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Red Clydeside: A history of the labour movement in Glasgow 1910-1932

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Manifesto of The Socialist Commandments, 1912

image from Red Clydeside collection

These socialist commandments were taught to children who attended socialist sunday schools, emphasising to children that socialism was the secular embodiment of Christianity.

The socialist sunday school movement arose out of the London dock strike of 1892 when food kitchens and educational classes were set up for the children of striking dockers. It was at these classes that children were taught the causes and results of poverty for working people. By 1912 there were over 200 socialist sunday schools organised throughout Britain.

In their early days they encountered much opposition from local authorities and other official bodies, as many Conservative and Liberal politicians argued that socialist sunday schools were subversive and were poisoning the minds of young people with political and anti-religious doctrines and teachings.

Source: Gallacher Memorial Library, Glasgow Caledonian University Special Collections and Archives

Glasgow Digital LibraryRED CLYDESIDEPEOPLEEVENTSGROUPSLITERATUREINDEX