In 1871, Mr. Gladstone addressed a large meeting of the electors of Greenwich on Blackheath. In the course of his speech he referred to the number of reforms that had been carried out during his political career; but, he added, that whilst much remained to be done, we must not flatter ourselves that all the evils of humanity could be cured by legislation. He then quoted the first verse of the following parody, stating that he had met with it in a “questionable book.” The “questionable book” was _The Secularist’s Manual of Songs and Ceremonies_. Edited by Austin Holyoake and Charles Watts, with a Preface by Charles Bradlaugh. There was a loud outcry against Mr. Gladstone for quoting from such a source. People throughout the land, Join in one social band, And save yourselves; If you would happy be, Free from all slavery, Banish all knavery, And save yourselves. Why will you always toil, While others share the spoil? Work for yourselves! Let them who live so high Work for themselves, or try, Tell them ’tis time to try To keep themselves. Parsons and peers may preach, And endless falsehoods teach, Think for yourselves; Then let your watchword be “Justice and Liberty”―― And toil unwearedly To save yourselves. ―――― THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. (_For use in the Bradlaughable Republic._) God = X. Title of _Freethinker’s Text Book_. “X” save our graceless Chief, Reward his unbelief, “X” save our B. O’er Church victorious, And Throne, once glorious, Now sole Lord over us―― Xtol our B! SCIENCE, our “X”! arise! Xplode B.’s enemies, And squash them small! Confound their politics! Frustrate their knavish tricks, Oh “X”! these heretics Xtinguish all! Thy Xcellent gifts in store. Great “X”! be pleased to pour, On sacred B.! May he repeal the laws Which make our conscience pause, (Oaths merely move our jaws) And win loud lip-applause. “X”! (_pelled_) M.P. From _Blasts from Bradlaugh’s own Trumpet_, London: Houlston & Sons. About 1884. ―――― “A clergyman――decidedly of the Church militant――sends us the following proposed ‘national anathema.’ His motto is from the ‘Magnificat’”:―― DEPOSUIT POTENTES DE SEDE. Down with their lofty seats, Down with their vain conceits, Down with the Lords! Confound their false pretence, Confound their want of sense, Confound their impudence, Down with the Lords!