We are also told on page 634, that religion ... “has sunk on the one
hand into a dogma fenced about with walls which its defenders cannot
pass either inward or outward, on the other hand into a mere
war-cry.... Between the two lies a narrow borderland.” Religion,
therefore, “sinks into a war-cry.” Between the war-cry and the dogma
is a narrow borderland. The dogma is “fenced about with walls.”
The recurring word is a constant phenomenon. In paragraph 498, for
instance, we find the sequence “evil,” “debased,” “noble,”
“beautiful,” “good,” “noble,” “beautiful,” “evil,” “debased,” “evil,”
“good,” “good,” “great,” “great,” “greatness,” “greatness,” “noble,”
“greatness,” “great,” “greatness,” “greatness,” “greatness,” “evil,”
“good,” “evil,” “good,” “evil,” “evil,” “good,” “good,” “evil,”
“good,” “good.”
It is true that the devoted and determined fellowship of Oxford men
who are destroying the last position of the Historicides have long
known that Bishop Stubbs was nothing more than a writer of slovenly
text-books. But the general public has not known, and, occupied with
wider interests, has been forced to take the statements of the
pedants on trust.
Yet, if Oxford is to continue to be the chief University of the world,
it will only be by permission of the public. This is a truth which the
pedants will only realize when it is too late. If every father who has
a son whom he hopes will proceed to the University reads what I have
set down here--reads it, and trusting nothing to the assertions of one
man’s pen, makes further and more exhaustive inquiries--we shall very
soon see the frantic capitulation of the Old Guard. I believe the dons
and pedants of whom I have been writing to be honest men enough. They
are sincere in their attitude, no doubt. It is comfortable to think
that everything is for the best in the best of all possible
Universities, but the obstinacy of a dozen mules in a mountain pass
impedes the progress of an army, and because his stupidity is not the
hybrid’s fault is no argument against his removal.
A certain number of Oxford dons are convinced that the Oxford system
is without flaw.
The Historicides are the worst offenders, though some of their
brethren who control the study of Pagan Theology and Philosophy are
not far behind them. Both classes alike are convinced of their
infallibility.
Yet let the educated public realize that--
_No one who wishes to become a B.A. and M.A. of Oxford is forced to
study_
(_a_) English Composition or Literature;
(_b_) The History of the British Empire;
(_c_) The geography of the globe we inhabit;
(_d_) The scientific discoveries and inventions which have profoundly
altered the conditions of modern life;
(_e_) Any of the Fine Arts;
(_f_) Any of the Laws of England;
(_g_) The rules which guide the Law Courts in estimating the value of
human testimony;
(_h_) The Art of Government and Economics;
(_i_) The Art of War;
(_j_) French, German or any Modern Language.
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