His manner was
brusque, and even rude.
Ernest ventured a little mild dissent; he admitted it was not usual, but
something at any rate must be done, and that quickly. This was how
Wesley and Whitfield had begun that great movement which had kindled
religious life in the minds of hundreds of thousands. This was no time
to be standing on dignity. It was just because Wesley and Whitfield had
done what the Church would not that they had won men to follow them whom
the Church had now lost.
Pryer eyed Ernest searchingly, and after a pause said, "I don't know what
to make of you, Pontifex; you are at once so very right and so very
wrong. I agree with you heartily that something should be done, but it
must not be done in a way which experience has shown leads to nothing but
fanaticism and dissent. Do you approve of these Wesleyans? Do you hold
your ordination vows so cheaply as to think that it does not matter
whether the services of the Church are performed in her churches and with
all due ceremony or not? If you do--then, frankly, you had no business
to be ordained; if you do not, then remember that one of the first duties
of a young deacon is obedience to authority.
Pages:
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432