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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 268

268 THE PATRICIANS CHAPTER 38
stated, it should not at once be put right by authority, but
should be left at the mercy of the discussion. It is most likely
that it will be eliminated. If it should survive as grave error, it
should be corrected but not in such a way as to humiliate.
Think of Mary teaching her child.

4. The asking of questions. Lecture systems recognise the
desirability of producing a reaction in the audience, and
accordingly they invite questions. Some persons respond;
then the lecturer replies. The Patricians, on the contrary, does
not welcome this but regards it as an interruption of the
debate — almost equivalent to a short-circuit in electricity.
Many persons will initially have no other idea of contributing
but to address questions to one of the key-persons. If the
attempt is made to answer them, the discussion would be
struck at, and in fact turned into a classroom in which the
members will not stay.
Here the golden rule is that those propounding a relevant
question must add on their own ideas as to the answer. This
has proved itself able to turn the question usefully into the
tide of the discussion.

5. The building-up principle of the Patricians. To build
up knowledge by adding, so to speak, brick by brick is good.
But what takes place in the Patricians is rather multiplication
than addition. The Patricians builds with living bricks in the
sense that each new contribution interacts with all that has
already been said, spring ing from them and in turn affecting
them. Opinions are modified and new ideas are germinated.
This complicated operation, worked on by grace, must
inevitably cause a fruitful ferment in each mind. But it also
produces a common effect, that is on the whole body. This
effect is comparable to a flowing tide. It gathers the characters
and thoughts of the members into a forward, positive
impulse. This imparting of energy and direction to stagnant
faith and religious outlook must result in the changing of
lives.

6. The key-roles. Just as the praesidium depends on its
officers, so does the Patricians depend on its key-persons.
These should be careful not to exceed their functions. If they