The Dawn of All

by Robert Hugh Benson

  (II)

  "It is the most extraordinary story I have ever heard," saidMonsignor Masterman ten minutes later, as he threw himself downin his chair upstairs, with Father Jervis sitting opposite.

  "Certainly he puts it very well," said the old priest, smiling."I think every one was interested. It's not often that we canhear such a clear analysis of events. Of course Manners has itall at his fingers' ends. It's his special subject, and----"

  "But the amazing thing to me," interrupted the other, "is that thisisn't just a dream or a prophecy, but a relation of facts. . . . Doyou mean to tell me that the whole world is Christian?"

  The priest looked at him doubtfully.

  "Monsignor, surely your memory isn't----"

  Monsignor made an impatient gesture.

  "Father," he said, "it's exactly as I told you before lunch. I'llpromise to tell you if my memory comes back. At present Iremember practically nothing at all, except instinctively. All Iknow is that this story we have heard simply astounds me. I had asort of idea that Christianity was ebbing from the world; thatmost thinking men had given up all belief in it; and now I findit's exactly the other way. Please treat me as if I had steppedstraight out of the beginning of the century. Just tell me thefacts as if for the first time. Is it really true thatpractically the whole world is Christian?"

  The priest hesitated.

  "You mean that, Monsignor?"

  "Certainly."

  "Very well, then." He paused again. "But it's extraordinarilyhard to know where to begin."

  "Begin anywhere. It's all new to me."

  "Very good. Well, yes: roughly we may say that the world isChristian, in the same sort of way, at least, in which Europe wasChristian, say in the twelfth century. There are survivals, ofcourse, particularly in the East, where large districts stillcling to their old superstitions; and there are even eminent menhere and there who are not explicitly Catholics; but, as a whole,the world is Christian."

  "Do you mean Catholic?"

  The priest stared a moment.

  "Why, yes. What else---?"

  "All right; go on."

  "Well then, to begin with England. Catholicism is not yetestablished as the State Religion; but it'll only be a questionof time, and it may be said that all the laws are Christian."

  "Divorce?"

  "Divorce was abolished thirty years ago, and fornication was madea felony ten years later," said the priest quietly. "Benefit ofclergy also was restored three years ago; and we have our owncourts for heresy, with power to hand over convicted criminals tothe secular arm."

  "What?"

  "Certainly. It has been in force now for three years."

  "Then what do you mean by saying that the Church isn't established?"

  "I mean that no religious test is demanded of officers of state,and that bishops and abbots have no seat in Parliament. It was theenfranchisement of women that turned the tide once and for all."

  "Do you mean that all women have the vote?"

  "They are under the same conditions as men. There's a severeeducational test now, of course. Not more than about one inseventy adults ever get the vote at all. But the result is thatwe're governed by educated persons."

  "Stop. Is it a Monarchy?"

  "Certainly. Edward IX--a young man--is on the throne."

  "Go on."

  "Christianity, then, holds the field. Of course there areinfidels left, who write letters to the newspapers sometimes, andhold meetings, and so on. But they are practically negligible. Asregards Church property, practically everything has finally beengiven back to us;--I mean in the way of buildings, and, verylargely, revenues too. All the cathedrals are ours, and allparish churches built before the Reformation, as well as allother churches in parishes where there was not organizedProtestant resistance."

  "I thought you said there were no Protestants."

  Father Jervis suddenly laughed aloud.

  "Monsignor, are you really serious? Do you really mean youwish me to go on?"

  "Good God, man! I'm not playing a game. . . . Go on, please. Tellme about the Protestants."

  "Well, of course there are some Protestants left. I think they'vegot four or five churches in London, and . . . and . . . yes, I'msure of it, they've got some kind of bishop. But really Iscarcely know. I shall have to look it up."

  "Well, go on."

  "Well, that's the state of England. Practically everybody is aCatholic--from the King downwards. The last remains of Churchproperty was only actually given back to us last year. That's whythe monks haven't come back to Westminster yet."

  "What about the rest of the world?"

  "Well, first Rome. Austria drove out the House of Savoy nearlytwenty-five years ago; and the Holy Father----"

  "What's his name?"

  "Gregory the Nineteenth. He's a Frenchman. Well, the HolyFather is Temporal Ruler of the whole of Italy; but the Emperorof Austria administers it. Then France is, of course, a verysmall country."

  "Why small?"

  "Well, you know the European War of 1914 . . .?" Monsignorinterrupted by a large sigh.

  "Good heavens!" he said. "How I shall have to read. I'm sorry.Go on, please."

  "Well, France is a very small country, but intensely Catholic.The Church is re-established there,----"

  "Is it a monarchy too?"

  "Certainly. The Orleans line came back after the war. LouisXXII is king. I was saying that the Church is re-establishedthere, and is practically supreme. That is traceable entirelyto Pius X's policy."

  "Pius X! Why----"

  "Yes, Monsignor?"

  "I know all about that. But I thought Pius X simply ruined everything."

  "So they said at the time. His policy was to draw the lines tightand to make no concessions. He drove out every half-heartedCatholic by his regulations, and the result was a small butextraordinarily pure body. The result has been that the countrywas re-evangelized, and has become almost a land of saints. Theysay that our Lady----"

  "Well, go on with the other countries."

  "Spain and Portugal are, of course, entirely Catholic, likeFrance. The Monarchy was re-established in both of them in about1935. But Germany--Germany's the weak spot."

  "Well?"

  "You see the Emperor isn't a Christian yet; and Socialism lingerson there with extraordinary pertinacity. Practically Berlin isthe Holy City of Freemasonry. It's all organized from there--suchas it is. And no one is quite comfortable about Germany. TheEmperor Frederick is a perfectly sincere man, but really ratheruneducated; he still holds on to some sort of materialism; andthe result is----"

  "I see."

  "But there are hopes of his conversion. He's to be at Versaillesnext week; and that's a good sign."

  "Well, what about America?"

  "Oh! America's chiefly English; and very like England."

  "You mean she isn't republican?"

  "Of course not. My dear Monsignor----"

  "Please go on, as I asked you. Tell me when she ceased tobe republican."

  "Why, I scarcely know," murmured the priest. "It must have beenabout 1930, I suppose. I know there was a lot of trouble beforethat--civil wars and so forth. But at any rate that was the end.Japan got a good deal of the Far West; but the Eastern Statescame in with Canada and formed the American Colonies; and theSouth of course became Latinized, largely through ecclesiasticalinfluence. Well, then America asked England----"

  "Stop, please. I shall get bewildered. What about the religion?"

  "Well, the Empire of Mexico----"

  "Eh?"

  "The Empire of Mexico."

  "Who's Emperor?"

  "The King of Spain, Monsignor," said the priest patiently. "Well,that used to be called South America. It's all the Empire ofMexico now, and belongs to Spain. That's solidly Catholic, ofcourse. And the American Colonies--old North America--that's likeEngland. It's practically Catholic, of course; but there are afew infidels and Socialists."

  "Australia?"

  "Australia's entirely Ir
ish, and Catholic."

  "And Ireland itself?"

  "Oh! Ireland developed enormously as soon as she had gainedindependence, but emigration continued, and the Irish strengthreally lies abroad. Then an odd thing happened. Ireland continuedto empty, obeying some social law we don't even yet understandproperly; and the Religious began to get possession of thecountry in an extraordinary way, until they owned all the largeestates, and even most of the towns. You may say that Ireland ispractically one Religious Enclosure now. Of course, she's a partof the British Empire; but her real social life lies in hercolonies. Australia succeeded in getting Home Rule from Irelandabout twenty-five years ago."

  Monsignor pressed his hands to his head.

  "It sounds like the wildest dream," he said.

  "Hadn't I better---?"

  "No; go on. I only want an outline. What about the East?"

  "Well, old superstitions still linger on in the East,especially in China. But the end is quite certain. It is simplya matter of time----"

  "But . . . but I don't understand. If the whole world ispractically Christian, what is there left to do?"

  The priest smiled.

  "Ah! but you must remember Germany. There are great forces inGermany. It's there that the danger lies. And you must remember toothat there is no Universal Arbitrator yet. Nationalism is stillpretty strong. There might easily be another big European war."

  "Then you hope----"

  "Yes. We're all working for the recognition of the Pope asUniversal Arbitrator, as he was practically in Europe in theMiddle Ages. Of course, as soon as the sovereigns acknowledgeofficially that they hold all their rights at the will of Rome,the thing will be done. But it's not done yet, except----"

  "Good God!"

  "Look here, Monsignor, you've had enough," said the priest, rising."Though I must say you have followed it closely enough. Are youcertain that it is quite new to you? Don't you remember---"

  "It's not only new; it's inconceivable! I understand itperfectly; but----"

  "Well, you've had enough. Now what about coming to see theCardinal? I feel sure he'll insist upon your taking a restinstantly. I feel rather guilty----"

  "Stop. Tell me about languages. Why did you talk to me inLatin this morning?"

  "Ecclesiastics generally do. And so do the laity a good deal.Europe is practically bi-lingual. Each country keeps up itsown tongue, and learns Latin as well. You must rub up yourLatin, Monsignor."

  "Wait a moment. What are you going to say to the Cardinal?"

  "Well, hadn't I better tell him the whole thing, just as ithappened? Then you needn't explain."

  The other pondered a moment.

  "Thanks very much, father. . . . Stop. Do I talk English all right?"

  "Perfectly."

  "But----Oh well. . . . And I . . . did I do all right at lunch?Did any one suspect anything?"

  "You did perfectly. You seemed a little absent-minded once ortwice; but that was quite in keeping."

  The two smiled at one another pleasantly.

  "Then I'll be going," said the priest. "Will you wait here tillI come for you?"