XXXVI WORK IN THE UPPER HOUSE 185 



them with adherence to the views of the Church 

 of England, and no doubt Lord Avebury's 

 example and precept did much to make that 

 harmony credible. 



He seldom spoke of his own views on religious 

 questions, or attempted a definition of his 

 position. It is rather from his acts and conduct 

 and the indirect evidence which they afford, that 

 we have to deduce them, than from any written 

 or spoken pronouncement. Without doubt he 

 accepted evolution as a part, and a very large 

 part, of the process of creation, and had perfect 

 faith in the great Creator who made choice of 

 this process by which to work out His plan. In 

 His hands, without troubling over much about 

 form or creed, he was content that man and his 

 destiny should rest, and was disposed to deprecate, 

 as futile and idle, too anxious inquiry into the 

 mode in which human destiny was to be fulfilled. 

 It is with all diffidence that this suggestion is 

 offered, as an indication of his religious opinions. 

 It rests on no statement from himself, and has 

 no more value than an inference from testimony 

 variously collected. Others, judging from much 

 the same witness, may have arrived at a con- 

 clusion very different. 



At the end of May, Sir Michael Hicks Beach 

 (now Lord St. Aldwyn) writes him a letter, which 

 explains its object fully : 



CoLN St. Aldwyns, Fairford, 

 Glo'stershire, May 30/1903. 



My dear Avebury — Some time ago you asked me 

 whether I thought it advisable that some movement 

 should be made towards forming a Unionist Free Trade 

 Association, to combat the Protectionist views which 



