But it may be doubted whether, in the long run, their party would not have been better without them.

By the zeal, the munificence, the laborious activity, with which they pursued their religious and semi-religious enterprises, they did more to teach the world how to get rid of existing institutions than by their votes and speeches at Westminster they contributed to preserve them.

[Macaulay, writing to one of his sisters in 1844, says: "I think Stephen's article on the Clapham Sect the best thing he ever did, I do not think with you that the Claphamites were men too obscure for such delineation.

The truth is that from that little knot of men emanated all the Bible Societies, and almost all the Missionary Societies, in the world.

The whole organisation of the Evangelical party was their work.
The share which they had in providing means for the education of the people was great.