To those who can remember the Oxford of fifty years
ago the unveiling of a statue to Dr. Martineau, which took place at Manchester New College on Tuesday, must seem a remarkable sign of the times. Such an honour to such a teacher would then have been impossible, would probably have led to riots, and certainly have produced a furious pamphlet war. To-day there is not only no protest, but the ceremony was attended by the Master of Balliol and the Principal of Jesus ; and Dr. Drummond's speech, which dwelt on the theologian's freedom from "sect life," was applauded on all sides. The change is not wholly due, we think, to greater tolerance of opinion, but in part, at least, to a conviction that Dr. Martineau has done real service to a cause which all religious men must have at heart, a cause which, if such a thing is possible, is wider even than Chris- tianity. He has battled with great effect for belief in the supernatural as the supreme factor in life, and against that materialist view which men of all the creeds feel to be their true opponent. Pagan has clothed himself in the enchanted armour of science, and it takes able soldiers as well as brave ones to prevent his conquering the world. Those soldiers necessarily welcome an ally like Dr. Martineau, even though he will take no oath to any flag.
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