History The Oracle of Reason

1 history

1.1 southwell prosecuted blasphemy
1.2 holyoake prosecuted blasphemy
1.3 paterson prosecuted blasphemy
1.4 southwell abandons oracle
1.5 movement

history

the oracle owed origins split in robert owen s universal community society. background, see wikipedia article charles southwell.

the first issue of weekly oracle published on 6 november 1841 (price: 1d), , last issue dated 2 december 1843 [1]. published 6 november 1841 8 january 1842, there gap before publication resumed 12 february 1842 2 december 1843. according royle (1974, p. 74), @ first highly successful, selling on average 4 thousand copies week.

the first editor of oracle charles southwell. george jacob holyoake took on when southwell imprisoned, , when holyoake imprisoned thomas paterson became editor. when paterson gaoled, william chilton took over.

southwell prosecuted blasphemy

the fourth issue of oracle included deliberately provocative article antisemitically entitled jew book , described bible revoltingly odious jew production... consequence, charles southwell arrested blasphemy on 27 november 1841 , imprisoned twelve months in january 1842. george jacob holyoake, owenite lecturer sheffield, defended southwell in december 1841, in lecture entitled spirit of bonner in disciples of jesus , rebuked owenite central board. nevertheless, holyoake took on editorship of oracle number 8 (dated 12 february 1842) (according royle, chilton edited number 5 but, preferring remain in background, delayed next issue after southwell s imprisonment until new editor found ), moving editorial office bristol sheffield, , changing publisher henry hetherington.

holyoake prosecuted blasphemy

holyoake s approach more moderate southwell s, advocating compromise owenite movement whereby socialism , religion separated setting separate discussion classes on theological subjects. however, on 24 may 1842, holyoake delivered lecture on home colonisation in cheltenham, during answered question audience (it asked local preacher) god s place in socialist community:

he made remarks education , said part thought people of country ought not have religion, poor, said part of no religion @ said professed religion worshippers of mammon part don t believe there such thing god said when speaking of people of country being poor – if have way place deity on half-pay government of country did subaltern officers .

holyoake arrested blasphemy on 2 june, on return visit cheltenham. released on bail on 18 june , tried on 14 august. sentenced 6 months imprisonment in gloucester gaol. george adams (who not atheist) sentenced 1 month on same day selling oracle, number 25.

in june or july 1842, editorial office moved sheffield 8 holywell street, london, , @ end of august holyoake s name disappeared front page.

in june 1842, anti-persecution union (apu) formed defend southwell , holyoake, george adams , wife harriet (arrested not prosecuted selling oracle number 4). arose lambeth socialist maltus questell ryall s initiative in organising defence fund southwell in 1842, writing holyoake support (holyoake facing own legal problems before anything). apu, aiming assert , maintain right of free discussion, , protect , defend victims of intolerance , bigotry run holywell street. ryall secretary , james watson treasurer.

thomas paterson took on editor number 37, dated 3 september 1842, assistance maltus ryall (according royle ryall oracle s business manager. died on 11 february 1846, aged 37).

paterson prosecuted blasphemy

paterson imprisoned 1 month in january 1843 displaying obscene , blasphemous literature in window of oracle office in holywell street; , fifteen months in november 1843 selling blasphemous publications in edinburgh. masthead of oracle began police gazette.

paterson had bluster of southwell not ability, , quality , circulation of oracle declined rapidly. ryall did not have holyoake s business abilities, , chilton continued behind scenes . there difficulties in distributing oracle, unstamped [2]. donation of £40 w.j. birch enabled second volume of oracle (nov. 1842–) appear.

paterson s last issue editor 3 june 1843.

southwell abandons oracle

southwell released prison in february 1843, refused resume editorship of oracle. according royle (1974, p. 87.), partly because did not want made responsible debt had accumulated under management of paterson , ryall, because had changed mind value of tone had given paper , paterson had maintained. instead, started new paper, investigator, closed in october 1843.

the movement

on closure of oracle, holyoake founded moderate movement, , anti-persecution gazette, chilton contributor. lasted until 1845.