Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/121

45 crying in the wilderness, an Amos of Bohemia who interpreted with audacious consistency the categorical imperative of Christian ethics to harmonize the means with the ends, the conduct of man with the all-pervasive Kingdom of God. He was one of those great individualists to be found in epochal periods, who gather into themselves the influence of preceding ages, and give new direction to the spiritual trends of succeeding generations.

Chelc̄icky̍ himself was fortunate to live long enough to called the spiritual father to see the establishment of the Church of the Unity of Brethren; he may fairly well be and founder of this new church, since it was his influence which was so decisive in shaping the thoughts and acts of the first Brethren, even though he never became an active participant in the founding of the Unity

The day of his death is shrouded in a cloud of uncertainty, just as his birthday is unknown. He is supposed to have died some time in 1460, in the days of King George of Podiebrad. With him died a representative of the purest ideals of the Middle Ages, a son of a great time, yet standing far above it. In that rugged expression of Christian faith Goethe,, iii, 2.

Spinka,, p. 291.