It hardly lies in the mouths of men who are labouring incessantly
to obstruct the working of the existing order, to build an argument
against it on the measure of their success in making it fail. There
are confessedly many grave evils in our industrial system, but
there are also very evident benefits. It is, like human nature
itself, a mingled thing. Instead of exaggerating the evils, the
wiser course would surely be to inquire how far they are capable of
remedy, and then cautiously--for the daily bread of these many
millions of British folk depends on the normal working of our
industrial system--to attempt reforms. Reckless denunciation is not
only wrong in itself, but it creates a listless, disaffected
temper, the farthest removed possible from the spirit of good
citizenship and honest labour.
In these quotations you may see something of the Bishop's acuteness of
intellect, something of his courage, and something of his wholesome good
sense. But, also, I venture to think, one may see in them something of
his spiritual limitations.
For, after all, is not the Christian challenged with an identical
criticism by the champions of materialism?
Why can't he leave people alone? Who asks him to interfere with the
lives of other people--other people who are perfectly contented to go
their own way? Look at the rascal! Having created or stimulated
spiritual discontent by rhetorical exaggeration, he points to the
discontent as itself sufficient proof of the dissatisfaction of
materialism! Out upon him, for a paid agitator, a kill-joy, and a
humbug.
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