen cheers. Hail Liberty.
ODE.
For the occasion. By Charles Mead.
When Freedom’s fair genius arose in the west,
And breath’d her complaints in a sorrowful strain,
The Gods heard her murmurs, and saw her opprest,
And sent to her aid the bold champion, Paine.
Minerva had nursed him with kindness and love,
Inspir’d him with wisdom to spread light afar,
Instructed by Mars, and directed by Jove,
His voice was soon heard ‘mid the thunders of war.
Our country was bleeding at every vein,
And carnage was made of the children of men,
When myriads arose through the counsels of Paine,
With valor inspir’d by his magical pen.
Though long was the conflict and doubtful the strife,
Our land was redeem’d from the thraldom of kings,
Our fathers had purchas’d with blood and with life,
The blessings the Goddess of Liberty brings.
Proud tyrants on thrones of oppression and blood,
Surrounded with holy impostors and knaves,
Have felt a keen Paine, and confounded have stood,
When his great ‘Rights of Man’ were made known to their slaves.
When priestcraft had fill’d men with hatred and gloom,
That hung o’er the nations like centuries of night,
‘Twas he taught the young buds of reason to bloom,
And science and truth cheer the world with their light.
Through ages to come on the records of fame,
When dark superstition shall flee from the land,
With those of immortal renown, will his name,
Unsullied by slanders, triumphantly stand.
By John Caney, President. The immortal author of Common Sense, the Crisis, the Rights of Man, and the Age of Reason: Posterity will do justice to his character when the sun of science has dispelled the clouds of superstition from the world.
By Lewis Rankin, Vice President. Thomas Paine: The effulgence of his deeds and the divine justice of his truths are too bright to be long obscured by the clouds of calumny and superstition.
By William Kennedy, Vice President. The Age of Reason: A pillar of light in the wilderness of superstition, leading too straight for the tribe of Levi to follow.
By Geo. R. M’Farlane. Abner Kneeland: He has shared the fate of all reformers, Persecution: may his sentence prove the tocsin which is to rouse the friends of religious liberty to the necessity of defending their rights.
By Reuben Hanse. Thomas Paine and Robert Morris: The chief architects in erecting the temple of American liberty; a long imprisonment the reward of one and the blighting curses of bigotry the other.
By S. Demers. The illustrious name of Thomas Paine: May each liberalist bequeath it to posterity as he found it—the bigots dread, Reason’s legacy, the friend and advocate of the Rights of Man.
Isaac A. Stevens, May church property not be exempt from taxation, nor the poor man be taxed for wearing a head, till that head is made valuable by an equal system of education at the public expense.
W. B. Flounders. The liberal papers of our country, devoted to the cause of truth, reason, and free enquiry: they are like so many heralds of light among spirits of darkness.
By John Caney. Robert L. Jennings: A pioneer in the cause of Free Enquiry, the friend and advocate of rational education, we appreciate his worth.
By a Guest. Judge Thatcher and the Boston Grand Jury: They have done more to serve the cause of Free Enquiry than the victims of their persecution.
By Wm. Ferral. Frances Wright, Mary Wolstoncraft, and the Lady of the Rotunda: A glorious trio in the cause of mental emancipation.
By a Guest. ‘John Locke, whose disproval of the long received doctrine of innate ideas, first palsied the arm of superstition.
By a Guest. Chancellor Brougham: who had the honesty to declare ‘that man is no more accountable for his opinions than for the place of his birth or the color of the skin.’
By Wm. Campbell. The three Presidents, Jefferson that was, Jackson that is, and Johnson that will be: May we have a regular and uninterrupted succession of such sons, as guardians of American and Universal liberty.—Song, Columbia Land of Liberty.
By C. Mead. The liberal papers in the United States: We hail them as morning stars that announce the approach of a brighter day.
By a Guest. The theological schools of Germany, formerly the nurseries of superstition, now the sanctuaries of rational science and enlightened reason.
By B. Gardiner. Free opinions on religious and political principles the best safe-guard of a free and enlightened people.
By Isaac A. Stevens. May the people of every nation do away with the national prejudices that exist in their own bosoms, and say with Thomas Paine, ‘The world is my country, and my Religion is to do good.’
By Jesse Owens. Frances Wright, the opposer of priestcraft, the friend to education, the honor of her sex, may her name be revered to the latest posterity.
By John Farrell. George Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania: May his philosophic and philanthropic views on the subject of education speedily be carried out into universal practice.
By John Caney. Free Enquiry, the brightest gem in the crown of Reason.
By N. Lazier. May Abner Kneeland find an honest and impartial Jury when again tried for blasphemy.
By a Guest. The Trades’ Unions, now forming throughout the United States: May they duly study the moral of the Roman fable of the Bundle of Sticks.
By Jacob M’Kelshner. Abner Kneeland: his keen talents have made him dangerous to priestcraft, his enemies have unloosed their kennel upon him, may they soon be covered with the confusion they merit.
By G. R. M’Farlane. The memory of Richard Newsham, the friend of Paine, and like him, ‘A man honest enough to be bold, and bold enough to be honest.’
By W. B. Flounder, Our Fellow Citizens of Kensington, assembled on the same occasion; we are proud to hail them as brothers in the same glorious cause.
By Charles R. M’Crea. Sarah M. Cornell, the victim of priestcraft; the punishment of Cain is the reward of her betrayer and murderer.
By a Guest. Avery and Arnold: their escape from justice, should speak in a voice of Thunder the extent and power of clerical influence.
By Thomes Ashden. Dr. Conyers Middletown, who had the boldness to think for himself, and the honesty to speak his thoughts, by which he brought against him the whole host of the clergy.
By J. A. Parker. Thomas Paine, the moral magician, who, by the power of his mighty intellect, anticipated centuries, and dispelled the darkness of nations by the brightness of his Age of Reason.
By P. Crosbie. The memory of Kosciusko of Poland, who assisted to gain the independence of this country, and hoped to gain the liberty of his own.
Song, Liberty Tree.
By Isaac A. Stevens. Abner Kneeland, a champion in the cause of religious liberty: may he triumph over the fanatics of Boston, and show to the world that the people of the United States acknowledge no inquisitorial laws.
By a Guest. Robert Owen, the philanthropist: may his efforts in the cause of humanity prove successful.
By Jonathan Russell. The ‘Age of Reason:’ may it run and be glorified until it shall cover the whole earth, even as the waters cover the mighty deep.
By William Cougan. Thomas Paine: His name will live when those of kings and priests will have long sunk into the gulph of oblivion.
By James Ferrel. Edward Thompson: the unwavering and untiring advocate of liberal opinions.
By E. B. Thompson. Liberality of sentiment, the greatest ornament of man.
By Mr Bierly. The people of the United States. ‘The schoolmaster is abroad:’ may they prove apt scholars in the science of the ‘Rights of Man,’ and Free Enquiry.
By P. Crosbie. Free Enquirers throughout the world: may they always take reason for their guide.
By B. Gardiner. We, as Free Enquirers, wish the priests and priest-ridden a better Hell than that to which they doom us.
By a Guest. Solomon Southwick: the first christian writer who has had the moral courage to speak truth of Paine.
By John Caney. May mankind, aided by ‘Common Sense,’ and the ‘Age of Reason,’ no longer permit themselves to be fleeced by wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Song, The Shearers.
By Wm. W. Wallace. Rev. E. K. Avery: his highest ambition may well be gratified, he has been the founder of a sect: Averyism will doubtless be coeval with Methodism.
By Wm. Nore. Thomas Paine; the untiring advocate of the ‘Rights of Man,’ the unwavering foe to kingcraft and priestcraft in all their shapes—honor to his memory.
By G. R. M’Farlane. Missionaries; their harvest has been gathered, their hopes are ‘in the sere and yellow leaf;’ they will soon be compelled to make their living honestly.
Recitation—The Missionary Hymn.
By B. Gardiner. May every anniversary of the birth of Thomas Paine find us increasing in numbers, and a decrease in the ranks of sectarianism.
By a Guest. May the friends of Thomas Paine give their support to the Free Inquirers and by so doing, promulgate his principles, and redeem the country from mental as well as physical slavery.
By a Guest. Zelotes Fuller, editor of the Philadelphia Liberalist: An able advocate of Free Inquiry.
By G. R. M’Farlane. The Rev. Alexander Campbell: He has reduced the volume of Christianity to a single page, may he go ahead with his abridgment.
By a Guest. May they who fear to celebrate the birth-day of Paine, cease to profess admiration of his principles.
By William S. Brown. William Cobbett, an able advocate of the ‘Rights of Man;’ He had the honesty and moral courage to burst the fetters of prejudice, and become the champion of the persecuted Paine.
By James Sheefan, Free Enquiry; The parent of knowledge, power, and universal independence.
By A. Lozien. May the government ever be administered by such men as were the immortal Jefferson and Paine.
By Mr M’Farlane. The moral philanthropists of New York; Their zeal in the cause of liberal principles is only equalled by their success in their dissemination.
By the Company. Our Host; He deserves our thanks for the entertainment he has furnished, let us do him the same justice we have done his good cheer.