If so, the writer claimed that the
Church could not be upset by reason. It was founded, like everything
else, on initial assumptions, that is to say on faith, and if it was
to be upset it was to be upset by faith, by the faith of those who
in their lives appeared more graceful, more lovable, better bred, in
fact, and better able to overcome difficulties. Any sect which
showed its superiority in these respects might carry all before it,
but none other would make much headway for long together. Christianity
was true in so far as it had fostered beauty, and it had fostered much
beauty. It was false in so far as it fostered ugliness, and it had
fostered much ugliness. It was therefore not a little true and not a
little false; on the whole one might go farther and fare worse; the
wisest course would be to live with it, and make the best and not
the worst of it. The writer urged that we become persecutors as a
matter of course as soon as we begin to feel very strongly upon any
subject; we ought not therefore to do this; we ought not to feel
very strongly even upon that institution which was dearer to the
writer than any other- the Church of England. We should be
churchmen, but somewhat lukewarm churchmen, inasmuch as those who care
very much about either religion or irreligion are seldom observed to
be very well bred or agreeable people.
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