The Consistent Pessimist

( Originally Published 1920 )

SIR, Dean Inge's article will no doubt arouse much interest and much correspondence, partly because of the vastness of the issues discussed, partly because of the dean's position and reputation, and partly also because of his truly monumental pessimism. The first point renders discussion almost impossible, and any hope of a satisfying conclusion futile. The second is too personal a matter to bear public discussion, but the third, assuming tacitly the second, is free from the same difficulties. We are all either optimists or pessimists at times, but happily few are such persistent, or shall I say, consistent, pessimists as the eminent Dean of St. Paul's.

In studying the causes, the history, and the immediate effects of the Great War, we are far too close to the events to be able to obtain the necessary perspective, " we cannot see the wood for the trees," and no human judgment arrived at under present circumstances can be relied upon, certainly not that of one who describes humanity as always marching in a vicious circle. Of course, if we only study the superficial aspect of things we shall sec that nations, like human units, are born, live, and die, and thus may be said to " march in a vicious circle," but Dean Inge is not referring to either units or nations, but to humanity, and his study of history, both human and natural, must have been very superficial for him to describe the progress of any living community or species as a circle. The history of all forms of life is the story of a vast evolution, the term " growth " being merely the same term applied to the unit life. Now all life is a struggle, and the life which is not a struggle is not worth living either to the unit concerned or to his " environment," but if we are constantly grousing at having a share in the struggle we are only making life more difficult, not only for ourselves, but for others. The worthy dean is quite at liberty to be a pessimist, but not in public. We have all got our own share of trouble just now, and we look to the dignitaries of the Church to relieve our troubles as far as possible, and not to burden us with difficulties we are powerless to prevent or overcome.

The Dean should also be careful to avoid over-stating his case. Happily we are not all burdened with good securities which have depreciated in value ; most of us are earning a living, and have secured some increase of income to meet the in-creased cost of living, and, more happily still, those who have not done this are not disposed to " write to the paper about it," but prefer to bear their burden in silence and hopefulness. If the Dean would emulate the example of his Master and mine, he would strive to bear the burdens of others, and not to increase them, he would not only exercise faith himself but recognise the faith of others who are at least striving to help the struggling world upwards. Humanity is indeed progressing rapidly, but when climbing a ladder it is very dangerous to most of us fatal to look down, and in spite of the Dean, humanity is struggling upwards. Although it cannot see where it is going to, nor, without danger, realise the height it has already attained, it is slowly mounting higher and higher, it is gradually evolving towards the unseen, unknown ideal, and not all the pessimists in the world can delay its progress. All they can do is to make the progress more painful, more disappointing. The war has done something in forcing us to discuss a League of Nations, and possibly before another great war is possible we shall have realised that the true ideal is a League of Humanity.

The Church, of which Dean Inge is so distinguished an ornament, has, at last, begun to see that true religion is not represented by rigid, unreasoning adherence to a particular creed or form of worship, but in following in the footsteps of Him who was called " The Son of Man." The recent Lambeth Conference and all that it involved, as to the importance of which the Dean should surely be better able to judge than any one else, marks a stage in our progress, for when churches as well as nations begin to work for humanity and not for themselves, the world must become a better place to live in, and human evolution must progress more rapidly than it has yet done.

No doubt many will have to face disillusionment, certainly the manual workers will sooner or later have to learn that neither humanity at large, nor any section of it, can progress by selfishness. Every unit-life, as every section, community, class, or nation, can find happiness and prosperity only by serving others, and even Dean Inge must admit that, in a world where selfishness, almost without exception, reacts first and worst against the self-seeker, things cannot be quite as hopeless as he appears to think. The spiritual forces which might (and will) regenerate society are indeed living forces and must therefore grow stronger day by day, but the Dean is not helping humanity by discounting all the visible evidences of these forces. If he opens his eyes a little wider, he may perhaps see some " clear signs of a spiritual awakening," but he will see little of this if he " turns his eyes only to the outwardly religious " and fails to notice " the unconventional religion," which, as he admits, " is not inclined to advertise itself." After all, our Divine Master was essentially " unconventional " and invariably escaped to solitude when His popularity was approaching the limits of " advertisement," and more than all, He kept all pessimism and personal distress to Himself or a few of His most trusty disciples, and stands in history as the most Glorious Optimist that ever lived. Yours, etc.,

DUM SPIRO, SPERO.