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Read Ebook: Christianity in relation to Freethought Scepticism and Faith Three discourses by the Bishop of Peterborough with special replies by Mr. C. Bradlaugh by Bradlaugh Charles Magee William Connor Cooper Robert A Contributor Goulburn Edward Meyrick Contributor
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Ebook has 143 lines and 43047 words, and 3 pages
Transcribed from the Austin and Co. edition by David Price.
CHRISTIANITY IN RELATION TO FREETHOUGHT, SCEPTICISM, AND FAITH:
THREE DISCOURSES
BY THE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH.
WITH
SPECIAL REPLIES
BY MR. CHARLES BRADLAUGH.
LONDON: AUSTIN & CO., 17, JOHNSON'S COURT, FLEET STREET, E.C.
PRICE ONE SHILLING.
ADVERTISEMENT.
We are confident that Freethinkers generally will appreciate the disinterested zeal of Mr. R. A. Cooper in making all arrangements necessary to ensure that the Bishop's Discourses should be fitly answered on the spot and without delay.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CIRCULAR OF THE DEAN OF NORWICH.
If you approve of our scheme , will you kindly help us, first, by making known among your workpeople or parishioners the days and hours of the services, with the name of the preacher, and encouraging them to attend; secondly, by circulating among them the discourses, when published, of which I shall be greatly pleased to send you as large a number as you think you can dispose of? On this last point I shall be obliged by a communication from you.
The subject of the first series of discourses will be "Free Thought."
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
E. MEYRICK GOULBURN, D.D. Dean of Norwich.
The Deanery, Norwich, February 7th, 1871.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Norwich, Feb. 13th, 1871.
The circular states that the Discourses are to be "directed against modern forms of infidelity," and have for their object the "vindication and establishment of the Christian faith," but I assume your ultimate object is the vindication and establishment of truth--no matter what the truth may be. If my assumption be correct, I heartily sympathise with your object, and as a Sceptic or Infidel, will co-operate with my Christian brethren if permitted.
May I call your attention to a practical difficulty in the way of the scheme, which I fear you have not sufficiently considered? In the present state of opinion, or rather in the absence of real opinion, on these subjects, Sceptics or Infidels cannot always insure the attention of Christian hearers, or of persons indifferent to the subject of their discourses, but these and not the confirmed Infidels, are the persons the zealous Sceptic most desires to reach. I imagine your difficulty is the same. You want to get at the mighty mass who know and care nothing about these questions, and also at the Infidel whose opinions you deem so mischievous. The fact is, the great mass and the Infidel are not likely to attend unless their attention be in some manner especially drawn to the Discourses, but you will probably have a large congregation of believing Christians, whose faith may be confirmed, but yet who do not hold opinions you wish to change.
I beg to suggest a mode by which I think the difficulty may be removed, and an interest created that will be useful to the cause of truth--to Christian truth, if Christianity be true--but to truth, whether Christianity be true or false.
I intend to invite to Norwich some person who shall be well known as a representative exponent "of modern forms of Infidelity," and request him to deliver a course of lectures at about the same time, and on the same subject as that chosen by the Bishop of Peterborough, and if you think it would be useful to give the public the opportunity of reading as well as hearing the discourses, both expositions of the subject might be published together, and more extensively circulated and read, in consequence of the greater interest that would be thus created.
I have always scrupulously abstained from doing anything to influence the politics or religion of persons in my employment, but in accordance with your wish, I will take care to inform them all of the Discourses, and also acquaint them with the high reputation which the Bishop of Peterborough enjoys as a preacher.
I should be willing to subscribe for 200 copies of the joint publication, which will enable me to present one to every man and boy in my employment, who is willing to accept it, and the remainder I shall be happy to distribute according to the suggestion of the circular.
I am, Rev. Sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERT A. COOPER.
The Very Rev. E. M. Goulburn, Dean of Norwich.
The Deanery, Norwich, Feb. 15th, 1871.
SIR,--I beg to acknowledge your letter of the 13th inst., and to thank you for the readiness you express to circulate among persons in your employment, the announcement of the Bishop of Peterborough's Sermons.
I regret that I cannot meet this kindness on your part by assisting in any way in the circulation of tracts by a representative exponent "of modern forms of infidelity," and I will explain in few words the reason why I must decline the joint publication suggested by your letter.
Professing yourself a "Sceptic," by which I conceive is meant one who has doubts as to religious truth, and, therefore, is engaged in an inquiry, having for its object the resolution of those doubts and the arrival at a conclusion; it is perfectly consistent and reasonable that you should do all in your power to get both sides of the religious question ably and fairly expounded, in order to give yourself and others an opportunity of forming a right conclusion.
But my conclusion on the momentous question has long since been made up. I am as firmly convinced that Christianity is God's own message to the world, the truth and the only truth, the way, and the only way, of happiness and peace, as that the sun is now shining in the heavens. I cannot, therefore, help regarding any attempt to throw doubt or discredit on Christianity as a treason against the highest well-being of my fellow-creatures. And you will see, therefore, that I could not properly join in disseminating publications, which, at the very least, will insinuate a doubt as to that revealed religion which I hold to be the only means of raising and saving our fallen race.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
E. MEYRICK GOULBURN.
Mr. Robert A. Cooper.
Norwich, Feb. 25th, 1871.
I cannot accept your description of my position as a "Sceptic or Infidel," but let that pass.
I am still disposed to subscribe for 200 copies of the Bishop's sermons, and if you desire me to distribute more, I have no doubt I can dispose of a considerable number.
I am, Rev. Sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERT A. COOPER.
The Very Rev. E. M. Goulburn, Dean of Norwich.
The Deanery, Norwich, Feb. 25th, 1871.
SIR,--In reply to your letter of to-day, in which you say, "I cannot accept your description of my position as a 'Sceptic or Infidel,'" I hasten to assure you that I should never have presumed to describe your position as such, had I not imagined I had your own authority for doing so. The words of your letter of the 13th inst., from which I drew this inference, are:--
"If my assumption be correct, I heartily sympathise with your object, and as a Sceptic or Infidel, will co-operate with my Christian brethren if permitted."
I am thankful and rejoiced to find that my inference was an incorrect one; but I trust you will acknowledge that there was some ground in the wording of the sentence for my making it.
Yours very faithfully,
E. M. GOULBURN.
Mr. Robert A. Cooper.
Norwich, March 1st, 1871.
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