IVol. 59 No. 2 FEBRI-ARY 1954 'threepence

Notes of the Month Custos

flow Christianity Began Hector Hawtou

Hopes and Fears for 1954 S. K. Ratcliffe

What is a Rationalist? Archihahl Robertson

The German Scene Ilichand Clements

Fitness for Parenthood G. I. Bennett

Conway Discussion Circle Correspondence

South Place News Society \ Activities

SOUTH PLACE ETHICAL SOCIETYSUNDAY MORNING MEETINGS AT EI.EVEN O'CLOCK

February 7—S. K. RATCLIFFE—"The Pageant of Civilisations"

Piano and 'Cello Solo by MARJORIE ALEXANDER and GEHIYN WICKHAM-GEORGEHymn : No. 76

February I 4—DR. IV. E. SWINTON. Ph.D.. F.R.S.E.—"The Silence of the Night"

Piano Solo by MARY NASHSonata No. 4 Arne

Hymn : No. 59

February 21—ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON, M.A.—"The Historical Novel"

Contralto Solos by IRENE CLEMENTSSea Wick . .liwnilton Harty

Love's Philosophy .. Quiher

Hymn : No. 90

February 28-JOSEPH MeCABE—"The Character of Popular Revolutions"

Bass Solos by G. C. DOWMANQui Sdegno MozartBlow, blow thou Winter Wind .. Ian Kellam

Hymn : No. 64

March 7—PROFESSOR J. C. FLUGEL, D.Se.—"The Psychology of Initiation"

SOUTH PLACE SUNDAY CONCERTS .63rd SEASON Concerts 6.30 p.m. (Doors open 6 p.m.) Admission Is. 6d.

February 7— A1.1,EGRI STRING QUARTETBeethoven in F. Op. 18, No. 1; Mozart in E flat, K.428; Schubert in C.

Op. 161.February 14—NEW LONDON STRING QUARTET. ERIC HARRISON.

Brahms in C minor; Pijper No. I; Franck Piano Quintet.

February 21—RUBBRA-GRUENBERC-PLEETH TRIO.Schubert in B fiat, Op. 99; Frank Martin; Mozart in B flat. K.502.

February 28— DU1'CH STRING QUARTET.Schubert in D minor,Dp. Posth.; Pijper No. 3; Beethoven in 0, Op. 18, No. 3.

March 7—FRANCIS WRING, CLIVE LYTHGOE.Schubert song cycle "Die Schone Mullerin"; W. F. Bach Concerto in D

minor: Debussy: Liszt.

Officers

Hon. Treasurer: E. J. FAIRHAI.I.Hon. Registrar: MRS. T. C. LINDSAY r Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, W.C.ISecretary: HEC roR HAWTON

The Monthly Record is posted free to Members and Associates. The Annualcharge to subscribers is 4s. 6d. Matter for publication in the February issueshould reach the Editor. G. C. Dowman, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, W.C.I,by January 10.

The Objects of the Soeiety are the study and dissemination of ethicalprinciples and the cultivation of a rational religious sentiment.

Any person in sympathy with these objects is cordially invited to become aMember (minimum annual subscription is lOs.), or Associate (minimum annualsubscription Ss.). Associates are not eligible to vote or hold office, Ent-4100esshould be made of the Registrar to whom subscriptions should be paid.

TheMONTHLYRECORD

Vol. 59 No. 2 FEBRUARY 1954Thrcepence

CONTENTS

PAGENOTES OF THE MONTH, Custos 3How CHRISTIANITY BEGAN, Hector Hawton 5HOPES AND FEARS FOR 1954, S. K. Ratcliffe .. 8WHAT IS A RATIONALIST?, Archibald Robertson

THE GERMAN SCENE, Richard Cletnents 13FITNESS FOR PARENTHOOD, G. 1. Bennett ISCONWAY DISCUSSION CIRCLE .. 17CORRESPONDENCE .. 18SOUTH PLACE News 20SOCIETY'S ACTIVITIES 23

• The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the Society.

'Notes of the MonthCatholics and Religion

Opposition to the televising of the Mass was dismissed by a B.I3.0 spokes-man as -negligible". It came for the most part from what Henley Hensoncalled "the Protestant underworld"..Logically, for those of us whoare not Christians there is no essential difference between the Mass andMatins, and if one form of religious service is to be televised, there isno reason for objecting to another. But logic is a poor guide to practicalaffairs, and there can be no doubt that by providing viewers for thefirst time with the spectacle of their principal act of worship, the RomanCatholic Church in this country has made yet another advance in itsstruggle to dominate the air. The more subtle moilyes are made behindthe scenes where Catholic influence strengthens the hands of those whokeep up the fiction that Britain is predominantly a Christian country andobstruct every attempt to implement the promise that the humanist pointof view should be given adequate representation. Despite this. Catholicsdeclare themselves to be dissatisfied with what, to most onlookers mustseem very remarkable progress. As in all other fields—notably education—given an inch they take an ell.

3

Vatican Anxieties

The Pope's recent warnings about the danger of the cinema to faith andmorals show small gratitude for the films that have been given generalrelease and which are nakedly propagandist. Hollywood is not merelyhypersensitive to Catholic susceptibilities—which means deliberate boycottwith picketing where censorship fails—but it manufactures films publicisingLourdes and Fatima and the Catholic way of life. It is hard to see whythe Church should still have any reasonable grounds for complaint; but.of course, its ultimate ambition is to apply such pressure that nothingcan be presented even to non-Catholic audiences that would raise anepiscopal frown. In Italy itself the introduction of national T.V. has givenrise to misgivings because of the unique political situation. Baty has themost powerful Communist Party outside the Iron Curtain, and Italianpolitics arc in the melting pot. The Catholic parties are splitting on theissue of a Left or Right turn. There is a real fear that unless presenttendencies can be halted. Italy may yet find itself with a Communist govern-ment. with T.V. and radio as instruments of propaganda. Catholic anxietieson the world front are intelligible, and even in this country what seems tobe a Catholic gain may be no more than public indifference. Outsidecertain London railway stations two earnest enthusiasts selling the Universeand the Daily Worker respectively is a common sight; it is less commonto see anyone make a purchase.

Viscount Simon

The lawyer-statesman who was known for thirty years as Sir John Simonbelieved during many years that he was destined to be Prime Minister.His powers were of almost the highest order. With the exception of SirWinston Churchill he filled more Cabinet posts than any of his rivals.and yet never came within reach of the highest, for he was never a party

leader and had no personal following in Parliament. At forty-two he refusedthe Lord Chancellorship, which came to him twenty-five years later. Hissuccess at the Bar was unsurpassed. He earned so huge an income thatit was impossible for him to entertain the thought of a High Court judge-ship. The headship of the Indian Commission, to which he was appointedby Stanley Baldwin in 1927 was an ironic episode in his career; for theprolonged inquiry, which was opposed by the Congress and other Indianparties, resulted in an elaborate report that was curiously detached fromthe forces that were shaping the new India. Lord Simon was a speaker ofconsummate ability, perfect in logical structure and in style. Only once.however, did a speech of his produce an immediate effect upon nationalaffairs. That was the masterly statement in 1926 of the law governing ageneral strike.

Prohlem of the Aged •During recent months the many questions connected with dependent

a2ed persons have aroused much more discussion than ever before. Thedebate will go on and spread out, for there is no national problem ofgreater urgency. We are an ageing population. The percentage of menand women over sixty increases on a scale which. by 1970, will give thepopulation figures a look that to the statisticians of 1870 would haveseemed unnatural. The family as a social unit has been transformed withina single lifetime. It would not be untrue to say that there is today inBritain a minority, perhaps only a small minority, of households that arefree from the pressure of old age. The pension touches more than one aspect.The public has become aware that so far the Welfare State does noLmake

4

proyision for the aged, and particularly for the aged sick. It is a goodsign-that the press is beginning to take,note of, such experiments as .seenipromising—for instance, those in' Oxford and at Nelson. The probleiff iSone. of extreme complexify. li calls for a combination of national policyand community effort. Our. old people are United in hatred of institutionsand; departmentalism. This unChanging fact would seeni to point in ,dnedirection, namely, that the care of dependent' old age. must be" securedby full co-operation between local authority and the agencies of voluntaiVservice.

•Mr. Yustif Ali. 'Mr. Yusuf Ali who died last month was probably the oldest memberof 'the Indian :community in England. In his •Ialer years he was a pathetiefigure, solitary, and slowly fading out of life. Among the native membersof the Indian:Civil Service, at a time when they were few in numoer, hestood out amongst the ablest. Serving in the United Provinces, he retiredearly on a. proportionate pension and , lived for half-a-century in London.He returned several times to India but could not ,settle there., He was amember of South Place and a regular attendant. On very rare occasionshe would spiak. He married an Englishwoman, and for a time ethicalmeetings were held in their Wimbledon home. No one meeting this silentMoslem in his Old age could have recognised in him the Islamic scholarWho had .made his mark as both writer and speaker. It was noticeable,Tor instance:that he would take no..part in discussions on Indian .affairs.Probably he had never imagined that his 'country could be partitioned.There, was one remarkable achievement •to his credit—a translation intoEnglish of the Koran.

CUs-ror:-;

How Christianity BeganBY

' HECTOR HAWTON •EVERYTHING ,THAT: Mr. -Archibald Robertson writes is vigorous and as clearas-day. There could be no more desirable quality in an historian whoundertakes to: unravel the tangle of myth, conjecture- and even forgerywhich obscures .the truth about primitive Christianity. lie is completelyfree -from the crankiness which descends like a blight on so many writerswho -probe into this dim •region -and 'fill the gaps in evidence with freeereations of the imagination. I have read nearly all Mr. Robertson's books,and in my opinion The Origins of Chrtithmity (Lawrence and.Wishart; 21s.)is -his best. There is HO pretentious parade"of scholarship, but the erudition

- concealed by a• pellucid narrative style is solid and deep. And although.Mr. Robertson 'has a theory of historical development, it does not undulyobtrude. A theory seems to me to be called for. It is an attempt to explaina baffling phenomenon. The bare facts are already known, and there, is:no excuse for repeating them unless a pattern can be traced.; The competing religions and sick fancies of the dying Roman world wouldno longer be specially interesting if they did not posit a challenge. We want.ta know why paganism collapsed and why Christianity triumphed. Admit-tedly, something had to survive, but it is not obvious that the God of the:Jews,and a Palestinian claimant to Messiahship.are the inevitable successolsto the'classical pantheon. The new sect—which was but one in an inth-edible,proliferatiom of, salyation-perilars—faced the bitter -hostility and might. ofRome -and refused" do' be crushed. I often, wonder what was the state of

5

mind of the convert who joined an underground movement that made him

renounce many comparatively harmless pleasures and exposed him to the

risks of torture and horrible death. There was a streak of -morbiditY—of

being in love with death—in many of the martyrs, but that cannot be the

story that Mr. Robertson is here concerned to tell. His analysis is on the

group-level. It does not necessarily rule out speculation about what went

on in individual minds, but I think it yields mole valuable results than mos;

psychologising.The Roman Empire was founded on slavery and plunder. The machines

of those days were men : the most depressed class of human beings

imaginable. Revolt was suppressed with frightful ferocity. Besides actual

slaves there were subject races, and one of the most troublesome was the

Jews. The situation of Palestine was such that we need feel no more surprise

that a miw religion started there than that philosophy started in the cos-

mopolitan cities of Ionia. The history of Palestine is of a long succession

of invasions and rebellions.Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians and Philistines had swept down from

the north ; and in the days of Egyptian greatness there had been

persistent danger from the south. To begin with the Jews were barbarians.

surrounded by civilisations already ancient. They were,not even monotheists.

Long experience of enslavement gave rise to dreams of a Leader who would

liberate them and confound their enemies. In various insurrectionary move-

ments nationalistic dreams mingled with the aspirations of the dispossessed.

We know from other chapters of history how easily the unrest of serfs

or town proletariat can be diverted into channels that leave the social status

quo unaltered. Sometimes the trick is consciously performed. Certainly in

Roman times the ruling class encouraged superstition as a means of keeping

the masses quiet. But to apply this formula in a simple, mechanical way

to the origin of Christianity will not do. In the condtions of the time,

Christianity acted as a progressive and civilising agency—despite Gibbon's

famous gibe.The factors are complex because the original movement which came

to be known as Christianity was a social process with opposed tendencies.

There were in the first century utopian and mystical sects in Palestine.

The leader of one was accused of subversive activities and crucified. This

was definitely not the sort of superstition the Romans cared to tolerate.

It was a Jewish deviation. But its followers subsequently interpreted the

teaching and tradition in a way acceptable to non-Jews. Once the crucified

leader became the object of a mystery cult, his apotheosis was inevitable.

There is, of course, nothing novel in the thesis that the apostolic church

was split. The curious thing is how orthodox commentators blandly explain

away the opposition between Paul and Jerusalem. But Christianity would

never have become a world religion if it had remained attached 'to the

synagogue. It would never have won official recognition at Rome if it had

not gradually purged itself of revolutionary elements. Paul's way, with its

gnostic language and emphasis on an other-worldly kingdom, was the nle

way. Then why, it may be asked, were Gentile Christians persecuted at first '?

Mr. Robertson shows great insight in resolving these contradictions, and

he makes a most interesting comparison between Christians and Epicureans.

They had much more in common than past historians admitted.

"Epicureanism, in fact, in its best days appealed to the same class of people

to whom Pauline Christianity was later to appeal—not to the ruling class,

who found superstition very useful, nor so much to the slaves and

disinherited (though they were not excluded) as to small middle-clasS

people who were the victims of power-politics which they could not control,

and who, without being revolutionaries, resented the imposture planted

6

On them by an official religion which was a mere wheel in the machineryof .State." Like Stoicism, Epicureanism lost all hope of a mass appeal by-the first century, and the way was cleared for a more dynamic successor;which had no chance of triumphing, however, until it cleared itself of thecharge of subversion. .

The newly formed Christian Church—strictly, one should use the plural—was implicated in Jewish insurrections in the eyes of the Roman rulers.-The Apocalypse was a particulaHy embarassing document, because it exultedover the impending downfall of the Empire.

Paul's task, according to Mr. Robertson, was to denature a revolutionaryferment and shift the focus of men's hopes from earth to heaven. It waSas impossible to overthrow the terrestrial order by force as to win theEpicurean "peace of mind" in the bitter conditions of Roman slavery. Sincematerial liberation was unobtainable, there remained only spiritual redemp-tion. This involved the Pauline leaders in no quarrel with the Empire assuch ; but despite themselves, the leaders were unable immediately to ignorethe Jewish Messianists and those elements who drew their inspiration fromthe dire prophecies of the Book of Revelation. "After; the Jewish revOlt[A.D. 66-731 and the destruction of Jerusalem, the Pauline leaders set towork to draw the sting of the revolutionary movement and so to prevent,if possible, clashes with Rome in which they too were likely to be involved.They did this, first, by using the funds at their dispbsal to provide benefitswhich the revolutionaries could not afford, and secondly, by re-writingthe Gospel story, neutralising its revolutionary content and remaking itshero in the image of their own mystery-god. The first process put the controlof the churches into safe hands ; the second left the Gospels the contradictorypatch-work which we see today."

Mr. Robertson sums up the results of Higher and Textual Criticism withan ease that shows complete mastery of this difficult subject. It is a common-place today that few of the books of the Bible are by the authors to whomtradition attributes them. Because of this the historical Jesus is the mostelusive character in history and it seems impossible to discover what hereally taught. I am glad, however, that Mr. Robertson does not subscribeto the myth theory. The figure of Jesus, as presented in the Gospels, isincrusted with myth, but Mr. Robertson holds—rather more cautiouslythan I do—that a flesh-and-blood leader attracted these legends. I marvelat the strange passion that some people have for "proving" that somebodyor other never existed—offering us Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark,and of course without Shakespeare. Osiris, Orpheus, Buddha and Jesus havebeen victims of immense, misapplied learning. I am an incurable euhemerist;I believe that real men, either because of the rites in which they playeda leading part, or because of their remarkable qualities, begat the gods.

No creed remotely resembling the formulations of the third and fourthcentury can be found in primitive Christianity. The Roman Catholic Churchteaches that Jesus revealed to the Apostles all the dogmas that weresubsequently developed. There is, however, not the slightest evidence thatthe primitive Church was aware of the doctrines of papal infallibility, theimmaculate conception, transubstantiation, purgatory, etc. It is more thandoubtful whether the immediate followers of Jesus believed him to be "veryGod". The synoptic Gospels call Jesus the Christ, the Son of Man, evenSon of God, but never God. The name Jesus is Greek for Joshua, andChrist is Greek for Messiah. The full doctrine of the incarnation is only tobe found in the Fourth Gospel, the last to be accepted as authoritative.Mark and John ignore the virgin birth ; and although Luke relates thestory he repeatedly calls Joseph and Mary the parents of Jesus, whichsuggests that it is an interpolation.

7

The' incarnation 'is the cornerstone of historical Christianity. Millions ofpeople today—including illustrious scholars and distinguished scientistsbelieve it -to be .as well attested a fact as that Caesar crossed the: Rubicon.:The great -cathedrals, the might and -wealth of the'Church, •depend on thisextraordinary doctrine that God appeared on earth two:thousand years agO;was executed under. .Pontius Pilate, rose from. the dead and "ascended intoheaven." How isit possible that such a notion, which-seemed so preposterousto educated Romans, should survive the acid-bath of twentieth-centuryscepticism ? The sociological considerations with which Mr. Robertson isconcerned throw little light,on this problem, but that is in no sense a criticismof his book. On the contrary, such a searching examination of the originsof Christianity stimulates us to ask tin's- and many other question's.. For.Christianity is an ideological superstructure, reflecting social condition§ ina disguised form, we still want to know why one particular type of niyth:should appial more than another—why some symbols should be so.effective,.ahd, aboveall, why human beings (by no means confined to One class) shOuld;be afflicted by.. a deep sense. of personal guilt .and an insatiable thirst for.self-punishment. •; it is fashionable today to:say that •Biblical criticism makes no 'real differ-ence ; that even if there are-mythical elements in Christianity, they are notreally 'fictitious but in- some .(undefined) sense "true:.myths"; and that the'history of the Jews and the Christian Church is plain evidence of the in-cursion-of GOd into human; affairs. Mr:. Robertson blows this sort of non,sense sky-high) He approaches the problem of Christian origins as he wouldany other historical problem. He 'exposes the ramshackle foundations onwhich 'orthodox: eldgmas rest. He 'disentangles the complex social processeswhich shaped the early Church and ensured the victory, of the Paulinists..-Heleaves-any reader with the slightest .respect for evidence-more certain Manever that the Gospel story is not true, :and that there are .no miracles- to.explain: becauSe; they never happened. If anyone protests that such an int-,posture is unthinkable, I :should be inclined to reply 'that if, -in the mid:.twentieth centurY, people' can believe that the sun danced: in the sky' over.Fatima, 'or:that a Flying Saucer -landed in New Mcxico, nothing that peoplebelieved . iri a- turbulent province of the: Roman Empire :under Augustus

is in- the least. surprising. ;

Holies and Fears for 1954B Y .

K. RATCLIFFE - .. •

THEitE Is ONE ' marked difference befween the world outlook of today and:that Of nOt a few years in the recent past: Both before and after theSecond Waild War we Were accustorned, when looking-forward, 'to thinkOf the international prospect 'as being darkened-by fears 'from a single.Miarter, and. with- not more. than, perliabs, two or' three danger ; zones;In '1954 the':world ;contains a dozen :areas of acute peril,: -any one(ofWhich ealuld, without warning, become the focus of a third general - war:.A-part' froni, the overriding- anxiety coneerning Russia, the names are con7;.tinuonsly in 'the .news: -Poland and the 'Balkans; Persia: Palestine, Korea,-BidoiChina, 'Egypt: etc. Several confliCts of ;peculiar -bitterness are raging--L-Iirtio-China, for example, and Britain's; ccistly- efforts-,to suppress. terrorism.in Kenya and Malaya. And at this opening of the- year, our; attention is; Of;

8

ribcessity, 'directed first to:the crisis. in East Africa and the ihailling problemof Korea where the truce came a few months•ago after 'an inconclusivethree-year war. : • .

Korea the first military enterprise of the United Nations, has arousetdduestions of extteme difficulty and created :a.' Situation 'abdut 'Which noforecasi Is: possible. There was general agreement' that: positi ie 'actiOn [bYU.N: was unavoidable; An- act of aggressidffiffiad 'ffiffie- resisted. Failingthat, the fiasco of Manchuria in 1932 would have been reneated :and theUnited Nations,-.-like the League; be' declared bankrupt. In that eventnothing could have prevented the extinction of the South .Korean ,republicanct the completion of a vast Communist. Power stretching from_ CentralEurope to the Pacific. It is possible to argue that this would he a fulfilmentof .destiny, but one thing is quite certain, namely, that the .Governments ofBritain and the United States- would•combine to prevent it..The..strategy ofthe General Staff, based on a limited campaign, was frustrated by GeneralMacArthur, but the war thus far has, not been without results. _Korea willnot be unified by the Communist North. At' the same time it is:certain thatthe North will not be conquered by the South according•to,the fantasticdemands . of:President Syngman Rhee.. The future of Korea: involves animmense responsibility for thefl United States. :President; Eisenhower, afterhis-election,.was the first to announce that withdrawal could not be a practi:cable policy. Some plan of settlement,..presurnably,.wilt emerge during thecOming year. Whatever-its form; the. major burden .of :reconstruction mustfaltupon the United States, since American resources alone will-be available,

-The challenge'of NOrth Korea being doubled in Indb7China, Ss/here theFrench are engaged in a desperate struggle to Preserve Alleir: cblonial embirelThey fight: alone, ,alth ough ,avith American economic, aid . on , an . immensescale; and:this: support, President Eisenhower ,has said, is to be-maintainedand increased. The purpose is entirely .plain.- U.S. support for Chiang-Kai;shek and his :forces in Formosa 'has been : futile and of -enormous' cost;yet the American theory is. that Indo:China can and must be upheld, inorder to 'prevent"the domination of South-East Asia by:Communist China'.lt,,is.'manifest. that. this policy wilt- meet 'an ultimate test,: probably -withinthe'next few month's. 'Military 'operations, here: as. in Korea; cannot •be dis:sociated ' from the-. hostility of the Washington '.Government, , underEisenhoWer as under .Truman,-to the' admission of Communist China_:.tothe United NatiOns. 'This .attitude,-'hitherto 'uncompromisingy:makes themost serions disagreement between 'Britain and the 'United States 'in Far:'Eastern affairs.. It can. be resolved . only under the 'pressure of events,connected above- all 'with the undeniable necessity of reopening Me channelsoffisvorld. trade. Meanwhile the' long-distance issues have . to be borne tnmind.. Korea, Indo-China, Malaya. all point in one direction,:towardsthe end,, sooner or later, of the white man's dominion in :the .Orient. Theindependence of. India stands as a decisive landmark. Its. repercussions areincalculable. No prOphetic .eye is 'needed in order to see that l'Asia forthe Asian.peoples". is. the ,watchword of a coming reality.....

...Nor. is this great upheaval restricted to the Far 'and Middle East. -TheAfrican raCes are awake and on the march. Throughout the -"free world'Ithere is no serious condemnation 'of the British resolve to suppress theMau Mau- in Kenya, 'or the kindred:terror in Malaya. But at the sametime we have to-teckon with the vaSt Upsurge of feeling in the colouredhalf of the world. Every expedient-adopted bymBritish authority that can bemade to 'appear ruthless and tyranniCal is sure to be explffited 'elsewhere—,as; for instance, in West 'and Central' Africa; and 'this means the' arousalof 'suspicion ande resentment tending to destroY the hopes of .0eaceftilconstitutional advance froth tutelage to self-government. Lastly; in:this con:

.:9

nection; it seems plain that in the very near future Egypt will providea searching test of British. sintesmanship. It is safe to say that the issuesbetween Egypt and the Sudan will be settled, if at all, by the two countriesffirectly concerned. The Suez Canal is a problem altogether by itself. TheCanal is an international highway, indispensable for all active nations. Forthe public at large, we may asSume, there is glaring irony in the fact thatso unique an international question should not be a direct concern of theUnited Nations.

In 1953 no personal event could be of greater importance to the Westernworld than the death of Stalin. We have at present no means of estimatingthe significance of Malenkov's succession. That it brought changes ofemphasis if not of policy it is impossible to doubt, while we seem compelledto read the execution of Beria as proving the existence of a struggle forpower at ithe centre. There were other signs of new forces in Moscow;and the widespread belief that they were at work increased the publicdisappointment that no results were to be registered from Sir WinstonChurchill's impressive speech (May I I) calling for consultation at the highestlevel. That Washington made no response was explained in part on thesupposition that the President was not in full command of his administra-tion and could not impose his will upon those sections of the RepublicanParty that are opposed to all negotiation with Soviet Russia. Mr. Eisen-hower's own insistence upon peace was not to be doubted; he gave • anew form to it by his speech to the United Nations after Bermuda. As theyear opens the world awaits the Berlin conference of Foreign Ministers,the hopes of which may be either enhanced or shattered by the line tobe adopted by Mr. Molotov.

It may be that the main question behind the Russian policy is relatedto the balance of power, the clash of opinion, in Moscow. If the Bolsheviktheory is still dominant—that is, the certainty of world revolution and theimpossibility of Soviet Communism and Capitalism existing together—then we can expect little or no result from conferences such as that ofBerlin. But if the hold of this theory is weakened, if the immenselyincreased strength of the West is producing its due effect, there shouldbe no need for a pessimistic conclusion. It may be that the control is passingfrom ,political commissars into the hands of technicians and industrialmagnates whose governing concern is the stability of the system in Russiaand the satellite States. Whether that is so we cannot tell, but is there notbefore Moscow one master choice? The fabric of Soviet Russia has beenmade possible by the avoidance of war. For observers in the West it isimpossible to believe that this great stnicture could be upheld if thedeliberate policy is war. When reason and experience dictate the supremedecisions, total war is ruled out; but when in the modern world haveexperience and reason prevailed?

In. home affairs the signs of the hour are unmistakable: 1954 is to bea year of labour unrest—surely an unexpected result of full employmentand standard rates of pay. We may, of course, escape the affliction ofgrave industrial conflict. If so, that will have to be recorded as yet anotherevidence of our national good fortune. Two developments in the situationare especially disturbing. First, there is the evidence of a change in theleading unions as regards strike policy. After the general strike crisis of1926 the-great unions were emphatically opposed to the strike method.Today they are working out tactics for a new use of the weapon. Andsecondly, there is a strong movement of revolt against the machinery ofconciliation and arbitration that was worked out over a long period withthe active co-operation of the union leaders. In the case of the socialisedindustries, 'moreover, there is evidence enough that nationalisation has not

•10

brought the change of attitude that was hoped for.. For various reasons that

are not difficult to understand the railway unions ire fighting the Government

as of old. they fought the companies. It cannot be unfair to point out

that, generally speaking, the demands for wage increases are pressed without

regard to certain basic facts such as these: . that under modern conditions

A-Istrike tells against the community itself, .that great industry cannot be

maintained without accepted machinery frir negotiation, and that in a

time of economic crisis such as we now confront, stoppages are of a fatal

effect to a trading country. We suffer in England from a lamentable lack

Of civic education. And when we compare our own national attitude towards

work and leistire with the amazing display of energy and results in the

countries that suffered -complete defeat and humiliation, we are aware

of a mcst startling contrast. If at the present stage of crisis in the West

Britain should be able to show the world a picture of national unity and

purpose, who would be able to measure its influence?

-(Sununary of an address delivered on January 3)

What is a Rationalist

B Y

ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON, M.A.

THE DICTIONARY meaning of Rationalism is the "practice of explaining the

supernatural in religion in a way consonant with reason, or of treating

reason as the ultimate authority in religion as elsewhere". Lecky in The

Rise and Influence of Rationalism in Europe understands by the term "a

certain cast of thought, or bias of reasoning", which leads men "to sub-

ordinate dogmatic theology to the dictates of reason and of conscience,

. . . to attribute all kinds of phenomena to natural rather than miraculous

causes, . . . and, in ethics, to regard as duties only those which conscience

reveals to be such". The Rev. Robert Mackintosh in his article Theology

in the Encyclopaedia Britannica calls Rationalists "those who extend the

province of reason in theology, and push back the frontier of revelation"—

observing in a footnote that some go so far as to exclude "all belief in

God". All three authorities—dictionary-maker, historian and divine—agree

in identifying Rationalism with the criticism of the supernatural.

Historically, the name "Rationalist" was first given to those deists of

the eighteenth century who, while retaining a belief in 'one supreme God,

denied all revealed religion and especially Christianity. The word was, and

for most people still is, a synonym of "Freethinker". It is easy to see

how it came to have this meaning. Orthodox religion, whether Catholic

or Protestant, teaches that belief in all the articles of the Christian faith

is a duty :. faith is a "theological virtue". Rationalists deny that there is

a -duty to believe (W. K. Clifford went further and said that there was a

duty to disbelieve) anything put forward on insufficient evidence. To deny

the duty of belief in "revealed religion" means that you judge it by the

same criteria as you judge anything else—newspaper reports, for example,

or evidence in a court of law -or statements in history-books. To these

common-sense criteria we apply the name "reason". Hence the name

"Rationalist" for those who use them without restriction. Rationalists

passed from deism into atheism as sOon as it became evident that belief

in God was a mere survival of the supernatural religion which they had

left behind them.

I I

t There is no doubt that .the founders of the Rationalist Press Associationunderstood Rationalism in this sense. When the memoranduin of associationrefers to "a •system of philosophy and ethics •verifiable by experience andindependent of all arbitrary assumpiions or autherity", the-word "arbitrary”iS aimed at the assumptions of the theologian and the adtherity of -the.Churches. The cheap reprints of Freethought classics by Which the R.P:A1inade its reputation, and 'the volumes of the Thinker's Library by whichit ,stitained its reputation in the thirties and forties, were One long barrageagainkt supernaturalism. Beyond that limit -Rationalists-. have 'never* had anagreed policy. Its Writers and lecturers have included Tories, Liberals andSocialists,, feminists and anti-feminists, patriots and pacifits, meat-daterSand vegetarians, vivisectionists and anti-vivisedtionists, people of all opinion'son eyery :earthly issue. The hattle with supernaturalism alone unites us:'.all others divide us.

That is inevitable in the nature of the case. There can be no guaranteethat people who reject the supernatural 'will agree in Politics, in philosophyor even in all aspects of ethics. Rationalists are not a race apart; theyare a cross-section of the community cutting across social classes andpolitical parties. The Rationalists of my acquaintanee include a peer whosupports the Church of England for political reasons and regrets the dayswhen England was under an aristocracy, a famous biologist who thinksthat war is nature's pruning-knife, some Liberals of the Bradlaugh tradition,some pacifists,.:some Labour .men---,Right or Left—and some, Communists.How should we agree? We haVre different soCial backgrounds, differenttraditicins; different education, different fields of. work, different life-stories.We' all reason, ,but we ;reasen :froth different premises. EVery one of..eSprobably ,wonders how -some of the Others ean be--Rationalists. But , themovement" has to he broad -enough do- hold: us, 'or';.it ,will1 fly apart Ailsplinters. . .

c''Of late- there have been attempts to re-define Rationalism. It has beensuggestedithi the Rationalist movement- sheuld declare war.on 'all ideo-logies as subh, Whether Marxist,-FaScist or-of 'any Other kind, which -limitthe independenCe. of "the individual. Thb treuble with this suggestion isthat its. propephders Set 'fin Yrilicleolegy"of 'their Om: And-it is hot mien5...neiv one .it. -in our old friend Herbert :Spencer's 'Man -versus the 'Stateparaded as an up-to-date discovery. Path net going 'to Say that a Rationa=list 'Cannot, be a Spencerian individualist, but I eombat the-suggestion thathe must be.

The- ideelogy-,-that is to say the connected body of -ideas, the socialjilfilasophywhich..a. Rationalist holds depends inevitably on his personalhiterV *and "on' ihe 'path which led 'him. to Ra1ionalism. ,f1 a man is anhbreditaryaristograL, hereditary aristocracy (unless some speCial Motive int:pels hiin to Oti4.stibti it) will .seem to 'him a natural order of things. ,andany.,interference with it irrational. If. a- man is, self-made and self-taught(Of.. it WOuld be, better to say, if he believes himself self-Made' and self:tàuht; fOj eveni.thing we consume' and everything we learn is of socialOrigin) ari order of 'things which leaves him free ton"do what he likes withhis, oivn" , will 'seem natural, and any interference 'with it tyrannical. If aMan is so placed that only by solidarity, with his fellows 'can .he. achievea'.1.olerable life for- himself and_his familY solidarity.' will seem naturaLand, breakaWay, action witl .be blaalcgging. Apy:ox,. all, of these. men maYbe. Rationalists in the sense 1pf not, belieying •in „the_suPernatural. .ButRationaliSm will mean a differenrthing•jo each of 'Mem: To- the aristocralRationalism 'will mean personal superiority to the superstitions whiCh hefmuse the vulgar, and democracy will seem a superstition' like any other.1 712

To :the self-rnade. man -Rationalisni Will mean a fair field ind 'n6 favotitfor all opinions, and Socialism will seem as great a 'tyranny as clericalisrli.To the militant- workey.Rationalism will mean. ending -the_ religion which.stupefies. his fellows with •prornises- of • "pie• in . the sky when they- die", but-religion wvill rbe only- one aspect of what he is fighting. Setf-preserrVatiOn_is a fundamental biological law.. . , ' z • • ; . z :,

It has- long been evidenr that Right-wing .and . Left-Wing -Rationalistsdo. not mean the' same thing by Rationalism. They are oh common groundin repudiating' the supernatural.; but once we :go beYona that and:attemptto . formulate.- a Rationalism which shall be "rational about everything",We are. bound to fail; for. each -brand of Rationalist Will' conderimirrational somethirig which to, some other' Rationalist 'is one of the con-ditions of a good life. The only basis On which the Rationalisi.moveinentcan hold together: is that of. tactical. co-operation fdr the objeCtiVeof criticising and diserediting supernaturalisih, .

(Summary of aft address delivered on' December-20.)'

.

The German SCene

RICHARD CLEMENTS

•FIVE YEARS Acp Western Germany was a land Of gloom, and . despair'.Wealth pioduCtion was almost. at 'standstill iii the great indtistrial centres ;transport by-rail and road was chaotie ; factorig, workshopS, business houseS,shim's and dwelling's lay in tuifis. The poverty, 'Misery and hardships borneby. the peOple were unprecedented: 'Mete ekisted a liege aimy 'Of unent-played ..WOrker.S and, mingling with them in. the §trects andl.Public placespitifin Crowds of refugees and' disabled peOcile: All 'were "engaged in what'Med seemed a hOpeless search for-wbrK, shelter, Clothing, and food ' ' '•..

Blacksmarket trading was the order of the day ,and.those who_lpossegscdrnoneV, of. goods' and valuables that were Convertible into &mil, turned . tothat source to. buy...the wherewithal to live.- It is.notsurprising _that respon:7sible observers-of those -sad _events and. scenes- came to '..the, conclhsion, aS

-so many did, that the economy and social life of a great country weredrifting -into disintegration and deca.-- 'Now- let us turn -to glance at- what :has happened in the short span :of -half a -decade. Faced ,by the facts mentioned, Mie• Western Authorities.-,Britain, France and America—decided in lune .1947, to carry out important

at

currency yeforms which provided for..the Reiehmark:Renten Mark .andMark to.be replacedby a new unit, known as. the deutsch - Mark, whieh has

:since maintained itself as a stalile medium of exchange. It is,noweverywherein circulation in the territories of the Federal •Republic and, as vigitors_ to,Germany in recent , years know, the rate of exchange is about 11.50 D.Ii-etto ,the pound -sterling. This reform in itself has 'been of immense ilalueto German- trade and commerce, and almost overnight, so.to speak, trani'-

. formed the scene by creating a stable currency and a _new sense of public_confidence. Progress in othe r. directions was brought about by . means ofMarshall Aidy, the adoption bla faVoured nation pone.), toWaids Germanyon'the part of, the United States and Great Britain ; and the special measurestaken' by the Organisation. for European Economic Co:operation. to assist

13

the revival of trade and commerce between the territories of the FederalRepublic and other countries.

' The response of the German people to these measures has been quiteextraordinary. Industry and agriculture have taken on a new lease of life.;mines, factories and workshops have been brought back into production ;houses and flats (at the rate of about 400,000 a year), schools, hospitdls,shops and public buildings, have been built ; and men and women in allclasses have toiled day and night to raise wealth production from the lowlevels to which it had fallen in the years immediately after the war.

The progress achieved is reflected in the steady decline in the number ofunemployed people, though there are still, unfortunately, "pools" of surpluslabour in Western Berlin, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and some other centres.It was this recovery, together with the growth of a faith that though thecountry had yet to face and overcome grave political, economic and socialproblems, the German people possessed the physical and spiritual resourcesto carry through the vast plans of reconstruction upon which the nationhad embarked, that gave Chancellor Adenauer his great political victoryin the German General Elections held in September 1953.

Today the Federal Republic may fairly be cited as a remarkable exampleof capitalist reconstruction, with all the advantages and all the weaknessesof a fite-enterprise economy. The motive of private gain is powerful,and in Western Germany today it is given a free rein. It has producedstriking material results ; and, for some time to come, is likely to go ondoing so. But as every discerning student of German economic and socialconditions is aware, many dark shadows hang over the life of the FederalRepublic. •

A gulf divides the rich, with their spacious and luxurious houses andostentatious ways of living, from the poor, who are often terriblyhoused and poverty stricken. "The small people" in German towns andcities, as well as in the countryside, have a hard struggle to make ends meet.Under existing conditions in the new Republic, despite its democratic politicalconstitution, it is all too easy to thrust into the background the claims ofthe unemployed workers (some three-quarters of a million of them); thepitiful army of those crippled in the wars and the civilian disabled ; andthe millions of refugees (they are estimated to number more than tenmillions) who have streamed into the territories of Western Germany inthe post-war years. This mass of men and women, the victims of capitalism.nazism and war, constituted the "forgotten army" in the German GeneralElection of last year. Their existence remains as a sharp challenge to thedemocratic institutions and leadership of the Federal Republic. Will Adenauerbe able to keep in check the power of Krupps and the like, and, underdemocratic and parliamentary government, plan development on the linesof a German Welfare State ?

. The recent Federal elections have had two main results; first, to wipeout the extremist parties of the Right and the Left ; and secondly, to con-centrate political power for some years to come in the hands of-the powerfulcoalition of middle-class parties and politicians led by the Federal Chancellor,Who has thus attained a political stature greater perhaps than that of anyother German statesman in this century. He is a political and personalforce to be reckoned with in our world in the years that lie immediatelyahead. •

.• His arrival to political power after the 1949 Federal election was in itself a- remarkable portent, for this elderly man—he was then seventy years of age—had had to travel a road strewn with menacing political obstacles,

14

lo. find himself at the end of it charged with -such formidable tasks as thecreation of ,an effective government for Western-, Germany, the- achievementof sovereignty for the Federal Republic, and the working out of its relation-ships with the community of Western powers. By sheer power of persistence,patience and courage, he has carried through these vast enterprises ; and now,for better or worse, he is master of Western Germany.

What of the future?.Will Germany, under Adenauer's leadership, be aforce making for peace or for war? It would be foolish to pretend that thereis an easy or certain answer to the question. The issue will perhaps, onthe long view, be determined by whether the Western and Eastcrn Powersfind a peaceful solution of the differences that now so tragically dividethem. A relaxation of world tension, followed by an agreed scheme for thereunification of Germany, would perhaps do more than anything else atthis time to bring about world peace.

A careful analysis of German opinion shows that in the post-war periodthere has been a revulsion of popular feeling against war, nazism and anti-democratic forms of government. Under Adenauer there is unlikely to bea revival of German militarism ; while, as the election results showed, analternative government could only be found in the leadership of the SocialDemocrats, who now constitute the official opposition in the Bonn Parliament.Western Germany might well become involved in a world conflagration,should one occur again in our life-time ; otherwise the new Germany, atleast for some years to come, will not be in a position to launch a thirdworld war. There is thefore a real chance today that Germany will takeher place amongst the Powers working for peace and social progress.

(An address delivered to the Conway Discussion Circle on October 13.)

Fitness for Parenthood

B

G. L BENNETT

IN THE REALM of nature propagation of kind is the most fortuitous thingin the world. Prodigality of offspring is a feature characteristic of life inits multifarious forms. To the present day it is so in only lesser degree ofhumankind, taking the overall view. Were it otherwise, our species in thismid-twentieth-century would scarcely be facing an over-population problemso critical that it may yet bring the crash of civilisation. In a world in whicheverything is becoming increasingly planned, organised, and brought underrational control, human reproduction is still a matter for the personal whimand sexual caprice of men and women.

There is no qualification for parenthood, no standard of fitness, physical,mental, social or cultural, demanded by society. Amorous attraction andthe marriage certificate in civilised communities are deemed good andsufficient reason for procreating even beyond the point of economicprudence. The right to children is a sacred traditional right not to beencroached upon. The right of children to a favourable beginning to lifeand, so far as it is possible to ensure it, to a worth-while and happyfature, has not yet fully and universally permeated humanity's moralconsciousness.

The earth's supply of food and raw materials is limited: human fecundityis not—although it is now indisputably in our power to regulate births to

15

[natural resbuiCea..E,Very'day biinds'itS• fresh -cro.p-of liabieiyei the Suit-

:ability of the Parents pf these, 'in body, mind, and.outlook, to.have childreniSfseldom if ever. considered. - "

• .• "

' The unquestionable imPortance of this matter' emerges froth refleeting hOW a Child's hOrne envirOnment can—and in fact so .frequently doeslay the foundation of a full, happy; usefül life, or, convetielY, iniPlant 'the Seed's of 'a mean, cramped; frustrated' existende. If we could but know the' &nth, so -very ,many.men and women are made or marred itthe hOmes of theft 'Childhood. Time and'again, when grappling With difficult children, teache(S 'thaVe latnented alnioSf despairingly that a child's pdrents' and 'hoine exert rd- Much More -pciwerftil influence blion his character arid general Will to learn than the exaniples, exhortations, and disciplinbs of the School. Quite apart from eugenic •cOnsideraiions in founding a family, into which 'We will not go, parents therefore assume an extensive responsibility for their .:children's moral,- social; and perhaps 'educational development; If the-•social standards and moral principles of the parents are bad, their cultural :level

and- their appreciation, of the arts deficient—or worse, then . their children must in truth be outstanding to a notable extent to 'be differentfrom.them. ,

In point of 'fact, this independent unfolding of a ehild'X own personalitY.farely happens in an unfavoloable home. After all, We are every- one ofitis10 -great:measure prOducts -of environment. We 'can only: make Ilk'Of the.material ol our own experience' and of the knowledge 'we: con-le:by':'Psychologists are. agreed 'that' the earliest 'years are the moat vital in -theformation of personality; it is then thaFthe pattern of bur Suture behaviourand:reaction to..circumstances -is set, ..or, largely set: Where, in, additions tothe unsatisfactory environment inio which a child may be born, ihereis in somewhat later years of his life an absence—or, as it may well be,a continuing absence—of wholesome cultural influences, it would bechimerical in the extreme to expect himqd growro matirity manifesting thebest that he has it in him to be.

If the general cultural level of the- parents is low, the child starts lifeat a disadvantage that it may in all probability never outgrow. There is atendency to think that the business of educating the young is the soleprovince of the teacher; but education in a fundamental sense begins inlitehome, and 'there makes- its deepest •and most decisive, mark- on a person.And, of course, education is a lifelong• process: whertwe cease to learnwe:cease, in a vital sense, to live. .I:Lack-of education and of cultural interest in men and Wornen Is a lack

. ,

of qualification for parenthood.l'tim not suggesting,. I need hardly say, thdt parents should have aiiY-

-thing' approaching tutorial ability; but what I do suggest iSthat they shotatie' possessed of 'the desire to awaken their chilthen'S'iniere'st in the Worldabout them, to encourage them to think intelligently for themselves andnot' to feel under constraintto accept.the ideas of their 'fathers and mothers,or the ideas that happen to be traditionally or currently accepted. .

• Is this demanding' a liberality, and breadth of mind ,atfif an intellectlialdetactiment .beyond the range of the average' parents?I'lt 1-• think?' to be so only, sci long as parents cling vaingloriously to .the notion that theirehildren shoidd be-a reflection br 'an extension of themselves'in their thinkingand outlook (a very prevalent idea). But where they' hold firm 'COnvictioit,parents may cOnsider it 'their dutV tO put their sons and daughters on "theright road" by endeavouring to make them of the same persuasion. Pariii-ciilarly Is this so' in: Matters 'of .religion and 'moralitY.' Yet the Min of patentsshould be:to present 'in simple fashion the different prevailing ideas, explaining

16

which of these Ideas they favour—and why. The child: ought to be.allowed.absolute freedom of. mind to come to:his own conclusions r in 'his own:time:about all question's of a personal or speculative nature. And this should:be.:made.clear. Thus.does he get a chance to develop fully his individuality,:and his mental growth is not arrested. „

-.The parents' job, •1 hold, does not stop at providing the basis needs. of .food, clothing,• and, shelter for •heir :children (as many still, imagine);

they must be their guardians and instructorsin.life as well., .

'.11. G. Wells once got himself into trouble for advocating that.the upbring-ing,,guardianship, and education of the young should be the sole 'respon--sibility of the State. Now though I am. not necessarily opposed tOreVolutiOnary Changel.I 'am. far from:thinking that the' State has wisdom;intelligence, and .integrity enough to have. COmplete care Of. the immenselYplastic an& impieSsionable minds of the young. With. the:State as .childwelfare and education oflicer, who knows what new chauvinism, what new.despotism, might. not arise as am outcome of the mass 'indoctrination ofthe young? lf ast believe, therefore, the time haS arrived•foi a: re-orienta:tion in our thinking about parenthood and the upbringing of children,whatever we. may :decide to. do must' in wisdom. be 'less sweeping, lessradical, less, exposed to 'danger, than that: •:As social Standards of life improve there inust. be a higher conceptioii

Of the function and the duties of parenthood. Babies should, no 'longer'. be.. regarded .as the logical and necessary Complement Of •the completeMarriage, ..gather• should young couples decide for themselves Whethelthey. do itifact desire a family; whether they will be reasonably-abldtO:support the siie of family they envisage; whether they Can eel; a.good.home life to anythildren they may have; and' whether they consider them-selves :fit-to: !be r.parents -by virtue .of theirHgeneral cultural awareness,

. personal character, and private mode .of life. :Bringing children .:into:!theworld—still so lightly regarded and so casually embarked upon—is, inreality, an enormous moral and social responsibility. And 1 venture tothink that some kind of course in parenthood might not be a bad plan ifit undertook, for the benefit of prospective mothers and fathers, to dealwith those aspects of fitness for parenthood—moral, social, and cultural,no less than eugenic—here outlined. Whatever cafeer or vocation we mayadopt, we must th.ese days necessarily undergo a period of training orapprenticeship in order that we may do our work well. And if there .aresome who would object to a course in parenthood, what Vocation in thisdiploma- and certificate-conscious modern world of increasing specialism;may.I ask, could be greater, more important, or more vital for the future'than Ihit of .reifing and. nurturing tomorrow's citizens?„, : •

'Conway' Discusion Circle„.

ON JANukay 5 Mr. S. K. Ratcliffe opened a discussion ori GeOrge(he-subject , being" topieal oh account Of the fiftieth anniVersary , of thenokelisi's death: Gissing ,belonged, he said, to the 'leading half-dozen, inBngliSh.fiction between 1880 and 1900. There was, perhaps, more likelihood/Thins being remembered a.nd read in the future than in the case of thineconfernporaries who .had been more popular, with, the , exceptiorLofSieVenson and, Conan Doyle. His life of 46 years was almost unrelieliedfraiedyt Hp. WaS .a Yorkshireinam born in 1857; gained, a scholarship -10ciwert - College, Manchester, and examination honours at I-OhbaUniversity. At school and afterwards he worked furiously, to the permanentinjury of his -health. His passion for the classics remained with him to the

17

end. Leaving college under a-cloud, he endured a hard interval in America,and then went to Jena where he studied German philosophy. While writinghis early novels he earned his living as a private tutor, during some yearsunder conditions of -bitter hardship, vividly recalled in The Nether Worldand elsewhere.

It was strange that a man so -driven by love of learning should-.hayeresolved to write novels, and dim of a kind, as he said, such as no onehad yet ventured upon in England. H. G. Wells said that Gissing's ambitionwas to do for the English scene what Balzac had done for France. That,obviously, was not possible for a man of his temperament and restrictedknowledge of the people. The Unclassed, in 1884, was followed by halfa dozen novels that displayed his powers at their highest. Born in Exile,Demos, Thyrza, The Nether World, New Grub Street. He worked withextraordinary industry through the 1890s, publishing eight books in sixyears, with a growing, if still limited, public. He was not confined tostories of the underside of London life and the conflict between theindividual and society. His devotion to Italy found expresion in By theIonian Sea and in Veranilda, a. romance of Rome in the sixth centurythat was left unfinished. Further, there was his notable study of Dickensand The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft, which pictured the kind ofreflective life of which he dreamed. His intellectual grounding and resourcesWere greater than those of any other Victorian novelist. He was an un-compromising rationalist. Although greatly influenced by Schopenhauer, itwas fair to say that the pessimism of his outlook and his pervading low'spirits came more directly from personal experience, especially from themisery of two unfortunate marriages and a lifelong sense of frustration.

To the discussion Mr. William Kent contributed more facts of Gissing'scareer, and pleased the audience by -reading several characteristic passagesof description from Thyrza and other books.

Correspondence

The Editor, The Monthly Record,

Dear Sir,In the January issue of the Monthly Record, Custos did not make enough

of the fact that The Reinterpretation of the Fourth Gospel, by Dr. C. FLDodd, follows a line of thought which may be said to be similar to thatfollowed by P. L. Couchoud in the Watts and Co. publication. The Creationof Christ. Dodd makes plain that the Christ of the Fourth Gospel is a"created" Christ (not a real and living ChristL — created, in terms of ideas,from elements contributed by Platonic and Philohie thought:with soineGnosticism, mingled with the spirit of compassion and grace to be foendin the conceptions of the Jewish Messiah. The author of the Fourth Gospelattempts to bring this Christ into human history, by causing him to, walkthe earth, to be moved with compassion, to make speeches, and to Uttei-sayings. Accordingly, we may see the true significance of the Fourth Gospelwhen we follow the profound scholarship of Dr. Dodd, and when we cetzleto believe in the Gospel as making reference to an actual historical figure.

Yours sincerely,J. HUTTON HYND

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Do We Need a New Religion?

Sir, •For some years past, in the Monthly Record and other publications, such

as Cattell's Human Affairs, there are indications that Ethicists and someRationalists are becoming more interes;ed in religion. I say more, because,for some years, there has been the statement that the South Place EthicalSociety has for its object, "the cultivation of a rational religious sentiment."

I can remember when the S.P.E.S. derided the use of the word religionby Comte and his followers such as myself. I have for over sixty yearsadopted the Religion of Humanity and have found, therein• peace of mindand heart for my comfort; my wife shared my views in this matter. Up tothe age of eighteen 1 had been a full member of the Anglican Church.Except for a short sojourn in Olive Schreiner's "Desert of Negation", Ihave been a member of a religious community..

In the October number of the Monthly Record, Mr. Deakin says he feels.a vacuum or "no-man*s land" between Theism and Humanism and laterin the January number agrees with Mrs. Unwin, but unfortunately wantsthis "vacuum" filled with "metaphysics", which reminds me of OmarKhayyam's verse:

"Myself when young did eagerly frequentDoctor and Saint, and heard great argumentAbout it and about: but evermoreCome out by the same door where in I went."

However, fortunately he arrived at a Religion of simple universal loveand thus comes nearer to Mrs. Unwin who says: "There is no doubt thatthe world wants a religion today more than eVer before, that shall be a newspiritual home", and not one that appeals only to highbrows but to thecommon-sense man or woman. As a lady said to me many years ago,"something that will help us to keep our temper when the potatoes won'tboil". No metaphysics will do that. So really Mr. Deakin and Mrs. Unwinseem to know what they want and that they want it urgently. As to whichreligion? As our theologians have always stressed, you must have a namefor it. For myself, I coined the word "Humanitisr, but my Positivistfriends did not like it, nor did the funeral director at Worthing whoburied my wife like it, nor did he like "Positivist". Why not use theword "Humanist"? he said; that is common for services nowadays. Weshall, I suppose, have to be content with this name despite its amorphousmeaning and give it new meaning.

In his book Man, Morals and Society, Professor Fhigel writes that manypychologists consider that the progress of scientific knowledge in under-mining theology has caused a sort of malaise whereby people who havelost their old beliefs feel the vacuum and want something to take the placeof "misting their burden upon the Lord."

So now, how much do we want a new religion and how do westart to get it defined and accepted? As Morris says: "For why and forwhat are we waiting?"

First let us recognise that we do live in an expanding environment. Thosewho want communion are widely scattered. Even Conway Hall suffersfrom this. What is necessary is that those members of S.P.E.S. who livein expanding Cities and new towns and whose addresses are in the list• ofmembers and associates should endeavour to arrange meetings among them-selves. These could be advertised in the local press if they are able to get

19

a fairly competent speaker to address them. That would be the beginning;the end must be our hope and aim.

HENRY TOMPKINS

To the Editor of the Monthly Record.

Sir;• • ••I imagine that many readers of the Monthly Record will have questicined

the assertions made by your correspondent Mrs. M. F. Unwin, in theDecember issue. She says: "and yet the world wants religion etc.," :Theworld", or the men and women in the street, have had enough of it. What,they need is a. reasonable, informed explanation of the whole position.The women especially are awkwardly placed, and the sooner we—Ethicists, .Rationalists,.Freethinkers—come to the rescue the better.

The frequent exhortations of almost evangelical fervour never seem to'be accompanied by any indication.of how it is to be achieved. The veryobvious (to the writer) natural history interpretation seems to be con-spicuous by its absence. The fact is that the limit of understanding- basrecently, changed. The trend,,icnow towards thought and understandingand away from the long nursery period in which belief and idolatry ,hadbeen natural and beneficial.

This is a development whieh wbmen 'See in every child they rear. Ourresponsibility is to see that they understand it. Women, fortunately, can bevery ruthless because they ,are fundarnetalists in charge of lives.

Yours faithfully,S. L. SYMNS .

Correction

po the Editor of the Monthly Record. .

Sir,r In. the last paragraph of The Problem of. the Press in your January issue, I am made to say, "Journals of opinion are honest: they are also import-

ant." The last word should be "impotent", as the rest of the paragraphshows.

Yours truly;.ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON

•

South Place NewsJUNIOR DISCUSSION GROUP

. .On Decomuk 18, Mr. B. 0. Warwick opened a discussion under the- title,"Flying Saucers have Landed" and 'said that although fun was made ofthis name it was an important subject. 'The name had,"caught• on" and-was used to describe an object that arrived from outer space and movedin a controlled manner in the vicinity of the earth. Most of our highesttechnical authorities agree that interplanetary flight ,is possible,and withinthe limits of our present engineering and- chemical knowledge.. If peopleon' earth hM capable of achieving interplanetary flight it follows :that'any Other intelligence in the universe is also capable, of similar develop..ments. The duration of a human life limits interplanetary- flights to••theSolar SVstem and any possible visitors will, come from there. -.- •

20

Human intelligence has developed within the last 10,000 years: only. asmall period in the life of a planet. It would be highly improbable thatthe development of another planet would have agreed so closely with thatof -the earth that the limes of attaining interplanetary flight poincided.Therefore these visits have either never occurred, or they would haveoccurred so often that they would be commonplace.

In spite of these improbabilities some people say they have seen flyingsaucers land and take off, and have produced photographs and footprintcasts to prove their statements. Unfortunately these claims are open tomany objections and it would appear necessary to believe in flying saucersfirst and to examine the evidence afterwards.

Each clock gives a corrcct measure of its own proper time, but it doesnot give an accurate measure of any physical qualities connected withevenLs on bodies that are moving rapidly in relation to it. Distances inspace, like periods of time, are in general not objective physical facts. Aperson can travel from London to Edinburgh, a distance of 400 miles, inten hours: a fly in the compartment will judge that you have not movedat all, but have afforded him a period of pleasure which he will measureby his own "proper time", and not by Greenwich Observatory, and it can-not be said that the traveller or the fly are mistaken. The distance in spacebetween two events is not in itself a physical fact: time and speed arerelated but not to human clocks.

During the debate it was said that the're were many recorded instancesof flying saucers being observed. We did not know what events happenedon the surface of Mars and Venus and some form of near human life waspossible. There was a gap in the orderly orbital progression in the diametersof the planets paths around the Sun. This position was occupied by theAsteroids which are apparently the debris of an exploded planet, and thismissing planet may have had life developed to a point beyond that whichthe earth has not reached. The explosion of a planet would injure itsneighbours and the recent successful atomic explosions here would beregarded as a danger signal by the adjacent planets. Self interest wouldprovide a motive for trying to stop these explosions on earth, and therecent announcements of President Eisenhower may be the result of asecret visit. The Sun in its continued state of atomic explosions, and the sunspots affect the weather of the earth. Anything would be invisible to theeye if it moved fast enough. It was the "climate" of opinion that controlledpeople's thoughts. There was a tremendous amount of rocket and spaceliterature, "scientific" space tales and adventures catered for all tastes. Thesetales made it easy for people to "know" what a space ship looked like.Human beings could travel at the speed of light but it was the change ofspeed or direction that was so dangerous.

When asked why we did not believe in flying saucers it was pointed outthat these visitors appear to have made an enormous journey with theobject of communicating with the earth at large. All they appear to havedone was to talk by telepathic means with a little known person in circum-stances that made a proof dillicult and belief impossible. If the saucershad flown across large cities and dropped a few cwts of souvenir medalsthe publicity would have been unquenchable and the way would have'beenopen to further peaceful contacts. If these beings are intelligent enoughto have attained interplanetary flight they would be capable of obtaining amuch better result for a long and dangerous mission. It may be assumedthat the national authorities would conceal any contacts in order to avoiddisturbance of normal interest and to obtain new allies.

At this point the meeting ended having long exceeded its allotted time.

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it. was agreed that the many avenues left unexplored would provide sub-jects for future meetings.

On December 11, the Rev. D. E. Richards, B.A„ B.D., gave an "Introduc-tion to Unitarianism- and said that Unitarians had no statement of beliefto which 'members had to agree and no tests of the beliefs of officials wasmade. The movement stemmed from pre-reformation days as there hadalways been some protests within the established Church. The anti-trinitarian movement had developed slowly; several Unitarian congre-gations of today had Presbytarian, Baptist or Independent origins. TheAssociation of Unitarian Churches left each congregation as an autonomousgroup and excercised no control over the views of its ministers. Unitarianshad a tradition of civil and religious liberty, they maintained a progressiveattitude to the world in general and had been active in the field of politicalreform, social improvement and so on. Religion is a quest in which peoplejoin in fellowship and it is valid for each when it is approved by hisconscience. There is a plus value in life that is not easy to explain, a desirefor something better. There should be no arrogance in regard to our fellow,men and their beliefs. Unitarianism implies a struagle and gives a greatopportunity for adventure in the partnership of life.

During the discussion it was said that the great heed was to set astandard and then to have patience in persuading people to accept thestandard. Jesus gave familiar teachings a new slant and his name had madean indelible mark on human destiny. A child needed wise guidance and.could not avoid having a knowledge of science: and whereas it must betaught science, it acquired a knowledge of religion.

It was not always possible to give a rational reason for an act, for youwould need to know all the facts. People were entitled to accept sonieassumptions and to expect that other people would act in an ethical manner.Religion is a great act of faith and cannot be fully rationalised, its impor-tance is limited to temporary experience and to the confidence that thislife is not the cnd.

Clements Memorial Prize 1953

The prizewinning work for 1953 is a quintet for piano, clarinet, violin.viola and 'cello and the composer is Reginald Smith Brindle, who Wasborn in Lancashire in 1917 and is a BaChelor of Music of Bangor College,Wales.

Under a FelloWship of the University of Wales, he went to Rome andstudied at the Accademia Santa Cecilia where he obtained a Diploma inadvanced composition, and a prize. He later studied in Florence underLuigi Dallapiccola.

He writes music for Italian documentary films, conducts British musicand acts as music critic. Some of his works have received performancesin Italy. -

The adjudicators were: P. Racine Fricker, Malcolm MacDonald andElizabeth Maconchy.

ObhuaryThe news of the death of Mr. Harry Brown which occurred on July 15,

1953 will be sad to a number of the older members of this Society. Heand his wife had been members for a number of years and many will 'join with us in deep sympathy with Mrs. Brown.

Another member, whose passing on January 4, will cause regret, is that ofMr. G. E. Wymer. He had been a member since 1923, although his healthhad not permitted him to attend meetings recently. At one time he wrote

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letters to the Monthly Record putting forward his own views on topicswhich appeared there. He continued to take a keen interest'in the MonthlyReports. •

Physicists like Jeans and Eddington have recently been at some pains toshow that God is a mathematician. They have not used the best argumentof all, which is that a mathematician is usually rather absent-minded.

E. S. P. HAYNES (The Lawyer's Last Notebook. 1934).

Society's ActivitiesSunday Social

February 21, in the Library at 3 p.m Sir Ernest Kennaway A Fortnightin. Iceland". With lantern slides.

Thursday Evening Socials

In the Library at 7' p.m.

February 4—Mrs. R. F. Burns Thought and experiences from sittingon a jury.''

I I—Whist Drive.18—Miss D. Walters : Dramatic Evening.25—George E. O'Dell "Adventures in London.- .

The library, Conway Hall

The Librarian will be in attendance on Sunday mornings and Tuesdayand Thursday evenings.

Additions to the Library, Shaw and Society, edited by• C. E. M. Joad,European Folk Dance by Joan .Lawson.

Conway Discussion Circle

Meetings in the Library on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m.

February 2—Marcus Sims: "The philosophy of Sartre."9—T. B. Bottomore: "The Idea of Progress."

16—Royston Pike: "Sex in Fiction: Fielding to GrahamGreene."

23—D. G. MacRae, M.A.: "The Ethics of Reviewing."March 2—J. Gray: "Can the population problem be solved?"

Dance

A dance will be held in Conway Hall on Saturday, February 6 at 7.30p.m. Tickets 4s. (including refreshments) may be obtained from the Hon.Sec.. Conway Hall, W.C.I. Phone reservations. CHAncery 8033. ,

Rambles

Sunday, February 13. Visit to the National Gallery to examine newfloor mosaics and afterwards explore the neighbourhood. Meet at entranceto the National Gallery at 2.30 p.m.

Leader: Victor Howlett.

Sunday. 'February 27. Ramble over Hampstead Heath and Ken Wood:Meet Haminstead tube station at 2 p.m. If wet, there will be a visit toKen Wood:House. Leader: F. James.

New Members

Mrs. Hector Hawton, -Burbank", Barnet Lane, Elstree, Herts., PatrickDowman. Conway Hall, W.C.1.

Change of Address of Member

Mr. Wm. Peat, 27 Lancaster Gate, W.2.

New Associate

Miss J. B. W. Aldis, I2a Mardy Bungalows, Abergavenny, Mon.

Change of Address of Associate

Miss C. Dodd, 33 Park Road, Chiswick, W.4.

Junior Discussion Group

Meetings, Friday at 7.15 p.m.

February 5—H. R. Welton: "Communist Propaganda." I2—Dr. W. Bier : "Railway Safety."I9—J. Henry Lloyd : "Personal Humanism."26—L. Kersnick: "Yugoslavia Today."

Mar.ch 5—Cyril Appleton: "Tthde Unions and their future."

Admission f ree.

Children's Party

The decision to hold another Children's Party this year justified itself.Twenty-six children thoroughly enjoyed themselves; puppet show by boysof the Merchant Taylors School once again provided first-class amusementfor them. We hope that this party will continue as an annual event of theSociety.

Thursday Evening Socials ,

On December 3, Mr. and Mrs. Veryard gave an interesting talk on"Holidays in Spain" in 1953. December 10. Mr. J. B. Bowmer with theaid of lantern slides, spoke on "Hairdressing throngh the ages". December17 provided a musical feast by Hilda Hutton and her friends. A most enjoy-able evening.

Sunday Social

On January 17: William Kent gave a fascinating talk on “Reminiscencgsof a,London Guide". There are very few, if any, people who possess suchan intimate knowledge of London and can speak so entertainingly withal.

The list of his published books on London is now very extensive. Theyare all written in a style that is as attractive as his talks. His "London in theNews" is being published this month.

FARLEIGH PRESS LTD. (T.U.), BEE(THWOOD RISE, WATFORD