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Annie Besant: Charles Bradlaugh
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In 1877, Annie Besant and Charles Brad laugh decided to publish The Fruits of Philosophy, Charles Knowlton `s book advocating birth control .They had to struggle against orthodox opponents. Even though the book was enormously popular, the two were charged under “obscenity” laws. They had published material that was likely “to deprave or corrupt those whose minds are open to immoral influences”. As for the children, the moment they were old enough they came back to her and remained great admirers of their mother. They even shared her views on natural and the destiny of man and joined the Theosophical Society. She worked for the children `s and women `s rights and she was the secretary of the trade union formed to help the girl `s who were working in match factories.
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After leaving her husband Annie Besant completely rejected Christianity and in 1874 joined the Secular Society. Annie soon developed a close relationship with Charles Bradlaugh, editor of the radical National Reformer and leader of the secular movement in Britain. Bradlaugh gave Annie a job working for the National Reformer and during the next few years wrote many articles on issues such as marriage and women’s rights.
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In 1877 Annie Besant and Charles Bradlaugh decided to publish The Fruits of Philosophy, Charles Knowlton's book advocating birth control. Besant and Bradlaugh were charged with publishing material that was "likely to deprave or corrupt those whose minds are open to immoral influences". In court they argued that "we think it more moral to prevent conception of children than, after they are born, to murder them by want of food, air and clothing." Besant and Bradlaugh were both found guilty of publishing an "obscene libel" and sentenced to six months in prison. At the Court of Appeal the sentence was quashed.
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In 1872, Besant attended a meeting of liberal Christians in St. George's Hall presided over by Charles Voysey. Afterwards she bought some tracts that were on sale in the ante-room, and so began to read works by Voysey and prominent Unitarians such as the American preacher William Channing. No doubt she liked what she found; after all, Voysey did not just maintain the Bible could not be a divine revelation, he ... condemned the doctrines of original sin, eternal punishment, and vicarious Atonement, as cruel and immoral. He expressed just the qualms she had felt. These liberal Christians even led her to question the divinity of Christ. She had rejected the atonement as incompatible with a moral God, and without this dogma she could see no reason for continuing to believe in Christ as the son of God.
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![[Annie Besant]](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/a/n/n/annie-besant/i/009.jpg)
Social reformer and freethinker, Annie Besant née Wood wrote many articles on issues such as marriage and women’s rights for Charles Bradlaugh's National Reformer. In 1877 she wrote a book advocating birth control, The Law of Population and later published The Link, promoting women’s rights.
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Besant, with the help of Bradlaugh, started a publishing company, and quickly gained fame for publishing a best-selling book delineating the necessity of birth-control. Even though the book was enormously popular, the two were charged under "obscenity" laws. Besant lost custody of her children, but rose to her defence. Determined to avoid jail, and regain custody, Besant learned the laws of England and became the first Britsh woman to defend herself. Although she lost custody, she won the case and received wide-spread attention. This prompted the opening of the world's first birth-control clinic one year later in the Netherlands.
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Charles Bradlaugh