The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Volume VIII.: InterviewsIngersoll, Robert Green
Religion
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Volume VIII.: Interviews
Ingersoll, Robert Green
Free thought
_Answer_. Yes, all my lectures are historical; that is, I speak
of many things that have happened. They are scientific because
they are filled with facts, and they are literary of course. I
can conceive of no address that is neither historical nor scientific,
except sermons. They fail to be historical because they treat of
things that never happened and they are certainly not scientific,
as they contain no facts.
_Question_. Suppose they arrest you what will you do?
_Answer_. I will examine the law and if convicted will pay the
fine, unless I think I can reverse the case by appeal. Of course
I would like to see all these foolish laws wiped from the statute
books. I want the law so that everybody can do just as he pleases
on Sunday, provided he does not interfere with the rights of others.
I want the Christian, the Jew, the Deist and the Atheist to be
exactly equal before the law. I would fight for the right of the
Christian to worship God in his own way just as quick as I would
for the Atheist to enjoy music, flowers and fields. I hope to see
the time when even the poor people can hear the music of the finest
operas on Sunday. One grand opera with all its thrilling tones,
will do more good in touching and elevating the world than ten
thousand sermons on the agonies of hell.
_Question_. Have you ever been interfered with before in delivering
Sunday lectures?
_Answer_. No, I postponed a lecture in Baltimore at the request
of the owners of a theatre because they were afraid some action
might be taken. That is the only case. I have delivered lectures
on Sunday in the principal cities of the United States, in New
York, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, San Francisco, Cincinnati and many
other places. I lectured here last winter; it was on Sunday and
I heard nothing of its being contrary to law. I always supposed
my lectures were good enough to be delivered on the most sacred
days.
--_The Leader_, Pittsburg, Pa., October 27, 1879.
[* The manager of the theatre, where Col. Ingersoll lectured, was fined
fifty dollars which Col. Ingersoll paid.]
POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS.
_Question_. What do you think about the recent election, and what
will be its effect upon political matters and the issues and
candidates of 1880?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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