The Ideal State 235 



additional force to our previous argument that such a 

 man as Stead, with his marvellous knowledge of the 

 world of men and things, should take such a spiritual 

 view. It must be remembered, enthusiast as he was, 

 that he was no dreamer : he dealt with affairs as he 

 found them, and by methods which were practicable. 

 And it is very striking and cheering to consider that 

 the man to whom we owe the two-keels-to-one 

 standard of naval supremacy should be the man who 

 cries for " the quickening of spiritual life in the political 

 atmosphere." And this it is that makes us eager to 

 know his method : " What we have now to do is to 

 energise and elevate the politics of our time by the 

 enthusiasm and the system of religious bodies. Those 

 who say that it is impossible to raise up men and 

 women ready to sacrifice all that they possess and, if need 

 be, to lay down their lives in any great cause that appeals 

 to their higher nature, should spare a little time to 

 watch the recruiting of the Salvation Army for the 

 Indian Mission field. These missionaries have to face 

 certain disease, cruel privations, and probably an early 

 death. But they shrink not." How can it be done in 

 the political atmosphere ? " By the foolishness of 

 preaching," he answers, " we must look for the revival 

 of civic faith which will save the English-speaking race 

 — an active service of men and women, who will enlist 

 in self-sacrificing labour for the young, the poor, and 

 the afflicted. In this lies our hope for doing effective 

 work for the regeneration and salvation of mankind." 

 He goes on to say that this involves a religious idea, and 

 many may consider that when religion is introduced 

 harmonious co-operation becomes impossible, but 

 he declines to believe that this will always be so, 

 for, as he quotes from a writer in the " Universal 

 Review " : "A new catholicity has dawned upon the 

 world. All religions are now recognised as essentially 



