am
the President of the National Secular Society, which is the only open
organisation of Freethinkers in England. My immediate predecessor in
this office was Charles Bradlaugh, of whom you _must_ have heard. Not to
know him would argue yourself unknown. My personality is not so famous
as his, but my office is the same, and you will now understand why I
address you on the subject of your converted murderer.

The newspaper paragraph to which I have referred is brief and
inadequate, but fuller particulars are given in your _Diocesan
Chronicle_, for a copy of which I am indebted to the kindness of
a gentleman who is technically a member of your flock. He is a
Freethinker, but I do not believe you will convert him, and still less
that you will ever "assist" at his execution.

The murderer for whom you made the gallows the gateway to heaven was
called George Mason. He was nineteen years of age. Serving in the
militia, he was liable to severe discipline. His sergeant had him
imprisoned for three days, and in revenge he shot the officer dead while
at rifle practice. It is an obvious moral, which I wonder your lordship
does not perceive, that it is dangerous to put deadly weapons in the
hands of passionate boys. Your lordship's interest in the case seems to
be entirely _professional_.

While this lad was simply a militiaman your lordship would not have
regarded him as an object of solicitude. As a convicted murderer, he
became profoundly interesting. No less than three clergymen took him
in hand: the Rev. J. L. Ladbrooke, the Rev. James Baker, and yourself.
Three to one are long odds, and it is no marvel that you conquered the
boy. Still, it is unfortunate that we have only _your_ account of the
conflict, for your profession is not famous for what I will politely
call _accuracy_. Herder remarked that "Christian veracity" deserved to
rank with "Punic faith." How many falsehoods has your Church circulated
about _great_ Freethinkers! Why should it hesitate, then, to tell
untruths about _little_ ones? A Wesleyan minister, the Rev. Hugh Price
Hughes, has published a long circumstantial story of a converted Atheist
shoemaker, which is proved to be false in all its main features. It
is far from certain, therefore, that your lordship's account of the
conversion of George Mason is true. You and your two clerical colleagues
can say what you please; your evidence cannot be tested; and _such_
evidence, especially when given by persons w