EVOLUTION OF MODERN SOCIETY. 511 



left practically to their own discretion and resources, worked for tbeir 

 own advantage. The rights of her people were one by one invaded. 

 Taxes were levied, growing heavier as the luxury and vice of those 

 in authority grew greater. At last all unity was lost, and the last 

 scene of the last act came, liome tried to rise to the occasion, but her 

 strength had left her. Barbaric hordes poured in upon her from every 

 side and ingulfed her. "On the ruins of the splendid temi)le now 

 stood the hut of the savage, and in place of the polished and once noble 

 Roman now stalked the Ostrogoth, the A'isigoth, and the Saxon." 



In the fusion of the Roman and Teutonic elements the feudal system 

 was born. The Roman Empire on its death bequeathed a precious legacy 

 to the world — a mighty intellectual influence, a noble literature, and a 

 system of law which changed the destiny of society. It is said that 

 many people do more by their death than by their life. The reason is 

 obvious. So it is with institutions and societies. Had Rome lived, 

 her rapid degeneracy would have polluted the world to all time. But 

 she died in time for her past greatness to be remembered and exalted 

 and for her shame to be forgotten. 



After this the wave of progress swept over France and Germany and 

 across the English Channel, till it found a barrier and a basin in the 

 British Islands. In its course it left the places over which it swept 

 damp and dreary, but with a freshly moistened soil fitted to produce 

 great croi)S. 



From the eleventh to the seventeenth centuries Britain is spoken of, 

 and truly, as "the keystone of history" and the battlefield of freedom; 

 and, to quote from an anonymous writer of vivid style, "the march of 

 religion, of liberty, and of improvement was - - - over the soil of 

 Britain." 



The second great landmark in our course is the ISTorman ( 'OU(iuest; 

 <jhiefly significant in its fusion of the elements which formed the char-, 

 acter of a nation second to none in })o\ver and wealth and influence at 

 any period of the world's history. This is no mere boast. The impar- 

 tial observer can not fail to acknowledge the peculiar characteristics, 

 partly due to circumstances, partly to environment, and largely to 

 nature, which have enabled the British to win and hold an empire in 

 comparison to which that of Rome almost sinks into insignificance. 

 There was among the legacies bequeathed by Rome to the world one 

 destined to have a greater influence upon its fortunes than all the 

 others combined. This was Christianity, or the Church. 



It is understood, of course, that, speaking generally, all these i)ro- 

 gressive influences worked through one great factor — knowledge. The 

 progress of this agency was slow but sure. After the fall of Rome it 

 was opposed by a vast wall of ignorance and barbarism, and for cen- 

 turies was at work unseen. It attacked the foundations of the barrier, 

 working silently, gradually making a passage, ever enlarging the same, 

 and as the passage got wider the stream grew fuller and stronger, till 



