,,valuable ,,books ,,published ,,by ,g4 ,p4 ,,putnam',s ,,sons1 ,new ,york4 ,i4 ,tent ,life in ,siberia4 ,,adventures ,,among ,,the ,,koraks ,,and ,,other ,,tribes ,,in ,,kamchatka ,,and ,,northern ,,asia4 ,fifth ,edition4 #abmo1 cloth extra #b #jj ,we strongly recommend this book as one of the most entertaining volumes of travel that have appeared for some years4--,london ,athenum4 ,,ii4 ,travels in ,portugal4 ,by ,,john ,,latouche4 ,with ,photographic ,illustrations4 ,octavo1 cloth extra #c #ej ,a delightfully written book1 as fair as it is pleasant4 99 99 99 ,entertaining1 fresh1 and as full of wit as of valuable information4--,london ,spectator4 ,,iii4 ,the ,abode of ,snow4 ,a ,,tour ,,through ,,chinese ,,tibet1 ,,the ,,indian ,,caucasus1 ,,and ,,the ,,upper ,,valleys ,,of ,,the ,,himalaya4 ,by ,,andrew ,,wilson4 ,square octavo1 cloth extra1 with map #b #be ,there is not a page in this volume which will not repay perusal4 99 99 99 ,the author describes all he meets with on his way with inimitable spirit4--,london ,athenum4 ,,iv4 ,the ,life and ,journals of ,john ,j4 ,audubon1 the ,naturalist4 ,comprising ,narratives of his ,expeditions in the ,american ,forests1 c4 #abmo1 cloth extra1 with ,portrait #b #be ,it is a grand story of a grand life2 more instructive than a sermon2 more romantic than a romance4--,harpers' ,magazine4 ,v4 ,notes on ,england and ,italy4 ,by ,mrs4 ,,nathaniel ,,hawthorne 7wife of the ,novelist74 ,third edition4 #abmo1 cloth #b #jj ,illustrated ,edition1 with #ab ,steel ,plates4 ,octavo1 cloth extra1 gilt edges #e #jj ,one of the most delightful books of travel that have come under our notice4--,worcester ,spy4 ,the grace and tenderness of the author of the ',scarlet ,letter' is discernable in its pages4--,london ,saturday ,review4 ,,vi4 ,recollections of a ,tour ,made in ,scotland in #ahjc4 ,by ,,dorothy ,,wordsworth 7,sister of the ,poet74 ,edited by ,,principal ,,shairp1 ,,ll4,d4 #abmo1 cloth extra #b #ej ,the volume glistens with charming passages1 showing how rich in ',wordsworthian' fancy was this modest sister4--,london ,athenum4 ,,vii4 ,bayard ,taylor's ,travel4 ,complete in #aj ,vols4 ,containing works upon ,africa2 ,egypt2 ,iceland2 ,california and ,mexico2 ,greece and ,russia2 ,india1 ,china and ,japan2 ,palestine1 ,asia ,minor1 ,sicily and ,spain2 ,sweden1 ,denmark and ,lapland2 ,europe1 c41 c4 ,per volume #a #ej ,or1 #aa ,volumes1 neatly put up in box #af #ej ,there is no romance to us quite equal to one of ,bayard ,taylor's books of travel4--,hartford ,republican4 ,,putnam',s ,,new ,,catalogue will be forwarded to any address on receipt of stamp4 ,,recent ,,publications ,,of ,g4 ,p4 ,,putnam',s ,,sons4 ,,dodge4 ,,the ,,plains ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,west1 ,,and ,,their ,,inhabitants4 ,a vivid and picturesque description of the ,western plains of the ,american ,continent1 including accounts of the game1 a careful topographical record1 notes of emigration1 c41 c41 and an exhaustive account of the life and habits of the ,indians 7both the reserved and the unreserved71 their customs in fighting1 hunting1 marriage1 death1 clothing1 religious beliefs and rites1 c41 c41 with some suggestions for the treatment of the ,indian question4 ,by ,,richard ,,irving ,,dodge1 ,colonel in the ,u4,s4 ,army4 #a large octavo volume very fully illustrated1 #d4jj ,colonel ,dodge has1 during many years1 held positions of responsibility on the ,western frontier1 and has enjoyed exceptional opportunities for obtaining an intimate knowledge of the life and habits of the ,indians1 and of the features of the great plains in which they live1 and the record of his experiences and observations will be found not only most fascinating reading1 but a trustworthy and authoritative guide on the subjects of which it treats4 ,,van ,,laun4 ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,french ,,literature4 ,by ,,henri ,,van ,,laun1 ,translator of ,taine's ,history of ,english ,literature1 the ,works of ,molire1 etc41 etc4 ,vol4 ,i4--,,from ,,its ,,origin ,,to ,,the ,,renaissance4 ,vol4 ,,ii4--,,from ,,the ,,renaissance ,,to ,,louis ,,xiv4 ,vol4 ,,iii4--,,from ,,louis ,,xiv4 ,,to ,,napoleon ,,iii4 7,in preparation47 #hvo1 cloth extra1 each1 #b4ej4 ,we have to deal with a people essentially spirited and intellectual1 whose spirit and intellect have been invariably the wonder and admiration1 if not the model and mould1 of contemporary thought1 and whose literary triumphs remain to this day among the most notable landmarks of modern literature4 99 99 99 ,extract from ,author's ,preface4 ,,the ,,best ,,reading4 ,a ,,classified ,,bibliography ,,for ,,easy ,,reference4 ,with ,hints on the ,selection of ,books1 the ,formation of ,libraries1 on ,courses of ,reading1 etc4 #aeth ,edition4 ,entirely re-written and brought down to ,august1 #ahgf1 with the addition of priced lists of the best books in ,french1 ,german1 ,spanish and ,italian ,literature4 #hvo1 paper1 #a4be2 cloth1 #a4ge4 ,by far the best work of the kind4--,college ,courant4 ,,the ,,select ,,british ,,essayists4 ,a series planned to consist of half a dozen volumes1 comprising the ,representative ,papers of ,the ,spectator1 ,tatler1 ,guardian1 ,rambler1 ,lounger1 ,mirror1 ,looker-,on1 etc41 etc4 ,edited1 with ,introduction and ,biographical ,sketches of the ,authors1 by ,,john ,,habberton4 ,vol4 ,i4--,,the ,,spectator4 ,by ,,addison and ,,steele4 ,square rmo1 beautifully printed1 and tastefully bound in cloth extra1 #a4be ,this series has been planned to preserve1 and to present in a form at once attractive and economical1 the permanently valuable portions of those standard productions of the ,essayists1 which1 as well for the perfection of their ,english style1 as for the sterling worth of their matter are deservedly perennial4 ,vol4 #b4 ,,sir ,,roger ,,de ,,coverly ,,papers4 ,from ,the ,spectator4 ,one volume1 #afmo1 #a4jj4 ,mr4 ,habberton has given us a truly readable and delightful selection from a series of volumes that ought possibly never to go out of fashion1 but which by the reason of their length and slightly antiquated form there is danger of our overlooking4--,liberal ,christian4 ,illustration3 ,,brother ,,humbletop ,,withdraws4 ,,the ,,scripture ,,club ,,of ,,valley ,,rest ,,or ,,sketches ,,of ,,everybody',s ,,neighbours ,,by ,,the ,,author ,,of ,the ,barton ,experiment1 ,helen's ,babies1 ,etc4 ,,new ,,york ,g4 ,p4 ,,putnam',s ,,sons #ahb ,,fifth ,,avenue4 #ahgg ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,page ,a ,,liberal ,,movement #a ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,some ,,spiritual ,,differences #bj ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,free ,,speech #db ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,a ,,solemn ,,hour ,,completely ,,spoiled #fj ,,chapter ,v4 ,,familiar ,,sounds #gh ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,builder ,,stott ,,saves ,,the ,,faith #ib ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,free ,,speech ,,becomes ,,annoying #aji ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,aftermath #abf ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,insurance #add ,,chapter ,x4 ,a ,,decisive ,,battle #afb ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,conclusion #ahc ,,scripture ,,club4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,a ,,liberal ,,movement4 ,the success of the ,second ,church of ,valley ,rest was too evident to admit of doubt1 and there seemed to be no one who begrudged the infant society its prosperity4 ,most of its members had come to the village from that ,western city known to all its inhabitants as being the livest on the planet1 and they had brought their business wits with them4 ,at first they worshiped with the members of the ,first ,church1 established forty years before1 and with an ,indian or two still among its members2 but it soon became evident to old members and new that no single society could be of sufficient theological elasticity to contain all the worshipers who assembled in the old building4 ,there were differences of opinion1 which1 though courteously expressed1 seemed great enough to claim conscientious convictions for their bases2 so with a ,godspeed as hearty as their welcome had been1 the newer attendants organized a new society4 ,they were strong1 both numerically and financially1 so within a year they had erected and paid for a costly and not hideous church building1 settled a satisfactory pastor1 and organized a ,sunday-school1 three prayer-meetings1 and a sewing society4 ,the activity of the new church became infectious1 and stimulated the whole community to good works2 occasionally one of the other societies would endeavor to return some of the spiritual favors conferred by the ,second ,church1 but so leisurely were the movements of the older organizations that before they could embody a suggestion in an experience the new church would have discerned it afar off and put it into practical operation4 ,it was in the rapid manner alluded to that the ,second ,church came finally by a feature which long and gloriously distinguished it4 ,it was #aa4ej by the church clock one ,sunday morning when ,mrs4 ,buffle1 wife of the great steamboat owner1 who made his home at ,valley ,rest1 noticed her husbands face suddenly illumine as if he had just imagined a model for the best lake packet that ever existed2 it was only #ab4aj1 by the same time-piece1 when about thirty of the solid members of the church1 remaining after service1 gathered in a corner of the otherwise vacant building1 and agreed to ,mr4 ,buffle's proposal that there should be organized a ,bible class especially for adults4 ,when you think of it1 explained the projector1 it really seems as if there'd be no end to its usefulness4 ,i call myself as orthodox a man as you can find in any church1 anywhere1 but there's lots of things in the ,bible that ,i'm not posted on4 ,i suppose it's the same with all of you2 each of you may have thought a great deal on some single subject1 but you're not up in everything--you haven't sat under preachers who talk about everything4 ,there aren't many preachers who dare to preach about everything1 remarked young lawyer ,scott1 who had in marked degree the youthful appetite for the strongest mental food1 and the youthful assumption that whatever can be swallowed is bound to be digested4 ,nor that dares to say what he really believes1 added ,captain ,maile1 who had that peculiar mind1 not unknown in theology and in politics1 which loves a doubt far more dearly than it does a demonstration4 ,preachers are like the rest of us1 said ,mr4 ,buffle2 they haven't time to study everything1 and they have to take a good deal on the say-so of somebody else2 a good many things they may be mistaken about1 but they'd better have some idea on a subject than none at all2 once get a notion into their heads and it'll roll around and make them pay attention to it once in a while4 ,and that's just what we need1 ,i think1 and it's what brought this ,bible class idea into my mind4 ,each of us will express our minds on whatever may be the subject of the day's lesson1 and we'll learn how many ways there are of looking at it4 ,no one of us may change his mind all at once1 but if he gets out of his own rut for an hour in a week1 he'll find it a little wider and no less safer when he drops into it again4 ,and perhaps he may get it so wide that there'll be room enough in it for three or four1 or half-a-dozen ,christians to walk in it side by side1 without kicking each other1 or eyeing each other suspiciously1 suggested ,brother ,radley1 whose golden text always was1 ,it is good for brethren to dwell together in unity4 ,that's it6 exclaimed ,mr4 ,buffle1 his eyes brightening suddenly4 ,that's it6 ,but ,i don't intend to do all the talking1 gentlemen4 ,i suggest that such of us as like the idea sign our names to an agreement to meet every ,sunday for the purpose specified1 and that we immediately afterward proceed to elect a teacher4 ,i don't wish to dampen any honest enthusiasm for ,biblical research2 said ,dr4 ,humbletop1 a genial ex-minister2 but from some remarks which have been made it would seem as if doubt--perhaps honest1 but doubt for all that--were to have more to do than faith with the motive of the proposed association4 ,what we need--what ,i feel to need1 at least1 and what ,i believe is the case with all who are here present--is to be rooted and grounded in the faith which we profess4 ,i would move1 therefore1 that if the class is to be informally organized in the manner proposed by ,brother ,buffle1 that at least the creed of our church be appended to the document to which signatures are to be affixed4 ,mr4 ,chairman1 exclaimed ,mr4 ,alleman 7,principal of the ,valley ,rest ,academy1 and suspected of certain fashionable heresies71 ,i object4 ,in our congregation--here in this small gathering1 in fact--is a large sprinkling of gentlemen who are not members of the church1 and who do not accept our creed1 though they enjoy worshiping with us3 ,brother ,humbletop's resolution1 if put into effect1 would exclude from the proposed teachings the very class of men that we profess to believe are most in need of religious instruction4 ,the churches are so rigid that a thinking man can scarcely gain admission to them without lying1 actually or constructively3 don't let us1 in a class like that proposed1 follow the example of the ,pharisees1 those very flowers of orthodoxy--and 'lay on men's shoulders burdens grievous to be borne4' ,if our religion is what we claim it is1 let us open our gates wide enough to admit every one who is at all interested to study ,god's ways as made known through the scriptures4 ,don't trouble yourself1 said ,captain ,maile1 who was as dyspeptic in body as in mind1 but was also a keen observer of human nature2 ,i don't see but saints need converting as badly as sinners do1 and there's enough of them to keep you busy4 ,we sinners can find a gathering place somewhere else--perhaps the sexton will think the furnace-room the proper place for us--and we'll take ,christian hospitality and great-heartedness as our first subject for discussion4 ,you won't do anything of the kind1 exclaimed ,squire ,woodhouse1 one of the old settlers who had joined himself to the ,second ,church to avoid being tormented about what some of the members of the ,first ,church termed his rationalism4 ,you're going to meet with us1 blow us up all you like1 teach us anything you can1 and make us better in any way you know how to4 ,god ,almighty's kingdom isn't any four-acre lot with a high stone wall and a whole string of warnings to trespassers2 his kingdom takes in all out-doors2 every man alive is his child1 and got a right to come and go in his ,father's house1 even if he don't sit on the same style of chair or creep under the same kind of bedclothes that his brothers do4 ,if he don't like the meat1 or bread1 or dessert that somebody else is eating1 the table's so full of other good things that he can't go hungry unless he insists upon it4 ,there isn't one of you but's got more religion and brains than any of the twelve apostles ever had2 but none of them were ever turned out of the ,bible class1 though one of them1 who was a thief1 was man enough to stay away of his own accord1 and voluntarily go to judgment4 ,churches wouldn't be near so full if all thieves followed ,judas's example1 was the ungracious remark with which ,captain ,maile received this handsome speech2 a hearty laugh took the sting out of the captain's insinuation1 however4 ,meanwhile ,mr4 ,buffle had torn a leaf out of a hymn-book1 scrawled a form of agreement thereupon1 and passed it around for signatures4 ,when the paper reached ,dr4 ,humbletop1 that gentleman said3 ,brethren1 ,i sign this paper in the hope that we shall work together for the honor and glory of ,god2 but ,i distinctly avow and reserve the right to withdraw at any time1 should such time come1 when my conscience forbids me any longer to attend4 ,several others1 among them ,insurance ,president ,lottson and ,mr4 ,stott1 the well-to-do builder1 announced the same reservation1 but no one entirely declined to sign4 ,then ,mr4 ,buffle moved the election of a teacher1 and the choice fell upon ,deacon ,bates1 a man of unabused conscience1 pure life1 extreme orthodoxy1 and an aimless curiosity 7which he mistook for thought7 about things ,biblical and spiritual4 ,then ,mr4 ,buffle arose and said3 ,mr4 ,chairman--,mr4 ,teacher1 ,i mean--time is money in the church as well as in the world4 ,it's only #ab4cj2 ,sunday-school won't be out until #a4cj4 ,i move we select a lesson1 and go right to work4 ,the motion was put and carried1 and in a second ,dr4 ,humbletop was upon his feet4 ,i propose1 said he1 that after the offering of a prayer--an essential which seems to have been overlooked by our brethren so zealous in good works--that we proceed to the consideration of the ,epistle of ,paul to the ,romans4 ,let us sit at the feet of one1 the latchet of whose shoes no other theologian was ever worthy to unloose1 and let us there seek those truths which shall make us wise unto salvation4 ,let us make ourselves fully acquainted with ,god's plan for the redemption of sinful man4 ,i move as a substitute1 said ,mr4 ,alleman1 that we begin with the ,sermon on the ,mount1 and learn from the ,master instead of the servant4 ,the place was a church and the occasion was the study of the ,scriptures4 ,but the attendants were only human and they recognized the conditions necessary to a fight with many indications of satisfaction2 faces lightened up1 eyes rapidly increased in luster1 and lips unconsciously parted in the manner natural to persons who are gradually abandoning themselves to the influence of an impending pleasure4 ,men sitting to the right1 left1 and front of the apparent contestants twisted their necks until their eyes commanded the scene2 while good old ,major ,brayme1 who was rather deaf1 and had got into a corner for his neuralgia's sake1 scented the battle afar off and limped around to a front seat4 ,the question is on the amendment1 said the leader1 unless some brother has still another amendment to offer4 ,nobody spoke2 as ,captain ,maile afterward explained1 'twasn't anybody else's fight4 ,besides1 ,valley ,rest was peopled by the race peculiar to all other portions of this terrestrial ball1 and one of the instincts of that race1 whether savage or civilized1 is that it is far more pleasing to be a spectator than a participant in an altercation4 ,mr4 ,leader1 said ,mr4 ,alleman after a moment of silence1 in support of my amendment ,i wish to say that no one more enthusiastically admires than ,i do the remarkable1 almost unique1 logical ability of the apostle2 but the very reason which prompted him to give forth that wonderful letter to the ,romans is the one which ,i offer in opposition to our studying that same epistle4 ,paul was originally a shrewd man of the world1 and his conversion did not deprive him of his common sense and tact4 ,writing to the church at ,rome--a church whose members1 judging by the ,roman mental constitution1 must have been gained through appeals logical rather than emotional--he met them upon their own ground1 and taught them and grounded them in belief through those faculties in them which were most easily reached1 and which1 more than any others1 would retain the impressions formed upon them4 ,of all that ,paul taught we profess to be convinced2 of what ,christ taught we are not so well informed1 for the reason that it is ,paul1 rather than ,christ1 who is preached from the pulpit4 ,but here we are in a world and a state of society in which1 for righteousness' sake1 we are less helped by logically drawn dogma than by earnest injunction and pure example4 ,we do believe2 what we need is to learn to lead the new life which that belief implies2 we need to have asserted1 explained1 and impressed upon us the simple but comprehensive rules and gracious promises which ,jesus enounced during his life4 ,the ,sermon on the ,mount begins with the ,beatitudes2 which of us really believes in them as we do in ,paul's argument to the ,romans8 ,it continues and concludes with a number of moral injunctions1 all of which we practically reject1 or at least neglect2 yet these bear directly on our daily intercourse with our fellow-men1 and our daily acts of all sorts4 ,why1 ,st4 ,paul himself apparently preached after this same model when he had to talk to men of the world whose intelligence was not confined to a single groove1 for we read that when he preached--talked--to ,felix1 the governor1 he reasoned of righteousness1 temperance1 and the judgment to come4 ,therefore ,i move1 for the good of those here assembled1 and for the glory of ,god1 that this class proceed to the study of the ,sermon on the ,mount4 ,there was a perceptible rustle and an active interchange of winks and head-shakings as ,mr4 ,alleman closed2 but a dead silence was restored as ,dr4 ,humbletop slowly rose to his feet1 cleared his throat1 adjusted his newly-polished glasses1 and raised his voice4 ,my dear friends1 said he1 having been an humble but earnest follower of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ for nearly half a century1 ,i need not on this occasion enter into a defense of myself against any possible insinuation of lack of faith4 ,nor will any one doubt that ,i apprehend the great value of the ,sermon on the ,mount2 some of you will1 perhaps1 recall a series of sermons which ,i preached a few years ago upon the ,beatitudes4 ,but ,jesus ,christ was not merely a moral teacher2 his great work was to redeem the world from death by offering himself as a propitiation for their sins1 and submitting himself unto death1 even the shameful death of the cross4 ,his teachings were great1 he spake as man never spake before1 but all this is as naught compared with the great work which he finished upon ,calvary4 ,it is this that we need to study2 it is for this we should love and adore him4 ',god so loved the world1 that he gave his only-begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish1 but have eternal life4' ,i should like to ask ,brother ,humbletop if personal salvation is the highest motive with which we should study the ,bible8 said ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,it was evident that the question was a poser to the good doctor2 the very convexity and luster of his glasses served only to make his eyes stare more aimlessly at nothing for a moment or two4 ,he recovered himself1 however1 and replied3 ,god1 in his generosity1 and doubtless in view of the needs of sinful humanity1 has ordered that the salvation of mankind should have been the principal object of ,christs coming upon earth2 ,i am not here to criticise my ,maker4 ,and you know that no one else is1 remarked ,mr4 ,alleman1 with not inexcusable acerbity4 ,question6 exclaimed several voices4 ,the leader put the question1 and the amendment of ,mr4 ,alleman was adopted by a considerable majority4 ,again ,dr4 ,humbletop got upon his feet4 ,my dear friends1 said he1 ,i regret at this early hour to part from an association from which ,i had fondly hoped to derive spiritual benefit1 but my sense of duty impels me to take such a step2 the vote of the class seems to indicate an estimate of ,christ to which ,i should never dare to commit myself--an estimate against which ,i must always protest4 ,personally1 ,i hold you all in high esteem2 you shall always be remembered by me at the throne of grace1 but upon the prime essential of ,christian fraternity we seem hopelessly at variance4 ,in one way ,i doubt not that your deliberations will tend toward good1 but that way is not the best way1 and ,i must therefore regret it4 ,i shall consider it my duty to take steps toward the organization of a class upon what ,i conceive to be a ,christian basis1 and in that class ,i shall always be ready to heartily welcome any of you4 ,salvation through the atonement of ,christ is the central truth of the ,bible2 a body of students who examine the ,word from any other standpoint may be perfectly sincere and in earnest1 and they may constitute what may without unkind meaning be called a ,scripture ,club1 but they can never claim to be regarded as a ,bible class1 in the proper acceptation of the term4 ,the doctor gathered his cloak1 hat1 and cane1 and retired with a graceful but dignified bow2 the class rose to its feet in some confusion1 and ,squire ,woodhouse exclaimed3 ,scripture ,club1 eh8 ,well1 its a good name4 ,that's so1 said ,mr4 ,alleman2 let's adopt it1 and show the blessed old man that names can't change natures4 ,a general assent was sounded2 not so noisy a one1 perhaps1 as that with which the ,dutch patriots of three hundred years ago accepted the designation of ,beggars1 cast at them by ,spain1 and destined to recoil upon those who bestowed it2 but the acclamation was nevertheless more earnest and demonstrative than is common in churches1 and it was perhaps well that in the midst of it the dismissal of the ,sunday-school compelled parents who were members of the ,club to hurry out in search of their children4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,some ,,spiritual ,,differences4 ,the next meeting of the ,scripture ,club of ,valley ,rest was impatiently looked forward to by all the club members4 ,although there were at that time plenty of political theories to quarrel over1 two or three fine projects for new lines of lake navigation1 and at least a dozen for making of the neighboring city the greatest ,western rival to ,new ,york1 conversation on these subjects was only fitful on the boats which carried the business men of ,valley ,rest between their homes and the city4 ,before the second ,sunday of the existence of the class1 each member had in mind at least one religious topic upon which he wanted full1 exhaustive1 and decisive discussion2 he also in his innermost heart1 and sometimes on his lips1 had the settled conviction that he was just the man to speak the decisive word1 and thus readjust human thought to the newly-discovered requirements of eternal truth4 ,nor was excitement on religious topics confined to the members of the club4 ,not a day of the week passed without bringing to ,deacon ,bates a new candidate for admission4 ,first came ,mr4 ,hopper1 who took enthusiastic delight in whatever was new1 whether in religion1 politics1 medical theories1 or popular smoking tobaccos4 ,as ,mr4 ,hopper was a rich man1 good ,deacon ,bates hastily assured him that the class would be delighted to have him as a member1 and ,mr4 ,hopper graciously responded by offering to read at the very first meeting a seventeen-page paper1 from a very heavy but comparatively new quarterly1 on ,the ,true ,location of the ,holy ,sepulchre4 ,then came ,mr4 ,jodderel1 who had once defrayed the entire cost of producing a bulky pamphlet1 the motive of which was the probable final settlement of all departed spirits1 in renewed bodies1 on some one of the terrestrial globes which he believed had been in preparation from the foundation of the world4 ,mr4 ,jodderel more than hinted that he would like to see considerable attention given to this topic in the new class1 and though good ,leader ,bates trembled at the thought1 having heard the same subject discussed in season and out of season ever since ,mr4 ,jodderel had made the coming peerless city of the ,west his place of business1 he was true to the sentiment which had led to the formation of the class1 and therefore gave ,mr4 ,jodderel a hearty fraternal welcome4 ,then1 like ,nicodemus1 there came by night1 and from fear of the orthodox1 ,brother ,prymm1 to whom the slightest letter of the law was of more importance than the whole of the spirit thereof4 ,he had made the matter of joining the class a subject of special prayer1 he said1 and had made up his mind that if it were really the intention of the members to encourage free speech and honestly search for the actual truth regarding the will of ,god1 it was his duty to join the class1 and serve his blessed ,master to the extent of his poor abilities4 ,mr4 ,maddle came next1 and ,leader ,bates' heart gladdened to receive him1 for ,mr4 ,maddle was one of the most successful organizers in the ,state2 he had planned and executed at least two remarkably successful campaigns in the local political field1 and had reorganized1 out of nothing1 more than one shapeless business enterprise so admirably that the backers thereof could not learn what they had expended1 nor could the creditors discern what they themselves had received4 ,with such a man behind him1 ,leader ,bates rose superior to his own fears of the possible disintegration which the diversity of views of his fellow-members had seemed to make possible4 ,and then1 as if providentially sent to give the class the impress and protection of the highest order of mentality1 came ,dr4 ,fahrenglohz1 ,ph4,d41 ,gttingen1 who had additional repute as being a good physician and a man who always paid his bills4 ,all these were present at the opening hour of the next meeting1 and with them came several people of the class which yields capital listeners1 and proves the wondrous capacity of the human mind for absorbing information without ever being moved to lend any of it again to others4 ,the meeting was opened with prayer4 ,deacon ,bates remarked prefatorily that such would be the proper thing in a class composed of adults1 and then he looked around hesitatingly for the proper man to make the first formal committal of the class into the hands of the ,lord2 but ,squire ,woodhouse saved him the trouble by springing to his feet and volunteering to ,heaven an address so concise that there remained nothing unsaid4 ,then ,bibles were distributed1 and opened at the fifth chapter of ,matthew's ,gospel1 and every one looked unspeakably profound1 though ,mr4 ,hopper had the presence of mind to place his hand beneath his coat-tails and take hold of the review containing the paper on ,the ,true ,location of the ,holy ,sepulchre1 so as to be ready in case occasion offered4 ,let us begin with the beatitudes1 said the leader4 ',blessed are the poor in spirit1 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven4' ,by the way1 ,i would suggest that each member speaks in the order of his sitting4 ,mr4 ,lottson1 continued ,deacon ,bates1 addressing the insurance president1 whom do you suppose ,jesus referred to as 'the poor in spirit'8 ,before answering that question1 said ,mr4 ,lottson1 ,i think attention should be called to a passage in the opening of the chapter4 ,it is said that ',when he was set1 his disciples came unto him4 ,and he opened his mouth and taught them1 saying1' etc4 ,now1 before we try to understand this beautiful succession of blessings1 we should realize whom they were spoken to--to the disciples1 who had left all and followed him1 and therefore to a set of men to whom he could say things which it would be nonsensical for him to say to the common people and business men around him4 ,the disciples were out of business1 and lived on their friends--it was right enough for them to do so under the circumstances1 but for this very reason ,jesus told them the things which nobody else could understand4 ,this sermon was preached to self-forgetting preachers1 not to men who had to make their living and take the world as they found it2 and ,i suppose the first beatitude meant to them just what it said4 ,they were poor in spirit--any man has to be1 if he be willing to go around without a cent in his pocket--but to pay them for it he gave them the kingdom of heaven1 that is1 the church of which ,christ is prophet1 priest1 and king4 ,it's the greatest charge in the world2 all business enterprises are nothing in comparison with it2 but ,jesus showed his divine nature by giving them this1 for while they managed it splendidly1 it's the only great affair in the world that a lot of poor-spirited men could manage without running it into the ground4 ,that depends upon what 'poor in spirit' means1 remarked ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,president ,lottson seems to think it's the same thing as mean-spirited1 but if it is1 ,i can tell him that there's more money for that kind of chaps in other businesses4 ,now ,i'm a farmer--my principal crop is hay1 and when my barn burned down last winter with eleven tons loose and forty odd tons pressed1 and ,i went to the insur---- ,the members will please speak as called upon1 said the leader1 whose watchful ear imagined it detected a personality in the immediate future of the ,squire's address4 ,squire ,woodhouse subsided after a soft whisper to his right-hand neighbor1 which caused that gentleman to notice that ,president ,lottson's face was flushing a little1 and his lips touching each other more firmly than usual4 ,it seems to me1 said ,mr4 ,radley1 who was next called upon1 that the passage means just what it says4 ,the kingdom of heaven means the place we all hope to get to some day1 and the poor in spirit are the people who aren't touchy and don't put on airs ,christ was a man of this kind himself1 and he knew by experience what he was talking about4 ,then how did he come to call a lot of good church members vipers8 demanded ,squire ,woodhouse1 before the leader could bring him to order4 ,because they were vipers1 answered ,mr4 ,radley4 ,being poor in spirit--humble--doesn't need to keep anybody from telling the truth4 ,it's your high-spirited chaps that do most of the lying in the world--they do in business circles anyway4 ,next1 said ,deacon ,bates1 and ,captain ,maile lifted up his voice4 ,judging by the notions most people have of the kingdom of heaven1 said he1 ,i don't think anybody but poor-spirited people can ever want to go there4 ,next in order came ,mr4 ,jodderel1 and1 as he afterward told his wife1 he breathed a small thank-offering to ,heaven for preparing so perfect an occasion for the presentation of his own theological pet4 ,i don't wonder1 he said1 that my military friend turns up his nose at the home-made heaven of most people1 but ,i want him to understand that it was no such place that the ,lord was talking about4 ,what did he mean when he said1 ',come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world'8 ,what sensible man imagines that the kingdom he spoke of meant any such place as ,christians talk about1 or even the place where the ,lord himself is8 ,it can't be the latter1 for that wasn't prepared from the foundation of the world2 it existed long before1 and didn't need any preparation4 ,if he prepared the kingdom from the foundation of the world1 and made the sun1 moon1 and stars when he founded the world--a fact which ,i fully and implicitly believe because it is recorded in the inspired ,word--the kingdom must be in some other sphere4 ,and if1 as astronomers say1 and ,i have no reason to doubt1 these spheres are worlds1 a great deal like ours1 we will have material bodies when we go to them4 ,and poor spirits8 queried the insurance president4 ,yes6 exclaimed ,mr4 ,jodderel fearlessly4 ,we can't go there without first dying here1 and ,i never yet saw a man on his death-bed who thought a high spirit1 or what men call a high spirit1 had ever done him any good4 ,president ,lottson tried to swallow a sigh which was a little too quick for him2 he had once or twice imagined himself on his own death-bed1 and had gained thereon some practical intimations which he had made haste to forget when he got back to business4 ,mr4 ,prymm1 who sat next to ,mr4 ,jodderel1 cleared his throat and said3 ,i think we owe ,mr4 ,lottson our thanks for calling our attention to an important fact which has escaped general notice4 ,the sermon was undoubtedly preached to the disciples1 and should be considered accordingly2 a great many mistakes of interpretation are doubtless due to the habit of ,christians in taking to themselves every saying of the ,lord and his prophets4 ,i confess that the view advanced is so new a one to me that ,i am unable at present to express any opinion upon it1 but ,i derive already this benefit from it--,i learn anew how necessary it is to pay close attention to the letter of the ,word4 ,then1 said young ,mr4 ,waggett1 who sat next ,mr4 ,prymm1 and who was principally remarkable for undeviating devotion to ,number ,one1 then the passage has nothing to do with the great affair of the salvation of our own souls4 ,supposing it hasn't1 said ,squire ,woodhouse1 in spite of the warning glance of the leader1 ,sunday isn't a business day1 and if we want to talk about some of our best friends then there's no harm in doing so1 nor any time wasted either4 ,brother ,scott1 said ,deacon ,bates4 ,the young lawyer1 who had been exerting over himself a degree of control that was simply terrible1 considering his temptations to interruption1 said3 ,may it please the class3 ,there are some evident misunderstandings abroad4 ,mr4 ,lottson's position is untenable1 as the context of the same sermon proves2 no examination1 according to the rules of evidence1 can fail to prove that the sermon was addressed to the whole people4 ,the passage cannot mean literally what it says1 as ,mr4 ,radley thinks1 because literally it is illogical1 and had such been its intention it could never have been accepted by that consistent apologist for the integrity of the ,scriptures1 the ,apostle ,paul1 whose mind was so marvelously under control of the legal instinct4 ,captain ,maile's assumption as to the general idea of heaven is utterly without support from fact2 for poverty of spirit is not the prevailing characteristic of those whose opinions of heaven are verbally made manifest4 ,as for ,mr4 ,jodderel's proposition1 it involves the literal accuracy of the ,book of ,genesis1 which many orthodox ,christians are unprepared to admit4 ,mr4 ,prymm's notion that the sayings of ,jesus may be wrongly taken by individuals1 as applying to themselves1 is not in accordance with logical deductions from other portions of ,holy ,writ4 ,and how can ,mr4 ,waggett sustain his position that there is any eternal truth that is not necessary to salvation8 ,a soft chorus of long-drawn breaths followed the delivery of this speech1 and then ,squire ,woodhouse said3 ,well1 now that you've knocked all the rest down1 what are you going to do yourself8 ,that1 replied ,lawyer ,scott1 evidently pleased by the compliment but puzzled by the question1 cannot be answered as easily as it is asked1 and ,i must beg the gentleman's indulgence until ,i have time to prepare my case4 ,mr4 ,buffle1 founder of the class1 was next in order1 and admitted that he could not see that ,jesus1 being a clear-headed man1 could ever have meant anything but what he said4 ,he1 ,mr4 ,buffle1 always said what he meant1 no matter whether he was talking to preachers1 shippers1 or the deck-hands on his own boats2 he had found that if a man said exactly what he meant1 the stupidest of people could understand him1 while smarter people needed no more4 ,he would consider himself a fool if he talked over the head of any one who was listening to him1 and of course ,jesus couldn't have been foolish4 ,he was very glad1 though1 to listen to the many different views that had been advanced on the subject2 they proved just what he had always believed1 that men would learn more about a thing by hearing all sides of it than he could from the smartest talker alive who knew only one side4 ,he liked the liberality of the members of the class2 it was what he called liberality1 to listen to various views courteously1 even if you couldn't accept them all or make them agree4 ,the question had now reached ,dr4 ,fahrenglohz1 and the members1 both liberal and narrow1 prepared for something terrible4 ,they knew1 in general1 that he believed nothing that they themselves did2 how then could his own ideas be anything but dreadful8 ,the doctor looked mildly from behind his very convex glasses1 and said3 ,jesus was a mystic4 ,from the spiritual plane on which he lived it was impossible for him to descend4 ,he could say only that which he believed4 ,pure-minded and wholly regardless of ordinary earthly interests1 he could not be a utilitarian1 in the vulgar acceptation of the word4 ,what thought he1 what thinks any philosopher1 of how his theories may affect the world8 ,it is his duty to discover the truth1 help or hinder whomsoever it may1 and to speak it as he understands it1 not in such fragments as other people may comprehend it4 ,what did ,buddha and ,brahma8 ,they spoke1 they gave forth that which originated with them4 ,and what did it all amount to8 asked ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,business don't amount to a row of pins among their followers1 according to the ,missionary ,herald1 and virtue is worse off yet4 ,the doctor smiled condescendingly4 ',he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear' as your prophet says4 ,is virtue and good business always to be found with those who sit under the words of ,jesus8 ,n-no1 said the ,squire1 and that's just what we're driving at4 ,if the words are understood--and followed--men can't help being good and successful4 ,and so there is all the more need of careful1 prayerful study of the words1 remarked ,mr4 ,prymm4 ,there was general disappointment1 among those who had yet to speak1 at the lack of any startling heresy in the doctor's utterances4 ,builder ,stott in particular had felt that he might have an opportunity of defending the faith which he so unhesitatingly accepted1 at no matter what intellectual difficulties1 by abusing some heterodox utterance of the doctor2 but the doctors statements had seemed to him to resemble either a sphere--and a hollow one--from which all projectiles would glance harmlessly1 or mere thin air1 in which there was nothing to aim at4 ,so he could do nothing but assert his own orthodoxy4 ,i believe everything that ,jesus said was meant just as it was spoken1 said he2 whether what we call common sense has got anything to do with it or not1 is none of our business4 ,of course we can't live up to it all--we're born in sin and shapen in iniquity2 our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked--but what we can't do1 he did for us1 by dying on the cross4 ,we can never act according to his teachings--we'd go to the poor-house or into our coffins as soon as we attempted it4 ,if we could do it1 there wouldn't have been any need of an atonement4 ,then the atonement is an excuse for rascality1 is it8 asked ,captain ,maile4 ,the ,captain's own house had been erected by ,builder ,stott1 and many had been his complaints of features which had proved not in accordance with the spirit of the contract4 ,leader ,bates felt extremely uncomfortable2 he never had liked personalities1 and hated them all the worse when they interfered with that heavenly feeling which was to him the principal object of all religious meetings4 ,he made haste to call upon ,mr4 ,alleman1 and that gentleman replied3 ,mr4 ,leader1 there can be no doubt that this passage was spoken to living men1 about living interests1 and that it not only can be lived up to by the exercise of such qualities as men already have1 but that it must be treated and respected as truth if men do not wish the disgrace and penalties of hypocrisy4 ,of what consequence is it to true righteousness if men will or will not reconcile scriptural injunctions with business desires8 ,bring business up to truth1 not truth down to business1 is the earthly application of ,christ's teachings4 ,that1 said ,builder ,stott1 may be all right in running a first-class academy1 but you can't run the building business on any such basis4 ,the hour for dismission was reached at that instant1 with ,mr4 ,hopper still nervously shaking the coat-tail pocket which contained the review with the article on the ,true ,location of the ,holy ,sepulchre4 ,two or three of the members departed1 but the greater number stood about and discussed the discussion4 ,well1 everybody had a chance to speak his mind1 said ,mr4 ,president ,lottson4 ,that's so1 said ,mr4 ,buffle1 founder of the class1 rubbing his hands enthusiastically4 ,nobody was afraid of his neighbor's opinions4 ,there seemed a general disposition to view the subject from all points1 remarked ,mr4 ,prymm4 ,not much regard paid to evidence1 said young ,lawyer ,scott1 but still an evident willingness to open the case fairly4 ,there was not a proper interest displayed in the future location of the soul1 complained ,mr4 ,jodderel2 still the members acted like good listeners4 ,there was a little too much talking back1 said ,mr4 ,radley2 men should be more careful about treading on each other's corns4 ,but there was a real1 liberal spirit shown throughout1 and that's what religious societies need4 ,men shouldn't have corns1 if they don't want them trodden on1 said ,captain ,maile4 ,i won't complain1 though--,i never saw so little narrowness in so large a religious gathering4 ,i take great delight in recalling the conference we have had1 said ,dr4 ,fahrenglohz4 ,i supposed1 when ,i heard of this association1 that it would not bear the test of differences of opinions1 but ,i am grateful for the respect shown to me1 and pleased at the courtesy displayed toward others4 ,squire ,woodhouse waited until ,mr4 ,alleman disappeared1 and then burst into a small group exclaiming3 ,now1 ,i like ,alleman first rate--all of my children go to his academy--but ,i do wonder whether he could run a farm with those notions of his8 ,i'm glad the class listened respectfully1 though--it showed that nobody was afraid that a little liberality would hurt any one4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,free ,,speech4 ,the members of the ,scripture ,club did not put off their holy interest with their ,sunday garments1 as people of the world do with most things religious4 ,when the little steamboat ,oakleaf started on her ,monday morning trip for the city1 the members of the ,scripture ,club might be identified by their neglect of the morning papers and their tendency to gather in small knots and engage in earnest conversation4 ,in a corner behind the paddle-box1 securely screened from wind and sun1 sat ,mr4 ,jodderel and ,mr4 ,prymm1 the latter adoring with much solemn verbosity the sacred word1 and the former piling text upon text to demonstrate the final removal of all the righteous to a new state of material existence in a better ordered planet4 ,in the one rocking-chair of the cabin sat insurance ,president ,lottson1 praising to ,mr4 ,hopper1 who leaned obsequiously upon the back of the chair and occasionally hopped vivaciously around it1 the self-disregard of the disciples1 and the evident inability of anyone within sight to follow their example4 ,the prudent ,waggett was interviewing ,dr4 ,fahrenglotz1 who was going to attend the meeting of a sort of ,theosophic ,society1 composed almost entirely of ,germans1 and was endeavoring to learn what points there might be in the ,doctor's belief which would make a man wiser unto salvation1 while ,captain ,maile stood by1 a critical listener1 and distributed pitying glances between the two4 ,well forward1 but to the rear of the general crowd1 stood ,deacon ,bates in an attitude which might have seemed conservative were it not manifestly helpless1 ,mr4 ,buffle with the smile peculiar to the successful business man1 ,lawyer ,scott1 with the air of a man who had so much to say that time could not possibly suffice in which to tell it all1 ,squire ,woodhouse1 who was in search of a good market for hay1 ,principal ,alleman1 who was in chase of an overdue shipment of text-books1 and ,mr4 ,radley1 who with indifferent success was filling the self-assigned roll of moderator of the little assemblage4 ,nothing settled by the meeting8 said ,mr4 ,buffle1 echoing a despondent suggestion by ,deacon ,bates4 ,of course not4 ,you don't suppose that what theologians have been squabbling over for two thousand years can be settled in a day1 do you8 ,we made a beginning and that's a good half of anything4 ,why1 ,i and every other man that builds boats have been hard at work for years1 looking for the best model1 and we haven't settled the question yet4 ,we're in earnest about it--we can't help but be1 for there's money in it1 and while we're waiting we do the next best thing--we use the best ones we know about4 ,don't you think you'd get at the model sooner1 if some of you weren't pig-headed about your own1 and too fond of abusing each other's8 asked ,mr4 ,radley4 ,certainly1 admitted ,mr4 ,buffle1 and that's why ,i wanted us to get up a ,bible-class like the one we have4 ,if everybody will try to see what's good in his neighbors theories and what's bad in his own1 his fortune--his religion1 ,i mean--is a sure thing4 ,fiddling on one string always makes a thin sort of a tune4 ,there were a good many small tunes begun yesterday1 then1 observed ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,well1 said ,mr4 ,buffle1 ,i thought something of the kind1 myself1 but a man can't break an old habit to pieces all at once4 ,things will be different before long1 though4 ,there is no reason why they shouldn't1 said ,principal ,alleman1 excepting one reason that's stronger than any other4 ,you can't get to the bottom of any of the sayings of ,christ1 the ,prophets or the ,apostles without finding that they mean1 ,do ,right4 ,and when you reach that point1 what is in the man and not what is in the book comes into play1 or1 rather1 it always should but seldom does4 ,i suppose that's so1 said ,mr4 ,buffle1 soberly4 ,in and of ourselves we can do nothing1 remarked ,deacon ,bates4 ,it's very odd1 then1 that we should have been told to do so much1 replied ,principal ,alleman4 ,it was to teach us our dependence upon a higher power1 said ,deacon ,bates1 with more than his usual energy4 ,are we only to be taught1 and never to learn1 then8 asked ,principal ,alleman4 ,some of my pupils seem to think so1 but those who depend least upon the teacher and act most fully up to what they have been taught are the ones ,i call my best scholars4 ,deacon ,bates's lower lip pushed up its neighbor2 in the school-room1 the ,principal's theory might apply1 but in religion it was different1 or he 7,deacon ,bates7 had always been mistaken1 and this possibility was not to be thought of for an instant4 ,fortunately for his peace of mind1 the boat touched her city dock just then1 and from that hour until five in the afternoon1 when he left his store for the boat1 religious theories absented themselves entirely from ,deacon ,bates's mind4 ,the last meeting of the class was still the most popular subject of conversation among the members1 however1 and interest of such a degree could not help be contagious4 ,other residents of ,valley ,rest1 overhearing some of the chats between the members1 expressed a desire to listen to the discussions of the class1 and to all was extended a hearty welcome1 without regard to race1 color1 or previous condition of religious servitude1 and all were invited to be doers as well as hearers4 ,so at the next session appeared ex-,judge ,cottaway1 who had written a book and was a vestryman of ,st4 ,amos ,parish1 ,broker ,whilcher1 who worshipped with the ,unitarians but found them rather narrow1 and ,broker ,whilcher's bookkeeper1 who read ,herbert ,spencer1 and could not tell what he himself believed1 even if to escape the penalty of death4 ,various motives brought men from other churches1 including even one from ,father ,mc,garry's flock1 and all of them were assured that they might say whatever they chose1 provided only that they believed it4 ,shall we continue our consideration of last ,sunday's lesson8 asked ,deacon ,bates1 after the opening prayer had been offered4 ,we have some new members1 and should therefore have some additional views to consider4 ,let's hear everybody1 said ,captain ,maile4 ,if we talk as long about this verse as we'll have to talk before we reach any agreement1 we'll all die before we can reach the square up-and-down verses that are further along in this same sermon4 ,if the class has no objection to offer1 we will continue our study of the third verse of the fifth chapter of ,matthew1 and those who spoke on last ,sunday will allow the newer members and others an opportunity to make their views known4 ,as ,deacon ,bates spoke1 his eye rested warningly on ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,i think1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel1 that the new members ought to know what ideas have already been presented1 so as to throw any new light upon them1 if they can4 ,the nature of the kingdom of heaven1 now1 is the most important question suggested by the lesson1 and---- ,it won't be of the slightest consequence to anyone1 interrupted ,principal ,alleman1 unless they first comply with the condition which the verse imposes upon those who want to reach the kingdom4 ,i wouldn't be too sure of that1 remarked ,president ,lottson1 while ,jesus said that the poor in spirit should have the kingdom of heaven1 ,he didn't say that no one else should share it with them4 ,what is written doesn't always express all that is meant4 ,it doesn't in insurance policies1 anyhow1 said ,squire ,woodhouse1 when my barn burned---- ,time is precious1 my brethren1 said ,deacon ,bates hastily1 scenting a personality1 ,i will therefore ask ,judge ,cottaway for his opinion of the passage4 ,i think1 said the ,judge1 with that impressive cough which is the rightful indulgence of a man who has written a volume on the rules of evidence1 that 'poor in spirit' undoubtedly means unassuming1 rightly satisfied with what is their due1 mindful of the fact that human nature is so imperfect that whatever a man obtains is probably more than he deserves4 ,they can not be the meek1 for special allusion is made to the meek in this same group of specially designated persons4 ,neither can it refer to people who are usually called poor-spirited persons1 to wit1 those who are too devoid of what is commonly designated as spirit1 for these are properly classified as peace-makers1 and have a similar though not identical blessing promised to them4 ,the class owes its thanks to the ,judge for his clear definition of the term 'poor in spirit1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel1 and if he can be equally distinct upon the expression 'kingdom of heaven' he will put an end to a great deal of senseless blundering4 ,i know of but one definition1 said the ,judge1 heaven is the abode of ,god and the angels1 and of those who are finally saved4 ,ah1 but where is it8 that's the question this class wants answered1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel1 twisting his body and craning his head forward as he awaited the answer4 ,really1 said the ,judge1 you must excuse me4 ,i don't know where it is1 and ,i can't see that study as to its locality can throw any light upon the lesson4 ,this opinion1 delivered by an ex-,judge1 who had written a book on rules of evidence1 would have quieted almost anyone else1 and the members' faces expressed a sense of relief as they thought that ,mr4 ,jodderel also would be quieted4 ,but ,mr4 ,jodderel was not one of the faint-hearted1 and in his opinion faint-heartedness and quietness were one and the same thing4 ,no light upon the lesson8 echoed ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,why1 what is the ,bible for1 if not to inform us of our destiny8 ,what is this world but a place of preparation for another8 ,and how can we prepare ourselves unless we know what our future place and duty is to be8 ,next6 exclaimed ,deacon ,bates with more than his usual energy1 and ,mr4 ,jodderel sank back into his chair and talked angrily with every feature but his mouth1 and with his whole body besides4 ,mr4 ,whilcher has some new ideas to present1 no doubt1 continued the leader1 bracing himself somewhat firmly in his chair1 for the ,deacon naturally expected an assault from a man of ,mr4 ,whilcher's peculiar views4 ,poverty of spirit seems to me to be old ,english for modesty1 said ,mr4 ,whilcher1 ,we know very little1 comparatively1 of the great designs of ,god1 and about as little of the intentions of our fellow-men1 so we should be very careful how we question our maker or criticise our neighbors4 ,no human being would appreciate divine perfection if he saw it2 no man can give his fellow-men full credit for what they would do1 if they were angels1 and are sorry because they can't do4 ,i think the passage means that only by that modesty1 that self-repression1 by which alone a man can accept the inevitable as decreed by ,god1 and forbear that fault-finding which comes fully as easy as breathing1 can a man be fitted for the companionship of the loving company which awaits us all in the next world4 ,whereabouts8 asked ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,half-a-dozen members filibustered at once1 and ,mr4 ,jodderel was temporarily suppressed1 after which ,squire ,woodhouse remarked3 ,well1 now1 that sounds first rate--,i never knew before that ,unitarians had such good religion in them--no harm meant1 you know1 ,whilcher4 ,now let us hear from ,mr4 ,bungfloat1 said ,deacon ,bates4 ,mr4 ,bungfloat1 bookkeeper to ,mr4 ,whilcher1 hopelessly explored his memory for something from ,herbert ,spencer that would bear upon the subject1 but finding nothing at hand1 he quoted some expressions from ,john ,stuart ,mills' essay on ,nature1 and was hopelessly demoralized when he realized that they did not bear in the remotest manner upon the topic under consideration4 ,then ,deacon ,bates announced that the subject was open for general remark and comment4 ,mr4 ,jodderel was upon his feet in an instant1 though the class has no rule compelling the members to rise while speaking4 ,mr4 ,leader1 said he1 everybody has spoken1 but nobody has settled the main question1 which is1 where is the 'kingdom of heaven8' ,everybody knows who the poor in spirit are2 any one who didn't know when we began has now a lot of first class opinions to choose from4 ,but where and what is heaven--that is what we want to know4 ,a subdued but general groan indicated the possibility that ,mr4 ,jodderel was mistaken as to the desires of the class4 ,meanwhile1 young ,mr4 ,banty1 who had been to ,europe1 and listened to much theological debate in cafs and beer-gardens1 remarked4 ,i'm not a member of this respected body1 but ,i seem to be included in the chairman's invitation4 ,i profess to be a man of the world--,i've been around a good deal--and ,i never could see that the poor in spirit amounted to a row of pins4 ,if they're fit for heaven they ought to be fit for something on this side of that undiscovered locality4 ,discovered millions upon millions of times1 bless the ,lord1 interrupted ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,well1 the discoverers sent no word back1 at any rate1 said young ,mr4 ,banty1 so there's one view which ,i think ought to be considered2 isn't it possible that ,jesus was mistaken8 ,mr4 ,prymm turned pale and ,deacon ,bates shivered violently1 while a low hum and a general shaking of heads showed the unpopularity of young ,mr4 ,banty's idea4 ,the class cannot entertain such a theory for an instant1 answered ,deacon ,bates1 as soon as he could recover his breath1 though it encourages the freest expression of opinion4 ,oh6 remarked ,mr4 ,banty1 with a derisive smile4 ,the tone in which this interjection was delivered put the class upon its spirit at once4 ,our leader means exactly what he says1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel2 any honest expression of opinion is welcome here4 ,if such were not the case1 said ,mr4 ,prymm1 a rival class would not have been formed4 ,and none of us would have learned how many sides there are to a great question1 said ,mr4 ,buffle4 ,larger liberty wouldn't be possible1 said ,builder ,stott4 ,why1 ,i've just had to shudder once in awhile1 but the speakers meant what they said1 and ,i rejoiced that there was somewhere where they could say it4 ,i've said everything ,i've wanted to1 remarked ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,that's so1 exclaimed insurance ,president ,lottson4 ,i havn't seen any man put down1 testified ,captain ,maile1 and ,i don't yet understand what to make of it4 ,nobody could ask a fairer show1 declared ,mr4 ,radley4 ,the utmost courtesy has been displayed toward me1 said ,dr4 ,fahrenglotz1 although ,i am conscious my views are somewhat at variance with those of others4 ,the nature of proof has not been as clearly understood as it should have been1 said young ,lawyer ,scott2 but no one has lacked opportunity to express his sentiments4 ,so far from fault being found with the freedom of speech1 said ,mr4 ,alleman1 the sentiment of the class is1 ,i think1 that the expression of additional individual impressions would have been cordially welcomed1 as they will also hereafter be4 ,young ,mr4 ,banty felt himself to be utterly annihilated1 and the pillars of the class looked more stable and enduring than ever1 and felt greatly relieved when the session ended1 and they could congratulate each other on the glorious spirit of liberty which had marked their collective deliberations4 ,and when ,squire ,woodhouse dashed impetuously from the room1 and returned to report that ,dr4 ,humbletop's class consisted of one solitary pupil1 several of the members unconsciously indulged in some hearty hand-shaking4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,a ,,solemn ,,hour ,,completely ,,spoiled4 ,the ,scripture ,club of ,valley ,rest1 on the fourth day of its assembling1 found itself a fixed and famous institution4 ,some of the members had at first regretted that no one of the smaller rooms in the church edifice was unoccupied at the hour of session2 but this regret was soon abandoned1 for the reason that neither the pastors study nor the regular ,bible class-room1 had either been available at the noon-day hour1 would have been large enough to accommodate the class and its visitors4 ,the main audience-room was the only one which was adequate to the requirements of the class4 ,when the benediction was pronounced after the morning sermon1 a large portion of the congregation remained1 and1 instead of chatting leisurely with the occupants of neighboring pews and preventing the exit of unsociable people1 they hurried to the seats nearest the corner occupied by the class4 ,even then1 those who came last were occasionally compelled to exclaim ,louder6 for the attendants of the ,second ,church did not compose the entire body of hearers4 ,members of the five other churches in the town1 though loath to depart from their denominational associations and pride so far as to worship elsewhere1 were not only without scruples against listening to an informal body like the ,scripture ,club1 but hurried from their own places of worship to the ,second ,church1 and some of them were suspected even of staying away from their own services in order to reach the ,scripture ,club in time to secure good seats4 ,the effect of all this upon the ,club was stimulating in high degree4 ,its first effect was to decrease whatever tendency to personality existed2 whatever might be the week-day opinions of the members about each other1 on ,sunday every one tacitly agreed to the application of the ,satanic rule that religion is religion1 and business is business4 ,some special effort was necessary to bring ,squire ,woodhouse to forget1 for an hour in the week1 his burned barn and the action of ,president ,lottson's insurance company2 but finally the ,squire's pride closed his lips upon this tender subject4 ,members1 who before had possessed no religious ideas excepting those they had adopted at second-hand1 now began to think for themselves1 and being men of natural wits well sharpened by business experience1 they speedily developed theories of their own1 and strengthened their own pet positions4 ,the few religious books of reference in the village library--many of them having once been gladly given to the library by the very men who now sought them--were in demand at early morn and dewy eve1 pastors' libraries were ransacked1 and some members even consulted booksellers1 and purchased works bearing upon their own special lines of thought and belief4 ,respect for the ideas of others did not necessarily imply assent1 so discussion was frequent and animated4 ,champions of the faith--as delivered unto themselves--were numerous1 and assailants of the truth as held by the orthodox were in sufficient numbers to keep their antagonists from lapsing into a condition of mere assertion4 ,and over and around everything1 like a glorious halo1 was the assurance1 always prominent1 that free speech would not only be welcomed1 but that the lack of it1 from any motive of fear or conservatism1 would greatly be regretted by every member4 ,the discussion of the first beatitude consumed the time of four entire sessions1 and during all these days it was in vain that ,mr4 ,hopper carried the review containing the paper on ,the ,true ,location of the ,holy ,sepulchre4 ,when1 on the fifth day1 ,deacon ,bates asked whether any other members had anything to say on the subject under consideration1 ,captain ,maile made answer3 ,call it a drawn fight1 and give it up at that2 if any man here had been whipped1 he wouldn't know it4 ,oh1 come1 come6 said ,squire ,woodhouse1 ,i'll join issue with you on that4 ,i want to know what 'poor in spirit' means1 and have a share in the kingdom of heaven---- ,but you don't want to know where or what the kingdom is1 interrupted ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,yes1 ,i do2 but ,i want first to know what poor in spirit means4 ,i feel pretty sure about it now1 but---- ,that's it1 exactly1 said ,captain ,maile4 ,but--but you don't want to be anything that interferes with business4 ,give us something easier1 ,mr4 ,leader4 ,there were some indignant whispers of dissent1 but none of them were audible enough to attract the attention of the class1 and ,deacon ,bates read the next verse4 ,blessed are they that mourn1 for they shall be comforted1 read ,deacon ,bates4 ,brother ,prymm1 will you open the discussion of this beatitude8 ,there is none other more precious to the earthly nature1 said ,mr4 ,prymm1 and yet the passage proves the comprehensiveness peculiar to inspired words4 ,sin and perplexity are the lot of all mortals1 and they bring trouble with them2 but the single sorrow which raises man up to ,god1 and brings ,god down to man1 is mourning4 ,it may be done from sinful causes--upon earth--but whatever the cause1 the act itself shows us how near ,god is to us1 and what are his sentiments usward4 ,he knows from the greatness and purity of his own nature how intense this sentiment may be1 and his sympathy shows itself so tenderly in no other way as by this promise1 that he will come to his children and comfort them when they are in sorrow4 ,what an evidence of the need of a ,god does this promise afford6 ,where else can we turn for true comfort when in trouble8 ,earthly friends lack that knowledge of us from which alone true sympathy can come2 the pleasure of the flesh can give us nothing better than temporary forgetfulness2 but the divine sympathy is perfect in its knowledge1 timely and appropriate in its expression1 and incalculable in its force and endurance4 ,i am glad to offer my weak testimony in support of the remarks of ,brother ,prymm1 said ,builder ,stott1 who came next in the order of rotation4 ,i have had my sad experiences in this world1--all of you have had yours1 ,i suppose1--but it seems to me that mine have been peculiar4 ,i've trusted men and been swindled by them4 ,i've been abused for things that ,i never thought of doing4 ,i've lost dear ones that left places that have never been filled and never can be1 and ,i have found no one whose words could be more than a mockery--one that wasn't intended1 of course1 but that hurt just as badly as if it had4 ,it has been only when on my knees1 or praying silently as ,i walked the street1 that ,i found a sympathizing friend4 ,there can be no doubt in me about what that passage means--,i know all about it by blessed experience4 ,so do ,i1 said ,mr4 ,buffle4 ,i've been what men call fortunate in this world's affairs1 but if any one here thinks that money can buy exemption from misery1 ,i want to tell him that he's greatly mistaken4 ,i lost a child two or three years ago--some of you remember her2 ,i'd have changed places with the cheapest workman in my shipyard--yes1 the most miserable beggar in the street--if by doing so ,i could have brought her back again4 ,but money couldn't do it1 and1 as our friend ,stott has just remarked1 the best of earthly friends couldn't take the sting away4 ,i can't say that ,god's comfort came just when ,i most wanted it1 but ,god is good and wise2 he sent it when he thought best1 and it was full of blessing when it came4 ,it doesn't heal wounds to be comforted by ,heaven--the wounds remain as tender as ever2 but the pain and the feeling of hopelessness depart1 and a man is made to feel like the wounded soldier1 or the wrecked1 starved sailor when help comes--he knows he has a friend to lean upon4 ,mr4 ,buffle felt for his handkerchief and applied it to his eyes2 an operation which1 in spite of his great-heartedness1 he seldom had occasion to perform in public3 meanwhile ,broker ,whilcher said3 ,i don't agree with every one here1 as most of you know2 but the beautiful promise which forms the subject of our lesson to-day has been fulfilled to me4 ,i can't explain how1 but ,i profess to be too much of a man to deny what ,i learn by experience1 even when ,i can't ascertain who my teacher is4 ,my own great ups and downs of life have been principally social1 and1 as has been remarked by others1 they are the hardest of any to bear4 ,and somehow--,i wish ,i could learn how--,i have been helped1 soothed1 sustained1 whenever ,i could abandon myself to the influence of whatever higher power it is that looks to the hearts of men and sees that they are not entirely crushed4 ,the older a man grows in years and experience1 said ,judge ,cottaway1 without his official cough1 the greater his experience of sorrow4 ,the exercise of wisdom may prevent some troubles that carelessness and ignorance may induce1 but even then there is more of misery in life than any human influences can avert4 ,i believe1 after much deliberation upon the evidence adduced from the affairs of men1 that the ,comforter is also the one who afflicts in many cases2 but so certain am ,i of his wisdom and goodness that ,i would never avert his chastening hand4 ,the cry of ,christ in the garden1 ',o1 my ,father1 if it be possible1 let this cup pass from me3 nevertheless not as ,i will1 but as thou wilt1' should be the sentiment of every one that is in affliction4 ,that more bitter cry that was sounded from the ,cross may also be1 without sin1 re-echoed by the human soul in trouble2 but every one learns1 by blessed experience1 that the soul is never forsaken1 and that our sorrows are known to ,heaven better than they are to ourselves4 ,mr4 ,jodderel sat next1 and ,squire ,woodhouse whispered to his nearest neighbor3 ,too bad2 he'll bring in the kingdom of heaven and pit it against the ,ring4 ,but to the astonishment of every one1 ,mr4 ,jodderel said only3 ,no one knows more of this blessed ,comforter than ,i4 ,my childish days were heavily clouded2 ,i was abused in youth2 ,i am misunderstood now2 ,i have lost dear ones2 a long procession has preceded me to the grave1 each member of it leaving my heart more lonely than before1 and the time has come when ,i am too old to search for new friends and dear ones4 ,but upon my knees1 or as ,i commune with him upon my bed in the night season1 or when ,i read his precious promises given by word of mouth or through his holy prophets1 ,i find consolation and hope and cheer1 and forget that ,i am a lonely old man in an unsympathetic world4 ,captain ,maile8 said ,leader ,bates1 and the ex-warrior responded3 ,everything ,i have heard this morning agrees with my own experience1 and no matter what doubters may say and hypocrites may help them to make people believe1 ,i can never forget the special blessings ,i have received in affliction1 and when ,i have least expected them4 ,squire ,woodhouse sat next to ,captain ,maile1 and joined in the general acknowledgment by saying3 ,you all know me1 my friends2 you know ,i've often had a pretty hard row to hoe1 for often it's been in a shape that hoeing couldn't help4 ,but when the worst has come1 and ,i couldn't do anything but stand still and endure it2 when ,i couldn't shake it off1 or forget it1 or improve it any way1 there came in just when ,i couldn't expect it1 or see how it could happen even with ,god managing it2 when every one ,i leaned on failed me1 and ,i had to shut myself up in my own miserable heart--then there came a visitor that made himself at home1 helped me1 changed me1 made a new man of me1 and showed me that the worst chance of man is the best one for ,god--blessings on his holy name forever4 ,then ,dr4 ,fahrenglotz said3 ,for myself1 ,i have no family ties4 ,i never knew my parents1 for they entered into the unknowable while ,i was yet a babe2 ,i have had neither brother nor sister1 but ,i have had friends1 and they have passed away1 leaving my heart as empty as if it had never contained any other denizen4 ,i have felt the last pulsation of the heart-dealings of many of you1 and have watched you afterward with a solicitude which it might have seemed officious for me to have expressed4 ,and to myself and to others ,i have known true1 mysterious comfort to come1 ,i know not from where2 the great outer1 the intangible envelope of the human heart1 is hidden from my sight and thought2 but from it ,i know there comes a subtle mystery whose influence transcends that of mortals1 and which influence is tender1 soothing1 and lasting--an influence which ,i cannot characterize more aptly than to say that it must come from some one or some principle of nature akin to that of ,him whom most religious bodies denominate ,the ,great ,physician4 ,excuse me1 gentlemen1 said young ,mr4 ,banty1 who had come in late1 and had1 sorely against his will1 been compelled to occupy a seat among those whom he called the ,saints2 ,excuse me2 ,i didn't come in to say anything to-day1 but1 things going as they are1 ,i can't be quiet4 ,i went abroad a year ago2 most of you know why4 ,there was a lady in the question4 ,she died2 ,i suppose it was best for her1 for ,i didn't1 in the slightest degree1 begin to be fit for her1 but her death didn't hurt me any the less4 ,i haven't1 since then1 been as good a man as ,i should have been4 ,i don't mind saying that the ways in which ,i've tried to forget my trouble haven't been such as have done me any good4 ,but as everybody else has opened his heart to-day1 ,i wouldn't be a bit of a man if ,i kept mine shut4 ,i want to say that when ,i have a quiet hour1 and get to thinking about that girl1 there's something happens that ,i don't understand1 but ,i'm very thankful for4 ,i got to be a great deal less despairing1 though1 at the same time1 ,i think a great deal more tenderly about her4 ,i lose my ugliness at losing her2 ,i see how much better it was for her2 ,i see how things had better go as they should than as ,i want them1 and ,i come out of that time less willing to go on a spree1 less anxious to see the boys1 and more anxious to go on thinking than to do anything else4 ,the order of rotation demanded that the next speaker should be ,mr4 ,alleman1 and that gentleman remarked3 ,i am heartily glad to see that there is one ground upon which all of us can meet4 ,those of you who know me know what frequent occasion ,i have had to learn all that you have learned of the unspeakable power of a comforting ,god4 ,i have instinctively passed the greater portion of my life in my affections1 for ,i know of no other sentiment which is so all-comprehensive2 and through these ,i have found daily new causes for mourning4 ,we are informed by ,jesus that the greatest of all commandments is that enjoining love toward ,god1 and that the second is like unto it1 ',thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4' ,to try to fulfill this command is to have constant incentives to mournfulness4 ,every day ,i have them1 from some cause heretofore unexpected1 and the causes involve so many other people in troubles1 which might be avoided1 and for which ,i can blame only myself1 that but for the presence of the ,comforter ,i would be driven to despair or madness4 ,what a tremendous responsibility rests upon us1 my friends1 in this our greatest relation to humanity1 and how impossible it would be to endure it unless aided by a power greater than our own4 ,i cannot1 by any words1 express my satisfaction at hearing so many men1 and1 in other religious matters1 men of such differing views1 testify to the unfailing promptness of the ,great ,sympathizer4 ,and ,i should be glad to hear a wider expression of experiences1 and assure myself that1 in troubles outside the range purely personal1 my fellow-beings enjoy the comfort that ,i do4 ,i am confident that the recital of such experiences would strengthen every one for greater works of humanity and love4 ,there was a dead silence for several minutes1 and the leader finally relieved the uncomfortable sensation of the members by asking3 ,has any one any other remarks to offer8 ,no one responded4 ,the next lesson1 which we will hardly have time to begin to-day1 will be upon the third beatitude1 said ,deacon ,bates4 ,the class may consider itself dismissed1 ,i suppose4 ,now1 wasn't that just like ,alleman8 asked ,squire ,woodhouse of ,captain ,maile4 ,we were having the most heavenly time ,i ever did know inside of a church1 and he utterly ruined it4 ,the rest of you didn't act a bit as if you'd ruined yourselves1 did you8 asked the ,captain1 in reply4 ,why1 how8 asked the ,squire4 ,eyes have they1 but they see not1 answered the ,captain1 starting abruptly for his carriage4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,familiar ,,sounds4 ,the members of the club spent a whole week in trying to recover from the bad effects of ,mr4 ,alleman's peculiar and untimely harangue1 and even then they did not succeed4 ,we were getting into such an unusual1 such a heavenly state of mind1 explained ,mr4 ,hopper1 and the ,lord knows that heavenly states of mind are scarce enough anywhere under the best of circumstances4 ,we were forgetting all the tricks1 the games that had been come upon us in the discussion of other points on which the brethren had made up their minds1 and picked out their trees to hide behind2 and we were having just the happy1 quiet1 sympathetic time which a man knows how to appreciate when he's knocked about the world for a little while1 when all of a sudden ,alleman must come in1 and spring some of his peculiar notions upon us4 ,i don't see why the ,lord lets such men torment the world about religious affairs4 ,they're good enough in every other way4 ,other members of the class wondered also2 and when1 on the following ,sunday1 ,deacon ,bates asked if any one else had any remarks to make on the late lesson1 nobody answered4 ,so the leader read3 ',blessed are the meek1 for they shall inherit the earth4' ,judge ,cottaway--the ,deacon had skillfully inveigled the ,judge into a front seat before the discussion began1 so as to have a strong and respectable opening--we would be glad to learn your views of this passage4 ,i take it to mean1 answered the ,judge1 that meekness is a virtue so highly esteemed by the ,almighty1 that he offers1 as an incentive to its cultivation1 the most highly valued of earthly inducements4 ,meekness seems to be the antithesis1 the exact opposite of strife1 and so much of strife is so causeless and harmful1 yet so attractive to the ordinary mind1 that those who indulge in it are by this passage warned by implication4 ,meekness is not a virtue of such greatness as poverty of spirit1 as may be inferred from the smaller reward promised to those who practice it1 and---- ,i want to correct the gentleman right there1 exclaimed ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,what earth are they to inherit8 ,this earth8 ,why1 everybody laughs at that notion4 ,a man's got to fight awfully hard to get anything in this world1 and harder yet to keep whatever he gets4 ,the path of meekness leads but to the poor-house4 ,the earth alluded to evidently means the new earth1 which1 in the ,revelation1 ,john beheld1 in connection with the new heaven4 ,that new earth appeared after the destruction of the old one2 and for what could it have appeared but to be populated by the redeemed spirits from this8 ,that was the kingdom of heaven1 and the text before us evidently refers to it4 ',the meek shall inherit the earth2' the apostles1 to whom this passage was spoken1 needed no more definite expression about the matter1 of which the ,master doubtless had spoken many times with them4 ,the whole passage seems to me an exact repetition of the one before it1 just to give emphasis to the first4 ,i wonder if that's exactly straight8 remarked ,squire ,woodhouse1 more with the air of a man in a soliloquy than one asking a question4 ,if there is a way of inheriting the earth1 or even a little piece of it1 ,i'd like to know all about it2 but if its only the next world that the passage refers to---- ,if it refers only to the next world1 you're not in such a hurry to understand it1 interrupted ,captain ,maile4 ,we--ell1 drawled the ,squire1 that isn't exactly the way ,i was going to finish off1 but ,i guess it's pretty near the truth4 ,it don't sound well either1 does it8 ,brother ,prymm8 said ,deacon ,bates1 and the champion of orthodoxy responded to the invitation by saying1 ,the meek are undoubtedly those who follow the non-resistant injunctions which are found everywhere in the ,new ,testament2 they are the men who when one cheek is struck turn the other also1 who render not railing for railing4 ,and who1 when the coat is taken1 will offer the cloak also1 added ,captain ,maile4 ,certainly1 said ,mr4 ,prymm1 with rather a wry face1 though ,i cannot1 with any present light1 see how the latter course would be practical and judicious4 ,the other injunctions are but amplifications of the inspired saying1 ',a soft answer turneth away wrath1' but how property rights can be maintained at all1 if the injunction quoted by ,captain ,maile were followed1 ,i am unable to see4 ,it wouldn't work in the steamboat business1 declared ,mr4 ,buffle4 ,it's hard enough to get the worth of your money1 even when men promise to pay2 but if a man were to understand that by stealing one of my tug-boats he would have a right to expect a first-class lake packet as a present1 ,i'd have to go out of business within a fortnight4 ,i'm inclined to think the passage in question must be an interpolation by one of ,christ's reporters1 said ,president ,lottson1 who had been taking a cautious course of ,matthew ,arnold4 ,why1 if ,i were to live up to that injunction1 said ,builder ,stott1 folks would want to modify their house plans every day4 ,in fact they do it now4 ,the moment ,i try to oblige a man by giving a little more than his contract calls for1 he wants something else4 ,women in particular are perfectly awful that way2 they---- ,ladies are present1 remarked ,lawyer ,scott1 who was considerable of a ladies' man4 ,just think of a broker trying to do business in that way6 exclaimed ,broker ,whilcher4 ,or a man whose principal crop is hay1 said ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,or an importer of ,english cutlery1 suggested ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,still1 the passage ought either to be explained away or lived up to1 for if going contrary to business rules is necessary to inherit the new earth--it's contrary to sense that this earth can be got hold of by any such unbusiness-like operation--the new earth1 otherwise the kingdom of heaven---- ,members will please bear in mind the rule that remarks are to be made in regular order1 interposed the leader hastily4 ,we will hear from ,brother ,hopper4 ,i suppose meekness means patience1 said the gentleman addressed1 nervously clutching his coat-tail pocket with its precious contents2 not getting into a stew about everything1 in fact2 but how a man is to be so1 when everything goes on the way it shouldn't1 is more than ,i can tell1 and how they're going to get the earth for their pains is a bigger puzzle yet4 ,mr4 ,lottson being called upon1 said3 ,i can only repeat about this passage my remarks upon the one which preceded it4 ,it means exactly what it says1 but it means it only in a spiritual sense1 and only to those to whom it was said--to the disciples of ,christ1 and those whose conditions of life are equally admirable and peculiar4 ,the disciples were meek--all but ,peter1 that is--and he stopped being a man of the world after he learned that he couldn't be that and a consistent disciple too4 ,and look at the result6 ,haven't the disciples of ,christ inherited the earth8 ,hasn't the blood of the martyrs been the seed of the ,church8 ,hasn't the non-resistent1 patient1 self-sacrificing course of ,christian missionaries led to the conversion of powerful heathen nations1 opened avenues of trade between them and ,christian countries---- ,which have straightway been traveled over by men who rob the heathen1 poison them with rum1 and kill them off with the popular vices of civilization1 interrupted ,captain ,maile4 ,opened avenues of trade between them and ,christian countries1 resumed ,president ,lottson1 as if no interruption had occurred1 created a demand for the ,bible and the school1 discouraged war1 extended the area of production1 established representative governments in the place of irresponsible despotisms1 brought from foreign lands1 to study our institutions1 men whose fathers and grandfathers were brutal savages1 and hastened the coming of the day when at the name of ,jesus every knee shall bend and every tongue confess him ,lord8 ,business alone could never have done this2 it required a special development of mind1 and to those whom he had created for this purpose ,jesus enounced this promise1 which was the only one that in the nature of things could be made to them about earthly interests4 ,i declare6 whispered ,squire ,woodhouse to ,mr4 ,buffle1 ,lottson did that splendidly4 ,if it wasn't for the way he treated me about that barn ,i should say that ,lottson ought to have gone into the ministry4 ,at the same moment ,deacon ,bates called ,mr4 ,prymm to the chair1 took the floor himself1 and said3 ,there was a remark dropped by ,mr4 ,lottson1 and followed up in his excellent speech1 which ,i am certain conceals a truth which is not clearly enough realized4 ,if it was1 a number of puzzling questions that have been before the class could have easily been answered4 ,he said the passage should be taken in a spiritual sense4 ,it certainly should4 ,god is a ,spirit2 our own spirits are our only immortal parts2 everything else in us and everything around us is transient and perishable4 ,the meek should be meek in a spiritual way2 they should not be puffed up with knowledge1 or what they think to be such1 but should in humility open their hearts to the influences of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,business has nothing to do with our eternal welfare2 it is only one of the necessary but transient affairs of our perishable1 material bodies2 but the things unseen are eternal4 ,if we would constantly keep this fact in our minds ,i am sure many of our present difficulties in studying the ,scriptures would disappear4 ,this earth is not our abiding place2 our time here is but short2 ',a thousand years are but as a day in ,his sight2' heaven is our final and eternal home1 and it was to instruct us how to prepare our souls for the future state of existence that the prophets spoke and ,jesus came to earth4 ,according to that1 it don't matter how we do business1 said ,squire ,woodhouse2 every man can be just as sharp and underhanded as he pleases4 ,well1 it's a comfortable belief1 but ,i think you're mistaken1 ,deacon1 about its being lost sight of2 ,i think pretty much everybody lives up to it1 as far as business goes4 ,dr4 ,fahrenglotz1 remarked the leader1 in evident confusion at the moral deduced from his theory4 ,although not attaching to the words that degree of authority that some do1 said the ,doctor1 their unselfish tendency and their moral beauty convince me that they have an important meaning4 ,that they can apply to the common affairs of life ,i cannot believe1 for the theory is contrary to reason and experience4 ,they probably refer to some coming state of society when the application of true reason shall have raised men above their present physical and moral level1 and enabled them to translate the mystic sayings of the worlds great seers4 ,then the passage doesn't command anything that's really essential to salvation8 asked young ,mr4 ,waggett4 ,oh1 no1 certainly not1 said ,captain ,maile4 ,nothing does1 or if it does1 our business is to get around it somehow1 and look at some other side of it4 ,the leader called upon ,mr4 ,alleman1 who said3 ,the simple fact that this saying was given is sufficient excuse and command to follow it1 no matter what it brings us or takes from us4 ,as1 however1 the material bearing of the passage has attracted more attention to-day than the manifest desire of ,christ1 ,i wish to recall to notice the peculiar wording4 ,jesus does not say that the meek shall earn or acquire the earth1 but that they shall inherit it4 ,an inheritance is something that the child obtains from the parent through love and affection4 ,the passage means3 ',be meek1 not given to strife1 not stirring up wrath1 attending to your own affairs1 not assuming to be better or more deserving than others2' and ,god1 who owns the earth and all that is in it1 who makes man his steward1 who pulleth down one and setteth up another1 who knows the uses of property better than we do1 and who sooner or later puts it into proper hands1 will give you the earth4 ,be meek1 and trust to ,god for appreciation1 even upon earth4 ,one o'clock1 observed ,president ,lottson1 and the session closed4 ,now wasn't that just like ,alleman8 asked ,squire ,woodhouse of ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,beautiful idea--perfectly heavenly2 but nothing in it that a man can take hold of without running the risk of losing some of his property4 ,he'd better not talk that way before the city booksellers1 if he don't want to have to pay cash for every bill of books he buys4 ,and ,captain ,maile walked out singing to himself1 but in a tone loud enough to be offensive1 the old song beginning1 ,whip the devil around the stump4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,builder ,,stott ,,saves ,,the ,,faith4 ,the ,scripture ,club proceeded promptly to work on the ensuing ,sunday4 ,too many men had brought to the previous meeting ideas which they could not find time to express2 so on the second ,sunday in which the nature and reward of the meek were considered1 the members who had not expressed their views1 with several who had1 made haste to occupy front seats1 so as to be sure of opportunities to speak4 ,among these was ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,he had several times ruined the regularity of the proceedings of other meetings1 but still he was unsatisfied4 ,he had not expressed his own views in full1 partly because he had not been asked to do so1 but principally because he had had no settled views to express4 ,now1 however1 the case was different4 ,he had leisurely pondered over everything that he had heard in the class1 he had admired each original idea with the true ,american heartiness toward new notions1 he had endeavored to reconcile them with his unformulated but still very positive preconceived religious opinions1 and his honesty had finally triumphed over his theology and his sophistry4 ,when he came to church1 therefore1 he neglected his own pew and took the front seat and the extreme right end thereof1 so when ,deacon ,bates opened the exercises of the class immediately after service1 it was impossible not to call upon ,squire ,woodhouse first of all4 ,the ,squire cleared his throat1 waved his head about in a dissatisfied manner1 and finally said3 ,this thing of being meek grows pretty big when you think about it for a little while1 and the worst of it is that everything else in the chapter is only a chip out of the same block4 ,all of it--being meek and everything else--seems to come in the end to just this3 you mustn't be like folks in general1 particularly like business men4 ,i confess that ,i don't know exactly how to do it all1 but it seems to me it must be done by any one who believes that ,jesus ,christ had the right to say all that he did4 ,i don't know how to be meek about the way ,i was swindled--treated1 ,i mean--by the insurance companies when my barn burned down---- ,personal6 whispered ,mr4 ,prymm4 ,i don't care if it is personal1 said ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,i'm trying to point a moral1 and it isn't my fault if other folks get in the way and get hurt4 ,i don't know how to be meek when ,i'm abused1 but---- ,it isn't required of you1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,you're expected to take care of what has been intrusted to you in your capacity as a steward of the ,lord4 ,many were the affirmative shakes of head which followed this remark4 ,i suppose ,i am1 said the ,squire1 and so long as ,i am a human being ,i won't be likely to forget it2 but whether when ,i get mad over being swindled the anger all comes from my feeling of being deprived of the ,lord's property1 ,i'm not so sure3 ,i've a suspicion that more of it comes from the heart of ,squire ,woodhouse than from the kingdom of heaven4 ,not a bit of it1 said ,mr4 ,hopper1 finding at last a subject upon which he could speak from the abundance of his heart4 ,aren't you working for the good of your family1 and don't ,st4 ,paul say that the man who don't look out for his family is worse than an infidel8 ,yes1 said the ,squire meditatively2 but he don't tell you to boil over when there's nothing to be gained by it1 and when getting mad makes you uninteresting to everybody1 not excepting yourself4 ,he doesn't tell you to let your suspicions manage your wits1 and determine what sort of a man your neighbor is4 ,the man who gets the best of me in a trade may be a scoundrel2 ,i've always made it a rule to think so1 in fact2 but when ,i come to think of it1 ,i remember that ,i've sometimes made a hard1 sharp trade myself without meaning anything wrong4 ,you never carried back the unfair gains1 though1 when you saw what you'd done1 did you8 asked ,captain ,maile4 ,well1 no2 not that ,i can recollect4 ,i have tried to make it up to the man in some way or other1 though4 ,taking pains to tell him why you were trying to do it8 asked the ,captain4 ,no--no1 ,i can't say that ,i did--,i don't know that ,i ever succeeded in doing it1 any how1 said the ,squire honestly4 ,i'd think it over1 off and on1 and before ,i'd know it1 the whole thing would fall out of my mind4 ,so all you did was to ease your conscience--sing it to sleep1 so to speak1 continued the ,captain4 ,you gave him all the good feeling you could1 which you couldn't help giving any way1 because you're naturally a good-hearted fellow1 and then when you'd comforted yourself your work stopped4 ,that's about the truth of the matter1 replied the ,squire1 though ,i didn't mean to out with it all so plainly before folks4 ,then1 asked the ,captain1 what's the moral difference between you and a rascal8 ,sh--h--h--h arose in chorus1 even ,president ,lottson taking part in the remonstrance4 ,there isn't any1 said the ,squire stoutly1 if everybody's a rascal that's called one4 ,but anybody that has the honest feelings ,i have1 and that loves the square thing so much1 and likes so much to see it done1 isn't a rascal1 and as ,i've had the kind of experiences ,i've told about1 ,i don't see why other men that have had others like them1 and that are called ugly names by me as well as everybody else1 mayn't be just as right at heart as ,i am4 ,after this ,i'm going to believe them so1 any how4 ,there was a general nod of assent1 and ,president ,lottson arose1 went around to where the ,squire was sitting1 and offered his hand to the loser of the barn4 ,the ,squire took it1 rather gingerly at first1 but finally gave it a squeeze so hearty that ,president ,lottson winced and drew his hand away4 ,there6 exclaimed ,captain ,maile2 everything is all right now1 of course4 ,goodness don't consist in doing right1 but only in feeling right4 ,not what you do1 but what you believe is what saves a man4 ,such is the decree of ,god and the decision of the ,church1 remarked ,mr4 ,prymm4 ,then what saints the devils must be6 observed the ,captain2 for they believe1 though1 to be sure1 they tremble4 ,another murmur of dissent was heard1 and young ,mr4 ,waggett hastened to throw a small quantity of oil on the troubled waters by remarking that whatever was sufficient to salvation was the fulfillment of ,god's plan as revealed in the holy ,scriptures4 ,i'm not through yet1 said the ,squire4 ,i was coming to that point4 ,of course1 other men make blunders very much like mine4 ,i ought to be meek about judging them--,i ought to forgive them their trespasses as ,i hope to have mine forgiven4 ,but if there's so much excuse to think bad of men for what they do and don't do1 we ought to put the cause out of the way1 as well as to be patient with others as we'd have them patient with us4 ,if ,i've had reason so many times to think the worst about church members1 ,i suppose that sinners--sinners outside of the ,church--must see them to be just as bad as ,i do4 ,and if they do1 what inducement is there for sinners to come into the ,church8 ,salvation6 promptly answered young ,mr4 ,waggett4 ,that's no moral inducement1 said the ,squire2 it's a selfish one4 ,oh1 oh1 oh6 exclaimed ,builder ,stott1 supported by a sympathetic sensation which was manifested by most of the members1 while ,mr4 ,jodderel sprang to his feet and said--shouted1 almost3 ,mr4 ,chairman1 ,i protest against this drifting away from the subject by talking all sorts of new-fangled notions that---- ,free speech is the rule of this class1 said ,captain ,maile4 ,you've given us a great deal about the kingdom of heaven that nobody ever heard of before1 that's as unheard of in the ,bible or the ,church---- ,it is in the ,bible1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel2 you'll find it in the prophets and apostles from beginning to end4 ,i would suggest1 said ,mr4 ,prymm1 in the most measured and soothing of tones1 that ,brother ,woodhouse should remember that we have but a single hour in the week to talk upon these subjects1 and that however deeply he may be interested in his own peculiar views1 it would be well to let all who are present have an opportunity to offer their views4 ,yes1 let's get away from morality as soon as we can1 said ,captain ,maile4 ,what's ,sunday good for1 if you can't in it get away from these enraging affairs of the week8 ,nine-tenths of the moral questions in the world are started by business2 and who has any right to drag business into the ,lord's house on ,sunday1 and just after a sermon1 too8 ,faces confused1 awry1 angry1 and merry1 showed that the ,captain had aroused a great deal of feeling1 which1 in sentiment1 was not a unit4 ,deacon ,bates would have ordered the immediate relief of the class from extraneous subjects2 but he had1 from the beginning of the services1 groaned over the fact that next to ,squire ,woodhouse sat ,mr4 ,jodderel1 and no one else could be called upon without destroying that rule of rotation upon which the leader generally depended for relief4 ,silently resolving to pack the front seats on the succeeding ,sunday1 he said1 in tones so subdued as to be almost pathetic3 ,brother ,jodderel4 ,the members looked resignedly into each other's eyes2 ,mr4 ,stott turned to the table of ,hebrew weights and measures in his ,bible1 and tried to lose himself in them2 ,broker ,whilcher began slyly ciphering on a card1 doubtless to solve some problem of the market2 ,mr4 ,alleman buried himself in a school report from some other town2 ,mr4 ,hopper re-read to himself the paper on ,the ,true ,location of the ,holy ,sepulchre2 and ,mr4 ,buffle dropped into gentle slumber4 ,i want to say1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel1 that you can't rightly know how to be meek until you know what's to be required of you in the earth which the meek are to inherit1 and you can't know that without knowing where and what that earth is4 ,now1 it can't mean this earth1 for if the meek inherited it1 it would be stolen away from them precious quickly4 ,what happens to a meek man when somebody hits him without knocking the meekness out of him8--he gets hit again4 ,what happens to him if somebody tries to swindle him out of his property1 and he don't show that he won't endure imposition8--he'll be cheated out of every cent4 ,so the meekness that we think about is evidently not the thing for the earth that's to be inherited1 and the question is1 what is8 ,and that brings us back to the question1 ,what sort of a land are we going to inherit8 ,it---- ,if it is to be the abode of the finally saved and redeemed1 said ,mr4 ,radley1 ,i really don't see that meekness can be enjoined upon its inhabitants1 unless we are all mistaken about the nature of the change that will take place after death4 ,our mental condition will be determined for us1 and we can't do better on this earth than act according to what seems the highest order of goodness4 ,i should really like to ask the gentleman if the next world is all that we are to think of while we remain in this one1 and whether we are not to guide ourselves somewhat by the rights of other people as well as by our own desires8 ,this earth is not our abiding place1 quoted ,mr4 ,prymm2 we have a home not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens4 ,certainly1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel2 that's correct2 it is in the heavens--in the sky--the air above us1 in which are suspended all the planetary bodies1 one of which---- ,the gentleman has lost sight of my question1 said ,mr4 ,radley4 ,so will everybody else1 remarked ,captain ,maile4 ,if you press that question1 you'll ruin the interest of this meeting4 ,we didn't come here to learn what we ought to do2 we're here to study out what's to be done for us4 ,not a bit of it1 said ,mr4 ,buffle1 who has slowly awakened from his nap4 ,i'm not1 any way4 ,i'm as fond as any one else of getting anything2 but ,i've already been blessed with more than ,i deserve1 and ,i want to know what ,god's will concerning me is on earth as well as in heaven4 ,always providing it don't cost you anything1 said ,captain ,maile4 ,nonsense1 replied ,mr4 ,buffle1 rather angrily4 ,i never refused to spend money on any really useful charity4 ,several members softly responded1 ,that's true4 ,yes1 said ,captain ,maile2 you occasionally spend a penny out of a dollar1 so to speak1 and you deserve credit for it1 for very few other men of means go so far2 you're ahead of your day and generation4 ,when ,i carry around a subscription paper for anything1 your name always has a handsome sum after it4 ,but do you really mean that you are going through this ,sermon on the ,mount--if we live long enough to get through it1 which is very unlikely at the present rate of progress--and practically agree to what it says8 ,mr4 ,buffle was cornered2 but blessed be corners6 ,there are no other positions in life from which a man can obtain so good a view of himself4 ,mr4 ,buffle studied the back of the seat in front of him for a few seconds2 looked rather blank1 then very modest1 then very manly1 raised his head1 and said3 ,yes1 ,i do4 ,good6 was the only word ,captain ,maile uttered1 while ,mr4 ,jodderel shook his head dismally1 and exclaimed3 ,here we are1 away from the subject again1 ,mr4 ,leader6 ,we can hurry back to it1 if the gentleman will answer my question1 observed ,mr4 ,radley4 ,it's one o'clock1 remarked ,builder ,stott4 ,the members arose1 and most of them departed as soon as possible1 while ,president ,lottson turned to ,stott1 and said3 ,you did that just in time4 ,well1 said ,stott modestly1 something had to be done4 ,this old fight between faith and works has played the mischief wherever it's come up among men1 and ,i'm not going to sit still and see it break up an interesting class like this4 ,i've no other chance to study the ,bible except here1 and ,i'm not going to have it ruined by a lot of theorists getting into a row4 ,i'm afraid it's too late1 though4 ,buffle got some new notion into his head when ,maile cornered him there2 and he never lets go of any thought that strikes him as good4 ,the first thing you'll hear of will be another subscription list1 with his name at the head1 and he'll go into it with all his might1 like he did about the building of this church2 and everybody will be worried by him1 and he'll drag it in here1 and act as if the ,bible wasn't anything but a code of every-day morals4 ,and forget all about the gospel-plan of salvation1 said young ,mr4 ,waggett4 ,and the kingdom of heaven1 suggested ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,and the atonement1 the central truth of the ,scriptures1 remarked ,mr4 ,prymm2 the vicarious efficacy of the atonement4 ,and you'll shut your ears and eyes for fear you might be converted and healed1 said ,captain ,maile4 ,and the lingerers went straightway every man to his own house4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,free ,,speech ,,becomes ,,annoying4 ,as the next meeting of the ,scripture ,club was about to open1 certain members noticed that ,mr4 ,jodderel had taken a seat which would entitle him to be the first person called upon for an opinion1 and that he was divesting his pockets of a large number of books1 most of them in faded and unconventional bindings4 ,the members glanced at each other in terror1 and when the opening prayer was concluded1 ,mr4 ,radley promptly exclaimed3 ,mr4 ,leader1 the ,new ,testament contains eight thousand verses1 lacking two4 ,with occasional quadrennial exceptions1 there are but fifty-two ,sundays in a year4 ,we have already consumed1 on an average1 two ,sundays to a verse2 at this rate we will need more than three hundred years to get through the ,new ,testament4 ,certain chapters1 like the first chapter of ,matthew and the third chapter of ,luke1 may form exceptions2 but as no man here can expect to live through much more than one-tenth of the time necessary to consider all the ,gospels and ,epistles1 and as1 even at the rate of a verse to a day1 we would need to have our lives extended to several times the average longevity of mortals1 ,i move that no single verse of ,scripture shall be allowed to monopolize the attention of this class for more than one ,sunday4 ,i second the motion1 said ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,mr4 ,leader6 exclaimed ,mr4 ,jodderel1 ,i object4 ,we have spent two ,sundays in considering the third beatitude1 and we know no more about the whereabouts of the kingdom of heaven than when we began4 ,if the proposed resolution takes effect now1 and we find each verse of the ,gospel as interesting as those already studied1 no one knows how many of us may go from our deathbeds to the bar of ,god without knowing what to expect thereafter4 ,and as ,god is only our ,father1 and the maker of the universe1 and as we profess only to believe that he is wiser and more loving than any earthly parent1 we daren't trust him to make the matter plain in the next world1 observed ,captain ,maile4 ,question6 exclaimed every one who had perceived ,mr4 ,jodderel's collection of books4 ,the question was put and carried1 with but two dissenting voices1 that of young ,mr4 ,waggett being one of them4 ,then the ,leader read the verse3 ,blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness1 for they shall be filled2 and he asked ,mr4 ,jodderel to open the discussion4 ,the gentleman addressed maintained a sulky silence for about two minutes1 and finally remarked3 ,this class seems bound to drift from spiritual interests to temporal ones4 ,the discussion of the most important question suggested by revelation has been prevented by an almost unanimous vote1 and now we are expected to consider righteousness--mere morality--and its rather dubious earthly reward4 ,filled8 ,why1 certainly they will be filled4 ,in this late day and age no man studies the moral law without learning more than his mind can hold4 ,righteousness is good2 it is necessary2 men need to learn about it1 and others need to teach it1 but it's an awful come-down for the great fact of a life beyond the grave4 ,certainly1 said ,captain ,maile4 ,righteousness is full of annoying little bothers about what ought to be done for other people1 while the kingdom of heaven consists only of what is to be done for ourselves4 ,the ,bible is crammed full of these tormenting hints1 and they always appear just when a man would rather think about something else2 being given by divine command1 though1 as the majority of the class believe they are1 ,i suppose they must be talked about in one way or another4 ,they certainly should1 said ,broker ,whilcher1 who had been attracted to ,mr4 ,jodderel's side by the array of books which that gentleman had begun to bring into line4 ,i have a sad reputation in point of orthodoxy1 but what ,captain ,maile admits in sarcasm1 ,i declare in the most solemn earnest4 ,morality is the order of things1 and to a sinner like me1 it seems to be a matter of prime importance4 ,the interest which some of the members display in the nature of the kingdom of heaven is quite natural and proper2 but how they propose to get there without morality1 or1 if they please1 righteousness1 is a puzzle to any man who reads the ,bible and notices the importance attached to right conduct4 ,deacon ,bates promptly called ,president ,lottson to the chair1 took the floor himself1 during an animated buzz by the class1 and delivered with rapidity and emphasis the following speech3 ,the method of reaching the better world1 other than that of mere right doing1 is rightly a matter of wonder to those who do not accept the inspired ,word as a divinely designed and revealed plan for the salvation of sinful man4 ,but if any of the good ,book has binding force1 all of it has2 it stands or falls as a whole4 ,we are informed by the apostle whose writings fill half of the ,new ,testament1 that ',the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin1 which is death4 ,for what the law'--that is1 the law of righteousness--'for what the law could not do1 in that it was weak through the flesh1 ,god1 sending his own ,son in the likeness of sinful flesh1 and for sin1 condemned the flesh3 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us1 who walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4' ,and again we are told--oh1 blessed assurance to those who find the law of righteousness impossible to fulfill6--that ',abraham believed ,god1 and it was imputed unto him for righteousness4' ,and we are also told1 by the ,saviour himself1 that ',god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten ,son1 that whoso believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life4' ,the law cannot be fulfilled by man2 we are all imperfect2 even when we will to do right the flesh wars against the spirit1 and ignorance hinders men of the best intentions from doing what they would do4 ,no man can be saved through the law2 excepting ,jesus ,christ1 'there is no other name under heaven whereby mankind can be saved4' ,i hope ,i have answered the gentleman's question in a manner distinct enough to be understood by him and such others here present to whom the ,gospel plan of salvation is not as plain as it should be4 ,deacon ,bates resumed the chair1 and ,broker ,whilcher replied3 ,the explanation is perfectly satisfactory1 as an answer to my question2 but it seems to me rather strange that any one should be willing to enter without effort when everybody is plainly told the desires of the king and benefactor whom they expect to meet4 ,builder ,stott sat next1 and hastened to the rescue of faith from a freethinker like ,mr4 ,whilcher4 ,suppose we do right always1 said he1 what does it amount to8 ,our righteousness is as filthy rags in ,his sight1 according to the inspired ,word1 and there's very little to hope for from anything so worthless4 ,nobody knows1 even when he's doing his best1 whether he is right or wrong4 ,even ,satan sometimes appears as an angel of light4 ,i can remember many a time when ,i've done what seemed to be exactly the right thing1 and ,i not only went without any credit for it1 but it seemed to make everything else go wrong4 ,i begin to think the ,lord knows his own business best1 and that we can't meddle with it without getting into trouble4 ,getting into trouble is an excuse for not trying to do right1 is it8 asked ,captain ,maile4 ,no1 it isn't1 replied ,mr4 ,stott quite testily2 but a man can do a great deal of trying without succeeding1 and without finding what is the proper thing to do4 ,if we always knew just what was right1 we should never get into trouble4 ,i should like to ask the gentleman if ,christ1 the apostles1 and prophets never got into trouble8 said ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,i suppose they did1 replied ,mr4 ,stott1 in visible embarrassment2 but--but that was divinely ordained for the benefit of sinful man4 ,i should like also to ask if the gentleman considers the servant above his master1 and free from responsibility for his conduct8 ,no1 of course not1 said ,mr4 ,stott1 but---- ,mr4 ,stott's expression remained unfinished for so long a time that ,mr4 ,buffle took pity upon him1 and remarked3 ,it seems to me that unless hungering and thirsting after righteousness is a special virtue1 it would not have been brought into this small group of qualities for which special blessings are promised4 ,if it is of so much consequence1 we ought1 in gratitude to ,god1 to be anxious to learn just what righteousness is4 ,what we are to get for practicing it isn't of so much consequence4 ,and as there aren't many of us who have had so much reason to study the meaning of the word as our friend ,judge ,cottaway has1 ,i think the class will be willing to waive the regular order of answering for once1 and hear from the ,judge his opinion of this important word4 ,every one looked at the ,judge1 and ,deacon ,bates remarked that he would assume that ,mr4 ,buffle expressed the sentiments of every one4 ,righteousness1 said the ,judge1 with his regulation court-room air1 has but one meaning4 ,philologically1 legally1 morally1 and spiritually it means right doing4 ,legally1 righteousness consists in obeying the law1 and1 by implication1 refraining from offending the law4 ,morally1 it is the very highest attainment possible to man2 in its fulfillment every ordinary duty of man toward man is accomplished4 ,spiritually1 either under the old dispensation or the new1 its range of application is increased and its nature strengthened and elevated4 ,by no correct line of reasoning1 nor by any honest interpretation of the letter and spirit of the ,scriptures1 can the imperative obligation of man to do righteousness be set aside4 ,because the term is frequently used as a synonym for piety1 there is no excuse for substituting religious belief for it1 for true piety must include righteousness1 and has no foundation without it4 ,the religious sentiment may suddenly take possession of a man who has previously been unrighteous2 but it is reputable and valuable only so far as it induces its subject to attain1 not only to negative righteousness1 the refraining from misconduct1 which the law holds to be sufficient1 but also to that positive1 active virtue1 enjoined by all the inspired teachers1 which shall make a man actively virtuous1 and from higher motives than that of merely escaping penalties and gaining rewards4 ,christ himself said of the moral law that every jot and tittle of it should be fulfilled4 ,and it was fulfilled1 on the ,cross1 when he cried1 ',it is finished1' interrupted ,builder ,stott4 ,that's so1 said young ,mr4 ,waggett1 now thoroughly aroused4 ,if it hadn't been1 we never could have been saved4 ,if the gentlemen really infer from ,christ's last words that he meant to set aside the moral law1 resumed ,judge ,cottaway1 the ,church has been making a sad blunder during the twenty centuries which have followed the scene on ,calvary4 ,during all these years1 she has been a teacher of morality2 she has restrained1 sometimes by persuasion1 oftener by authority1 sometimes by mistaken methods1 sometimes in too lukewarm a manner1 the baser passions of mankind1 and encouraged the nobler qualities4 ,in legal righteousness1 the ancient ,romans surpassed the world1 and gave the models of all codes in operation to-day in the civilized world4 ,and yet righteousness among the ,romans1 while wise1 was often vindictive1 and always wholly selfish4 ,the smallest1 most ignorant community in our neighborhood to-day has a higher1 purer conception and practice of morality than the central city of the world had in the time of ,christ1 and though it is not under the special direction of the ,church1 its growth can be traced back to no other source4 ,i've often heard1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel1 that so an ,episcopalian admits the authority and divine origin of his ,church1 he can believe anything he pleases1 and the address we have just listened to convinces me that the statement is true4 ,why1 gentlemen1 while nobody has a higher respect for ,judge ,cottaway's character and attainments than ,i have1 it seems to me that he isn't much different from a ,unitarian or any other freethinker that imagines he has some hold upon religion4 ,why1 gentlemen1 what's the good of ,christ having lived and died at all1 if we're still in bondage under the law8 ,i don't mean that we're not to do right when we can--,i want to do right as much as any man ever did--but if ,i've got to be bothered about all the little points that the ,scribes and ,pharisees fussed over1 ,i don't see how much better off ,i am than they were4 ,the gentleman is better off1 as he expresses it1 said the ,judge1 because he has the benefit of the clearer light which ,christ shed upon the law1 and because through the life and death of ,christ he has incentives to that love for the ,source of all goodness which enables a man to overcome difficulties which1 to the merely selfish moralist1 are utterly insurmountable4 ,it is thus that love becomes the fulfillment of the law1 for it enables the weakest man to overcome his worst inclinations4 ,what becomes1 then1 of the doctrine of justification by faith--the corner-stone of all ,protestantism8 asked ,president ,lottson4 ,it remains as strong as ever1 answered the ,judge4 ,all are forgiven1 our misdeeds committed in ignorance1 when--mark the condition--when we are honest in intention and effort4 ',the just'--the righteous1 that is1 those who do right to the best of their knowledge--'shall live by faith4' ,i would remind the gentleman that ,christian theology1 of every school1 is based principally upon the principles laid down by that masterly jurist1 the ,apostle ,paul1 and that he makes of faith not the master but the subordinate of love4 ',and now abideth faith1 hope1 love1 these three2 but the greatest of these is love4' ,you can't go back on ,paul1 remarked ,squire ,woodhouse1 but it's often seemed to me that religious people treat ,paul a great deal as the boys treat my orchard2 they steal the apples they like the looks of best1 but the best ,i've got are really the least handsome1 and ,i generally have the full crop to myself4 ,some one reminded the ,leader that it was one o'clock1 and the class arose4 ,i'm going into ,humbletop's class after this1 said ,builder ,stott to ,president ,lottson4 ,i was a little doubtful when this class was started whether it wouldn't sooner or later run things into the ground1 and now it has done it4 ,cottaway is a dangerous man1 for all his knowledge and squareness4 ,there are men here1 members of our ,church1 that'll be as likely as not to swallow all that he said1 and then what'll their faith amount to8 ,i say that if any such nonsense gets a hold in this church it ought to be made a matter of discipline4 ,i think ,i shall remain with the class1 said ,president ,lottson4 ,there is a great deal of what is said here that ,i can't approve of1 but that is all the more reason that somebody with a cool head and quick wits should be on hand to prevent the orthodox faith from going to ruin4 ,i was very much interested in your remarks1 said ,broker ,whilcher to the ,judge4 ,matthew ,arnold has put forth some of the same views4 ,i am glad to hear it1 replied the ,judge4 ,they will save him from drifting into vacuity1 and they will convince his readers of his honesty of purpose4 ,i wish only that ,i could believe that such views had as strong a hold upon the ,church as they have upon the outside world4 ,verily1 ,christ never spoke a truer saying than that 'a man's foes shall be they of his own household4' ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,aftermath4 ,the closing of that session of the ,scripture ,club1 in which the nature and reward of righteousness was discussed1 did not end the consideration of the subject4 ,mr4 ,radley himself determined that1 at the next meeting1 some one should move the rescinding of his own resolution to allow but one ,sunday to a verse of ,scripture2 and several other members1 among them ,squire ,woodhouse1 ,mr4 ,buffle1 and ,mr4 ,alleman1 determined to put the resolution to death at the first opportunity4 ,in the mean time1 no member of the class1 who went to and from the city on the little steamer ,oak-leaf1 nor any one who had occasion to visit the local post-office1 was allowed to forget the subject1 which1 not for the first time1 caused such widely differing theories to be offered4 ,you didn't have an opportunity to express your opinions last ,sunday8 said ,squire ,woodhouse to ,mr4 ,alleman1 at the post-office on ,monday evening1 while the latter awaited the opening of the mail1 and the former lay in wait for some one upon whom to expend his pent-up energies4 ,no1 replied the teacher2 and ,i doubt whether the expression of them would have done any good4 ,men are always willing enough to be observers of a quarrel2 but to take part in one generally passes for a sign of bad breeding1 and the care that men have for the results of their bringing up is1 under such circumstances1 admirable beyond expression4 ,oh1 you're not exactly fair1 ,i think1 said the ,squire4 ,every member of that class thinks the case of faith vs4 works is his own2 he must be interested in one side or the other1 for he believes eternity depends upon it4 ,i don't see why any one should have such an idea1 said ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,it doesn't make the slightest difference which side they take1 if they really believe as they claim to do4 ,goodness6 exclaimed the ,squire4 ,why1 are you going over to the defense of faith against works8 ,you1 who have always been preaching up good works as the whole end of life8 ,i'm afraid ,i've been in too much of a hurry1 for ,i've been drifting over to your side very1 very fast during the past two or three weeks4 ,i've not changed my principles in the least1 replied ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,either belief includes the other1 if a man is really sincere in the belief itself4 ,well1 said the ,squire1 with humility1 you scholarly fellows can do sums in your heads at a rate that no common man's ciphering can equal4 ,i thought ,i'd heard a great deal on this subject1 both before ,i experienced a change and after1 but ,i never could see that there could be any agreement between the two4 ,one set of men say that faith is everything2 another say that works are the thing2 both sets make faces when they pass each other on ,sunday on their way to their separate churches1 and1 if ,i read the religious papers correctly1 it's the subject of the greatest religious fighting in the world4 ,the fighting is between the men1 not the ideas1 said ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,having withdrawn from the class1 remarked ,dr4 ,humbletop1 who also was present1 or1 ,i might say1 having never belonged to it1 ,i don't know that ,i have any right to take part in your conversation1 but as this is not a stated session of the class---- ,even if it was1 ,doctor1 you'd be free to say whatever you liked1 interrupted the ,squire4 ,free speech is the rule of the class on ,sundays1 and we certainly aren't going to be any narrower out of school than in it4 ,besides1 you've been to a theological seminary1 and know the ins and outs of this question4 ,now1 ,i want to know if ,i'm not right and ,alleman wrong8 ,you certainly are correct in your assumptions1 replied the reverend doctor4 ,the ,church1 or1 more properly speaking1 the world and the ,church1 have always been at war upon this important issue4 ,it has been the cause of battles in which precious human blood was shed1 as well as of struggles in which words1 fiercer than spears and darts1 have been the weapons used1 and souls instead of bodies were to be counted among the killed and wounded4 ,and the ,church1 remarked young ,mr4 ,waggett1 as he tore the wrapper from a religious newspaper1 which the postmaster had just handed him1 our ,church has decided in favor of justification by faith1 as the only sure way of salvation4 ,other churches---- ,there are no other churches1 said ,dr4 ,humbletop4 ,there are societies1 containing many well-meaning persons1 which have works as a basis of organization4 ,they have built edifices for worship1 founded colleges and schools for the education of youth in their ideas1 established newspapers1 settled persons who1 by courtesy1 are called pastors1 and formed societies which do much toward the amelioration of the physical condition of unfortunate humanity4 ,the respect which they manifest toward portions of the ,word of ,god renders it impossible to deny that they possess religious feeling and aspiration2 but to admit that they constitute a portion of the body of which ,christ is the head1 is impossible4 ,these persons1 individually and in their associated capacity1 war against the distinctive doctrine of the ,church1 which is1 that ,christ died for all men to make atonement for sin1 that all men may become partakers in the benefits of this saving act by acknowledging him to be their ,lord and ,saviour4 ,there--,i told you so1 said the ,squire to the teacher4 ,the ,doctor has suggested a point of difference between the two great sections of the ,protestant ,church1 said ,mr4 ,alleman2 but that was not the subject upon which we were talking4 ,why1 yes1 it was1 said ,builder ,stott1 who had been listening1 while pretending to be otherwise engaged4 ,i heard every word of it4 ,mr4 ,alleman gave an impatient start4 ,i said the disagreement was between men1 and not between ideas4 ,our good champion of orthodoxy1 the ,doctor1 cannot1 with due respect to his ,maker1 admit that there are any works of real value that are not prompted by a true belief in the principles enounced by ,jesus4 ,faith implies trust2 trust of the inferior in the superior signifies a willingness to be guided3 the guidance of a ,being in whose wisdom and love we have unlimited confidence must be followed1 if we really believe ,his utterances1 and believe our own nature to be as imperfect and sinful as we profess to think it is4 ,ah6 said ,dr4 ,humbletop1 theories of human action may be very beautiful1 but that very imperfection and sinfulness of man makes them of no effect4 ,logically1 ,mr4 ,alleman is perfectly correct1 and1 from his very assertions1 the ,church deduces the argument whereby she brings reason to the support of inspiration4 ,man is so imperfect1 so sinful1 so depraved1 that1 when he would do good1 evil is ever present with him4 ,this condition of man shows the absolute need of a ,saviour1 and1 of course1 a loving ,god will not allow his children to lack anything which they really need4 ,thus the need and the existence of a ,saviour are established1 by their interdependence upon each other4 ,that is hardly the point of our conversation1 said ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,the question between us was1 whether there was not a similar interdependence between faith and works2 whether1 as either of them logically implies the other1 either is not logically inclusive of the other4 ,works include faith8 exclaimed ,builder ,stott4 ,well1 excuse me1 but my time is valuable1 and ,i guess ,i'll be moving4 ,i always like to get hold of a real idea about religion1 but that notion is too far-fetched for anything4 ,why1 according to you1 a ,unitarian or a heathen1 if he does good1 is a child of ,god and a partaker of the promises4 ,christ might as well not have lived and died1 if that is all his work amounted to4 ,mr4 ,stott started1 and ,squire ,woodhouse exclaimed1 ,why don't you keep him8 ,because1 said ,mr4 ,alleman1 with a peculiar smile1 ,i'm occasionally orthodox enough to believe that some men are predestinated to destruction1 and that men1 like ,stott1 who never follow ,christ's teachings and dread them as they do ,satan1 are among the number4 ,honestly1 now1 ,squire ,woodhouse1 can you see how a sincere attempt to fulfill the moral injunctions of ,jesus ,christ and his apostles can fail to lead a man to faith in ,christ and the ,father8 ,when a system of morality is given1 which1 in terms and results1 is so far above the morality of the world that the world shrinks from it1 yet which in practice proves to be correct1 do you suppose it is possible to doubt the higher inspiration of the giver8 ,did any mere law-giver ever enjoin unselfishness8 ,is unselfishness natural8 ,does not its practice1 and the spiritual influence which is felt in return for its practice1 raise a man to a plane of wisdom1 tenderness1 and strength1 such as has never been reached in any other way8 ,have not honest disbelievers in great numbers1 when they have attempted a higher morality than that of the world in general1 fallen back upon ,christ as their only available teacher1 and been led to him1 either by desperation or sympathy1 or both8 ,the ,squire had not read as much as ,mr4 ,alleman in the controversial theological literature of the day1 and he could not reply from actual knowledge1 but he said3 ,i don't know1 but ,i'll take your word for it4 ,i know that although ,i'm a church member1 and pretend to be led by the ,spirit1 there have been only once in a while times when ,i've got outside of business rules about matters of time and money1 and that1 when these times have come1 ,i've felt nearer to ,god than ,i've ever done even when ,i've been in trouble4 ,then you understand my meaning1 said ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,there is no difference between faith and works1 providing both are rendered in sincerity1 for neither of them can help leading to the other4 ,and as you have seen the truth of this fact by personal experience1 you are just the man who should support me in the effort which ,i hope to make next ,sunday to impress this truth upon the class1 not for the sake of presenting a new theory for discussion1 but to join conflicting ideas for the good of man and the glory of ,god4 ,i frankly admit1 said ,dr4 ,humbletop1 that friend ,alleman's idea is a beautiful one--so beautiful that it could not have been conceived without inspiration from on high4 ,but should it prevail in society instead of being confined to the individual breast1 its results can hardly fail to be disastrous4 ,what will restrain depraved humanity from neglecting the offer of salvation by faith in ,christ1 and devote itself to working out its own salvation8 ,how many souls will be lost if the fear of eternal suffering is not held before them1 and if they attempt to begin through work1 and finish ere the blessed time of change comes8 ,if they can trust to ,god's mercy while they are mere beggars for help1 said ,mr4 ,alleman1 they can certainly do it while they are endeavoring to help themselves and ,him4 ,unless1 continued ,mr4 ,alleman1 with an impatient gesture1 unless ,god can seem to you to be nothing but a vengeful monster--unless he has at some unknown time withdrawn all his merciful promises to those who do righteousness and walk uprightly4 ,my dear young friend1 said ,dr4 ,humbletop1 who had slowly been dropping his head backward and adding intensity to the solicitude expressed by his stare1 do you know that you have taken upon yourself the authority to urge men from the new dispensation back to the old1 and thus to set back the work of grace for two thousand years8 ,do you not know that the law alone was found to be insufficient8 ,do you not know1 said ,mr4 ,alleman1 that by that assertion you impugn the wisdom of the ,almighty8 ,god forbid6 exclaimed the doctor1 starting backward so abruptly that he nearly overturned the post-office stove4 ,the law was given as it was on account of the hardness of men's hearts1 as ,christ himself expressly states4 ,true1 said ,mr4 ,alleman1 and 'the times of this ignorance ,god winked at1 but now commandeth all men to repent4' ,when the law was insufficient to the needs of mankind1 ,god sent another law-giver in the person of ,christ4 ,and men might have obeyed him to a greater extent than they do1 had not the ,church taken the position that the need of man was of more consequence than duty to ,god1 and that saving one's self--which human selfishness is abundantly able to look out for without being urged to it--is of more consequence than complying with the desires of ,christ1 and through ,christ1 ,god4 ,salvation possible through human selfishness6 ejaculated ,dr4 ,humbletop4 ,that's the sentiment which the church most appeals to1 said ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,the central truth of inspiration1 revelation1 and the atonement only a concession to the fears and personal desires of mankind6 continued the doctor4 ,oh1 horrible1 horrible6 ,it is horrible1 said ,mr4 ,alleman1 that a strong organization like the ,church1 with respectability1 morality1 tradition1 and authority on its side1 should teach such a doctrine2 but your own sermons1 which ,i have found to be models of logic1 though based upon false premises1 prove the truth of your condensation of my statements4 ,men are urged1 not to righteousness as taught by prophets1 apostles1 and the ,master himself1 but to take the best possible care of ,number ,one--urged to something which the most miserable savage alive knows is dictated by the strongest instinct of his nature4 ,what must ,christ1 remembering the intensity and agony of his earthly efforts1 think of the ,church8 ,dr4 ,humbletop assumed1 slowly1 his pulpit manner1 and at length replied3 ,my dear friend--for dear ,i must call you in remembrance of your many self-denying efforts for the good of mankind--,i must decline to discuss this subject any further with you4 ,for two thousand years the ,church of ,christ has endured1 and guided itself according to the words of ,christ himself-- ,all of his words1 or only such of them as have been fullest of promise of safety8 interrupted ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,all of them1 boldly replied the doctor4 ,the ,church has taught everything that ,christ did4 ,i1 myself1 have preached from every verse of ,christ's sermon on the ,mount4 ,but you have carefully avoided the literal meanings of these verses in nearly every instance1 said ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,i have attached to each one such meaning as the ,spirit has indicated to me1 said the doctor1 with rather chilling dignity4 ,and ,i would further say that ,i have treated them according to the habit of the ,church during the nineteen centuries that have nearly elapsed since ,christ appeared4 ,if ,i had taught from my own understanding alone1 ,i might have had misgivings2 but with countless prophets1 apostles1 and martyrs to whom to look for example1 ,i have felt secure in my position4 ,you cannot1 therefore1 expect me to accept your views as opposed to those of the whole body of ,christian teachers4 ,the experience of the world is always of value in teaching the teacher what to do and say1 and that experience-- ,is always based upon selfishness1 interrupted ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,and that experience1 continued ,dr4 ,humbletop1 has been that the atonement made by ,christ is the all in all of ,scripture4 ,the doctor called for his letters1 bowed in a dignified manner to ,mr4 ,alleman and the ,squire1 and departed4 ,let no one blame ,dr4 ,humbletop for his lack of clear vision4 ,a more honest1 conscientious1 and generous soul could not be found in ,valley ,rest4 ,receiving an income which to many of his acquaintances would have seemed insufficient to a man of good breeding and refined tastes1 he found ways of devoting more than a tithe of it to charities either private or public4 ,he was always ready to forego his own tastes and inclinations in order to visit the sick1 counsel the troubled1 or pray with the dying2 his voice and vote were never lacking in affairs of public interest1 and they were always used in the interest of the highest morality4 ,but the doctor had been born and bred under a religious system which he had been taught was to be accepted1 not changed1 and not even to be questioned4 ,to him1 as to the wise ,solomon1 the law of the ,lord was perfect1 the difference between the two men being that the doctor found the whole law in the letter of a single department of it1 instead of in the ,spirit1 and that this peculiarity of his mind had come to him by birth1 been strengthened by a special education1 and established by habit4 ,whenever he for a moment questioned his belief1 he very naturally contemplated the many generations of wiser men who had accepted beliefs like his own1 and in their wisdom and their interpretation of ,scripture his soul rested4 ,and yet ,squire ,woodhouse was moved to say to ,mr4 ,alleman3 ,it seems to me the doctor begs the question4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,insurance4 ,conversation upon the lesson of the previous ,sunday was not confined to the quartette that met at the village post-office4 ,most of the members of the club went to the city on ,monday morning on the little steamer ,oak-leaf4 ,the radicals among them were eager for a renewal of the fray1 and the orthodox were not at all averse to displaying their defensive abilities4 ,indeed1 ,president ,lottson stood at the wharf1 newspaper in hand1 for the express purpose of encountering ,broker ,whilcher1 and provoking him to make an attack4 ,the broker finally appeared1 accompanied by his wife and children2 but the presence of non-combatants did not discourage the ,soldier of the ,cross1 who had been too long in the insurance business to be willing to lose any chance of strengthening his own protection against risk in another world4 ,broker ,whilcher met him boldly2 he sent his impedimenta promptly to the rear--to wit1 the ladies' saloon--and prepared for the combat which he knew was approaching4 ,i suppose you think you whipped us yesterday1 said ,president ,lottson1 by way of opening shot4 ,it was too clear a case to depend upon supposition only1 said the broker2 but if you've any doubts on the subject ,i've no objections to helping defeat you again4 ,seriously1 ,whilcher1 said the president1 leading his antagonist to a tte--tte1 do you realize what comes of all this nonsense8 ,you profess to be a free-thinker1 so ,i won't ask you to meet me on my own ground1 which is that the new dispensation furnishes a substitute for the old2 ,i'll only ask you to look at the matter from your own rationalistic point of view4 ,a man must live up to his beliefs1 if he is a man4 ,true enough1 replied the broker4 ,i wish your parson would admit the same1 and preach accordingly4 ,i wouldn't be cheated quite so often by his parishioners4 ,business is business1 said the president4 ,you don't ever let any of the theories of your new-fashioned philosophy stand in the way of your making a good trade1 do you8 ,no1 ,i can't say that ,i do1 replied the broker4 ,and yet1 said ,mr4 ,lottson1 you believe in the theory of the reign of law--a law which cannot be broken without danger of severe penalty4 ,now whether ,christ was ,god or only man1 you've got to obey the law under penalty of punishment1 unless there is some other way of satisfying it4 ,therefore1 why not accept a belief that leaves you as free to believe in the law1 to admire its wisdom and beauty1 as you are now8 ,putting the thing in a business light1 you change no beliefs--you simply take on a new one4 ,i'll profess to believe nothing but what ,i understand1 declared the broker4 ,you believe in geography1 don't you8 asked the president1 and in history1 astronomy1 chemistry1 zology--all the sciences1 in fact8 ,you swear by ,darwin1 yet you certainly don't pretend to understand all that he writes about4 ,i accept his conclusions1 because ,i believe in his wisdom and honesty1 said the broker4 ,of course ,i don't profess to be able to follow him through his scientific experiments4 ,exactly1 said the president4 ,and you believe that ,christ and the apostles were honest1 don't you8 ,yes--as honest as human beings ever are1 said the broker4 ,that means as honest as ,darwin and ,spencer1 then1 said ,mr4 ,lottson4 ,then why not believe them as well as your scientific teachers8 ,because---- said ,mr4 ,whilcher1 and hesitated4 ,because other people do1 continued ,lottson1 and it wouldn't seem scholarly to accept that which was taught and accepted by men whose demonstrations were not made by the assistance of material things4 ,if you stick to your ideas1 men will hold you to them4 ,you can't live up to them in your business2 you'll lose money if you try it1 and you'll be called a fool for your pains4 ,why don't you be consistent8 ,there's no consistency between morals and business excepting through the medium of the ,christian belief4 ,believe what you choose so long as you believe in a ,first ,cause1 be one of us1 accept the promises that were made to provide for your condition as well as that of every other man that finds a constant disagreement between life and law4 ,then you'll at least have done what is the business duty of every man--you'll have provided against the dangers which you don't fear1 and yet daren't defy for fear they may exist4 ,that's a cold-blooded way of putting it1 any way1 remarked the broker1 after a moment or two of thought1 which was apparently amusing4 ,i don't deny it1 said the president1 but reason is always cold-blooded4 ,you don't pretend that in your darling scientific hobbies it's anything else1 do you8 ,you free-thinkers claim to monopolize reason2 but you can't help seeing that religion deals in it just as much as science does1 and that it leads men to the church as truly as it does to the study4 ,and ,i want it to lead you to us1 as it is bound to do if you're as fair as you pretend to be4 ,you want me to be a religionist1 do you8 asked ,whilcher2 a shouting1 sentimental exhorter6 ,what a fine reputation you want me to make--and lose--among my friends6 ,i don't want you to do anything of the sort1 said the president4 ,did you ever hear of me shouting or exhorting8 ,mr4 ,whilcher laughed long and loud at the mere thought1 as would any other of the president's acquaintances have done4 ,the president colored a little and contemplated the matting of the cabin floor1 but replied3 ,it's nothing to my discredit1 nor anything to laugh about4 ,because excitable people get into the church1 drawn there by appeals to their emotional nature1 it doesn't prove that noise and talk are necessary results of religion4 ,you don't find any nonsense of that kind in ,st4 ,paul's ,epistles1 do you8 ,he was a man after my own heart--a fellow who believed that the laborer was worthy of his hire1 who kept himself before the people1 who talked solid sense1 and explained how easy it was for every man to take advantage of the sacrifice that was made for him4 ,you know the little company there is in the city that insures against accidents8 ,i don't believe you'd lend twenty-five cents on the dollar on its stock--,i'll sell you some of their certificates cheaper than that1 if you ever want any--but whenever you make a trip out of town ,i understand you take out one of their policies4 ,so ,i do1 said the broker4 ,it costs very little1 and it covers a good deal1 and may come handy in case of trouble4 ,that's exactly the argument in favor of your joining the church1 said the president1 excepting that in the latter case a great deal more is promised and the cost is nothing at all4 ,excepting church dues1 said the broker1 with a quizzical smile4 ,well1 said the president1 that's true1 but what do they amount to in a question of risk8 ,broker ,whilcher reflected profoundly for several moments1 and at last said3 ,lottson1 ,i'm inclined to do it2 if any one had ever talked solid sense to me about religion ,i should have been in the ,church before4 ,still1 how am ,i going to solemnly declare before a body of people that ,i believe things which ,i really don't believe at all8 ,you must believe them before you declare any belief1 and believe them for the reason that you believe thousands of other things--because you are told that they are true4 ,you believe many a thing on the word of worse men than those who wrote the ,gospels and ,epistles1 for these men showed no sign of being on the make1 while your business informants do4 ,you are to believe them for lack of any definite information to the contrary1 and because there was no selfish object in the eye of any man who gave the words upon which these beliefs are founded4 ,i declare1 ,i'll do it6 exclaimed the broker2 but say1 ,lottson1 do you get a commission on church members as you do on insurance risks8 ,because if you do--halves6 ,nonsense6 laughed the president4 ,you'll have to go before the examining committee this week1 for next ,sunday is the first of the month1 and the regular day for the reception of new members4 ,examining committee6 exclaimed the broker4 ,whew6 ,i guess ,i'll change my mind4 ,don't be afraid1 said the president4 ,i'm a member of the committee1 myself1 and when ,i take a candidate in hand1 the others are pretty sure to let him alone4 ,i've been in business long enough to know how to treat a man according to his style1 ,i fancy4 ,the new candidate laughed heartily to himself1 stared at the president so intently that he embarrassed the latter2 then he shook his head with the air of a man to whom a new revelation had come1 and he put a cigar in his mouth and started forward for a contemplative smoke4 ,as for ,president ,lottson1 he quoted to himself1 with intense satisfaction1 the passage3 ,whoso shall convert a sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins4 ,then he searched the boat diligently for ,captain ,maile1 and when he had found him he told him the news with evident exultation1 and the captain replied3 ,another crooked stick reserved unto the final burning4 ,see here1 ,maile1 said ,mr4 ,lottson1 this is nonsense1 and you're the last man who should be guilty of it4 ,your father and grandfather were among the founders of the church in this section of country4 ,that's true1 said the captain1 and to save the family reputation from disgrace1 ,i've had to spend some of the money they left me in trying to undo some of the mischief they did4 ,then you're a fool1 said the president4 ,that may sound like plain talk1 but it's true2 you should have learned1 as your ancestors did1 that religion is one thing and business is another4 ,oh1 ,i've learned it1 said the captain1 and ,i've also learned that the devil1 if there is a devil1 is the father of that precious notion1 and that it's worth millions to him4 ,do you suppose ,i think any more of men because they belong to the church8 ,do you imagine ,i look over your policies any less carefully than ,i do those of ,bennett1 who don't believe in ,god1 devil1 or anybody else8 ,do you suppose ,i'll take ,whilcher's word a minute quicker when he gets into the church than ,i do now8 ,not a bit of it4 ,the church is the hope of the honest and the mask of the rascally4 ,how did you like the way the lesson went yesterday8 ,i liked the way it ended better than anything else1 said the president4 ,i knew you would1 said the captain2 and if they spring a reconsideration on you next ,sunday1 won't you be disgusted6 ,mr4 ,buffle had approached the couple as they conversed1 and said3 ,gentlemen1 what do you think of yesterday's exercises8 ,both dissatisfied1 promptly replied the captain4 ,lottson don't like the way they began1 and ,i'm sorry that they ended when they did4 ,i'm counting noses to see if we can't secure a reconsideration1 said ,mr4 ,buffle4 ,i don't like the way in which the main question was dodged1 and ,i want to hear more of it4 ,then you'd better go over to the ,unitarian ,church1 said ,president ,lottson4 ,they'll talk morality to you there to your heart's content4 ,they will in our church1 too1 replied ,mr4 ,buffle1 unless prevented by trickery4 ,one would suppose that morality was something to be afraid of by the way people dodge talking about it4 ,mr4 ,lottson assumed a very high-toned air1 and replied3 ,it isn't that morality is feared1 but that when men fall to talking about it they forget that there is anything higher4 ,perhaps it's because they never talk about it excepting at the beginning1 said ,mr4 ,buffle1 and they're anxious to begin at the bottom1 as men have to do in business and everything else1 if they really want to learn4 ,i begin to think it's a subject about which there isn't much known4 ,it's often seemed to me in churches that men are very much like the apprentices in my ship-yard2 the first thing these boys want to do is to paint the names and designs on the paddle-boxes1 though that's the very last thing we generally attend to4 ,not one in a hundred of them are ever anxious to know how keels are laid and hulls are shaped4 ,that's only business2 isn't it1 ,lottson8 asked ,captain ,maile4 ,business and religion are two very different things1 and a smart man like you1 ,buffle1 ought to know it1 and not go about arranging for ,sunday exercises to torment men into thinking what they ought to do1 instead of letting them enjoy a day of holy rest and delight in the contemplation of what they're going to get when they can't stay here any longer to get for themselves4 ,mr4 ,lottson turned abruptly away1 and remarked to ,mr4 ,prymm that ,captain ,maile was the most hardened scoffer he had ever known4 ,he also informed ,prymm of the movement in favor of a reconsideration of the lesson of the previous ,sunday4 ,i shall oppose it1 said ,mr4 ,prymm with more than his ordinary decision4 ,i entered the class with the hope of learning something of ,god's will as revealed by the ,scriptures2 but if it is the desire of the remaining members1 or a majority of them1 that we shall linger for weeks over single verses1 ,i shall find it more convenient and profitable to devote the corresponding hour of every ,sabbath to private study and contemplation4 ,i suppose1 said ,president ,lottson1 noting the approach of ,judge ,cottaway and ,deacon ,bates elbow to elbow1 the latter looking very solemn and the judge exceedingly bored1 ,i suppose it will be like ,cottaway to insinuate that the matter should be talked over and over again until doomsday4 ,it takes a lawyer to string a subject out until he doesn't know the end of it when he sees it4 ,lawyers like the judge have some faculties which we might imitate with profit1 said ,mr4 ,buffle4 ,they believe in listening to all the evidence and determining accordingly4 ,evidence seems a something which the members of this class are afraid of1 and practice based upon it is still more terrifying4 ,ah1 good morning1 judge--we want to have another talk next ,sunday on the subject of yesterday's lesson1 and knowing your experience in sifting evidence1 we would be very grateful if you would charge your conscience with the case1 and become responsible for it4 ,if the rule can be suspended1 ,i shall be glad to throw upon it such light as ,i can1 said the judge4 ,we were talking1 gentlemen1 said ,deacon ,bates1 upon the spiritual significance of righteousness4 ,i suggested1 and the judge was pleased to agree with me1 that righteousness had a spiritual as well as a merely moral significance4 ,it certainly has1 said ,president ,lottson promptly1 and if for a while we could divest ourselves of the materialistic notions which prevail as badly in the ,church as out of it1 we would obtain some new light on this subject which is so puzzling when considered only by the human mind4 ,we would realize that with the prince of this world ,christ has nothing to do2 that while in the world we are under the dominion of the world4 ,and that our real life does not begin until we are with ,god1 said ,deacon ,bates1 by way of supplement4 ,this world is a place of preparation for another1 and it is what we are to do and be in that blessed sphere that ,christ came to teach us4 ,the things of this world are really the unreal--only the things which are unseen are eternal4 ,how much righteousness had the crucified thief who rebuked his fellow for reviling ,christ8 ,yet to him were spoken the words which every ,christian longs to hear1 ',this day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise4' ,belief in ,christ1 longing for him and his glory1 are what should occupy our thoughts while on earth4 ,and do it so closely that we shall have an opportunity to follow him4 ,of course when a man believes in a presidential candidate1 he believes and does nothing else4 ,he doesn't vote for him1 act according to his political theories1 spend money for him1 or any such nonsense4 ,he merely believes in him1 and does or leaves undone everything else1 feeling sure that it's the candidate's business to make everything come right4 ,that isn't the way you gentlemen talked last campaign1 though4 ,the deacon smiled pityingly4 ,there you go again1 said he1 mixing the temporal and the spiritual1 though they're not the slightest bit alike4 ,certainly not1 said ,captain ,maile2 so it's heretical to try to bring heavenly influences to bear upon earthly things4 ,you want people to understand that ,god is not ,god of the living1 but of the dead1 though that wasn't the way ,christ said it when he was alive4 ,each man put on a pugnacious face1 and betook himself to his own reflections1 and these lasted until the boat touched her pier in the city4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,a ,,decisive ,,battle4 ,when the ,scripture ,club assembled on the following ,sunday1 it was in a manner somewhat more quiet and less cordial than usual4 ,mr4 ,jodderel volunteered the opening prayer1 and then ,deacon ,bates began to read the fifth beatitude1 when ,mr4 ,radley said3 ,mr4 ,leader1 a majority of the class would like to hear a further discussion of the last subject4 ,as the original mover of the resolution restricting the class to one ,sunday to a verse1 which motion ,i made with the almost unanimous support of the class1 it is fitting that ,i should take the initiative in securing a further hearing upon any subject of which the majority have not heard enough4 ,i therefore move that the rule referred to be rescinded for one ,sunday1 and that we continue the discussion of the fourth beatitude4 ,second the motion1 said ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,mr4 ,leader1 exclaimed ,mr4 ,jodderel1 ,i object4 ,the time of this class should be spent upon the consideration of subjects according to their relative importance4 ,if the nature and whereabouts of the ,kingdom of ,heaven is worth only a single hour of discussion1 this minor question of righteousness certainly isn't entitled to any more4 ,i must oppose the resolution4 ,it was apparently very unwise to adopt such a rule1 remarked ,mr4 ,prymm1 if only to be rescinded or suspended whenever the curiosity of any of the members may desire it4 ,we are adults instead of children1 and cannot afford1 for the sake of consistency1 the abrogation of this rule1 especially when every one present has unlimited informal and social opportunities for discussion1 as1 indeed1 they have already been doing all week long4 ,mr4 ,prymm looked appealingly toward ,president ,lottson1 but that gentleman seemed in the depths of a gloomy reverie1 and unwilling to be disturbed4 ,for ,mr4 ,lottson's convert had relapsed2 he had1 before the evening on which the examining committee met1 dropped a note to ,mr4 ,lottson1 saying that the longer he meditated upon the matter the more he felt that the proposed action would be hypocritical2 that if the church would not detect the hypocrisy1 the rest of the world would1 and he preferred to retain the respect of his friends4 ,this note of ,broker ,whilcher's had not only inflicted disappointment upon ,president ,lottson1 but it had brought him some tormenting anxieties4 ,if ,whilcher1 who was a shrewd observer of men1 really meant what he said1 was it not possible and probable that he1 ,president ,lottson1 who believed all that he had asked the broker to believe1 and very little more1 might also be looked upon as a hypocrite8 ,he knew that his reputation in his own church was not all that he could have wished it to be2 but1 looked at in sober earnest1 his church1 to his eyes1 consisted of such of its members as were city business men1 like himself2 there was still another element in the church1 however1 and it was numerically the largest1 which judged a man by his professions1 and ,mr4 ,lottson trusted that among these he still retained his respect4 ,but then came a more annoying thought4 ,business was business1 and business men would take no man's word any the more implicitly because he was a church member4 ,could it be possible that among these he passed not only for a business man of ordinary morality1 but as a hypocrite too8 ,was he not really honest in his beliefs8 ,he certainly was2 he could lay his hand on his heart and swear honestly that every religious belief he possessed he had acquired by the exercise of his best logical faculties4 ,why1 then1 should he be considered hypocritical8 ,could it be possible that the world saw something more in the ,bible than church members like himself did8 ,certainly not4 ,how could the world do anything of the sort8 ,it had never studied the ,bible as he had done1 and as fathers of the faith1 with whom he had never for a moment dared to compare himself1 had done4 ,and then to have a prolonged consideration of the late lesson go on in his hearing while he felt as he did6 ,it was unendurable4 ,he would have departed silently and without explanation1 and betaken himself to ,dr4 ,humbletop's class1 had he not previously informed ,builder ,stott that he would remain and look after orthodox interests in the club4 ,but as he reached this point of his reflections1 ,mr4 ,prymm's remarks ended1 and his eye caught ,mr4 ,prymm's1 and the exasperating character of the doctrine of non-paying works seemed more unendurable to him than ever1 so he controlled himself1 rose to his feet1 and said3 ,mr4 ,leader1 in the interest of ,christianity1 as defined by the ,master1 ,i also object to the further consideration of this subject1 if it is urged with the spirit that has been manifested4 ,christ said1 ',my yoke is easy and my burden is light1' but some of the members of this class remind me of the ,pharisees of whom ,christ said that 'they bound upon men's shoulders burdens grievous to be borne4' ,if religion was made for anything1 it was made for belief and use in this present world2 ,i object1 therefore1 to its being made to appear so unlovely and severe that those who most need it are frightened from it4 ,those of us who believe would never have done so had we supposed that men would be allowed to set aside ,christ's merciful words1 and establish the commandments--the notions--of men in their place4 ,i believe as thoroughly in righteousness as any man1 but ,i don't care to sit here and listen to its meaning being changed by men who care more for their own opinions than they do for the commandments of ,god4 ,and so ,i shall vote against the resolution1 and ask all others to do so1 if they believe in the righteousness of ,god instead of that of man4 ,i don't see why it's a ,scriptural subject at all1 said ,mr4 ,hopper1 relinquishing for a moment his hold upon the review containing the article on ,the ,true ,location of the ,holy ,sepulchre4 ,it was announced by ,jesus1 ,i know2 but it was before he made that atonement which set aside mere human righteousness as a requisite to salvation4 ,i move we drop the subject4 ,the gentleman's motion is not in order1 unless in the form of an amendment1 said ,deacon ,bates4 ,mr4 ,hopper's suggestion that this beatitude was given before the atonement was made1 said young ,mr4 ,waggett1 is so original and so full of practical interest that ,i should like to hear a further discussion of the subject1 if only to see whether this point cannot be substantiated--or1 rather1 whether it can be successfully opposed4 ,president ,lottson leaned over the back of young ,mr4 ,waggett's chair1 and whispered3 ,don't make an ass of yourself4 ,i can see where this thing is bound to lead us1 if you can't2 vote the other way when the question is put4 ,a moment or two of silence ensued1 and then ,deacon ,bates put the question to vote4 ,a strong response of ,ay6 was soon followed by an equally noisy ,no6 and some one called for a rising vote4 ,up rose ,judge ,cottaway1 ,squire ,woodhouse1 ,broker ,whilcher1 ,mr4 ,radley1 ,principal ,alleman1 ,mr4 ,buffle1 ,lawyer ,scott1 ,dr4 ,fahrenglotz1 and ,captain ,maile1 nine in all1 while for the negative there were but seven votes1 ,mr4 ,bungfloat and young ,banty keeping their seats during both votes1 the former with a helpless expression of countenance1 and the latter with a contemptuous smile4 ,the ayes have it1 said the leader1 and ,builder ,stott1 who1 until that moment1 had listened at the key-hole1 hurried off to ,dr4 ,humbletop's class-room and stated that the club was determined on carrying free speech into the ground and the club with it4 ,mark my words1 said the builder1 the ,scripture ,club is as good as dead4 ,the discussion was opened by ,judge ,cottaway1 according to the special request of the founder of the club1 and the old jurist spoke as follows3 ,estimated according to the rules of evidence1 the requirement for righteousness never ends in the ,holy ,scriptures1 and never can end while the ,church hold the revealed will of ,god as an authoritative rule of guidance4 ,the law was the topic of lawgivers1 prophets1 the ,psalmist1 the wise ,solomon1 and all of them regarded it as the only substitute for the personal presence and command of ,god4 ,christ never failed to hold it up for reverence and obedience1 excepting when minor points of it were of less vital importance than that of those for whose direction it was given4 ,that's it1 exactly1 interrupted ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,the law was made for man1 not man for the law1 and when man can't live according to the law1 the law must give way1 as it did by express command when ,christ condemned the ,jews for rebuking the disciples when they plucked corn on the ,sabbath day4 ,i imagine that it was more for the sake of rebuking hypocrisy than to defend the improvidence of his disciples that ,christ spoke as he did on the occasion referred to1 said the judge4 ,but he declared the binding force of the law more than once1 and he not only urged it upon the people1 but increased its scope and severity by explaining that obedience should not be only to the letter1 but to the spirit of the heavenly commands4 ,mercy1 love1 and compassion are not at all inconsistent with the closest application of the law1 though men have strangely come to imagine that they are4 ,in this same matchless sermon we are studying you will find his definition of some methods of violating the seventh commandment4 ,the spiritual rule from which ,christ deduced these conclusions may be applied to all the other commandments with results equally startling4 ',thou shalt not steal1' is the simple letter of the eighth commandment1 but according to the new method prescribed by ,christ for the translation of the law according to ,moses1 to deprive a man of his peace1 of his patience1 of his faith in mankind1 even if done in ways permissible in business circles1 is as truly theft as is the depriving a man of his money by actual robbery4 ,and as ,i am a member of the bar1 as ,i have been a law-maker1 and an adjudicator of legal questions1 ,i feel that ,i am severe upon no one more than my own old self1 when ,i say that to recover the amount of a debt by legal means which compel the debtor to part with property of value several times greater than that of the property upon which the debt is based1 is theft of the most heinous description1 for even under the most merciful construction of the most careless law1 the only theft at all pardonable is that of small amounts in cases of dire necessity2 whereas my experience in legal collections is that not once in a hundred times are they made excepting of men in the direst distress1 and of utter inability to pay4 ,but ,christ mercifully forbore to give such interpretations to all the commandments1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel1 and ,i have always thought his refraining from doing so was one of the sure proofs of his divinity4 ,of course he saw the people around him--his own disciples1 even--doing hundreds of things that were wrong2 but he knew their natures were too feeble to live up to the holy ideas which were natural enough to ,him1 so he said little1 except to exhort them to sin no more4 ,very true1 said the judge1 but since then the ,christian world has had the benefit of nearly twenty centuries of growth under the instructions of ,christ4 ,men have grown less animal1 more intellectual2 less brutal1 more spiritual4 ,the passions and appetites that once seemed uncontrollable have come more and more under restraint under the influence of generations of right living4 ,men nowadays endure physical discipline from which the ascetics of ,christ's time1 or even of the middle ages1 would have shrunk with fear4 ,the world is lamentably full of wickedness and weakness1 but it has now what it did not have when ,moses gave his law--it has in every community one or more men who show by right living what a perfect control man may exert over his lower faculties1 or1 rather1 over the lower developments of faculties which in the clearer light of to-day develop into noble virtues4 ,but the stronger sins die hardest1 so to-day we find1 in communities where murder is unheard of1 ,sabbath-breaking unknown1 profanity unspoken1 and the greater crimes mentioned in the ,decalogue seldom or never brought to light--in such localities we find the greed of gain made the excuse of unfair dealings between man and man2 it stirs up strife more vicious than that which took place when the civilized world was one grand camp1 and when to kill a man for his possessions was a deed praiseworthy rather than otherwise1 especially when the victim might1 with any excuse1 be called an enemy4 ,one might suppose1 from the judge's remarks1 that the world had but one sin--and only one virtue1 said ,mr4 ,jodderel4 ,according to ,scripture1 exclaimed the judge1 there is but one virtue1 for it includes all others4 ,its name is ,love--will the gentleman remember that the assertion is ,christ's1 and not mine8 ,there is more than one sin1 truly2 but not one of the dreadful number could exist were the one virtue practiced as it should be4 ,and this brings me back to the leading idea of the lesson1 from which ,i have unintentionally been diverted toward specialties4 ,and yet1 ,i know not how better to explain the nature of righteousness according to the law1 than to continue in use the illustration that ,i have been using--the treatment1 by each other1 of men in their business affairs4 ,for there are but few relations of men that cannot be classified under business heads4 ,by implication1 sins against self and nature belong in the same category1 for the man who impairs in any way his own physical and mental capital1 injures to a greater or less extent the whole community in which he resides4 ,to save man and to bless him is the whole aim of the law1 for it is only by man in his proper condition that ,god can be fully glorified4 ,thus regarded1 the way of righteousness can never seem hard1 tiresome1 or narrow--it is rather the only highway which is always delightful4 ,the promise given1 therefore1 in this beatitude is the most precious in the whole ,bible1 for there is no good it does not include1 nor any evil which it does not help us to shun4 ,that's the first satisfactory description ,i ever heard of the law1 remarked ,mr4 ,radley4 ,i wonder why other men--preachers1 even--never talk about it in the same way4 ,they'd lose all their wealthy pew-holders if they did1 answered ,captain ,maile4 ,not all1 said ,mr4 ,buffle1 at least1 not if ,i'm as well off in this world's goods as ,i think ,i am4 ,and ,i don't propose to forget what ,i have heard4 ,it is very evident1 however1 said ,president ,lottson1 that ,christ knew that this idea of the law--which ,i admit to be as sound as it is beautiful--could never be fulfilled by man1 or he would never have considered it necessary to make an atonement for sin1 and urge people to accept it1 instead of trying to be saved by righteousness alone4 ,the gentleman lays great stress upon the failings of business men4 ,they exist about as he has painted them1 but had he spent his own life in business instead of among the abstractions of a learned profession1 he would see the other side of the case1 which is that business is selfish1 that it cannot be otherwise1 and that man's only hope lies in ,christ's promises4 ,only hope of what8 asked ,squire ,woodhouse4 ,of salvation1 of course1 replied the president4 ,then1 what about the world8 asked ,mr4 ,radley4 ,is nothing to be done here for ,god--and man8 ,did we come into the world for no purpose but to get out of it in the best shape we can8 ,has ,god no purposes to fulfill here1 or did he only make this wonderful combination of beauty and utility1 that we call the world1 to be a mere stage for blundering and wrong-doing8 ,no1 answered young ,mr4 ,waggett2 it is to fit us all for entrance to the glorious company of angels1 prophets1 and martyrs4 ,we had better all die in infancy then1 said ,mr4 ,radley1 before we've been unfitted for such society1 and been compelled to begin all over again4 ,what a contemptible blunderer ,god must be1 if the common religious idea of the use of the world is correct6 ,gentlemen1 said ,mr4 ,alleman1 it seems to me that this class has by this time plainly indicated its religious measure4 ,we have met together many times2 we have expressed our own views1 and listened to many others2 we have individually indicated considerable ability and ingenuity2 but ,i am unable to discover that even a respectable minority have changed their beliefs4 ,of the sincerity of belief of those who have spoken there can be no doubt2 but something more than ability and sincerity is necessary to retain usefulness for a body of men1 who are determined to approach intellectually no nearer to each other4 ,as we cannot agree intellectually1 why can we not do so morally1 and establish for the class a higher motive than can be furnished by religious curiosity or tenacity of special theological opinions8 ,free speech has been the distinctive feature of the class1 but all that freedom of expression can gain for us has already been gained4 ,why cannot we1 therefore1 form a new and solemn compact that we will1 each one according to his own special religious belief and light1 strictly order our lives according to the moral ideas which we all admit are found in the ,bible and are above criticism8 ,what6 exclaimed ,mr4 ,jodderel1 and turn a religious organization into a society for the encouragement of mere morality8 ,none for me6 ,i should consider such a course as religiously suicidal1 if not blasphemous1 declared ,mr4 ,prymm4 ,the man who does it can bid good-bye to his property1 said ,mr4 ,hopper1 and ,i1 for one1 am determined to give a good account of my stewardship4 ,he can bid good-bye to his chance of salvation1 too1 said young ,mr4 ,waggett1 if he's not going to think more of it than he does of mere morality4 ,good-bye to his fun1 too1 suggested young ,mr4 ,banty4 ,if we cannot leave all to follow ,him1 remarked ,deacon ,bates1 who had once felt himself called to mission work1 but successfully resisted the call1 it would certainly be unseemly to do so for the sake of mere worldly righteousness4 ',twould revolutionize society1 said ,lawyer ,scott1 and no man should attempt such a thing without the most careful preparation4 ,doesn't ,herbert ,spencer say something about morality being at the top of everything8 asked ,mr4 ,buffle of ,broker ,whilcher4 ,ye--es1 said the broker2 but he considers that it's wrong to sacrifice one's business1 as ,i'd have to do to live according to the plan suggested4 ,if ,christ had intended that morality should have been so much1 said ,president ,lottson1 he would have talked more about it1 and less about other things4 ,he knew what the world needed1 what it could stand1 and what it couldn't4 ,as if he wasn't all the while insisting upon morality1 exclaimed ,mr4 ,alleman4 ,captain ,maile1 you're certainly with us6 ,you've always talked as if you were4 ,the captain made a wry face4 ,i've talked against hypocrisy--that's what ,i've done1 said he4 ,i've got no special religious belief myself1 but ,i hate to see holes in those of other people4 ,i1 said ,dr4 ,fahrenglotz1 would yield adherence to such a system1 were it not that men disagree as to what morality is1 and ,i do not wish to subject myself to any arbitrary rule or agreement4 ,the soul of man should be free4 ,judge ,cottaway arose and gave his hand to ,mr4 ,alleman1 and several members affected to consider this action as a sign that the meeting had adjourned4 ,the party dispersed more rapidly than it had ever done before1 and left the judge1 the principal1 the ,squire1 ,mr4 ,buffle1 and ,mr4 ,radley talking to each other4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,conclusion4 ,when next the ,scripture ,club convened there were visible some vacant places4 ,mr4 ,alleman was not there1 and ,mr4 ,prymm had betaken himself to ,dr4 ,humbletop's class1 where he might study the ,word of ,god without perplexing annoyances from those who could not1 for even an hour in a week1 and that hour on the ,sabbath day1 let the world out of their thoughts4 ,several of the members had endeavored to dissuade ,mr4 ,prymm from his intention1 but he remained firm4 ,broker ,whilcher went back to his ,unitarian brethren1 but even among them he was noted as having lost his old interest in the brotherhood of man and the rights of humanity4 ,young ,mr4 ,banty drifted off to nowhere in particular2 but for weeks he told to every irreligious acquaintance the story of the difficulties in the ,scripture ,club1 and great was the sinful hilarity excited thereby4 ,the difference of opinion on the subject of righteousness had upon the class an effect so peculiar that ,dr4 ,fahrenglotz did not hesitate to express an opinion that free speech was a dead letter1 and he thereafter took pains to absent himself from the company of the assumed custodians thereof1 although he was frequently and earnestly besought to favor the club with the pure logical aspect of questions1 the import of which the members had first obscured by much sophistry4 ,judge ,cottaway1 ,squire ,woodhouse1 ,principal ,alleman1 ,mr4 ,radley1 and the founder of the class contracted a habit of meeting informally at each other's residence1 and as subscription papers increased in numbers soon after1 there was little or no curiosity manifested by their late associates to know what was talked about at these meetings4 ,it was a noteworthy fact1 and the subject of much dismal head-shaking among the churchly1 that these five men represented four different denominations1 and that they finally deprived ,father ,mc,garry's flock of a member who had several times listened to the discussions of the club in its earlier days1 whom they failed to provide with a new denominational faith in place of his old one4 ,as for ,captain ,maile1 he was thereafter the most shamefaced and silent man at ,valley ,rest4 ,he was by no means the first man who had mistaken the critical faculty for character2 but he was not a man of large information in the history of the world outside of ,valley ,rest1 so he spent several years of his life in indignant yet humble self-questionings as to his peculiar mental organization4 ,he finally admitted to himself that to keep his fault-finding disposition under control1 he must devote more persistent attention to it than he had ever given his better self before4 ,several years later he identified himself closely with all the practical work of the ,second ,church1 and distinguished himself as being the man of all others who could accept advice without showing impatience4 ,but the remainder of the club remained faithful1 and they devoted themselves to study with an earnestness that was simply magnificent4 ,they would divide each lesson into sections1 and assign a section to each member1 which member would in turn collect and present to the class all available information upon the subject1 and some of the young lady attendants pronounced some of these addresses more interesting than sermons4 ,mr4 ,jodderel naturally took in charge all topics relating to the future state of existence1 and as the class imposed no arbitrary distinctions as to time1 he found no cause to complain4 ,to ,president ,lottson fell the duty of enlightening the class upon the geography of ,palestine1 and so thoroughly did he do his work that one of his papers was asked for publication1 and copies of it were accepted with thanks by several learned societies4 ,mr4 ,prymm1 who finally came back to the class after having been assured that for months it had discussed no subject not purely scriptural1 made some remarks upon the atonement which were finally collected in a volume entitled ,a ,layman's ,views of ,christ's ,great ,work1 and the book received many carefully worded non-committal notices from the religious press1 though the bulk of the edition still remains in the storehouse of the publisher4 ,young ,mr4 ,waggett kept an observant eye for all topics bearing literally upon the subject of salvation4 ,mr4 ,hopper found at last an opportunity to read his long-cherished essay upon ,the ,true ,location of the ,holy ,sepulchre1 with many notes1 suggestions1 and emendations by himself4 ,and the class grew in membership and in the number of listeners1 and there was never heard in it a personality or a revival of old disputes which had time and again rended the church4 ,nothing was said in its whole subsequent history which could cast discredit upon the daily life of any member1 or cause ,satan to feel any serious apprehensions for the continued activity of his own business4 ,,the ,,end4