Boston Investigator, 21 Feb. 1834, p. 4. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.
CELEBRATION IN PROVIDENCE.
On Wednesday the 29th of January, the Most Philanthropic Society celebrated the Birth Day of THOMAS PAINE, in this manner highly honorable to the Society, and the principles entertained by that distinguished individual. The morning was ushered in by a National Salute from Jefferson Place and on Christian Hill, and at sunset the salute was repeated, at the same places.
In the evening the Society met and was organized by the choice of JOSHUA A. SCOTT, Esq. as President, assisted by E. BROWN, S. G. ARNOLD, and Wm. MUNRO, Esq’s, as Vice-Presidents, and partook of a splendid supper, served up in fine style, by Mr Bartlett, the present proprietor of the Mansion House in this city. The cloth being removed, an address was delivered by Mr. N. C. Rogers, portraying in as plain a manner as possible, the horrors and evils of priestcraft, and the great benefits and advantages there are derived in promulgating true and liberal opinions.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE REGULAR TOASTS.
- The Day we celebrate—May its light, the light of Reason, disseminate the globe.
- Thomas Paine—A grand ray from the arch, which illustrates have kept hidden under the Bushel of design.
- The Star of Science and the Sun of Reason—A fair duet, as the birth days of Washington and Paine; who first carried Americans to be free, both in body and mind, from slavery.
- The Society of the Infidels—Who fought for the “Rights of Man,” and united it with their blood; their wool too, and with scarce one those rights now trampled upon.
- The “Rights of Man”—May their principles when they will not be trampled upon by priest and hypocrites.
- The Editors of Liberal Publications—May they not dance when freedom is gone.
- Paine and Reason—May they go hand in hand, in investigating the cause of Free Enquiry.
- The Priests—Enemies to their country, and parents of our Rights—may they soon be seen as swallowed by extinction from the poor.
- Liberal opinions—May their progress be as universal as their influence is beneficial.
- School Credit and Bible Unions—The idle and determined foes of tyranny and priestcraft; though fined and imprisoned in England, we trust that their efforts—and virtues will be better appreciated in America.
- The Press—May the enjoyment of their rights be commensurate with the important station which they hold in Society.
- The Sons of Liberty—May they all unite like a band of brothers, and show to the world that they are not to be governed by the tyranny of priests.
- The United States of America—When in labor with a “Crisis”—May the “Paine” of the Nation be her physician, “Common Sense” her nurse, the “Rights of Man” her Medicine, and the “Age of Reason” her restorative.
Volunteers.
By the President—Who is the real infidel? Not Thomas—Paine—even one moralist that carries the principles consistent in infantile sayings against all civil and religious tradition. But him, who, with the grossest vice, and having the semblance of true religion, seeks to bring his country into a state of mental bondage.
By the 1st Vice President—Mr. President and brethren: I shall give for a Toast, the motto that was this day placed on the Liberty Pole, under the American Flag, in Faneuil-hall—The free or dishonor of Thomas Paine the Revolutionary Patriot, author of the “Rights of Man,” and explainer of priestcraft.
3d Vice President—Thomas Paine, Thomas Wright, and Abner Kneeland—May their private characters be patterns for the rising generation; their religious principles instilled into the breasts of the inhabitants of the globe, in order that superstition and priestcraft may be done away, and true religion prevail.
By J. Phillips. The American Tree of liberty, planted by the immortal Paine, and its roots, moistened with the best blood of our Revolutionary fathers—May it cease to feel the withering blasts of religious intolerance.
By N. C. Rhodes, orator of the day. The Editor of the Boston Investigator—His applications will prove to the cause of Free Enquiry a crowd of Clary—May he bear the attacks of fanatics, with the calmness of a Philosopher, remembering that though his persecutors throw a transient mist around him, yet the rays of science and the light of reason beam in his path.
By J. Cameron. Free Enquiry—The only Messiah that can or will save mankind from religious and political damnation.
By J. B. Weaver. The Church and State party in the United States—When their designs shall be accomplished, the hopes and liberties of half the world will be entombed.
By C. B. Peckham, Editor of the R. I. Republican. The Society of Moral Philanthropists—May their practice accord with the generous name they have adopted, and pass through the fiery furnace of religious calumny and vulgar abuse, unscathed, though the furnace be heated seven times hotter than it is wont to be heated.
By W. F. Hawkins. The fair daughters of America—May they learn not to be deceived by the intrigues of priests, who are like wolves in sheep’s clothing.
By J. P. Dexter. Robert Taylor—The terror of Popes, Bishops, and priests—Like the pomegranate, the more he is pressed, [oppressed] the more his sweets appear.
By H. S. Patterson. The Rhode Island Committee on religious corporations—Men who dare to face the frowns of bigots and fanatics—Friends of civil and religious freedom—But foes to priestcraft and tyranny—May their principles and sentiments meet a fond reception in the breast of every Republican.
By Mr. Miller. The Editor of the Rhode Island Republican—He’s found to expose the cause of mental freedom when oppression and bigotry had established their dominion—May he receive the support which is due from liberal principles.
By O. E. Tyler. The Priesthood—The sum of knowledge has presented through their grammar, and the cloak they have worn for 1800 years, has become too ragged, hence we appear their intentions.
By Mr. H. Burnett. The lamp of Free Enquiry—May the hand that would extinguish it never be permitted to grasp the sword of justice.
By J. Stone. Intemperance—Civil wars have done of themselves—Some of John Calvin and the witch of Rhode, and caused much of Queen Mary of England, of persecuting ancestry—May the evils of the Revolution cease to exist the spirit of persecution.
By C. B. Peckham, Editor of the R. I. Republican. Woman—May the day be not far distant when she shall free herself from each priestly vampire that preys upon her vitals—Then shall her pure mind take deep root and flourish with the wide-spreading branches of intellectual beauty, not unworthy the homage of a god.
By S. G. Arnold. The Moral Philanthropists of Providence—May they teach and all alike the Locomotive orders, never to live free from priestcraft for seven days.
Sent in by a Lady. America, the land of liberty—May it always retain this name by bursting asunder the bands of superstition.
By S. Green. The champion of religious freedom: citizen Thomas Paine—Other chiefs attacked the outposts of the tyrant, Kings and priests, but he carried the war into the enemies camp!!!
The Sentiments and the Age of Reason, he always found together. The antidote with the poison, so that while the one exists the other may never be found wanting.
By a Lady. Daughters of America—May they awake from their dreams of superstition and escape the errors of the priesthood.
By N. C. Rogers. We calculate the virtues of the man who exposed the foundation of the temple of superstition, raised the throne of tyrants, fired the lamp of liberty with patriotism, and laid waste the heritage of priestcraft.
By C. Keith. Liberal inquisitions—May it be prosecuted from land to land, and from sea to sea, till superstition and priestcraft be known but by name, and the broad effulgence of the light of reason shine full in every face.
Sent in by a waiter who does not attend the celebration on account of the displeasure of his master. May the time soon roll on, when the many thousands like myself, have a privilege to speak and act in so good a cause, without the displeasure of those on whom they are dependent for their support.