Books from Bob’s Library #8: our friend ‘The Truth Seeker’

Books From Bob’s Library is a semi-regular series in which freethought book collector and National Secular Society historian Bob Forder delves into his extensive collection and shares stories and photos with readers of the Freethinker. You can find Bob’s introduction to and first instalment in the series here and other instalments here.

The Truth Seeker is the world’s oldest freethought publication, and one of the oldest magazines in the USA, founded by DeRobigne Mortimer (D.M.) Bennett in 1873, eight years before G.W. Foote first published the Freethinker.

Bennett was a former Shaker who had been ‘converted’ to freethought by reading Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason, which was in many ways the most seminal and inspirational work for freethinkers in both the UK and the US for many years. The Truth Seeker and the Freethinker share a common heritage, with both journals emerging as the freethought movement’s journal of record in their respective countries.

In the nineteenth century, transatlantic contact was both frequent and productive. Charles Bradlaugh (founder of the UK’s National Secular Society), Charles Watts, and Foote all toured the US during their careers, while, during Bennett’s visit to the UK in 1880, he was honoured with a National Secular Society banquet and a reception at the Hall of Science. Bradlaugh’s address to mark the occasion included the splendid line, ‘Better a thousandfold abuse of free speech than denial of free speech’. This has proved an enduring principle for both journals.

Foote and Bennett share an unhappy distinction: both served terms of imprisonment for their use of free speech. In 1880, Bennett was sentenced to 13 months for violating the notorious Comstock Act by circulating a pamphlet advocating free love through the post. In 1883, Foote was imprisoned for blasphemy for a year for publishing satirical material, including cartoons making fun of Christianity, in the Freethinker. Freedom of expression in the sphere of religion has had, and continues to have, its victims on both sides of the Atlantic (and everywhere else).

Since their early days, there have been twists and turns in the history of both journals, but both have survived, remaining loyal to their founders’ principles of free speech and inquiry, fearless outspokenness, adherence to secularist principles, and religious scepticism.

Today, The Truth Seeker is published three times yearly with the financial support of the James Hervey Johnson Charitable Educational Trust. The magazine is professionally designed and printed in full colour with 58 A4 pages on high-quality paper. Since September 2014, it has been edited by Rod Bradford, a longtime historian of the freethought movement (his work includes a fine biography of Bennett, D.M. Bennett: The Truth Seeker). He also collaborated with the late editor of Free Inquiry, Tom Flynn, in producing a four-part YouTube documentary series entitled American Freethought.

I always look forward to receiving The Truth Seeker and especially enjoyed the last two issues. Last September, there was much to interest the British reader. It contained articles on Charles Bradlaugh, Annie Besant, and Mary Wollstonecraft. A copy of an early NSS membership certificate and a recently colourised photographic portrait of Charles Bradlaugh may catch the reader’s eye. Somehow, colourisation helps me feel the presence of individuals more strongly.

The current (January) issue needs no further introduction. I simply direct readers to The Truth Seeker website, where they will find a superbly produced introductory video, plus much more: https://thetruthseeker.net/.

In addition to contemporary secularist content, Rod Bradford enjoys republishing articles from the magazine’s archive when they are relevant to current events. A particular delight is the republication of Heston Watson’s brilliant and numerous nineteenth-century cartoons, occasionally given new titles by the editor, thereby indicating their continuing relevance.

The Truth Seeker is nothing less than a feast for anyone with an interest in radical freethought history and the close kinship between English-speaking freethinkers on both sides of the Atlantic. As we approach the 250^th anniversary of the founding of the American Republic, and as religious authoritarianism seems to be on the rise once more throughout the world, it is as imperative as it ever was to appreciate the internationalist history of freethought—and for like-minded publications and organisations to work together. This The Truth Seeker and the Freethinker strive to do.

Subscription to The Truth Seeker outside the US is $55, including postage. Payment should be made through PayPal to rodbradford@gmail.com. More information on subscriptions here.