The Rationalist Society recognized in 1950. Its declared aims were:
"a) To promote free inquiry in opposition to bigotry and dogma, whether political, religious,scholastic or racial.
b) To show how logical, independent and unattached criticism is indispensable in all spheres ofhuman activity.
c) To provide a platform for speakers contributing to the above aims."
It had originally been intended to call the Society "Manchester University Secular Society", butthis was rejected by the Vice-Chancellor on the grounds that the Society was not actually promotingsecularism.