Dekker

(Eduard Douwes), the greatest Dutch writer and Freethinker of this century, b. Amsterdam, 2 March, 1820. In ’39 he accompanied his father, a ship’s captain, to the Malayan Archipelago. He became officer under the Dutch government in Sumatra, Amboina, and A istant-Resident at Lebac, Java. He desired to free the Javanese from the oppre ion of their princes, but the government would not help him and he resigned and returned to Holland, ’56. The next four years he spent, in poverty, vainly seeking justice for the Javanese. In ’60 he published under the pen name of “Multatuli” Max Havelaar , a masterly indictment of the Dutch rule in India, which has been translated into German, French and English. Then follow his choice Minnebrieven (Love Letters), ’61; Vors ten school (A School for Princes), and Millioenen Studiën (Studies on Millions). His Ideën , 7 vols. ’62–79, are full of the boldest heresy. In most of his works religion is attacked, but in the Ideas faith is criticised with much more pungency and satire. He wrote “Faith is the voluntary prison-cell of reason.” He was an honorary member of the Free thought Society, De Dageraad , and contributed to its organ. During the latter years of his life he lived at Wiesbaden, where he died 19 Feb. 1887. His corpse was burned in the crematory at Gotha.