There is,
however, one condition of things in which I do call it relevant to
describe somebody as behind the times. That is when the man in question,
thinking of some state of affairs that has passed away, is really helping
the very things he would like to hinder. The principles cannot alter, but
the problems can. Thus, I should call a man behind the times who, in the
year 1872, pleaded for the peaceful German peasants against the triumphant
militarism of Napoleon. Or I should call a man out of date who, in the
year 1892, wished for a stronger Navy to compete with the Navy of Holland,
because it had once swept the sea and sailed up the Thames. And I
certainly call a man or a movement out of date that, in the year 1914,
when we few are fighting a giant machine, strengthened with all material
wealth and worked with all the material sciences, thinks that our chief
danger is from an excess of moral and religious responsibility. He
reminds me of Mr. Snodgrass, who had the presence of mind to call out
"Fire!" when Mr. Pickwick fell through the ice.
The other letter consists of the usual wiredrawn argument for fatalism.
Man cannot imagine the universe being created, and therefore is "compelled
by his reason" to think the universe without beginning or end, which (I
may remark) he cannot imagine either.
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