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(b) Insincerity. This appears in many forms and in many degrees. The word is used roughly to cover all cases of inconsistency from those that are due to a failure to grasp the nature or the scope of ideal principles to those that are due to a failure to bring practice into accord with profession. The religion of the Churches seems conventional at the best and insincere at the worst." Her teaching is felt to be faulty and unconvincing to the modern mind. It is vitiated by the conservatism which marks the Church's thought and practice (as indeed tends to be the case with all institutions in course of time). The weak points in the Bible are shirked or at best slurred over. Impossible happenings-violations of nature's laws by the Law- maker (God) to be boldly repudiated. Concrete examples are the incident of the Red Sea, Jonah and the big fish, the immaculate conception, the raising of the dead, etc." The Churches are blamed for their conservative clinging to the past in form, language and ideals." The Churches in the nature of things have always tended towards conservatism of thought. They are built upon dogma rather than the Spirit of the truth." They have been slow to assimilate a modern outlook in their theological teaching they have been unsympathetic towards new social aspirations. They have conceived the practice of religion too narrowly." Young Socialists are frequently opposed to the orthodox theology of the Churches. One reason for this has been the influence of Blatchford's writings, but the chief reason, in my opinion, is that heterodoxy in both politics and theology spring from the same cause, namely an intellectual awakening in early manhood. This is chiefly found among the more thoughtful young people, those who read much (" chrwydra 'r marw ddim ") and consequently Socialist opinions and liberal-theological opinions are found associated in the same persons. Religious leaders, failing to see this, came to the mistaken conclusion that Socialism led to infidelity." The Church's practice and policy is felt to be insincere. She is undemocratic and shews respect of persons, though professing to believe in the doctrine of brotherhood and spiritual equality, and to worship a God who shews no respect of persons. Money talks from the big pew.' "Church officers are generally of the middle and upper classes and ministers associating with the same adopt their point of view in politics." One dogma for the poor and one for the rich. What is sin in a poor man is simply a failure in a rich one." "The Church has no message for Labour. It is a class-ridden institution." Almost without exception the writers refer to the false deference that is paid to wealth by the Church. The man with the gold ring is preferred to the man in ragged clothes Bristol. Knights of England overseas, riding out together Down upon the scorching plain, through the breathless noon Hauberk-mail of burnished steel, lance and plume a-feather: And yeomen out of English shires marching 'neath the moon. Brazen drums of Araby, strident bugles calling, Calling from Damascus unto golden Babylon Saladin and Saphadin and flaming Acre falling, And all the gates of Ascalon a-shimmer in the sun. PALESTINE, on the mere ground of his wealth. Officers are often chosen for their wealth and social standing rather than for their character. Even when the Church tries to maintain a neutral attitude it is felt to be tantamount to a defence of the status quo-the capitalistic order with its undeserved privileges at the one end and its unjustifiable deprivations at the other. The Church's failure to champion the workers' cause is due to the fear of offending the well-to-do whose influence is proportional to their wealth rather than to their numbers. The Anglicans kow-tow to the landed interest, and the Free Churches to the commercial and industrial bourgeoisie. The former will lend their premises for a Tory meeting and the latter for a Liberal meeting, but neither will help the Labour party in this way. Thus are social and political sympathies, of a narrow partisan kind imported from the outer world into the Church. This kind of outlook offends Labour by its undemocratic character. Two instances of a similar temper are quoted. Ministers have urged others to engage in what they describe as a holy war whilst accepting exemption for themselves, and they do not allow questions or discussion to follow their sermons. In several impor- tant ways the Churches are felt to be less than Christian "They are not true to the fundamental teachings and example of Jesus Christ." The Church does not believe the teachings of Christ." The hypocrisy of the professions of Christianity." Labour believes that the Churches should follow Christ's example to the last, and support the poor, the sinners and the lost." The Churches have no definite ethical standard or moral pro- gramme-not even Christ's." Labour is waiting to see Christian theories put into prractice." Whittling the gospel of Christ down to meet military exigencies." I have given up buying the Baptist Times and intend taking in John Bull instead. It is just as well to get the real thing." That the spirit of the Churches is in direct contradiction to their teaching-Teaching: The Sermon on the Mount, Practice Business is business. That the methods of the Churches are those of political life of the worst type-sitting on the fence diplomacy wire pulling and advertisement." Sectarianism and a rather narrow negative morality that emphasizes things like Sabbatarianism and teetotalism are other counts in the charge. And there is the com- plaint that even when the Church shews any realization of her duty to deal with social problems she resorts to half measures and palliatives, instead of adopting measures that will lead to radical reconstruction of our social order. In subsequent articles other points in the Questionnaire will be dealt with. Herbert Morgan. 1192-1917. Towers of Jerusalem, marble-white and gleaming, Pallid in the sorrow of the unrequited dawn And, silent in the tented waste, King Richard sick and dreaming, Dreaming of your veiled face-oh, weary and forlorn. Knights of England overseas, riding, ever riding, From Gaza unto Ascalon, though centuries have flown 0 Towers of Jerusalem, what tiding, oh, what tiding Hath Lion-Heart come back again to claim you for his own ? A. G. Prys-Jones.