Welsh Journals

lying within the deeper spirituality that belongs to life. A hundred years ago historians held that the task of history was that of reconstruct- ing the past by marshalling facts and examining documents; documents being not merely written, but whatever held or was a record of the life of past generations. But, under the influence of the great philosophical de- velopment of the last century, the science of history has been given an entirely new orientation. The great questions that history asks are:- How is it that certain facts and events become living in the sense of being constructive of a life of the times possessing individuality of character, singleness of direction, and unity of purpose, whereas other facts simply slip out of existence as though they had never taken place? How again are facts shaped by principles and personalities, and what are the relations between personalities and principles? These questions do not concern themselves merely with the superficial structure of life; they go much deeper, and raise problems as to the ultimate meaning of life- problems that are, strictly speaking, religious. Theologians who have come under the influence of those newer conceptions of history approach the problems of Christianity in an entirely differ- ent spirit from that in which they were formerly approached. The problem of the resurrection no longer turns upon the question as to whether or not we can obtain undoubted proof that it actually took place, but upon this question, namely, how was it that the facts, or reputed facts, came to have such a constructive influence in the formation of a society that grew so rapidly as did the Christian Church? Furthermore, this historical method does not find the whole of its evidence of the living Christ in the facts of the resurrection and ascension. It asks the question Do facts and events and tendencies, as being constructive of life, require as their point of guidance and principle of direction the existence of a living personality continuous with the Galilean of two thousand years ago? If we were to deny that a certain king lived during a The Teaching of World History in the Secondary Schools of Wales. By A. S. TurberviUe, M.A., B.Litt. CHAP. I. THE question of the best methods and the proper scope of history teaching in the schools is a matter of controversy, and, so long as historical study remains a vital thing, it will continue to be so. The needs of one generation are never precisely those of the certain period we would find it impossible to weave the events of that period into an ordered and unified whole, simply because we had denied the existence of what was their central point of reference. In the same way, the theologian, coming to the question of the existence of a living Christ, asks if life will fall to pieces under our hands unless we recognise it as being directed and guided by a Christ who actually lives and is the central point of reference for the events and tendencies that manifest themselves in life. I grant that such an attitude to religious truth makes faith, not a matter of conviction regarding a system of truths, but a task and endeavour that will continuously consume the whole life of generation after generation of men. But to make faith less than this seems to me make life a very small thing and man a very insignificant thing. Thus religion is at the very centre of the deepest thought and the most constructive efforts of the times. It isn't the mere inspirer and guide to cultural endeavour; it is much more than these. It embodies the whole of life, is at one with all its endeavours, and is the central point of reference in relation to all its issues. And the Church, as the embodiment of the religious activity of men, is realizing more and more that her place is at the very centre of all the great constructive movements of life. At no time in her history has she had such confidence in learning, or had such a body of learning at her disposal as at present. At no time has learning leaned so much upon, and been so sympathetic towards, all that is best in the Church as in our own day. It only requires a continuation of the deeper movements in religious and secular life to make men realize that the Church is the one great body that holds life in its hands, that probes it to its foundations, and that guides all its movements towards a constructive spirituality resting within the Divine Life. When men see the Church in this light then they will regard her as the creator of all that is of value in life. next; readjustment, reconsideration, restate- ment, are a constant necessity, so that it is wise not to attempt to lay down categorical rules. In the very process of revision and alteration there is health, so long as its motive is not the mere wilful love of change for its own sake, but a desire to meet changing conditions and to keep abreast of the best thought of the age. The most remarkable feature of historical investi- gation during the last fifty years or so has been the work of archaeologists and excavators, who have literally unearthed the buried evidences of the ancient oriental and the ancient Greek world. This process has produced, not only a great addition to the stores of historical learning, but