Ned joined in the outcry that no more stained glass
should be imported from Birmingham, and wrote to the newspapers
many times that good sculpture and good painting and good glass
were more likely to produce a religious fervour than bad. His
purpose was to point a finger of scorn at the churches, and he
hoped to plead a little later that there were too many churches,
and that no more should be built until the population had begun to
increase again. He looked forward to the time when he would be
able to say right out that the Gael had spent enough of money on
his soul, and should spend what remained to him on his body. He
looked forward to the time when he should tell the Gael that his
soul was his greatest expense, but the time was far off when he
could speak plainly.
The clergy were prepared to admit that German glass was not
necessary for their successful mediation, but they were stubborn
when Ned asked them to agree that no more churches were necessary.
They were not moved by the argument that the population was
declining and would not admit that there were too many churches or
even that there were churches enough. The ecclesiastical mind is a
subtle one and it knows that when men cease to build churches they
cease to be religious. The instinct of the clergy was against Ned,
but they had to make concessions, for the country was awakening to
its danger, and Ned began to think that all its remaining energies
were being concentrated in an effort to escape.
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