LITTLE Humboldt's time. The Church is a department store 

 JOURNEYS that puts in the particular goods that the people ask 



for. Freethinkers do not leave the Church ; the Church 

 is built on a Goodyear patent, and its lines expand 

 when Freethinkers get numerous, so as to include 

 them. The Church would rather countenance vice, as 

 it has in the past, than disband. In New York City we 

 now have the spectacle of the Church operating a sa- 

 loon and selling strong drink. In all country towns, 

 religion failing in being attractive, to keep churches 

 alive, resort is had to raffles, lotteries, concerts, 

 chicken-pie socials, and lectures and exhortations by 

 strange men in curious and unique garb, and singers 

 of reputation. 



The Church, being a part of society, evolves as society 

 evolves. Christianity is a totally different thing now 

 from what it was in Humboldt's time it was a different 



* 



thing in Humboldt's time from what it was a hundred 

 years before. 



Behold the spectacle of a thousand highly educated 

 and gentle men, from all over the world, decorating 

 with garlands the statue of Bruno in Rome, on the 

 site where Churchmen piled high the fagots and burned 

 his living body! 



I foretell that when the next World's Congress of Free- 

 thinkers occurs in Rome, the Pope will welcome the 

 delegates and their deliberations will occur by invita- 

 tion in the wide basilica of St. Peter's. 

 The world moves, and the Pope and all the rest of us 

 move 'with it. 

 120 



