Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

CHAPTER IV.

ANOTHER OPINION.

BEFORE closing his present judgment upon this sect, Israel took the precaution to send the foregoing Notes to a friend whom, with his guardian, he was accustomed to consult. He received the following:

[merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"You have drawn your conclusions of the church in question, with more haste and heat than deliberation and wisdom. This, allow me to say, is characteristic of observers of your age.

"There are spots on the sun, but who would think of condemning that planet therefor as worthless! He who should make the attempt would prove himself another "dog, and bay the moon." It is not probable that the sun or the moon would take upon themselves to stand still in awe of such attacks.

"This people of God are too old, too venerable with precious associations of labor, suffering, and renown, too honored with names of the great and good, to cast about upon the fling of ordinary criticism. Like Jerusalem, she is the mother of us all; and who would think of looking too sharply upon the blemishes of that face to which we had turned for counsel,

encouragement and strength, from our earliest recollection!

"Her authors have contributed the most precious legacies of thought and research of those of any other church, and of all other churches together in Christendom. Her martyrs are most memorable upon the page of history. Her struggles for emancipation from oppression were the pioneer throes of the birth of Religious Freedom, the blessings of which all other religious bodies by the means have been enabled to share. It is true that this church has had her 'wandering stars,' who have shed their baleful influence over those who were so unfortunate as to come within the reach of their oppressive sphere; but in a system of such dimensions as this, this is by no means surprising.

"In particular respecting your notes, I do not like what you say about the ministers who appeared at the ordination service having been converts from other folds. Where will you find a set of clergymen on any one denominational platform who number not those who have been adopted there? Your own ideas of truth to profound conviction, and of charity for others in their movements, however seemingly inharmonious with yours, should repel the slightest acerbity of judgment of such matters.

"Neither do I like your observations respecting the love of this people for power. We should the rather admire them that, when possessed of such exhaustless resources through the centuries, they have abused their power so little. What other Christian people, endued with their gifts, would have deported themselves more wisely?

"Your remarks concerning their peculiarities in wearing clerical vestments, etc., are altogether unworthy. Why not head them with observations upon Revelations I: 13. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.'

"Let every people appear in their sacred courts as it seemeth them good, and be not presumptuous in speaking evil of dignities.

"Although I have no partiality for this communion, I desire to be as just and generous to them as to any other. To this end, I would recommend you to study them more faithfully and impartially, as you would a celebrated work of art, which, at the first, you may be inclined to undervalue. The longer you look, the more will you see to admire.

Truly yours,

J. ABELARD RIDLEY."

Somewhat troubled by this letter, Israel forwarded it with his Notes to his guardian, with an expressed wish for a judgment.

the

He received only this in return :

"Qui capit, ille facit," liberally rendered, "Whom cap fits, let him wear it.”

Yours in haste, but without heat,

EPHRAIM STEARNS."

AMONG THE QUAKERS.

CHAPTER I.

FRIENDS' MEETING.

ISRAEL began to be less hopeful of finding around him the city with the Lord's name and presence, and he went out one Sunday morning with no purpose whither to direct his steps. He was unhappy, almost

miserable. There was not a church which he could call his home, not a people who seemed real and true friends.

Where was the fault? In the churches or in himself?

Presently he wandered away into a street apart from the great thoroughfares, with a design of going out till he should reach the open country, where he could worship in God's own temple, not made with hands.

A man walked before, scarcely noticed by him till he was joined by another who came out from an intersecting street. There was something in their manner of greeting each other which attracted his attention.

The unaffected friendliness of the words "Friend John, how does thee do?" and the reply, "I am able to go to the meeting, friend Isaac, and it is good to walk the old way once more," seemed to Israel a new note in the great concert of the world's society.

He looked more closely. The hat, the color of the

« VorigeDoorgaan »