252 STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL chap. 



while their means of obtaining accurate information would 

 be much greater than that of any visiting inspector, who 

 can seldom detect abuses which can be temporarily 

 concealed, or which only occasionally become prominent. 



These are some of the incidental advantages (and many 

 others might be adduced) that would follow the establish- 

 ment throughout the country of such a body of men as 

 has been indicated ; but I lay no stress upon these as 

 arguments for the proposed change, compared with the 

 direct and unparalleled advantage of establishing a truly 

 National Church, in which every Englishman, whatever 

 be his religious opinions, shall have an equal share ; and 

 of abolishing for ever, so far as it is possible to do so, all 

 causes of religious animosity. I would also claim a 

 favourable consideration for this proposal, because it is a 

 settlement of the question that would adapt itself to any 

 possible future change in the religious beliefs of the 

 community, and would therefore be permanent. Whether 

 sects increased or diminished in number, and whether 

 religion or secularism should ultimately prevail, an 

 institution that should provide for the teaching of the best 

 morality of the age to those most in need of such teaching, 

 and that should aid in producing harmony and good-will 

 among all classes of society, would never become obsolete. 



In conclusion, I would most earnestly press upon all 

 unprejudiced thinkers to consider the essential conditions 

 of this great problem, not my imperfect exposition of it. 

 Let them reflect that they are actually in possession of 

 an elaborate organization, and an ample property, handed 

 down to us by our forefathers, with whom it did at one 

 time fulfil many of the high functions which I wish to 

 restore to it. We have suffered it to remain in the hands 

 of a narrow religious corporation, which in no sufficient 

 degree represents either the most cultivated intelligence 

 or the highest morality of our age, and which, by its 

 dogmatic theology and resistance to progress, has become 

 out of harmony both with the best and the least educated 

 portion of the community. The question that now presses 

 upon us is, shall we suffer this grand institution and these 

 noble revenues to be irrevocably destroyed, or shall we 



