Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1893 — A Dutiful Son. [ARTICLE]

A Dutiful Son.

A religious parliament was held near this city, in Warren county, a few days ago, says the Attica Ledger, that differed from the one in session at Chicago only in its vigorous termination. There was plenty of warmth in the discussion from start to finish, but when one man remarked that “anybody who belongs to church is an idiot,” the thermometer rose ten notches. “Do you mean that?” inquired the upholder of orthodoxy. “You betcher life I do,” warmly responded Bob Ingersoll’s pupil. “Well, you pull your coat off and get right out here in the road and we’ll settle it,” was the pressing invitation of the defender of theology. It was quickly accepted, and biff—bang —went the blows. It took exactly two short rounds to vindicate religion and place the “idiot” portion of the membership right before the world. While the form of the disciple of Tom Paine lay prostrate in the dust?a neighbor happened along and inquired the cause of the trouble, and this was the reply that came from the brave defender of the church: “Well, you see, he denounced religion, and further’n that he said right out that anybody that belonged to church was an idiot, an* I wouldn’t stand that talk because because —my mother belongs to church and I don’t 'low nobody to call her an idiot!"