he least reliance can be placed, and that if his road is taken
the reward for so doing will be infinite and eternal, while all the
other roads are said to lead to hell, and all the makers of the other
guideboards are declared to be heretics, hypocrites, and liars.
"Well," says a traveler "you may be right in what you say, but allow me
at least to read some of the other directions and examine a little into
their claims. I wish to rely a little upon my own judgment in a matter
of such great importance." "No sir!" shouts the zealot; "that is the
very thing you are not allowed to do. You must go my way, without
investigation or you are as good as damned already." "Well," says the
traveler, "if that is so, I believe I had better go your way." And so
most of them go along, taking the word of those who know as little as
themselves. Now and then comes one who, in spite of all threats,
calmly examines the claims of all, and as calmly rejects them all.
These travelers take roads of their own, and are denounced by all the
others as infidels and atheists.

In my judgment every human being should take a road of his own. Every
mind should be true to itself; should think, investigate and conclude
for itself. This is a duty alike incumbent upon pauper and prince.
Every soul should repel dictation and tyranny, no matter from what
source they come--from earth or heaven, from men or gods. Besides,
every traveler upon this vast plain should give to every other traveler
his best idea as to the road that should be taken. Each is entitled to
the honest opinion of all. And there is but one way to get an honest
opinion upon any subject whatever. The person giving the opinion must
be free from fear. The merchant must not fear to lose his custom, the
doctor his practice, nor the preacher his pulpit. There can be no
advance without liberty. Suppression of honest inquiry is
retrogression, and must end in intellectual night. The tendency of
orthodox religion today is towards mental slavery and barbarism. Not
one of the orthodox ministers dare preach what he thinks if he knows
that a majority of his congregation think otherwise. He knows that
every member of his church stands guard over his brain with a creed,
like a club, in his hand. He knows that he is not expected to search
after the truth, but that he is employed to defend the creed. Every
pulpit is a pillory in which stands a hired culprit, defending the
justice of his own impriso