Three Ideals. 119 



however iniquitously brought about, have been provi- 

 dentially allowed and overruled for the full development 

 of the Church in all its glory through the manifestation 

 of its action in a world of full civic freedom. 



" The pagan movement, which made its way by assert- 

 ing and proclaiming freedom, is ending in an attempt at 

 the most extreme and debasing of despotisms. 



"The Christian movement, which progressed through 

 strong assertion of authority, is ending, as it logically 

 should do from its principles, in being the great supporter 

 of individual freedom reposing upon conscience ' rights ' 

 answering to ' duties/ 



" The long process of Christian integration having, in 

 the Vatican Council, culminated in the complete organisa- 

 tion of supreme authority, the liberty of the individual 

 regains full play the restraint of conscientious fears as 

 to possible ill effects of his utterances being removed by 

 the recognition of a ready and infallible authority capable 

 of rendering his well-meant but mistaken efforts harmless. 

 Similarly, the whole hierarchical system of subordinate 

 authority, down to the private confessor, being fully estab- 

 lished, and the whole controlling agency necessary for the 

 Church's stability having been completed, a freer play may 

 be given to individual energies than for the centuries past 

 during which that agency was developing and perfecting. 

 If before, the energies and activities of Churchmen were 

 unequal to those of their opponents, this relation will 



