to
let one hand know the other's charity. Mr. Blomfield disregards this. He
challenges Secularists to a comparison. He asks where are our Secularist
hospitals. We do not believe in such things. Sectarianism in charity is
a Christian vice. On the other hand, our party is comparatively
small and poor, and Christian laws prevent our holding any trusts for
Secularism. Still, we do attend to our own poor as well as we can.
Our Benevolent Fund is sufficient for the relief of those who apply in
distress. We cannot build "almshouses," but "Atheist widows" are not
neglected. On the whole, however, we are not so loud as the Christians
in praise of "charity," Much of it is very degrading. If we had justice
in society there would be less for "charity" to do.

It is obvious that Mr. Blomfield picks his fruits of Christianity
with great discrimination. Is it logical to select all you admire in
Christian countries and attribute it to Christianity? The same process
would prove the excellence of Buddhism, Brahminism, and Mohammedanism.
There are almshouses and hospitals in Chrisendom, but there are
also workhouses, gin-palaces, brothels, and prisons. Drunkenness,
prostitution, and gambling, are the special vices of Christian nations.
It is Christian countries that build ironclads and make cannon, gatling
guns, deadly rifles, and terrible explosives. It is Christians who do
most of the fighting on this planet.

Mr. Blomfield may or may not consider these things. I scarcely expect
him to reply. He prefers the "humble, obedient heart" to the "curious
intellect." At any rate he preaches the preference to the young men of
Ipswich. For my part, I hope they will reject the counsel. I trust they
will read, inquire, and think for themselves. Their "intellect" should
have enough "curiosity" to be satisfied as to the truth of what they are
asked to believe.

ALTAR AND THRONE. *

* June 11, 1893.

Myriads of honest, industrious women in England are laboring excessively
for a bare pittance; day after day they go through the same monotonous
and exhausting round of toil; and the end of it all is a bit of bread
for some who are dear to them, and a squalid, cheerless existence
for themselves. Sometimes, when work is scarce, and sheer starvation
confronts them, they are driven to the last resource of selling their
bodies, and enter the unspeakable inferno of prostitution.

England has thousands of other women who are lapped in an enerva