How Bradlaugh Said Grace

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 28 August 1914, Page 8

How Bradlaugh Said Grace

An interesting reminiscence of the late Mr. Charles Bradlaugh has just been given, by W. Percival Westell, the naturalist, which shows that the great "atheist" was perhaps not so irreligious as his opponents acclaimed him to be. Bradlaugh, says Westell, was my father's guest, and he had come down .to speak at a big political meeting. When we all met at the dinner-table in the evening, my mother hardly knew what to do with regard to asking me, as the eldest child, "to say "Grace." Mr. Bradlaugh, keeneyed as a hawk, took in the situation at a glance, and at once said, "May I ask a blessing ?■"' An answer in the affirmative was immediately forthcoming, whereupon, with handr, clasped, head bowed, and eyes closed, our guest uttered these precious words, "For what we are about to receive may we hay« truly thankful hearts."