History,  it  is  true,  gives  little  space  to  this
aspect  of  the  progress  of  the  race.  Its  canvas
is  crowded  with  uniforms,  of  kings  and  warriors
and  courtiers.  The  romance  which  the  historian
sees  and  describes  to  us  is  the  romance  symbolised
by  the  banners,  the  martial  music,  and  all  the
seductive  pageantry  of  war.  But  the  real
romance  of  history  is  this  romance  of  the
preacher ;  the  sublime  miracle  of  the  God-
intoxicated  soul  with  vision  of  an  eternal  Will,
and  sense  of  an  Empire  to  which  all  continents,
tongues,  races  belong.  This  man  stands  serene
amid  the  clash  of  arms  and  the  foolish  brag
gadocio  of  Force,  asking  only  for  the  sword
named  Truth,  for  the  harness  of  Righteousness,
and  the  spirit  of  Peace.  This  is  the  world's
unconquerable  and  irresistible  Hero.  All  its  most
enduring  victories  are  his.  It  is  he  who,  year

IQ  B  2


The  Romance  of  Preaching

after  year  and  generation  after  generation,  in
spite  of  rebuffs,  defeats  and  disappointments,
has  planted  the  banner  of  the  kingdom  of  justice,
freedom  and  humanity  on  the  conquered  and
dismantled  fortresses  of  oppression,  selfishness
and  wrong.
Do  not  think  I  am  in  danger  of  departing
from  the  special  object  of  these  lectures  if  I
strike  this  note  at  the  outset.  It  will  do  us  all
good  to  realise  the  catholicity  and  magnificence  of
our  order.  It  is  well  to  realise  that  for  justifica
tion  of  our  existence  we  can  make  appeal  to  an
universal  instinct.  We  may  well  cherish  our
affinities.  Our  kith  and  kin  is  the  mightiest
family  under  God's  heavens.
