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THE BULLETIN
Fix this textVol. 2—No. 26.
Fix this textSYDNEY, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1880.
Fix this textPrice —3d.
Fix this text%\t §nMtt
Fix this textSATURDAY, JULY 24, 1880.
Fix this textOurselves.
Fix this textThe people of New South W ales are evidently
Fix this textgifted with a very general taste for reading,
Fix this textcombined with an ordinarily faithful though
Fix this textnatural critical instinct—with a strong common
Fix this textsense capable of discriminating the lasting and
Fix this texto-enuine from the ephemeral and meretricious.
Fix this textUnder ordinary circumstances a literary venture
Fix this textin this colony cannot il deserving fail to receive
Fix this textat their hands a just and encouraging apprecia-
Fix this texttion. In delivering ourselves of this opinion we
Fix this textfeel that we are laid open to a charge of having
Fix this textinvoluntarily given way to the elation of success.
Fix this textWe admit the impeachment. From the issue of its
Fix this textfirst copv six months since to that of the number
Fix this textnow in the reader’s hands The Bulletin, estab-
Fix this textlished under difficulties such as rarely at the outset
Fix this textconfront the conductors of a newspaper, has
Fix this textpursued a course of unvarying prosperity. The
Fix this textcomparative vigour and verve of its literary
Fix this textmatter, the excellence of its illustrations and the
Fix this textoriginality of the plan upon which it has
Fix this textbeen conducted have secured to this journal an
Fix this textunprecedentedly rapid increase
Fix this textof circulation, and with it, we
Fix this textwould fain hope, an ever-
Fix this textenlarging measure of esteem.
Fix this textIt is true that prior to the
Fix this textestablishment of The Bulletin
Fix this textothers tried the experiment of
Fix this textlaunching on the sea of journal-
Fix this textism papers distantly resembling
Fix this textin some unimportant regards
Fix this textthe one of which it is our privi-
Fix this textlege now to write ; but the in-
Fix this textexorable logic of events has
Fix this textshown that the conductors of
Fix this textthose ventures did not, in plain
Fix this textwords, know their business.
Fix this textSome of the publications re-
Fix this textferred to were of a very mild
Fix this textdescription and had no charac-
Fix this textteristics which were not pos-
Fix this textsessed in a much more clearly-
Fix this textmarked degree by the typical
Fix this textweekly paper ; while others,
Fix this textflying to the oppposite ex-
Fix this texttreme, appealed to none but
Fix this textthe lowest tastes possessed by
Fix this textthe vulgar and degraded.
Fix this textThe distrust awakened in the
Fix this textpublic mind by such papers
Fix this textwas the only legacy left by them
Fix this textto The Bulletin, which has
Fix this textoutlived the prejudices and
Fix this textdispelled the suspicions that
Fix this textfrom the force of circum-
Fix this textstances, naturally attended its
Fix this textinauguration. We have en-
Fix this textdeavoured to conduct our
Fix this textventure in the full light of
Fix this texta by no means inconsiderable
Fix this textexperience of colonial journal-
Fix this textism ; and having thus far
Fix this textsucceeded beyond our expecta-
Fix this texttions we feel that we can fairly
Fix this textlay claim to having satisfied a
Fix this textlong-felt and hitherto undefined
Fix this textpublic want, —to having estab-
Fix this textlished a journal which may
Fix this textbe read with interest and with-
Fix this textout offence by all classes and
Fix this textcreeds, and which affords an
Fix this textagreeable relief from the per-
Fix this texthaps unavoidable tedium of the
Fix this textdaily papers. We now enter
Fix this textupon our second half-year and
Fix this textwhile regarding with satisfac-
Fix this texttion what we have done in the
Fix this textpast are confident of curability
Fix this textto deserve a continuance of the
Fix this textsame generous support which
Fix this textup to the present time has been
Fix this textaccorded by the community to
Fix this textThe Bulletin. Perhaps the
Fix this textmost sincere tribute which has
Fix this textbeen offered to our success is
Fix this textcontained in the fact that more
Fix this textthan half the newspapers in
Fix this textNew South Wales —metropoli-
Fix this texttan and provincial alike —are
Fix this textattempting to imitate our style.
Fix this textThat our paper should have
Fix this textcome to be regarded as a model
Fix this textone is indeed a sweet reward.
Fix this textThe Bigotry of Freethonght.
Fix this textYeby general reference has already been made
Fix this textby the colonial Press to the omission of the sec-
Fix this texttarian column from the British census-tables.
Fix this textWe take the fact of its omission to be
Fix this texta sign of the times. There is a growing
Fix this texttendency, as a liberal spirit increases its in-
Fix this textfluence, to sink in social life all distinctions of
Fix this textsect or creed. People of the most varied forms
Fix this textof religious belief may now mingle freely to-
Fix this textgether and go through the conventional forms of
Fix this textexistence unbiassed by any abstract doctrinal
Fix this textconsideration. Bigotry in its more objectionable
Fix this textsense and the rabies of sectarianism have thus
Fix this textalmost completely died out, except in some few
Fix this textrank spots where the influence of the school-
Fix this textmaster has not yet been felt. This is as it should
Fix this textbe. Let a man hold what private opinion he
Fix this textmay, no earthly reason exists for blazoning it in
Fix this textthe faces of those with whom he may come in
Fix this textcontact. Conscientious action should take the
Fix this textplace of wordy discussion, and the more firmly
Fix this textheld are individual opinions, the more intelligent
Fix this textthough subdued should be the accordance there-
Fix this textwith. Religious cant is therefore much less fre-
Fix this textquent than it has been, and when it does appear
Fix this textit is always speedily snubbed. But now another
Fix this textfeature is introduced —the further extreme of
Fix this textsectarianism and its legitimate outcome. Thisfea-
Fix this textture is accompanied by its own peculiar cant—that
Fix this textof ultra-freethought. The colonial freethinker,
Fix this textas he has made himself familiar to us, is a type
Fix this textof a certain class. Half-educated, but not unin-
Fix this texttelligent, he will almost always be found untoned
Fix this textbv any regular system of instruction, having ob-
Fix this texttained what mental pabulum he may have ab-
Fix this textsorbed, in a precarious, hand-to-mouth fashion.
Fix this textHis science is the gleaning of teit-books and
Fix this text£ rimers, and his idea of the Christian code, if he
Fix this textas any, the result of the communicated lore of
Fix this texta well-meaning but perhaps not too refined Sun-
Fix this textday school teacher. Perhaps the only stable
Fix this textsocial institntion of which he has had practical
Fix this textexperience is that of the family, and how his
Fix this textreminiscences in that direction jar with his pre-
Fix this textsent inner consciousness he best can tell. His
Fix this textlife will be found to have been a desultory, uneven
Fix this textcourse, unballasted by any of those guiding
Fix this textprinciples which go so far to imbue one with
Fix this textgentlemanly instincts, and which are the neces-
Fix this textsary concomitants of a regular system of educa-
Fix this texttion. He lives by his wits, or more properly, by
Fix this textabsence of wit in others. The persistent vitu-
Fix this textperation of every revered tradition sanctified by
Fix this textthe growth of ages, the ruthless violation of
Fix this textevery hallowed sentiment, and the vulgar blas-
Fix this textphemy of every sacred doctrine form the pre-
Fix this textcepts of his evangel. He professes a lofty con-
Fix this texttempt for those who differ from him, and, as ex-
Fix this textperience tells us, when circumstances admit he
Fix this textdisplays all the rancour and prejudice of ..bigotry
Fix this textin its most repulsive form. Notoriety is'his life,
Fix this textand hence he will be found obtruding his crude
Fix this textopinions on one’s notice, irrespective of time or
Fix this textplace ; while he retires within the recesses of his
Fix this textown overweening conceit when he can no longer
Fix this textfind hearers. This is the type of the colonial
Fix this textfreethinker. In the characteristics quoted he
Fix this textpresents a fearful contrast to the cultured
Fix this textatheist of Europe, while he has about as much
Fix this textidea of the true spirit and permeating genius of
Fix this textbroad Christianity as a rhinoceros might have.
Fix this textTo improve on an old saying, true enough in its
Fix this textday, “ Of all cant, the worst and most disgusting
Fix this textis the cant of colonial freethought.” We do
Fix this textnot speak of the leaders, but of the bulk of
Fix this texttheir followers.
Fix this textThe Most Rev. Archbishop Vanghan.
Fix this textThb many-sided genius of the immortal Shaka-
Fix this textpeare appears nowhere more conspicuously than
Fix this textin his masterful delineation of Cardinal Wolsey.
Fix this textThe poet has, in fact, invested the great prelate
Fix this textwith such natural traits —such realistic fidelity
Fix this textthat thousands of English-speaking people have
Fix this textfor years taken his portraiture of the pompous
Fix this textprelate, instead of the one drawn by more accurate
Fix this textchroniclers or historians. It is not only in tins
Fix this texttypical churchman that Shakspeare exhibits the
Fix this textgreatness of his creative faculty. Even when such
Fix this texta dramatis persona presents him-
Fix this textself incidentally in any of the
Fix this textplays, he is placed in snch a
Fix this textsuitable light, with befitting cir-
Fix this textcumstances surrounding him,
Fix this textand such appropriate language
Fix this textput into his mouth, as to make
Fix this textone marvel at the versatility,
Fix this textuniversality, and exactness _ of
Fix this textthe great dramatist. Passing
Fix this textby Pandulph, in “ King John,”
Fix this textlet us glance at his Grace of
Fix this textCanterbury and his Bight Eev.
Fix this textLordship of Ely, in “ Henry V.”
Fix this textThe style —the tone—the temper
Fix this text—the pluck—the timidity—the
Fix this textcunning of the former may, with-
Fix this textout any imputation of censori-
Fix this textousness on the writer’s part, be
Fix this textsaid to appear (faintly perhaps
Fix this textin the distinguished gentleman,
Fix this textthe “counterfeit resemblance”
Fix this textof whose handsome face adorns
Fix this textthe firstpage of this week's issue
Fix this textof our journal. How easily one
Fix this textcan imagine ArchbiahopVaughan
Fix this textsaying to a brother dignitary : —
Fix this text“ If the bill pass.
Fix this textWe lose the better half of our
Fix this textpossession;
Fix this textFor all the temporal lands, which
Fix this textmen devout
Fix this textBy testament have given to the
Fix this textChurch,
Fix this textWould they strip from us.”
Fix this textSupposing Dr. Lanigan, like his
Fix this textLordship of Ely, were to say,
Fix this text“This would drink deep,”
Fix this textcan we not easily imagine his
Fix this textGrace of Sydney emphasizing,
Fix this textwith a prone horizontal gesture
Fix this textof his plump and white right
Fix this texthand, the following line: —
Fix this text“ ’Twould drink the cup and all.”
Fix this textWith what na'iveti and finesse
Fix this texthe would, if circumstances per-
Fix this textmitted, try to wheedle a Minister
Fix this textof the Crown or an influential
Fix this textmember of Parliament to sup-
Fix this textport holy Church’s claims on
Fix this textthe liberality of the State. In
Fix this textthus taking our cue to Dr.
Fix this textVaughan’s character from the
Fix this textgreat English dramatist, we do
Fix this textnot intend to insinuate that he
Fix this textis arrogant or deceitful, or reck-
Fix this textless of the means he uses to
Fix this textattain his ends. Wo believe
Fix this texthim to be thoroughly sincere ;
Fix this texthe has made up his conscience
Fix this textto act in a certain way according
Fix this textto his lights ; he probably gives
Fix this textat times irrational freedom to
Fix this texthis fancy, and through the mere
Fix this textimpulsiveness of his tempera-
Fix this textment does things which he after-
Fix this textwards regrets. He certainly
Fix this texthas not the suaviter in modo—
Fix this text“ the linked sweetness long
Fix this textdrawn out” —of his predecessor,
Fix this textof whom it was neatly said that
Fix this text“ a gracious and delicate hand
Fix this textplayed almoner to a large and
Fix this textliberal heart.” Archbishop
Fix this textVaughan may be able to give a
Fix this textdozen reasons perfectly satisfac-
Fix this texttory to himself, for his attack on
Fix this textFreemasonry and the Educa-
Fix this texttional compromise of ’66, which
Fix this texthe has been the means of ter-
Fix this textTHE MOST REV. ARCHBISHOP VAUGHAN.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-79851608
(1880). The bulletin Retrieved July 25, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-79851608
The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880. Web. 25 July 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-79851608>
1880, The bulletin John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 25 July 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-79851608
{{Citation
|
| title=The bulletin.
| year=1880
| section=105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm.
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| issue=Vol. 2 No. 26 (24 Jul 1880)
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-79851608
| id=nla.obj-79851608
| access-date=25 July 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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