The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-04

l..
the Scriptures undermined the faith of
weaker and less richly endowed minds,
he only found in each discovery more
vivid proof Of the truth of the 1ncarna-
tion and the Resurrection.
1t was his habit In discussions to rec
oneile all apparently conflicting anti-
christian statements and weave them into
the fabric of his convictions. He held
that. even scientifically, historically. and
materially. the evidence for the Resur-
rection was too strong to be ever over
thrown And beyond these Intellectual
evidences he knew that Christ must
have risen from the dead, because he
himself had found Christ and was found
in Him.
His attitude was n careful one with all
Its conciseness. An anecdote illustrates
this.
One day, when walking home from n
meeting OF the School Board, OF which
he was n member, he had met parish
Toner named Baxter. the proprietor OF
small engineering work in the district.
The man. who never came to church.
on what he called principle but spent
his Sundays in bed with a sporting
paper, was one OF those half-educated
people who condemn Christianity by rid
iculing the Old Testament stories.
They walked together. Baxter quoting
the Origin OF Species. which he knew
from cheap epitomised handbook.
DO you really think. Mr.. Bars" he
had said. do you really believe, after
Darwin's discovery, that we were made
by sort of conjuring trick by a Su-
preme Power? Seven days of cooking.
so to speak, and then world, Why,
It's childish to expect thinking people to
believe IT. We are simply evolved by
scientific evolution out of the primaeval
protoplasm.'
IA, engJ 4 r. -
who made the protoplasm. Mr.. Baxter?'
The man was silent for a minute.
Then, Mr.. Byars" he said at length.
you do not believe the Old Testament
the Adam and Eve part. for instance.
You do not believe the Book on which
your creed is founded.
There are such things as allegories."
he had answered. THE untutored brain
must he taught the truth IN such way
as 1t can receive IT.
The vicar lit his pipe and began to
open his letters with a slight sigh. OF
all men, he sometimes felt he was the
least possible one for Walktown. For
twelve years he had worked there. and
he seemed to make little Roadway. He
longed for an educated congregation
Here methods too vulgar for his temp
erment seemed to be the only ones
The letters were all from applicants
for the curacy which Gortre's impend-
ing departure would shortly leave vacant.
1T will be terrible wrench to lose
Basil" he said to himself; "but 1t must
be. He Will have his chance and be far
happier in London in more congenial
environment. He would never be great
success in Walktown. He has tried
nobly, but the people won't understand
him. They would never like him: he's
too much Of gentleman. How they
all hate breeding in Walktown! There
fz.~ a T r
an inferior man this time. An inferior
man will go down with them better here.
only hope he will be really good fell
low. If he isn't, it will be Jerrold over
again-vulgar cabals against me. and all
the women In the place quarrelling and
taking Sides.
He read letter after letter, and saw.
he would have little difficulty in engag-
Ing the Inferior'' man of his thoughts.
The best men would not come to the
North. Men of family with decent de-
grees, Oxford men. Cambridge men, ac-
customed to decent society and INTEL
lectual friends. knew far too much to
accept title in the Manchester district.
The applications were numerous G.
nough, but obviously from second-rate
men, or at any rate from men who ap-
peared to be so at first glance.
A Durham graduate, 40, with five child
ren, begged earnestly for the e12O a
year which was all Mr.. Byars could
offer A few young men from thelogl-
cal colleges wanting titles, Dublin B.
A.. announcing himself as thoroughly
Protestant in vtews''-they were weary
lot. A non-collegate student from Ok
ford with second class In Theology,
a Manchester Grammar-School boy.
whose father lived at Higher Brough-
ton. seemed to promise the best. He
T.. NJ >li~~a%
probably. II suppose must have him,
accent and ALL" the vicar said with a
sigh. though I suppose It's prejudice
to dislike the lessons read with the
cashire broad "a and short 'o' st.
Paul probably spoke with n terrible local
twang! and yet, I don't know, he was
too great to be vulgar; one doesn't like
to think that
Mr. Byars was certainly a difficult
person for his congregation to nppreci-
ate.
s He picked up tho letter ana was re-
reading 1t when the door opened and his
daughter came in.
Helena Byars was a tall girl, largely
made and yet slender Her hair was
luxuriant and of a traditional "heroine''
gold. She was dressed with a certain
richness, though soberly enough. style
which. with Its slight hint Of austerlty..
accumulated q quiet and delicate charm.
So one felt on meeting her for tho first
time. Sweet-faced she was and with an
underlying seriousness even In her times
Of laughter. Her mouth was rather
large, her nose straight and beautifully
chiselled. The eyes were placid. INTEL
'llgent. but without keenness, There
was an almost matronly dignity about
her quiet and vet decided manner.
The vicar looked up at her with a
smile. thinking how. like her mother
the girl was-that grave and gracious
lady who looked out of the picture by
the door. ST., Cecilia In form and face.
"Eh, hut Helena she favours her
mother" Hinchollffe. the sexton, had
said with the frank familiarity Of the
Lancashire workman soon after Mrs.
Byars's funeral four years ago.
I've brought Punch, father" she said.
"it's just come. Leave your work now
and enjoy yourself for half an hour hes
fore dinner. Basil will be here by tho
time you're finished"
She stirred the fire into bright glow.