ABSTRACT
THEspiritofassociatedphilanthropy,sofaraswehave hithertotraceditsexpression,haseithertakenaformthatis immediatelyreligious,asintheReligiousSocieties,or proceedsfromapreponderatinglytheologicalmotive,asin theCharitySchools.Thisisonlynatural,fortheyearsbefore andafterthebeginningoftheeighteenthcenturyweremarked bymuchzealandenergyonthepartoftheEstablishedChurch. ButtheadventoftheHanoveriankingswasshortlyfollowed byachangeoftemper,andthecountry"settledintothemost coolindifferencewithregardtoreligiousmattersthatisto befoundinanynationoftheworld."1Yetthefallingaway ofdogmaticinterestwasnotaccompaniedbyadeclinein philanthropicactivity.Itwouldprobablybetoomuchto affirmthatmenthenfoundrefugeindeedsofcharityfrom unrestanduncertaintyinmattersoffaithasissaidtobethe caseinthepresenttime,becauseitisdoubtfuliftheweU balancedmindoftheeighteenthcenturypermitteditselftofeel anysuchdistress.Norwoulditbecorrecttosuggestthatmen becamemorefreeforphilanthropicbecauselessoccupied withdogmaticclaims.Butthefactremainsthataperiodof "religiouslanguor"wasalsotheperiodinwhichfirstthe hospitals,annalittlelaterthoseothercharitableinstitutions withwhichourownageissofamiliar,begantomultiplyin Londonandthenasaveryrapidsequelinthechiefprovincialtowns.
