Robert Thompson (Free-Thought Association) an Ernst Haeckel, Christchurch,
9. Januar 1901
Milner & Thompson
Pianoforte & Music Warehouse
106 Manchester St.
Christchurch Janry. 9th, 1901
Dr. Ernst Haeckel
University, Jena,
Germany.
Dear Sir,
I feel sure you will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing you when you learn the motives that have prompted my doing so. They are simply these: For a long time I have been a great admirer of your writings, and possess the greater number of them. I have also, for many years, been a contributor to the „Open court“, of which Dr. Paul Carus is the editor; and I know also from the many papers you have contributed that you are in friendly intercourse with him. This being so, although personally unknown to you, I feel as though I must write you with regard to your latest contribution to rationalistic literature, viz., your new book „Riddles of the Universe“, which has been so ably translated by Mr. McCabe, and of which I have imported six copies for various members of the Association, of which I have the honor to be President. I am therefore in communication with you to express the feelings of esteem, friendship, and respect, they all hold towards you as the champion of those principles and ideas which so many of us hold in common.
It is a matter of extreme regret to me that when you paid your visit to Java, and had even come so far as Melbourne you were unable || to pay a visit to New Zealand. Had I known you were so near I should, in all probability, have written you at Melbourne, but you were away before I knew anything about it.
From the encloseda paper you will see the interest I have always taken in matters of this kind, and I for some time edited a small paper, which unfortunately was not sufficiently supported to enable me to continue it, but I send you herewith a bound copy of it for the six months it was in existence. From this you will see that I desire to do what I can to support the movement which has been so ably begun by those eminent men who have so lately passed away. I allude of course to Tyndall, Huxley, Darwin and others. Spencer we fortunately have still with us.
I shall esteem it a great favour to have a communication from you. I am in touch with the professors of the College, and also a certain professor who has lately paid a visit to Europe, viz., Professor Bickerton, of whom you may have heard something. He is an intimate friend of mine, and is now publishing his latest work entitled „The Romance of the Earth“.
Kindly excuse this typewritten letter as it is a much greater convenience to me than by writing. The fact is, like yourself, I feel that I must avail myself of any opportunity to lighten my labor, so I feel sure that you will excuse it on this account. Meantime allow me to offer you the congratulations of a number of members of our Association, on the earnest efforts you have put forward in the cause we all esteem and love so well.
And Believe me,
Yours very sincerely,
Robt. Thompson
Pres. Free-Thought Assoc. ||
Since writing the foregoing I have received 2 Vols. of „Huxley’s Life & Letters“ in which I notice? a continuous=correspondence with yourself and I am greatly pleased to find the fixed manner he has expressed himself in relation to his Rationalistic principles.
Any communication you wish to make will find me addressed
R. Thompson
c/o Richard Thompson
Christchurch
New Zealand.
a am linken Seitenrand mit Einfügungszeichen eingef.: + sent book post