effective if it is kept absolutely distinct from
any question of legislation or of legal penalties. The spheres of
religion and the criminal law must never be confused. Shakespeare, "the
mirror of human nature" for all time, once blended bitter irony with
infinite pathos. "Measure for Measure" has its warning for every age.
It would be well to study the ugliest as well as the most beautiful
parts of that drama, and see what it really means, and what is its
lesson.

Exercised within its proper sphere the influence of religion may still
be as potent a force now as in the past. It may inspire the right frame
of mind in dealing with every question, may encourage hope, sustain
faith, and diffuse charity.

Reiterated until wearisome we hear the question asked, "What is wrong
with the Church?" sometimes from outside with a tone almost of contempt,
with little, or no care, for remedy if anything be wrong; sometimes from
within with a note of anxiety, uncertain whether it is safe to confess
openly the fact that anything can so be wrong. To the question coming
from within the Church, a voice might answer from the outer galilee, "Is
not what is wrong with the Church--like what is wrong with most of
us--thinking, perhaps talking, too much of itself, considering what
figure it makes in the world, rather than in self-forgetful devotion
giving itself to the work set before it, to delivering some message in
which it intensely believes as necessary for mankind?" It has been
likened to a bride; is not the bride too self-conscious, thinking
whether her garb is not fine enough or too fine, her possessions too
small or too large, her influence too weak or opposition to it too
strong? How much discussion is devoted to the question, what phrases
must be repeated, what forms adopted, to pass the janitor who guards her
doors! As has been truly said, the really useful reform for all of us
would be that each should do his appointed work at least ten per cent.
better than he has done it before. The work to be done should be the
special work assigned to each and for which each is best fitted. We long
for peace, but in settling the constitution of a League of Nations it
will be the jurist not the churchman who will help us. In aiming at
political or industrial peace the practical good sense of the
statesman, the employer, and the workman will best point out what is
wanted; the Church, as such, is better out of the way in framing
legislation. But s