Page:A biographical dictionary of modern rationalists.djvu/474

 WATTS

In 1864 he joined his brother John in the printing business, and became sub-editor of the National Reformer ; a post which he retained when the journal passed, on the death of John Watts, to Bradlaugh, with whom he remained for many years on terms of close intimacy. In 1877, following an unfortunate estrangement, he resigned his position on the journal, and shortly afterwards acquired the Secular Review from G. J. Holyoake. He edited the paper for some years, at first without assistance, then with G. W. Foote, and finally with W. Stewart Boss (&quot; Saladin &quot;), who ultimately became sole editor and proprietor. In 1886 Mr. Watts accepted a Rationalist pastorate in Toronto, where he founded Secular Thought and conducted a vigorous Freethought propaganda for several years. In 1891 he returned to England, and shortly after again became a colleague of Mr. Foote and a regular contributor to the Freethinker. In his closing years he was a lecturer for the R. P. A., under whose auspices he delivered addresses in all parts of the country. He excelled as a debater, and his opponents included nearly every leading Christian representative who was willing to defend his religion on the public platform. Mr. Watts was responsible for one volume of The Freethinker s Text-Book, and was also author of The Meaning of Rationalism and numerous brochures expository of the teachings of Secularism. D. Feb. 16, 1906.

WATTS, Charles Albert, son of pre ceding, publisher. B. May 27, 1858. Ed. national schools and night schools. Mr. Watts began work as a printer s devil before he was twelve, and at thirteen he was apprenticed to Austin Holyoake (Bradlaugh s publisher, at 17 Johnson s Court) as a letterpress printer. Austin Holyoake dying in 1876, the business passed to Mr. Watts s father [preceding paragraph], and in 1882 the son succeeded thereto. In 1885 he issued the first number of the Literary Guide, which he

875

has edited since its inception. He is also editor of the R.P.A. Annual (formerly the Agnostic Annual}. In 1890, in con junction with a few friends, he founded the Rationalist Press Committee, which afterwards became the Rationalist Press Association. Mr. Watts is Vice-Chairman of the Association and publisher for it ~ r and the remarkable progress that it has made since 1899 rising from a member ship of 65 to 2,694 is overwhelmingly due to his energy and business ability. It was at his initiative that the Association took up the cheap publication of Ration alist classics, of which it has distributed several millions in the course of a few years. In his printing and publishing business, which has carried heretical pub lishing far beyond any previous record, he now has efficient partners in his son Frederick and his daughter Gladys, who have been specially trained for the work.

WATTS, George Frederick, R.A., O.M., D.C.L., LL.D., painter. B. Feb. 23, 1817. His father was poor, and Watts had little general education, but he worked his way up until he was enabled to attend the Royal Academy Schools. His progress- was rapid, for he exhibited three pictures at the Royal Academy in 1837. In the early forties he attained great distinction in fresco-work, but after 1847 he chiefly confined himself to oils, and was very much sought as a portrait painter. His- later years were largely occupied with efforts to convey humanitarian ethical lessons in the symbolical paintings which are still familiar. As one would gather from the nature of these pictures, Watts- did not seek inspiration in Christianity. Mrs. Russell Barrington, who knew him well, discusses his views on religion, some what reluctantly, in her G.F. Watts (1905, pp. 150-59). She says : &quot; No formalities of any Church appealed personally to Watts s feelings, but he often expressed his conviction of the absolute necessity of some form of religion for the masses.&quot; He disliked aggression, and thought Agnostic.

876