Contemporary Evolution. 



dread of the re-establishment of mediaevalism. How it 

 lives in England and Ireland we see. 



Again : the fact that complete civic freedom favours 

 the Church's growth may be gathered from those who 

 clamour for a retention of the last remnants of the old 

 theocratic system as barriers to " ultramontanism." It is 

 on this very ground that the separation between Church 

 and State in Bavaria and South Germany is opposed by 

 " Liberal Catholics," and that such a union is sought by 

 Dr. Reinkens, while M. Loyson has proclaimed it an honour 

 to Christianity to obtain State recognition and support. 

 Even in England the disestablishment of the Anglican 

 Church is opposed by those who dread the growth of 

 definite " dogma " and " ecclesiastical tyranny," and 

 clamour for "spiritual freedom," as understood by Dean 

 Stanley and his school. 



It seems, tljen, that the completion of the great modern 

 anti-theocratic movement (if developed in the direction, 

 not of a State-supported paganism, but in that of civicism 

 that system of mutual respect and individual freedom 

 which expedience and natural morality agree to justify), 

 by no means necessarily implies a weakening, still less a 

 destruction of the Church ; whilst facts are not wanting 

 which seem to indicate a thence resulting increase in its 

 vigour and efficiency. It is not sluggish majorities, but 

 active, concentrated, and aggressive minorities which in- 

 fluence the world's course most effectually. 



