RELIGION AND THE B.B.C.
Sia,—That renowned scientist Thomas Henry Huxley used to deligh in telling the story of a loud-voiced corporal who during a certain w found himself stumbling on a party of the enemy. With comrnendabl perception of the situation, the corporal, exercising his vocal powers the utmost, shouted " Up, men, and at them." And the enemy, thinkin that a regiment was upon them, speedily took to flight.
The Rationalist Press Association is seeking to emulate that corporal! I am not concerned about the claims made in their advertisements the columns of The Spectator and elsewhere. The question is wheth their strength justifies the claims. A short time ago the R.P.A. wa hoping to raise its membership to 5,000, and seeing that the membersh includes folk abroad as well as in Great Britain, the claim is hardly strong one. If every organisation of a similar numerical strength put in the same claim, the B.B.C. would have its work cut out to Bus satisfaction. Moreover, the R.P.A. might be reminded that the histo of the last 3o years does not reveal that movements away fromjeligio or against it, have been conspicuous in granting freedom of thought an speech to those from whom they differ. Voltaire has a very puns utterance on scepticism and freedom, but my milk of human kindn is of so creamy a character that I forbear to quote it.—Yours faithfRil WALTER H. ARMSTRONG, President of the Methodist Conference.
r Central Buildings, Westminster.
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