A Short History of Freethought Ancient and Modern, Volume 2 of 2 by J. M. Robertson

essayists of the last generation of the century was Richard Jefferies (d. 1887), who in The Story of My Heart (1883) has told how "the last traces and relics of superstitions acquired compulsorily in childhood" finally passed away from his mind, leaving him a Naturalist in every sense of the word. In the Eulogy of Richard Jefferies published by Sir Walter Besant in 1888 it is asserted that on his deathbed Jefferies returned to his faith, and "died listening with faith and love to the words contained in the Old Book." A popular account of this "conversion" accordingly became current, and was employed to the usual purpose. As has been shown by a careful student, and as was admitted on inquiry by Sir Walter Besant, there had been no conversion whatever, Jefferies having simply listened to his wife's reading without hinting at any change in his convictions. [1863] Despite his biographer's express admission of his error, Christian journals, such as the Spectator, have burked the facts; one, the Christian, has piously charged dishonesty on the writer who brought them to light; and a third, the Salvationist War Cry, has pronounced his action "the basest form of chicanery and falsehood." [1864] The episode is worth noting as indicating the qualities which still attach to orthodox propaganda.