The poor people in big working-places like Heddington ain't much better than heathens, leastways as to most things that matter.

They haven't got a sensible religion, not one that gets down into what they do.

The parson doesn't reach them--he talks about church and the sacraments, and they don't get at what good it's going to do them.

And the chapel preachers ain't much better.

They talk and sing and pray, when what the people want is light, and hot water, and soap, and being shown how to live, and how to bring up children healthy and strong, and decent-cooked food.