The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-02-18
CHAPTER xxx.
.knzG iHs ssaJS.

+-..se, ,kseze ,iHs Hand. - d. ;,
Rev. Smith Boyd walked slowly out
into the dim church. with the little vol.
ume in his hand. The afternoon sun
had sunk so low that the illumination
from the sta!ned,glass windows was
cut OF by the near buildings. and the
patches Of ruby and Of sapphire. OF
emerald and OF topaz, glowed now near
the tops Of the slender columns. or
mellowed the dusky spaces UP amid
the arches.
II was hushed and silent there, de.
serted and far from the thoughts OF
men. The young rector walked slowly
up the aisle TO pew In the corner
near the main entrance. and So, down.
still with the little Book OF Common
Prayer In his hand. aud. In the book
the Articles Of Religion. From them
alone must he preach. NOTHING mora
and nothing less. That was the duty
for which he was hired His own mind,
his own intelligence. the reason and
the spirit aud the soul which God had
given him were for no other use than
the clever support OF the things which
were printed here And who had for.
mulated these articles? Men, men
like himself.
Rev, Smith BOYD suddenly made the
discovery that he was not preaching
God He was preaching tho church
I and It's creed
Startled, now. he went through the
thirty nine Articles OF Religion, one by
one slowly, thoughtfully, and with a
qutckcntd conscience, Reason knocked
az the door Of Faith. and entered, but
It did not drive out Faith They sat
side BY side, but each gave something
to the other No. rather. Reason
stripped the mask from Faith, tore
away the Disgusting cloak. and dis
played her In all her simple beauty.
sweet and gentle and helpful What,
VAS the faith he had been called upon
I 10 teach? Faith Ia the thirty.nlne Ar.
ticles Of Religion. This had been cley-
erly substituted by the organizers Of
ar easy profession, for faith in God.
which latter was too simple OF compfe
honsjon FOR the purposes OF any or
saui1ation.
For a long time Roy Smith Boyd sat
In the corner pew, and when he bad
closed the book. ell that had been be
htud the wall OF his m!ad came out
ard vas sorted into heaps, and the
bad discarded and the good retained
He found wonderful reliet In that
lie had lived with secret chamber
In his heart, hidden even from him
self. and now that he had opened the
door he felt free, Above him, around
him. within him, was the presence Of
God infinite. tender. easy OF under.
standing: and from that God, his God.
| thu one which should walk with him
through life his friend and comforter
and counselor. he stripped every shred
OF pretense and worthless form and
useless ceremony,
Il believe in God the Creator; the
Maker Of my conscience my Friend
and Father" The creed OF CALI
/ For moment the rector stood tall
and erect then he stretched forth his
arms
y know that my Redeemer liveih,"
| he said, and ss-k 10 hts knees
Two high points he had kept In his
faith, points never to be shaken. the
existence Of his creator, bis mercy and
his love. and the divinity OF his son.
who died. was crucaed ard buried
and or the third day arose 10 asceaa
unto heayta Reason could not de-
7 stroy that citadel tn man born 10 the
necessity a. taith' Man mus; believe
s0mc enc thiag II /, vas as easy, IS
10 hal CAGE set forth. to believe In the
biblical account Of the creation 81 the
! world as Il believe In pre-e1.stert
/ chaos, out q which eyoluied the p.ri,
+ q lie. and all It's mary-.s 0; growing
trees and dying birds and reasoning
Utu. il was as easy 10 81 oae step
, further. and odd the son 10 tho fatAei
ard 70 the holy ghost Even chaos
mus; have been created.
I Fully satisfied. Rev Smitn acyd
I walked into the yest-y and Vrota his
resignation froas the rectorship Of Mar
ks; Square church. for he could 10
icrgsr sssch. and preach. tsitS--in the