seemtohavereachedacountrydevastatedbywarorpestilence。Itisreallysufferingonlyfromthefamily。WillanyonepretendthatEnglandhasnotthebestofthisstrikingdifference?Yetitissuchsenselessandunnaturalconventionsasthisthatmakeussoimpatientofwhatwecallfamilyfeeling。Evenapartfromitsinsufferablepretensions，thefamilyneedsheartydiscrediting；forthereishardlyanyvulnerablepartofitthatcouldnotbeamputatedwithadvantage。
　　ArtTeachingByartteachingIhastentosaythatIdonotmeangivingchildrenlessonsinfreehanddrawingandperspective。Iamsimplycallingattentiontothefactthatfineartistheonlyteacherexcepttorture。Ihavealreadypointedoutthatnobody，exceptunderthreatoftorture，canreadaschoolbook。Thereasonisthataschoolbookisnotaworkofart。Similarly，youcannotlistentoalessonorasermonunlesstheteacherorthepreacherisanartist。YoucannotreadtheBibleifyouhavenosenseofliteraryart。ThereasonwhythecontinentalEuropeanis，totheEnglishmanorAmerican，sosurprisinglyignorantoftheBible，isthattheauthorizedEnglishversionisagreatworkofliteraryart，andthecontinentalversionsarecomparativelyartless。
　　Toreadadullbook；tolistentoatediousplayorprosysermonorlecture；tostareatuninterestingpicturesoruglybuildings:nothing，shortofdisease，ismoredreadfulthanthis。Theviolencedonetooursoulsbyitleavesinjuriesandproducessubtlemaladieswhichhaveneverbeenproperlystudiedbypsycho-pathologists。Yetwearesoinuredtoitinschool，wherepracticallyalltheteachersareborestryingtodotheworkofartists，andallthebooksartless，thatweacquireatrulyfrightfulpowerofenduringboredom。Weevenacquirethenotionthatfineartislasciviousanddestructivetothecharacter。Inchurch，intheHouseofCommons，atpublicmeetings，wesitsolemnlylisteningtoboresandtwaddlersbecausefromthetimewecouldwalkorspeakwehavebeensnubbed，scolded，bullied，beatenandimprisoned
　　wheneverwedaredtoresentbeingboredortwaddledat，ortoexpressournaturalimpatienceandderisionofboresandtwaddlers。Andwhenamanariseswithasoulofsufficientnativestrengthtobreakthebondsofthisinculcatedreverenceandtoexposeandderideandtweakthenosesofourhumbugsandpanjandrums，likeVoltaireorDickens，weareshockedandscandalized，evenwhenwecannothelplaughing。Worse，wedreadandpersecutethosewhocanseeanddeclarethetruth，becausetheirsincerityandinsightreflectsonourdelusionandblindness。WearealllikeNellGwynne'sfootman，whodefendedNell'sreputationwithhisfists，notbecausehebelievedhertobewhathecalledanhonestwoman，butbecauseheobjectedtobescornedasthefootmanofonewhowasnobetterthansheshouldbe。
　　Thiswretchedpowerofallowingourselvestobeboredmayseemtogivethefineartsachancesometimes。PeoplewillsitthroughaperformanceofBeethoven'sninthsymphonyorofWagner'sRingjustastheywillsitthroughadullsermonorafrontbenchpoliticiansayingnothingfortwohourswhilsthisunfortunatecountryisperishingthroughthedelayofitsbusinessinParliament。Buttheirenduranceisverybadfortheninthsymphony，becausetheyneverhisswhenitismurdered。IhaveheardanItalianconductornolongerlivingtakethe_adagio_ofthatsymphonyatalively_allegretto_，slowingdownforthewarmermajorsectionsintothespeedandmanneroftheheroine'sdeathsonginaVerdiopera；andthelisteners，farfromrelievingmyexcruciationbyrisingwithyellsoffuryandhurlingtheirprogramsandoperaglassesatthemiscreant，behavedjustastheydowhenRichterconductsit。Themassofimposturethatthrivesonthiscombinationofignorancewithdespairingenduranceisincalculable。Givenapublictrainedfromchildhoodtostandanythingtedious，andsosaturatedwithschooldisciplinethatevenwiththedoorsopenandnoschoolmasterstostopthemtheywillsittherehelplesslyuntiltheendoftheconcertoroperagivesthemleavetogohome；andyouwillhaveingreatcapitalshundredsofthousandsofpoundsspenteverynightintheseasononprofessedlyartisticentertainmentswhichhavenoothereffectonfineartthantoexacerbatethehatredinwhichitisalreadysecretlyheldinEngland。
　　Fortunately，thereareartsthatcannotbecutofffromthepeoplebybadperformances。Wecanreadbooksforourselves；andwecanplayagooddealoffinemusicforourselveswiththehelpofapianola。
　　Nothingstandsbetweenusandtheactualhandworkofthegreatmastersofpaintingexceptdistance；andmodernphotographicmethodsofreproductionareinsomecasesquiteandinmanynearlyaseffectiveinconveyingtheartist'smessageasamoderneditionofShakespear'splaysisinconveyingthemessagethatfirstexistedinhishandwriting。Thereproductionofgreatfeatsofmusicalexecutionisalreadyontheway:thephonograph，forallitswheezingandsnarlingandbraying，issteadilyimprovinginitsmanners；andwhatwiththisimprovementontheonehand，andontheotherthatblessedselectivefacultywhichenablesustoignoreagooddealofdisagreeablenoiseifthereisathreadofmusicinthemiddleofitfewcriticsofthephonographseemtobeconsciousoftheveryconsiderablemechanicalnoisesetupbychoirsandorchestraswehaveatlastreachedapointatwhich，forexample，apersonlivinginanEnglishvillagewherethechurchmusicistheonlymusic，andthatmusicismadebyafewwell-intentionedladieswiththehelpofaharmonium，canhearmassesbyPalestrinaverypassablyexecuted，andcantherebybeledtothediscoverythatJacksoninFandHymnsAncientandModernarenotperhapsthelastwordofbeautyandproprietyinthepraiseofGod。
　　Inshort，thereisavastbodyofartnowwithinthereachofeverybody。Thedifficultyisthatthisart，whichalonecaneducateusingraceofbodyandsoul，andwhichalonecanmakethehistoryofthepastliveforusorthehopeofthefutureshineforus，whichalonecangivedelicacyandnobilitytoourcrudelusts，whichistheappointedvehicleofinspirationandthemethodofthecommunionofsaints，isactuallybrandedassinfulamongusbecause，whereveritarises，thereisresistancetotyranny，breakingoffetters，andthebreathoffreedom。Theattempttosuppressartisnotwhollysuccessful:wemightaswelltrytosuppressoxygen。Butitiscarriedfarenoughtoinflictonhugenumbersofpeopleamostinjuriousartstarvation，andtocorruptagreatdealoftheartthatistolerated。YouwillfindinEnglandplentyofrichfamilieswithlittlemoreculturethantheirdogsandhorses。Andyouwillfindpoorfamilies，cutoffbypovertyandtownlifefromthecontemplationofthebeautyoftheearth，withitsdressesofleaves，itsscarvesofcloud，anditscontoursofhillandvalley，whowouldpositivelybehappierashogs，solittlehavetheycultivatedtheirhumanitybytheonlyeffectiveinstrumentofculture:art。Thedearthisartificiallymaintainedevenwhentherearethemeansofsatisfyingit。Storybooksareforbidden，picturepostcardsareforbidden，theatresareforbidden，operasareforbidden，circusesareforbidden，sweetmeatsareforbidden，prettycolorsareforbidden，allexactlyasviceisforbidden。
　　TheCreatorisexplicitlyprayedto，andimplicitlyconvictedofindecencyeveryday。Anassociationofviceandsinwitheverythingthatisdelightfulandofgoodnesswitheverythingthatiswretchedanddetestableissetup。Allthemostperilousandgloriousappetitesandpropensitiesareatonceinflamedbystarvationanduneducatedbyart。Allthewholesomeconditionswhichartimposesonappetitearewaived:insteadofcultivatedmenandwomenrestrainedbyathousanddelicacies，repelledbyugliness，chilledbyvulgarity，horrifiedbycoarseness，deeplyandsweetlymovedbythegracesthatarthasrevealedtothemandnursedinthem，wegetindiscrimmaterapacityinpursuitofpleasureandaparadeofthegrosseststimulationsincateringforit。Wehaveacontinualclamorforgoodness，beauty，virtue，andsanctity，withsuchanappallinginabilitytorecognizeitorloveitwhenitarrivesthatitismoredangeroustobeagreatprophetorpoetthantopromotetwentycompaniesforswindlingsimplefolkoutoftheirsavings。Donotforamomentsupposethatuncultivatedpeoplearemerelyindifferenttohighandnoblequalities。Theyhatethemmalignantly。
　　Atbest，suchqualitiesarelikerareandbeautifulbirds:whentheyappearthewholecountrytakesdownitsguns；butthebirdsreceivethestatuarytributeofhavingtheircorpsesstuffed。
　　Anditreallyallcomesfromthehabitofpreventingchildrenfrombeingtroublesome。Youaresocarefulofyourboy'smorals，knowinghowtroublesometheymaybe，thatyoukeephimawayfromtheVenusofMiloonlytofindhiminthearmsofthescullerymaidorsomeonemuchworse。YoudecidethattheHermesofPraxitelesandWagner'sTristanarenotsuitedforyounggirls；andyourdaughtermarriessomebodyappallinglyunlikeeitherHermesorTristansolelytoescapefromyourparentalprotection。Youhavenotstifledasinglepassionnoravertedasingledanger:youhavedepravedthepassionsbystarvingthem，andbrokendownallthedefenceswhichsoeffectivelyprotectchildrenbroughtupinfreedom。Youhavemenwhoimaginethemselvestobeministersofreligionopenlydeclaringthatwhentheypassthroughthestreetstheyhavetokeepoutinthewheeledtraffictoavoidthetemptationsofthepavement。Youhavethemorganizinghuntsofthewomenwhotemptthem——poorcreatureswhomnoartistwouldtouchwithoutashudder——andwildlyclamoringformoreclothestodisguiseandconcealthebody，andfortheabolitionofpictures，statues，theatres，andprettycolors。
　　Andincredibleasitseems，theseunhappylunaticsareleftatlarge，unrebuked，evenadmiredandrevered，whilstartistshavetostrugglefortoleration。Tothemanundrapedhumanbodyisthemostmonstrous，themostblighting，themostobscene，themostunbearablespectacleintheuniverse。Toanartistitis，atitsbest，themostadmirablespectacleinnature，and，atitsaverage，anobjectofindifference。IfeveryragofclothingmiraculouslydroppedfromtheinhabitantsofLondonatnoontomorrowsayasapreliminarytotheGreatJudgment，theartisticpeoplewouldnotturnahair；buttheartlesspeoplewouldgomadandcallonthemountainstohidethem。Isubmitthatthisindicatesathoroughlyhealthystateonthepartoftheartists，andathoroughlymorbidoneonthepartoftheartless。Andthehealthystateisattainableinacoldcountrylikeoursonlybyfamiliaritywiththeundrapedfigureacquiredthroughpictures，statues，andtheatricalrepresentationsinwhichanillusionofnaturalclotheslessnessisproducedandmadepoetic。
　　Inshort，weallgrowupstupidandmadtojusttheextenttowhichwehavenotbeenartisticallyeducated；andthefactthatthistaintofstupidityandmadnesshastobetoleratedbecauseitisgeneral，andisevenboastedofascharacteristicallyEnglish，makesthesituationalltheworse。Itisbecomingexceedinglygraveatpresent，becausethelastrayofartisbeingcutofffromourschoolsbythediscontinuanceofreligiouseducation。
　　TheImpossibilityofSecularEducationNowchildrenmustbetaughtsomesortofreligion。Seculareducationisanimpossibility。Seculareducationcomestothis:thattheonlyreasonforceasingtodoevilandlearningtodowellisthatifyoudonotyouwillbecaned。Thisisworsethanbeingtaughtinachurchschoolthatifyoubecomeadissenteryouwillgotohell；forhellispresentedastheinstrumentofsomethingeternal，divine，andinevitable:youcannotevadeitthemomenttheschoolmaster'sbackisturned。Whatconfusesthisissueandleadsevenhighlyintelligentreligiouspersonstoadvocateseculareducationasameansofrescuingchildrenfromthestrifeofrivalproselytizersisthefailuretodistinguishbetweenthechild'spersonalsubjectiveneedforareligionanditsrighttoanimpartiallycommunicatedhistoricalobjectiveknowledgeofallthecreedsandChurches。Justasachild，nomatterwhatitsraceandcolormaybe，shouldknowthatthereareblackmenandbrownmenandyellowmen，and，nomatterwhatitspoliticalconvictionsmaybe，thatthereareMonarchistsandRepublicansandPositivists，SocialistsandUnsocialists，soitshouldknowthatthereareChristiansandMahometansandBuddhistsandShintoistsandsoforth，andthattheyareontheaveragejustashonestandwell-behavedasitsownfather。Forexample，itshouldnotbetoldthatAllahisafalsegodsetupbytheTurksandArabs，
　　whowillallbedamnedfortakingthatliberty；butitshouldbetoldthatmanyEnglishpeoplethinkso，andthatmanyTurksandArabsthinktheconverseaboutEnglishpeople。ItshouldbetaughtthatAllahissimplythenamebywhichGodisknowntoTurksandArabs，whoarejustaseligibleforsalvationasanyChristian。Further，thatthepracticalreasonwhyaTurkishchildshouldprayinamosqueandanEnglishchildinachurchisthatasworshipisorganizedinTurkeyinmosquesinthenameofMahometandinEnglandinchurchesinthenameofChrist，aTurkishchildjoiningtheChurchofEnglandoranEnglishchildfollowingMahometwillfindthatithasnoplaceforitsworshipandnoorganizationofitsreligionwithinitsreach。Anyotherteachingofthehistoryandpresentfactsofreligionisfalseteaching，andispoliticallyextremelydangerousinanempireinwhichahugemajorityofthefellowsubjectsofthegoverningislanddonotprofessthereligionofthatisland。
　　Butthisobjectivity，thoughintellectuallyhonest，tellsthechildonlywhatotherpeoplebelieve。Whatitshoulditselfbelieveisquiteanothermatter。ThesortofRationalismwhichsaystoachild"Youmustsuspendyourjudgmentuntilyouareoldenoughtochooseyourreligion"isRationalismgonemad。Thechildmusthaveaconscienceandacodeofhonorwhichistheessenceofreligionevenifitbeonlyaprovisionalone，toberevisedatitsconfirmation。
　　Forconfirmationismeanttosignalizeaspiritualcomingofage，andmaybearepudiation。Reallyactivesoulshavemanyconfirmationsandrepudiationsastheirlifedeepensandtheirknowledgewidens。Butwhatistoguidethechildbeforeitsfirstconfirmation?Notmereorders，becauseordersmusthaveasanctionofsomesortorwhyshouldthechildobeythem?If，asaSecularist，yourefusetoteachanysanction，youmustsay"Youwillbepunishedifyoudisobey。""Yes，"
　　saysthechildtoitself，"ifIamfoundout；butwaituntilyourbackisturnedandIwilldoasIlike，andlieaboutit。"Therecanbenoobjectivepunishmentforsuccessfulfraud；andasnoespionagecancoverthewholerangeofachild'sconduct，theupshotisthatthechildbecomesaliarandschemerwithanatrophiedconscience。Andagoodmanyoftheordersgiventoitarenotobeyedafterall。ThustheSecularistwhoisnotafoolisforcedtoappealtothechild'svitalimpulsetowardsperfection，tothedivinespark；andnoresolutionnottocallthisimpulseanimpulseofloyaltytotheFellowshipoftheHolyGhost，orobediencetotheWillofGod，oranyotherstandardtheologicalterm，canalterthefactthattheSecularisthassteppedoutsideSecularismandiseducatingthechildreligiously，evenifheinsistsonrepudiatingthatpiousadverbandsubstitutingthewordmetaphysically。
　　NaturalSelectionasaReligionWemustmakeupourmindstoitthereforethatwhatevermeasureswemaybeforcedtotaketopreventtherecruitingsergeantsoftheChurches，freeorestablished，fromobtaininganexclusiverightofentrytoschools，weshallnotbeabletoexcludereligionfromthem。
　　Themosthorribleofallreligions:thatwhichteachesustoregardourselvesasthehelplesspreyofaseriesofsenselessaccidentscalledNaturalSelection，isallowedandevenwelcomedinso-calledsecularschoolsbecauseitis，inasense，thenegationofallreligion；butforschoolpurposesareligionisabeliefwhichaffectsconduct；andnobeliefaffectsconductmoreradicallyandoftensodisastrouslyasthebeliefthattheuniverseisaproductofNaturalSelection。Whatismore，thetheoryofNaturalSelectioncannotbekeptoutofschools，becausemanyofthenaturalfactsthatpresentthemostplausibleappearanceofdesigncanbeaccountedforbyNaturalSelection；anditwouldbesoabsurdtokeepachildindelusiveignoranceofsopotentafactorinevolutionastokeepitinignoranceofradiationorcapillaryattraction。EvenifyoumakeareligionofNaturalSelection，andteachthechildtoregarditselfastheirresponsible
　　preyofitscircumstancesandappetitesoritsheredityasyouwillperhapscallthem，youwillnonethelessfindthatitsappetitesarestimulatedbyyourencouragementanddauntedbyyourdiscouragement；thatoneofitsappetitesisanappetiteforperfection；thatifyoudiscouragethisappetiteandencouragethecruderacquisitiveappetitesthechildwillstealandlieandbeanuisancetoyou；andthatifyouencourageitsappetiteforperfectionandteachittoattachapeculiarsacrednesstoitandplaceitbeforetheotherappetites，itwillbeamuchnicerchildandyouwillhaveamucheasierjob，atwhichpointyouwill，inspiteofyourpseudoscientificjargon，findyourselfbackintheold-fashionedreligiousteachingasdeepasDr。Wattsandinfactfathomsdeeper。
　　MoralInstructionLeaguesAndnowthevoicesofourMoralInstructionLeagueswillbelifted，askingwhetherthereisanyreasonwhytheappetiteforperfectionshouldnotbecultivatedinrationallyscientifictermsinsteadofbeingassociatedwiththestoryofJonahandthegreatfishandthethousandothertalesthatgrowuproundreligions。Yes:therearemanyreasons；andoneofthemisthatchildrenalllikethestoryofJonahandthewhaletheyinsistonitsbeingawhaleinspiteofdemonstrationsbyBiblesmasherswithoutanysenseofhumorthatJonahwouldnothavefittedintoawhale'sgullet——asifthestorywouldbecredibleofawhalewithanenlargedthroatandthatnochildonearthcanstandmoralinstructionbooksorcatechismsoranyotherstatementofthecaseforreligioninabstractterms。Theobjectofamoralinstructionbookisnottoberational，scientific，exact，proofagainstcontroversy，norevencredible:itsobjectistomakechildrengood；andifitmakesthemsickinsteaditsplaceisthewaste-paperbasket。
　　TakeforanillustrationthestoryofElishaandthebears。Totheauthorsofthemoralinstructionbooksitisinthelastdegreereprehensible。Itisobviouslynottrueasarecordoffact；andthepictureitgivesusofthetemperofGodwhichiswhatinterestsanadultreaderisshockingandblasphemous。Butitisacapitalstoryforachild。Itinterestsachildbecauseitisaboutbears；anditleavesthechildwithanimpressionthatchildrenwhopokefunatoldgentlemenandmakeruderemarksaboutbaldheadsarenotnicechildren，whichisahighlydesirableimpression，andjustasmuchasachildiscapableofreceivingfromthestory。WhenastoryisaboutGodandachild，childrentakeGodforgrantedandcriticizethechild。Adultsdotheopposite，andaretherebyledtotalkgreatnonsenseaboutthebadeffectof
　　Biblestoriesoninfants。
　　Butletnoonethinkthatachildoranyoneelsecanlearnreligionfromateacherorabookorbyanyacademicprocesswhatever。ItisonlybyanunfetteredaccesstothewholebodyofFineArt:thatis，tothewholebodyofinspiredrevelation，thatwecanbuildupthatconceptionofdivinitytowhichallvirtueisanaspiration。Andtohopetofindthisbodyofartpurifiedfromallthatisobsoleteordangerousorfierceorlusty，ortopickandchoosewhatwillbegoodforanyparticularchild，muchlessforallchildren，istheshallowestofvanities。Suchschoolmasterlyselectionisneitherpossiblenordesirable。Ignoranceofevilisnotvirtuebutimbecility:admiringitislikegivingaprizeforhonestytoamanwhohasnotstolenyourwatchbecausehedidnotknowyouhadone。
　　Virtuechoosesgoodfromevil；andwithoutknowledgetherecanbenochoice。Andeventhisisadangeroussimplificationofwhatactuallyoccurs。Wearenotchoosing:wearegrowing。Wereyoutocutallofwhatyoucalltheeviloutofachild，itwoulddropdead。Ifyoutrytostretchittofullhumanstaturewhenitistenyearsold，youwillsimplypullitintotwopiecesandbehanged。Andwhenyoutrytodothismorally，whichiswhatparentsandschoolmastersaredoingeveryday，yououghttobehanged；andsomeday，whenwetakeasensibleviewofthematter，youwillbe；andserveyouright。Thechilddoesnotstandbetweenagoodandabadangel:whatithastodealwithisamiddlingangelwho，innormalhealthycases，wantstobeagoodangelasfastasitcanwithoutkillingitselfintheprocess，whichisadangerousone。
　　Thereforethereisnoquestionofprovidingthechildwithacarefullyregulatedaccesstogoodart。Thereisnogoodart，anymorethanthereisgoodanythingelseintheabsolutesense。Artthatistoogoodforthechildwilleitherteachitnothingordriveitmad，astheBiblehasdrivenmanypeoplemadwhomighthavekepttheirsanityhadtheybeenallowedtoreadmuchlowerformsofliterature。Thepracticalmoralisthatwemustreadwhateverstories，seewhateverpictures，hearwhateversongsandsymphonies，gotowhateverplayswelike。Weshallnotlikethosewhichhavenothingtosaytous；andthougheveryonehasarighttobiasourchoice，noonehasarighttodepriveusofitbykeepingusfromanyworkofartoranyworkofartfromus。
　　ImaynowsaywithoutdangerofbeingmisunderstoodthatthepopularEnglishcompromisecalledCowperTempleismunsectarianBibleeducationisnotsosillyasitlooks。ItistruethattheBibleinculcateshalfadozenreligions:someofthembarbarous；somecynicalandpessimistic；someamoristicandromantic；somescepticalandchallenging；somekindly，simple，andintuitional；somesophisticalandintellectual；nonesuitedtothecharacterandconditionsofwesterncivilizationunlessitbetheChristianitywhichwasfinallysuppressedbytheCrucifixion，andhasneverbeenputintopracticebyanyStatebeforeorsince。ButtheBiblecontainstheancientliteratureofaveryremarkableOrientalrace；andtheimpositionofthisliterature，onwhateverfalsepretences，onourchildrenleftthemmoreliteratethaniftheyknewnoliteratureatall，whichwasthepracticalalternative。AndasourAuthorizedVersionisagreatworkofartaswell，toknowitwasbetterthanknowingnoart，whichalsowasthepracticalalternative。Itisatleastnotaschoolbook；anditisnotabadstorybook，horribleassomeofthestoriesare。ThereforeasbetweentheBibleandtheblankrepresentedbyseculareducation，thechoiceiswiththeBible。
　　TheBibleButtheBibleisnotsufficient。TherealBibleofmodernEuropeisthewholebodyofgreatliteratureinwhichtheinspirationandrevelationofHebrewScripturehasbeencontinuedtothepresentday。
　　Nietzsche'sThusSpakeZoroasterislesscomfortingtotheillandunhappythanthePsalms；butitismuchtruer，subtler，andmoreedifying。ThepleasurewegetfromtherhetoricofthebookofJobanditstragicpictureofabewilderedsoulcannotdisguisetheignobleirrelevanceoftheretortofGodwithwhichitcloses，orsupplytheneedofsuchmodernrevelationsasShelley'sPrometheusorTheNiblung'sRingofRichardWagner。ThereisnothingintheBiblegreaterininspirationthanBeethoven'sninthsymphony；andthepowerofmodernmusictoconveythatinspirationtoamodernmanisfargreaterthanthatofElizabethanEnglish，whichis，exceptforpeoplesteepedintheBiblefromchildhoodlikeSirWalterScottandRuskin，adeadlanguage。