The Australian Freethinkers
I've always thought of Australia as the Arizona of the old British Empire; it's way 'out there,' both
geographically and culturally. Now Ray Dahlitz has produced a Secular Who's
Who, a biographical directory of the secular movements in that country (and in New
Zealand) from 1850 onwards. Dahlitz provides good summaries of the main currents of the
ideas at various phases, as well as the leading personalities. This provides a context for the
detailed biographical entries. The 19th century is characterized as dominated by Freethought.
There, as in England and the U.S., that was something of a 'golden age' when lecturers were in
great demand, there were numerous publications, etc. Joseph Symes was sent out from
England by Bradlaugh, and started a newspaper called The Liberator. Many notable
freethinkers of that era were driven to their views bya rather ruthless and repressive form of
Christianity, esp. the Calvinist variety. Throughout the book, Dahlitz gives due attention to the
political cross-currents and contradictions at work, between the 'pure' freethinkers, and the
socialists and the anarchists who tended to agree on the critique of religion but felt thgat issues
of social justice should be addressed.
1900-1950 ws the Rationalist phase, which curiously included a wealthy pro-fascist wing
sharply opposed by others, leading to a split. Since then, Dahlitz distinguishes a Humanist
phase, active up through the presxent. One of the most interesting aspects of this directory is
how many important scientists, physicians, and even politicians were open freethinkers and
active too. I wonder what an American directory would include on that score, for it seems to me
that especially the politicians have been rather timid here.
One feature I particularly like about his book is how it combines necessary concision
with informative personal details. Henrietta Dugdale (1826-1918) declared that Christianity 'was
another despotism formed by man to humble women.' She also supported castration for
'persistent rapists.' Edward William Cole(1832-1918) established a book arcade in Melbourne
which provided a meeting place for over 50 years. Harry Hastings Pearce(1897-1984) collected
over 16,000 books and other publications on freethought and radical themes; this is now divided
between the Australian National Library in Canberra, and the La Trobe Library in Melbourne.
This is a copiously illustrated, very well written book, a resource for the history of how
Freethought has been a vigorous and largely open movement, in what many of us consider a
'remote' part of the world. Every country should have sucha directory, to demonstrate the lives,
convictions and contributions of humanists.
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