It is his profession to support one side; it is impossible,
therefore, for him to make an unbiassed examination of the other.
We forget that every clergyman with a living or curacy, is as much a paid
advocate as the barrister who is trying to persuade a jury to acquit a
prisoner. We should listen to him with the same suspense of judgment,
the same full consideration of the arguments of the opposing counsel, as
a judge does when he is trying a case. Unless we know these, and can
state them in a way that our opponents would admit to be a fair
representation of their views, we have no right to claim that we have
formed an opinion at all. The misfortune is that by the law of the land
one side only can be heard.
Theobald and Christina were no exceptions to the general rule. When they
came to Battersby they had every desire to fulfil the duties of their
position, and to devote themselves to the honour and glory of God. But
it was Theobald's duty to see the honour and glory of God through the
eyes of a Church which had lived three hundred years without finding
reason to change a single one of its opinions.
I should doubt whether he ever got as far as doubting the wisdom of his
Church upon any single matter.
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