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happen to leave them quite out of our religion and philosophy and
frame lofty theories which only fit a world of extremes。 Therefore；
let Art always remind us of them； therefore let us always have men
ready to give the loving pains of a life to the faithful representing
of commonplace things—men who see beauty in these
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commonplace things； and delight in showing how kindly the light
of heaven falls on them。 There are few prophets in the world； few
sublimely beautiful women； few heroes。 I can’t afford to give all
my love and reverence to such rarities： I want a great deal of those
feelings for my every…day fellow…men； especially for the few in the
foreground of the great multitude； whose faces I know； whose
hands I touch for whom I have to make way with kindly courtesy。
Neither are picturesque lazzaroni or romantic criminals half so
frequent as your common labourer； who gets his own bread and
eats it vulgarly but creditably with his own pocket…knife。 It is more
needful that I should have a fibre of sympathy connecting me with
that vulgar citizen who weighs out my sugar in a vilely assorted
cravat and waistcoat； than with the handsomest rascal in red scarf
and green feathers—more needful that my heart should swell with
loving admiration at some trait of gentle goodness in the faulty
people who sit at the same hearth with me； or in the clergyman of
my own parish； who is perhaps rather too corpulent and in other
respects is not an Oberlin or a Tillotson； than at the deeds of
heroes whom I shall never know except by hearsay； or at the
sublimest abstract of all clerical graces that was ever conceived by
an able novelist。
And so I come back to Mr。 Irwine； with whom I desire you to be
in perfect charity； far as he may be from satisfying your demands
on the clerical character。 Perhaps you think he was not—as he
ought to have been—a living demonstration of the benefits
attached to a national church？ But I am not sure of that； at least I
know that the people in Broxton and Hayslope would have been
very sorry to part with their clergyman； and that most faces
brightened at his approach； and until it can be proved that hatred
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Adam Bede 238
is a better thing for the soul than love； I must believe that Mr。
Irwine’s influence in his parish was a more wholesome one than
that of the zealous Mr。 Ryde； who came there twenty years
afterwards； when Mr。 Irwine had been gathered to his fathers。 It is
true； Mr。 Ryde insisted strongly on the doctrines of the
Reformation； visited his flock a great deal in their own homes； and
was severe in rebuking the aberrations of the flesh—put a stop；
indeed； to the Christmas rounds of the church singers； as
promoting drunkenness and too light a handling of sacred things。
But I gathered from Adam Bede； to whom I talked of these
matters in his old age； that few clergymen could be less successful
in winning the hearts of their parishioners than Mr。 Ryde。 They
learned a great many notions about doctrine from him； so that
almost every church…goer under fifty began to distinguish as well
between the genuine gospel and what did not come precisely up to
that standard； as if he had been born and bred a Dissenter； and for
some time after his arrival there seemed to be quite a religious
movement in that quiet rural district。 “But；” said Adam； “I’ve seen
pretty clear； ever since I was a young un； as religion’s something
else besides notions。 It isn’t notions sets people doing the right
thing—it’s feelings。 It’s the same with the notions in religion as it
is with math’matics—a man may be able to work problems
straight off in ’s head as he sits by the fire and smokes his pipe； but
if he has to make a machine or a building； he must have a will and
a resolution and love something else better than his own ease。
Somehow； the congregation began to fall off； and people began to
speak light o’ Mr。 Ryde。 I believe he meant right at bottom； but；
you see； he was sourish…tempered； and was for beating down
prices with the people as worked for him； and his preaching
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Adam Bede 239
wouldn’t go down well with that sauce。 And he wanted to be like
my lord judge i’ the parish； punishing folks for doing wrong； and
he scolded ’em from the pulpit as if he’d been a Ranter； and yet he
couldn’t abide the Dissenters； and was a deal more set against ’em
than Mr。 Irwine was。 And then he didn’t keep within his income；
for he seemed to think at first go…off that six hundred a…year was to
make him as big a man as Mr。 Donnithorne。 That’s a sore mischief
I’ve often seen with the poor curates jumping into a bit of a living
all of a sudden。 Mr。 Ryde was a deal thought on at a distance； I
believe； and he wrote books； but as for math’matics and the natur
o’ things； he was as ignorant as a woman。 He was very knowing
about doctrines； and used to call ’em the bulwarks of the
Reformation； but I’ve always mistrusted that sort o’ learning as
leaves folks foolish and unreasonable about business。 Now Mester
Irwine was as different as could be： as quick！—he understood
what you meant in a minute； and he knew all about building； and
could see when you’d made a good job。 And he behaved as much
like a gentleman to the farmers； and th’ old women； and the
labourers； as he did to the gentry。 You never saw him interfering
and scolding； and trying to play th’ emperor。 Ah； he was a fine
man as ever you set eyes on； and so kind to’s mother and sisters。
That poor sickly Miss Anne—he seemed to think more of her