PACE PAGE NOTES OF THE WEEK . 249 LONDON PAPERS-VI. By Dikran Kouyoumdjian 261 TOWARDS NATIONAL GUILDS. By National ART NOTES. By B. H. Dias . . . 263 Guildsmen . . 253 VIEWS AND REVIEWS : Catholicism : a Conclusion. AGUILDSMAN’S INTERPRETATION OF HISTORY. By By A. E. R. . . 264 Arthur J. Penty. VIII.-The Reformation REVIEW : Chosen Peoples . . 265 in Germany . 253 THE MIND OF THE CHURCH. By Leo Ward . 254 LETTERSTO THE EDITORfrom S. G. H., Philip T. Kenway, Everard G. Gilbert-Cooper, Wm. LOGICv. MYSTICISM. By M.B., Oxon . . 257 Margrie, A. J. Penty . . 266 RECENTVERSE. By Stephen Maguire . . 259 THE IDOLATRY OFWORDS-(Concluded,) By Dr. PASTICHE. By Marshall E. Brown, B. Windeler. Oscar Levy . 260 P. Selver, W. H., C. Granville . . 268

an essential part is in process of decision. The NOTES OF THE WEEK. renewal of the armistice has provided an opportunity to display consummate art on either side, and the THE mountain of Big Business, being involved in occasion has not been missed. The terms as Labour, has brought forth, in the political sense, a rat. adumbratedare emphatic; but they are to a substantial It is fairly obvious that Mr. Lloyd George, in his degree a check to the raging Prussianism which in every apparrently,but not really, new character as the champion country cries aloud for a fresh opportunity to employ of vested interests, has drawn to himself valuable aid the final argument of kings. As a result the attacks from the vested interests of Trade Union officialdom. on Mr. Wilson grow both in volume and bitterness, His return coincided fairly well with the subsidence of and the more flagrantly oligarchic sections of the London the immediate difficulty on the Railways, but it is not Press are doing yeoman service to the noble cause. improbable that the most important result of the Many things will be decided in the next few short conjunctionof events will be to still further discredit the years ; but amongst them will most unquestionably be individuals now so fulsomely eulogised by the daily the proper function of the Public Press. The business of Press as the new saviours of the situation. Exactly the world, as the tactics of war, is fundamentally based who and what is being saved, what they are being on intelligence; and no conception of even that saved from, and exactly who elected the saviours. somewhatdiscredited thing Democracy can tolerate a no doubt the N.U.R., amongst others, can explain. condition of Public Intelligence so flagrantly unsound as The interest to the onlooker lies in the fact that when, that under which the control of Publicity is held and as in a time of real or anticipated crisis, deep calls used by one small section of the community in a manner unto deep, the answer is certain and immediate, and which renders it the strongest of weapons in its war the product of the caucus whether industrial or upon the remainder. In the coming months sound political,is concerned immediately with the safety of the individual judgment based on the widest comprehension conditions by means of which power is acquired and of facts which the circumstances will permit will held rather than with the attempt to interpret and be of a value, both personal and social, much beyond focus the will of the individuals whose delegated that of fine gold; it will separate out the sheep from authorityis involved. For this and other reasons, the the goats as nothing else can; and it seems a regrettable tendencyof social movements is clearly more and more complication that at such a time the safest method towards mass action; and mass action undirected by of extracting reliable information from the “News”- community of interest in a clean-cut issue is anarchy paper is to estimate as far as possible what is left in the popular sense in which that word is understood out of it. and used. To this extent the educational enthusiast is *** completely right ; there is no political machinery availableas a substitute for individuality guided by sound The Triple Alliance of Miners, Railwaymen, and principles internally accepted, not externally imposed. Transport Workers is clearly preparing to move under the lead of the Miners, who have dealt with the *** perfunctory reply of the Government to their programme At Paris the battle still rages between the protagonists much on the expected lines. Coal mining is an industry of an imposed settlement in the interests of the which at present is very largely manual; that is to pyramid of power, and the efforts to deflate the situation say, the output of a given mine is much more dependent by the largest possible measure of self-determination on the direct wages bill than on the indirect of which efforts Mr. Wilson seems for the moment machinery charges. For this reason a rise in rates of to be the major focus. It is a Titanic struggle-every pay to the miners as a class has a much greater effect place-hunter,political and departmental strap-hanger, on the selling price of coal than has, say, a similar to say nothing of the captains and kings both of war rise in the pay of the cotton operative on the finished and finance,with whom Paris is filled, is instinctively price of calico. Coal being a fundamental factor of aware that the fate of the regime of which they form practically all machine industry in this country, the effect of a rise in the price of coal will be widespread The general public do not commonly realise the in causing a general rise in prices which will, of course, power of the machine; the uncanny certainty with affect the miners as consumers equally with the rest which a system of organised effort will assume a of society, the chief sufferers being not the capitalist, characterof its own which is almost entirely dependent on but the professional class and the small salariat. its construction, and independent of personality, in the sense that personality must either conform to it, or be For these the outlook would be dark indeed if the thrown out; and when it is considered that the existing situation had any elements of stability in it; constitutionof the League of Nations is being built up but it has not. If we are not gravely mistaken an largely by the selected product of national machinery economic situation is approaching having no relation to which is itself evidently in need of radical modification that war-strain of which we hear so much; and in the to the end that its criteria of selection may result in a solution of the difficulties which will have to be faced different type of representative, we are quite justified there is no help to be derived either from the Miners’ in some anxiety as to the result. But miracles do programme, or that of the Parliamentary Labour Party. happen; and the definite abandonment of an international As for Mr. Lloyd George, the oracle has now spoken. striking force, to quote only one instance, is evidence A better England-but the utmost firmness with any that the pitfalls of the situation, as viewed from the unreasonable demands for an early start towards it. point of view of the Plain People, are not unrecognised. The complete security of property, but no nonsense It is no doubt premature to assert that written law, about security of employment, not even security for householders. The Government will grant the fullest administered with the ultimate sanction of force, has served its useful purpose; but it is simply stating the facilities for inquiry into the causes of industrial unrest--but in the meantime the Defence of the Realm obvious to say that the whole trend of thought is away from that type of administration, and this is true in Act is a very present help in time of trouble. industry not less than in national and International We believe the difficulties of the Government will politics. But it has to be remembered that the great rapidly prove, for them, insuperable. There is an centres of administrative power are not only the issue which they cannot, and dare not,face- product of juridical legislation, but are inevitably occupied Reconstruction.They have a Ministry known by that name- by personalities saturated with and sympathetic to a but it can only advise. They have a real-as well as a rigid social code ; and consequently throw the weight platform-policy; but they will not be able to carry it of their influence on to the side of a perpetuation of the out. That policy is the Servile Industrial State, a delusion that people exist to be governed. policy involving the complete subordination of the As we write the news comes that troops have been individual to the industrial system; but the individual is drafted into Belfast to protect “ volunteer” strike- in revolt, and the very system has reached a point at breakers; in fact, the campaign of force proceeds which war is an economic necessity to its continued according to plan with the dreary inevitability of a existence. The policy is not new, and it is not native Greek tragedy . to these islands ; it has never succeeded permanently yet, and it is in the highest degree improbable that it In a battle of money-bags the Capitalist must win; will be allowed another trial. ‘The issue of’ practical and the Coalition Government is determined to make it interest 3s the intrinsic force behind the attempt, since clear that any economic struggle shall be fought either just to the extent that the force is formidable will the with money-bags or machine-guns : first assuring itself reaction be a ’source of general discomfort. It is the of the possession of all the machine-guns. Belfast fashion to estimate the force as overwhelming, and it would seem to be the natural venue for a struggle to is so just to the extent that the fabric of pre-war society decide such an issue; it is the cockpit of warning political holds together. But there is precedent for the and religious creeds, and its population is disappearance of a social system in a period of less than unrivalled in dour persistency. one week, and it is because of the danger of disruption of which the Government itself is now proclaiming the But, of course, a decision come at by such means imminent risk that the policy of sitting on the safety will decide nothing ; either a campaign of legal sabotage, valve seem not exactly calculated to further the or an adjournment of the strike until a more materialisation of the better world to which, we are told, favourable opportunity in the near future, is a we may now look with confidence. completeanswer to such methods, though, no doubt, the discomfort for all classes will steadily increase. No Let the metaphor not be driven too far; but it one with any sanity left at all supposes that it is feasible is very clear that the pressure is rising daily and either to force whole classes of men to work except by agreement, useful constructive effort must result or else the inevitable nor does it require much first-hand knowledge to alternative will supervene. The same situation is remove any delusion as to the advisabililty of using posed before the unreformed Government in every conscripts to suppress labour riots. It is well known that country of the civilised world, and although national the vast majority of the Army would have voted for supremacy may have a different meaning under the Labour at the last election if it had been given a fair changing conditions of the near future, there is still an opportunity ; it is not unreasonable to assume that there opportunity for leadership in economic reconciliation. is an actual anti-Government majority of the total electorate at this moment; and every individual in that The League of Nations has advanced to the point of majority is tacitly hostile to the intervention of soldiers a draft constitution; and although it has become- a in disputes between Capital and Labour, if only for the mere Alliance of Entente Governments rather than a reason that such an intervention is always and solely in League of Free Peoples, we have cause to congratulate the interest of the Capitalist : under these conditions ourselves on the fact that it might have been much taken together catastrophe is simply a question of worse. time. The conception of a super-authority to deal with We do not always see eye to eye with our international problems is one of the most subtle traps contemporary, the “Nation” ; but nothing but praise is for the unwary that world-politics has ever offered. It possible for the sober honesty of its “Word to is full of beneficent possibility; but the strait and Property” in the current number. The gravity of ”the narrowway to their attainment is beset with difficulty and present situation lies exactly in the steadfast refusal to fraught with possibilities of awful tyranny. which it refers of the property-owning class, as a class, to discuss the real issue at all; which issue consists in the mercy of their own temperament since the matter the demand of the majority for a re-consideration of presented to them cannot be exhaustive and is the whole economic creed, not a mere tinkering with the frequently selected to produce a calculated result. application of it to incidental difficulties. *** *** The lack of ability to face the problem of Russia boldly The insistence on the Whitley Council as a panacea has apparently reacted on Paris, where the opponents of for industrial trouble is a flagrant instance of this a conference at Prinkipo seem to be gaining ground. spirit. Passing over the technical flaws in the scheme Frankly, we do not see very much likelihood of any of organisation of which it forms a part-flaws which result from the meeting as originally projected because it becomes increasingly evident that it is simply a whether with conscious intention or not all act matter of sanctions which will decide the settlement. towards fettering individual expression on the part of On our part any large military adventure into, Russia is those actually concerned with the execution of work, out of the question, in spite of the efforts which are and by dividing the wage-earner from the salariat to being made to force such a course of action; while the strengthen the financial interest-the prime assumption presence oh a comparatively small body of troops is made that only a better understanding of economic maintainedat the bidding of financial groups for the sole fact is necessary to reconcile the unhappy divergency purpose of hindering any crystallisation of the status between finance and Labour. Now, not only is this quo is not only an outrage on the troops concerned, but assumption unwarranted, but it is quite definitely false. is inviting a very unpleasant military debacle. Simply The whole wage and profit system is a flat contradiction as a matter of common sense an estimate should be of it, if only for the reason that the financier made of the conditions under which all troops can be consciously and openly works to keep costs down and withdrawn and if those conditions can be obtained from prices up; costs being the sums distributed out of which the de facto Russian Government they should be labour is remunerated, and prices the sums out of which withdrawnat the earliest moment that conditions of transport finance gets richer ; and the immense fundamental will permit. strength of the position into which the Capitalist has *** manoeuvred himself lies in his control of price fixing. During the period of real private Capitalism which The Prime Minister seems from his pronouncement came to an end during the last decade of the nineteenth to have grasped this fairly simple proposition; the century this control was severely limited by the effect great majority of the public most certainly have the of real competiton in lowering prices and profits, but most decided views on the matter; but the compact the transition to Trust Capitalism has altered that international minority which is in a position to dictate positionto such an extent that it is safe to say that for the policy is determined that nothing shrill hinder it from moment financial interests completely control prices, giving all possible support to any focus of reaction the value of money,, and, consequently, the conditions (such as the brutal and corrupt Admiral Koltchak), under which the individual dependent on the sale of his which offers any promise of restoration to the military, labour shall be permitted to exist. bureaucratic, and financial autocracy in Russia. *** This is the issue which has to be decided before ALEXANDER. passingto details; and any National Industrial Conference, Having returned from his Indian expedition, such, for instance, as that called for by Mr. Holbrook Alexander entered the city of Babylon in spite of the Jackson in the current number. of the “Organiser,” will warning of the priests of Baal. While there preparing fail of its object if its terms of reference are to invade Arabia, he died of fever. not absolutely specific and confined to an honest They told me that ’twas not well done, attempt to decide the a priori feasibility of Priests of the gods of Babylon; placing the control of prices in the hands of And I that in Jerusalem the community; the control of process in the hands of Did honour to the priestly state, the producer; and to remove the control of the Contemned in my proud folly then financieraltogether, replacing it by decentralised control of That warned me at the western gate. For me no portal opes again- credit. We have already indicated in last week’s The red sun sinks across the plain, “Notes” a method by which a beginning might be made along these lines; and it will be interesting to see, I broke the empire of the East; whether the proposed Conference which we anticipate I lived and loved, knew fear and feast. will materialise will have the courage and vision The upland vales of Macedon, necessary to attack the problem--a courage which The hills of Hellas and the sea, might go far towards a restoration of the failing belief And India and Babylon in constitutional methods as a means to the achievement God gave to no one save to me; of substantial advance. Such a Conference to be And Cyrus’ house is wrapped in rains; But lo! the sun sets on the plains. successful would have to be conducted in a spirit of research rather than debate; its function would be to I lit the flames and made them hiss get at the facts, and having got at them to place the In Thebes and in Persepolis ; results before the country without bias. On such an The best that Hellas had to give issue properly presented a referendum might be taken, To me was given, and to me and, once again, this community might lead the world The power of doom, to die to live, along a fresh vista of renewed development. O’er them that ruled both land and sea. But now no pleasure-now no pain; *** The sun sinks down upon the plain. The Labour Conference has found the nut of Bolshevism a little too hard, and has taken refuge in a Though unafraid of human hands, Committee of Inquiry, consisting of, amongst others, The angry gods of ravaged lands Mr. Ramsay MacDonald. It is perhaps the only avenue Have wrought my ruin, and their wrath Has smitten where man ne’er could smite; of action open, but we confess to some scepticism of Wherefore my feet are on the path, the value likely to attach to an investigation into so The dim path, of the dreadful Night; immense a subject by a committee inevitably limited And while I count losses and gains, by language difficulties and the conditions imposed by The crimson sun sets o’er the plains. space and time. Committees of Inquiry are largely at MARSHALLE. BROWN. At the victorious end of a mighty war, where the Towards National Guilds. physical and moral strength of the nation has been THE nation was given to understand by the Ministry tested to its depths, is it possible that the directors of of Labour that the policy of non-intervention was to be this country are no nearer to reality than before it adopted by the Government in the struggle between began? Is it possible that the world of their fancy no Capital and Labour, of which the outposts are already more approximates to the world of reality than during in contact. Non-intervention did not, of course, the industrial unrest of the few years immediately signify neutrality, and it was only to be expected, preceding the war? The infliction of defeat was bearing in mind the impracticability of either attitude, indispensable to Russia ere the antiquated ideology that the Government would intervene. The D.O.R.A. personified in the Tsarist regime, maintained only by has been re-enlisted for further service, and provides gigantic underworkings of secret force, could be criminal penalties for certain workers, in the event of compelledto evacuate; defeat looked Germany in the eyes their being so rash as to join the strikers. By what to force the military organisation of the Prussian means, then, is Labour to ensure that justice will be Capitalist to be rediscussed (with what effect remains done in the case of the “real grievance” which the to be seen). Have we so little sense of our epoch that Press is, in some instances, now- admitting it has? defeat must crown triumph here, defeat inflicted from What road, we ask, is the Government going to open within, ere the obsolete ideology which oppresses all in place of the one it has closed? In the existing classes can be shed? We are hopeful yet that the relationship of Capital and Labour, to deprive Labour effete system of ideas still clinging round us will be of its power to strike, without, at the same time, modified drastically without its being overwhelmed by giving it some other at least equivalent avenue of the resentment it has created, as in Russia. expression and power, is not to keep the ring, but to After the ordeal of the past four years, patiently tie Labour’s hands behind its back. Is the resentment borne and magnificently ended, in consequence of its which is at present finding an outlet in strikes of so aim to make the world safe for democracy, it is little consequence that the outlet can be closed? deplorable that the Press should be counselling the first Glance a moment at the situation. The sympathetic administration to vindicate democracy by its immediate strike is with us again, and there is, in consequence, self-conversion into an autocracy. The public, we are no limit to the area over which the discontent, with its sure, however, has not so small a sense of appreciation resultant activity, may spread. Men are threatening for all that Labour, military arid industrial, has to strike in protest against troops being sent to the performed for the preservation of England, that it can disturbed areas, and it is quite within reason to now suppose for a second that Labour has any other anticipatethat soon men will be striking in protest against desire at heart than the conservation of England. No the Government’s withdrawal of their “right to strike. ” one we know believes that pre-war England was so Trade Union leaders locally are being excommunicated great to contemplate that it could be considered a by their central oligarchs, and threatened with eviction great enough reward to its people for the victorious from their houses by the same people; suggestions are struggle it inspired. The law-givers of this nation, abroad for citizen organisations to protect property ; prepared to reason without passion, and in the face of the Government has given the right to all who can reality, without prejudice, could do enough inside a afford to hoard food; in short, every step which has week to stave off all likelihood of the occurrence of the been taken up to the present, by Government, Capital, threatened catastrophe. The revolt of the worker public, and Trade Union Bureaucracy, has been such against the Government, like the revolt against Capital that the prophecy that the agitation would extend has and his own leaders, the latter appointed by an been assured fulfilment by those professing to wish to electorate over which he commands absolutely, is a contract it. The worker, in fact, is being convinced sufficientproof in itself that all of them have misunderstood that all men’s hands are against him, and the him, or that, understanding him, they have intensificationof his rooted resentment is the inevitable shown no sign of it in their actions. We are at length result. The theory of German agency has been faced by the spectre of the possible penalty of Labour’s introducedby the Press, and no matter with what authority irresponsibility in industry ; freedom from responsibility, the cry may have been raised, it is certain that it will however, was not of Labour’s choosing ; accomplish no good. We reiterate confidently that nevertheless,it was made the justification of the denial of frank consideration and generous treatment of the real the rights and privileges that must needs have been and deep causes of the temper of the present discontents granted with responsibility. Whether denied by will achieve success, whereas the situation will Capital or by Labour’s own chosen leaders, the effect only become more inflamed by heeding the howling for is ultimately the same. Industry, under present the suppression of its symptoms. The discontent, be conditions, is unworkable, and the nation’s livelihood is it noted, is no longer confined to the manual labourer. being threatened from within by the battle between Socially speaking, the attitude of the agitated mass Capital and Labour, from without by competition. increases no less rapidly than the field over which it Surely the time has arrived for a reconsideration of operates. Every so-called settlement is regarded as functions and privileges, in order that the hope of unsatisfactory, and where there is no strike, actual or reconstruction may supplant the fear of destruction. The threatened, there appears to be no endeavour to make re-humanisation of Labour is the immediate price that a settlement. The demand for the Government to must be paid before the process of rebuilding can assert its prerogative of government “ in the name begin. “When man no longer finds enjoyment in of democracy” occupies daily more space in the work,” said Mommsen, “and works merely to attain Press. We hope sincerely, however, that the Government will not be so unwise as to exert its power to as quickly as possible to enjoyment, it is a mere accomplish the subjection of the impatient and accident that he does not become a criminal.” dissatisfied workers of all grades, without first exerting Assuming that the authors of the two letters to the both wisdom and power to remove the genuine evils Editor over the signatures F. P. Crosland are the same which lie at the heart. Shall the voices which have individual, we obtain a knowledge of the character of been made hoarse recalling England to reality the first in the illumination lent by the second. The final continueunheard ? Again we offer our advice ; no longer sentence, without supposing that the writer sincerely is a policy of restoration of the status quo either believes that the results of any demand made by Labour sufficientor desirable; a policy that shall be positive, that in the present crisis could be amusing, leaves us only shall carry us forward and not backward, is the one reply-that this is no time for frivolities and essentialrequirement if we are to avert the deluge. artificialities; it is a time for the alertness of every faculty, and an appreciation -of reality such as even the war cils of the Church which henceforth became authoritative. never brought us. Luther challenged this authority, and at the We note, however, that the sentence consecutive to Diet of Worms maintained that Popes and councils that in which the writer suggests that THE NEW AGE might err. This challenge struck at the very heart of has not spoken quite plainly contains the suggestion the Church and its unity, for it made the interpretation that the Guilds would own their own plant! What of the Scriptures purely a matter of opinion. But it more can we say? NATIONAL GUILDSMEN. secured for him the support of the Princes of Germany, who were only too pleased to seize the opportunity which this challenge presented of freeing themselves from A Guildsman’s Interpretation the overlordship of the Pope. The claim of the Popes to be infallible in faith and morals is an intellectually of History. defensible proposition, if not altogether an acceptable By Arthur J. Penty. one, and the unity of Christendom might never have VIII. been challenged had the Popes claimed no more. But THE REFORMATION IN GERMANY. they went much further, and claimed authority not only THEReformation was at once a development of and a in spiritual but in temporal affairs, maintaining that as reaction against the Renaissance. It was a development the Vicars of Christ, responsible to God alone, they in the sense that it was the natural and logical had power to give and take away kingdoms. These consequence of the individualistic ideas which the pretensions were bitterly resented by the kings and Renaissance set in motion, while it was a reaction princes of Christendom, who now saw in the Reformation against the Renaissance, inasmuch as the Reformation not only a means of escape from their thraldom, owed its inception to the protest of Luther against the but the prospect of plunder in confiscating the lands of corruption of the Papacy which had come about as a the Church, for it is well to remember that Wycliffe, .consequence of the revival of Pagan thought and “the morning star of the Reformation,” had advocated morals. In the year 1510 Luther visited Rome on such confiscations, and Wycliffe’s ideas had been business connected with his monastic Order, and was carried by wandering scholars over Europe. deeply moved at the irreligion and corruption of the When, as a result of the advocacy of the principles Papal Court, and, on his return to Germany, he took of the Reformation the Princes of Germany began to up a stand against the sale of indulgences by which suppress the monasteries and to take possession of the Leo X sought to raise money for the completion of St. Church lands, Luther appears to have been taken Peter’s at Rome. On October 31, 1517, he nailed to entirely by surprise. He deplored and censured the the doors of the Cathedral of Wittenburg his famous selfishness of the Princes, but he was powerless to thesis of ninety-five propositions against the sale of prevent it. In order to wage war against the Roman indulgences. Church, he had come to rely upon the support of the It goes without saying that Luther’s protest would Princes of Germany. He was now to learn that that not have had the effect of setting Europe ablaze if support had not been given from entirely disinterested corruption in the Church had not already been very motives, and to experience the truth of the Biblical widespread. The ordinary man who gives his support injunction, “Put not your trust in Princes.” Such disillusionment appears to be the inevitable fate of to revolutions is not concerned very much about “ abstract ideas. He is concerned with the things that practical” reformers in all ages who invariably are exist and judges from his immediate surroundings. If idealists without any sense of reality. They are men the corruption had been confined to Rome and the who feel keenly that certain things are wrong and need Church in Germany had been popular, Luther would attacking. But they will never take the trouble to not have secured the support of the people. The think out carefully how the ends they seek are to be circumstance that Luther did get such widespread sup attained. They never carry any idea to its logical port testifies to the fact that for one reason or another conclusion, and despise the men who do. They act the Church had become unpopular. The authority of entirely from impulse and wake up at a later date to find the Holy See had been severely shaken by the Great that they have only destroyed one evil to create a Schism, for the spectacle of two, and, at one time, greater one. These men figure in history as strong three Popes, claiming the allegiance of Christendom, men and bad men, but the truth is they are simple- whilst hurling anathemas at each other’s heads, was minded, courageous and impulsive ones who queer the not an edifying one. And this trouble, like all the pitch for men who might accomplish things, by con- troubles of the Church, was due to the fact that it had fusing the issues. become more anxious about temporal power than about Having made the initial blunder, Luther began to the spiritual welfare of the people. Just as the Popes find it advisable to acommodate himself to circumstances). had claimed complete jurisdiction over the temporal The appeal of the reformers had been to the powers, so the bishops and clergy had intruded traditions of the Early Church, which, as is well known, themselvesinto secular matters, and it would appear that were communist in tendency. But Luther a certain worldliness had overtaken the Church. It developedviews which were as the antipodes to all the had become very wealthy and luxurious in its living. communist theories of the fathers of the Church who Added to this were the influences of the Renaissance considered property as an evil due to the Fall, and which led to moral laxity and undermined belief in become a necessity, because of the presence of sin in the Christianity in many directions. The result of it all world. He professed the most restrictive views on was that the Church had become suspect and no longer property ; while Melanchthon went much further, affirming enjoyed the confidence of the people that it had that property existed by divine right, and that to formerlypossessed. limit it in any way would be contrary to the teaching Luther and his followers sought to combat these of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. worldly tendencies by effecting a return to the primitive ‘This individualist tendency of the Reformation was truth and discipline of the Church, or, at any rate, inherent in its teaching from the very start. In his what they imagined it to be. They contended that the warfare against the secular and monastic clergy truths of Christianity had become overlaid with formalism, Wycliffe had laid down the dictum that only a priest and appealed to the authority of the Bible against who is himself without sin can preach the Word of that of the Catholic tradition which differed from it to God. The evil inherent in this demand is apparent the extent that it had absorbed and carried along with when we look below the surface. Instead of the priest, it certain Pagan elements, while disputed points of as heretofore, being acknowledged a sinner like the doctrine had been determined by decisions of the Coun- rest of men, it demands of him that he he a superior person. Thus he will, knowing himself to be a sinner, fourteenth century, and was, therefore, well placed for either become a hypocrite in the eyes of the world ; or one who wished for information. He was a representative else, what is far worse, he will become a prig, and man, and to be acquainted with him is to be endeavour to make his own conduct the standard of acquainted with the thought of his generation, for he truth in morals. One wonders how much of the feeding had read widely and formed judgments on many of the against the clergy to-day had its origin in this vexed economic problems of his day. What is more heresy of Wyclitfe which denies the humanity of the important, his judgments were of a very practical priest . nature, for he was constantly referred to by the bankers The corollary of this heresy which Wycliffe likewise and merchants of Florence to give decisions on taught was the right of the individual to approach God delicatepoints affecting the morality of trade. This fact by his own prayer without the intervention of a alone is worth recording, and should be of particular priestly mediator. This idea contributed enormously interest tu Marxians who believe that no other motive to the success of the Reformation in Germany. But but exploitation has ever existed in trade, more the development which followed upon it was very especiallywhen they learn that St. Antonino anticipated different from what the reformers anticipated or Marx himself in affirming that all value depends upon intended. Not only did it lead to an extraordinary labour, whether of hand or head. multiplicationof sects, but it made morals a personal rather Though in its early days the reformers were even than a social consideration. Further, it tended gradually more opposed to any compromise with usury than the to undermine any standard of morality in commercial Catholic theologians, the influence of the Reformation transaction and to accommodate morals to the brought a breach with Mediaeval doctrine in the latter practice of the rich, particularly in regard to the half of the sixteenth century. Calvin objected to the changed attitude towards usury which the Reformation idea of regarding money as barren when it was introduced. But this was not the case at the possibleto purchase with it property from which a revenue start, for Luther’s first attitude towards the question could be obtained. Calvin’s attitude may, therefore, of usury showed a tendency to revert to earlier and justly be regarded as the turning-point. It had more rigid standards than were current in his day. certainly much influence in weakening the old repugnance The Early Church had condemned usury in all forms towards usury. But Calvin did not allow the taking absolutely as immoral. But this strict view was of interest under any circumstances. This is evident modifiedsomewhat by later moralists and economists who from Calvin’s own words :- came to realise that to forbid the taking of interest, “Although I do not visit usuries (payments for the under all circumstances, was not expedient, inasmuch use of money) with wholesale condemnation, I cannot as it led to serious public inconvenience. Hence, the give them my indiscriminate approbation, nor, indeed, question which agitated the minds of moralists and do I approve that anyone should make a business of economists in the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth money-lending. Usury for money may lawfully be centuries was to determine what was and what was not taken only under the following conditions, and not legitimate. Starting from the principle of Aristotle otherwise. ” Among these conditions are “That usury that money itself cannot beget money, the Mediaeval should not be demanded from men in need; nor is it moralists were puzzled as to how to justify the taking lawful to force any man to pay usury who is oppressed of interest. They mere agreed that to seek to increasee by need or calamity,” and “he who receives a loan on wealth in order to live on the labour of others was usury should make at least as much for himself by his wrong, and, to this extent, the issue with them was a labour and care as he obtains who gives the loan.”* purely moral issue. But, on the other hand, there was “What Calvin feared took place. In after centuries the question of public convenience, as in the case of Calvin’s great authority was invoked for the wide travellers, who would have to carry large sums of propositionthat to take reward for the loan of money was money about with them in the absence of bills of never sinful; and a couple of his sentences were taken exchange, or the question of risk involved in a loan. To from their context, and quoted without regard to the all such difficult and perplexing, problems the Mediaeval conditions by which they were limited. His carefully moralists addressed themselves, not for theoretical but qualified approval of the claim for usury when it was for practical reasons. For as commerce tended to made by one business man on another was wrested increase, it became urgent to hammer out some principle into an approval of every sort of contract concerning whereby the necessities of trade could be related to the loan on money.” some definite moral standard. Mention has been made of the fact that Luther To the end the problem evaded them, In principle began to find it advisable to accomodate himself to all were against usury, but public convenience circumstances. The weakness of the position he demanded exception be made under certain occupiedbecame apparent during the Peasants’ Rising circumstances.These exceptions grew and grew in number, when the poverty-stricken rural population rose up but no sure principle was forthcoming, and I am left against the nobles who had suppressed the monasteries to wonder whether the failure of the Mediaeval moralists and seized the (Church lands from which alms had and economists to find an answer to the problems which flowed to the indigent. The peasants burnt down the usury presented may not have been due to the fact that castles of the nobles and swore they would Ieave the problem is only partly a moral one. The difficulties nothing to be seen but the cabins of the poor. At first, in which they found themselves in their attempts the wealthy middle class, always the rivals of the to justify the taking of interest in certain cases in order feudal aristocracy, encouraged and aided the peasants, that public convenience might not suffer arose because but growing alarmed with the spread of the insurrection, the function which the usurer performed in such cases joined hands with the nobles in suppressing it. was essentially a public one, and should have been Luther, who was then at the height of his popularity, undertaken by men in some corporate capacity, and not condemned the rising, in the name of religion, and left to the initiative of individuals. I throw this out proclaimed the servitude of the people as holy and merely as a suggestion, I do not dogmatise upon it, for legitimate “You seek,” wrote he, “to free your the problem of usury is a very tricky one, and in deaing persons and your goods. You desire the power and with it it is necessary to tread warily. the goods of this earth. You will suffer no wrong. In so far as the problem was a moral one, perhaps The Gospel, on the contrary, has no care for such St. Antonino* gave such answers as were to be given. things, and makes exterior life consist in suffering, St. Antonino was an Archbishop of Florence in the * ‘‘ An Introduction to English Economic History * See “ St. Antonino and Mediaeval Economics,” by and Theory,” by W. J. Ashley. Part II, p. 459. Bede Jarrett. (Manresa Press.) Ibid., p. 460. supporting injustice, the cross, patience, and contempt of life, as of all the things of this world. To suffer ! The Mind of The Church. To suffer ! The Cross ! The Cross ! Behold what Christ By Leo Ward. teaches. ”* THIS article is not intended as part of my controversy These were the words by which Luther sought to with “A. E. R.” I am unable to continue that soothe a famishing people who were in revolt against controversy as I am shortly leaving this country. In case a ruling class, which, in the name of religious reformation any further points are raised in connection with it Mr. had not only plundered the lands of the Church, D. L. Murray has kindly consented to discuss them in but had stolen the patrimony of the poor. They are my absence. the kind of words which make religion stink, and In this article I wish rather to state certain which is responsible for the present feeling of principles of Catholicism which are often misunderstood or antipathy of the masses towards Christianity. Yet, while overlooked in such discussions. Luther condemned the rising, he did not consider the I wish first to speak of the principle of Authority in claims of the peasants as in any way unjust, for he the Catholic Church. Critics of the Church often draw admitted they were “not contrary to natural law or analogies-favourable or unfavourable-between the equity,” but he chose to evade the real issue by adding, constitution of the Church and that of various secular “No one is judge in his own cause, and the faults states. Such analogies seem to me fundamentally committedby authority cannot excuse rebellion. ” unsatisfactory since the primary claim of the Church- Compare this utterance with the words of the most to witness to a supernatural life and to the unchanging orthodox of Mediaeval economists, St. Thomas truths on which that life depends-is clearly of a Aquinas, who grants to a people the right of rebellion differentnature from the aim and object of any secular if they are misruled. “If any society of people,” he state. I should like, however, to correct certain says, “have the right of choosing a Icing for itself, it popular conceptions of what that claim implies. is not unjust if he be deposed by the same, or if his It does not, of course, imply that the individual power be curbed, when by a royal tyranny he abuses Catholic, or even the Pope, pretends to be able to his power. Nor is such a society to be held as acting comprehendthe mind of God. In the words of Pope Pius unfaithfully in thus deposing the tyrant, even if it have IX, “ Far be it from us that we should wish to sound before sworn to him for ever, for he deserved to be the hidden counsels and judgments of God, which are deserted, in not keeping faith in the ruling of his people, deep abysses that cannot be fathomed by human since this is an obligation on the king’s part, if the thought.” (“Allocution,” December 9, 1854.) . . . . compact made by him with the subjects is to be And the present Pope, in his first encyclical, condemned maintained.’’ While further, he interprets the words of those who “have reached such a degree of rashness as Peter that “a man endures sorrows, suffering wrongfully" not to hesitate to measure by the standard of their in a very different light to that of Luther as own mind even the hidden things of God and all that meaning that “if the tyranny is not excessive, it is God has revealed to men.” This does not contradict better to bear it for a time, than, by acting against the the assertion of Pius X that “faith is a true ascent of tyrant, to be involved in many perils, which are worse the intelligence to truth.” Faith is not against reason, than tyranny,” which is merely common sense, and but reason is limited and is incomplete without faith. what all people who are not hot-headed clearly Let me quote a paragraph from a distinguished recognise,for there are many evils which pass away after a Catholic theologian (Father Cuthbert, O.S.F.C.) on time, and it is better to put up with them than to the central idea of Catholicism and its character as a disorganise society on the off-chance of a possible Revelation : improvement. In a word, rebellion is justifiable only “ The conception of Christianity as directly of super- when there is no prospect of betterment except through natural origin and character is fundamental to the rebellion. In the face of such evidence it is impossible Catholic position. The Christian ,revelation is not, to maintain the popular notion that the Reformation and never could be, derived from the operation of was a triumph of democracy. So far from this being man’s own reason. The most complete content of true, the Reformation was in reality the. triumph of the human reason left to itself is circumscribed by the State, landlordism and capitalism over the Church and created finite world in which our natural existence lies : the people. And this tendency was present from the and the Christian revelation carries us beyond that very star:. The story which has been so sedulously into the higher life of conscious union with God promoted in order to give the Reformation a Himself. In this supernatural life, there is a transformation democraticflavour that Wycliffe, its “morning star,” was of values both as regards ourselves and the world one of the instigators of the Peasants’ Revolt, is in which we live, a transformation brought about by absolutely without any foundation in fact. And, the direct operation of the Divine Spirit through Jesus indeed, considering that John of Gaunt-whom the Christ. Christ as the Divine Word is the giver of this peasants blamed as the cause of their oppression-was new life to us; we are, and ever shall be, merely Wycliffe’s best friend and protector, it is foolish to recipients. The centre and source of this new life is connect his name with the revolt. Moreover, there is always outside ourselves in Christ the manifested Word nothing in Wycliffe’s writings to suggest that he of God to man. If, then, we seek for the sufficient favoured insurrection. Wycliffe desired to maintain reason and guide to this higher life, we find it not in the system of the State precisely as it then was, while ourselves but in Christ alone, and our ultimate salva- he regarded the growing power of the Church as the tion lies not in the fuller or fullest realisation of our menace, and it was to that that he was opposed. On natural self, but in the apprehension of the life which is the contrary, it was the Friars who organised the in Christ.” revolt. If not officially, at any rate, unofficially, for not But “ it is indeed the case that as we receive the truth a few of them actually took part in the revolt, leading from Christ, our reason will be informed by it and some of the bands of peasants who marched to become one with it : and this truth will manifest itself LondonAnyway, suspicion fell upon them, and it may more: and more in terms of our own reason : yet always have been one of the reasons why when the Reformation our reason will remain dependent for its knowledge burst forth the monasteries were suppressed. upon the revealing life of Christ in Whom alone this truth is revealed in an absolute sense; Christ being * Janet “ Histoire de la science politique ” quoted by Himself the Truth, the Way and the Life.” (“The Nitti. Principle of Authority,” pp. 3 and 4.) “New Things and Old in St. Thomas Aquinas,” This Truth, revealed in Christ, is apprehended by edited by H. C. O’Neill. the Mind of the Church, Different elements in it will doubtless appeal more forcibly to different individual exaggeration of the doctrine had grown up. But the minds. Thus, St. Paul emphasises certain doctrines testimony of its early recognition is very great. There is more forcibly than does St. John. But the truths still no satisfactory objection to the authority of the apprehended are not mere subjective impressions. They Petrine texts in St. Matthew, etc. The “conciliar” are themselves as unchangeable as the truths of Euclid. theory, by which a General Council can overrule the Newman has expressed this point in an interesting final definition of a Pope, has never been more than a paragraph :- theory on paper. When the Papal legate read the “The idea which represents an object, or supposed Pope’s decree at the Council of Chalcedon the Fathers object, is commensurate with the sum total of its cried with one voice, “Peter hath spoken through the possibleaspects, however they may vary in the separate mouth of Leo.” consciousness of individuals ; and in proportion to the Papal definitions arc rare and, as I have said, they variety of aspects under which it presents itself to are preceded by a thorough investigation of the mind various minds is its force and depth and the argument of the Church. They do not invent new doctrine. But, for its reality.” (“Development of Doctrine,” p. 55.) when the full conditions are fulfilled, they are final. As Thus those unchangeable revealed truths which are Father Cuthbert has well said : “As a matter of fact all realised by the mind of the Church will gradually be organic societies appeal to their. tradition as a witness apprehended with greater fullness till an entire theology to their true idea and purpose. But in the Church, is developed. Individuals will apply them to further there is the further claim that this tradition is divinely problems and draw from them further deductions. If safeguarded against the errors of human judgment such applications and deductions are legitimate, they through the organic union of the Church with Christ will preserve the original idea and merely apply it as the animating and informing principle of its life.” further. If they are illegitimate, they will contradict and Naturally, these definitions of the Church’s mind are ultimately destroy the original idea. These false inadequate expressions of the divine reality, and cover deductions are called “heresies. ” only a comparatively few, though the most vital issues. Now whenever such false deductions become popular, In all else the normal mode of advance in the the Church must have the power to make a further and intellectualapprehension of religious truth is free discussion. more comprehensive definition of its original tradition As the present Pope has said, “Where there is -comprehensive enough to exclude the new heretical room for divergent opinions it is clearly the right of deduction, everyone to express and defend his own opinion. . . . These definitions seem something like hair-splitting Let each one freely defend his own opinion, but let it to the outsider. Thus we read in Froude’s biography be done with due moderation, so that no one should “in earlier years (Carlyle) had spoken contemptuously consider himself entitled to affix on those who merely of the Athanasian controversy, of the Christian world do not agree with his own ideas the stigma of torn in pieces over a diphthong, and he would ring the disloyalty to faith and to discipline. ” (First Encyclical of changes in broad-Annandale on the Homoousion and Benedict XV.) the Homoiousian. He told me now that he perceived Development is then a natural process in the Church. Christianity itself to have been at stake. If the Arians But when such development leads to heresy (i.e., to had won, it would have dwindled away into a legend.” deductions which would undermine the original Christian (Vol. II, p. 494.) faith) Authority has the right to intervene. Apart from Hence the solemn definitions of the mind of the the actual definitions of faith, such intervention is often Church that have been made by Popes on historic disciplinary, by way of condemnation or direction, and occasions-definitions not merely of the mind of the on the whole it is rare except in times of crisis, as contemporary Church, but of the historic tradition of faith. when the whole historic faith was threatened by the On the rare occasions when the Pope makes such a principles of Modernism. Such crises are naturally definition he employs every human means to ascertain more frequent in an unbelieving age, when the Church the tradition of faith as well as the mind of the is “in a state of siege.” contemporaryChurch. But when he makes his final But the whole conception of Catholic development by definition he is protected by the Holy Spirit from committing which, as Newman said, the Church changes in order the Church to error. This is what is meant by to remain the same, is clearly the antithesis of the Papal Infallibility. The Pope cannot invent new Modernist conception, which, retaining the ancient doctrinesnor impose new ideals of devotion. He can only creeds, invests them with a different meaning. The define the mind of the Church. But when he has clone one regards the Church’s revelation as absolutely true so in this solemn manner, his decision is irreformable (though inadequately expressed) the other as purely and not subject to the subsequent consent or disavowal relative, and, indeed, subjective. of the Church. His is the final court of appeal, and To the Catholic Christian, our Lord is the Incarnation was recognised as such even in the early days of the of the Divine Word or Reason in which alone the Church, when so little had been defined and so many apparently contradictory truths of human wisdom will points, now clear, were wrapped in some obscurity. find their ultimate reconciliation. Thus in answer to (See Dom Chapman’s ‘‘The First Eight General Councils those who complained about certain Catholic doctrines, and Papal Infallibility, ” Catholic Truth Society, “These things are in heathenism; therefore they are IS.) In the very fragmentary literatu]-e left to us from not Christian,” Newman replied. “These things are the first four Christian centuries there is valuable in Christianity, therefore they are not heathen.” evidence of this. In the second century, for instance, St. The visible Church is ultimately the “touchstone” of Irenaeus, writing about Rome, say : By “pointing out religious truth. But those who are not aware of the . . . that faith announced to all men (Rom. i, 8) which fullness of the Church’s revelation, yet are seeking through the succession of her bishops has come down God and justice according to their own spiritual to us, we confound all those who in any way, whether knowledge,are said to belong to the soul of the Church. through caprice or vainglory or blindness or perverse As the present Pope has said “the whole of mankind opinion, gather otherwise than it behoveth. For with was freed from the slavery of sir, by the shedding of this Church, on account of her more powerful headship. the blood of Jesus Christ as their ransom, and there it is necessary that every Church, that is, the faithful is no one who is excluded from the benefit of this everywhere dispersed, should agree (or ‘come Redemption.” (Benedict XV’s First Encyclical.) together’); in which Church has always been preserved The Catholic maintains, then, that only the Christian that tradition which is from the apostles.” (Haer. iii, religion is true; yet that all men who are in good 3, A.D. 185.) faith arc able in different degrees to partake of truth The precise nature and limits of Papal Infallibility and even of eternal, life, though incompletely in this were not defined until 1870. Previous to that date world. If it be asked what kind of spiritual grace the Catholic gains from his gift of the full revealed truth and life, I need only point to those who have accepted Logic v. Mysticism. that truth and lived that life to the uttermost; I mean MR. BERTRAND RUSSELL’S essay, “ Mysticism and the Saints. In every Catholic there is implanted the Logic,” is an interesting example of the failure of the seed of that which the Saints realised in all its fullness. Scientific method when applied to non-Scientific It is the realisation on earth of the supernatural matter, and the fall from the sublime to the ridiculous kingdomof heaven. is very marked when Mr. Russell’s “Mysticism” gives But whether founded on divine fact or human fancy, place to his “Logic” in the management of affairs, for the Catholic Church bears the same features of to-day Mr. Russell has both elements in his composition, as as when St. Irenaeus wrote of her in the Second have all great and original thinkers, and even many Century:- much smaller and more materialist men, who would “The Church, extended to the boundaries of the be extremely pained at the suggestion. earth, received her faith from the Apostles and their It is clear from the opening pages of his book disciples.Having received, she carefully retains it as if that Mr. Russell as Mystic has a very good notion of dwelling in one house, as possessing one soul and the essential idea which this word conveys. “Mysti- heart : the same faith she delivers and teaches with one about the universe. ” “ The opposition of Intuition accord, and as if gifted with one tongue: for though and depth of feeling in regard to what is. believed in the world there are various modes of speech, the about the universe. ’’ “The opposition of intuition tradition of doctrine is one and the same. In the and Reason is mainly illusory, Intuition is what first Churches of Germany, in those of Spain and Gaul, in leads to beliefs which subsequent reason confirms or those of the East, of Egypt and of Africa, and in the refutes. ” “Reason is a harmonising force; rather than middle regions, is the same belief, the same teaching. a creative one. ” And, speaking of Heraclitus ; “The For as the world is enlightened by one sun, so does the facts, of science. fed the [Mystic] flame in his soul, and preaching of one faith enlighten all men that are willing in its light he saw into the depths of the world. . . .” to come to the knowledge of Truth. Nor among the And here the essay might have ended, and been a very pastors of the Church, does he that is eloquent deliver illuminating one. other doctrine, for no one is above his master ; nor does But the “Logic” in Mr. Russell rebels at being he that is weak in speech diminish the truth of tradition." made only a harmonising force, and starts off to try (“Adversus Haereses,” L. I., c. x.) and reverse the decision, by all the strange subterfuges But is not this boast of unity the very same as that of the “logical’ ’ mind. made by St. Paul in the previous century :- “ Mysticism is commendable as an attitude (‘He gave some apostles, and same prophets, and towards life, not as a creed about the world.” ‘‘What other some evangelists, and other some pastors and I do wish to maintain is that insight untested . . . is doctors, for the perfection of the saints, for the work an insufficient guarantee of truth, in spite of the fact of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ; that much of the most important truth” (more truly, until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the perhaps, all the important truth) “is first suggested by knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto its means.’’ the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ : that, Now, Mr. Russell is a mathematician of repute, henceforth, we be no more children tossed to and fro, and, hence, we can accept his logic as of high and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the standard. Also, he is a man whose honesty is not to wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which be doubted, and, hence, anything which is open to they lie in wait to deceive. But doing the truth in criticism in his method is really inherent in the charity, we may in all things grow up in Him Who is method, and condemns it. the Head, even Christ; from Whom the whole body, Now, in the quotation in the last paragraph, the thin being compacted and fitly joined together by what end of the wedge is first inserted. The sentence, every joint supplieth, according to the operation of the though apparently straightforward, is not so really, measure of every part, maketh increase of the body for it implies that there is a maximum reliability to be unto the edifying of itself in charity.” (Ephesians iv, placed on “Mysticism,” and that we know that maximum. 4-16.) And this is clearly untrue, for, even if “Mysticism" To those who complained in a later age that the were a thing which was easy to study scientifically, Church had failed, that her unity was gone, St. Augustine that scientific study has been over a period so replied, “What insolence! Is she no longer short as would not warrant such a statement about because thou art not a member? She shall be though anything. thou be not.” (Enarrat. in Psal. 101, Ser. ii.) But the values have to be further disturbed. In the opening pages we have been talking about something called Mysticism or, alternatively, intuition, and A HOPELESS CASE. which might apparently have been called, if we want I have nothing to lose; a descriptive name, Inspiration (in a moment of inspiration, I ani very lucky. as we say). In fact, it is a clearly circumscribible I have been reading THE NEW AGE, idea. In the next pages we introduce the instinct And I say : of animals, intuitions of character, and such like, and “ O NEW AGE, attach them to our symbol Mysticism. Now, to anyone Labour is capital; competent to deal with the subject at all these must, or Capital in cold storage: should, be clearly heterogeneous matters, and we have It is rude to point at Capital. given to our symbol Mysticism such an indefinite and How serious this is! nebulous character as would, if applied to x, plough What weighty matter ! An I were this one I should tremble, any candidate for little-go. Or that one I should be afraid. . . . The “Logical Mr. Russell” has cast away all that But my humour is mine--I can laugh. the “Mystical Mr. Russell” knows, and has accepted My spirit is mine-I can work, the “observations” of the psychologists from And only a few years shall I suffer, Lombrosoon, who identify a genius with a murderer or a O NEW AGE, pervert. They, in fact, divide all things into For I shall be dead. "conscious” and "extra-conscious’’ without seeing that So I laugh again. Things are really very funny; the extra-conscious is divided into sub- and supra-. No I have nothing to lose.” one who studies his own consciousness and its B. WINDELER. communings with his extra-consciousness can doubt this, though, to an “observer,” the two are naturally Mr. Russell then goes on to exemplify his point from undifferentiable. Clearly, the Mystical Mr. Russell has a hen who has been set on duck’s eggs, and whose been careless in formulating his equation before handing "intuition” is at fault when the ducklings take to the it over to his computer, but it is the claim of a water. Letting pass for the moment the fact that this mere computer to act as arbiter that we are now is really subconscious knowledge, race-memory, investigating. Counsel having been thus satisfactorily instinct, or what you please, but not inspiration, it is quite darkened, the argument sails on gaily. But in order an open question whether intellect would be able to to keep track we will, for the moment, make some deal with the situation better than intuition. For we more restricted definitions for use. I think we can must remember that intellect has, by hypothesis, never manage with two only-inspiration and instinct-the met with such a situation before; it is unique, and it one connected with the supra- and the other the infra- would be quite unjustifiable to attribute any superiority consciousness. The instinct belongs to man the to intellect, in this connection, because it had by the animal, and deals in reflexes, survival values, quasi- scientific treatment of memory, restricted the area physical sympathies and antipathies, and such like. within which the “new and unique” can occur, and The inspiration belongs to man the God; and anyone made this restriction conscious. If the happening were at all acquainted with such things will, I think, agree honestly new and unique I see no reason for thinking that they are quite distinct, quite differently “located,” that intellect can be supposed to deal with it best. One and as little to be confused as sight and touch, or, at thing is pretty certain-it would take much longer to any rate, as smell and taste. reach the solution than intuition would. Here are other passages in which Logic garbles the Even to the end of the chapter we have never realIy facts. P. 15. “Intuition seems to diminish as civilisation touched on Mysticism after the few introductory increases. It is greater in children than in adults, paragraphs from which I have quoted. Incidentally, we in the tineducated than in the educated. Probably, in may note that Mystic is a difficult word to use in dogs it exceeds anything to be found in human beings. these days. It meant originally one who saw the Rut those who see in these facts a recommendation of great truths in a glass darkly, as contrasted with the intuition ought to return to running wild in the woods, initiate who saw them face to face. But in these dyeing themselves with woad and living on hips and dark days a one-eyed man is king, and we use Mystic haws.” No doubt for anyone who saw in these facts for one who sees a little more than most of us, and such a recommendation no future could be too futile, but forget that, as his name implies, he is only a beginner what believer in intuition (or inspiration) does do so? in the new Science, and as liable to mistakes as a What they see is that so-called civilisation and beginner in any other science, sub- or supra-lunary. educationand the unfettered belief in the syllogism crush out Even, therefore, if Logic could dispose of Mysticism intuition, and they desire and try to follow Mr. by fair means instead of foul, it would only have Russell’s own doctrine and produce some synthesis shown that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, between the two opponents, instead of running away to which we have heard before. the woods again, and thus wiping out the progress of One of the great difficulties in connection with the many ages. The sentence “Those who see in these clear-seeing Mystic (to use the rather contradictory facts,” etc., is so ambiguous in meaning that it could phrase which is used by the author) is that his outlook hardly have been better framed for this purpose by differs from ours. His views are Utopian and careless careful intent. of detail, or sometimes rather brutal and inhuman- On pp. 16 and 17 we find : “Bergson maintains that seeming. He has moved his decimal point so far to intellect can only deal with things in so far as they the left that things which formerly were very resemble what has been experienced in the past, while significant have become negligible. For, in the intuition has the power of apprehending the uniqueness ultimate, we know that “a thousand years are and novelty that always belong to each fresh as yesterday,” and a man is probably of about moment. That there is something unique and new at the same value as is a word or idea with every moment is certainly true; it is also true that this us, to be made, used and scrapped without compunction cannot he fully expressed by means of intellectual when our object has been reached. Some ideas concepts. Only direct. acquaintance can give knowledge we cherish for various reasons, but if it comes to a of what is unique and new. But direct acquaintance tight place in an argument, they have to go. of this kind is given fully in sensation, and does not This is not such a foolish suggestyion as it may at require, so far as I can see, any special faculty of first sight seem. Man, as man and not animal, is intuition for its apprehension. It is neither intellect nor almost entirely engaged in combining data from the intuition, but sensation, that supplies new data; but world above him and the world below him, which, when the data are new in any remarkable manner, without him, are foreign to each other. He is working intellect is much more capable of dealing with them than as a catalyst, or an enzyme or a candle-flame, or a verb, intuition would be. ” and his combinations are intellectual ratios-ideas-or Now it seems fairly clear that Bergson, whatever he emotional ratios; and of these he is creating a whole may say elsewhere, when speaking in this passage of the world in exactly the same way, mutatis mutandis, as “novelty that always belongs to each fresh moment,” all the other “layers” of the universe have been made, and Russell when agreeing that there is “something whether by “the” cell or anything else. Under these unique and new at every moment,” are not really circumstances, it is a blessing that most men are con- thinking of the data, but of the relations between the fined to a very restricted area for creation which may data, or the emotion produced by the “situation.” For be avoided by those who find its contents too gruesome the wonderful thing in life is the entirely new aspects and unpleasant. which well-known data present as they recur (‘‘which It is through the Man Himself that these ratios are cannot be fully expressed by means of intellectual made. He is the common ratio, and, to change the concepts”). But, Mr. RusselI continues, “Only direct metaphor, it depends on what ingredients from his acquaintance can give knowledge of what is unique and own stare-cupboards he has thrown into his mixing- new, such direct acquaintance is given by sensation bowl what the result of the brew will be. In the case . . . which supplies new data.” (That “sensation sup- of Mr. Russell’s essay the result is uninspiring; in plies data’? quite negatives the possibility of sensation fact, rather depressing and pessimistic. Far be it being used with a meaning cognate to emotion.) So from me to suggest that there are not many to whom in the course of six lines, the value of the symbol even such a bitter brew may not be a life-bringing “something new” has been quite changed, from a new draught ; but to many who are wavering on the borderline, emotional ratio to a new sensational phenomenon. debating whether to risk a flight or fall back into the well-knowin nest, with all its cosy details, a Slips less humourless but more banal occur pronouncement by a writer of such importance may, if frequently in the course of the volume. Guarded flame, taken too seriously, be the determining factor. Someone at grips with pain, regal state, etc., etc., are phrases must have the courage to attack this self-constituted unworthy of the author of lines like these :- authority of Logic and to show the very What though her name be questionablemethods which it employs to reach its ends. A sung in lost lands? M.B., Oxon. And seeing, they shall see the hair Of Spring, more wild, more wildly fair, Come streaming down the wind-sweet air, Recent Verse. And Spring’s young eyes first opening there On flowers at her hem. L. H. HURST SHORTER. Visions of Chivalry. (Hum- Mr. Gates is so good that it is a pity he is not better; phreys. 3s. 6d. net.) but always when he is just about to make something The opening poem is not very promising, being comparatively perfect, he slips, and the thing is more like an obituary tribute in a local newspaper : spoiled. He saw this madness, this insensate lust For you shall find their footprints in the grass Of war, with many doubts and questionings, At dawning in your laden orchard-closes. Until he found he captained one small band Why “closes”? It adds nothing to “orchards,” Of fellow-men with ideas like his own, and is a country rather than a universal word. Scarce knowing why it was that they were there, But like him firm resolved. to see things through, “Laden” also is open to objection; and the rest of the Giving their all, if need, to attain that end. passage merited a happier epithet. Similarly, “crimson" in the first line of the following passage is an We must not quench the smoking flax, however; alien immigrant :- so let us pursue the matter further. Who could not make a song about a nightingale? Here beginneth : For theirs is crimson comradeship Sweet bird! sing forth, deep from thy swelling breast, Set burning where drowned meadows drip And lead in minstrelsy the feathered throng. And sunless crying waters slip Not only is the metre Spenser’s, but the poetry is Deep underground for shame. not. We must press on. Soldier-poets, we are told, Take away the first line and the last two words of show the last, and a phrase has been achieved. how Chivalry the world inspires, FRANCIS LEDWIDGE. Last Songs. (Jenkins. 3s. 6d. And is most gloriously alive to-day Amid fierce battle’s murderous array. net .) “ Land of Dreams ’’ shows our author to be even Lord Dunsany’s introduction to these last songs by more commonplace than we had dared to fear. Jewels a young Irish poet, killed in the war, is more friendly are flung about, the earth is ordered as a footstool for than critical-as, perhaps, is proper. He refers to the beloved, and her raven hair is crowned with “choice Francis Ledwidge’s “ delicate rustic muse,” to his stars” from the Milky Way. These stage-properties “verses of great beauty,” and to the songs which may of Love are very much worn nowadays. The remark be “something of an anodyne for this stricken age.” is more appropriate than we had dared to hope, for, Such songs we are sincerely looking for, but only their surely enough, we have a tribute to the late Sir H. B. faint far-off echoes are to be found in these pages. We Tree. open “To a Sparrow.” On Fame’s bright scroll thy name is writ in gold, Because you have no fear to mingle And will endure for all eternity. Wings with those of greater part, So like me, with song I single Nothing need to be said of Mr. Shorter’s audacious Your sweet impudence of heart. attempt to convey a passage from the sonnet of Keats. Behold it ! It is not a song in any sense of the word. Several of the phrases are obviously “made” ; and one is a Or like a watcher by the unfathomed sea, Who from some rocky promontory spies colloquialism-“so like me. ” The poem is not, however, A far-off shore loom up before his eyes the best in the volume; very far from it. Others are That ne’er before had brightened to his gaze, near the spirit of poetry, and still others are nearer And stands with beating breast in wild amaze, still. “ Youth ” has a banality not usual in Francis Fast held by rapture he can scarce contain. Ledwidge’s work :- “ Rosemary and Rue ” is not intolerable, though She dropped her sweet fife to her lips having read Keats Mr. Shorter might have remembered And lured me with her melodies, Shelley’s delicate use of “ wild roses ” for “ roses To where the great big wandering ships wild. ” Put out into the peaceful seas. O sweet she was, a thing to seek, The first line is good, the last line is passable; but Twin-sister of the morn, of the two middle lines the first is affected and the With roses wild upon her cheek, second puerile. “ Autumn ” has more of the qualities And beauty heaven-born. ascribed to these poems by Lord Dunsany. If you will have another verse, it is here : Like scattered fire the wild fruit strews Her slim young form, her dainty gown, The ground beneath the blowing trees, Were things with joy to greet, And there the busy squirrel hews Right from her dusky tresses’ crown His deep and secret granary. Down to her little feet. Two later lines in the same poem are better :- Wordsworth adapted to the music-hall. Not to be And I, too, make my own complaint too severe, one line may be quoted for pleasure. Upon a reed I plucked in June. Bare-footed on the dew-gemmed grass. or, rather, the second of these lines is better, the first It has once been on the holy mountain; but all its being spoiled by the superfluous ‘‘own.” companionsare faded and gone. Whither, oh, whither? “Spring Love” is the least imperfect poem to be found, and here is the least imperfect of its stanzas :- BARRINGTONGATES. Cargo. (Blackwell. 2s. 6d. net.) Then came the ’swallow crowding up the dawn, An unfortunate slip occurs in the dedicatory poem to And cuckoo-echoes filled the dewy South. “ My Wife.” I left my love upon the hill, alone, Beauty’s been, and praise, and laughter, My last kiss burning on her lovely mouth. Blowing, breathing at your side. Oh, that last kiss upon that lovely mouth! It is anti-climax after the pathetic “alone” with which the progress; for the high road of culture runs past the previous line ends. “ Alone” would have ended the German universities at a respectful distance. One stanza but for the demand of the mere form of verse. remedy alone was left, a dangerous remedy, one with It is a case of verse at war with poetry, and not in a strong element of deadly poison, but one that could, friendly alliance. A later poem has this rather pretty- if need were, be provided with a suitable label. This pretty phrase :- remedy was war, “ a war from purely moral motives.” While there are maidens dancing to a flute As to the way in which this healing draught was to be In Andalusian vales. taken, they wrote : “ War is the terrible medicine that The stage-properties are a little too much in evidence prevents heroism from dying out among the human to permit us to forget ourselves. The ‘‘Lanawn Shee” race.” Better resort to blood and iron than watch, is, on the whole, good; and, in parts, very good; but with folded arms, the slow but steady degeneration of perfection is still a muffled echo, In the following our species : such was the unspoken thought that drove stanza “ bye-ways ” sets the mind wondering what the many and many a Pangerman to help in promoting the rhyme is going to be. It was a misplaced end-word. war. Like a poor widow whose late grief Were they so greatly mistaken? In no country on Seeks for relief in lonely bye-ways, earth were the signs of moral putrescence so plainly The moon, companionless and dim, marked. One caught whiffs of it from every quarter. Took her dull rim through starless highways. In the vast majority of cases, the evolutionary process The internal rhymes, grief, relief ; dim, rim ; are was not in the direction of the “supermoral” (as may pleasing because inconspicuous and easy ; the whole occur when morality is decaying) hut of the image, moreover, is beautiful; but the fall of the high- "sub-moral” ; it advanced with giant strides towards a ways mars the pleasure to the listening ear. state of things that meant, not the strengthening, but STEPHEN MAGUIRE, the weakening, of human personality. The sufferers could howl as they pleased only in the Chicagos and New Yorks of Germany. For the little men, crushed The Idolatry of Words. and trampled on by the Juggernauts of State, business By Dr. Oscar Levy. and society, must have one sphere where they are free (Translated, by kind permission of the Editor, from “ La Revue --the sphere of “high” art. And the “high” art of Politique Internationale,” by Paul V. Cohn.) little men always tends towards the extraordinary, the THE SEAMY SIDE OF PANGERMANISM.-At a moment colossal, the unparalleled, towards passion that makes when the wind is rising again, and turning against the the public vomit, towards the paint-pot flung full in Pangermanic ship, it is perhaps only fair that we their faces !* . . . Sometimes, it is true, this little man should ask ourselves what freight that ship really demanded with might and main an art that was within carries. We need not trouble about those bales that his grasp, that is to say, a cheap art, soft and have just been put on the upper deck. Ignorance, emasculated,sticky and incoherent, shapeless and maudlin ; vanity, suffering-all this is mere surface stuff. Let and this imperious need could be satisfied all the more us go down into the hold. It is with no little amazement easily in that every element that was strong and that we find there the characteristic product which creative,virile and fruitful, formative and noble had long our age employs to atone for all its defects : idealism, since vanished from the market, and a selection was an idealism so weary of material things, oh, so weary ! no longer hard to make, seeing that supply and ‘The Pangerman used to ask himself, when contemplating demand pretty nearly coincided. Is it surprising that his nation : “ What is going to become of it? there were Germans who tried to counteract the “little These middle-class people who regard themselves as men,” who saw in war the Messiah of a decadent the salt of the earth-do they stand at the pinnacle of people that needed a redeemer? “The grandeur of human development? Are the tango and night life in war,” says Bernhardt, “lies in this, that the petty Berlin the ultimate aim of every German? Are the individualis totally eclipsed by the splendour of the State, hierophants of gay living the true prophets? Are the and nations, as well as Governments, can do nothing lovers of peace and luxury the accredited guardians of more noble and more glorious than muster all their the Temple of Morality ? The health-faddists with forces in defence of their life, their liberty and their their clients of hysterical ‘boarders,’ the quack honour.” The attempt to cure the little man by the reformers with their sticking-plaster for the sores of greatness of the State (which, however, is itself made society-are these worthy aspirants to Valhalla ? Can up solely of little men)--a true veterinary surgeon’s the suffragettes in their green and yellow Be fit prescription-is not unnaturally recommended by a substitutes for Valkyries, to lead dead heroes up to the cavalry-general who has read German philosophers of dazzling halls of Odin? And where are they to find the Hegelian school. It is quite clear, for all that, the fallen heroes, supposing that a single one should that the German “little man” frankly got on our consent to be discovered by such charming Valkyries? general’s nerves. The disgust that this little man Heroes, heroes ! Where are there any nowadays? inspired in the best among the Germans has turned Where are there any hearts left? Do the full purses them into partisans and preachers of war. On the and the full paunches make us forget the empty day that the Pangerman appears before the throne of hearts? ” For the German had acquired wealth with- the Almighty to justify his sins, he will be able to say out acquiring culture, without even preparing himself with a clear conscience : “ Lord, I sought to do what for wealth by the slightest tinge of culture. “ Let us I thought was for the best ! ” And the Lord will begin by laying the material foundations of our existence," answer : “ Hell-the Hell where you have really earned a he had said to himself, “ and the education of place-is paved with good intentions. . . But never our people in ideas will follow of its own accord.” . . mind! go to Paradise. There you will find happiness, The Pangerman idealist realised that this had been a ease, rest for the soul, roast chicken and eternal peace; mistake : he even came to abandon all hope of culture, I know it will be a Hell for you ! ” all the more if he happened to be one of the admitted BE NOT TOO FAINT-HEARTED.-He who nowadays high priests of culture, I mean the German professors;. believes in morality, religion or patriotism is not born . . . It was from these circles, indeed, that the most to rule, but he who does not know how to turn these loyal soldiers of the Pangerman army were recruited, sentiments to account will never rule at all: the latter it was these men who, with a typically German point is as certain as the former. By what means are thoroughness and sincerity, had conceived a hatred * I have ventured to adapt the original somewhat, for the materialism of their own country, while only bringing in Ruskin’s famous criticism of Whistler.- too well aware that they could do nothing. to arrest its TRANSLATOR. we to conquer and rule? ‘Ask the bold navigator who London Papers. can make use of wind and weather in order to reach By Dikran Kouyoumdjian. his destination. As to the destination itself, that is VI. graved in the heart of the man born to conquer. He need not follow the winds he utilises, he may in fact IN my last quarter in Monday Road-for I was grimly take the very opposite course to theirs. . . determined that it was to be my last quarter there, ART AND THE STATESMANSHIPOF DESPAIR-There are though I was no richer than when I had first entered people so closely and intimately attached to a system its dreariness--the only thing that happened to me was of ideas that it needs a charge of dynamite to free them the death of Louis; and even that, you may rather from their bondage,-in which case, of course, they cheaply suggest, may be said to have happened to are blown up with the rest. An instance in point is the Louis rather than to myself; but in saying that you Norwegian Ibsen, who hated the bourgeois, but was merely show that you don’t in the least realise the at heart a bourgeois himself. Another instance is intensity of certain friendships which, beginning at afforded by the present enemies of Germany. In the school on a basis of tomfoolery and ragging, survive German they discover the bourgeois ; they view with all the other petty superficial friendships of that time, alarm the prospect of a bourgeois German world-culture, and ripen steadily into a maturity of companionship and do their utmost to avert such a calamity. which has such a quality and nobility of its own that Yet German culture holds them in such unbreakable DO other relation whatsoever can ever take its place chains that it needs Ibsen’s remedy to set them free. when it is gone. Thus the Entente’s statesmanship is as depressing as I have not happened to mention Louis before in these the dramatic art of the Norwegian. Both are void of papers for the reason that he had actually come very strength and love, both are incapable of frank and little into my life in London. In fact, we retained our healthy laughter. “ Woe unto them that cannot laugh, intimacy against the aggression of our different lives, for in them reside hatred and impotence.” which was somewhat paradoxical for the casual people CONSOLATION. The German Reformation overthrew we believed ourselves to be. (Without a sincere belief the culture of the Renaissance ; the French Revolution in his own casualness the modern youth would be the overthrew the old regime. The present war, however, most self-important ass of all generations.) Our ways can strike no such deadly blow at our world. Long in life led very contrarily, there was nowhere they before its outbreak all nobility had vanished from the could natually touch; he, a soldier, and I-a God art, the manners, the life of Europeans. . . We have knows what! But I had the grace, or, if you like, the the singular good fortune to be able to say of our foolishness, to envy him the definite markings of his culturewhat a certain witty Frenchwoman said of her career; I envied him his knowledge of the road he family : “ Thank‘ God, it was too insignificant to be wished to tread, and of the almost-certainties which lay guillotined under the Revolution. ” inevitably along that road. A REFLECTION FOX OPTIMISTS.-A war arising from Later on, in those very best of days, I used to talk mystic and moral motives cannot be ended by the about him to Shelmerdene. And as I described, she application of social. and economic nostrums. This does listened and wondered. For, she said, such a man as I not mean that our diplomats will not conclude a peace; described Louis to be, and myself, could have nothing it only means that the peace they make cannot possibly in common. But I told her that it isn’t necessary for be a lasting one. Such a peace could only come about two people to have anything “in common” but friendship- through a katharsis, a universal purification of souls. and as I made that meaningless remark, I put The world must endeavour to free itself from its moral on a superior air, and she did not laugh at me. She mysticism, which in Germany assumes a ” State ” continued to wonder during months, and, at last, she form and elsewhere an “ individualist ” form. . . But said : “ Produce this wretched youth.” But I would nothing is more difficult, nothing causes us more not produce him, “because Louis has never in his life danger and loss of blood than this operation, which has met or dreamt of anyone like you, and he will fall in to tear from our hearts a doctrine rooted there for love with you straight away. And as he is more honest thousands of years past. . . If, however, this than I am, so he will fall in love with you much more surgicalprocess is doomed to failure, the world-war may seriously-and that will be very bad for him, because go on for a very long period, with intervals, just like you are the sort of woman that you are. It isn’t fair to the Crusades, the Thirty Years’ War and other religious destroy the illusions of a helpless subaltern in the Rifle wars and great conflagrations of history, which did Brigade. . . No, I will not produce him, Shelmerdene.” not cease from raging until the very last embers of But, of course, I did; and, of course, Louis went down human frenzy had burnt themselves out. like a ninepin-and all through that lunch and for the THE NEVER-ENDIANS OF PACIFISM.-The disappointed half-hour after I had to keep a very stern eye on pacifist is often turned into an uncompromising Shelmerdene,and take great care not to let her get within advocateof war : he is angry, not with himself for having a yard of him, else she would have asked him to chased a will o’ the wisp, but with those who have go and sea her next time he was in town-and then shattered his illusions. Other pacifists, of deeper faith, there would have been another wild-eyed ghost wandering look for the culprit in themselves and deplore their about the desert places of Mayfair. As for Louis, wrong conception of society and their inadequate he beat even his own record for dullness during that knowledgeof men. The latter type suffers more acutely lunch. He admired her tremendously, and obviously-- than the former, because “happy are those who gnaw and too obviously, he couldn’t understand a beautiful at others’ vitals and not at their own.” The third woman, with beauty enough to be as dull as she liked, class of pacifists do not seek the culprit either in saying a witty or amusing thing every few seconds, themselvesor in their neighbour, but in spite of every rebuff always giving the most trivial remark; the most stereo- cling loyally to their old ideal. . . These are the most typed phrase, such a queer twist as would make it seem to be envied of all. They are the vbery opposite of the delightfully new. For ever after he pestered me to apostle Thomas; they put their fingers into the wounds “produce” him again, and I made myself rather of humanity, but remain as untroubled by doubts as unpopular by putting him off; and I never did Jet him see ever. her again. On Shelmerdene’s part it was just cussedness FIRST LIVE, THENPHILOSOPHISE.-What an admirable to worry me to see him again, for with a maxim ! But if it is followed too closely, that is disgusted laugh at my “heavy father stunt,” she forgot to say, if no one will philosophise: we reach the state all about him; after that lunch, she had found him of things that we see around us everywhere to-day, “rather dull and a dear, and much to be loved by all ’the principle “ first die, then philosophise. ” women over 35. I am not old enough to love your Louis,” she said. And she retained her surprise at our to such a pass that we had to put lumps of salt into friendship. the potato dish before handing it down to them. But It was, perhaps, rather surprising. God, least of all, even that didn’t seem to have much effect, for one tea- of course, had nothing whatsoexer to do with it. He time I distinctly heard a murmur resembling “Armenian just sat tight, and let things happen to him. As one Jew’’ escape from Marsden’s lips ; that, of course, of England’s governing classes, even at the age of 14, couldn’t be borne, and I couldn’t then explain to him when I first met him, such a rebellion as that of forcing that there was no such person as an Armenian Jew, God’s hand about the smallest trifle would somehow for I wasn’t myself quite certain about it-all I knew have savoured of disloyalty to the “ Morning Post,” was that I wasn’t a Jew, and it wasn’t Marsden who which, together with the Navy, Louis took as was going to call me one in vain. So there and then representingthe British Empire. I upped and threw my pot of jam at his head, striking I had been at school already one term when Louis him neatly just above the right eye; I didn’t do it in came; and so it was at breakfast on the opening day anger, I didn’t know why I did it-though now I of the winter term that I first noticed his bewildered know that it was done through a base passion for face-though, as we grew to prefects, that same face notoriety, which I still have, though in a less primitive aired so absolute a nonchalance that, together with manner. I certainly got notoriety then, and also six my rather sophisticated features, we thoroughly cuts from a very supple cane, and a Georgic on which deserved the title of the “blasted roues. ” However, at to work off my ardour. that. time, we were not prefects but new “ bugs,” But I gained Louis for a friend. He had, it seemed, though Louis was by one term a newer “ bug” than admired the deft and unassuming way in which I had myself and my friends, arid, therefore, had to sit at thrown that pot of jam-he knew even less than I did the bottom of the “bug” table, and take his food as about that passim for notoriety-and when he met he found it. I, of course, took no notice of him at me in the passage as I came back from my six cuts in all; I maintained a, so to speak, official hauteur about the prefect’s room, he said, “I say, bad luck,” and I our meal-time relations-one couldn’t do anything suggested that if his friend Marsden’s ugly face else, you know, if one wished to keep unimpaired the hadn’t got in the way of a perfectly harmless pot of dignity of one’s seniority. I had, in fact, no use for jam, I wouldn’t have got a licking. Thus, in a three- newer “bugs” than myself; I was quite happy at my minute talk, we became friends ; but when we each own end of the table, with the three men (ages 14 to went to our own studies, we didn‘t know we were 14 1/2) with whom I shared a study. We made a good friends-in fact, I was quite prepared to go on treating and gay study, I remember, for they were three him as an enemy, until, when as we met again, we stalwart fellows, and I, even at that age, not taking my both found we had something to say to each other. And Armenianism over-seriously , gave a quite passable throughout those years of school we had always imitation of an English public-school man. somethingto say to each other which we couldn’t say quite HOW, as I looked round at my three friends, and in the same way to anyone else-and that seems to said to myself, ‘‘ here are companions for life,” how me to be the basis of all friendship. . . I don’t quite was I to know of the irruption into my life of a know what happened to Marsden, or how Louis told bewildered face! I despised that face. It was the face him that he had decided to discontinue his friendship. of a newer “bug” than myself. But the wretched I haw an idea that Marsden went on disliking me man could play Soccer, I noticed; his deft work at through four years of school, and that if I met him in "inside-right” to my “centre-forward’’ warmed my heart ; Piccadilly to-morrow he would recognise me only to and, by the time the term was half over, he had gained scowl at me, the man who not only hit him over the a certain distinction for king consistently at the eye with a pot of jam but also deprived him of his best bottom of the lowest form in the school-ne rather friend. liked a man for sticking to his convictions like that. Louis and I left school together; lie, on his inevitable Nevertheless, we became silently inimical. He road, to Sandhurst, and I, with a puckered side-glance ceased to look bewildered; with an English cunning, at Oxford, to Edinburgh University. Even now, I he had already found that an air of nonchalance paid don’t know why I went to Edinburgh and not to best. And his sort of “Oh, d’you think so?” air Oxford; I had always intended going to Oxford, my began to irritate me; it was no good doing my man family had always intended that I should go to Oxford, of the world on a man who obviously made a up to the last moment I was actually going to Oxford point of not believing what I said. I rather felt, in -when, suddenly, with a bowler-hat crammed on my speaking to him, as an irritated and fussy foreign left ear and a look of vicious obstinacy, I decided that Ambassador must feel before the well-bred imperturbability I would go to Edinburgh instead. of Mr. Balfour; I was then not old enough to know I Of course, it was a silly mistake. The only thing felt like that, but myself and study had reasonable I have gained by not going to Oxford is an utter grounds for deciding that ‘‘that sloppy-haired new bug inability to write poetry, and a sort of superior contempt was a conceited young swine,” and that he was trading for all pale, interesting-looking young men with dark rather too much on being at the bottom of the school. eyes and spiritual hair, who are tremendously There was a dark-haired, sallow-faced youth, one concerned about the utter worthlessness of Mr. William Marsden, who had come the same term as we three; Watson’s poetry. Of course, my own devil-may-care he had at first shared our study, but had been fired attitude of half-baked superiority may be just as out for being a cub. And, by intimating to the House- unbearable as their anaemic enthusiasm over, say, a newly Master that if he was put back’ in our study, new discovered rondel by the youngest son of the local fish- bugs or no, we wouldn’t answer €or his mother’s monger; but I, at least, do sincerely try to face and knowing him, we had fired him, out in such a way that appreciate literature boldly and frankly and normally, he wouldn’t ever get back. But he didn’t try to get and not as they do, so to speak, invertedly, attacking back. He just went into the newest bug’s study, and literature from anywhere but a sane standpoint, trying there, when Louis came the next term, made firm and to force a breach in any queer spot so that it is unusual fast friends with him. Marsden disliked me much and has not been thought of before-and through this more than he disliked anyone else, as I had been the original breach will suddenly appear an Oxford face instigator of his ejection from our study, and so the with a queer, unhallowed grin of self-conscious silent and contemptuous enmity with which Louis eyed cleverness; and all this for a thin book of poems in a me wasn’t very strange. Those two made common yellow paper cover, called, as like as not, “ Golden cause in their indifference to anything we three at the Oxygen” ! head of the table might say; and soon, things came Louis, down at Sandhurst, was being made into a soldier, and I, up at Edinburgh, was on the high road any ampler way than “damned good’ ’ or “ the bloodiest to general fecklessness. I only stayed there a few piffle.” But there were many other less transparent months ; jumbled months of elementary medicine, things which I wondered at in Louis; his amazing political economy , metaphysics, Theosophy-I once honesty, his incapability to be anything but himself, handed round programmes at an Annie Besant lecture his inability to look anything but a fool if he happened at the Usher Hall-and beer. Lots of beer. And to say a wise word, or do a good deed-and, as I then, one night, I emptied my last mug, and with write, I wonder if I am describing one of Ouida’s another side-glance at Oxford came down to London; splendid heroes, or a man I knew well. “to take up a literary career” my biographer will, no Those occasional evenings were very good. I put doubt, write of me. I may, of course, have had a away from myself writing and books-Louis hadn’t “literary career” at the back of my mind, but, as it really ever read anything but Kipling , Ole-Luk-Oie was, I slacked outrageously-much to Louis’ disgust and “The Riddle of the Sands”-and I temporarily and envy. I have already written of those months, forgot Shelmerdene, arid we dined right royally. I how I walked in the Green Park, and sat in picture don’t know what we talked about, perhaps we talked galleries, and was lonely. of nothing at all; but we talked all the time, and we That first loneliness was lightened only by the laughed a. great deal, and we still had the good old occasionalvisits to town of Louis. He was by now “blasted roue” touch about us. We were very, very a subaltern in the Rifle Brigade, with an old indeed, so old that we decided that the first act indefinite but cultured growth somewhere between his of no play or revue in the world could compensate one nose and upper lip, and a negligent way of wearing- for a hurried dinner; and we were old enough to know mufti, as though to say, “God, it’s good to that a confidential manner to maitres d’hotels is a be back in civilised things again!” They were jolly, thing to be cultivated, else a chicken is apt to be sudden evenings, those ! London was still careless, wizened, and the sweet an unconscionable long time in then. Of an evening, a couple of young men in dress- coming. After dinner, a show, and then, perhaps, a suits, with top hats balanced over their eyebrows, and night-club “to teach those gals how to dance.’’ eyes full of a blase vacancy, were not as remarkable We founded a Club for Good-Mannered People. I, as they now are. Life has lost its whilom courtesy as the founder, was the president of the Club, and to a top hat. Red flags and top hats cannot exist side Louis the vice-president ; there were no members, by side, the world is not big enough for both. Ah, because we unanimously blackballed everyone, whom in a thou Bolshevik, thou class-beridden shop-steward ! moment of weakness, one or other of us might propose. when ye die, how can ye say that ye have ever lived We decided, in the end, that the Club wouldn’t ever if, in your aggressive experiences, you have not known have any members except the president and vice-president, upon your foreheads the elegant weight of a top hat, simply because the men of our own generation made especially to suit your Marxian craniums by one were the worst-mannered crew God ever put within Locke, who has an ancient shop at the lower end of lounging distance of a drawing-room. . . . There must St. James’s Street, and did at one time dictate the be something wrong, we said, in a world where public- head-wear of the beaux of White’s and Crockford’s. school men could be recognised by the muddy foot- I warrant the life of my top hat, made by that same prints they left on other people’s carpets. So it was artist, to withstand the compact of the fattest woman obviously left to us to supply the deficiency of our on earth, against all the battening eloquence of all the generation, both as regards women and everything orators in all the Albert Halls of all the Red flag else. We made a cult of good manners; Louis took countries. With it on my head I will finesse any to them as a cult where he had never taken to them argument whatsoever with you any night of the week. as a necessity., and the happiest moments of his life And at the end of the argument if you are still were when he could work it off on to some helpless obdurrateI will cram my blessed top hat on your head, woman who had dropped an umbrella or a handkerchief. and-Lo and Behold ! you are at once a Labour The Club, we decided, must never come to an Minister in the Cabinet, a most respectable man, with end, it must go on being a Club until one or other of a most rectangular house in Portman Square! . . . . us should die. . . .and now the Club is no more, for, But I must go back to Louis, who never got further in suddenly, a spring gave way, the world gave a lurch his study of Labour than an idea that all station- towards hell, and Louis stopped playing at soldiers to masters were Labour leaders because they took tips so go away and be a real soldier, to die in his first attack impressively . with a bullet in his chest. . . . The fellow had a way of growing amazingly; when we left school together, I can swear that he was no more than a paltry six-foot, but when I saw him next Art Notes. in London he had added another four inches to By B. H. Dias. himself,and was becoming apologetic about it. For the rest, how can one explain such an one?-Does he WYNDHAM LEWIS AT THE GOUPIL. need it? Certainly, not the “typical” Englishman-- MR. LEWIS’ picture of the Gun Pit is one of the few I don’t know one, unless it be myself, and I’m an outstanding works at the Canadian War Records Armenian. He was the! sort of Englishman who could exhibit, but his drawings now at the Goupil Gallery are prove himself an utter fool in an elementary discussion an advance on the painting, or else the painting is a over a dinner-table, and yet persuade a million retrogression from the drawings, one of which appears tropical niggers, to fight to the death about something“ to be a more personal study €or the left lower corner they didn’t care a rap about. He was always instinctively of the big picture. right in his way of doing things, and always As Mr. Lewis implies in his preface to the helplessly wrong in his way of saying them-for, like catalogue, there are two ways of regarding “war paintings: all Englishmen of his class, he couldn’t really speak infirst, as paintings (vide Mr. Lewis’ remarks English. He could understand what one said to him, about Uccello) ; secondly, as illustrations of war (vide of course, but he couldn’t express himself in return, Mr. Lewis’ remarks about Goya) ; as “paintings” Mr. he simply couldn’t describe anything; and if ever he Lewis’ drawings are about the most successful war tried to express an emotion or an occurrence it was a show we have had. There are fragmentary drawings lengthy matter of “ehs” and ‘you sees” and ‘‘I like the detail of mechanism of the camouflaged gun, means,”’ and fumbling hesitation. He always a mere study; there are intermediary states, and there thought me the devil of a queer fellow for being able are fully finished works like the drawings of gun-pits; to describe, say, a play which we had been to see in works which can Se submitted to all the criteria. These works are signally free from the violence which entrance room lose nothing by comparison with characterised Mr. Lewis’ pre-war productions. The artist Turner’s water-colours. Those who ragged Mr. is the antidote for the multitude. At least, there is Lewis five years ago for his cubism, futurism, vorticism, antidotal art, whether one approves it or no. There and so forth, will vainly seek for the old points is also art which needs antidotes. Mr. Lewis’ art of attack in these drawings. My own preference is for does not. The drawings in this exhibit could, most the rough, spirited oil painting, “To Wipe Out”; of them, hang in one’s study without palling. This here the purely optical effects of shell-burst and of means that they are well composed, well constructed, battle are fused with emotional expression. The and harmonious in their colour schemes. figures in the lower right-hand corner are, I think, What are called the tactile, but should be called the more satisfactory than even the pink-shirted nigger lift-ile values are excellent. I mean there is definite in the Canadian War Records picture. I would draw proof of anatomic skill in the degrees of tenseness of attention to the forms in 11, to the “Walking the various figures : the men, particularly the centre Wounded” (No. 17), to the treatment of combined man, lifting the short balks preparatory to building the figures in 29, to the concentration of force, to the gun- gun-pit; the men hauling the gun; the larger figures mouth in 19, to the detail of 52 : and my aim in this pulling on the rope (40) all display the different, the article has been to suggest that Nos. 11, 17, 32, 36, quite different mechanical or physical strain of their 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 47, 53, are the hest art that has attitudes ; and this expression or exposure of bodily “come out of the war”;. but they have mine a good capability is shown by the artist with the fine graduation deal more out of art; out of art’s resistance to war, of a master. The layman will be hard put to tell than out of war’s much-vaunted “effect upon art.” you just why each figure expresses such a strain : the Indeed, Mr. Lewis would seem to suggest that art is a per-kilo, per-foot pressure in each instance. That is cut above war; that art might even outlast it. to say, the strain is exposed with great economy of THE WORK OF WALTER SICKERT, at the means. So also is the devitalisation of the wounded Eldar Gallery, Great Marlborough Street, can be seen as they return over their duck-boards. to better advantage than has been possible for some By subtle gradations we come out of the technical years. The exhibit is gathered from work ranging problems of composition into the problems of “drawing," over (I believe) about twenty years. It is handicapped and thence into the illustrational qualities ; man by a catalogue with a preface. Sickert’s work has a the alert animal peeping dog-like out of his protective personal note. No. 4 shows able eliminations and burrow, nosing danger. true colour; there is excellent simplicity in No. 9. And Another property of Mr. Lewis’ work is its “partialness." the pure stone colours in “Yvonne” (15) are delightful. I mean that every series of the three series 27 shows Whistlerian detail. The dark dirtiness of of Lewis’ drawings I have seen appears to be the one of his phases (example No. 41) is perhaps difficult beginning of some exposition which might go on indefinitely to fathom, but two canvasses in the badly lighted back for the rest of the artist’s life, (In two cases it room give one an inkling that Sickert was more than has been continued by imitators.) attempting a fidelity to certain curious qualities of There seems no reason why Mr. Lewis should not unpleasant light which few artists have dared to tackle. go on for years unrolling the panorama of artillery 45 and 49 could only have been done by an artist who labour, phase by phase of the operations; there is a knew his own mind. complete world of the matter ; just a.; there was a complete passible world of violent or impassive forms suggested by his “Timon” ; or by drawings at the old Views and Reviews. Dore Gallery in 1914. The present show is manifestly only one corner of Mr. Lewis. But it is no function CATHOLICISM : A CONCLUSION of mine to speculate about potentialities. I am here MR. LEO WARD’s ingenious methods of argument merely to find the good in each show as it opens remind me of that saying of Cardinal Newman : “By a regardless of “school,” whether it be Mr. Nicholson’s judicious selection of facts, you can prove anything.” conscientious still life ; or Mr. Geo. Belcher’s When it is a question of proving that the Papacy gratuitous labour in refining his tones for drawings exercised temporal power until 1870, the restoration of that will be made mediocre in weekly reproductions. the Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne and its Mr. Lewis’ show is of no particular school; it touches maintenance by subsequent Emperors, are adduced as his vorticist work at one corner, and Uccello or evidence. On this theory, the Papacy was responsible Signorelli, or perhaps Kunisada at another. One should for the temporal history of Catholic Europe, in at least perhaps run over to the National Gallery to discover the same sense that our Government is responsible for just which primitive it should ‘‘ recall ” to one’s the activities of our Army and Navy. But when it is a memory. There is, or was, the little Judas in or near question of proving that what I loosely called ‘‘ the the front hall; and various other scenes of the Church” condemned science, another theory, is crucifixion. Before the renaissance there were advanced, viz., the theory that the Papacy is not responsible simplificationsand eliminations quite as “revolutionary ’’ as for the acts of its instruments. “The Church,” any we shall find at the Goupil. But I cannot see that we are, told, “never condemned [the heliocentric these early Italians were more satisfactory. theory] at all, for the Qualifiers of the Holy Office It also appears to me a sign of resource that a man never‘ mean the Church.” A similar argument is used known chiefly as a revolutionary inventor of forms, by some advocates to prove that the Church never and what his adherents termed ‘‘forms in combination,” burnt heretics ; the Inquisition only adjudged them should now appear as a narrative painter with guilty of heresy, and handed them over to the civil an apparently unlimited subject-matter, a capacity for authorities to be dealt with according to law, with a suggesting unlimited subject-matter. I think the recommendation to mercy (I forget the exact phrase). readers of THE NEW AGE have by now become These subtle distinctions were, no doubt, fully reconciledto Matisse, Branchusi, Piccasso, or, at least, to appreciatedby the victims, who were sustained in their Van Gogh, Gaudier, Cezanne. I do not think the afflictionsby the thought that the Church had not punished majority will find the present work of Wyndham them; or if they were not, they cannot be quoted- Lewis “too advanced.” There is, from the purely against the Church, for condemned men, as Mr. Leo aesthetic point of view, a calm pleasure to be derived Ward argued in the case of Loisy, are not “impartial from clear tones, the cold air, the desolation of the witnesses. ” Ypres Salient, with the pyramidal arrangement of Mr. Leo Ward has done me an unwitting service. three men in the wilderness. The sketches in the He has demonstrated the impossibility of proving any- anythingagainst the Church, and relieved me from all and revealed by the personal God, our Creator, necessity of making the attempt. I am grateful, and our Lord. ” Translated into ordinary language, because I am, at present, confined to the house, and the and taken in conjunction with the preceding paragraph few books I have here do not bear on the of the oath, this means that Faith is simply belief in subject. It is, of course, unfortunate that an what the Church likes to tell us of the Divine Deposit institution like the Church should be so that it claims to hold, a Deposit that is incapable of misunderstood, not only by the popular mind, but even being developed beyond its original meaning. It is a by devout Catholics ; I remember, for example (I have fixed, final revelation of which the Church has the not the book before me), that Mr. Wilfrid Ward monopoly;and I, for one, do not begrudge them their delivered the Lowell Lectures in 1914 on “The monopoly, nor desire that they should reveal unto me Genius of Cardinal Newman”; and in the course of their chief stock-in-trade. those lectures expounded Newman’s argument on the The value of Modernism to this generation is that it importance of accepting scientific demonstrations of compelled the CathoIic Church to define itself as a body process. He urged that it was a mistake to hold a that has nothing to say that is of any value to this spatial conception of Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, generation. As Loisy puts it : “ Now the respective based on a geocentric system, when the heliocentric positions have keen fixed: the Roman Church, system had been established ; the maintenance of an supported by the notion of an absolute revelation, which obsolete scientific theory, he urged, imposed an gives Divine authority to her constitution, her belief, unnecessary burden on faith. Newman, it seemed, held and her practices, refuses any concession to the the opinion that the Church, even if it had not modern spirit, to modern science and to modern condemned, had not accepted the heliocentric theory; and society, which, on their side, cannot recognise a Church that can leave its children in such obscurity the absolute character of this revelation, nor the and perplexity has no right to complain of being absolutism of ecclesiastical infallibilty and authority. misunderstood. If it is, as Mr. Leo Ward quotes, “a sect The divorce is complete. Science had already realised that is everywhere spoken against,” it has no one to it for herself, and society tended more and more to the blame but itself; it is judge and jury in its own cause. same attitude. The Church has now proclaimed it But all this has nothing to do with my argument. officially by the voice of her Chief.” Miss Petre gives I repeat that I have not attacked the Church, and do some instances of the development of Papacy-worship not intend to follow Mr. Leo Ward’s argument in which are interesting, but which I have no space to defence of it. I am not a Catholic, and I have no concern quote; they are developments, I may say, that do not with Catholicism; it may be anything that Mr. Leo recommend Catholicism to the serious attention of Ward pleases, but I have no use for it. My argument unbelievers. Here I must leave the matter with the was that the Modernist movement was a waste of time suggestion that the history of Modernism assures us that and energy, based on a misconception of the nature of Mr. Leo Ward will have to convert the Catholic the Catholic Church. The world knew that the Catholic Church before he can reasonably hope to convert Church was in need of reform; Modernism assumed unbelievers like myself, who really have something better that it was capable of and willing to effect that reform. to do than to draw distinctions between “the Church’’ The condenination of Modernism proved that the and “the Qualifiers of the Holy Office.” Modernists were wrong in that assumption ; the Church A. E. R. refused to reform itself. There was the “Sillon” movement,which M. Marc Sangnier, one of its directors, described as a system “of popular education which . . . Review. trained young Roman Catholics to be good citizens, and tended to develop in them the moral virtues and Chosen Peoples : The Hebraic Ideal v. The Teutonic. religious faith. ’’ That movement was condemned, and By Israel Zangwill. (Allen & Unwin. 2s. net.) M. Pierre Dabry left the Church on that occasion. In a This is a reprint of the first “Arthur Davis Memorial letter to the “ Paris Journal “ of 29th May, 1910. M. Lecture’ ’ delivered before the Jewish Historical Society Dabry declared (I am quoting from Miss Petre’s book, on Easter Sunday of this year. It expresses Mr. “Modernism”) ; “Everything in the Church is anti- Zangwill in his best mood, the sobriety of the scholar democratic, its actual form, its methods, its habits, its informing the rather obvious inductions of the literary attitude to the questions of the day; its actual form, by freelance, and the pride of race glowing with a steady which society, where all were at first brothers, and held passion. There is little, except his references, that is their goods in common, has ended in the absorption of new in his conception of the Hebraic ideal : Matthew individuality, the crystallisation of all thought, all will, and all right in one person, that of the Pope . . . its Arnold has said very much the same of Israel’s genius method, which is to impose everything authoritatively, for righteousness, and of the conditional nature of the and formally . . . its habits, which are the effete Divine Election. But it is necessary that these things heritageof a monarchical age . . . its attitude to questions should be re-stated at a time when Nationalism is the of the day . . . in which it never fails to adopt the moving spirit of the age, and arrogates to itself the most re-actionary and retrograde position. The title of the elect. It was the Hebrew prophet Hosea Church, as it now is, has the appearance of a foreign who warned Israel (and not only Judea) : “They have element in contemporary society. . . I had identified set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, the love which I bore the people with the love which I and I knew it not; of their silver and their gold have bore the Church. The people-shall now have it all.” they made them idols, that they may be cut off.” For M. Dabry, being a condemned man, is, of course, not the promise is not to a nationality, but to a type which, an “impartial” witness; he only tells the truth as he we must admit, has found its supreme expression in sees it. members of the Hebrew race; certainly, it was the I have already shown that Tyrrell’s (and not only his) Christ who said : (‘Not every one that saith unto Me, mystical conception of Faith was condemned ; the anti- Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; Modernist oath is explicit on the point. “I positively but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in hold and sincerely profess that Faith is not a blind heaven” : but the doctrine is not only implicit, it is religious sense springing from the depth of the sub- violently explicit, throughout the Old Testament. The conscience, under the influence of the heart and the prophets did little else but abuse the Jews for breaking impulse of the moral sense and will, but a true assent of the covenant, and threaten them with the dire the intellect to truth received by the hearing from consequences: “Israel hath cast off the thing that is good : outside, by which we believe in virtue of the supreme, the enemy shall pursue him. ” “Israel is swallowed Divine veracity those things which are said, attested, up : now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.” Yet the promise of Divine their energies to politics : express themselves in political Election, as Mr. Zangwill reminds us, was invariably terms : are impatient of industrial action that accompanied by the assurance : “Thou shalt be a blessing embarrasses their political purposes. That in itself would be sufficient reason for Guildsmen to decline to label . . . and in thee shall all families of the earth be themselves Socialist. Whatever the pure milk of the blessed. ” Chosen peoples do not exist by right of doctrine, the word to-day undoubtedly connotes political birth, as the Hebrew prophets were always telling the action, and superficial, reformative action at that. But, Jews ; election is not predestinate, as Calvin would the materialist interpretation of history, upon which have it, but voluntary and conditional on obedience to Mr. Cole bases his case, carries a different significance the revelation of the will of God. It is a covenant, from the National Guild aphorism. We seek to with dire penalties for any breach of the contract : the differentiate economic from political action in the structure great contribution of Judaism to civilisation was its of Society, whereas the Marxist looks to the economic penetration of the State. This is precisely why he development of religion from the idea of status to that is political; the conquest of the State by the material of contract. The covenant, with its disciplines, elements, to the exclusion of the spiritual factors. That contains all that is necessary to greatness; and the is a Slough of Despond which I would earnestly entreat prophets urge upon the Jews, as Maria urged upon Mr. Cole to avoid. Malvolio, the counsel : “Be not afraid of greatness.” (iii) Mr. Cole asserts that ‘‘ National Guildsmen did Mr. Zangwill has an easy task, but an enjoyable one, not invent the doctrine of wage-abolition.” “ It is,” he in the; demonstration of the superiority of the Hebraic says, “ an essentially Marxist doctrine, though many ideal to the Teutonic, or any other inflamed Nationalist political Socialists have forgotten it.” Here again it ideal. The chosen people is the people that accept:, is important to distinguish. I have repeatedly said and written that the phrase “ abolition of the wage-system ’’ the covenant, that is self-elected to the Divine Election : derives from the earlier Socialists. I say so specifically “My son, give me thy heart . . . forget riot my law,’’ in ‘‘ National Guilds.” But it is important to remember that is the necessary condition of the chosen people, that Marxists and National Guildsmen do not mean whoever they be, and unless they conform to it, they the same thing by the same term. The Marxist gives are merely called, but not chosen. Judaism is at least it a much more general sense, scarcely differentiating no tribal religion, not the prerogative of Petticoat Lane it from the Capitalist system. Our analysis of the wage- or the local hope of Houndsditch : it is the most forceful, system is not Marxian by any stretch of the imagination. the most poetic, the most Divine revelation of the If Mr. Cole doubts it, let him re-read Marx’s section on universal conditions of the good life, the most inspired use and exchange value. Marx recognises the commodityvaluation of labour as an economic fact. I have prophecy of the destiny of the human race, the real not looked at Marx for twenty years, and I am writing doctrine of the Super-man. It differs from Christianity without access to books, but I do not recall any passage chiefly by the fact that it dues not dabble in mystical where he repudiates the commodity valuation. I am, metaphysics, preaches no vicarious atonement, but at in fact, tolerably certain that he would have regarded taches the promised blessings to the specific performance our analysis of wagery as unscientific and Utopian. As of the Terms of the covenant, and calls upon man a matter of fact, on the Marxist analysis, particularly to save himself by entering into a right relation with bearing in mind the historic chapter on the working the universal order. day, Marxist Socialists are bound to work through the political medium. That issue was fought out amongst them a generation ago. (iv) I repeat that the movement for workshop control LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, does not spring from Socialist propaganda. I go further and assert that it is a reaction from Socialist propaganda. THE NAME AND THE SUBSTANCE. Although Mr. Cole makes the point that the Sir,-Mr. Cole’s letter in last week’s issue goes to the Socialist Labour Party have fostered the movement, he roots of the differences between us. Before dealing does not seriously dispute my statement. Indeed he seriatim with the points he raises, it will probably be admits it. “ It is true,” he says, “that the movement convenient to your readers to recapitulate. Mr. Cole springs mainly, not from any propaganda, but from the urges the National Guilds League to change its name material and spiritual conditions of workshop life.” to “Guild Socialist League.” He frankly admits that That is my case. Workshop control is fundamental to he regards this as a first step to political action. He National Guild propaganda. It is not Socialist in wants the word “ Socialist ” inserted in the title because origin. It springs from industrial conditions. Why lie thinks that Socialism is the real genus of the National then label it Socialist? Guilds movement. To that I replied that, if the genus (v) In regard to the Democratic genus of both Socialism of the movement must go. into the title, the word should and National Guilds, again Mr. Cole does not really be “ Democratic ” and not “ Socialist.” The essence dispute my contention. “ Real Socialism is democratic ; of the discussion becomes clear in my comments upon so is real National Guildism.” Democracy, in fact, is Mr. Cole’s letter. the common denominator. But Mr. Cole objects to (i) To my contention that the word “ National ” Democracy because “ if the word Socialism has acquired should precede “ Guilds,’’ to distinguish them from the a political taint in recent years, Democracy has acquired local or mediaeval guilds, Mr. Cole replies that it in a more virulent form.” I certainly agree. But the “ Socialist ” supplies the distinction with equal clearness. proposal to change the title of the National Guilds League The antithesis to local is national. No doubt, does not come from me. I do not want to change it; by indirect reasoning, the same result might be reached I like it as it is. I merely pointed out to Mr. Cole that, after some intellectual effort if we adopt the word if the title is to indicate the genus, we must look to ‘‘ Socialist.” Personally, I see no reason for inserting Democracy and not to Socialism. Does not Mr. Cole a conundrum into the title. Moreover, I am continually see that his objection to the existing tainted meaning reminded of the importance of emphasising the attached to Democracy is equally fatal to Socialism ? national aspect of Guild. It is difficult to impress (vi) Mr. Cole’s seventh point is a little difficult and one’s audience with the magnitude of the National involved. I again assert that Syndicalism, like National Guild. Most people still associate the word with its Guilds, is an independent form of Democracy, but both, old local meaning. in the nature of the case, related to Socialism Mr. (ii) Mr. Cole denies that Socialism is an essentially Cole reminds me that Lagardelle, the French Syndicalist, political doctrine, and reminds me that it is an old called his chief book “ La Socialisme Ouvrier,” whilst Marxist axiom that economic power precedes political his journal was “ La Mouvement Socialiste ” ; that W. power. Stated baldly in this way, it would seem as D. Haywood called his book “ Industrial Socialism ”; though Mr. Cole is right. But closer examination that many of the industrial actionists were and are disclosesimportant factors which we cannot overlook and members of the Socialist Labour Party. I reply that must not minimise. In the first place, it cannot be they are examples to be avoided. Lagardelle and denied that the vast majority of Socialists, not only in Haywoodwere, in fact, seeking to annex a little Socialist Great Britain, but throughout Europe and America, are good-will. Mr. Cole knows better than I how they hopelessly committed to political action : devote all fared. And again I assert that, whatever their claim to the Socialisttitle, they were undoubtedly “ in bitter NATIONAL GUILDS PROPAGANDA. I only know by what I have oppositionto Socialism.” Sir,-In view of the fact that society now is passing read and heard of the French Syndicalist movement; I through a period of great political and economic unrest, have been in personal contact with Haywood’s I beg to make the following suggestion. movement.Onthat I can be dogmatic. Almost daily I am asked by both those in sympathy (vii) I assure Mr. Cole that I am not “interpreting with Labour and those who fear it, what remedy there Socialismin the light of its worst exponents.” Why should is for this disquiet. Invariably I reply that the only I? Manyyears ago, I fought hard to establish a hope which I can sec lies in some form of “National Socialist party, taking a very active part in the Guilds.” I am called upon then to explain what is movementfor Socialist unity. To the last, THE NEW AGE, meant by that term, and of course I do so to the best I with it, held out for Socialist Representation of my ability. The explanation usually meets with a Committees,when the great majority of Socialists were certain measure of concurrence, but with the addendum rushing, helter-skelter, into the Labour Representation that a more detailed statement is necessary. It is Committees,the forerunners of the present Labour Party. impossible in a ’bus or tube, or over a lunch-table, to That hardly indicates any prejudice against the name. synthesize or sketch adequately the whole scheme, and But I then believed in the prior necessity of political generally Ifinish by telling them of the text-book on action. And believing that I was consistently a Socialist, the subject-“ National Guilds.” I can understand Socialism tolerably well without either When I am asked where it can be bought, and its the best or worst exponents. The definition of itself cost, I have to reply six shillings-that was the and the State (a definition that neither Mr. Cole nor I published figure when I purchased it. The price nearly would accept) logically involves it in political action. always seems excessive-such is human nature-to the That is why I left it. If, as a National Guildsman, I inquirer, and he goes away with the germ of a new idea were to re-enter politics, it would be on terms and with and outlook on life in his mind, but, I fear, very seldom objects remote from the purpose of the best as well as does he put his hand in his pocket and get the book. of the worst exponents of Socialism. But the time is not yet; may never come in my life-time. Mr. Cold is Now it is possible to argue that, if a man be not surprised that I should “ cleave to Industrialism, despite interested enough in society to expend six shillings, his all its faults, and forsake Socialism for the same faults.” advocacy or adherence is not worth much. We should The answer is that I don’t. I do not cleave to industrialism. remember however, that, if National Guilds are to but I am, as a Guildsman, deeply concerned with become practicable and practical, it is necessary to enlist it. I do not cleave to Socialism for quite other reasons. the sympathy and support of the plain man. They may have common faults ; but they have different Would it not be feasible to publish a small pamphlet objects. -say at 6d. or 1s.-outlining the ideas contained in “ National Guilds,” which one could afford to give away Mr. Cole’s conception of Socialism as “ a great tradition where the soil seemed fruitful, and from a monetary of revolutionary action and agitation-of Robert point of view would be no deterrent to an inquirer? Owen, of Karl Marx, of William Morris, and of a record It could be so designed that it would lead serious quite as full of industrial as of political effort and students to the larger book, and at the same time he achievement ” is, I fear, rhetorical rather than enlightening. an active force in the important and pressing work of Certainly if, in the happy groves beyond, Owen, propaganda. Marx, and Morris should meet and light upon this EVERARD G. GILBERT-COOPER. passage, phantasmal wigs will be upon the ethereal green. The record of revolutionary action and agitation [A complete set of the publications of the National will doubtless contain these honoured names ; it Guilds League, consisting for the most part of simple will also include such names as John Ball, Lilburn, expositions of the Guild idea, will be forwarded post Rousseau, Danton, Bakonnin, the Chartists, Mazzini, free for IS. 6d. on application to the Sec. N.G.L., 17, the brothers Riches, Byron, Shelley, Whitman, and a Acacia Road, N. W.8.-Ed., N. A.] cloud of others. It is a tradition of democratic struggle *** and advance in which Socialism. has played, after all, RECONSTRUCTION AND THE THEATRE. a subsidiary part. Mr. Cole’s best chance to win immortality is to stick to National Guilds, both in name Sir,-All the political parties are talking about and substance. S. G. H. reconstructionin regard to everything except the theatre. This is a serious and remarkable omission, seeing that *** England produced the world’s greatest playwright. The excessive labour unrest is partly due to the mental and Sir,-I will leave the surely rather barren historico- spiritual hunger of the more intelligent workers. This etymological part of this controversy for others to hunger can best be satisfied by a vigorous modern disport themselves in, merely offering “ Syndo-Social national drama. Guilded Statism ” as my shot at a chemist’s label and The theatre has, therefore, in some respects, greater passing on to more general considerations. possibilities than Pulpit, Press, and Parliament. But it An Englishman hates to change his name. He usually must be free. The conscientious English playwright is leaves that to unfortunate and not too high-class handicapped in many ways. He has to contend with Germansand to a low variety of Jews. Buggins and Hogge the vested interests of the ground landlord, the “ vested remain Buggins and Hogge, and even Quite Unmentionable, prejudices ” of the “ High Brow ’’ as represented by the Esq., sticks it out until the name of Lord Chief Incorporated Stage Society and the dead hand of Shakespeare. Justice Unmentionable is one to glory in. The richest He is faced with fearful odds, but he has the district in one of our colonies was mistakenly Time Spirit with him. Although Shakespeare was the named Poverty Bay, and its very prosperous citizens greatest man of his age, he was not for all time, for his ideas, have again and again refused to alter it. In commerce, philosophy, and outlook are all obsolete now. He lived again, to change the name of a decent firm is a notori- before the age of Darwin and Spencer. ously doubtful move, unless there is some very obvious But no individual can do much by himself. The and public reason for it. In the case of a society such whole nation must demand that West End managers and as the N.G.L., suspicion as to change of policy, if not their landlords give English authors who have of principle, is certain to be aroused, and would not, somethingto say a fair chance. for all I know, in such an event be entirely groundless. If this is done, there is no reason why we should not do as well and better than the Elizabethans, for we hare We all admit our very great debt to Mr. Cole, but much better dramatic raw material to “ cook.” some of us think his time and abilities much too WM. MARGRIE. valuableto be expended on a controversy of this sort, and *** I will here put it to him whether, even if we are to admit, as I for my own part do not, the slight advantages MATERIALISMAND AESTHETICS. he claims as obtainable by the proposed step, he Sir,-My answer to Mr. Kerr is to refer him to my would think it worth while, in the face of such a articles now appearing. When they are concluded, and considerablebody of feeling, expressed here and elsewhere, if Mr. Kerr is still unconvinced, discussion may be to divide the League in this matter? possible; but in the meanwhile my case is only under PHILIP T. KENWAY. development A. J. PENTY. What a time I have had on the journey up! I never Pastiche. hoped to see you again.” They embraced with their new THE TRANSLATOR. and unfamiliar pinions, and settled down to everlasting I am alone this evening with my thoughts, happiness. Alone in this hushed room : the window-glimpse But the weakness which had tainted their mortal lives Of misty streets where the slow autumn dusk was only dormant, not extinct. After a short eternity, Does the sad day to death (of old, the glimpse walking together on the crystal pavement, “Do you That most entranced me when I wooed this coy think this floor is safe?” said one. They were smilingly reassured by the other more experienced angels. On And wayward city)-the mere glimpse is all another occasion, as they sat basking in the Celestial I crave for now; the feverish beyond- radiance, “Ah, this is too heavenly to last!” said the Cafes, trysts, heady converse-I thrust out With a wild host of memories. other. “ Sister, have none ever been expelled capriciously and without reason from these precincts? I have Such hours always believed that old business of Lucifer was never I lull with verses; lonely but content properly cleared up. ” I cruise forth through uncharted seas, and steer At length these unworthy spirits dared to grow de. With words for pilot, with strange exile words, Whose home is in far towns, in villages spondent and gloomy concerning the Omnipotent Him. Where bright-garbed peasants dance-oh, wistful words self. They hinted that perhaps if all was revealed This was not the Ultimate Power, and a Greater Knowledge Attuned as richly as the violins might lie behind Omniscience. “One never knew; Of those who speak them-words that savour of something dreadful would certainly turn up one A plaintive music. Hark, that threnody- eternity.” And they did not keep their hints to themselves They were summoned into the presence of the Lord, Sobbing lament of one whom stealthy fate Has plunged in sorrow’s utmost darkness, where Who thus addressed them : The harried soul that long in strength and pride “ O presumptuous ones, undeserving of My bliss, go Deemed itself free, now beats its wings against down to the nethermost Pit, and there take your fill of Captivity it recked not of, and in repining. And if sometimes it be My will that the fire A swift and terrible apocalypse, be less intense, and the cold less scorching, and the Beholding but one outlet-death-still braves winds less bitter, ye shall make your joy of that. But The pangs of life. . . . for My Heaven ye were not designed. Depart!” Again, again the wizard strophes, till W. H. I catch their ever cadence, marvelling at THE PRAYER OF THE PROFITEER. The tensely woven fabric of them-God ! How this man wields that native speech of his, (Being an adaption of Ovid, Fasti V, 679.) That peasant-speech. With pious reverence he fell And he has uttered what Upon his knees- I could not utter. When my lips were closed, The day was Sabbath, and the pew He clad his grief in words. His grief? Nay, more- A place of ease- The grief that is my own. With elbows pillowed on upholstered oak- So, as the hours His hands a builded pyramid Are born and die, and the long night grows old, Encased in kid- Those words of his turn molten in my brain, With eyes uplifted, fixed as in a stroke, Molten amid the glows of vehemence He made his vow and prayer That they enkindle, from the which they surge With unctuous care : In a new guise. My raptness conjures them “ O God, oft have I sworn by heaven, With its own necromancy-they are mine. And by Thy Throne; And often called the saints to witness- Now I write on, through speeding hours I write. But deals and oaths were one, P. SELVER. In guile and lying, one- O God, forgive! Heed not my perjuries! THE AWFUL STORY. But rather let the hurricane A FABLE FOR PESSIMISTS. Sweep them away; and yet touch not my plan For future guile and lies! In the summer of the year 1961 there resided on the Give money, only money, money, south border of the Metropolis two widowed ladies, And joy of making money, heap on heap, sisters. Possessed of a strong and deep mutual attachment, And more and more; complaisant sons, indulgent grandchildren, some My tongue make glib with words like honey friends, health, and, above all, a comfortable competency, To cheat the buyer at the store : they looked back on lives of few sorrows and small losses. Their husbands had considerately withdrawn Let no behest, O God, of Thine before age had made them irksome, and their children Stay now this ardent quest of mine; had not begun to find their mothers lag superfluous. For tithe of mint and rue, Yet with all these advantages to help them walk light- And profiteering, heartedly down the declining road of life, and endowed Is Thine- with intelligence which gave a critical zest to existence, And the poor are Thine they were both cursed with temperaments fatal to happiness. And mine-” In short, while they saw yesterday in the rosiest In deepest Hell echoes of laughter woke of sunset glows, they peered at to-morrow through dark As Satan thundered : That is my joke : glasses for the misfortune which was to eclipse it. Have I not often by the rood “ Cheer up and hope for the worst ” may be said to have Swindled God ? C.GRANVILLE. been their motto. At this moment both sisters were stricken with a mortal ’sickness, and it was the elder sister’s fate to expire first. In spite of the blackest forebodings she found herself received at the Court of Heaven and duly enrolled in the angelic ranks. Becoming accustomed to her seraphic surroundings, she inquired for news of her sister. “ For,” said she, “ I fear the worst has befallen her : the Infinite Indulgence which has received me cannot possibly overlook her manifold frailties. ” However,her misgivings were shortly falsified by her sister’s arrival. “ Oh, sis.,” said the latter, “ are you here?