Correspondence with Charles Bradlaugh

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27 GREGG BRUNSWICK SG. ABLIN 2nd July, 1905 Dear dear I received yours containing cheque in payment of interest on debenture, for which I thank you, as I also do for the leaflets. I certainly do feel that I should like to raise my voice very loudly upon this - now very unconstitutional question. I tell you sir, the thing fairly exasperates me. But I am placed in a very paradoxical position: - an image maker by profession, and an image breaker by inclination. I shall try hard however to atter it. I might have become a "good Christian" sculptor, as you may likely judge by enclosed photo. but that, about the time I commenced my calling I had the misfortune (?) of listening to some of the most powerful expositions of Christianity which up to that I had ever heard. The expositions in question were by one, "I conoclast"; and if they shook me, the week shuffling kind of replies made to them by the then Christian champions (generally when I conoclasts' back was fairly turned on the town) sealed my fate. Since that time, although dealing almost exclusively in "Religious Articles" and with "Religious men", my experience has gradually confirmed my early conceived opinions: till at length I find my position absolutely unbearable. I have been daughter - to use a Scriptural phare - between Hell and Heaven for the last twenty five years of my life: only that I reverse the meaning of the words: - everything aspertaining to Ecclesiasticalism I regard as the former; and to be free of which. I regard as the latter. I am endeavouring in my spare time to get through another and rather larger pamphlet than I have at future get attempted, in my spare time; having a Frontispice which I have sketched for it. The task is not easy, especially to one who - I may say - never had one single day's schooling. You sir know something about up-hill fighting, but I fancy we do not all possess your physique, I am certain we do not all possess your pluck; or I for one should not be where I am at the present moment. I was very my when in Birm. upon the occasion of the conference that I could not reach your Hotel in time to avail myself of your very kind invitation; but am happy to say that I did reach the Down Hall, in complaining with my father just his own Toote rose to speak. I therefore had the privilege of listening to him, to Mrs Besant, and to yourself. This, although we could only procure a back seat afforded us great pleasure. I had not till then - save in the morning - had the pleasure of hearing either Mrs Besant or Mrs Toote speak. And it was the first time for near twenty five years that I had, had the pleasure of listening to your except upon one occasion near I think that length of time inc. when you delivered an address in the "Mechanic's Institute Dublin." The old town, The old voice and the old hall - and stranger haven't then above all this, the old theme, certainly, has certainly put more than one neil in my ecclestical coffin. Kindly forgive my tendency to gossip,…