One is disposed to judge that the mind of this very fiery particle is too busy with side-issues to make acquaintance with the deeper mysteries of his religion.  When he complains that people do not know what Christianity is, one wonders whether his own definition would satisfy the saints.  He is a fighter rather than a teacher, a man of action rather than a seer.  I do not think he could be happy in a world which presented him with no opportunities for punching heads.

Matthew Arnold, quoting from The Times a sentence to the effect that the chief Dissenting ministers are becoming quite the intellectual equals of the ablest of the clergy, referred it to the famous Dr. Dale of Birmingham, and remarked:  “I have no fears concerning Mr. Dale’s intellectual muscles; what I am a little uneasy about is his religious temper.  The essence of religion is grace and peace.”

But Dr. Orchard, we must not fail to see, is quite genuinely exasperated by the deadness of religious life, and is straining every nerve to quicken the soul of Christ’s sleeping Church.  This discontent of his is an important symptom, even if his prescription, a very old one, gives no hope of a cure.  He is popular, influential, a figure of the day, and still young; yet his soul is full of rebellion and his heart is swelling with the passion of mutiny.  Something is evidently not right.  Quite certainly he has not discovered the peace that passes understanding.

But perhaps Dr. Orchard will never be satisfied till all men think as he thinks, and until there is only one Church in the world for the expression of spiritual life, with either Bishop Herford or himself for its pope.

In the meantime he is too busy for the profound silence.  The event of the day sweeps him before it.

BISHOP TEMPLE

Manchester, Bishop of, since 1921; Temple, Rev. William, M.A.; D. Litt.; President Life and Liberty Movement; Canon Residentiary of Westminister, 1919-21; Editor of The Challenge, 1915-18; Hon. Chaplain to the King, 1915; b.  The Palace, Exeter, 15 Oct., 1881; s. of Late Archbishop of Canterbury; in. 1916, Frances Gertrude Acland, y.d. of F.H.  Anson, 72 St. George’s Square, S.W.  Educ.:  Rugby (Scholar); Balliol College, Oxford (Exhibitioner) First class Classical Mods., 1902; 1st class Lit.  Hum., 1904; President Oxford Union, 1904; Fellow and Lecturer in Philosophy, Queen’s College, Oxford, 1904-1910; Deacon, 1908; Priest, 1909; Chaplain to Archbishop of Canterbury, 1910; President of the Workers Educational Association; Headmaster, Repton School, 1910-14; Rector of St. James’s Piccadilly, 1914-18.

[Illustration:  BISHOP TEMPLE]

CHAPTER X

BISHOP TEMPLE