The 2019 Philadelphia Tree of Knowledge (ToK) will be installed and decorated on Sunday, December 1, 2019 in the lobby of the Philadelphia Ethical Society (1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).
The installation ceremony begins at 11:00 AM with a presentation by Hugh Taft-Morales, who is the Philadelphia Ethical Society Leader. The title of his presentation is “The Hidden Joy of Serving: Appreciating Their Story.” Taft-Morales will talk about the importance of listening to the stories of the people we volunteer to serve.
Freethought Society (FS) founder and president, Margaret Downey will create ornaments on-site for anyone who brings two color copies of the front cover of their favorite book.
This event is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring two color copies of the front cover of their favorite book.
September, October, November, December 2018 eZine Newsletter
Click here to see the September, October, November, December 2018 Freethought Society (FS) Ezine.
In the Ezine you will find the following articles:
A Four-Month Combined Issue to Bring Readers Up-To-Date, by Margaret Downey
Photos from the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Robert Green Ingersoll Birthplace Museum
More Photos from the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Robert Green Ingersoll Birthplace Museum
Skeptics at the 2018 DragonCon Event by Margaret Downey
More DragonCon 2018 Skeptic Photos
The Los Angeles, California Secular Day of the Dead by Margaret Downey
2018 Secular Day of the Dead Photos
BSA’s Religious Recruitment/Anti-Nontheist Signs: Activist Report With submissions by Margaret Downey, Sally Flynn and Thomas Schottmiller
The Schwartz Event
How Freethinkers Can Save the Truth by Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
The Freethought Society’s 2018/2019 Activities Calendar
Donation and Information Page
Ingersoll Birthplace
We hope that you will remain or become an active supporter of the great work FS is doing. Please donate to the general fund or select a project you want to help sponsor. All donations to FS are tax-deductible!
If the Ezine inspires you to become more actively involved with FS, please provide us with your contact information, including your phone number and mailing address.
Special events are being planned in your area so don’t miss an opportunity to participate further. All personal information is confidential and will not be shared with other organizations.
We want supporters to stay informed at all times. To keep updated about events, meetings and issues, please sign up to participate in the FS Discussion List.
The Freethought Society (FS) and the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia (EHSP) invite you to the installation of the 2016 Philadelphia Tree of Knowledge.
The Tree of Knowledge will be decorated as a group effort immediately following the EHSP platform and a Rollin Wilber piano mini-concert on Sunday, December 4, 2016. Hugh Taft-Morales will be the platform speaker.
The 11:00 AM free and open-to-the-public platform takes place in the Ethical Society Building, located at 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Attendees are encouraged to bring two color copies of the front cover of their favorite book so that an ornament can be made for either use on the 2016 tree or for a home display.
Margaret Downey will be making the ornaments at 1:00 PM in the upstairs meeting room at the EHSP building. Volunteers are needed to assist in creating new ornaments which will help FS improve the diversity of The Tree of Knowledge ornament selection. Ornaments will be available for purchase. These weatherproof ornaments sell for $1-$5, depending on the size.
Each year since 2010, representatives of the Freethought Society (FS) and leaders from many secular organizations have spoken at the Chester County Commissioners Sunshine Meeting advocating for the inclusion of the secular community symbol, The Tree of Knowledge, in the Winter Holiday public display that is placed on the grounds of the Chester County Courthouse located at Market and High Streets. The Tree of Knowledge was banned from public display when the Commissioners adopted Resolution 58-10 deeming that they, and they alone, would determine which symbols would represent the secular community.
Since then, the Commissioners have determined that the secular community is sufficiently represented by the following items: A Santa Claus figure, candy canes, reindeer, and/or a wire train with white lights. FS contends that these items are not representative of secularists. Year after year, FS conducts an effort to convince the Commissioners that only The Tree of Knowledge symbol is acceptable as a secular winter symbol.
Another attempt to reason with the Commissioners will take place on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 10:00 AM.
The location of the Sunshine Meeting is: 313 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380.
Please go to the sixth floor Commissioners Board Room.
Please be prepared to speak in support of displaying and including the Tree of Knowledge during the 2016 Winter Holiday public display.
If you do not want to speak, please make a hand-held sign stating “I support The Tree of Knowledge” to hold up so that the Commissioners know your position in the matter.
Scheduled to address the Commissioners are Hugh Taft-Morales (Ethical Humanist Society Leader), and Glen Loev (vice-president of FS and a representative from the secular Jewish community).
Special events are being planned in your area so don’t miss an opportunity to participate further. All personal information is confidential and will not be shared with other organizations.
