Blue-grass blade (Lexington, Ky.), February 23, 1908
PROPOSED PAINE CENTENARY
Suggestion That Freethinkers Hold National Meeting in Honor of That Patriot And Revolutionary Hero.
By James B. Elliott, Secretary
I congratulate you upon the new dress of the Blade and hope it will be kept sharp so that it can cut down the weeds of superstition—that you may be able to maintain the high standard of Mr. Chas. Moore. I enclose the programme of our Paine Celebration in this city—you will observe that our speakers have treated this many sided man as an economist, philosopher, diplomat and inventor. Mr. J. C. Hannon took his text from Daniel Webster’s speech as council for the heirs of Stephen Girard, in which he stated that Girard was inspired by the Age of Reason, to found his College. This speech was published by the American Tract Society, 1844. As an antidote for Infidelity and to show the pernicious influence upon Christian Charity of the works of Thomas Paine.
The Blade has issued a Paine Number. Next year will be the centenary of Paines Death, and the Paine Memorial Association wishes to have special Commemorative Services, which will require at least in the United States, 1000 members, and if the Blade and the other papers go to work now we may secure that number. At present Kentucky and many Southern States are not represented on our list as members. You will observe that our programme contains the very rare portrait of Thomas Paine painted by J. W. Jarvis in 1805, when Paine resided with him—also another portrait—and to make it especially interesting to Blade readers who are interested in Paine We will send the programme and a blank certificate membership—Containing the portrait of Paine presented to Independence Hall after a 16 year fight with pious bigots.
We will send both of the souvenirs for 25 cents while they last. We will have but a few left.
The City of Toronto has a Chas. Dickens Association with a 1000 members. Where are all the lovers of Thomas Paine?
No mention of Paines name was made at the St. Louis Convention—Yet it was Thomas Paine that recommended the purchase of the Louisiana Territory to President Jefferson.