“It is principally owing to the flattering reception that my views met with at the hands of these often densely crowded audiences, that I was induced to publish the result of my investigations.”

“It must also be added that I am indebted for much of the contents to the following, amongst other, works, from which have been gathered many ideas, and much valuable information :—the works of John Stuart Mill; Charles Darwin's Descent of Man, and Origin of Species; Herbert Spencer's First Principles, and Study of Sociology; Ernst Haeekel's Pedigree of Man; Henry Buckle's History of Civilization in England; Max Mullers’ Science of Language; Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History; Graham's Creed of Science; works of Sir William Jones; William Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Theodore Parker's Theism, Atheism and the Popular Theology; Lamson's Church of the First Three Centuries; Channing's works; Clarke's Orthodoxy, its Truths and Errors; Meredith's Prophet of Nazareth; Nichol's Help to Reading the Bible; Hallam's History of Europe during the Middle Ages; Gardner's Faiths of the World; Draper's Conflict between Science and Religion; Thomas Paine's Age of Reason; The Freethinker's Text Book, by Mrs. Annie Besant and Charles Bradlaugh; Constantin Volney's Ruins of Empires; Stuart-Glennie's Isis and Osiris; Taylor's Diegesis, and Devil's Pulpit; Soury's Deity of Jesus Christ; Westcott's Bible in the Church; Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary; Mitchell's Mythology Unveiled; and Reville's Jesus and Israel.”

“In compiling the following pages I have endeavored as far as possible to record correctly all historical evidence bearing upon the subject, and to omit nothing that would be likely to throw light upon it. Owing to the heterodox nature of the work, considerable difficulty has been experienced in arranging for its publication; the result of which is that I have been under the necessity of purchasing a printing press and type, and of printing and publishing the work myself. This, I need scarcely say, has been a most laborious task, involving an expenditure of much valuable time and energy; but with the willing help of my son, William Purton Allen, who has 'set up' a large portion of the type, thus considerably facilitating my labour, the task has been successfully accomplished.”

“[The Motto] ’learn what is true in order to do what is right’ is the summing up of the whole duty of man for all who are unable to satisfy their mental hunger with the east wind of authority.”

— Thomas Huxley (c.1875), cited by Herbert Hardwicke in Evolution and Creation (title page) [2]