Untitled - Rore Sanctifica

Defects and their Remedy in lie-union. 147
cannot -say
in communion) with the English
Church, but few clergy would care to calculate
how many in their parishes would remain
faithful,
if .some other religious body were
placed in possession
of the churches and tithes.
In the class above .the labourer, all
embracing
grades of tradesmen, the conservative spirit has
always been less apparent. The facts that they
are struggling to rise to a rank above them, and
that the beginnings of education have shaken
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their belief in the mystic superiority which real
rank retains over its inferiors, have greatly
tended to encourage notions of an universal
<?
equality, and a disbelief in all superiority that
cannot be reduced to something tangible.
Money is essentially tangible, therefore they
respect money. A religion which claims to
have a priesthood whose authority over them
selves is founded on something intangible, has
no charms for them, and so the choice of a
dissenting minister, who can be followed or not
at will, appears to them more consistent with
habits of mind which will only acknowledge a
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if the individual can show that he
superiority
personally deserves it. The materializing in
fluences of trade also conduce to make Puri
tanism the most popular religion among the
middle class.
The upper ranks have till lately adhered to
the English Church under the form in which
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