The greatest good of mankind: physical or spiritual life

Preface

Strive to attain Health and Happiness, the Heaven of this Life on Earth which is within your power. Do not neglect this certainty for the wish and hope of a Future Life and Heaven of which you can know absolutely nothing.

Foreword

Preventable Evils xvii, Harmony xvii-xviii, Prayer, Reward xviii, Sanitation xviii-xix, Heterodoxy xix-xx, Evolution xx, Co-operation xx-xxi.

Synopsis

Dr. Fact — The Present xxi, the Bible xxi-xxii, Christianity a Failure xxii, Christian evils xxii-xxiii, Church and State, Church Property xxiii.

Rev. Faith — Christian Progress xxiii, Worldly Evils xxiii-xxiv, Drink and the Devil xxiii-xxiv, Sin, Spiritual Growth, The Soul, The Bible, Salvation xxiv.

CONTENTS

The Greatest Good of Mankind: Physical or Spiritual Life

CHAPTER I First Cause and Purpose of Creation

Rev. Faith — Gratitude, 1.

Dr. Fact — Opinion, Foreign Phrases, 1; Logic, Faith, Common Sense, Reasoning, 2.

FIRST CAUSE ' 3

Beginning, Finite, 3; Infinity, Incomprehensibility, 4.

Rev. Faith — Vain Speculation, 4-5; Conflicting Ideas, Socrates, Danger, Faith, 5.

Dr. Fact — Purposes of Creation, 5; Truth, Knowledge, Purpose, 6.

THE UNIVERSE 7

Immensity, Comparison, Analogy, 7 ; The Unknowable, 8.

Rev. Faith — Religious Doubt, Monitor, 9; Innate Religious Sense, 9-10.

ORDER 10

Works of God, 10-11; Works of Man, Pyramids, Sky- Scrapers, Brooklyn Bridge, 11; Strassburg Clock, Works of Phidias, Architecture, 12.

PROVIDENCE 12

Dangers of Unbelief, 12; Peace, 13.

Dr. Fact — Wisdom, Fear, Superstition, 14; Bigotory, Religious Persecutions, 14-15; Protagoras, Socrates, Jesus, Wycliffe, Johannes Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, Roger Williams, 15; Vox Populi, 16.

RELIGIOUS EVOLUTION 16

Creeds, Religious Beliefs, Denominations, 17.

GOD'S NATURE _ 18

Cotta, 18; Diagoras, Classic Theologians, Simonedes, Zeno, Telamon, Ingersoll, 19; Man Created Imperfect, Impersonal God, Schoppenhauer, Epicurus, Leucippus, Democritus, 20.

CONTENTS vii

ELEMENTS 20

Atomic Affinity, Molecular Intelligence, Sequence, 21-22; Atomic Circulation, Molecular Velocity, Motion, Heat, 22-23.

CREATOR'S INTELLIGENCE 23

Creature's Intelligence, Beaver, Ant, 24-25; Bee, Foraminifera, 25; Polyps, Coral Reefs, Atolls, 26.

DEGREES OF INTELLIGENCE 27

Love, Courage, Memory, Reason, Conscious Intelligence, Providence, Emotions, Gratitude, Resentment, 27.

Rev. Faith — Conversion: Confession, 28; Evil Company and Drink, Patricide, 29; Betrayal, Homicide and Robbery, Marriage, 30; Repentence, Conversion, 31-32.

GOD'S LOVE 32

New Life, 32; The Soul, 32-33; Prayer, 33; The Hereafter, 33-34; Supreme Gift, 34; Love, Victory in Christ, 34-35.

CHAPTER II Life Here and Hereafter

Dr. Fact — Nothing New, Hereditary Crime, Johnson Family, The Jukes, 36 ; Criminal Character, 37.

MENS SANA 37

Moral Health, Moral Defects, 37-38.

SUGGESTION 38

Conversion, 39; Suggestive Therapy, 39-40; Dangers of Christian Science, 40-41; Free Will, 41; Unreliability of Convert, 41-42.

THE SOUL 42

The Christian Idea, 42-43; Qualities, The Nature of Spirits, 43-44 ; Spirit, 44-45 ; Soul, 45 ; The Biblical Soul, Mortality, 45 ; Life or Soul, 46 ; Death of Soul, 47.

TRICHOTOMY 47

Metempsychosis, 48; Heaven, Hereafter, 48-49.

EXISTENCE 49

Possibilities of Life, Present Profit, 50-51; False Hope, Atomic Spirit, 51-52; Conscious Soul, Oblivion, 52.

RACE-SOUL 52

Consanguinity, 53-54; Ascendants and Descendants, 55; The Human Family, 55-56; The Consequential Ego, 56- 57 ; The Modified Ego, 57.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS 58

Interdependence, Matter, Divisibility, 58-59; Atomic Affinity, 59-60 ; Gravity, Atomic Evolution, 60-61 ; Synthetic Life, 61; Spontaneous Generation, 61-62, viii CONTENTS

MOLECULES 62

Chemical Affinity, 62-63; Molecular Nature, Evolution, 63; Molecular Matter, 63-64.

FORCE AND MATTER 64

Potential Energy, Interconvertible Energy, 65-66.

ORGANIC MATTER 66

Organic Specialization, 66-67; Organic Matter, 67; Organic Life, 67-68; Regeneration of Parts, 68-69.

LIFE FROM LIFE 69

Cell from Cell, 69-70; Germ Cell, 70; Protoplasm, 70-71; Daughter Cell, 71-72.

ATTRIBUTES OF LIFE 72

Specialization, Karyokinesis, 72-73; Units, Organs, Functions, 73-74; Organic Economy, 74.

ANALOGIES AND HOMOLOGIES 75

Plant Consciousness, 75-76; Plant Eyes, 76.

EMBRYOLOGY 76

Development, Evolution, 77.

THE EGO 77

The Senses, 78-79; Surroundings, Inheritance, 79; Experience, 78-79; Intellectual Limitations, 80-81; Anencephalia, 81 ; Organic Defects, 81-82 ; Caspar Hauser, Dormant Senses, 82-83; Atrophic Organs, 83; Functional Disturbances, 84; Intellectual Disturbances, Alienation, 84-85; Brain Function, 85.

DEATH OF EGO 86

Death of Body, Unconsciousness, 86 ; Oblivion, 86-87 ; Suicide, 87; Decomposition, 87-88; Disintegration, 88-89.

INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF MATTER 89

Transmitted Life, 90; Survival of Fittest, 90-91; Extinction, 91-92.

TERRESTRIAL HEAVEN 92

The Present Life, 92-93; Reward, 93-94; Summum Bonum, 94.

CHAPTER III The Spiritual World

Rev. Faith — Arguments, 95; Truth and Love, 95-96; Spiritual Life, 96-97; Spiritual Laws, 97-98; Deductions, 98; Conversion, 98-99; Inspiration, Temptation, 99-100; The Supernatural, Salvation, 100-101.

THE NEBULAR THEORY 101

The Beginning, The Creator, 101-102; God's Wisdom, 102-103 ; God's Laws, 103-104.

CONTENTS ix

CONSTRUCTION UNITS 104

Letters, Words, Tones, Primary Colors, 104; Division of Labor, 104-105.

EMBRYONIC POTENTIALITY 105

The Soul's Laboratory, 106; Favorable Conditions, The Crowbar Case\ 106-107 ; Unfavorable Conditions, 107-108 ; Surmountable Conditions, 108.

AUTHENTICITY 10S

Spirituality, 109; Subservient Matter, Regeneration of Parts, 109-110; Progressive Regeneration, 110.

SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITY Ill

Piety, Filial Gratitude, 111-112; Spiritual Regeneration, 112.

SOUL AND SPIRIT 112

Conditional Immortality, 113.

THE HEREAFTER 114

Conditions for Salvation, 114-115; Birth in Jesus, Spiritual Death, 115-116; Communion, 116-117; God, Soul's Affinity, 117.

CHAPTER IV Religion and Ethics

Dr. Fact — Religion, 118; Worship, 119-120; Compensation, Greatest Promise, Best Bargain, 120.

SELFISHNESS 121

Common Interests, 121 ; Morality, 121-122 ; Utility, 122.

MARRIAGE 123

Celibacy, 123-124; Monogamy, 124; Polygamy, 124-125; Polygynia, Polyandry, 125; Infanticide, Concubinage, 125-126; Divorce, 126-127.

DECALOGUE 127

Legislative Morals, 127; Christian Morality, 127-128; Golden Rule, 128-129.

WITCHCRAFT 129

Slavery, 129-130; Modified Slavery, 130-131.

HUMANITARIAN MORALS 131

CHAPTER V Sin

Rev. Faith— Moral Authority, 132; Self Denial, Sin, 132- 133; God's Law, 133-134; The Bible, 134-135; Proselytism, 135.

x CONTENTS

DEVILS 135

Tempting Devils, Chewing, Dressing, Furs, Cosmetics, Courting 136-137; Amusements, Cards, Gambling, Dancing, Theater and Opera-going, Prodigality, Ostentation, Smoking, 137 ; Drinking, Bad Company, Alcohol, Saloons, 138; Sunday Desecration, Foreigners, Poverty, 138-139; Anarchy, Crime, 139-140.

CHAPTER VI The Bible

Dr. Fact — Belief Due to Circumstances, Veritas Prevalebit, 141-142; The Reformation, 142-143; Paternal Religion, 143; Yearning for Heaven, Biblical Impressions, 143-144.

CHRONOLOGY 144

Genesis, 144-145; Man's Advent, 145; Length of Days, 145-146; Anachronism, 146.

INCONSISTENCIES 146

Eden, 147; The First Crime, 148; Longevity, 148-149; Noah, 149; Languages, 149-150; Abraham, 150; Isaac, 150-151; Jacob, 151; Moses, 151-152; Pharaoh, 152; Mount Sinai, 152-153; Idolatry, 153-154; Prophylaxis, 154; Offerings, 154; Rituals, Samuel, Elisha, 155; Job, 155-156; Psalms, Daniel, 156; Jonah, 156-157; The Promise and Consideration, Penalties, 157-158; Mercy, 158.

PROPHECIES 158

Messiah, 159-160; Christ's Genealogy, 160-161; Fore-ordained, 161; The Chosen People, 161-162.

MISCEGENATION 162

Divine Adultery, 163.

POLYTHEISM 163

The Trinity, 163-164; The Kingdom of Heaven, 164-165; Angels, 165-166; Fallen Angels, The Devil, Hell, 166; Mythology, 167.

THEOPHAGISM 167

Cannabalism, 167-168.

THE GOLDEN RULE 168-169

PRAYER 170

Rain Prayer, 170-171; War and Crime Prayer, 171-172;

Prayer for Vengeance, 172-173; Answered Prayer, 173;

Hypocrite Prayer, 173-174.

REWARD 174

HEALING 176

In Old Testament, 176-177; In New Testament, 177-178;

CONTENTS xi

Miraculous Cures, Jesus and Apostles, 179; Exorcism, 179-180; Physician, 180-181; Apothecaries, Medicine, 181; Magicians, etc., 181-182.

MIRACLES 182

Loss of Faith, 183; Orthodox Belief, 183-184; Clerical Critics of the Bible, 184-185 ; Miracles, 185-187.

MAGICIANS AND WITCHCRAFT 188

Puritan Witchcraft, Victims, 188-189.

JUDAS ISCARIOT 189

Scape-Goat, 190-191; Predestined Deliverer, Predestined Condemnation, 191-192; Repentance without Mercy, 192.

SIN 192

Temptation, Mercy, 193.

THE SACRIFICE 193

Vicarious Expiation, 194; Vain Offerings, 195; Remission of Sins, 195-196; Morality, 196-197; Necessity, 197; The Potter's Will, 197; Transgression, 198; Unnecessary Expiation, 198-199 ; The Greatest Sacrifice, 199-200.

CRUCIFIXION 200

Different Accounts, 201.

THE RESURRECTION 202

Body and Soul, 202-203.

ASCENSION 204

Contradictory Testimony, 205-206; Order of Appearance, 207; Corruptible and Incorruptible, 208.

MESSIAH OF THE JEWS 208

Persecution of the Jews, 209; Truth, 209-210.

CHAPTER VII Prohibition — Bible Continued

Dr. Fact — Sabbath, The Seventh Day, 211; The First Day, 212-213.

SUNDAY LAWS 213

Personal Rights, 214-215; Blue Laws, 215; Connecticut, 216-217; Massachusetts, 218; Sumptuary Laws, 219-220; England, Connecticut, 220; New Jersey, 220-221; Curfew Laws, 221.

PROHIBITION 222

Wine, 222 ; The Use of Wine, 222-223 ; Tirosh and Yayin, 223-224; New Wine, 224-225; Miracle Wine, 225-226; Medicinal Wine, 226.

BIBLICAL REFERENCES ON WINE 226

Sweet Wine, 226-227; Strong Drink, 227-228; Vine or xii CONTENTS

Wine, Vineyard. 228; Vintage, 228; Winepress, 228-229; Wine as Merchandise, 229 ; Desirability of Wine, 229-230 ; Wine as Medicine, 230; Win« Approved, 230-231.

DRINK OFFERINGS 231

When Wine is not Used in Ceremonies, 231-232; Drunkenness as Religious Punishment, 232; Dangers of Wine in Worship, 233; Dangers of Wine, 233; Drunkenness Due to Wine, 233-234; Drunkenness Not Due to Wine 234.

ALCOHOL 234

Vital Reaction, 235-236; Metabolism, Ptyaline, 236-237; Beer, Other Drinks, 237; Uses of Alcohol, 237-238.

TEA AND COFFEE 238

Caffeine and Theine, 239-240.

EVERY ABUSE DANGEROUS 240

Morphine, Oxygen, Water, 240-241; Elimination of Transgressors, 241; God's Production, 242; The Bible and Temperance, 242-243.

ALCOHOLIC TEMPERANCE DRINKS 243

DRINKING NATIONS 243-244

Alcoholic Food, Dipsomania, 245.

RESPONSIBILITY 246

Provocative Restrictions, 246-247; Class Legislation, Naturalized Citizens, 247-248; Sunday Beer Gardens, 248- 249 ; The Saloon, 249-250 ; The People's Club Rooms, 250.

CRIMES OF PROHIBITIONISTS 250

Religion and Drunkenness, 250-251; Poverty, 251-252; Other Causes of Crime, 252-253.

ALCOHOLIC COMMERCE 253

INTEMPERATE PROHIBITIONISTS 254

Inciting Enmity, 255; Lynching, 255-256; Other Evils, 256-257.

PULPIT PROFANITY 257

Reform at any Cost, 258-259; By Bloodshed, 259; By Folly, 260; By Wit, 260-261; Intemperate Tongue, 261.

PULPIT PURITY 261

Self Control, "Open Sunday," 262-263; The Canteen, 263; Lawless Waste, 263-264.

PUBLIC OPINION RATIFIES LAWS 264

Dead and Obsolete Laws, 265-266; The Will of the People, 266.

TEMPERATE HABITS 266

Drinking Customs, 267-268; Prophylaxis and Dipsomania, 268; Indications for Teetotalism, 268-269.

ALCOHOL AND CRIME 269

The Abstemious Criminal, 270-271; Prohibitionist, Be

CONTENTS xiii

Just, 271 ; Respect the Rights of Others, The Public Rule, 272; The Great Reformer, 272-273.

OBSCENITY OF THE BIBLE 273

Effect of, 273-274; Kreutzer Sonata, 274-275; Exempla Indecora, 275-276.

CHAPTER VIII The Love of Christ

Rev. Faith — Biblical Criticism, 277; The Book of Books, 277-278; Sacrilege, 278; Gospel Truth, 278-279; Hereditary Faith, 279-280; Purpose of Miracles, 280-281; Possible Knowledge, 281 ; Divine Love, 282 ; Free Will, 282- 283.

PHYSICAL CARE 283

Hospitals, Colleges, Churches, 284; Salvation Army, 284- 285.

CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE 285

The Bible Inspires Security, 285-286 ; The Love of Christ,

CHAPTER IX Science and Prophylaxis

Dr. Fact — Christianity's Failure, 287; Deplorable Condition, Remedies, 288-289

HIERARCHY 289

Contributions, Pseudo-Charity, 289-290.

CHURCH PROPERTY 290

Trinity Church, 290-291; Taxation, 291-292.

RELIGIOUS TEMPORIZING 292

Community Property, 293-294.

SABBATH OBSERVANCE 294

Bible Oath, 294-295; Kissing the Book, 295-296.

CHURCH UNNECESSARY FOR PRAYER 296

Law and Faith, 297 ; The Greatest Good, 297-298 ; Transformation of Churches Into Hospitals, Prevention of Pauperism, 298-299.

HYGIARCHY 299

Heredity, 299-300; Sanatory Marriage, 300; Consanguineous Marriage, 300-301; Evils Therefrom, 301; Predisposition in Marriage, 302; Marriage Disabilities, 302- 303; Eugenics, Sanitary Marriage Laws, 303-304; Transmission of Traits, 304; Effects of Environments, 304-305.

xiv CONTENTS

CHILD LABOR . . . . 306

Coal Mines, 307-308; Cotton Mills, 308; Prevention of Child Labor, 308-309.

GENTEEL SLAVERY 309

HURTFUL OCCUPATIONS 312

Undesirable Occupations, 313-314; Inadequate Compensation, 314; Poisonous Air, 314-315; Dangers to Health, Dangers of Wealth, 315.

ACCIDENTAL DEATHS 316

Dangers to Life and Limb, 316-317; Preventable Railroad Accidents, 318; Preventable Street Car Accidents, 318-319; Mortality Statistics, 319-320; Preventable Deaths, 320.

SUICIDAL STATISTICS 321

Preventable Crimes, 321-322; Prisons, Preventable Deaths, 322-323.

NATIONAL COMPENSATION ' 323

PREVENTABLE RELIGIOUS AND OTHER CRIMES.. 324 Preventable Holocausts, Theater Fires, 324; Preventable Foot Ball Accidents, 325; Preventable Fourth of July Accidents, Prevention by Substitution, 326-327.

PREVENTION BY VIVISECTION 327

By Vaccination, 328; By Antitoxin, 329; Prevention of Typhoid, 329-330; Mortality of Tuberculosis, 330-332; Preventable Ignorance, 332-333 ; Prevention by Appropriation, 333-334.

DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS 334

National Health, 334-335; Commercialism, Preventive Medicine, 335-336.

FREE ANTITOXIN 336

Preventable Diseases of Animals, 337-338; Prevention by Pure Food, 338.

IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH 338

Prophylactic Measures, 339-340; National Health Board, 340; Bureaus of Health, 341-342.

INTERNATIONAL CONCERT OF HEALTH 342

Dividends Instead of Taxes 343

THE STATE 343

Panarchy, 343-344; Cosmopolite-Prosperity, 344; Health, 345; Universal Peace, Uniform Langauge and Laws, 345-346.

WEALTH 346

Business, 347; Competition, Profit and Loss, 347-348; Fee or Graft, 348-349 ; Wages, 349 ; Equitable Compensation, 350; Prevention of Poverty, 350-351; The Poor and The Rich, 351; Advantages of Wealth, 352; Disadvan-

CONTENTS xv

tages of Wealth, 352-353; Personal Expenses, The Purpose of Wealth, 353 ; The Welfare of Descendants, 353- 354 ; Recrimination, 354-355 ; Common Responsibility, 355-356.

HIERARCHICAL GRAFT 356

Confiscation of Church Property, 356; Resume, 356-357; Amelioration of the Masses, Christian Aid, 357-358.

CHAPTER X Amen

Rev. Faith— Credulity, 359; Suicide, Post Mortem, 359-360.

PREPARATION FOR THE NEW LIFE 361

SALVATION 362

Introduction

Foreword

PREVENTABLE EVILS

"Dum Vivimus, Vivamus "

The object of this book is to agitate, urge, and encourage others better qualified, more capable, and powerful, to unite their efforts and promote some effective plan for the amelioration of suffering mankind; for the arrest and correction of progressive physical and moral degeneration, as evidenced by the impoverished and illnourished, by the diseased and crippled in mind and body, by the criminal and the insane.

Never has there been a greater difference between the poor and the rich, the humble masses and the powerful few. Nor are the poor nor rich to be blamed; for they are obliged to conform to existing conditions which continue as the established order of things with our public sanction.

If not opposed by insurmountable obstacles, there is a peaceful civic evolution always at work helping mankind in its progress of civilization. It remains for us to remove these obstacles, and bring about more favorable conditions for this evolution, by making a judicious use of the ballot whenever an opportunity arises.

HARMONY

Let all the good people of every religion or of none ; let all good Christians of the various Protestant and Catholic denominations, all Jews, Mohammedans, Buddhists, Brahmists, Confucianists, Sintuists, Taoists, and Polytheists, unite in neighborly love to regard their differences in cult as unessentials, as mere expressions of individual opinion engendered by different conditions, surroundings, and race characteristics.

If there is a Deity, He is the same under any other xviii FOREWORD— SANITATION

name. Whether a Creator and His creation, or an unknowable Cause and nature, be the subject of our worship or study, it is but the same cause and effect.

Let us, therefore, pay less attention to beliefs and religious professions, depending on books claimed to he divine revelations, such as the Sanskrit Vedas of the Hindoos, the Zend-Avesta of the Persians, the Koran of the Mohammedans, the Pentateuch of the Jews, and the Bible of the Christians, especially when inconsistent with that direct revelation which we learn by the study of nature's immutable laws.

PRAYER

Because of these inexorable laws of nature, let us acknowledge the futility of prayer and solicitation for the granting of special favors which, from the very nature of the requests, run counter to those made by others.

Prayers cannot suspend or modify those very laws that operate for the welfare of all mankind. We must conform to the will of God or Nature, as determined by these laws, in order to fully enjoy the prerogatives of this life ; or else suffer the inevitable consequences always following, exactly adjusted and fixed by the nature of the trespass, and from which there is no escape or salvation by intercession of mercy. reward

Let us not allow this precious life to pass away with all its grand opportunities, for the mere promise of a better one, nor expect a heavenly reward for good conduct during a miserable existence on earth.

It is a fraus pia to promise or expect what is doubtful or not at all probable even if it were possible. It is not altruistic to be seeking the safety of one's own soul above all else. Virtue should be its own reward; "Virtus per se ipse laudabilis est."

Should, however, God or Nature have in store for us a continuous conscious existence for our ego, then he who obeyed the laws of this life without hope for reward or fear of punishment, will more certainly merit the same.

SANITATION.

Let Science be our Gospel and Sanitation our Salvation! By indefatigable study of nature's living Revela-

FOREWORD— HETERODOXY xix

tions, we shall learn more of the unknown laws essential for our well-being, and shall be better able to distinguish the knowable from the unknowable ; fact from the fiction of speculation and superstition.

Science teaches that the evils and ills of mankind are chiefly due to vicious heredity and unwholesome environment.

To regenerate the health of the human race, physically, mentally, and morally, marriage should unite only those of suitable heredity for procreating healthy progeny. Prophylactic care of the offspring should be made the legal duty of the parents.

There is nothing relating to man that is of so much importance as the moral and physical health of the individual and the human race.

Sanitary laws for the prevention of disease, of danger to health, life, and limb from occupation, accident, and violence, are absolutely necessary for the enjoyment of all the good there is in this life.

To prevent poverty and ignorance, to elevate the individual by education, culture, and social status, is to make mankind virtuous and happy, sharing equally the duties and privileges, the responsibilities and joys of life.

An International Peace and Health Government will some day rule over the whole commercial world, administering uniform laws in a universal language for the furtherance of the greatest good of mankind.

With general peace and the practice of prophylactic sanitation, suffering, poverty, disease, and crime, will be forever banished from this life; and a nobler, happier, and wiser man of physical, mental, and moral health and strength, will be an ideal realized.

HETERODOXY

A few centuries ago, anyone giving publicity to ideas such as these, would have been found guilty of being a heretic, of being the devil's own, condemned to the most refined torture which a loyal and pious supporter of the church of that time could have devised; and gleefully, as a holy duty, the sentence would have been executed to the great satisfaction and relief of every God-fearing Christian. Perhaps, in addition, he would have been xx FOREWORD— CO-OPERATION

burned alive at the stake, and cursed, and buried in unconsecrated ground.

Even to-day a clergyman who dares to speak the truth as he conceives it, but at variance with any tenet of his creed, would be excommunicated, or tried for heresy, or unfrocked, or denounced in the most approved vituperative eloquence from the pulpit by some of his more orthodox and zealous brethren, or pitied as having lost his mind as well as his faith. Sometimes the disapproval takes the form of personalities, of ridicule, of sarcasm, of profane epithets and anathemas. The honesty of his motive may be questioned, or his reputation, which may be dearer to him than his life, may be killed ; for there is no law to punish such wrong.

If some ministers, priests, and professors of theology, are thus punished, the writer must reasonably be expected to meet a worse fate. Indeed, consistency, honesty, and loyality oblige the orthodox as long as they profess orthodoxy, to support and defend their creed.

EVOLUTION

Religion, however, is subject, like all other institutions of man, mind and matter, to the progressive law of evolution. The time no doubt will come when the clergy will no longer be held by tenets and outgrown dogmas of an ancient regime, nor by a few ignorant and superstitious church members whose weight of authority is the weight of their gold.

When the Christians live the life of Jesus and sell all they have to give to the poor ; when they pray in private and practice in public what Jesus taught; when the Church returns to the masses the treasures of gold, and shelters the poor, the sick, and the helpless in its houses of the Lord; then will they help mankind according to its needs.

CO-OPERATION

To bring about these blessings for the good of man, needs the hearty co-operation of clergymen, lawyers, judges, statesmen, business men, workmen, and, above all, of women as wives and mothers.

It may take generations, and as Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said in his Aphorisms 400 years be-

SYNOPSIS-DR. FACT xxi

fore Christ in reference to the shortness of life to accomplish anything: "'O /Sios Pp^x*"*, V 3* T*x vr l y^Kprj, 'O j y Kaipos 6ivs." Life is short, art is long, time is fleeting.

Science and the medical profession must take the lead to correct and prevent existing evils, and promote the generation of a higher type of man.

State and Church, Civilization and Christianity, have failed in securing the greatest good for mankind.

Many individuals have contributed to the cause; many are now working for this end. Should this effort but influence one other better man to further this object, the writer will feel amply repaid.

"VERITAS, LIBERTAS, HUMANITAS."

Synopsis

THE PRESENT— DR. FACT

Dr. Fact deplores the existing conditions that permit incalculable and unnecessary loss of life due to preventable disease, accidents, and violence. He continues thus : —

While we fail to appreciate the import of this our only life of which we are certain, we risk all for the doubtful chance of another about which we know nothing.

No one really knows that man has a soul, an eternal conscious individuality in a life hereafter, or that there is a heaven, except such as we have within us and on earth.

THE BIBLE

The Deity, as depicted in the Bible, is a horrible travesty, a burlesque of what a decent God should be. The God of Moses is more cruel than the Jupiter and more intemperate than the Bacchus of ancient mythology.

xxii SYNOPSIS— DR. FACT

The Bible, because of obscenity and immoral doctrines, should be forbidden for the use of the immature. It teaches such blasphemous abominations as divine adultery, theophagism, and vicarious sacrifice.

The Bible misrepresents the Omnipotent as incompetent, in redeeming his creatures from sin with the sacrifice of his only begotten Son when his bountiful mercy might have prevented human and divine sacrifice.

Christianity believes in a polytheistic religion. Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost are not even co-ordinate like a triumvirate. Trinity is but unity as a word, not as an idea in which the Son acknowledges the supremacy of the Father.

CHRISTIANITY A FAILURE

Christianity has failed in its mission and has never put into practice the teachings of Jesus.

Civilization declined with the growth of Christianity ; the classical culture of the Greeks and Romans was cruci-

" e( ** CHRISTIAN EVILS

Pestilences were allowed to ravage mankind in the belief that they were visitations of God. Millions of valuable lives that might have been saved by the most elementary Hygienic precautions, were thus unnecessarily sacrificed.

Crusades, and the religious wars of Christian Nations among themselves, were responsible for enormous losses of precious lives. The brotherly love taught by Jesus was in vain, and Christianity was a failure in not preventing such needless slaughter.

Inquisitions executed heretics with the most fiendish torture during the dark ages of the Christian era.

Witchcraft and its penalty was a Christian belief taught by the Bible. It has been estimated that 9,000,000 men, women, and children were burned at the stake, or killed according to the law of a zealous and loving Christianity for this impossible crime.

Degeneration, vice, and crime are continually on the increase owing to insanitary marriages of Christendom, which magnify and multiply the defects of the parents in the offspring. In making such marriage bonds indissoluble, lawlessness and immorality are inevitable.

SYNOPSIS— REV. FAITH xxiii

Christianity has not only failed to prevent these avoidable evils, but it has actually produced them.

In our modern times, the State has gradually been gaining its independence from the Church, and the Church is becoming more tolerant and liberal. Civilization is, therefore, progressing more vigorously again, and promises much for the good of mankind.

CHURCH PROPERTY

Let Christianity awaken and do its duty by obeying Jesus ! Distribute among the poor the immense fortunes gathered by the Church from its disciples these nineteen centuries ! Pray in secret at home, as Jesus taught, and turn over the churches to the public for hospitals, for homes of orphans and old people, and for industrial schools. Let priests and ministers conduct these institutions with the income of other church property instead of sending millions to foreign missions while children are starving at home. Let Christians sell their finery and give to the needy.

Let every one help to secure sanitary laws for protection against preventable diseases, deaths, and physical and moral deterioration.

Let all unite to improve this life for the greatest good of mankind.

CHRISTIAN PROGRESS— REV. FAITH.

Rev. Faith maintains : —

The best civilization and the greatest progress in the moral and spiritual nature of man, is due to Christianity. Without the morality of religion we would be but sav-

a ^ CS * WORLDLY EVILS

All misdeeds, wars, and crimes, committed in the name of Christianity, were the impious works of unbelievers, heretics, and hypocrites, not of Christians. Like the poor, the sinners are always with us, and Satan is continually on the lookout for the wicked.

Drinking leads to drunkenness, and drunkenness is a vice that produces misery, poverty, degeneracy, crime, and Sunday desecration. Drink and the Devil are on a xxiv SYNOPSIS-REV. FAITH

level — for Hell. Countless little devils work for Satan in the form of vices such as smoking, playing at cards, gambling, racing, dancing, theater-going, dressing extravagantly and ultra-fashionably. Shun vanity! shun evil ! and you will avoid the Devil !

SIN

God has given us a free will that we may turn from evil to good, from the carnal to the spiritual; otherwise it would not be meritorious to be righteous.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

The temptations, the burdens, and the tribulations of this life are absolutely necessary for the existence and exercise of Christian virtues. They teach us patience, sympathy, love, hope, and faith in God and his Son, our Savior, who will redeem us from this life of trouble and sin and resurrect us to a new life of everlasting happiness in heaven.

THE SOUL

God created man in his image and breathed into him a soul which ever yearns to be in correspondence with its Creator. If we but listen to its voice, we can understand the relation of this material life to the spiritual one that is to come. Without this correlation, life would be an intolerable burden of no significance or value.

THE BIBLE

The Bible is the sacred testimony of our Almighty Father; of his Law in the Old Testament, and of his Love in the New. In these Holy Scriptures, God reveals his Merciful Justice and his Infinite Love through his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, who died that we may live in him.

SALVATION

The conditions of salvation are few and easy. Every one who believes in Christ Jesus, our Lord, and has faith and is baptized, is born anew to everlasting life, which is for the greatest good of mankind.

The Greatest Good of Mankind: Physical or Spiritual Life