Secular Rooms

I noticed this building when I was walking up Humberstone Gate so I went and had a closer look.
Built in 1881, it`s home to the Secular Society. Secularism is a principle that involves two basic propositions. The first is the strict separation of religion from the state the second is that people of different religions and beliefs are equal before the law. It basically means that religious groups don`t interfere with the state and vice versa. It seems quite a good principle when you read about it.
The building isn`t listed despite its age and stands in a slightly shabby area of the city.
There are five terracotta busts below the windows depicting Socrates, Voltaire, Thomas Paine, Robert Owen and Jesus. The shop just to the right used to be a book shop belonging to the Society and went through a few changes before becoming the sweet shop which sells a huge variety of old fashioned sweets. I did succumb and bought a quarter of Uncle Joes` Mintballs.
There`s a wonderful old pub next door, all beautiful glazed tiles..very Victorian but it`s called something tacky now like Skandals and I can`t find anything about it