THE FOROE OF FAOTS ANDFIGURES

By dimming Severance

Nothing has greater force in car-

t

¬

illg conviction to rational mindslimn facts and figures for these arcthings that demonstrate truths anddefy refutation When you havo afact that can bo shown and demon-

strated¬

you have tho best of an ar¬

gument with any opponent and canknock him out in ono round if ho willface it

As Freethinkers wo havo tho factsand figures to show that Christianityis not only tho biggest fake and hum-

bug¬

in tho world but tho greatestfailure when the realization of prom ¬

ises and predictions arc taken intoconsideration

Christianity has always claimed tobu a divinely inspired religion withqualties superior to all others anda dead certainty of some day beingtho ono andonly religion on thisearth Claiming to havo conic directfrom God the Creator and Controller

T of the Universe it declared he couldand would insure such a conditionand so this boast and predictive af¬

IIrmation was made At the name

of Jcsas every knee shall bow ofthings in heaven and things on earth

aand things under tho earth and ev¬

ery tongue shall confess that JesusChrist is Lord to the glory of God

the FatherChristianity has entered the 20th

century of its existence and by look ¬

lug backward wo can sec what it has

done and by computing results we

can see how near this prediction isto being verified It has claimed

much promised more and accom ¬

plished little Instead of being tho

one and supreme religion after allthis lapse of time it is not even first

in point of numbers among other re-

ligions

¬

for Buddhism exceeds it by

many millions and a now religion

founded by Mahomet tho Arabiancamel driver nearly 000 years afterChristianity started lies 170 million

devotees whoso knees refuse to bow

to the name of Jesus and whose

tongues if they speak his name utterit in derision and contempt

With all the exaggerations thatChristians make regarding theirnumbers their highest claim leaves

them numerically less than onofifthof the population of the earth Ifthus is the best they could do withGods help in over 1900 years theymust if honest and candid admit thatMahomet has revealed greater powor

to do things than God and Jesus to ¬

gether for comparatively he hasdone a greater work in the 1300

years just passed than Jesus tho lead ¬

er mid Savior of all mankind and

JehovahIs this fact alone sufficient to

knock all divine claims out of Christ-

ianity f To a reasonable man it must

b for where there is nothing to

show that an omnipotent God is

boosting Christianity thero is noth¬

ing to base belief on that he is Ifthat hellfire and damnation religion

had gone ahead and converted thewhole world as it expected to and

said it should then it would have

had a fact that no opponent could

have failed to be influenced by and

everybody being Christians therewould have been no opponents This

is a very plain presentation of the

case and as Christianity is now dy ¬

ing of dry rot and its power is wan ¬

ing every day that comes and goes

if it ever had a chance to influence

the whole world that time is past and

gone When this religion attainedits greatest power and had the most

converts it was using fire and sword

force and violence to mako converts

and the moment it ceased to use such

means for that purpose that moment

it began to wane and weaken to

droop and die-

Christianity lies never been the

same force in the world since itceased to bo a militant power and itnever will bo again for talk alone is

not sufficient to make people accept

it When they had to or go to pris ¬

on and have their properly confiscat-

ed it was easy to catch em forChrists sake and tho glory of God

When tho Inquisition was in force

and all its implements of torturo were

being used to make Christians thatBible prophecies might bo fulfilled itwas a bold man indeed who would refuse to accept this religion of love

and mercyand that was the time

when every ono in Christian landsto be orwas a Christian professed

had to migrate as did the Moors

when driven out of SpainToleration was never a feature of

Christianity when it had unrestrainedpower but with fire and force itfailed completely to accomplish its

intentions and I now throw this

fact into the face of every Christian

that exists to show that what it fail-

ed

¬

p to do in the past it cannot possi ¬

bly do in tho future There is no

more show for converting the world

to Christ than there is for seeing all

men think alike or look alike and

the rotten stuff put forth in his namo

will be more and more rejected as

the world rolls on Facts and figurest

a

I

provo this statement for as eminenta Christian hs Ilev Charles Hussollof Brooklyn Tabernacle admits thoroare double tho number of heathen inthe world today than thero were 100years ago and wo do not have to goout of your own socalled Christiancountry to find by government fig-

ures¬

that only a little over onethirdof our people are professed Christ ¬

inns and church members and sucha poor showing ten years ago is whatcaused Christian influence to havenoses in tho census of 1010 Thatfact has been thrown at them so manytimes it caused a sure spot and itirritates our Christian friends muchto hear of it It certainly is a factthat speaks wry loudly and factsnot in their favor are offensive thingsto be suppressed if possible

Hnssell and see what he is compelledRussell and see what he is compellelto admit though why he said it whenthe policy of Christians is to blowhind and claim everything is notclear

If we lookout upon the heathenworld however sympathetic we may-

be in respect to foreign missionarywork doing all in our power to makoknown to the heathen tho grace ofGod and the Great Redeemer w-

are nevertheless compelled to admitthat there is absolutely no hope ofour ewer causing every knee to bowund every tongue to confess Christin heathen lands oven as we havelong ago given up hope of accom-

plishing¬

suchwork in civilized

landsThisis plain talk and right to the

point and in spito of his religion isevidence ofa streak of horse senseand candor not to be found very of-

ten

¬

in a Christian preacherTime Methodists who keep boasting

of building a church every dayshouldchew up and digest or reflecton this true statement by comradeRussell of tho universal brotherhoodthat Christ wanted to establish withthe Jew God as the basic idea to

workonNo men and brethren fellow cit-

izens

¬

saints and sinners there ismighty little consolation in facts andfigures for Christianity for theyplainly show the doom which awaitsit which in the process of time willbe just what nil religious systemsexperiencedeathand oblivion-

It is now dying as indisputableevidence shows but wo cannot expect

a quick death for such never comesto superstition in any form but thevery fact it is in decline and surelypassing away is a source of joy andgladness to all rational human be-

ings

¬

who know its true history andwhat a curse it has ever been to

humanityToCharles Russell and

other mourners I extend my condol-

ence

¬

for their mental sufferings forsympathy is one of my strong char-

acteristics

¬

but at tho same time Iam very glad that is occurring which

causes them to weep and waiLSo Let her go Gallagher and

tho sooner the betterLos Angeles Calif

A FIRST OAUSE

What Caused It to Cause a Universe6000 Years and Not 60000000

Years Ago

Otto Wettstein in FreethinkersMagazine

There is no First Cause therenever was a First Cause Withinan eternal selfexistent universe evo

luting processes are eternal

It never beganit can never end

A single parties of matter cannot be

rented neither can it be annihilatedConsequently the universe being com-

posed

¬

of eternal existing particles is

eternal And each particle represent

in energy and force being energy

and force has ever been active tojperpetuate the evolutionary processes

of finite forums beings and bodies butthese by virtue of their own potencies

being destined to final destruction anddisintegration tend in infinite varia-

tion

¬

and transformation to perpetuatethe process forever

All attempts to solve the riddle of

cosmic existence by postulating a

First Cause or God existing

prior und exterior of the universe

must and will ever remain efforts of

childish reasoning and a lamentable

failure It explains nothing It simply

divests the visible everything of and

invests in invisible nothing with pote-

ncies

¬

Ir power to cause all phenom-

ena

¬

Hut ifter this cunning coup

detnt the identical mysteries which

first prompted such a solution stillstaro us in tho face even in augment ¬

eddegreeACause or God im-

plies

¬

an infinite something which

however wo know absolutely nothing

possessing attributes and powers

superior to those existing in natureand amply sufficient to cause to springinto existence miraculously from proexistim nothing an infinite universe-

A First Cause or God must

possess within itself transcendentqualities of selfexistence and all the

1

necessary attributes to exist uncausedmid eternal as n First Cause andwithout again necessitating in turnanother cause to cause it

It implies that such II First Cause

or God prior to tho imaginaryII beginning was not a cause buteternally inactive latent nonproduc-tive deadan absolute condition ofnegation or nothing

That such First Causo during allthe Infinite cycle of ages precedingsuch beginning did not produce asingle effect

It implies that after being eternallydead or inactive and cause of abso-

lutely¬

nothing during all tho ages ofbeginninglcss time it did suddenlyand miraculously so stupendouslychange its nature as to create a uni-

verse¬

And lust though not least it pre ¬

seats to thinking men and women thofollowing grotesque proposition Theuniverse exists consequently a Godor First Causo must have pre-

ceded

¬

it This First Cause is eter¬

cal never was created and neverneeded a Creator It ofcourse iseternal and as such existed from alltime Six thousand years ago ac¬

cording to Biblo chronology thisFirst Causo caused the universe

No other cause or thing existed withor beside it prior to that time Duringall the ages of beenmiingless time itdid not cause a solitary thing not aworld sun moon star or even a singleatom Eternal darkness reigned su-

preme

¬

and infinite vacum was mon-

opolized¬

solely by this First CauseThis is a correct representation of

things existing during the eternityprior to 0000 years ago when the uni-

verse

¬

according to the Christian my ¬

thology began I

But now the question arises whatcaused the First Cause after aneternity of nonactivity to create theuniverse Hero certainly is a magnifi-

cent

¬

and imposing effect if trueThe Theists God or FirstCause certainly didnt cause it forwhat these would not do or cause tobe done during the vast eterity pre-ceding this imaginary creation they

ofcourse would never do This FirstCauso is supposed to be omniscientomnipresent and unchangeable con ¬

sequently what this First Causecould or would not do during 9999999999999999999 continued ad infinitumyears preceding the begin ¬

ning it of course would never doWhat then caused the universe or

caused tho H First Cause or Godto create dt after an eternity of nonexistence There is no effect withouta cause But for an eternity all ex-

isting¬

causes had not produced a uni-

verse

¬

whntin the name of reasonthen WAS THE CAUSE which cans ¬

ed the First Cause to create theuniverse when it did But I need g-

ao furthera cause being needed tocause the First Cause to cause orto precede the First Cause of theTheist If we keep on in our crucialtest of First Causes we will nodoubt need another First Causeinch another and another ad infin-

itum

Thus we see that all argumentpredicating a First Cause a

God a Creation or a Begin ¬

ting apes not explain but infinitelymystifies existing problems and thatthe only rational assumption is the

eternal existence of all matter whichassessing within itself all tho neces ¬

any attributes of selfexistence andselfformation not creation needsno Creator or First Cause tocreate or manipulate it

Existing today absolutely proves

that in its elementary form it has al ¬

ways existed and so will always exist

urthermore assuming harmony and

order today and evolving worldssuns systems trees flowers and menproves it has ever evolved such formsand that consequently there neverwas a first world sun tree or manbut all such phenomena aro but repeti-

tions

¬

of similar phenomena havingevolved forever

Because it is plain that any partic¬

ular first world sun or system wouldagain imply an eternity of time pre ¬

ceiling the formation of such firstphenomena but which if true wouldabsolutely havo prevented such firstworld sun or system at any time Itis either eternal standstill or eternaletivityboth cannot be trueWhich then I ask is time most rea-

sonable

¬

that n First Cause ofwhich we know absolutely nothing

can exist uncaused and then fromnothing create an infinite universe orthat tho latter which today exists inaugust splendor selfevidentand real

is selfexistent and eternal

Is ita fact that curates generally

visit Christian homes when the hus-

band

¬

is at work

Time clergy aro notorious for theirpartiality to tho fair sex and purraround tho ladies like black tomcats

J

MAN OF HIGH IDEALS

So you dont care to oncourngothat young poet with his otheroalIdeas Interrogated tho olgar sales

manI dont caro a continental about hitethereal ideas growled time groceryman as long as they dont cost mo

anythingDidover cost you anything

I should say sot Tho other dayho came In and raising his righthand struck a dramatic attitude andsaid I love everything thats goodThen with his left hand ho helpedhimself to the candled citron and tho60 cent almonds I dont doubt thatho likes things that are good butblamed If hes going to make this asupply station

When He Needed CompanyBrother Philander said the Os

borne Farmers village deacon ourminister has worked hard and seemsdiscouraged Isnt there some waywe can shqw our appreciation of hisworth and cheer him uI 11reoplied old Philander we might try at-

tending the midweek prayer meetingThat is his loneliest hour

Took Precautions-I want to hire a canoeAccustomed to rowing one I sup ¬

poseNeverwas in one

Can you swimNot aWell strokeIvance Ive been left In the lurch by

enough suicidesIA Vivid Portrayal

Why my dear expostulated MrPonsonby I wasnt drunk last nightI was merely Imitating a drunk manto fool you

Well sniffed Mrs Ponsonby allI have to say is if that was an imi¬

tation you are wasting your talentsin the grocery business Youd draw

100 a week in vaudeville

EducationThe HostWhat piece will you

have Miss TootsieMiss Tootsie Please carve me the

left square tangent east to 76 segmentabove the loin diagonal to fat paral ¬

lel to Oh I beg pardon I learnedthe cuts In cooking schoolPuck

No Indeed-I heard a man worth 1000000

wish he had some small changePshaw A man doesnt have to be

worth 1000000 to wish that

MORE SLEEP WANTED

The DeaconParson I wish youcould make your sermons a littlelongerThe

Preacher pleased Why soThe DeaconWell It seems like 1

hardly get to sleep before its time toget up

It Wasnt RealLast night I had

A juicy steakBut sad to say

Wan soon awake

How He Did ItHow asked the young lady as

she looked with admiration at therugged nonagenarian have you managed to live so long and preserve yourhealth so well

By rigorously declining to practisewhat my friends have preached hecandidly replied

Slightly MixedWhat was the lesson at school this

afternoon Tommy asked the fondparentHad

a reading on the destructionof Tyre responded the youngster

Hm Automobile accident I sup-pose

Partly SoMy good woman does the system

of visualization seem to take withyour children at school

Not all of em mum The doctorsaid wld Mamie and Tommy it hastook tine but lilllys aint took a bit

TooFacedYou say he is twofacedI say he Is toofaced his wife has

him so well trained that he novelopens his face except to say metoo

A Queer SortWhat sort of fellow is LathersHe puts the accent on the first syl

lable of the word hotel

Its StyleThat singer has a velvet voiceI suppose that accounts for the

pile she gets from it

It1 r IC

DO YOU

rfdnyn come roundOf coitmn they do

Ill Just be boundTheyve como to you

And made you crosiAs everything

And loft no heart

In you to singNor any wish

To labor moreBo tired and sad

And sick and sore

We nil have daysOf sober brown

When we are blueAnd frown and frown

And grumble tooAnd fume and fret

Thats how wo al-

Ways act and yet

Although theres someExcuse for such-

I dont see howIt helps us much I

PERCY KNEW

Algy The beauty of this play Per

cYlsPercyOh that second one fromtho end there Ill bet

Great ShrinkageThe last years bathing suit will shrink

And shrink both day and nightUntil at last It shrinks so much

The bather shrinks from sight

All the SameWhat is the trouble with your hus

band of late Mrs Green asked thecorner grocer He acts queerly-

In what way queried Mrs GreenIn

surpriseWhycame in here tho other

day and asked for a pound of Rockyfeller butter Never heard of such a

thingOhthats all right John couldnt

think of petroleum butter

Things Will Take a TurnIt was the kind of banquet we some ¬

times read aboutTho tables fairly groaned under

their load of good thingsBut the hungry guests quickly rel-

ieved them of their burdenAfter dinner speeches were next in

orderThenit was the guests who

groaned

The LureLadyI want to put In this adver

tisement for a cook It will go Inthree lines wont it

Clerk after counting No madamWell have to charge you for fourlines but you can put in four morewords if you wish

Lady suddenly inspired SayPoliceman stationed opposite cor

ner TitBits

Blasted HopesMr Stubb Maria do you remember

that millinery store that had such agreat display of fall hats Wellthere has been a fire down there andeverything is reduced

Mrs Stubb Gracious what achance for bargains And everythingis reduced John

Mr StubbYes reduced to ashes

EVIDENTLY SOMETHING ELSE

Bleeker I hear he died of appendi

cltlsBoxterOh it couldnt havo beenthat why that was what they operated on him for

Thats SoThe bell Is like a man All up

And down the world he beats Itlie gathers honey ull his life

Some other fellow eats It

The Oracle ExplainsStudent of Politics And what be

reely this hero coalition they do betarklng about

Oldest Living Local AuthorityWell Its like this Some parties saysthis an some says that an totherBut what I says there no knowlns norno telllns nnmark my words I

haint far wrong Puck

UIII n iitc

NOT THE SAME

Mother queried tho pretty daughter did father have his salary in-

creased when ho married you 7

No deer answered the motherHow much was ho gettingOnly ten dollars a weekBut I suppose ho had a lot of

money saved up didnt boNot a dollar he spent his money

as fast as ho earned ItDid you get along comfortablyYes and wo were very happyWell motoher you know dear

George hasnt been able to save acent but

See here young lady if that povertystricken dude dares show his facearound here again Ill get your fa 1

ther to kick him into the middle ofnext week

Tricky SandyWhile passing by an old fashioned

inn the tourists were attracted by anancient bagpiper who was tootingatrocious sounds through an instrument that was both dilapidated andsqueakyGreat

Jericho Sandy exclaimedone in desperation Why dont youhave your bagpipes repaired

And the old man ceased playing andlooked up in astonishment Haversmon ye dlnna understand If ma bagpoples wor in good tune the Inn monwlnna give ma two shillings to moveon

Too Much of a Good ThingOur gas meter said the alleged

funny man who was trying to makolight of his bill for illumination reminds me of a centipede

Whats the answer queried theinnocent bystander-

It has so many unnecessary feetyou know replied the other

After being out 13 seconds the juryreturned a verdict of justifiable homiride and the Innocent bystander wasdischarged from custody

The SpendthriftTjarksSee where some astronomer

says Halleys comet may charge theearths atmosphere and well neverhave any more rain

BjenksBy George Give me thatitem to take hom-

eTjarksInterested ehBjenksI should say so I am going

to show it to my wife every time shenags me about saving up for a rainyday

WHAT NEVER WELL HARDLYEVER

LovelornOh Myrtilla you dontreally and truly mean that youllnever never see me or speak to me

againMyrtlllaYes sir I do and whenyou call tomorrow evening Ill tell youwhy

SkepticalLittle Coy Blue said the modern kid

Its now up to you to showMe if you really are Little Boy Blue

And have any horn to blow

Another HeroHes a champion is he He doesnt

look it Champion of whatYou dont keep abreast of the

times Hes the champion clgarrootsmoker lights one with the stump ofanother rolls them himself as he goesalong and smokes sixty without letIting any of em go out-

DangerBe like the early bird my son ad

vised the fond parent and you willcatch the worm

But the uptodate youngstershrugged his shoulders

No earlybird business for me heresponded forcibly I might catchthe hookworm

Perplexing CaseProfessor after calling on blank

and waiting for him to reciteSeemst-o me Blank you ought to be ableto answer my question with all theprompting youre getting back there

Blank Well professor theressuch a difference of opinion aroundme thatTho Gargoyle

A SuspicionWhat la a political rainbow

chaserThere are various kinds repliedSenator Sorghum although I suspectthat most of them are more or less In-

fluenced¬

by the legend that everyrainbow has a pot of gold at tho endof it

Gentle PersuasionMcCorkle Is it right to speak of a

man as of tho male persuasion 71

McCrackle It Is If the subject isunmarried

McCorkle What has that to dowith it-

McCrackleWhy If he la marriedhis wife persuades him

1 1j