A NEGLECTED FACTOR. [To Vie Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Is
not organized Christianity at once the most necessary and the most neglected force in English life ? Take a typical . case. Last night, in the village where D. G. Rossetti lies buried, I talked with a group of people who voluntarily teach religion to a hundred and twenty children and young people every Sunday. Their latest exploit is the provision of a generous Christmas tree. I imagine that the general public scarcely knows the school is there: It wo,uld be antagonistic instantly if revolutionary doetrines were taught ! In the nature of things, the work of the Chlirehei is ,uuebtruSive and peryasive. It does not lend itself to publicity' treatment
At the same time, seeing it is customary to recognize, some- times even royally, all kinds of work that helps the nation, an occasional display of appreciation in relation to Churches and Sunday-schools would be in keeping with the spirit of the times. Incidentally, it would encourage tens of thousands of earnest men and women who are unsurpassed for disin- terestedness and sustained self-sacrifice.
May a loyal subject whose little life is spent side by side with unpaid labourers in the fields of England's spiritual endeavours make a confession ? He has been dreaming that some day the Prince of Wales, beloved everywhere, will visit a huge demqnstration of Sunday-schools. The effect would be immeasurably great and good. If " Bethlehem " had never been, we wonders what the world would be like just now. Who magnifies " Bethlehem " if not the Churches and Sunday-schools--too often despised and neglected of
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