186 PROBLEMS OF VILLAGE LIFE 



a resident minister in every considerable 

 village, and, finally, the comparative failure 

 of the pastoral functions of its ministers. 

 For various reasons, good and bad, the Non- 

 conformist minister does not " visit " the 

 parishioners to the same extent as a vicar, who 

 in virtue of his established position can in 

 some cases demand and secure an entrSe to 

 the homes of Churchmen and Dissenters alike. 

 To what extent does the influence of religion 

 guide the rustic moralist in life or cheer him 

 in the hour of death ? Such questions are 

 hard to answer, but organized religion has 

 failed so signally to support the toiling labourer 

 in his struggles for betterment that the more 

 positive and definite teachings of the Churches 

 have lost the greater part of their efficacy in 

 moulding the conduct of the English villagers. 

 When a labourer complained that he had not 

 been treated with " common Christianity," 

 " Christianity ! " said the farmer, " what has 

 that to do with it ? If you want Christianity 

 there's the Church for you." The general 

 acceptance of the doctrine of contentment 

 and due subserviency to his " betters " has 

 disappeared with the dame-school and the 

 smock frock. The poverty and discomfort of 

 the villages, to a large extent preventable, can 

 no longer find their compensation in " blank 



