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.
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