CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1266, 9 August 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Our correspondenca column being ope* a* na\ fQusibQity can be accepted m. respect of opinJr-3 Impressed by correspondents., -

To the Editor, ... Sir,- Your comments m Wednes* day's issue on the petition of the Freethinkers of Wanganui with reference to their apparently ignoring the efficacy of prayer may be calcu# lated to mislead those Who labor under the impression that the term Freethought is synonymous with Atheism, Infidelity and all the evils against which the church thunders her anathemas. A Freethinker, if I understand correctly, is not necessarily|any o<* either of these, but simply, claims. the right which he is 'prepared to ' extend to others of thinking, reasoning arid interpreting for himself on mattei*3 to him of paramount im* portance without the assistance ofthe emissaries of the Church, who are (with reverence be it spoken) m most cases unable to extend any information beyond what he is already m possession of. It ia just possible the petitioners referred to recalled the story of the orthodox old gentleman whohad an objectionablebabit of thinking aloud whilst m Church and on one occasion when prayerf for rain were about to be offered up he audibly remarked ''Not the least use; the wind is m the wrong quar* ter." Although we are taught 'that m its results prayer like faith is al* most limitless yet one caimot, ' hel» thinking fihere may be some method m the madness which draws thf line at praying for me-nbei-s of Par-, . liament. Apologising for tresspass? ing on your space. I am, &c, Freethinkir.. [If we read the matter aright, Ihe, petition emanates from the Wan*** ganui Freethought Association, and we are much mistaken of .that body is addicted fco de\otio'nal ; exercises. | We have a high respect for the genii nine Freethinker, however; 'for the man who thinks for himself and who does not swallow tbe beliefs of others without due examination. According to Tennyson, '• There lives more faith iv honest doubt, believe me, than iv half the creeds." We have also expressed no opinion as -to the action of the Association m petitioning against the enactment of blasphemy laws. In the "first place we doubt whether any attempt will be made to enact such, and, m •the second, it is certain that there is sufficient common sense m. 'the House to cause 'it to .'eject siich a measure, seeing that wt* have 7 ncj State Church m New Zealand— En. Time*-.] ' ' •■' '