Calvin Blanchard Archives - The Libertarian Labyrinth

Calvin Blanchard, “Religion Made Intelligible” (1866)

March 5, 2020 Shawn P. Wilbur

Mr. Editor:—I was once, as you know, a mere sceptic, or unbeliever. But for many years past I have been a Positivist, certainly foreknowing, or claiming to foreknow, that, by means of Nature, including her cunning method, Art, the world will be populated from pole to pole by human beings, all of whom will be as far better developed than any that now exist, as the best of the present ones are superior to the ourang outang. Here is my Creed, if that which is positively known can properly be called a mere creed:—

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Calvin Blanchard in the Boston Investigator (1861–1866)

February 5, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] A STATEMENT AND PROPOSITION. Mr. President:—If it is not out of order, I should like to make a short communication for the consideration of the meeting over which you have the honor to preside. I presume that the object of the Infidel Association is to eradicate superstition. Superstition is but the form which man’s ignorance takes. The Bible, the great bugbear of “Infidels,” is not a cause of superstition, or of ignorance; it is but one of the manifestations of it, Is there no superstition where man is so savage that […]

Calvin Blanchard, “Religio-Political Physics” (1861)

January 27, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”] [/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] RELIGIO-POLITICAL PHYSICS: OR, THE SCIENCE AND ART OF MAN’S DELIVERANCE FROM IGNORANCE-ENGENDERED MYSTICISM, AND ITS RESULTING THEO-MORAL QUACKERY AND GOVERNMENTAL BRIGANDAGE. BY CALVIN BLANCHARD. “Nature is all-sufficient; man’s fancied “supernatural” longing is her index to the perfection to which development, including science and art, irrepressibly tend. All evil is consequent on ignorance, skepticism and despair, with respect to the power of the substantial, through spontaneity and practical organization, and combination, to complete the all-important half of its undertaking; to create supply, adequate to demand; to inaugurate Heaven on Earth.” — […]

Calvin Blanchard, “The Essence of Science” (1859)

January 25, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] THE ESSENCE OF SCIENCE OR, THE CATECHISM OF POSITIVE SOCIOLOGY AND PHYSICAL MENTALITY BY A Student of Auguste Comte. 1859 PRELIMINARY. We must accept the whole of Science, or we may as well refuse it altogether. Piecemeal, it can have no living existence; and, therefore, can yield us no benefits. Its rightful domain extends through all, from lowest to highest. To exclude science from Sociology—Government—Religion; from the highest of which we are capable of conceiving, is to deprive it of its head; and man, of all which can render life worth […]

Calvin Blanchard, “The Religion of Science” (1860)

January 22, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] THE RELIGION OF SCIENCE; OR THE ART OF ACTUALIZING LIBERTY, AND OF PERFECTING AND SUFFICIENTLY PROLONGING HAPPINESS: BEING A PRACTICAL ANSWER TO THE GREAT QUESTION,— “If you take away my Religion, what will you give me in its stead?” NEW YORK: CALVIN BLANCHARD, 16 NASSAU STREET, 1860. PROPOSITIONAL. I. The Religion of Science alone, can be the antidote to the Religion of Mystery, and to the arbitrary rule, unjust law, impracticable morality, and suicidal virtue founded thereon. Religion to be true, to be Religion, must be a present, living, dynamical, […]

Calvin Blanchard, “A Message to the ‘Sovereign People’ of the United States” (1860)

January 21, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] A MESSAGE “THE SOVEREIGN PEOPLE” OF THE UNITED STATES; EXHIBITING TO THEIR MAJESTIES THE INFERNAL TREACHERY OR WORSE INABILITY OF THEIR RELIGIOUS COUNSELLORS AND OF THEIR POLITICAL “SERVANTS,” PROVING THE IDENTITY OF THE THEOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL DELUSIONS. EXPOSING THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE HOAX AND REVEALING A NEW, AND SELF-EVIDENTLY EFFICIENT REMEDY FOR SUPERSTITION, DESPOTISM, AND EVIL. BY CALVIN BLANCHARD. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY CALVIN BLANCHARD, 76 NASSAU STREET. 1860. A MESSAGE TO “THE SOVEREIGN PEOPLE” OF THE UNITED STATES. May it please your Majesties: I am going to disenchant the […]

In Search of “The Writings of Calvin Blanchard”

December 14, 2018 Shawn P. Wilbur

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] The following advertisement appeared in the New York Tribune, on February 28, 1864: DON’T KILL THE UNION.—POLITICIANS, STAY your vampirism, put off your diabolical raffle for Presidency and spoils (or play it only of empty form to satisfy the constitution) just this once. That raffle caused secession. That raffle is now the sole hope and dependence of secession. That raffle—that game of caucus and ballot box—is the most woeful delusion, and the swiftest and deepest social damnation that ever was or ever can be inflicted. Apropos, I have discovered the art […]

Calvin Blanchard, “The Art of Real Pleasure” (1864)

December 12, 2018 Shawn P. Wilbur

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”] Calvin Blanchard/Art-Liberty page [/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] THE ART OF REAL PLEASURE: THAT NEW PLEASURE, FOR WHICH AN IMPERIAL REWARD WAS OFFERED 1864 Entered, according to Act of Congress. in the year 1864. By Calvin Blanchard, in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. VENUS, QUEEN OF LOVE AND BEAUTY. As painted by Titian. Is’nt she charming? Well, imagine her charms increased tenfold, and you will have some idea of the ravishing beauties to whom you are about to be introduced. And if […]

Calvin Blanchard on Art-Liberty (1860)

December 7, 2018 Shawn P. Wilbur

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”] Art-Liberty [category feed] “My Undertaking and its Auspices” (1861) Those Peculiar Advertisements (1864–1865) Writings in the Boston Investigator (1861–1866) “Last Words of Calvin Blanchard” (1868) “In Search of The Writings of Calvin Blanchard“ Works by Calvin Blanchard: Blanchard’s bulletin to independent thinkers [1856—] The new crisis, or, Our deliverance from priestly fraud, political charlatanry, and popular despotism, 1857. The Essence of Science; or, The catechism of positive sociology, and physical mentality. By a student of Auguste Comte. New York, C. Blanchard, 1859 The religion of science: or, The art of actualizing liberty, and of perfecting […]

Calvin Blanchard — Those Peculiar Advertisements (1859–1865)

December 6, 2018 Shawn P. Wilbur

THE NATION’S CRISIS!—When Grant took Richmond, recaptured the “State prison birds” that had flown, and wrote himself “Your obedient servant” to Lee, he was perfectly consistent with the masked devilishness that underlies all government. There new was and never can be punishment for being criminal, but only for not being criminal enough! CALVIN BLANCHARD, No. 30 Ann st., has written a Book, scientifically showing a new way. Price 50 cents; by mail 60 cents.

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