r right, these walls would use
it for us; and in us would our Lord's words be fulfilled--If we were
silent, the very stones beneath our feet would cry out.

For hither we gather, as far as is permitted us, and hither we gather
proudly, the mortal dust of every noble soul who has done good work for
the British nation; accepting each and all of them as gifts from the
Father of lights, from whom proceedeth every good and perfect gift, as
sent to this nation by that Lord Jesus Christ who is the King of all the
nations upon earth; and acknowledging--for fear of falling into that
Pelagian heresy, which is too near the heart of every living man--that
all wise words which they have spoken, all noble deeds which they have
done, have come, must have come, from The One eternal source of wisdom,
of nobleness, of every form of good; even from the Holy Spirit of God.

We make no severe or minute inquiries here. We leave them, if they must
be made, to God the Judge of all things, and Christ who knows the secrets
of the hearts; to Him who is merciful in this: that He rewardeth every
man according to his works.

All we ask is--and all we dare ask--of divine or statesman, poet or
warrior, musician or engineer--of Dryden or of Handel--of Isaac Watts or
of Charles Dickens--but why go on with the splendid diversities of the
splendid catalogue?--What was your work? Did we admire you for it? Did
we love you for it? And why? Because you made us in some way or other
better men. Because you helped us somewhat toward whatsoever things are
pure, true, just, honourable, of good report. Because, if there was any
virtue--that is, true valour and manhood; if there was any praise--that
is, just honour in the sight of men, and therefore surely in the sight of
the Son of man, who died for men; you helped us to think on such things.
You, in one word, helped to make us better men.

Welcome then, friends unknown--and, alas! friends known, and loved, and
lost--welcome into England's Pantheon, not of superstitious and selfish
hysteria, but of beneficent and healthy manhood.

Your words and your achievements have gone out into all lands, and your
sound unto the ends of the world; and let them go, and prosper in that
for which the Lord of man has sent them. Our duty is, to guard your
sacred dust. Our duty is, to point out your busts, your monuments around
these ancient walls, to all who come, of every race and creed; as proofs
that the ancient spir