Spiritual Life.

This is a harmful form of religious emotionalism or mania, leading people to a vagrant life. It appears to grow upon its lay followers, entailing fanaticism and neglect, or subversion of business, usually ending in the bankruptcy court. The clergy make a living out of it, and delight in playing upon the emotionalism of women, by preaching the charms of a spiritual life, and asking them to throw themselves upon an imaginary Jesus, whereas nothing is more injurious. The only way to check this is to abolish all orders of beneficed or ordained clergy, and for every citizen to take his or her turn in filling God's pulpit, but no one to be allowed continuously to do so. After three years service any man calling himself a Minister of God should return to his profession or trade, as continual religious occupation is detrimental. Theological colleges are the bane of Humanity. On no account should chairs of divinity be established in New Zealand colleges or universities.