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The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 1 (of 12) Dresden Edition—Lectures
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226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2003
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About the author
Robert G. Ingersoll
1,005 books326 followers"On August 11, 1833, was born the greatest and noblest of the Western World; an immense personality, -- unique, lovable, sublime; the peerless orator of all time, and as true a poet as Nature ever held in tender clasp upon her loving breast, and, in words coined for the chosen few, told of the joys and sorrows, hopes, dreams, and fears of universal life; a patriot whose golden words and deathless deeds were worthy of the Great Republic; a philanthropist, real and genuine; a philosopher whose central theme was human love, -- who placed 'the holy hearth of home' higher than the altar of any god; an iconoclast, a builder -- a reformer, perfectly poised, absolutely honest, and as fearless as truth itself -- the most aggressive and formidable foe of superstition -- the most valiant champion of reason -- Robert G. Ingersoll." - Herman E. Kittredge
Robert Green Ingersoll, who became the best known advocate of freethought in the 19th-century, was born in Dresden, N.Y. The son of an impoverished itinerant pastor, he later recalled his formative church experiences: "The minister asked us if we knew that we all deserved to go to hell, and we all answered 'yes.' Then we were asked if we would be willing to go to hell if it was God's will, and every little liar shouted 'Yes!'" He became an attorney by apprenticeship, and a colonel in the Civil War, fighting in the Battle of Shiloh. In 1867, Ingersoll was appointed Illinois' first Attorney General. His political career was cut short by his refusal to halt his controversial lectures, but he achieved national political fame for his thrilling nomination speech for James G. Blaine for president at the national convention of the Republican Party in 1876. Ingersoll was good friends with three U.S. presidents. The distinguished attorney was known and admired by most of the leading progressives and thinkers of his day.
Ingersoll traveled the continent for 30 years, speaking to capacity audiences, once attracting 50,000 people to a lecture in Chicago—40,000 too many for the Exposition Center. His repertoire included 3 to 4-hour lectures on Shakespeare, Voltaire and Burns, but the largest crowds turned out to hear him denounce the bible and religion. He initially settled in Peoria, Illinois, then in Washington, D.C., where he successfully defended falsely accused men in the "Star Route" scandal, the most famous political trial of the 19th century. Religious rumors against Ingersoll abounded. One had it that Ingersoll's son was a drunkard who more than once had to be carried away from the table. Ingersoll wrote: "It is not true that intoxicating beverages are served at my table. It is not true that my son ever was drunk. It is not true that he had to be carried away from the table. Besides, I have no son!"
During the Civil War he was commissioned as Colonel and commander of the 11th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and was captured near Corinth, Mississippi. Although soon released, he still made time to treat his Confederate captors to a rousing anti slavery speech.
He hoped for but was never awarded a Cabinet post. The Republicans were afraid of his unorthodox religious views. He was told that he could progress politically if he hid his religious views, but Ingersoll refused on the charge that withholding information from the public would be immoral.
He strongly advocated equal rights for blacks and women. He defended Susan B. Anthony from hecklers when she spoke in Peoria; when every hotel in the city refused to house Frederick Douglass, he welcomed him into his home.
More: https://ffrf.org/news/day/dayitems/it...
http://infidels.org/library/historica...
http://www.robertgreeningersoll.org/8-2/
http://www.positiveatheism.org/tochin...
http://www.philosopedia.org/index.php...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_G...
Robert Green Ingersoll, who became the best known advocate of freethought in the 19th-century, was born in Dresden, N.Y. The son of an impoverished itinerant pastor, he later recalled his formative church experiences: "The minister asked us if we knew that we all deserved to go to hell, and we all answered 'yes.' Then we were asked if we would be willing to go to hell if it was God's will, and every little liar shouted 'Yes!'" He became an attorney by apprenticeship, and a colonel in the Civil War, fighting in the Battle of Shiloh. In 1867, Ingersoll was appointed Illinois' first Attorney General. His political career was cut short by his refusal to halt his controversial lectures, but he achieved national political fame for his thrilling nomination speech for James G. Blaine for president at the national convention of the Republican Party in 1876. Ingersoll was good friends with three U.S. presidents. The distinguished attorney was known and admired by most of the leading progressives and thinkers of his day.
Ingersoll traveled the continent for 30 years, speaking to capacity audiences, once attracting 50,000 people to a lecture in Chicago—40,000 too many for the Exposition Center. His repertoire included 3 to 4-hour lectures on Shakespeare, Voltaire and Burns, but the largest crowds turned out to hear him denounce the bible and religion. He initially settled in Peoria, Illinois, then in Washington, D.C., where he successfully defended falsely accused men in the "Star Route" scandal, the most famous political trial of the 19th century. Religious rumors against Ingersoll abounded. One had it that Ingersoll's son was a drunkard who more than once had to be carried away from the table. Ingersoll wrote: "It is not true that intoxicating beverages are served at my table. It is not true that my son ever was drunk. It is not true that he had to be carried away from the table. Besides, I have no son!"
During the Civil War he was commissioned as Colonel and commander of the 11th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and was captured near Corinth, Mississippi. Although soon released, he still made time to treat his Confederate captors to a rousing anti slavery speech.
He hoped for but was never awarded a Cabinet post. The Republicans were afraid of his unorthodox religious views. He was told that he could progress politically if he hid his religious views, but Ingersoll refused on the charge that withholding information from the public would be immoral.
He strongly advocated equal rights for blacks and women. He defended Susan B. Anthony from hecklers when she spoke in Peoria; when every hotel in the city refused to house Frederick Douglass, he welcomed him into his home.
More: https://ffrf.org/news/day/dayitems/it...
http://infidels.org/library/historica...
http://www.robertgreeningersoll.org/8-2/
http://www.positiveatheism.org/tochin...
http://www.philosopedia.org/index.php...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_G...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 29, 2012
Mr. Ingersoll is a talented lecturer whose lectures are still fresh today. Clear, convincing, and full of humor
November 3, 2017
Mr. Ingersoll's words show that he was a man well ahead of his time in many of his opinions about social equality and the treatment of minorities, children, and women. He accepted the science of the day and was open minded about the relatively new field of evolutionary thought. Of course he was lacking in knowledge that would not become available to the general public until later years. He also displayed some attitudes that would seem prejudicial in today's world. That is to be expected. Even though he had very progressive sentiments, he was still a product of his of his time. He also had many opinions and insights into religion and its impact on society that could have been written by modern skeptics.
November 9, 2018
I'm glad that I've finally read some Ingersoll. His style is that of a grand orator, making broad sweeping statements, arguing for effect and beauty over accuracy or subtlety. This makes him eminently quotable, but it also means that when he is wrong, he is spectacularly wrong. He argues eloquently for the equality of women, but then viciously slags off those who aren't married saying "There is no success in life without love and marriage.", to which I respond "fuck you with a chainsaw you motherfucking asshole". My original plan was to read all twelve volumes, but I think this one is enough.
August 29, 2020
They are lectures rather than essays, so they tend to be a little repetitive and informal. They are however well-reasoned and reasonably persuasive. I'm not sure any of it is especially ground-breaking, but his thoughts are either revolutionary or banal depending on the cultural context. I'm not sure I'll ever get to the other 11 volumes, or any of his other work, but I'm glad I read this.
January 17, 2016
Packed full of amazing insights from over a hundred years shinning his free thinking light on topics of religion, parenting, woman's rights, and being a great spouse among others. Dated at times but overall a very interesting moral read that is very thought provoking. I have to thank Ehrenreich's book “Living with a Wild God” for opening my consciousnesses to the existence of Ingersoll's works and I am certain I will be reading more of them.
Some favorite quotes:
The world is my country and to do good is my religion.
Above all creeds, above all religions, after all, is that divine thing – Humanity.
The man who really won the love of one good woman in this world, I do not care if he dies in the ditch a beggar, his life has been a success.
I would rather belong to the race that commenced a skull-less vertebrate and produced Shakespeare, a race that has before it an infinite future, with the angel of progress leaning from the far horizon, beckoning men forward, upward and onward forever.
Some favorite quotes:
The world is my country and to do good is my religion.
Above all creeds, above all religions, after all, is that divine thing – Humanity.
The man who really won the love of one good woman in this world, I do not care if he dies in the ditch a beggar, his life has been a success.
I would rather belong to the race that commenced a skull-less vertebrate and produced Shakespeare, a race that has before it an infinite future, with the angel of progress leaning from the far horizon, beckoning men forward, upward and onward forever.
May 16, 2015
Brilliant Thoughts of a Free Thinker
This is just the first column of Ingersoll's works. It is a fine example of the application of critical thought, reasoning, and logic to religious doctrine. The author has the mind of a scientist, the memory of an historian, and the pen of a poet!
The only criticism I have so far is that the reader will have to keep in mind that Ingersoll lived in the 1800s, and some of his thinking is a product of his time, or as the author puts it; "He was breathing the air off his time". That being said, the main thrust and ideas in this volume are still very applicable today. If you're someone who has always been a non-believer but never really stopped to question why... This volume of work can spell it out for you, and what the heck... it's public domain, so the price is right, and his writing is excellent. Can't wait to dive into the next eleven volumes!
This is just the first column of Ingersoll's works. It is a fine example of the application of critical thought, reasoning, and logic to religious doctrine. The author has the mind of a scientist, the memory of an historian, and the pen of a poet!
The only criticism I have so far is that the reader will have to keep in mind that Ingersoll lived in the 1800s, and some of his thinking is a product of his time, or as the author puts it; "He was breathing the air off his time". That being said, the main thrust and ideas in this volume are still very applicable today. If you're someone who has always been a non-believer but never really stopped to question why... This volume of work can spell it out for you, and what the heck... it's public domain, so the price is right, and his writing is excellent. Can't wait to dive into the next eleven volumes!
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March 27, 2012Volumes 1 to 12
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews