d culture with reference to helping
him in the development of intellect and good character?

_Answer_. The works of Darwin, Ernst Haeckel, Draper's "Intellectual
Development of Europe," Buckle's "History of Civilization in
England," Lecky's "History of European Morals," Voltaire's
"Philosophical Dictionary," Buechner's "Force and Matter," "The
History of the Christian Religion" by Waite; Paine's "Age of Reason,"
D'Holbach's "System of Nature," and, above all, Shakespeare. Do
not forget Burns, Shelley, Dickens and Hugo.

_Question_. Will you lecture the coming winter?

_Answer_. Yes, about the same as usual. Woe is me if I preach
not my gospel.

_Question_. Have you been invited to lecture in Europe? If so do
you intend to accept the "call"?

_Answer_. Yes, often. The probability is that I shall go to
England and Australia. I have not only had invitations but most
excellent offers from both countries. There is, however, plenty
to do here. This is the best country in the world and our people
are eager to hear the other side.

The old kind of preaching is getting superannuated. It lags
superfluous in the pulpit. Our people are outgrowing the cruelties
and absurdities of the ancient Jews. The idea of hell has become
shocking and vulgar. Eternal punishment is eternal injustice. It
is infinitely infamous. Most ministers are ashamed to preach the
doctrine, and the congregations are ashamed to hear it preached.
It is the essence of savagery.

--_Plain Dealer_, Cincinnati, Ohio, September 5, 1885.

MY BELIEF.

_Question_. It is said that in the past four or five years you
have changed or modified your views upon the subject of religion;
is this so?

_Answer_. It is not so. The only change, if that can be called
a change, is, that I am more perfectly satisfied that I am right--
satisfied that what is called orthodox religion is a simple
fabrication of mistaken men; satisfied that there is no such thing
as an inspired book and never will be; satisfied that a miracle
never was and never will be performed; satisfied that no human
being knows whether there is a God or not, whether there is another
life or not; satisfied that the scheme of atonement is a mistake,
that the innocent cannot, by suffering for the guilty, atone for
the guilt; satisfied that the doctrine that salvation depends on
belief, is cruel and absurd; satisfied that the doctrine of eternal
punishment is infamously false; satisfie