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Freethought of the Day
Would you like to start your day on a freethought note? Freethought of the Day is a daily freethought calendar brought to you courtesy of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, highlighting birthdates, quotes and other historic tidbits.
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March 4
Indianapolis Freethinkers (Minutes)
On this date in 1875, the newly reorganized Freethinker Society of Indianapolis, Indiana, met. It had first formed in 1870, when ex-Catholic and German immigrant Clemens Vonnegut Sr., great-grandfather of Kurt Vonnegut Jr., was elected board chairman. From the March 4 minutes: "For this meeting, Mr. Phil. Rappaport will give a lecture about the topic: 'What do we need?' and the secretary promised to play music. W. Kothe promised to provide the beer, and C. Koehne explained that he obtained permission from the board of directors of the Turnverein to use the hall for the first meeting of the Freethinkers Society."
Public domain photo: Clemens Vonnegut Sr., c. 1885
"The corresponding secretary was put in charge: to communicate with the Freethinkers Society in Milwaukee, in order to initiate a closer connection of the existing freethinkers societies."
—Minutes, Freethinker Society of Indianapolis (March 4, 1875)
Compiled by Bill Dunn
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