Fashionable Philosophy | Page 9

process that the discovery will be made of how this is to be
done, but by the introduction into the organism of new and unsuspected
potencies of moral force which have hitherto lain dormant in nature,
waiting for the great invocation of wearied and distressed humanity.
There can be no stronger evidence of the approach of this new force,
destined to make the ethics of Christianity a practical social standard,
than the growing demand of society for a new religion. It is the
inarticulate utterance of the quickened human aspiration, in itself a
proof that these new potencies are already stirring the dry bones of
Christendom, and a sure earnest that their coming in answer to that

aspiration will not be long delayed.
Drygull. Of course, I entirely disagree with you as to any such
necessity in regard to the moral requirements of the world, existing.
You must have met, in the course of your travels, that more enlightened
and initiated class of Buddhists, with whom I sympathise, who are
quite indifferent to considerations of this nature.
Rollestone. And who were too much occupied with their subjective
prospects in Nirvana, to be affected by the needs of terrestrial
humanity.
Drygull. Quite so.
Mrs Allmash. And, Mr Allyside, I am afraid you are equally indifferent.
Ali Seyyid. I am certainly not indifferent to the discovery of any force
latent in Christendom which may check the force of its cupidity, and
put a stop to the exploitation and subjugation of Eastern countries for
the sake of advancing its own material interests, under the specious
pretext of introducing the blessings of civilisation.
Coldwaite. You have certainly presented the matter in a light which is
altogether new to me, Mr Rollestone, and upon which, therefore, I am
not now prepared to express an opinion. I should like to discuss the
subject with you further privately.
Rollestone. It is a subject which should never be discussed except
privately.
Mrs Allmash. Now, I should say, Mr Rollestone, on the contrary, that it
was just a subject you ought to write a book about. You would have so
much to tell,--all your personal experiments, you know; now do.
Fussle. Take my advice, Mr Rollestone, and don't. You would have
very few readers, and those who read you would only sneer at what
they would call your crude ideas; and indeed, you will excuse me for
saying so, but I am not sure that they would not be right.

Lord Fondleton. I quite disagree with you, Mr Fussle. If Rollestone
would write a book which would put a stop to this "religion of the
future" business, he would earn the gratitude of society. Do you know,
I am getting rather bored with it.
Fussle. Not if he introduced instead a latent force, which should
overturn all existing institutions, and revolutionise society--which it
would inevitably have to do if we were all coerced by it into adopting
literally the ethics of Christianity, instead of merely professing them.
Why, the "Sermon on the Mount" alone, practised to the letter, would
produce a general destruction. Church and State, and the whole
economic system upon which society is based, would melt away before
it like an iceberg under a tropical sun. I don't mind discussing the
religion of the future as a subject of interesting speculation; but, depend
upon it, we had better let well alone. It seems to me that we--at least
those of us who are well off--have nothing to complain of. Let us trust
to the silent forces of evolution. See how much they have lately done
for us in the matter of art. What can be pleasanter than this gentle
process of aesthetic development which our higher faculties are
undergoing? With due deference to Mr Rollestone, I think we shall be
far better employed in cultivating our taste, than in probing our own
organisms in the hope of discovering forces which may enable us to
apply a perfectly unpractical system of morality, to a society which has
every reason to be satisfied with the normal progress it is making.
Mrs Gloring. Indeed, Mr Rollestone, I agree with you a great deal more
than with Mr Fussle. I should like to call out a higher moral force in
myself--but I should never have the courage to undergo all the ordeals
you say it would involve; I am too weak to try.
Lord Fondleton. Of course you are,--don't! You are much nicer as you
are. Why, Rollestone, you would make all the women detestable if you
could have your way.
Rollestone. I don't think there is any immediate cause for alarm on that
score.
Mrs Allmash [_rising_]. Dearest Augusta, I am afraid I must run away:

thank you so much, for such a treat. [_All rise_] Mrs Gloring, we have
all been so