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4. Knowledge management is a set of practices aimed at discovering and harnessing the
competition's intellectual resources.
True False
True False
6. Better serving the customer can start with involving the customer more in company decisions,
especially when it comes to discovering more about customer attitudes.
True False
7. The key to company success is how much the industry in which it operates will affect society
or how much it will grow.
True False
8. The fundamental success drivers for an organization are innovation, quality, speed, and
product delivery time.
True False
True False
True False
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
11. Quality is the excellence of your product (including goods and services).
True False
True False
13. Today, customers value both the quality of physical goods and the quality of services.
True False
14. One dimension of service quality is making it easy and enjoyable for customers to experience
a service or to buy and use products.
True False
15. Corporate speed often separates the winners from the losers in business.
True False
16. "Cost competitiveness" means pricing your products lower than all competitors' products.
True False
17. Managing for competitive advantage includes delivering innovation, quality, service, speed,
and cost competitiveness.
True False
18. Management is the process of working with people and resources to make profit at all costs.
True False
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
19. To be efficient is to achieve organizational goals. To be effective is to achieve goals with
minimum waste of resources.
True False
20. Efficiency is far more important than effectiveness in today's competitive environment.
True False
21. The four traditional functions of management include planning, organizing, leading and
service.
True False
22. Organizing is assembling and coordinating the resources needed to achieve goals.
True False
23. Leading is taking care of all of the organizational items that occur so that your department
moves forward.
True False
True False
25. To become an effective manager you should choose one or two of the four management
functions and become expert in only those. An outstanding manager only needs to be
proficient in one or two of the functions as he or she can hire others to do the remaining
functions.
True False
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26. Top managers are also called tactical managers since they must translate the general goals
into specific objectives and activities.
True False
27. Frontline managers often have titles such as supervisor or sales manager.
True False
28. The need for interpersonal and communication skills fades as a manager moves from the
lower levels of an organization into the upper management arena.
True False
29. As managers rise through an organization, they will probably rely less on their technical
skills.
True False
30. Interpersonal skills are most important early in your career, whereas technical skills are
important as you rise higher in the company.
True False
31. Being a manager is more like being the conductor of an orchestra than playing an instrument
in it.
True False
32. In today's work environment, one should only focus on becoming a specialist, since jobs are
becoming so specialized.
True False
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
33. Emotional intelligence involves the skills of understanding yourself, managing yourself and
dealing effectively with others.
True False
34. Social capital is the goodwill stemming from your social relationships.
True False
35. In managing your career, it is important to know that now, more than ever individuals will be
accountable for their actions and for results.
True False
36. Which of the following is one of the key elements that make the current business landscape
different from the past?
A. Diversity
C. Quality
D. Cost competitiveness
E. Speed
1-6
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37. Successful CEO's know that the change from a local to a global marketplace is
B. irreversible.
C. unchanging.
D. slowing.
E. all firms.
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
40. _________ is the set of practices aimed at discovering and harnessing an organization's
intellectual resources—fully utilizing the intellects of the organization's people.
A. Knowledge management
B. Collaboration
C. Innovation
D. Service management
E. Communication management
B. It is unrealistic to think that the company can collaborate with its customers.
C. Disclosing your plans by collaborating with potential investors in your firm is not a good
idea.
E. Collaboration outside of the organization is out of the question because of the risk of
disclosing trade secrets.
A. Collaboration
B. Invention
C. Innovation
D. Adaptation
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43. __________ is the excellence of your product.
A. Innovation
B. Quality
C. Quantity
D. Six-sigma
E. Customization
A. Product performance
B. Customer service
C. Reliability
D. Aesthetics
45. __________--rapid execution, response, and delivery of results—often separates the winners
from the losers.
A. Service
B. Quality
C. Innovation
D. Speed
E. Competitiveness
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
46. Cost competitiveness means that you
47. Managing your costs and keeping them down requires being
A. effective.
B. fast.
D. efficient.
E. collaborative.
48. Which of the following statements about the sources of competitive advantage is true?
A. The best companies choose one source of competitive advantage and perfect it.
B. Managing the sources of competitive advantage is a zero-sum game where one source
improves at the expense of the other.
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
49. ______________ is the process of working with people and resources to accomplish
organizational goals.
A. Planning
B. Management
C. Controlling
D. Decision making
E. Collaboration
D. Motivating employees
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52. _______________ is specifying the goals to be achieved and deciding in advance the
appropriate actions needed to achieve those goals.
A. Staffing
B. Leading
C. Organizing
D. Planning
E. Controlling
53. The Quilt Shop, Inc. periodically reviews the goals of the company. During the process, the
Quilt Shop managers analyze their current strategies as compared to their competitors,
determine goals that they will pursue and decide upon specific actions for each area of the
company to take in pursuit of these goals. With these actions the Quilt Shop managers are
engaged in the management function of
A. organizing.
B. planning.
C. goal coordination.
D. controlling.
E. leading.
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54. Scrappy Sales, Inc. a local recycling plant, recently embarked on an effort to increase
coordination and cooperation within the company. During the process, Scrappy managers
reviewed and specified job responsibilities, grouped jobs into work units and re-allocated
resources within the company. Scrappy managers were exercising the management function
of
A. planning.
B. organizing.
C. leading.
D. controlling.
E. budgeting.
A. Controlling
B. Planning
C. Organizing
D. Leading
E. Quantifying
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Leading
D. Controlling
E. Staffing
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57. As one of the key management functions, leading focuses on a manager's efforts to
A. planning.
B. organizing.
C. leading.
D. controlling.
E. monitoring.
59. When Johnny Jack, manager of Jack-Mack Enterprises realized that his plan to increase sales
levels among associates was not producing the results he desired, he took quick action to
make necessary adjustments. Johnny was exercising the management function of
A. planning.
B. organizing.
C. leading.
D. controlling.
E. communicating.
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60. _______ involves monitoring performance and making necessary changes.
A. Budgeting
B. Planning
C. Organizing
D. Leading
E. Controlling
61. Through careful monitoring of the financial budgets of a firm, managers can detect potential
problems in reaching their financial goals and take actions to reverse the problem. This is an
example of the management function of
A. planning.
B. controlling.
C. leading.
D. organizing.
E. budgeting.
62. Senior executives responsible for the overall management and effectiveness of the
organization are called
A. long-term managers.
B. middle managers.
C. strategic managers.
D. tactical managers.
E. short-run managers.
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63. The three levels of managers within large organizations are
65. ________________ managers are typically concerned with the interaction between the
organization and its external environment.
A. Regional
B. Top-level
C. Middle-level
D. Frontline
E. Functional
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
66. CEO, President, COO and Vice President are all titles typical of which level of management?
A. Strategic
B. Tactical
C. Operational
D. Functional
E. Regional
67. Which type of manager has responsibility for translating the general goals and plans
developed for an organization into more specific activities?
A. Operational managers
B. Functional managers
C. Activities managers
D. Strategic managers
E. Tactical managers
68. Lower-level managers who supervise the operational activities of the organization are called
A. frontline managers.
B. middle managers.
C. top-level managers.
D. tactical managers.
E. strategic managers.
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
69. Tactical managers are often referred to as
A. center managers.
B. middle-level managers.
C. lower-level managers.
D. operational managers.
E. upper-middle managers.
70. Managers responsible for supervising the operations of an organization are referred to as
A. strategic managers.
B. functional managers.
C. supervisory managers.
D. operational managers.
E. tactical managers.
71. Operational managers play a crucial role in an organization because they provide
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
72. One of Cory Crowe's primary activities in his career as a supervisor at Crowe Bird Food, Inc.
is working with his middle-manager, A.J. "Crazy" Crowe to carry out opportunities for new
growth in the business (such as expanding into exotic bird foods) and developing the people
who are actually manufacturing the food. Cory is most likely a(n)
A. frontline manager.
B. tactical manager.
C. middle-level manager.
D. top-level manager.
E. administrative controller.
73. Titles such as foreman, sales manager, shift manager, or supervisor typically belong to
managers at what level?
A. Strategic
B. Middle
C. Top
D. Operational
E. Tactical
74. As a manager at Get-Rich-Quick Investments (GRQ), Claus Cloudy spends much of his time
coaching young managers and making sure that needed information reaches the GRQ
branches so they will be successful. Claus would best be described as a (an)
A. frontline manager.
B. tactical manager.
C. operational manager.
D. top-level manager.
E. institutional controller.
1-19
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75. In smaller entrepreneurial firms and even in more adaptive larger firms, managers
76. Which of a manager's roles involves searching for new business opportunities and initiating
new projects to create change?
A. Leader
B. Figurehead
C. Entrepreneur
D. Resource allocator
E. Monitor
A. Disseminator
B. Spokesperson
C. Liaison
D. Figurehead
E. Disturbance handler
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78. Which of the following managerial roles is a decisional role?
A. Spokesperson
B. Liaison
C. Leader
D. Negotiator
E. Monitor
79. The President of Delta Design, LLC attended the opening ceremony for a customer's new
office complex. Which of a manager's roles was the President playing in this situation?
A. Leader
B. Liaison
C. Figurehead
D. Spokesperson
E. Resource allocator
80. When a customer service manger works to diffuse a situation with an irate customer, which
managerial role is he/she taking on?
A. Liaison
B. Disturbance handler
C. Negotiator
D. Resource allocator
E. Leader
1-21
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
81. A(n) __________ skill is the ability to perform a specialized task that involves a certain method
or process.
A. conceptual
B. decision
C. interpersonal
D. communication
E. technical
A. Technical
B. Professional
C. Conceptual
D. Interpersonal
E. Quantitative
1-22
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
84. Managers will utilize _____________ skills with increasing frequency as they rise within an
organization.
B. informational
C. technical
D. professional
E. negotiation
85. Top management at Sunset Studios, Inc. recognized a lack of employee enthusiasm about
the new website. In fact there was a fair amount of infighting and blame around whom was
responsible for the layout, given the entire firm considered itself to be tops in design and
production. Sammy Sunset got the team together and engaged them in a lively discussion to
determine how to change the website so that it reflected more of Sunset Studios' unique
design ability. As the meeting wound down, each team member volunteered to take on a part
of the project to fix the site. The ability to identify this problem and resolve it is an effective
use of __________ skills.
B. informational
C. technical
D. professional
E. negotiation
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
86. ______________ skills influence a manager's ability to work well with people.
A. Decisional
B. Technical
C. Interpersonal
D. Professional
E. Conceptual
87. Listening to employee suggestions, gaining support for organizational objectives and
fostering an atmosphere of teamwork are all considered
A. technical skills.
B. interpersonal/communication skills.
C. diagnostic skills.
D. professional skills.
E. conceptual skills.
88. The importance of managerial skills is exemplified by which of the following statements?
A. Obtaining high performance from people in the organization is easy because of the
authority managers will continue to have over knowledge workers.
C. Supervisory level managers have the most contact with the top-level managers.
D. Conceptual and decision skills become less important than technical skills as a manager
rises higher in the company.
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
89. The set of skills composed of understanding yourself, managing yourself and dealing
effectively with others is called
A. self reliance.
B. social capital.
C. emotional intelligence.
D. career management.
E. social management.
91. A common complaint about leaders, especially those who are newly-appointed is that they
lack which of the following?
A. Emotional understanding
B. Empathy
E. Self control
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92. Which of the following is a recommendation for forging a successful career?
A. Be a specialist.
B. Be self-reliant.
C. Be a generalist.
A. to take full responsibility for yourself, your actions, and your career.
A. social empathy.
B. social capital.
C. emotional intelligence.
D. emotional capital.
E. empathetic goodwill.
1-26
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
95. When you view yourself as an employee and expect your employer to tell you what to do and
give you pay and benefits, you are acting as a(n)
C. passive employee.
96. Actively managing your relationship with your organization includes managerial actions such
as
C. mobilizing people.
Essay Questions
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
97. "We have moved from an economy of hands to an economy of heads". Do you agree with this
statement? Explain.
98. List and describe several ways organizations collaborate across boundaries.
99. List and explain each of the five keys to managing for competitive advantage.
1-28
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100.Briefly describe each of the four key management functions.
102.At which level of management will you find conceptual and decision skills most utilized?
Why?
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
103.What should you do to forge a successful, gratifying career? Briefly explain each of the four
dimensions that should be considered.
Scenario A. Naturally Yours, Inc. is a new brand of organic clothing recently introduced
throughout the world. The company is unique in that it has collaborated with its suppliers and
largest potential customers to bring the clothing to market. The concept has been a huge
success as the idea of sustainability is becoming more "main stream" especially in developed
countries. The quick growth in sales has lead Naomi and Yolanda, the company founders, to
look to your consulting company for help in assuring the future success of the company.
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104.Naomi and Yolanda want to maintain a strong competitive advantage in the organic clothing
industry. They have consulted with you and have decided to maintain their current direction
of continuing to produce new items targeted to new markets, such as children's clothing, in
addition to the women's clothing items that were originally designed and produced by the
company. Given the information in this scenario, which of the fundamental success drivers
are they most likely using?
A. Planning
B. Innovation
C. Quality
D. Organizing
E. Cost competitiveness
105.Naomi and Yolanda have always focused on being efficient managers. What is the best
advice you should give them, given the quick success they have had with Naturally Yours and
the information provided in the scenario?
B. Now it is time for them to consider only effectiveness, since they clearly have efficiency
under control and this is not likely to change in the future.
C. To continue their success they should maintain a clear focus on both effectiveness and
efficiency especially while their company is experiencing such a high growth in sales.
D. Now would be the perfect time to buy beautiful homes for their families since they have
earned it.
E. As the top-level managers the best action plan for them is to carefully design the new
items to assure these items are well accepted by the target consumers.
1-31
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CHAPTER II
EARLY WORK IN LONDON
1851—APRIL, 1856
Through all the bright and free life at Finchley, Mrs. Hill had never forgotten
that her daughters would have to earn their living. Miranda, indeed, at the age of
thirteen, had begun to earn as a pupil teacher in the private school of a friend; and
her sister Margaret mentions in a letter the characteristic fact that Miranda had
wished to give some of her first earnings to her half-sisters, who were starting a
school. When, then, these sisters realised that Mrs. Hill was considering Octavia’s
future work, they, in their turn, offered to give her a free education, as a start in
life. On the other hand, Octavia’s artistic talent had already attracted the attention
of Mrs. Hill’s friend, Miss Margaret Gillies; and she offered to train Octavia in her
studio. Both these offers attracted Octavia herself; but Mrs. Hill did not wish to
part with her. Whilst she was still hesitating, her attention was drawn to the notice
of an Exhibition, to be held at 4 Russell Place, Fitzroy Square, of special
preparations of painted glass, consolidated so as to make it suitable for tables and
other purposes. She found that Miss Wallace, the patentee, was promoting the
Exhibition, partly to secure work for some Polish exiles, in whom she was
interested, partly with the more general aim of finding regular suitable paying
employment for ladies.
Mrs. Hill mentions that her first thought was that Miranda, whose overflowing
fancy seemed to her dangerously unpractical, might be roused to more steady work
by such an occupation as this. But it was natural that it soon occurred to her that
Octavia’s admitted artistic talent might also be utilised in this way. So she applied
for admission for both her daughters to this work. But, as Miss Wallace was unable
to carry on the business, Mr. Vansittart Neale most generously came forward with
the capital, in order to carry it on on a co-operative basis. He asked Mrs. Hill to
become the manager, which she very gladly consented to do, as she was much
interested in co-operation and in the employment of women.
Such was Octavia’s first introduction to London. The change from the healthy
open-air life at Finchley, and from the beauty of the country, to the ugliness of her
new surroundings told heavily on her spirits; and this depression was increased by
the sudden sense of the evil and misery in the world. Among the workers at the
Guild was a Miss Joanna Graham, who rapidly became a warm friend of Miranda’s.
She introduced both sisters to the “London Labour and the London Poor,” then
just brought out by Mayhew; also to the pamphlets and other essays written by the
Christian Socialist leaders of the movement with which Mr. Neale had already
brought them into contact. The pictures given by Mayhew of the life of the London
poor, and the desire awakened by the Christian Socialists to struggle against evils,
which seemed to her irresistible, produced in Octavia such a state of mind that she
began to think that all laughter or amusement was wicked. Miranda, always able to
see the humorous side of a question, tried to laugh her out of this extreme
depression; and, when Octavia persisted, the elder sister composed an imaginary
epitaph on herself, supposed to be written by Octavia:
This produced a most startling letter of stern remonstrance from Octavia; so stern
that one is relieved to find it closed by a loving message and followed by a P.S.
“Love to all. Thank you for the apples.”
Of course, this extreme gloom, unnatural in any young girl, was especially out of
keeping with anyone of Octavia’s buoyant temperament, and the happy busy life at
the Ladies’ Guild soon had its effect.
THE LADIES’ The following account given by Mrs. Hill in April,
GUILD 1856, shows somewhat of the social life. “The ladies
used to go to lectures together. In this case, the subject
of the lecture became, next day, that of the conversation in the workroom. The
conversation in general fell on interesting subjects, the favourite subjects being
politics, religion, art, news, the country and its scenery, poverty and wages, etc. A
very favourite subject was the derivation and definition of words; then the ladies
would join their voices in chorus, taking different parts. Indeed a merrier
company, ‘within the limits of becoming mirth,’ the writer never chanced to see.
There was generally some joke in hand. In the winter, they often assembled in the
evening at the Guild. Sometimes they drank tea together, and afterwards sang and
danced joyously.”
The artistic work at the Guild brought Octavia into contact with the Rogers
family. Mr. G. Rogers was wood carver to the Queen, and produced some very
interesting work. All his family had artistic leanings; but it was his daughter, who is
best known by her writings on Palestine, who specially attracted Octavia, and for
whom she formed one of those enthusiastic friendships which exercised so marked
an influence on her life. A younger friend, whose name was afterwards to be so
closely associated with Octavia’s, was Miss Emma Cons. She, like Octavia, was
much interested in art; and, on the other hand, her high girlish spirits called out in
Octavia again the old love of exercise and fun that had shown itself so strongly in
the Finchley days. Indeed Miss Cons was so much given to romps that Octavia’s
fellow workers (including her sisters) were rather startled at the attraction which
her new friend had for her. But it is clear from the letters, produced here, that
Octavia saw the real power concealed for the time under these hoydenish ways;
and she marked her as one on whom she could rely, and from whom she expected
much.
But it must not be forgotten that among the most important of these influences,
then at work on Octavia, were the characters and teaching of the Christian Socialist
leaders. Soon after joining the Guild she had begun to attend the lectures at the
Hall of Association; and her attendance at Lincoln’s Inn Chapel brought her in
1852 under the influence of my father, Rev. F. D. Maurice. She and Emily attended
the daily morning service; and, after a time, my father used often to let them walk
back with him, and he would answer many of Octavia’s difficulties about religious
and social questions. On one occasion she asked him if it would not be very nice if
one could get rid of all responsibility. He laughed and said it would indeed be very
comfortable. But that she did not shirk responsibility is shown by the following
incident. It was in the early days of the Guild, when Octavia was only about
fourteen, that she was alone in the house with the exception of Mrs. Horne,[5] who
was at the top of the house. It was Sunday; and everyone else had gone to Church.
On coming out of a second-floor room she saw a man standing near the door of a
large cupboard, in which she supposed he must have hidden. “How did you come
up here?” she asked. “I came up the stairs,” replied the man. “Then you will please
to walk down again,” said Octavia in a quiet tone. He obeyed her, and she walked
behind him down three long flights of stairs, and saw him out at the front door.
Her sense of responsibility was the greater because some money, belonging to the
Guild, had been paid late on Saturday and was in the office.
After the Guild had been carried on for some time, Mr. Neale was asked to take
over a new kind of work, which a lady had started in order to employ some Ragged
School children. This was the making of a special kind of toy which she had
invented; and Mr. Neale appointed Octavia head of the workroom. The following
account is given by my wife and her sister Miranda. The management of the toy-
making helped to “develop Octavia’s business faculties. She had to pass the
children’s work, which was paid by the piece, to assign the various processes to
each child, to choose the shapes and colours of the toy furniture, to price it, and to
see that, when the suites were finished, they were neatly packed in boxes and sent
over to the show room, where the ladies’ glass work was also exhibited. From time
to time she had to take stock, and to see if the sales justified the expenditure.
TOY-WORKERS “Her daily intercourse with the girls taught her to
know intimately the life of the poor. Most of the
children came from very poor homes, and had, though so young, experienced great
hardships. There was Louisa, an emotional, affectionate girl who had lost both
parents, and helped to support herself and the aunt with whom she lived. She had
worked at artificial flower-making, and told us how, when trade was busy, she had
been kept late into the night, and had had to run frightened through the streets in
the small hours of the morning, and tap at the window to wake her aunt. There was
poor Denis whose face and neck were terribly disfigured with burns; but who had
such a sweet pathetic voice that, when she sang, one forgot her ugliness. There was
Clara, a tall, over-grown girl from a dirty home, who was half-starved and cruelly
treated. She wore a low dress and short sleeves, and one could see her bones
almost coming through her skin. On one occasion when her work was too slovenly
to be passed, she burst into tears, and said that her mother would beat her if she
did not take back the money expected of her. There was little Elizabeth, a stunted
child of about nine, with so fierce a look that Octavia, in loving raillery, called her
her little wild beast. She had never come with us on the Saturday-afternoon walks
to Hampstead, but used to look wistfully after us. Once we pressed her very much
to come, and then she exclaimed ‘I cannot, I have to nurse the baby.’
“Another child was R. who was lost sight of, and later on was found in a dark
cellar into which one descended by a ladder, where she sat all day to sell
pennyworths of coal. She was half-starved and unkindly treated, but she seemed to
take that as a matter of course; what she did resent was that her cat was starved.
Later on Octavia sent her to an Industrial School; and after some years she
emigrated, and wrote to tell of her happy married life.
“Harriet and her sister were of a higher class, and had a clean, respectable home.
They were earnest Methodists. We lost sight of Harriet for forty years, and then
found her very happily married. She had remembered Octavia with the deepest
affection, and had preserved all her letters.
“The girls were in the habit of bringing their dinners to eat in the workroom, and
what they brought was very poor fare. Octavia suggested that they should club
together to buy their food, and that each girl in turn should cook it. The long table
was cleared, and a white cloth laid, and the food served nicely. Octavia brought
over her own luncheon to eat with the girls, and, after the Grace had been sung, it
was a pretty sight to see the sad, careworn faces of the children light up, as they sat
round the table while she talked to them. Among other things, she learnt to scrub
the floor, in order to teach the children to keep the workroom clean.
“A good many of the girls were older than Octavia and inclined to be
insubordinate, but she very soon established order, and that without recourse to
punishment. The girls had been accustomed to be fined for offences, and they were
quite amazed when they found this was no longer the case. On one occasion they
refused to scrub the work-tables, which was part of their daily duty. Immediately
Octavia and her two younger sisters set to work to do the scrubbing, and soon the
girls gave in. They had been fined for swearing, but the swearing soon ceased, and
they sang hymns or nice songs. Octavia was their leader and companion in all that
they did, and this sharing in their work, and yet leading the way, won them all to
obey as well as to love her. Sometimes, on a Saturday afternoon, she would take
her little group of workers for a walk to Hampstead Heath or Bishop’s Wood. Her
sister Gertrude remembers walking in Highgate Lane on a spring afternoon with
Professor Owen, who was quietly explaining something about the mosses on Lord
Mansfield’s fence—all being very still—when, to her surprise, the hedge was broken
open, and, with a burst of joy, who should leap down from the bank with a staff in
her hand and a straw hat torn by the thicket but Octavia, followed by a troop of
ragged toy-workers, happy and flushed, each with a lap full of blue-bells. Octavia
stayed for a minute to speak to her sister and the Professor; then off they all went
back into the wood and away towards Finchley.
“Schools were not what they are now, and Octavia was amazed at the ignorance
of these girls. They quite believed that wolves and bears might be lurking in the
woods; and they did not know the names of any of the flowers. It was afterwards
arranged that Miranda should give the girls lessons for an hour or so each
afternoon.”[6]
In 1854 Dr. Southwood Smith left Hillside and moved to Weybridge, where his
grandchildren were always welcomed in the same loving way that they had been at
Highgate.
But, before he could move, he was seized with a severe illness which necessitated
an operation. A few weeks later his granddaughter Emily was attacked by scarlet
fever, and her life was despaired of by two doctors. Then her grandfather, in spite
of his weak state, came back to London, and saved her life; and when she could be
removed, took her to Weybridge to watch over her convalescence. This of course
withdrew her from the toy work, and threw more of the burden on Octavia. A year
later her youngest sister Florence was also withdrawn from the work by ill-health,
and taken to Italy by her aunt, Miss Emily Smith, who gave her loving care for six
years. It was in the summer of 1855 that an expedition of the toy-workers into the
country led to the formation of some important friendships. Mrs. Harrison, to
whose house at Romford they were invited, was the sister of Mrs. Howitt, and she
and her family became warm friends of Octavia’s. Some of the letters given further
on were written to Mary, the eldest daughter, who was very artistic.
EARLY But even more important was the friendship then
FRIENDSHIPS formed with Miss Mary Harris, a member of the Society
of Friends, who was a great deal older than Octavia, and
whose calm, loving nature was a great rest to her. From the time they first met till
1893, when Miss Harris died, Octavia poured out more of her secret thoughts to
her than to anyone else, and when they were away from each other wrote to her
constantly.
On the occasion of this visit to Romford another guest was Mr. Ellis Yarnall, the
American, whose letters to Lord Coleridge have lately been published. He recorded
in his diary the following description of Miranda and Octavia.
“Some young ladies were expected, and with them about twenty children, girls to
whom they are teaching some decorative arts. The children played in the grounds;
the young ladies (Miranda and Octavia) were with us at luncheon; and we had a
great deal of talk about Mr. Ruskin, who is a friend of theirs. They described his
eloquence as a speaker, his earnestness of manner, his changing countenance, even
when he was silent, as though thoughts grave and gay were passing through his
mind. It was plain to me that his strong intellect and bright fancy were having their
true influence on these young persons, themselves highly gifted and altogether
like-minded, eighteen and sixteen or thereabouts—sisters. I was astonished at the
strength of intellect which they displayed. The talk of the elder one especially was, I
think, more striking than that of any person of her age I ever knew. She reminded
me of Corinne and other women of renown. What a pleasure it was to look at her
fine face with the glow of enthusiasm upon it, and to wonder whether gifts like hers
would not one day produce fruits which the world would value. Her description of
the effect which the hearing of Beethoven’s music on some late occasion had had
upon her was an utterance of passionate feeling showing true poetic susceptibility.
“They are the granddaughters of Dr. Southwood Smith.”
Towards the end of 1855 an important event took place, which led to Mrs. Hill’s
withdrawal from the Ladies’ Guild. My father had been interested in Octavia’s
work for the Toy-workers, and offered to take a Bible Class for them. The
Theological Essays controversy was just then at burning point; and the ladies who
had handed over the business part of the toy work, still considered that they had a
right to interfere about the religious instruction of the children. These ladies were
very Evangelical (as Evangelicalism went in those days) and they threatened to
withdraw all pecuniary help and the support of the Ragged School Union, if my
father was allowed to teach the girls. The managers of the business were so much
alarmed at this threat that they asked my father to withdraw his offer. Mrs. Hill
and her daughters were naturally very indignant at this; and Mrs. Hill’s protests
led to her losing the post of Manager at the Guild. She and Emily went to
Weybridge. Miranda and Octavia continued to work for a time; but when it seemed
likely that the Guild would fail, Miranda obtained daily teaching and Octavia
applied to Ruskin to learn from him if there would be any chance of her supporting
herself by painting. He replied most kindly, and asked her to let him have a table-
top designed and painted by herself. This design[7] was a spray of bramble leaves in
all their brilliant autumn colours, encircling the centre space which formed a
background that was dark at one part and gradually grew lighter, and finally
changed into soft blue, suggesting storm clouds passing away, and leaving a bright
sky. Round the edge, among the leaves, were the words of the Psalm, “He brought
them out of darkness and out of the shadow of death, and brake their bonds in
sunder.”
This led to Ruskin’s undertaking to train Octavia and give her work. Soon after
this came the final crisis at the Guild; and Octavia obtained the appointment
mentioned in the last letter of this chapter.
EARLY WORK IN
LONDON
June 14th, 1852.
To Miranda.
Thank you many many times for your sweet letter. It was such a
comfort to me.
I am very well indeed now. I do not know when I have been better,
except that I am rather weak. I am at Finchley with Minnie. I long
dreadfully to go to town; but I think I can wait patiently till
Wednesday.
I have been very unfortunate in being away from the Guild just at
this time. Do you know Mr. Walter Cooper has been there? and Mr.
Lewis and the trustees (Mr. Furnivall) go there so often; and all the
bustle, and trying to feel Christian-like to Mr. and Miss ——. O,
would it not have been delightful!
I have Miss Graham’s books here; they are so interesting. I am so
very happy when I am reading them. My interest gets deeper and
stronger every day. I wish, oh! I so long, to do something, and I
cannot. Andy! do you think I ever shall be able to do anything really
useful?
I do not at all like Mr. ——, or rather I entirely despise and dislike
his opinions. I will tell you all about it when I see you. I will only tell
you now that he likes “the subordination of the employed to the
employer”; and he thinks “there is no tribunal so proper as the
discretion of the employer to decide those delicate questions of the
personal conduct of the employed.” Did you ever hear of such a
thing? Is it not horrible?
Mr. Furnivall I admire more and more the more I know and read
of him; and, as to Mr. Ludlow, certainly there is not (excepting Mr.
Furnivall) such a person in the whole world. He has the largest,
clearest, best-balanced mind joined to the truest most earnest wish
to help the working classes I ever met with (of course excepting Mr.
Furnivall’s).
I have read to-day his “Christian Socialism and its Opponents.” All
I can say of it, and all he writes is that it is grand, and that I never
can forget it, or cease to be grateful for it. His lectures have sunk
deeper into my heart than anything else; one reason is, I dare say,
that they were the first; but they were most noble and grand; his own
great soul seemed to breathe itself into his works. But I forget—I
shall get no sympathy from you. I must tell Miss Graham. Andy, do
you think Mr. Furnivall will bring him to the Guild? Do you think he
meant it; or, if not, do you think we ever shall know him?
The Festival will be on Monday. I am looking forward to it with
such pleasure. I do so long to see you; it seems ages since I did; I
want to know what you think about the ‘Guild’; I do so want your
advice, too, upon a thousand subjects. I have a good deal to read to
you, which I have written since you were away. Give my dearest love
to Miss Graham. Tell her I never can thank her enough for all the
noble and beautiful books she has lent me; that, as to the Christian
Socialist, I never never before read anything which inspired such
earnest longing to do something for the cause of association; and it
interested me so very much that the hours I have spent in reading
that are never to be forgotten; they were unequalled in pleasure to
any that I have ever spent in reading; and that, if I live years and
years, I shall never forget, or cease to remember with gratitude that it
was to her that I owe the great happiness of first reading a Socialist
book, which I consider one of the greatest happinesses any one can
have. Thank her, also, for the other books; tell her the “Cheap
Clothes and Nasty” and “Labour and the Poor” are some of the most
dreadful things I ever read. They have made a deep impression on
me. How delightful the History of the Working Tailors’ Association
is!
Do you know I have a post at the Guild? I have to give out the
stores and am responsible for them. The ladies have all sent me a
book as a testimony of their gratitude to me for reading to them.
How very kind it is of them! Dear Laura has written me such a sweet
letter. I love to think of you among those lovely scenes by the
beautiful sea, with dear Miss Graham....
Your own loving little sister, Ockey.
Ladies’ Guild,
July 27th, 1852.
To Gertrude.
Ladies’ Guild,
July 13th, /53.
To Gertrude.
When I got into the country I felt that, if I stayed looking at sky
and trees and flowers,[10] my friends would think me dull and become
dull themselves and spoil all enjoyment. So all the day my whole
energies were “stretched” to be merry and lively. I felt that if I waited
one moment to look at anything, I should never tear myself away,
and I got into a wild state. I did enjoy very much the mere exercise,
and the mirth, and happiness of every one. I hardly thought all this; I
only felt it. Then, at the singing class, the strain being over, and
having nothing to sustain me, I sank into low spirits. As we were
singing “Oh come ye into the summer woods,” a longing came over
me to be there; a dim recollection of tops of the trees with the
evening sun upon them, a panting desire to sit there, and cry myself
quiet....
But it is all too beautiful now; I could almost fancy myself at
home.... As to my drawing, whether I will or no I must go on with
that; and, though I do not hope, I trust....
Dear Sisters,
I fully intended to come over to you to-day, but I have a sore foot,
and can only limp to the classes. Private. On Wednesday evening I
went to see Miss Cooper, and spent the whole evening there. Just as I
was going William Cooper came in and told me (don’t tell anyone)
that they have discovered heresy in Professor Maurice’s last book,
and he will probably be expelled from the Church. I had not time to
ask any questions, as Miss Cooper returned, and she is not to know.
Professor Maurice came to town on Monday night, went to Walter
Cooper on Tuesday before Miss Cooper was out of bed, and returned
to the country in the evening.... On Thursday there was a Council.
Walter Cooper looks very grave and rather ill and anxious. What all
this betokens, I cannot guess; but I fear something sad.
I have been reading “The Message of the Church to the Labouring
Men”; it is so beautiful; also “The Duty of the Age.” I did not think
Lord Goderich[11] was so nice; it would just suit Andy.
Mr. Edwards will give us a large order for a skirting board of
marble if we can do it for 8d. a foot; also an order for a painted glass
conservatory.
If any of you love me, see if you can’t send me a piece of Indian ink
and a paint brush, and “The Land we live in,” and look out for some
toys, or books that you don’t want—the latter two for the little child
at the needlewoman’s.
To Gertrude.
About Ruskin, it matters very little to me what The Times, or
anything else, says of him. I see much, very very much, to admire in
him, and several things which I could wish different. If, as I suppose,
The Times accuses him of affectation of style and want of humility, I
entirely deny the first charge; as I think there is never a single word
he writes, which could have been left out without loss, or changed
without spoiling the idea; and, if it means that each sentence of his
has a beauty of sound as well as of meaning, I say that it is to me all
the more right for that; and that to be able to reproduce that sound is
a gift not to be neglected.... As to the second objection I say, if Ruskin
sees a truth which is generally denied, he is right to proclaim it with
his whole strength. He says not “I see it is so because I am a higher
creature than you,” but “I see it, because I have gone to God, and His
works for it. You may all see it, if you will look, using the powers He
has given you; only look in sincerity and humility. It is only because I
am humble, because I am content to give up my own ideas and
notions, to take the truth because it is God’s, to believe that it is good
and right. It is only so I can discover harmony in this universe, and I
am sent (he says) with a loud voice to proclaim this to you.”
Ladies’ Guild,
December 5th, 1853.
To Gertrude.
Ruskin has been here. All went as well as I could possibly wish. He
was most delighted with the things, as showing the wonderful power
we possess of introducing and preserving colour. He gave us some
most interesting and useful hints about colour, and ordered five slabs
to be painted for him; adapting two of the designs he wanted from
some we had, which Mr. Terry was to go to his house to do on
Monday. He offered to lend us some things to copy. If you had seen
the kind, gentle way in which he spoke, the interest he showed, the
noble way in which he treated every subject, the pretty way in which
he gave the order, and lastly, if you had seen him as he said on going
away, his eyes full of tears, “I wish you all success with all my heart,”
you would have said with me that it was utterly wonderful to think
that that was the man who was accused of being mad, presumptuous,
conceited and prejudiced. If it be prejudice to love right and beauty,
if it be conceited to declare that God had revealed them to you, to
endeavour to make your voice heard in their defence, if it be mad to
believe in their triumph, and that we must work to make them
triumph, then he is all four, and may God make us all so!... All my
sisters, Kitty and Mama, have given me Mr. Maurice’s “Ancient
Philosophy” and have written in it “From her sisters in affection and
work.” This sentence makes me very happy. I know it is true. I know
our work has bound us together.... Another thing happened on
Sunday which pleased me very much. Mr. Neale heard Miranda
talking about my birthday; and he said he was going to give me Mr.
Maurice’s “Prophets and Kings of the Old Testament.” He came on
Sunday on purpose to bring it. It seems such a glory that he does look
upon us as related to him, not merely as receivers of wages, that he
considers us workers with him. All that I have struggled to
accomplish, so long and so wearily, seems just now to be succeeding,
all fruitless as the work has seemed; the seeds buried, dead as I
thought them, have sprung above the ground.
Ladies’ Guild,
January 10th, 1854.
To Gertrude.
Hillside,
February 10th, 1854.
Miranda to Miss Joanna Graham.
You have not heard yet that there is great thought of enrolling the
Guild as an Industrial Society, under the new Act. Would it not be
very nice? Mr. Neale had drawn out a set of rules; and he sent them
to Mama for her to approve or make her remarks upon. There are
however some difficulties in the way.
I have not yet been able to write a recollection of that very
beautiful class at Mr. Maurice’s; but I hope to do it.
Ladies’ Guild,
June 11th, 1854.
To Gertrude.
(Speaking of Hillside.)
INFLUENCE OF
RUSKIN AND F. D.
September 17th, 1854.
MAURICE
To Miranda.
(In the Lake Country.)
INFLUENCE OF
RUSKIN
Ladies’ Guild,
March 14th, 1855.
To Emily.
Ladies’ Guild,
March 16th, 1855.
To Emily.
There is only one thing to speak about just now, Ruskin. I have
been,—fancy! We could not get an omnibus which would pass the
door, without waiting till it would be too late. We took one which
brought us to Camberwell Gate; we tore along, thinking we were late,
and too much engrossed by that idea, to see or think of anything else.
At last we arrived at a green gate with a lodge. We asked for Mr.
Ruskin, and were sent on to the house. Imagine a handsome
mansion or large villa, a broad sweep of gravel road leading to it,
bordered by a lawn, on which stood an immense cedar of Lebanon,
on the other a bank covered with golden celandines in full flower,
and shaded by immense elms. Ascending a flight of steps leading to a
glass door, we looked into a handsome hall; a footman came and
showed us upstairs; we entered Mr. Ruskin’s study, and he was there.
He received us very warmly, asked us about our journey there, and
about the weather, which I then for the first time perceived. The
room was lofty, the furniture dark, the table covered with papers, the
walls rich with pictures, a cabinet full of shells, with a dead fern or
two; and looking out of the window over a garden (I never looked at
it) on to a field which sloped very gently, more like a bit of park, large
trees on it, with their shadows strongly marked by the bright sun,
and very still; beyond, slopes of meadow and woodland, over which
the shadows of large white clouds kept passing. Mr. Ruskin was very
kind, and showed us numbers of manuscripts, which I admired more
than I had any idea of, and sketches. He evidently thought my design
well done, admired the fir and bramble, blamed my not knowing
exactly what colours I should put everywhere, and illustrated these
things—that in a fine design each thing is of importance, that the
effect of the whole would be spoilt by the alteration of any part; that
simplicity of form is needful to show colour; that no colour is
precious till it is gradated; that grass is more yellow than we think;
that holly is not green (made only with blue and yellow) (sic) but
with crimson and white in it; that it is impossible to have colour on
paper so light and so living as in nature; that, in the fourteenth and
fifteenth centuries, work becomes coarser, more floral, less grotesque
than in the thirteenth. We had a delightful conversation about one
thing. I remarked what a world of beauty he was surrounded with;
and he answered that, if I could change places with him, I should be
no happier than I am now. I said I knew that very well; but I affirmed
there was a positive pleasure in a beautiful thing. He said he was very
covetous, always wanting more; and that he desired happiness, but
from the success of what he was doing; that he would part with all he
possessed, if he could thereby insure that some real illuminators
would arise. We then, though quite consistent, appeared to change
sides in the argument. I said that there was as much pleasure to be
found in London as in the country; that the beauties were more
valued when seen, and the scraps of beauty more loved. He said that
man was not meant to be in a constant state of enthusiasm (of which
by the way we stand in no danger); that the blessing of the country
was more negative; that brick walls were a positive pain. I said that I
was very glad to say that, although sometimes feeling crushed by the
ugliness, I could forget it. He ended by saying that, as I was fond of
the country, he hoped after May, when the weather was warm, I
should often go down there; and then, altering the reason of the
invitation, he said that, if I wanted to refresh my memory and come
to see his MSS., I could come any day and chance finding him at
home; or, if I would send a line the day before, he would try and be at
home. This is not half of this conversation, and we had several
others, to say nothing of illustrations and propositions.
And now, M., do you, or do you not wish to hear what I think of it;
that that which is asked for is given; that, well-used, this friendship
(?), so happily begun, may be a long and growing one; that I have
seen a world of beauty; and that this might be the opening to a more
glorious path; and that I would give years, if I could bring to Ruskin
“the peace which passeth all understanding”?
WORK FOR
RUSKIN
Ladies’ Guild,
March 19th, 1855.
To Emily.
Ladies’ Guild,
March 21st, 1855.
To Emily.
Thank you very much for your letter. I am very much interested by
your account of that clergyman. I should think from what you say,
that his influence must be very good. The mere fact of the
congregation being so poor and degraded would seem to shew it. It is
very difficult to tell what the doctrines of a man are from one
sermon; and very likely you heard the worst side of them.
I have been to Lincoln’s Inn to-day, and have heard Mr. Maurice,
and have seen Mr. Hughes, Mr. Kingsley and Mr. Ludlow. Mr.
Cooper advises me to go and see whether we shall be admitted at the
meeting. Mr. Kingsley will preach at Bethnal Green on Sunday
evening. I am in the very heart of painting Ruskin’s designs, really
enjoying it.
SERMON BY F. D. I have a copy of the form of prayer for to-
MAURICE day, which you will like to read when you
return. Mr. Maurice preached such a beautiful sermon about it.[15]
The text was the 1st to 8th verses of 1st Chapter of S. Luke. He said
that, three weeks ago all England was startled by the news that the
man[16] whom she had looked upon as her most deadly enemy was
dead; that whatever hopes statesmen or merchants might entertain
of the result, had proved wrong; that many people said there must be
a purpose in this event; that however sinful it might be to rejoice over
it, they could not but believe that it was working towards some good
end. To such people, he continued, I would answer, “assuredly not an
emperor falls (because not a sparrow falls) without our Father in
Heaven; and to Him who wills it every event will bring a blessing.”
And what should we learn from this? In the first place, we have all of
us fancied that we were fighting against a man; whereas the fact is we
are fighting against a principle, which is represented, perhaps in a
nobler form than usual, in this man. People objecting to this say, “no,
we are fighting against flesh and blood; we leave all abstractions to
philosophers.” I agree with them thus far. We are engaged with
realities; if a principle be a mere theory, to be disputed about in
books, it is nothing to living men; but, if it be that which gives energy
and motive to action, then it has everything to do with them. We are
fighting against that arbitrary power, which treats men as mere
machines or tools, and is utterly indifferent to national life. There is
great danger connected with the belief that our enemies are men, not
principles. We are likely, we are almost sure, not to see the same
enemy at home. We are all too much inclined to think that we live
only to carry on our separate trades and professions. We happen,
indeed, to carry them on together in a certain geographical position,
which has been for some years called the island of Great Britain. We
have, it is true, a common language. It is very convenient it should be
so, just as it is very convenient to have a medium of exchange. It
would hinder our buying and selling very much, if it were not so. It is
also very important to have laws to punish those who injure their
neighbours. These laws must be general, lest one class should gain
the ascendency. We must also have a doctrine preached about future
rewards and punishments. Of course about such an uncertain subject
there can be little agreement; and therefore, if all compete in
preaching, it will suit all tastes. We do not want a sense of national
life. It is this indifference to it which we have been striving against
thro’ all generations. This common enemy unites us to all past ages;
if we have lost sight of it, we lose the meaning of history. And this is
the meaning of a Fast day. It speaks to us all as members of a nation;
it tells us of a stronger bond than that of possessing a common
enemy; that we possess a common Father; this gives prayer a
meaning, and national life a reality. And this speaks to us
individually. So long as we look upon the Emperor of Russia as our
enemy we cannot expect to have to conquer him; (sic), and we cannot
ask for help to do so.... Thank you for the promise of ferns. Bring
several. Numbers here will be glad of them. We are having the
garden dug, and shall be glad of all contributions. Can you bring a
stone and a root from Mr. Mansfield’s grave?... It is very late, past
twelve (long).
Ladies’ Guild,
March 27th, 1855.
To Emily.
Thank you for your two dear letters. They interested me very much
indeed. Have you read “Brave Words”?[17] I think G. and you might
like to read it together. Mr. Maurice preached at Lincoln’s Inn on
Sunday morning. I did not know of it. Since I have known him[18] I
have missed hearing him four times, Stepney, Whitechapel, lecture
on Newspapers, and last Sunday. It was a funeral sermon for Mr.
Mansfield; and all his friends met together afterwards. They are
going to have it every year. Mama went with me in the afternoon.
The text was the 27th verse of the fourteenth of St. John. Mr.
Maurice began by saying that these words were not understood at the
time they were spoken. The events which followed them seemed the
most awful contradiction of them; for even He who had spoken them
appeared to have lost then the gift which He promised. The question
was, What peace was it which He gave? It could not be peace in the
world; the wars, the contentions showed that that had not been
given. The Gospel which they brought to the world seemed to bring
divisions not unity, strife not peace. It could not be peace in the
Church; for a few weeks it seemed as if this might be the gift which
Christ had left. They had all things in common; and then arose
contentions, people pretending to have sold their possessions, and
given the whole value of them to the Church, when they had retained
half. Paul rebuking Peter; discussions about circumcision. Was it
outward peace for themselves? Never had any set of men experienced
so little as the Apostles. Was it inward peace, a cessation of all fierce
war with evil, of all conflict? Surely not. For that which Christ
promised He must have realised Himself. They had heard the cry on
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