Sara A. Underwood

“ Allow me, then, to ask you whether I, who became an Infidel after twelve years of study and practice of Christian principles; after seriously investigating the internal and external evidences of Christianity; after searching, as I have done, into the origin and principles of all religions; after making public profession of my disbelief, having so important a thing at stake as the welfare and happiness of my children—think you, sir, that ‘The Sinner’s Friend’ can over- throw the reasoning of years, or present stronger motives to my mind than those which now sway it? You cannot think so. ”

“ Beautiful in expression, quick in wit, strong in will, eloquent in speech, coherent in conviction, and of a stainless character, she was incomparable among public women. She was one of the few among the early advocates of English Socialism who saw that the combat against religion could not be confined to an attack on forms of faith—to a mere comparison of creeds—and she attached only a secondary importance to the abuses of Christianity, when she saw that the whole was an abuse of history, reason, and morality. ”

“ Woman's rights and privileges, and her proper place in the society of which she constitutes so important a part, had awakened her attention, and enlisted her sympathies, long before her religious doubts were aroused. ”