The revival of Roman Catholicism in England with its processions and solemn ritual has been equally significant.

By gratifying the common human instinct for spectacle and drama the monarchy has gained the popular affections.
The Whigs scoffed at pageants and symbols; the earlier Puritans had proscribed ceremonial as savouring of idolatry, and feared any manifestation of beauty as a snare of the devil.

In the latter half of the nineteenth century, England began to throw off the shackles of Puritanism, and to lose all interest in Whiggery.

The new democracy was neither coldly Deist, nor austerely Republican.

It has shown no inclination to inaugurate a reign of "pure reason" in religion or politics, but has boldly and cheerfully adopted symbolism and pageantry.