SIR, Canon Barry's both friendly and critical article on Professor
Gilbert Murray's book, Stoic, Christian and Humanist, is thought-provoking for one who subscribes to Dr. Murray's views. The Canon is criticising the philosophy of a man whose practical work, e.g., for the League of Nations, in good repute and bad, has, even more than his academic achievements, won universal praise and gratitude. Yet Canon Barry thinks that the basis of Dr. Murray's philosophy can be described as " flying in the face of all the evidence." Surely there is enough evidence to show that Dr. Murray's " Humane and Liberal Spirit," divorced from or indifferent to " revelational religion," has produced, and is producing, the great bulk—I would say the great bulk—of those activities which have opened men's minds and stimulated them to achieve all the noblest work for a long time past. But, says the Canon, Liberalism cannot sustain itself, and this because Nazis and Communists exist and are repudiating liberal ideals. (But are they not equally repu- diating Christian ones?)
Surely this is too speedy and too big a conclusion to draw from what up to now are but brief episodes in world history.
The many long periods during which " revelational religion " was powerless to prevent vast evils which lasted longer than Nazi-ism or Communism have yet done should warn us not to take the last bit of evidence and upon that to damn the permanent values of what Dr. Murray calls " the Humane Spirit " and " the Liberal Spirit."
Canon Barry in his case for revelational belief seems to include only a belief in God and in the " True Light that lightest every man," &c. Gone seem to be all the theological dogmas and church articles with which, in such a discussion, the Canon must forgive me for thinking he is careful not to burden himself. This, though he and a thousand of his brother ministers must teach them as true, week in, week out. Taught, I fear, most often in place of the " Humane and Liberal Spirit."
Strange it is that any defence of revelational religion nowadays, against s fair, yet so powerful, a controversalist as Dr. Murray can only be attempted after the critic has first conveniently disposed of or concealed the major part of his ancient weapons.—Yours faithfully, ATHELSTAN RENDALL.
Redlands, Branksome Park, Bournemouth.
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