1 68 Spiritual Evolution of Society 



failed to defend our shores and maintain our supremacy, 

 that it is the one service in the State whose motto is 

 " efficiency ," that British lads make the finest type 

 of sailor the world can produce, that their target 

 practice with big guns is as nearly perfect as can be 

 looked for, that all other countries stand in awe of our 

 sea power, that the country demands of all Govern- 

 ments efficiency in this service, and therefore the 

 attempt to raise a panic of fear among our people is 

 unwarrantable and wrong. We ought never to cease 

 to be proud of our ships and sailors, and show our 

 appreciation as long as they may be necessary, and we 

 ought to be thankful that we have one department of 

 the State which remains efficient, and which will tend to 

 grow more so as time goes on. We have dealt with this 

 passage not because it bears on the theme of this 

 chapter, but simply to point out that all processes of 

 thought which are not guided by accuracy of observed 

 phenomena are sure to lead one away from the truth ; 

 and thus it is that Mr. Wells's further remarks on this 

 subject of " Labour Unrest " are in the same manner 

 devoid of potency or guidance in this present-day 

 difficulty in our social organisation. He goes on : 

 " Scientific education, and more particularly the 

 scientific education of our owning and responsible 

 classes, has been crippled by the bitter jealousy of the 

 classical teachers who dominate our Universities, by 

 the fear and hatred of the Established Church, which 

 so very largely controls our upper-class schools, and by 

 the entire lack of understanding and support on the 

 part of those able barristers and financiers who rule our 

 political life. Science has been left more and more to 

 men of modest origin and narrow outlook, and now we 

 are beginning to pay in internal dissensions, and 

 presently we may have to pay in national humiliation 

 for this almost organised rejection of stimulus and 



