Boston Investigator, 22 Feb. 1833, p. 1. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.
Agreeably to previous notice, that the Birthday of this distinguished apostle of Liberty would be celebrated by “The Philadelphia Association of Free Enquirers,” a number of the friends of Civil and Religious Liberty assembled at the Military Hall, on Tuesday Evening, January 29.
George R. M’Farlane was called to the chair, & John Caney and William Wallace were chosen Vice Presidents.
An oration, on the character and writings of Thomas Paine, was delivered by George R. M’Farlane.
After which the company sat down to a splendid supper, prepared for the occasion, by Mr. Radford.
After the cloth had been removed, the following regular toasts were drank, accompanied with excellent music, and interspersed with songs.
REGULAR TOASTS.
- The day we celebrate—None but enemies to “The Rights of Man,” and strangers to “Common Sense” need fear its being kept in remembrance.
Air—Hail Columbia.
An original song, composed by Dr. Steele, sung by Mr. McKean.* - Common Sense—The first offering of the pen of Paine upon the altar of Liberty—the forerunner of the Declaration of Independence. Let us profit by its dictates, which teach us that “All men are created free and equal.”
Air—“A man’s a man for a’ that.” - The crisis—It will try the stability of republican institutions. May they stand the test, as did the patriots of ’76 that which “tried men’s souls,” and like them find a Paine to advocate, defend, and support them.
Air—The Star Spangled Banner. - The Rights of Man—Man himself their deadliest foe and ablest advocate. Upon our own heads rests the penalty of neglecting to assert and defend them.
Air—“Scots wha hae wi’ Wallace bled.”
†The fifth to [unintelligible]
6.† Education—The only safeguard of republican institutions—the birthright of freemen. May its refulgent rays soon disperse the mists of ignorance which now overshadow “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
Air—Yankee Doodle.
- The rank and file of the Revolutionary army—Powerful arguments of the ingratitude of a republic. They have gone down to their graves, uncheered by the rays of their country’s gratitude, which have at last shone forth but to gild their tombs. [Drank standing.]
Air—Dead March. - Thomas Paine—The reign of his enemies is over, and that of Common Sense has begun. The dawning rays of an Age of Reason shall disperse the clouds of calumny which prejudice and bigotry have raised to obscure his fame.
Air—Marseilles Hymn.
SONG,
Written for the celebration of the Birthday of Thomas Paine, by George R. McFarlane, and sung by Mr. Griffy.
Air—The Sun Flower.
Oh! believe not the slanders invention has framed
’Gainst the patriot honest and true;
But with highest respect let him ever be named,
And give honor where honor is due.
For ’twas he nerved the arms of our patriot sires
‘Gainst oppression their rights to maintain,
And when Freedom’s brave sons lit her bright beacon fires,
They were cheer’d by the counsels of Paine.
When rebellion’s foul stigma o’ershadowed the land,
And stain’d every patriot name—
Ere America’s chosen illustrious band
Independence had dared to proclaim—
Then his fam’d Common Sense, like a light from on high,
Illumin’d the darkness again,
And the thoughts of each freeman responded with joy,
To the words and the wisdom of Paine.
Maintaining man’s rights with a vigorous mind,
Which tyrants essayed to o’erthrow,
The crowned oppressors together combin’d,
The friend of his race to lay low.
But favor’d by fortune, he ‘scaped from their toils,
To expose their deceptions again;
Freedom’s fond hopes revived when she saw her foes foil’d,
And rejoiced in the safety of Paine.
The idol of Priestcraft he next did assail,
And brought Reason’s artillery to bear;
But the cry for “revenge” went abroad on the gale,
And her worshippers, rous’d by their fear,
From all points of the compass determin’d they ran,
Their vile object determin’d to gain,
To quench the fond hopes of regenerate man,
By crushing his champion, Paine.
Say, shall we who have reap’d the rich fruit of his toils,
Join his foemen, his worth to decry?
Shall we yield his rich fame, as the conqueror’s spoils,
And to rescue him basely deny?
No! While Freedom shall swell an American breast,
Or throb through a patriot’s veins,
We will yield him a place with the honest and best,
And hallow the birthday of PAINE.
9. Francis Wright, and the Lady of the Rotunda—Female laborers in the good cause. May their success be commensurate with their zeal and their exertions for its advancement.
Air.
10. Stephen Girard—His last will and testament has gained him the approbation of all friends of mankind; and the hatred of those whose black coats his wisdom has excluded from the walls of his college. Honor to his memory.
Air—Orphan Boy.
11. Thomas Jefferson—The author of the Declaration of Independence, the restorer of republicanism, the friend of civil and religious liberty, the friend of Paine.
Air—Liberty Tree.
Song—Liberty Tree.
12. R. M. Johnson—The author of the report upon Sunday Mails, the able opponent of Imprisonment for debt, the man of the people; they appreciate and will reward his services.
Air—Hail to the Chief.
Song—The Tea Kettle.
13. Woman—May the lights of science so illumine her mind, as to forbid her longer remaining the dupe and victim of a crafty and designing priesthood.
Air.
VOLUNTEERS.
By the Chairman. Truth—May all men speedily become willing to embrace her wherever she may be found, and to follow her wherever she may lead.
By John Caney, 1st Vice President. Our present Celebration. May it add to the glory of the man, as a politician and philanthropist, who, unawed by clerical or political knaves and tyrants, gave his confession of faith to the world, for their benefit and improvement.
By W. W. Wallace, 2nd Vice President. James Monroe—A tried patriot, an unblemished Statesman; Posterity will rank among his most praiseworthy actions his generous and successful exertions in behalf of the imprisoned PAINE.
By C. R. McCrea. Four days and protracted meetings—Manufactories of lunatics; a branch of domestic manufactures that ought not to be protected.
By John Farrell. The European Apostles of Liberty, LaFayette, Owen, and O’Connell.
By L. Stegagnini. The Clergy—the height of their glory was in the dark night of ignorance; at the present day of knowledge and science they must swim with the tide.
By B. Bromly. Kings in the mine, Soldiers at the plough, Lawyers at the loom, and Priests in Heaven.
By J. McKean. Kings and Priests—Nature disclaims them; may she teach her children to disclaim them also.
By W. W. Wallace. Kingcraft, Priestcraft and Intolerance—The unholy Alliance and Trinity of oppressors, at whose altars thousands have been sacrificed. May they always have a Paine to oppose their unhallowed designs.
By Thomas G. Spear. Stephen Girard, the illustrious Banker; he laid up treasure for the good of mankind, and established a school for the discount of the genius and talent of posterity; whose dividends are utility and truth, where no accounts are kept with the clergy, and no premiums paid for religion. May it never close for want of customers, nor fail from mismanagement of the Capital.
By S. S. Hall. The Members of the Philadelphia Association of Free Enquirers—May their course be as bright as their motives are pure and disinterested.
By John White. Abner Kneeland—The greatest obstacle in the way of the New England Clergy; where he crossed their path, they could obtain neither money nor rags.
By G. R. McFarlane. Byron and Shelley. Their poetical talents are only equalled by their liberal sentiments, their enthusiastic hatred of tyranny and oppression, and their ardent love of liberty.
By Lewis Rankin. The Priesthood—The sun of knowledge has penetrated through their garments, and the cloak they have worn for 1800 years has become too ragged longer to conceal their iniquities.
By a Guest. Ballou, Palmer, Godwin, Taylor, and Kneeland—Seceders from the ranks of the Priesthood; their Philanthropy scorned and consciences disdained the usages of deception and delusion.
By Thomas Aspden. Richard Carlile—The tried Champion of Liberty, the scourge of priests; his ardor diminishes not with confinement, but with his pen he continues to enlighten mankind.
By George Baush. Thomas Paine—He opened the doors of the Temple of Priestcraft, and let Reason peep behind the curtain.
By W. Kennedy, Jr. The Moral Philanthropists of New York—They have shown themselves worthy of the name they bear, by their active exertions in the cause of human improvement. May success ever attend them.
Our Host—His table this evening bore witness to his desire to do justice to the cause and the occasion; its present appearance affords ample proof of our will and ability to do justice to his good cheer.
Boston Investigator, 1 Mar. 1833, p. 4. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.
The following is the song which was omitted last week, in the account of the proceedings of the friends of Thomas Paine, in Philadelphia.
SONG.
Written by Silas S. Steele.—Sung by Mr. McKean.
Air,—The Soldier’s Dream.
—Del. Free Press.
When science and freedom, oppressed and amazed,
Lay ’neath the dark thraldom of proud tyranny,
Fair nature revolted as on them she gazed,
And called forth a champion to bid them be free.
Then blest be the day,—ever may its return
See freemen thus joyfully hail the hour
When Paine the bold champion of freedom was born,
To crush superstition and tyranny’s power.
Like heaven’s bright fire, in dangers dark hour,
From him burst the sage and the patriots flame,
And the tyrants he robbed of their much abused power,
In vain may endeavor to tarnish his fame.
For while e’er a heart beats to Liberty true,
Still bright as his virtues that hour shall be,
When reason’s keen arrows for Freedom he drew,
And planned the great course for the mind to be free.
He is gone! but each hour with joy we behold,
Fair wisdom shine forth in the path which he trod,
And reason’s bright scroll, which his wisdom unrolled,
Shall arm every heart against tyranny’s rod.
Then brothers rejoice, the bright hour is near,
When dark superstition from earth shall be hurl’d,
When heaven born reason her altars shall rear,
And the bright son of truth, shall illumine the world.