Part 33 (1/2)

CHAPTER x.x.xIII

A DOUBTFUL BATTLE IN PROSPECT

The painful impression made by the evening service that has been described acted as a rude disenchantment, and the beautiful church, to which Mrs. Arnot had returned every Sabbath morning with increasing pleasure, became as repulsive as it had been sacred and attractive. To her sincere and earnest spirit anything in the nature of a sham was peculiarly offensive; and what, she often asked herself, could be more un-Christlike than this service which had been held in his name?

The revelation so astonished and disheartened her that she was p.r.o.ne to believe that there was something exceptional in that miserable Sabbath evening's experience, and she determined to observe further and more closely before taking any action. She spoke frankly of her feelings and purposes to Haldane, and in so doing benefited the young man very much; for he was thus led to draw a sharp line between Christ and the Christlike and that phase of Christianity which is largely leavened with this world. No excuse was given him to jumble the true and the false together.

”You will do me a favor if you will quietly enter the church next Sunday morning and evening, and un.o.btrusively take one of the seats near the door,” she said to him. ”I wish to bring this matter to an issue as soon as possible. If you could manage to enter a little in advance of me, I would also be glad. I know how Christ received sinners, and I would like to see how we who profess to be representing him, receive those who come to his house.”

Haldane did as she requested. In a quiet and perfectly un.o.btrusive manner he walked up the granite steps into the vestibule, and his coa.r.s.e, gray suit, although scrupulously clean, was conspicuous in its contrast with the elegant attire of the other wors.h.i.+ppers. He himself was conspicuous also; for many knew who he was, and whispered the information to others. A ”jail-bird” was, indeed, a _rara avis_ in that congregation, and there was a slight, but perfectly decorous, sensation. However greatly these elegant people might lack the spirit of Him who was ”the friend of publicans and sinners” they would not for the world do anything that was overtly rude or ill-bred. Only the official s.e.xton frowned visibly as the youth took a seat near the door. Others looked askance or glided past like polished icicles. Haldane's teeth almost chattered with the cold. He felt himself oppressed, and almost pushed out of the house, by the moral atmosphere created by the repellent thoughts of some who apparently felt the place defiled by his presence. Mrs. Arnot, with her keen intuition, felt this atmosphere also, and detected on the part of one or two of the officers of the Church an unchristian spirit. Although the sermon was an excellent one that morning, she did not hear it.

In the evening a lady draped in a black veil sat by Haldane. The service was but a dreary counterpart of the one of the previous Sabbath. The sky had been overcast and slightly threatening, and still fewer wors.h.i.+ppers had ventured out.

Beyond furtive and curious glances no one noticed them save the s.e.xton, who looked and acted as if Haldane's continued coming was a nuisance, which, in some way, he must manage to abate.

The young man waited for Mrs. Arnot at her carriage-door, and said as he handed her in:

”I have kept my word; but please do not ask me to come to this church again, or I shall turn infidel.”

”I shall not come myself again,” she replied, ”unless there is a decided change.”

The next morning she wrote notes to two of the leading officers of the church, asking them to call that evening; and her request was so urgent that they both came at the appointed hour.

Mrs. Arnot's quiet but clear and distinct statement of the evils of which she had become conscious greatly surprised and annoyed them. They, with their a.s.sociates, had been given credit for organizing and ”running” the most fas.h.i.+onable and prosperous church in town. An elegant structure had been built and paid for, and such a character given the congregation that if strangers visited or were about to take up their abode in the city they were made to feel that the door of this church led to social position and the most aristocratic circles. Of course, mistakes were made. People sometimes elbowed their way in who were evidently flaunting weeds among the patrician flowers, and occasionally plain, honest, but somewhat obtuse souls would come as to a Christian church. But people who were ”not desirable”--the meaning of this phrase had become well understood in Hillaton--were generally frozen out by an atmosphere made so chilly, even in August, that they were glad to escape to other a.s.sociations less benumbing. Indeed, it was now so generally recognized that only those of the best and most a.s.sured social position were ”desirable,” that few others ventured up the granite steps or sought admittance to this region of sacred respectability. And yet all this had been brought about so gradually, and so entirely within the laws of good breeding and ecclesiastical usage, and also under the most orthodox preaching, that no one could lay his finger on anything upon which to raise an issue.

The result was just what these officers had been working for, and it was vexatious indeed that, after years of successful manipulation, a lady of Mrs. Arnot's position should threaten to make trouble.

”My dear Mrs. Arnot,” said one of these polished gentlemen, with a suavity that was designed to conciliate, but which was nevertheless tinged with philosophical dogmatism, ”there are certain things that will not mix, and the attempt to mingle them is wasting time on the impossible. It is in accordance with the laws of nature that each cla.s.s should draw together according to their affinities and social status.

Our church is now entirely h.o.m.ogeneous, and everything moves forward without any friction.”

”It appears to me sadly machine-like,” the lady remarked.

”Indeed, madam,” with a trace of offended dignity, ”is not the Gospel ably preached?”

”Yes, but it is not obeyed. We have been made h.o.m.ogeneous solely on worldly principles, and not on those taught in the Gospels.”

They could not agree, as might have been supposed, and Mrs. Arnot was thought to be unreasonable and full of impracticable theories.

”Very well, gentlemen,” said Mrs. Arnot, with some warmth, ”if there can be no change in these respects, no other course is left for me but to withdraw;” and the religious politicians bowed themselves out, much relieved, feeling that this was the easiest solution of the question.

Mrs. Arnot soon after wrote to the Rev. Dr. Barstow, pastor of the church, for a letter of dismission. The good man was much surprised by the contents of this missive. Indeed, it so completely broke a chain of deep theological speculation that he deserted his study for the street.

Here he met an officer of the church, a man somewhat advanced in years, whom he had come to regard as rather reserved and taciturn in disposition. But in his perplexity he exhibited Mrs. Arnot's letter, and asked an explanation.

”Well,” said the gentleman, uneasily, ”I understand that Mrs. Arnot is dissatisfied, and perhaps she has some reason to be.”

”Upon what grounds?” asked the clergyman hastily.

”Suppose we call upon her,” was the reply. ”I would rather you should hear her reasons from herself; and, in fact, I would be glad to hear them also.”