144 REV. PREBENDARY WACE D.D., ON ETHICS AND RELIGION. 
p) 
and phrenologically vicious by nature. Moreover, neither side 
must call in the assistance of the other to its aid. 
The vast majority of “the classes” are bound to be more or 
less moral; otherwise they would very soon lose their social 
position amongst “ the classes.’”’ They have more inward strength 
than ‘the masses,” or they could not—as a body—either rise to, 
or long remain in, a higher position than that of these ‘‘ masses.” 
Whilst I think that we have woefully departed from the 
teaching of John xvii, which, notably verse 21, seems to me to 
teach that the example of the elect, sanctified in the truth 
(verse 17), and united, was intended to be the great gospel sermon 
to the world, there can, I think, be no doubt that where the 
Christian religion has laid hold of anyone, some ethical 
improvement has been the result. Our many philanthropic 
agencies can bear witness to this amongst the naturally weak 
and immoral; and that, too, in the direction aimed at by Sir 
John Seeley, Professor Sidgwick, and Mr. Leslie Stephen. 
We should, I think, work this for all that it is worth, and 
insist on all missionaries inculcating steady ethical improvement 
on every convert, especially on his weak side. 
Better a few edified and ethically improved elect, than a vast 
mass of disorderly converts. 
It is for the Ethical Society to show us that 
religion—they have either induced a number of people to sacrifice 
themselves for the improvement of the depraved, and with 
successful results, or that, solely by their writings and speeches, 
they have produced these results. Ask them for their first-ripe 
figs, and tell them that we do not want the fine fig leaves of 
their beautiful theories.* 
21st May, 1900. 
apart from 
The Rev. R. C. Ovttron, B.D., writes :— 
In the first place I would premise that this isa most valuable 
paper, fair and convincing as regards doubters, as well as 
helpful to believers in supernatural religion. But Dr. Wace 
* T have used the word “ complete” in the sense of the development of 
every ethical quality in its proper relative proportion ; and “perfect” in 
that of the full acquirement of all these qualities, rightly balanced.—M.A. 
