It is possible that I am very tolerant in my religious opinions. But
seeing that we are now living under perfect tolerance, and that the
religious wants of the people must be supplied, I think it is the duty
of those who own property to see that there is accommodation for the
religious needs of all who live thereon. As science advances there
must be considerable differences of opinion on religion in a large and
important town like Cardiff. A great man once said that tolerance was
simply indifference; I do not agree with him. I think it is possible
to be tolerant without being indifferent to one's own opinions. There
is a great leaning nowadays towards scientific religion. Education is
advancing very rapidly, and philosophical men are trying to make
reasons for every line in Scripture and every line in the Prayer Book.
That may be useful in a way, but I cannot help thinking that many
books written lately by men who are very learned, and with very good
intent, will, if circulated among the young of the country, do a great
deal of harm. I look forward to an increase of religious feeling
throughout the country, and I shall be always ready to assist, as far
as I can, in erecting chapels and other places for religious
instruction and religious worship.
_Chapel, Cardiff,
September 14th, 1894._
I have never posed as one made of that stuff of which martyrs are
made--and perhaps my remarks may offend some, or scandalize others.
But I would rather see any place of worship in the town than none at
all, I will go so far as to say I would rather see a Mohammedan mosque
in the town than no place of worship at all. I have the greatest
possible admiration for faith of any sort. Early in my life I had
occasion to look with admiration upon the faith even of a Mohammedan.
I have listened to the minister of the mosque calling the faithful to
prayers two, three or more times a day, and I have seen the
Mohammedans in the street go down on their knees and say their prayers
in front of everybody. I have seen a regiment of Mohammedans on the
march, and at the hour of sunset every man in the regiment would kneel
on his carpet and say his prayers. Those were soldiers who were not
afraid of their faith, though it might have been the wrong one. I have
watched a poor Italian peasant kneel on the roadside and offer his
small tribute to the shrine. He was not afraid of praying before
anybody; but I am afraid that some of us would rather be seen with our
hands in somebody else's pocket than kneel down and say our prayers in
the Club-room.
_Foundation-stone Laying at Baptist Church, Cardiff,
June 14th, 1894._
[Illustration: "_But I am afraid that some of us would rather be seen
with our hands in somebody else's pocket than kneel down and say our
prayers in the Club-room._"]