“The modern world is still in its spiritual infancy, and does not often speak the name of God. Not that we are so much irreverent as that we feel no special need of Him in our daily pursuits. Since we ceased to tremble at the thunders of Sinai, and their lingering echoes in bulls and heresy condemnations, we find that we get along just as well––indeed, much better. And it really is quite bad form now to speak continually of God, or to refer to Him as anything real and vital. To be on 20 such terms of intimacy with Him as this girl Carmen is––in thought, at least––would be regarded to-day as evidence of sentimentalism and weakness.”
He paused again, to marshal his thought and give his auditors an opportunity for comment. Then, as the silence remained unbroken, he continued:
“Viewing the world from one standpoint, it has achieved remarkable success in applying the knout to superstition and limitation. But, like a too energetic housekeeper, it has swept out much that is essential with the débris. When spirituality ceases to be real or vital to a people, then a grave danger threatens them. Materiality has never proved a blessing, as history shows. Life that is made up of strain and ceaseless worry is not life. The incessant accumulation of material wealth, when we do not know how really to enjoy it, is folly. To pamper the flesh, to the complete ignoring of the spirit, is suicide. The increased hankering after physical excitements and animal pleasures, to the utter abandonment of the search for that which is real and satisfying, is an exhibition of gross, mesmeric stupidity, to say the least. It shows that our sense of life is awry.”
“But the world is surely attempting its own betterment,” protested Haynerd.
“I grant you that,” replied Hitt. “But legislation and coercion are the wrong means to employ. They restrain, but they do not cure. They are only narcotics.”
“Oh, well, you are not going to change the race until the individual himself changes.”
“Have I disputed that?” said Hitt. “Quite the contrary, that is the pith of my observations. Reform is a hearthside affair. And no sane man will maintain that general reform can ever come until the individual’s needs are met––his daily, hourly, worldly needs.”
“I think I get your point,” said Father Waite. “It is wholly a question of man’s concept of the cause of things, himself included, and their purpose and end, is it not?”
“Quite so,” replied Hitt. “The restless spirit of the modern world is hourly voicing its discontent with a faltering faith which has no other basis than blind belief. It wants demonstrable fact upon which to build. In plain words, mankind would be better if they but knew how!”
“Well, we show them how,” asserted Haynerd. “But they don’t do as we tell ’em.”