Stormier and stormier becomes the social outlook, and they at least are not the worst enemies of Society who seek to find some way through the breakers by which the ship of the Commonwealth may pass into quiet waters." Some amusement turned up in the shape of a Charing Cross Parliament, in which we debated with much vigour the "burning questions" of the day.

We organised a compact Socialist party, defeated a Liberal Government, took the reins of office, and--after a Queen's Speech in which her Majesty addressed her loyal Commons with a plainness of speech never before (or since) heard from the throne--we brought in several Bills of a decidedly heroic character.

G.Bernard Shaw, as President of the Local Government Board, and I, as Home Secretary, came in for a good deal of criticism in connection with various drastic measures.

An International Freethought Congress, held in London, entailed fairly heavy work, and the science classes were ever with us.

Another written debate came with October, this time on the "Teachings of Christianity," making the fifth of these set discussions held by me during the year.