The Washington times., 1920-11-02
By Winston Churchill.
Author OF "Richnrd Carvei," "rhe
CrIsis' and Many Other Novels
or Worldwide Popularity.
THE PRIMROSE PATH.


n IELSoN LANGMAID'S extraor-
IN binary judgment appeared
once more to be vindicated.
There had been. indeed "a criti-
cal, anxious moment, emphasized by
the agitation of bright feminine
plumes and the shifting of mascu-
line backs into the corners of the
pews. None got SO fan as to de-
fine to themselves why there should
be an apparent incompatibility be-
tween ruggedness and orthodoxy
but there were some who hoped and
more who feared. Luther had been
orthodox once. Savonarola also; In
appearance neither was more can
onical than the new rector.
His congregation. for the most
, part, were not analytical. But they
felt certain anomaly in virility
proclaiming tradition. 1t took them
several Sundays to get accustomed
to 1t.
To those who had been used for
more than a quarter of century TO
seeing old DR.. Gilman's gentle face
under the familiar and faded dove
of the sounding board, to the de-
liberation of his walk and the hest
tation of his manner, the first inn
was somewhat startling. They felt
that there should be a leisurely ele-
ment in religion. He moved across
the chancel with incredible swift
ness, his white surplice flowing like
the draperies of a moving Victory,
wasted no time with the pulpit light,
announced his text in strong and
penetrating but by no means UNI
pleasing voice, and began to speak
with the certainty of authority.
Here, in an age when a new rector
had ceased to be an all-absorbing
topic in social life, was a new and
somewhat exhilarating experience.
And it may be privately confessed
that there were none who sat In st.
Johns during those first weeks of
his incumbency who would indig-
nantly have repudiated the accusa-
ton that they were not good church
men and churchwomen, and who,
nevertheless, had queer sensations
in listening to ancient doctrines set
forth with Emersonian conviction.
Some were courageous enough to
ask themselves in the light of this
forceful presentation, whether they
really did believe them as firmly as
they supposed they had.
Y Dear old DR.. Gilman had been
milder-much milder as the years
gained on him. And latterly, when
he had preached, his voice had
sounded like the unavailing protest
of one left far behind, who called
out family with unheeded warnings.
They had loved him; but the modern
world was busy world. and DIR.
Gilman did not understand it This
man was different. Here was what
the Church taught he said, and
they might slight it at their peril!
AN INDIVIDUALITY.
1t is one thing to believe ones
self orthodox, and quite another to
have that orthodoxy so definitely
defined as to be compelled, whether
or no, to look it squarely in the
face and own or disown it. Some
indeed, like Gordon Atterbury, stood
the test; responded to the clarion
call for which they had been long
ing. But little Everett Constable,
who also sat on the vestry, was
trif1e uncomfortable in being re-
minded that absence from the Com
munion Table was perilous. al
though he would have been the last
to deny the efficacy Of the Sacra-
ment
The new rector was plainly not
man who might be accused of poll
cy in pandering to the tastes OF a
wealthy and conservative flock. But
IL, in the series of sermons which
lasted from his advent until well
after Christmas, he had delib-
erateIy consulted their prejudices,
he could not have done better.
II is true that he went beyond the
majority OF them, but into a region
which they regarded as pre-emi-
entity safe--a region the soil of
which was traditional To wit: St
Paul had left to the world a con-
sistent theology.