Part 27

Ronge (Johannes), German religious reformer, b. Bischopwalde (Silesia), 16 Oct. 1813. He entered the seminary of Breslau, and became a Catholic priest in '40. His liberal views and bold preaching soon led to his suspension. In '44 his letter denouncing the worship of "the holy coat," exhibited by Arnoldi, Bishop of Treves, made much clamor. Excommunicated by the Church, he found many free congregations, but was proscribed after the revolution of '49 and took refuge in England. In '51 he issued a revolutionary manifesto. In '61 he returned to Frankfort, and in '73 settled at Darmstadt. Died at Vienna, 25 Oct. 1887.

Ronsard (Pierre), French poet, b. of noble family 11 Sept. 1524. He became page to the Duke of Orleans, and afterwards to James V. of Scotland. Returning to France, he was a great favorite at the French Court. Died 27 Dec. 1585.

Roorda van Eysinga (Sicco Ernst Willem), Dutch positivist, b. Batavia (Java), 8 Aug. 1825. He served as engineer at Java, and was expelled about '64 for writing on behalf of the Javanese. He contributed to the De Dageraad and Revue Positive. Died Clarens (Switzerland), 23 Oct. 1887.

Roquetaillade (Jean de la), also known as Rupescina, early French reformer of Auvillac (Auvergne), who entered the order of the Franciscans. His bold discourses led to his imprisonment at Avignon 1356, by order of Innocent VI., when he wrote an apology. Accused of Magic, Nostradamus says he was burnt at Avignon in 1362, but this has been disputed.

Rose (Charles H.), formerly of Adelaide, Australia, author of A Light to Lighten the Gentiles, 1881.

Rose (Ernestine Louise) née Süsmond Potowsky, Radical reformer and orator, b. Peterkov (Poland), 13 Jan. 1810. Her father was a Jewish Rabbi. From early life she was of a bold and inquiring disposition. At the age of 17 she went to Berlin. She was in Paris during the Revolution of '30. Soon after she came to England where she embraced the views of Robert Owen, who called her his daughter. Here she married Mr. William E. Rose, a gentleman of broad Liberal views. In May '36, they went to the United States and became citizens of the Republic. Mrs. Rose lectured in all the states on the social system, the formation of character, priestcraft, etc. She lectured against slavery in the slave-owning states and sent in '38 the first petition to give married women the right to hold real estate. She was one of the inaugurators of the Woman's Rights Movement, and a constant champion of Freethought. An eloquent speaker, some of her addresses have been published. Defence of Atheism, Women's Rights and Speech at the Hartford Bible Convention in '54. About '73 she returned to England where she still lives. One of her last appearances at public was at the Conference of Liberal Thinkers at South Place Chapel in '76, where she delivered a pointed speech. Mrs. Rose has a fine face and head, and though aged and suffering, retains the utmost interest in the Freethought cause.

Roskoff (Georg Gustav), German rationalist, b. Presburg, Hungary, 30 Aug. 1814. He studied theology and philosophy at Halle, and has written works on Hebrew Antiquity, '57. The Samson legend and Herakles myth, '60, and a standard History of the Devil in 2 vols., Leipzig, '69.

Ross (William Stewart), Scotch writer, b. 20 Mar. 1844. Author of poems and educational works, and editor of Secular Review, now The Agnostic Journal. Wrote God and his Book, '87, and several brochures published under the pen name of "Saladin."

Rosseau (Leon), French writer in the Rationalist of Geneva under the name of L. Russelli. He published separately the Female Followers of Jesus, founded the Horizon, contributed to la Libre Pensée, and was editor of l'Athée. Died 1870.

Rossetti (Dante Gabriel), poet and painter, b. of Italian parents, London, 12 May, 1828. Educated at King's College, he became a student at the Royal Academy and joined the pre-Raphaelites. As a poet artist he exhibited the richest gifts of originality, earnestness, and splendour of expression. Died at Westgate on Sea, 9 April, 1882.

Rossetti (William Michael) critic and man of letters, brother of the preceding, b. London, 25 Sep. 1829. Educated at King's College, he became assistant secretary in the Inland Revenue Office. He has acted as critic for many papers and edited many works, the chief being an edition of Shelley, '70, with a memoir and numerous notes. He is Chairman of the Committee of the Shelley Society.

Rossmaessler (Emil Adolf), German naturalist b. Leipsic 3 March, 1806. Studied theology, but abandoned it for science, and wrote many scientific works of repute. In '48 he was elected to Parliament. Among his writings are Man in the Mirror of Nature. '49-55. The History of the Earth, '68. Died as a philosopher 8 April, 1867.

Roth (Julius), Dr., German author of Religion and Priestcraft, Leipzig, 1869; Jesuitism, '71.

Rothenbuecher (Adolph), Dr., German author of an able little Handbook of Morals, written from the Secular standpoint, Cottbus, 1884.

Rotteck (Karl Wenceslaus von), German historian and statesman b. Freiburg 18 July, 1775. Studied in his native town, where in 1798 be became Professor of History. In 1819 he represented his University in the States of Baden, where he distinguished himself by his liberal views. He was forbidden by government to edit any paper and was deprived of his chair. This persecution hastened his death, which occurred 26 Nov 1840. Rotteck's General History of the World (9 vols., 1827) was very popular and gave one of the broadest views of history which had then appeared.

Rousseau (Jean Jacques), Swiss philosopher, b. Geneva, 28 June, 1712. After a varied career he went to Paris in 1741 and supported himself. In 1751 he obtained a prize from the academy of Dijon for negative answer to the question "whether the re-establishment of the arts and sciences has conduced to the purity of morals." This success prompted further literary efforts. He published a dictionary of music, the New Heloise (1759), a love story in the form of letters, which had great success, and Emilius (May 1762), a moral romance, in which he condemns other education than that of following nature. In this work occurs his Confession of Faith of a Savoyard Vicar, discarding the supernatural element in Christianity. The French parliament condemned the book 9 June, 1762, and prosecuted the writer, who fled to Switzerland. Pope Clement XVIII fulminated against Emile, and Rousseau received so many insults on account of his principles that he returned to Paris and on the invitation of Hume came to England in Jan. 1766. He knew little English and soon took offence with Hume, and asked permission to return to Paris, which he obtained on condition of never publishing anything more. He however completed his Confessions, of which he had previously composed the first six books in England. Rousseau was a sincere sentimentalist, an independent and eloquent, but not deep thinker. His captious temper spoiled his own life, but his influence has been profound and far-reaching. Died near Paris, 2 July, 1778.

Rouzade (Leonie) Madame, French Freethought lecturess. Has written several brochures and novels, notably Le Monde Renversé, 1872, and Ci et ca, ca et la, ideas upon moral philosophy and social progress. Writes in Malon's Revue Socialiste, and is one of the editors of Les Droits des Femmes.

Roy (Joseph), French translator of Feuerbach's Essence of Christianity, 1864, and Religion, Death, Immortality, '66. Has also translated Marx's Capital.

Royer (Clemence Auguste), French authoress, b. Nantes, 24 April, 1830, of Catholic royalist family. Visiting England in '54, she studied our language and literature. Going to Switzerland, in '59 she opened at Lausanne a course of logic and philosophy for women. In '60 she shared with Proudhon in a prize competition on the subject of taxation. In '62 she translated Darwin's Origin of Species, with a bold preface and notes. In '64 her philosophical romance The Twins of Hellas appeared at Brussels, and was interdicted in France. Her ablest work is on The Origin of Man and of Societies, '69. In this she states the scientific view of human evolution, and challenges the Christian creed. This was followed by many memoirs, Pre-historic Funeral Rites, '76; Two Hypotheses of Heredity, '77; The Good and the Moral Law, '81. Mdlle. Royer has contributed to the Revue Moderne, Revue de Philosophie, Positive, Revue d'Anthropologie, etc., and has assisted and spoken at many political, social, and scientific meetings.

Rüdt (P. A.), Ph. D., German lecturer and "apostle of unbelief," b. Mannheim, 8 Dec. 1844. Educated at Mannheim and Carlsruhe, he studied philosophy, philology, and jurisprudence at Heidelberg University, '65-69. Dr. Rüdt became acquainted with Lassalle, and started a paper, Die Waffe, and in '70 was imprisoned for participation in social democratic agitation. From '74 to '86 he lived in St. Petersburg as teacher, and has since devoted himself to Freethought propaganda. Several of his addresses have been published.

Ruelle (Charles Claude), French writer, b. Savigny, 1810. Author of The History of Christianity, '66, and La Schmita, '69.

Ruge (Arnold), German reformer, b. Bergen (Isle Rügen), 13 Sept. 1802. Studied at Halle, Jena, and Heidelberg, and as a member of the Tugenbund was imprisoned for six years. After his liberation in '30 he became professor at Halle, and with Echtermeyer founded the Hallische Jahrbücher, '38, which opposed Church and State. In '48 he started Die Reform. Elected to the Frankfort Assembly, he sat on the Extreme Left. When compelled to fly he came to England, where he wrote New Germany in "Cabinet of Reason" series, and translated Buckle's History of Civilisation. He acted as visiting tutor at Brighton, where he died 30 Dec. 1880.

Ruggieri (Cosmo), Florentine philosopher and astrologer, patronised by Catherine de Medicis. He began to publish Almanachs in 1604, which he issued annually. He died at Paris in 1615, declaring himself an Atheist, and his corpse was in consequence denied Christian burial.

Rumpf (Johann Wilhelm), Swiss author of Church, Faith, and Progress, and The Bible and Christ, a criticism (Strasburg, 1858). Edited Das Freire Wort (Basle, '56).

Russell (John). See Amberley.

Ryall (Malthus Questell), was secretary of the Anti-Persecution Union, 1842, and assisted his friend Mr. Holyoake on The Oracle of Reason and The Movement. Died 1846.

Rydberg (Abraham Viktor), Swedish man of Letters, b. Jönköping, 18 Dec. 1829. He has written many works of which we mention The Last Athenian Roman Days, and The Magic of the Middle Ages, which have been translated into English.

Rystwick (Herman van), early Dutch heretic who denied hell and taught that the soul was not immortal, but the elements of all matter eternal. He was sent to prison in 1499, and set at liberty upon abjuring his opinion, but having published them a second time, he was arrested at the Hague, and burnt to death in 1511.

Sabin (Ibn), Al Mursi, Spanish Arabian philosopher, b. Murcia about 1218 of noble family. About 1249 he corresponded with Frederick II., replying to his philosophical questions. Committed suicide about 1271.

Sadoc, a learned Jewish doctor in the third century B.C. He denied the resurrection, the existence of angels, and the doctrine of predestination, and opposed the idea of future rewards and punishments. His followers were named after him, Sadducees.

Saga (Francesco) de Rovigo, Italian heretic, put to death for Anti-Trinitarianism at Venice, 25 Feb. 1566.

Saigey (Emile), French inspector of telegraph wires. Wrote Modern Physics, 1867, and The Sciences in the Eighteenth Century: Physics of Voltaire, '74. Died 1875.

Saillard (F.), French author of The Revolution and the Church (Paris, '69), and The Organisation of the Republic, '83.

Sainte Beuve (Charles Augustin), French critic and man of letters b. Boulogne, 23 Dec. 1804. Educated in Paris, he studied medicine, which he practised several years. A favorable review of V. Hugo's Odes and Ballades gained him the intimacy of the Romantic school. As a critic he made his mark in '28 with his Historical and Critical Picture of French Poetry in the Sixteenth Century. His other principal works are his History of Port Royal, '40-62; Literary Portraits, '32-39; and Causeries du Lundi, '51-57. In '45 he was elected to the Academy, and in '65 was made a senator. As a critic he was penetrative, comprehensive, and impartial.

Saint Evremond (Charles de Marguetel de Saint Denis) seigneur de, French man of letters, b. St. Denys-le-Guast (Normandy), 1 April, 1713. He studied law, but subsequently entered the army and became major-general. He was confined in the Bastile for satirising Cardinal Mazarin. In England he was well received at the court of Charles II. He died in London, 20 Sept. 1703, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Asked on his death-bed if he wished to reconcile himself to God, he replied, he desired to reconcile himself to appetite. His works, consisting of essays, letters, poems, and dramas, were published in 3 vols. 1705.

Saint-Glain (Dominique de), French Spinozist, b. Limoges, about 1620. He went into Holland that he might profess the Protestant religion more freely; was captain in the service of the States, and assisted on the Rotterdam Gazette. Reading Spinoza, he espoused his system, and translated the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus into French, under the title of La Clef du Sanctuaire, 1678. This making much noise, and being in danger of prosecution, he changed the title to Ceremonies Superstitieuses des Juifs, and also to Reflexions Curieuses d'un Esprit Desintéressé, 1678.

Saint-Hyacinthe (Themiseul de Cordonnier de), French writer, b. Orleans, 24 Sept. 1684. Author of Philosophical Researches, published at Rotterdam, 1743. Died near Breda (Holland), 1746. Voltaire published his Diner Du Comte de Boulainvilliers under the name of St. Hyacinthe.

Saint John (Henry). See Bolingbroke, Lord.

Saint Lambert (Charles, or rather Jean François de), French writer, b. Nancy, 16 Dec. 1717. After being educated among the Jesuits he entered the army, and was admired for his wit and gallantry. He became a devoted adherent of Voltaire and an admirer of Madame du Chatelet. He wrote some articles in the Encyclopédie, and many fugitive pieces and poems in the literary journals. His poem, the Seasons, 1769 procured him admission to the Academy. He published essays on Helvetius and Bolingbroke, and Le Catéchisme Universel. His Philosophical Works were published in 1801. Died Paris, 9 Feb. 1803.

Sale (George), English Oriental scholar, b. Kent, 1680, educated at Canterbury. He was one of a society which undertook to publish a Universal History, and was also one of the compilers of the General Dictionary. His most important work was a translation of the Koran, with a preliminary discourse and explanatory notes, 1734. He was one of the founders of the Society for the Encouragement of Learning. Died 14 Nov. 1736.

Salieres (A.), contributor to l'Athée, 1870. Has written a work on Patriotism, 1881.

Sallet (Friedrich von), German pantheist poet of French descent, b. Neisse (Silesia), 20 April, 1812. An officer in the army, he was imprisoned for writing a satire on the life of a trooper. In '34 he attended Hegel's lectures at Berlin, and in '38 quitted the army. He wrote a curious long poem entitled the Layman's Gospel, in which he takes New Testament texts and expounds them pantheistically--the God who is made flesh is replaced by the man who becomes God. Died Reichau (Silesia), 21 Feb. 1843.

Salmeron y Alonso (Nicolas), Spanish statesman, b. Alhama lo Seco, 1838. Studied law, and became a Democratic journalist; a deputy to the Cortes in 1871, and became President thereof during the Republic of '73. He wrote a prologue to the work of Giner on Philosophy and Arts, '78, and his own works were issued in 1881.

Salt (Henry Stephens), English writer, b. India, 20 Sept. 1851; educated at Eton, where he became assistant master. A contributor to Progress, he has written Literary Sketches, '88. A monograph on Shelley, and a Life of James Thomson, "B.V.", 1889.

Saltus (Edgar Evertson), American author, b. New York 8 June 1858. Studied at Concord, Paris, Heidelberg and Munich. In '84 he published a sketch of Balzac. Next year appeared The Philosophy of Disenchantment, appreciative and well written views of Schopenhauer and Hartmann. This was followed by The Anatomy of Negation, a sketchy account of some atheists and sceptics from Kapila to Leconte de Lisle, '86. Has also written several novels, and Eden, an episode, '89. His brother Francis is the author of Honey and Gall, a book of poems (Philadelphia, '73.)

Salverte (Anne Joseph Eusèbe Baconniere de), French philosopher, b. Paris, 18 July, 1771. He studied among the Oratorians. Wrote Epistle to a Reasonable Woman, an Essay on What should be Believed, 1793, contributed to Maréchal's Dictionnaire des Athées, published an eloge on Diderot, 1801, and many brochures, among others a tragedy on the Death of Jesus Christ. Elected deputy in '28, he was one of the warm partisans of liberty, and in '30, demanded that Catholicism should not be recognised as the state religion. He is chiefly remembered by his work on The Occult Sciences, '29, which was translated into English, '46. To the French edition of '56 Littré wrote a Preface. He died 27 Oct. 1839. On his death bed he refused religious offices.

Sand (George), the pen name of Amandine Lucile Aurore Dupin, afterwards baroness Dudnevant, French novelist, b. Paris, 1 July, 1804, and brought up by her grandmother at the Château de Nohant. Reading Rousseau and the philosophers divorced her from Catholicism. She remained a Humanitarian. Married Sept. 1822, Baron Dudnevant, an elderly man who both neglected and ill-treated her, and from whom after some years she was glad to separate at the sacrifice of her whole fortune. Her novels are too many to enumerate. The Revolution of '48 drew her into politics, and she started a journal and translated Mazzini's Republic and Royalty in Italy, Died at her Chateau of Nohant, 8 June, 1876. Her name was long obnoxious in England, where she was thought of as an assailant of marriage and religion, but a better appreciation of her work and genius is making way.

Sarcey (Franscique), French critic, b. Dourdan, 8 Oct. 1828, editor of Le XIXe. Siècle, has written plays, novels, and many anti-clerical articles.

"Sarrasi," pseudonym of A. de C....; French Orientalist b. Department of Tarn, 1837, author of L'Orient Devoilé, '80, in which he shows the mythical elements in Christianity.

Saull (William Devonshire), English geologist, b. 1783. He established a free geological museum, contributed to the erection of the John Street Institute, and was principally instrumental in opening the old Hall of Science, City Road. He wrote on the connection between astronomy, geology, etc. He died 26 April, 1855, and is buried in Kensal Green, near his friends, Allen Davenport and Henry Hetherington.

Saunderson (Nicholas), English mathematician b. Thurleston (Yorkshire), 2 Jan. 1682. He lost both his eyes and his sight by small pox when but a year old, yet he became conversant with Euclid, Archimedes, and Diophantus, when read to him in Greek. He lectured at Cambridge University, explaining Newton's Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, and even his works on light and color. It was said, "They have turned out Whiston for believing in but one God, and put in Saunderson, who believes in no God at all." Saunderson said that to believe in God he must first touch him. Died 19 April, 1739.

Sauvestre (Charles), French journalist, b. Mans. 1818, one of the editors of L'Opinion Nationale. Has written on The Clergy and Education ('61), Monita Secreta Societatis Jesu; Secret Instructions of the Jesuits ('65), On the Knees of the Church ('68), Religious Congregations Unveiled ('70), and other anti-clerical works. He died at Paris in 1883.

Saville (Sir George), Marquis of Halifax, English statesman, b. Yorkshire, 1630. He became President of the Council in the reign of James II., but was dismissed for opposing the repeal of the Test Acts. He wrote several pieces and memoirs. Burnet gives a curious account of his opinions, which he probably tones down.

Sawtelle (C. M.), American author of Reflections on the Science of Ignorance, or the art of teaching others what you don't know yourself, Salem, Oregon, 1868.

Sbarbaro (Pietro), Italian publicist and reformer, b. Savona, 1838; studied jurisprudence. He published a work on The Philosophy of Research, '66. In '70 he dedicated to Mauro Macchi a book on The Task of the Nineteenth Century, and presided at a congress of Freethinkers held at Loreto. Has written popular works on the Conditions of Human Progress, the Ideal of Democracy, and an essay entitled From Socino to Mazzini, '86.

Schade (Georg), German Deist, b. Apenrade, 1712. He believed in the immortality of brutes. In 1770 he was imprisoned for his opinions on the Isle of Christiansoe. He settled at Kiel, Holstein, in 1775, where he died in 1795.

Scherer (Edmond), French critic and publicist, b. Paris 8 April, 1815. Of Protestant family, he became professor of exegesis at Geneva, but his views becoming too free, he resigned his chair and went to Strasburg, where he became chief of the School of Liberal Protestants, and in the Revue de Théologie et de Philosophie Chrétienne, '50-60, put forward views which drew down a tempest from the orthodox. He also wrote in the Bibliotheque Universelle and Revue des Deux-Mondes. Some of his articles have been collected as Mélanges de Critique Religieuse, '60; and Mélanges d'Histoire Religieuse, '64. He was elected deputy in '71, and sat with the Republicans of the Left. Died 1889.

Scherr (Johannes), German author, b. Hohenrechberg, 3 Oct. 1817. Educated at Zürich and Tübingen, he wrote in '43 with his brother Thomas a Popular History of Religious and Philosophical Ideas, and in '57 a History of Religion, in three parts. In '60 he became Professor of History and Literature at Zürich, and has written many able literary studies, including histories of German and English literature. Died at Zürich, 21 Nov. 1887.

Schiff (Johan Moriz), German physiologist, b. Frankfort, 1823. Educated at Berlin and Gottingen, he became Professor of Comparative Anatomy at Berne, '54-63; of Physiology at Florence, '63-76, and at Genoa. Has written many physiological treatises, which have been attacked as materialistic.

Schiller (Johann Christoph Friedrich von), eminent German poet and historian, b. Marbech, 10 Nov. 1759. His mother wished him to become a minister, but his tastes led him in a different direction. A friend of Goethe, he enriched German literature with numerous plays and poems, a History of the Netherlands Revolt, and of the Thirty Years' War. He died in the prime of mental life at Weimar, 9 May, 1805.

Schmidt (Eduard Oskar), German zoologist, b. Torgau, 21 Feb. 1823. He travelled widely, and became professor of natural history at Jena. Among the first of Germans to accept Darwinism, he has illustrated its application in many directions, and published an able work on The Doctrine of Descent and Darwinism in the "International Scientific Series." Died at Strasburg, 17 Jan. 1886.

Schmidt (Kaspar), German philosopher, b. Bayreuth, 25 Oct. 1806. Studied at Berlin, Erlangen, and Königsberg, first theology, then philosophy. Under the pseudonym of "Max Stirner" he wrote a system of individualism The Only One, and His Possession (Der Einzige und sein Eigenthum), '45. He also wrote a History of Reaction in two parts (Berlin, '52), and translated Smith's Wealth of Nations and Say's Text-book of Political Economy. Died at Berlin, 25 June, 1856.