Evening star (Washington, D.C.), February 3, 1896
HONOR TO THOMAS PAINE
A Free Thinkers’ Meeting Pays a Tribute to Him
Speeches Eulogizing the Work of the Author of the “Age of Reason” and Assailing His Critics
Fully 200 people assembled in Metzerott’s Hall yesterday afternoon to participate in the celebration of the birthday anniversary of Thomas Paine. The stage was resplendent with the national colors, and on a small stand wrapped in the flag rested a gilded bust of Paine. W. A. Croffut presided, and on the stage were S. P. Putnam of Boston, M. Pechin, C. C. Carter, F. B. Woodbury, secretary of the National Spiritualists’ Association, and D. I. Groh.
Mr. Croffut opened the exercises by exhibiting the shoe buckles and spectacles of Paine. Mr. Croffut also exhibited among the relics his own mother’s Bible, which she had given him and on her deathbed made him promise to read. He said he had read it and in the light of modern science could not accept it. Mr. Croffut said if in the dim and misty beyond he should meet his mother again he believed she would have become enlightened as to the Bible and would say: “You were right, my son.”
The audience was in a lively and responsive mood and applauded sharply every glittering bit of skepticism uttered by the speakers. Ingersoll’s raillery about the Bible was again and again the occasion for laughter and applause.
Mr. F. B. Woodbury, on behalf of the spiritualists, welcomed Mr. Putnam to the city, and the latter was then introduced and made the leading address of the afternoon. He said that the audience was not gathered together to celebrate Thomas Paine, but the principles for which he stood. He declared that Paine was no infidel, that he believed in God and in universal revelation.
The speaker then took up the Bible and reiterated the time-worn criticisms of Ingersoll and others. Little was said of Paine except to affirm that he was a great, noble-hearted and good man, who loved humanity and believed in the freedom and equality of men. The greater part of the address was devoted to ridicule of Christianity and the Bible.
Ingersoll, he said, a hundred years from now, would be called a Christian. Speaking of the alleged errors of the Bible, Mr. Putnam said there were 230,000 errors in it, and it was full of contradictions; much was in it that should not be there, and the morality of those parts of the Bible that were accepted as orthodox was entirely wrong. He condemned the teachings of Christ which urged men to sell all they had and give it to the poor, and take no thought of the morrow, saying that it was the duty of man not to be poor, and to take forethought and make provision for the future.
After Mr. Putnam’s speech Mr. Groh read resolutions eulogizing Paine and condemning the intolerance of the day that denies to him the full measure of honor rightfully his due.
During the meeting a collection was taken to pay the rent of the hall, and enough was secured to justify the announcement that there would be a mass meeting in the same place next Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock to protest against puritanical Sunday laws in the District of Columbia.