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io. PRESENT CONDITION. 441
exception. Although the ritual of our Churches has been
in some cases carried to an extreme or even a dangerous
point, such cases are not common. But everywhere the
value of the mysterious and the beautiful elements in re
ligion is recognized. Everywhere we see surpliced choirs
of men and boys, largely voluntary; at^d
reverent and joy
ful services both on Sundays and week days. We cannot
rival the congregational singing of Sweden, at any rate in
the South of England, but participation in worship is
general and hearty. What has been possible in England
is surely equally possible in Sweden and without any
legislation. We may look to its cathedrals to set the
precedents, especially Upsala and Lund.
I believe then that the Swedish Church, which has a
history so like our own, will develop in a manner like our
own no doubt with its own idiosyncrasies, and, very
probably, profiting by observation of our mistakes. I am
not inclined to propose our example as at all perfect or
complete. I
merely suggest that our experience is so
parallel as to be valuable to a sister Church. If this be so
the two Churches together may look forward to making a
joint contribution to the life of the Church universal, which
will be of immense value. First, each may strive to rival
the other in all that concerns the self-denying ministry of
a national Church to its own people and so set an example
which others may follow. Secondly, we may co-operate in
countries like the United States and Canada, where our
own people dwell side by side. Thirdly, we may co
operate in our foreign missions, especially since the
missions of the Swedish Church (though not those of
the
"
Mission Covenant ")
are largely within the British
Empire. Lastly, an alliance, such as I venture to hope
for, would be the natural link between the (estimated)
thirty-two millions of Anglicans and the (estimated)
seventy millions of Lutherans.55
The isolation of
55
This estimate of Anglicans or Episcopalians is given in
Whitaker s Almanack, p. 427, 1909, and that of Lutherans by
Dr. Lenker, of Minneapolis, a well-known authority on Luther
and Lutheranism, and the translator of Luther s works.
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