The Great Agnostic
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Dowagiac Times, 75–76
Dresden (NY), 22, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34
Dresden Publishing Company, 22
earth, age of, 81–82
East Church (Salem, MA), 182
economic policy, 10, 101, 103–7, 108n, 149–50
Edison, Thomas, 10, 28, 97
education: American autodidacts and, 7–8, 36, 38, 42–43, 44; anti-intellectual ideologues and, 4, 10; denial of equal opportunity to, 4, 114, 119–20, 200; Ingersoll’s secular vision of, 153–55; tax policy and, 64–65, 154, 155; universal higher education goal, 4, 155. See also parochial schools; public schools
eight-hour day, 104–5, 158, 162
election of 1860, 50
election of 1876, 59–60, 67
election of 1884, 66–67
election of 1960, 4n
Eliot, George, 73, 74
Eliot, Rev. Thomas A., 80–81
emotion, 158, 165–67, 170
empathy, 170
England, 136, 142, 143, 146
Enlightenment, 24–25, 62, 77, 130n, 197, 199; literature and, 42, 44, 46; religious orthodoxy vs., 16, 69, 195; universal human rights and, 127, 128
Episcopalians, 155
equal protection clause, 134
equal rights, 109–25; race and, 100, 103, 109, 110–17; religion-based laws and, 137–38; social Darwinist thought vs., 24–25, 127–28. See also women’s rights
Erie Canal, 30–31
establishment clause, 64–65, 136
eternal life. See afterlife
evangelical fundamentalists. See fundamentalism
Eve, serpent’s temptation of, 14, 38, 78, 88
evil. See theodicy problem
evolution theory, 2, 5, 6, 22–26, 79, 166; artistic creation and, 160; Darwin’s vision of, 96; Huxley’s popularization of, 23–24, 81, 82; Ingersoll’s championship of, 11, 14, 15–16, 82–86, 126, 127; public schools’ downplaying of, 186–88; religious accommodation of, 91, 94, 181, 182; religious opponents of, 80–82, 85, 87, 96, 182–83, 186–87; Scopes trial and, 22–23, 25–26; social Darwinist interpretation of, 24, 25, 104
existential questions, 157–58
extinctions, 94
faith, verifiable science vs., 77
Farrell, C. P. (Clint), 22, 66, 172, 173
Farrell, Sue N., 117, 172, 173–74
Federalist Party, 137
feminist movement, 29–30, 107, 119; themes of second wave (1970s) of, 117–18, 121, 124–25
Fields, W. C., 10
Fifteenth Amendment, 113–14
Finger Lakes region (NY), 29, 30–33
First Amendment, 64, 113, 134, 137, 153. See also specific freedoms
First Vatican Council, 184
First World War, 168–69, 183–84
Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 51
Fort Sumter attack (1861), 50
fossils, 80–81
founders: Enlightenment ideals of, 24–25, 69, 195, 197; historical revisionism about, 129, 136–37; religion of, 20, 24–25; secular government intent of, 2–5, 129, 137, 138, 139–40, 141, 150, 195, 197, 200–201
Fourteenth Amendment, 109–10; states’ exemption from, 134
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, 37, 98–99
France, 129–30, 147–48; Paine’s imprisonment in, 20, 40, 143–44. See also French Revolution
Franklin, Benjamin, 195
freedom of conscience, 107, 142, 192, 202
freedom of religion, 3, 113, 133–34; establishment clause and, 64–65, 136; public schools and, 153, 154
freedom of speech, 11, 133–35
free market, 103–4, 106, 107
freethinkers: Beckwith Memorial Theater (MI) and, 72–76, 190; blasphemy law challenge by, 131–36; Burns poetry and, 45–48, 62; Enlightenment ideals and, 69, 195; eroded advances of, 187–88; golden age 1875–1914) of, 2, 4, 5, 6, 72–75, 146; increased numbers of, 94; Ingersoll’s causes and, 34, 39; Ingersoll’s commitment to, 7, 10–11, 28–29, 41, 57–58, 68, 71–76, 126, 127, 159, 189, 196; Jewish immigrant culture and, 28, 70; lack of public knowledge about, 29; liberal religion bridges with, 16; Lincoln Republicans and, 61–63; obscenity (Comstock) laws vs., 99–100, 152; origin of term, 7; Paine revival and, 146–47; political diversity among, 68; political office aspirations and, 54, 150; press recognition of, 180–81; prominent exemplars of, 10, 73–74; racial injustices and, 110, 112–13; radical groups linked with, 69–70; religious enemies’ characterization of, 156–57, 184; Scopes trial and, 23; social Darwinism and, 24, 113–14; tent lecture circuit and, 131–32; verifiable science and, 77–78; Whitman’s poetry and, 45–46. See also agnostics/atheists; humanism; secularism
French Revolution, 20, 40, 69, 136, 143–44
Fugitive Slave Act (1850), 49, 50
fundamentalism, 17, 17–18n, 69–70, 101, 194; antievolution campaign and, 81n, 96, 182–83, 186–87; antiobscenity laws and, 100; economic policy and, 149–50; emergence of current sense of term, 101n; Gilded Age and, 148, 149–50; harsh biblical philosophy of, 39; premature perceived decline of, 25–26, 26n, 186–87; Protestant mainstream vs., 90; revisionist constitutional view of, 129, 136–37; Scopes trial and, 22–23. See also biblical literalism
Galesburg (IL), 50, 52, 53–54
Galileo, 192
Gardener, Helen H., 121; Men,Women and Gods, 119
Garden of Eden, 87–88, 193
Garland, Hamlin, 88–90
Garrison, William Lloyd, 29n, 52
Gear, Thomas J. (Geary law, 1892), 115
Genesis, 80, 81–82, 86, 87–88, 104, 149
geology, 81–82, 148
George, Henry, Progress and Poverty, 103
Gibbon, Edward, 184
Gilded Age, 45, 69, 97, 103; anti-vivisection movement and, 189n, 199; freethought movement and, 72–75; religious landscape of, 148, 149–50; social Darwinism and, 106–7, 199; wealth gap and, 24, 162–63
Gillis, Rev. James M., 183–84
God: absence from U.S. Constitution of, 2–4, 98–99, 131, 136, 137–41; comforting beliefs about, 156–58, 201; evolution theory and, 94, 96; existence/nonexistence of, 17, 18n, 173, 194; human creation in image of, 80, 82, 84, 86, 96; Ingersoll on various concepts of, 139–41; liberal Protestant view of, 158; as political power source, 63–64, 95, 98, 137, 143–45, 144n, 150, 195; social inequality and, 108, 199–200; suffering and, 95, 157, 201–2; superstitions and, 167
“Gods, The” (Ingersoll lecture), 58, 77, 86–89
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 73
gold standard, 10, 103
government. See politics and government
Gramercy Park (NYC), 91–92, 160
Grant, Ulysses S., 64, 99, 101, 178
Great Depression (1930s), 26
Greeley, Horace, 92n
Greeley, Rev. Roger E., 191
happiness, 97, 125–26, 162, 189
Harlan, John Marshall, 111
Harper’s (magazine), 25
Harris, Sam, 90, 159
Harvard College, 154
Hayes, Rutherford B., 59, 99, 100, 178
Haymarket Square violence (1886), 73, 162–63
heaven. See afterlife
heliocentric universe, 82
hell, belief in, 158n
Hemingway, Ernest, 173
Henry VIII, king of England, 13
heretics, 58, 77
higher education, universal, 4, 155
Hitchens, Christopher, 195
Hofstadter, Richard: Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, 26n; Social Darwinism in American Thought, 26n
Holy Trinity, belief in, 137
“Holy Willie’s Prayer” (Burns), 46–48
Howe, Edgar W., 27
Hugo, Victor, 73, 74
human exceptionalism, 84–85, 87, 96
humanism, 7, 24, 97–128, 191; Ingersoll’s causes and, 115–26, 158–63
human rights, 39, 92, 110–13, 127, 128; secular source of, 3. See also equal rights; women’s rights
Humboldt, Alexander von, 58, 192, 196
Hume, David, 194
Huxley, Thomas Henry, 23–24, 81, 82, 198
Illinois, 5, 42, 48–50, 53–55, 57, 149, 163. See also Chicago
Illinois College, 148
immigrants, 2, 6, 125, 177; Catholic influence and, 65–66, 139, 141, 153–54, 185; Democratic Party and, 101; discrimination against, 114–16; inferiority belief about, 24, 107, 113. See also Jewish immigrants
“Individuality” (Ingersoll lecture), 28
inferiority beliefs, 24, 107, 108, 113–14, 116, 117
Ingersoll, Ebon Clark (brother), 35–36, 49–50, 52, 175; eulogy for, 175–76
Ingersoll, Eva (daughter), 117, 153, 172, 173
Ingersoll, Eva Parker (wife), 20–21, 41, 51, 117, 123, 160; husband’s death and, 172, 173–74, 175, 176
Ingersoll, Rev. John (father), 30, 32–42, 48; religious severity of, 38–39, 40, 41
Ingersoll, Mary (sister), 35, 36
Ingersoll, Mary Livingston (mother), 30, 33–34, 35
Ingersoll, Maud (daughter), 117, 153, 173
Ingersoll, Robert Green: ashes of, 176; on atheist/agnostic labels, 17–18, 194; background of, 7, 25, 30–33, 40; Beckwith Theater bust of, 73, 190–91; biographers’ misunderstandings of, 97, 98, 117, 126; birthplace of, 28, 30, 32; boyhood and youth of, 34–49; Bryan letter to, 148–49; as capital punishment opponent, 40, 144–45; Catholics’ attacks on, 183–86; charm of, 61, 94, 180; Civil War military service of, 51–52; as classical liberal, 189; “Colonel” title of, 51; communication of complex subjects by, 88–90, 187, 195, 198–99; as corporal punishment opponent, 39–40; critical causes of, 39, 109; cultural interests of, 160–61; current obscurity of, 9, 19–20, 22, 26–27, 193–202; current relevance of, 201–2; Darrow’s view of, 102–3; death concept of, 157–58; death of, 7, 20–21, 22, 173–80; Debs eulogy for, 179–80; diverse audience for, 11–12, 182, 187; domestic happiness of, 21–22, 117, 123, 173–74; economic views of, 10, 103–7; Edison sound recording of, 97; eulogy for Beecher of, 92–93; eulogy for brother of, 175–76; eulogy for Whitman of, 75, 206–11; fame of, 1, 42, 68; finances of, 20, 174, 180; funeral and grave of, 175–76; generosity of, 174; “gospel of humanity” of, 159–63; as Great Agnostic, 1, 9, 12, 37, 68, 153, 156, 179, 193; “happiness creed” of, 97, 162, 175, 189; Haymarket defendants and, 162–63; illness/last weeks of, 171, 172–73; influence of, 7, 10, 92, 95, 159, 182; last two public appearances of, 171–72; lecture audiences for, 2–3, 7, 8, 11–15, 21, 25, 57–58, 68–73, 94, 131–32, 187; legacies of, 1, 9–10, 193–202; legal career of, 7, 11, 21, 48, 49, 53, 58, 68, 69, 101–2, 131–36, 142–43, 171–72; literary favorites of, 42–48, 94, 123, 153, 156, 161, 174–75; on meaning of life, 157; as national figure, 59–60; “new atheists” and, 17, 193–202; optimism of, 84–85, 127, 167–69; oratorical gifts of, 8–9, 12–15, 19, 23, 42, 45, 53, 59–61, 68, 75–86, 88–90, 95–96; Paine’s influence on, 1, 18, 143–48, 189, 193; physical size of, 8; political office bids of, 50, 54–55, 57; political ties of, 10, 11, 27, 50–55, 57–61, 63–71, 97–98, 100, 101–3, 163, 178–79, 200–201; political views of, 97–98; popular lectures of, 40–41, 71; posthumous reactions to, 181–86, 189–91, 196; press obituaries/editorials on, 22, 27, 173–75, 178–81; publicizing methods of, 45; religious critics’ characterization of, 156–57; romantic chivalry of, 123; scientific/technological progress belief of, 78, 79–80, 95–96; secular government cause of, 1–5, 11, 20–21, 139–42, 150–51; secularism definition of, 125–27; secularist creed of, 161–62; as self-made American archetype, 7–8, 36, 38, 42–43; social circle of, 10–11, 21, 92–93, 160; social Darwinism and, 24, 104–6, 109, 115–16, 127–28, 158; social issues and, 97–98, 109, 117–26; vivisection opposition of, 169–70, 203–5; wit and humor of, 12–15, 68, 89, 90; as women’s rights champion, 34, 68, 109, 117–25, 171–72; works of: “Address to the Colored People,” 52–53; complete twelve-volume collection, 22, 78, 117, 172; “The Death Test,” 171; “Eight Hours Must Come,” 103–4; eulogy for Whitman, 206–11; “The Gods,” 58, 77, 86–89; “Individuality,” 28; “The Liberty of Man, Woman, and Child,” 40–41, 71, 123; “Plumed Knight,” 59–60, 60n, 89, 101, 177; “Some Mistakes of Moses,” 14, 28, 70, 89–90, 114; “With His Name Left Out, The History of Liberty Cannot Be Written,” 18
Ingersoll, Ruth (sister), 35, 36
Ingersoll Birthplace Museum (Dresden, NY), 28–29, 97n, 191
inoculation, 78, 80
intelligent design, 37–38, 86
Irish Catholics, 66–67
Italian immigrants, 113
Jackson, Andrew, 150
Jefferson, Thomas, 20, 40, 138, 146, 195, 196
Jesuits, 183
Jesus, 114, 122–23, 195
Jewish immigrants, 113, 114, 116, 139, 154, 177; as freethinkers, 28, 70
Jim Crow, 110–12
Johnson, Andrew, 64
Johnson, Samuel, 43
Judaism, 16, 55, 70, 90, 176, 177; anti-Semitism and, 114; as bar to state office holding, 137, 138. See also Jewish immigrants
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), 49–50
Keats, John, 46, 123
Kennedy, John F., 4n
Kennedy, Joseph P., 185n
King James Bible, 13, 37
Kittredge, Herman, 88
Kneeland, Abner, 133
Koch, Robert, 79
“Kreutzer Sonata, The” (Tolstoy), 164–66
labor movement, 11; Ingersoll’s support for, 104–5, 125, 158–59; Republican opponents of, 103; violence and, 73, 162–63; women’s conditions and, 124
LaFollette, Robert M., 10, 11, 72
Lake Seneca, 33
Leaves of Grass (Whitman), 152–53
Lefevre, Jean-François, Chevalier de la Barre, 129–30
liberal principles, 97, 108, 189
liberal Protestantism, 62, 86, 108, 148, 158; Ingersoll’s dialogue with, 16–17, 181–82; science acceptance and, 16, 90, 91–94, 95
libertarianism, 98, 108
“Liberty of Man, Woman, and Child, The” (Ingersoll lecture), 40–41, 71, 123
Lincoln, Abraham, 50, 112, 160n; “Christian nation” proposed constitutional amendment and, 98–99, 139; Ingersoll parallels with, 7, 36, 44–45, 48, 149; religious neutrality of, 62–64, 98–99, 150; Second Inaugural Address, 62n, 112, 150
Lincoln, Sarah Bush, 44
Lincoln-Douglas debates (1858), 50n
Lincoln Hall (Washington, DC), 111
Lister, Joseph, 79
literary works, 42–48, 62, 74, 123, 160, 161,164–66. See also poetry
Livingston, Robert B., 30n
Louis XVI, king of France, execution of, 20, 40, 144, 145, 147
Louisiana Purchase (1803), 31
Madison, James, 64, 138, 154, 195
Manning, Henry F., Cardinal, 185
Marion (IL), 49–50
Marion County (IL), 149
marriage, women’s rights and, 120–21, 124, 171–72, 200
Mason, Rev. John M., 137–38
Mason-Dixon line, 49
Massachusetts, 137, 138
McKinley, William, 95, 98, 178
medical advances, 78–79, 86
Mencken, H. L., 10
Menlo Park (NJ) Laboratory, 28, 97
meritocracy, 107
Methodists, 36, 38, 132
Middlebury College, 37
Middle West, Ingersoll’s impact in, 2, 25, 27, 57–58
Mill, John Stuart, 98
Milton, John, 36–37
miracles, 122–23
Missouri, 49–50
Monahan, Michael, 188–89
monarchy, 144–45
Monroe, James, 147–48
Moon, Truman, Biology for Beginners, 187
morality, 124–25, 152–53, 163–66, 200
Mormons, 32, 140
Morris, Gouverneur, 147
Morristown (NJ), 131, 132
Mott, Lucretia, 29, 113
music, 160, 161, 165–66, 175
National Woman Suffrage Association, 114<
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National Women’s Hall of Fame (Seneca Falls, NY), 29
natural rights, 127
natural selection. See evolution theory; social Darwinism
Nazism, 169
“new atheists” (contemporary), 90–92, 94, 192–202; diverging currents of, 108; Ingersoll’s differences with, 16–17; Ingersoll’s obscurity among, 193–202; theologians’ debates with, 159
New Jersey, blasphemy law, 129, 131–36, 138, 142
New York City, 34–35, 81, 103; Comstock anti-vice crusade in, 99; Ingersoll homes in, 21, 91–92, 160; Irish Catholic political strength in, 66–67; public schools in, 155
New York Herald, 92n, 155
New York Philharmonic, 42
New York State, 29, 30–34, 35; Blaine’s presidential bid and, 66; divorce grounds in, 121; Ingersoll’s birthplace in, 22, 28, 30, 32; religion-based law in, 137; religious/political dissidents from, 31–32; slavery in, 33, 35
New York Sun, 67
New York Times, 13, 27, 71, 81, 82, 108, 135; Ingersoll obituary in, 174, 178–79, 180
New York World, 120, 173
Obama, Barack, 4n
objectivism, 24, 107, 109
obscenity (Comstock) laws, 99–100, 152–53, 186
observation, scientific, 77
Occidental Literary Club (Terra Haute, IN), 109
Oglesby, Richard, 163
111 Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, 51
On the Origin of Species (Darwin), 15, 83, 96
optimism, 84–85, 127, 167–69
organized religion: blasphemy laws and, 129–36; cremation and, 176; cultural challenges to, 6–7; current politics and, 4, 9, 26–27, 55–56; decline in adherents to, 25, 30; dissident movements and, 31–32; emotional arguments for, 157–58; evolution theory and, 80–82, 85, 87, 91, 94, 96, 181–83, 186–87; on freethinker skepticism, 156–57; Ingersoll’s oratorical appeal and, 1, 11, 12–14, 182, 187; Ingersoll’s specific targets and, 16, 58, 114, 185; liberal currents in (see liberal Protestants); moral behavior and, 163–64; “new atheists” debates with, 159; patriotism linked with, 183–84; pluralism of, 139, 141; political aspirations and, 11, 27, 54, 64, 138, 139, 150–52; as political tyranny justification, 143–44, 145; primary secular argument against, 77; scientific advances and, 16, 79–80, 85–86, 90–91, 93, 95, 141, 148, 167–68, 183, 197; secular government and (see church-state separation); secular influences on, 9, 148; secularism vs., 125–26; slavery issue and, 32–33, 52–53, 63, 140, 163–64, 199; social injustices and, 199–200; supernatural causes and, 58, 85–86, 163, 167, 173; tax policies and, 64–65, 67, 70, 99; women’s status and, 118–23, 124, 200; workers’ conditions and, 105. See also Bible; biblical literalism; God; specific religions and denominations