204 HAMPSHIRE DAYS 



ties its ancient monuments broken up and carted 

 away, its brasses made into fire ornaments by cottagers 

 or sold as old metal, and the very gravestones used in 

 paving the scullery and offices of the grand new par- 

 sonage built to match the grand new church. 



When coming upon one of these "necessary in- 

 gredients in an elegant landscape" in some rural spot 

 I have sometimes wondered what the feeling of the 

 people who have spent their lives there can be about 

 it. What effect has the new vast building, with its 

 highly decorated yet cold and vacant interior, on 

 their dim minds on their religion, let us say? It 

 may be a poor unspiritual sort of religion, based on 

 old traditions and associations, mostly local ; but shall 

 we scorn it on that account? If we look a little 

 closely into the matter, we see that all men, even 

 the most intellectual, the most spiritual, are subject 

 to this feeling in some degree, that it is in all re- 

 ligions. That which from use, from association, be- 

 comes symbolic of faith is in itself sacred. At the 

 present time the Church is torn with dissensions 

 because of this very question. Certain bodily posi- 

 tions and signs and gestures, and woven fabrics and 

 garments of many patterns and colours, and wood 

 and stone and metal objects, and lighted candles and 

 perfumes mere hay and stubble to others who have 

 different symbols are things essential to worship in 

 some. Touch these things and you hurt their souls; 

 you deprive them of their means of communication 



