Spiritual Evolution of Society 179 



The introduction and passing into law of the principle 

 of a minimum wage is of overwhelming importance, 

 and its full effect is not yet realised. It is the first real 

 assertion by the State of its intention to secure for 

 every worker in the land a wage sufficient to give him 

 all necessary comforts, to put an end once and for all 

 to " la miser e," which has been forced upon one-third 

 of the population, in order that a small section of the 

 community might accumulate unnecessary wealth and 

 property, or live in excessive luxury which only accom- 

 plishes their degeneration and decay. Therefore] it is 

 that the name of " Asquith " shall mark an epoch in 

 human evolution, and indicate the " fair beginning of 

 a time " ; for this one deed, if for no other, his name 

 shall be, " as long as memory holds her seat," em- 

 blazoned on the page of history and immortalised upon 

 the scroll of heroes. No doubt it shall be said he was 

 forced to take this action, and to a certain extent this 

 is true, but a weaker man would have taken what is 

 commonly called " strong " action and precipitated 

 a revolution. The Prime Minister preserved the tra- 

 dition of the nation's past, and his own, and restored 

 order out of chaos, and shed the divine light of hope 

 over the spirit of the toiling millions. The late laureate 

 cried in despair : 



" Ah God, for a man with heart, head, hand, 

 Like some of the simple great ones gone 

 For ever and ever by, 

 One still strong man in a blatant land, 

 Whatever they call him, what care I, 

 Aristocrat, democrat, autocrat— one 

 Who can rule and dare not lie." 



But he reckoned without the spiritual evolution of 

 man, otherwise he would have known that God repeats 

 Himself in many ways, and that from age to age the 

 light of heaven is made to descend upon the race of 



