68 Contemporary Evohction. 



pothesis that it continues to follow the same course as 

 heretofore. 



It is difficult to believe but that further progress in the 

 course hitherto pursued can mean anything else than the 

 entire cessation of political support to Christianity, whether 

 in schools, the legislature, the head of the State, or the 

 formalities officially recognised as concerning the birth, 

 sexual relations, or death of citizens. Each man will 

 then be everywhere free without political penalties of any 

 kind to live, marry, carry on all social relations, die, and 

 be buried in open rejection of the Church and her agency 

 if he be so minded ; and no State recognition or favour 

 will tend to bribe individuals to simulate the acceptance 

 of a creed which in their hearts they reject. 



What, then, must be the effect on the Christian Church 

 of such a universal repudiation of the Christian theocracy? 

 Clearly, if that Church be essentially bound up with 

 society as it has existed since mediaeval times, such re- 

 pudiation must be simply fatal. 



It is not wonderful that so very many Christians view 

 with alarm and dismay the progress of this great pagan 

 movement. In the first place the Christian Church has 

 intimately connected itself with the Christian State : in 

 the liturgy of royal coronations ; in the past sanction 

 of and sympathy with aristocratic institutions ; in the 

 tradition to the secular arm ; in the Christian origin of 

 so many universities ; in the congregations devoted to 



