Atlanta Georgian., 1912-06-29

came Eleanor GoOurlCn. Hodder rose 10
greet her with an eagerness which from
his kindly yet penetrating glance, she did
not suspect
81 wante@ to ask you one or two things,
she began, not very steadily. AS perhaps
you may know, was brought up in this
church, baptized and confirmed in it, I've
come to fear that, when was confirmed
! wasn't old enough to know what | vas
doing"
She took deep breath amazed at her
boldness, for this wasn't in the least how
she had meant to begin. And she gazed 1t
the rector anxously. To her surprise he
did not appear to be inordinately shocked
DO you know any better now" he
psked.
things OF which | was sure at that time ]
am not sure of now. My faith isis not as
complete
Faith may be likened to an egg, Mrs.
Goodrich ne said. 1T must be kept whole
II the shell is Clipped, it is spoiled"
Eleanor pucked UP her courage Eess,
she declared, had been used as Illustrations
by conservatives before now
Holder relieved her by smiling in ready
appreciation
Columbus had reference to this world
ne said Il was thinking of a more perfect
une"
oh" she cried. 4 dare say there is
more perfect one. should hate to think
there wasn't-but can't imagine il
There's nothing in the Bible in the way Of
description of it to make me really wish to
go there The New Jerusalem is too in
sipid, too material. I'm sure I'm shocking
you, but I've got to be honest, to say wnar
l feel"
If others would be as honest" said The
rector, the problems of clergymen would
be much easier And it is precisely BE-
cause people will not tell us what they
feel that we are left in he dark and can
not help them. Of course. the language Of
st. John about the future is figurative."
Then wish it hadn't been made so ex
picit. Its very definteness is somehow
stultifying. And Mr. Holder il we we're
not meant to know its details, it seems to
me that if the hereafter is to have any real
value and influence over our lives here, We
Mouid know something of its condition
because it must be in some sense continu-
alton OF this. I'm not sure that | make
myself clear"
Admirably clear But We have our
Lords example OF how to live here
Ii we could be sure" said Eleanor, Just
what that example meant"
Holder was silent a moment
You mean that you cannot accept what
the Church teaches about His Iife?" he
asked
No, can't" she faltered You have
helped me to say it. l want to have the
Church's side better explained-thats why
I'm here
Please continue to be frank" he begged
i can't believe in the doctrine of the
Immaculate Conception" she responded in
low voice; lit seems to me $3.50 mate.
rial And | feel | am stating a difficulty
that many have Mr. Holder Why should
it have been thought necessary for God to
nave departed from what is really sacred
ano sublime fact in nature, to resort to a
material proof in order to convince doubt
ing humanity that Jesus was His Som"
I think people suffer in these days from
giving too much weight to the critics Of
Christianity said the rector from not
pondering more deeply on its underlying
truths
Il do" she murmured
And the more one reflects on the life OF
our Lord the more one is convinced that
the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception
is vital essential; without it Christianity
falls TO pieces. In spite Of the contradic
tions IF science, it explains as nothing else
can the mystery of the divinity as well as
the lmanity of the Saviour"
El4ahor was unconvinced She felt. as
she listened, the pressure of his sincerity
and force, and had to strive to prevent her
thoughts from becoming confused.
of one thing | am assured. Mrs Good
rlcn, Hodder repIled, that the logical re-
suit Of Independent thinking is anarchy
Under this modern tendency toward in
divldual creeds, the Church has split and
split again, until if it keeps on we shall
have no Church at all to carry on the work
of our Lord on earth History proves that
to take anything away from the faith Is to
atrophy to destroy it. The answer to your
arguments is to be seen on every side. athe
ism, hypocrisy vice. misery, insane and
cruel grasping after wealth There is only
one remedy can see. he added, infexibly
yet with touch of sadness believe"
What If we can't believe?' she asked
You can He spoke with unshaken
conviction. You can if you make the effort
and ! am sure you will"
Yet he stood in the window looking
after her retreating figure, there gradually
grew upon him vague and uncomfortable
feeling that he had not been satisfactory.
and this was curiously coupled with the
realization that the visit had added con
siderable increment to his already pro
nounced liking for Eleanor Goodrich She
vas, paradoxcally his EiRd Of a person
such was the form the puzzle took.
ThA CIernvuoanJa ConsniAnoA