Arrows of Freethought

by George William Foote

I republish in this little volume a few of my numerous articles that have appeared in the Secularist, the Liberal, the National Reformer, and the Freethinker, during the last five or six years. I have included nothing (I hope) of merely ephemeral interest. Every article in this collection was at least written carefully, and with an eye to more than the exigencies of the moment. In disentombing them from the cemeteries of periodical literature, where so many of their companions lie buried, I trust I have not allowed parental love to outrun discretion. George W. Foote

Genres: Philosophy

92 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2011

About the author

George William Foote was born in Plymouth, England on 11 January 1850. In his youth he became a freethinker through reading and independent thought. When he came to London in 1868 he joined the freethought organisations that were flourishing at the time. Foote was soon lecturing at freethought meetings. Charles Bradlaugh, then the leader of the secularist movement, soon recognised Foote's abilities and allowed him to play an increasingly important role in the British freeethought movement. Foote contributed many articles to Bradlaugh's National Reformer and in 1876 founded his own magazine, The Secularist. This was followed by his major publishing success, The Freethinker, which began in 1881 and is still in existence today.

In 1882 Foote was charged with blasphemy for having published a number of biblical cartoons in The Freethinker. These had been modelled after a series of French cartoons that had appeared earlier. After a series of trials Foote was found guilty in 1883 and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment by Justice North, a Catholic judge. ("The sentence is worthy of your creed," Foote responded.) The Freethinker carried the banner headline "Prosecuted for Blasphemy" during this period, probably increasing its sales.

When Foote was released from prison, he was a hero in freethought circles. He continued writing, lecturing, and editing magazines until Charles Bradlaugh died in 1891. At that time Foote was elected to lead the National Secular Society, founded by Bradlaugh. Foote continued in this role until his death on 17 October 1915.

Reviews

[Karl Radl · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of several books republishing collections of leading Victorian secularist George William Foote's articles from publications such as 'The Freethinker'. Foote writes well, but his views (for example his defence of John Locke) are often severely dated (especially his understanding of Biblical interpretation) but he is better in his philosophic points which have continued to be valid arguments (broadly speaking) and he is at his best with his clever and quite fun invective against his intellectual opponents.

He is thus a fun read but not one I'd take particularly seriously especially as his contemporaries (like Colonel Ingersoll) were far better both rhetorically and intellectually.

[Onyango Makagutu · Rating 5 out of 5]

You would think this book was written yesterday. Wonderful read by any standard