The ''National Reformer'' was a

secularist Secularism is the principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based on secular, naturalistic considerations. Secularism is most commonly defined as the separation of religion from civil affairs and the state, and may be broadened to a sim ...

weekly publication in 19th-century Britain (1860-1893), noted for providing a longstanding "strong, radical voice" in its time, advocating

atheism Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no d ...

. Under the editorship of

Charles Bradlaugh Charles Bradlaugh (; 26 September 1833 – 30 January 1891) was an English political activist and atheist. He founded the National Secular Society in 1866, 15 years after George Holyoake had coined the term "secularism" in 1851. In 1880, Brad ...

for the majority of its lifespan, each issue stated that "The editorial policy of the Paper is Republican, Atheistic, and Malthusian, but all opinions are freely admitted, provided only that they be expressed reasonably and in proper language."

History

The journal was established in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

in 1860, as an initiative by the Sheffield Secularists, on a prospectus describing its policy as "

Atheistic Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no d ...

in theology,

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

in politics, and

Malthusian Malthusianism is the idea that population growth is potentially exponential while the growth of the food supply or other resources is linear, which eventually reduces living standards to the point of triggering a population die off. This event, c ...

in social economy". The ''National Reformer'' was the official organ of the

National Secular Society The National Secular Society (NSS) is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of it. It was ...

, which was established by Bradlaugh in 1886. He edited (or co-edited) the journal until his death in 1890, using it to publicise NSS activities among various other subjects of interest to freethinkers. Many leading booksellers refused to stock it, so the journal primarily circulated via independent sellers, local secular societies, and direct subscriptions. In 1868 the Commissioners of the

Inland Revenue The Inland Revenue was, until April 2005, a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation t ...

acted against the ''National Reformer'' under the 1819 Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act. Bradlaugh and

John Stuart Mill John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 7 May 1873) was an English philosopher, political economist, Member of Parliament (MP) and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of classical liberalism, he contributed widely to ...

campaigned to have the Act repealed and the case was allowed to fall. The following year, the 1819 Act was repealed.

Annie Besant Annie Besant ( Wood; 1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933) was a British socialist, theosophist, freemason, women's rights activist, educationist, writer, orator, political party member and philanthropist. Regarded as a champion of human f ...

became associated with the ''National Reformer'' in 1874, for whom she wrote under the pen name "Ajax" initially. Her full name joined Bradlaugh's on the masthead in 1881, however, and she co-edited the journal with him until October 1887, when they parted ways over her support of

Socialism Socialism is a left-wing economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership. As a term, it describes the e ...

(although Besant remained a contributor for a while after this time). Bradlaugh and Besant were prosecuted in 1877 for publications advocating

birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

. The journal reported extensively on Bradlaugh's struggles to take his seat as a

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

during the 1880s, with Special Extra Numbers appearing on several occasions to publish reports of his hearings in court. Among other things, the ''National Reformer'' is also notable for publishing James 'B. V.' Thomson's long poem "The City of Dreadful Night" across several issues in 1874. After Bradlaugh's death the editorship was taken over by J. M. Robertson, with significant input from Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner. However, in 1893 the journal ceased publication.

References

{{Skeptical magazines 1860 establishments in the United Kingdom 1893 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Atheism publications Atheism in the United Kingdom Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom Defunct political magazines published in the United Kingdom Magazines established in 1860 Magazines disestablished in 1893 Mass media in Sheffield Secularism in the United Kingdom