from the religious society in which it is born.  Only indeed by attachment, open or virtual, through life or through literature, to some such group can the new soul link itself with history, and so participate in the hoarded spiritual values of humanity.  Thus even a general survey of life inclines us at least to some appreciation of the principle laid down by Baron von Huegel in “Eternal Life”—­namely, that “souls who live an heroic spiritual life within great religious traditions and institutions, attain to a rare volume and vividness of religious insight, conviction and reality"[122]—­seldom within reach of the contemplative, however ardent, who walks by himself.

History has given one reason for this; psychology gives another.  These souls, living it is true with intensity their own life towards God, share and are bathed in the group consciousness of their church; as members of a family, distinct in temperament, share and are modified by the group consciousness of the home.  The mental process of the individual is profoundly affected when he thus thinks and acts as a member of a group.  Suggestibility is then enormously increased; and we know how much suggestion means to us.  Moreover, suggestions emanating from the group always take priority of those of the outside world:  for man is a gregarious animal, intensely sensitive to the mentality of the herd.[123] The Mind of the Church is therefore a real thing.  The individual easily takes colour from it and the tradition it embodies, tends to imitate his fellow-members:  and each such deed and thought is a step taken in the formation of habit, and leaves him other than he was before.

To say this is not to discredit church-membership as placing us at the mercy of emotional suggestion, reducing spontaneity to custom, and lessening the energy and responsibility of the individual soul towards God.  On the contrary, right group suggestion reinforces, stimulates, does not stultify such individual action.  If the prayerful attitude of my fellow worshippers helps me to pray better, surely it is a very mean kind of conceit on my part which would prompt me to despise their help, and refuse to acknowledge Creative Spirit acting on me through other men?  It is one of the most beautiful features of a real and living corporate religion, that within it ordinary people at all levels help each other to be a little more supernatural than would have been alone.  I do not now speak of individuals possessing special zeal and special aptitude; though, as the lives of the Saints assure us, even the best of these fluctuate, and need social support at times.  Anyhow such persons of special spiritual aptitude, as life is now, are as rare as persons of special aptitude in other walks of life.  But that which we seek for the life of to-day and of the future, is such a planning of it as shall give all men their spiritual chance.  And it is abundantly clear upon all levels of life, that men are chiefly formed and changed by the power