God. The
God-idea was begotten in ignorance, fear, and a general lack of any
knowledge of Nature. If I were to die now, being in a healthy
condition for my age, both mentally and physically, I would just as
lief, yes, rather, die with a hearty enjoyment of music, sport, or any
other rational pastime. As a timepiece stops, we die--there being no
immortality in either case.

Q. What comes before your mind corresponding to the words God, Heaven,
Angels, etc?

A. Nothing whatever. I am a man without a religion. These words mean
so much mythic bosh.

Q. Have you had any experiences which appeared providential?

A. None whatever. There is no agency of the superintending kind. A
little judicious observation as well as knowledge of scientific law
will convince any one of this fact.

Q. What things work most strongly on your emotions?

A. Lively songs and music; Pinafore instead of an Oratorio. I like
Scott, Burns, Byron, Longfellow, especially Shakespeare, etc., etc. Of
songs, the Star-Spangled Banner, America, Marseillaise, and all moral
and soul-stirring songs, but wishy-washy hymns are my detestation. I
greatly enjoy nature, especially fine weather, and until within a few
years used to walk Sundays into the country, twelve miles often, with
no fatigue, and bicycle forty or fifty. I have dropped the bicycle.

I never go to church, but attend lectures when there are any good ones.
All of my thoughts and cogitations have been of a healthy and cheerful
kind, for instead of doubts and fears I see things as they are, for I
endeavor to adjust myself to my environment. This I regard as the
deepest law. Mankind is a progressive animal. I am satisfied he will
have made a great advance over his present status a thousand years
hence.

Q. What is your notion of sin?

A. It seems to me that sin is a condition, a disease, incidental to
man's development not being yet advanced enough. Morbidness over it
increases the disease. We should think that a million of years hence
equity, justice, and mental and physical good order will be so fixed
and organized that no one will have any idea of evil or sin.

Q. What is your temperament?

A. Nervous, active, wide-awake, mentally and physically. Sorry that
Nature compels us to sleep at all.

If we are in search of a broken and a contrite heart, clearly we need
not look to this brother. His contentment with the finite incases him
like a lobster-shel