The fleece of wool was duly laid upon the floor; the trumpet12 and the lamp were placed upon the bare wooden reading desk; and the Apostle, rising slowly from his seat, began to address the assembled Gideonites.
"Friends," he said, in a low, clear, impressive voice, with a musical ring tempering its slow distinctness, "we have met together to-night to take counsel with one another upon a high matter. It is plain to all of us that the work of the Church in the world does not prosper21 as it might prosper were the charge of it in worthier22 hands. We have to contend against great difficulties. We are not among the rich or the mighty23 of the earth; and the poor whom we have always with us do not listen to us. It is expedient24, therefore, that we should set some one among us aside to be instructed thoroughly25 in those things that are most commonly taught among the Midianites at Oxford26 or Cambridge. To some of you it[Pg 166] may seem, as it seemed at first to me, that such a course would involve going back upon the very principles of our constitution. We are not to overcome Midian by our own hand, nor by the strength of two and thirty thousand, but by the trumpet, and the pitcher27, and the cake of barley28 bread. Yet, when I searched and inquired after this matter, it seemed to me that we might also err29 by overmuch confidence on the other side. For Moses, who led the people out of Egypt, was made ready for the task by being learned in all the learning of the Egyptians. Daniel, who testified in the captivity30, was cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and instructed in the wisdom and tongue of the Chaldeans. Paul, who was the apostle of the Gentiles, had not only sat at the feet of Gamaliel, but was also able from their own poets and philosophers to confute the sophisms and subtleties31 of the Grecians themselves. These things show us that we should not too lightly despise even worldly learning and worldly science. Perhaps we have gone wrong in thinking too little of such dross32, and being puffed33 up with spiritual pride. The world might listen to us more readily if we had one who could speak the word for us in the tongues understanded of the world."
As he paused, a hum of acquiescence34 went round the room.
"It has seemed to me, then," the Apostle went on, "that we ought to choose some one among our younger brethren, upon whose shoulders the cares and duties of the Apostolate might hereafter fall. We are a poor people, but by subscription35 among ourselves we might raise a sufficient sum to send the chosen person first to a good school here in London, and afterwards to the University of Oxford. It may seem a doubtful and a hazardous36 thing thus to stake our future upon any one young man; but then we must remember that the choice will not be wholly or even mainly[Pg 167] ours; we will be guided and directed as we ever are in the laying on of hands. To me, considering this matter thus, it has seemed that there is one youth in our body who is specially37 pointed38 out for this work. Only one child has ever been born into the Church: he, as you know, is the son of brother John Owen and sister Margaret Owen, who were received into the fold just six days before his birth. Paul Owen's very name seems to many of us, who take nothing for chance but all things for divinely ordered, to mark him out at once as a foreordained Apostle. Is it your wish, then, Presbyter John Owen, to dedicate your only son to this ministry39?"
Presbyter John Owen rose from the row of seats assigned to the forty-eight, and moved hesitatingly towards the platform. He was an intelligent-looking, honest-faced, sunburnt working man, a mason by trade, who had come into the Church from the Baptist society; and he was awkwardly dressed in his Sunday clothes, with the scrupulous40 clumsy neatness of a respectable artisan who expects to take part in an important ceremony. He spoke41 nervously42 and with hesitation43, but with all the transparent44 earnestness of a simple, enthusiastic nature.
"Apostle and friends," he said, "it ain't very easy for me to disentangle my feelin's on this subjec' from one another. I hope I ain't moved by any worldly feelin', an' yet I hardly know how to keep such considerations out, for there's no denyin' that it would be a great pleasure to me and to his mother to see our Paul becomin' a teacher in Israel, and receivin' an education such as you, Apostle, has pinted out. But we hope, too, we ain't insensible to the good of the Church and the advantage that it might derive46 from our Paul's support and preachin'. We can't help seein' ourselves that the lad has got abilities; and we've tried to train him up from his youth upward, like Timothy, for the furtherance of the right doctrine. If the Church thinks he's fit for the work laid upon him, his mother and me'll be glad to dedicate him to the[Pg 168] service."
He sat down awkwardly, and the Church again hummed its approbation47 in a suppressed murmur48. The Apostle rose once more, and briefly49 called on Paul Owen to stand forward.
In answer to the call, a tall, handsome, earnest-eyed boy advanced timidly to the platform. It was no wonder that those enthusiastic Gideonite visionaries should have seen in his face the visible stamp of the Apostleship. Paul Owen had a rich crop of dark-brown glossy50 and curly hair, cut something after the Florentine Cinque-cento fashion—not because his parents wished him to look artistic51, but because that was the way in which they had seen the hair dressed in all the sacred pictures that they knew; and Margaret Owen, the daughter of some Wesleyan Spitalfields weaver52 folk, with the imaginative Huguenot blood still strong in her veins53, had made up her mind ever since she became Convinced of the Truth (as their phrase ran) that her Paul was called from his cradle to a great work. His features were delicately chiselled54, and showed rather natural culture, like his mother's, than rough honesty, like John Owen's, or strong individuality, like the masterful Apostle's. His eyes were peculiarly deep and luminous55, with a far-away look which might have reminded an artist of the central boyish figure in Holman Hunt's picture of the Doctors in the Temple. And yet Paul Owen had a healthy colour in his cheek and a general sturdiness of limb and muscle which showed that he was none of your nervous, bloodless, sickly idealists, but a wholesome56 English peasant boy of native refinement57 and delicate sensibilities. He moved forward with some natural hesitation before the eyes of so many people—ay, and what was more terrible, of the entire Church upon earth; but he was not awkward and constrained58 in his action like his father. One could see that he was sustained in the prominent part he took that morning by the consciousness of a duty he[Pg 169] had to perform and a mission laid upon him which he must not reject.
"Are you willing, my son Paul," asked the Apostle, gravely, "to take upon yourself the task that the Church proposes?"
"I am willing," answered the boy in a low voice, "grace preventing me."
"Does all the Church unanimously approve the election of our brother Paul to this office?" the Apostle asked formally; for it was a rule with the Gideonites that nothing should be done except by the unanimous and spontaneous action of the whole body, acting59 under direct and immediate60 inspiration; and all important matters were accordingly arranged beforehand by the Apostle in private interviews with every member of the Church individually, so that everything that took place in public assembly had the appearance of being wholly unquestioned. They took counsel first with one another, and consulted the Scripture61 together; and when all private doubts were satisfied, they met as a Church to ratify62 in solemn conclave63 their separate conclusions. It was not often that the Apostle did not have his own way. Not only had he the most marked personality and the strongest will, but he alone also had Greek and Hebrew enough to appeal always to the original word; and that mysterious amount of learning, slight as it really was, sufficed almost invariably to settle the scruples64 of his wholly ignorant and pliant65 disciples66. Reverence67 for the literal Scripture in its primitive68 language was the corner-stone of the Gideonite Church; and for all practical purposes, its one depositary and exponent69 for them was the Apostle himself. Even the Rev5. Albert Barnes's Commentary was held to possess an inferior authority.
"The Church approves," was the unanimous answer.
"Then, Episcops, Presbyters, and brethren," said the Apostle, taking up[Pg 170] a roll of names, "I have to ask that you will each mark down on this paper opposite your own names how much a year you can spare of your substance for six years to come as a guarantee fund for this great work. You must remember that the ministry of this Church has cost you nothing; freely I have received and freely given; do you now bear your part in equipping a new aspirant70 for the succession to the Apostolate."
The two senior Episcops took two rolls from his hand, and went round the benches with a stylographic pen (so strangely do the ages mingle—Apostles and stylographs) silently asking each to put down his voluntary subscription. Meanwhile the Apostle read slowly and reverently71 a few appropriate sentences of Scripture. Some of the richer members—well-to-do small tradesmen of Peckham—put down a pound or even two pounds apiece; the poorer brethren wrote themselves down for ten shillings or even five. In the end the guarantee list amounted to 195l. a year. The Apostle reckoned it up rapidly to himself, and then announced the result to the assembly, with a gentle smile relaxing his austere72 countenance73. He was well pleased, for the sum was quite sufficient to keep Paul Owen two years at school in London and then send him comfortably if not splendidly to Oxford. The boy had already had a fair education in Latin and some Greek, at the Birkbeck Schools; and with two years' further study he might even gain a scholarship (for he was a bright lad), which would materially lessen74 the expense to the young Church. Unlike many prophets and enthusiasts75, the Apostle was a good man of business; and he had taken pains to learn all about these favourable76 chances before embarking77 his people on so very doubtful a speculation78.
The Assembly was just about to close, when one of the Presbyters rose unexpectedly to put a question which, contrary to the usual practice, had not already been submitted for approbation to the Apostle. He was a[Pg 171] hard-headed, thickset, vulgar-looking man, a greengrocer at Denmark Hill, and the Apostle always looked upon him as a thorn in his side, promoted by inscrutable wisdom to the Presbytery for the special purpose of keeping down the Apostle's spiritual pride.
"One more pint45, Apostle," he said abruptly79, "afore we close. It seems to me that even in the Church's work we'd ought to be business-like. Now, it ain't business-like to let this young man, Brother Paul, get his eddication out of us, if I may so speak afore the Church, on spec. It's all very well our sayin' he's to be eddicated and take on the Apostleship, but how do we know but what when he's had his eddication he may fall away and become a backslider, like Demas and like others among ourselves that we could mention? He may go to Oxford among a lot of Midianites, and them of the great an' mighty of the earth too, and how do we know but what he may round upon the Church, and go back upon us after we've paid for his eddication? So what I want to ask is just this, can't we bind80 him down in a bond that if he don't take the Apostleship with the consent of the Church when it falls vacant he'll pay us back our money, so as we can eddicate up another as'll be more worthy81?"
The Apostle moved uneasily in his chair; but before he could speak, Paul Owen's indignation found voice, and he said out his say boldly before the whole assembly, blushing crimson82 with mingled83 shame and excitement as he did so. "If Brother Grimshaw and all the brethren think so ill of me that they cannot trust my honesty and honour," he said, "they need not be at the pains of educating me. I will sign no bond and enter into no compact. But if you suppose that I will be a backslider, you do not know me, and I will confer no more with you upon the subject."
"My son Paul is right," the Apostle said, flushing up in turn at the[Pg 172] boy's audacity84; "we will not make the affairs of the Spirit a matter for bonds and earthly arrangements. If the Church thinks as I do, you will all rise up."
All rose except Presbyter Grimshaw. For a moment there was some hesitation, for the rule of the Church in favour of unanimity85 was absolute; but the Apostle fixed his piercing eyes on Job Grimshaw, and after a minute or so Job Grimshaw too rose slowly, like one compelled by an unseen power, and cast in his vote grudgingly86 with the rest. There was nothing more said about signing an agreement.
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1
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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2
presidency
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| n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期) | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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laity
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| n.俗人；门外汉 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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7
sects
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| n.宗派，教派( sect的名词复数 ) | |
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8
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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10
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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11
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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12
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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13
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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14
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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15
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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celibacy
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| n.独身(主义) | |
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17
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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18
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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19
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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20
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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21
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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22
worthier
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| 应得某事物( worthy的比较级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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23
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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27
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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28
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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29
err
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| vi.犯错误，出差错 | |
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30
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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31
subtleties
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| 细微( subtlety的名词复数 )； 精细； 巧妙； 细微的差别等 | |
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32
dross
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| n.渣滓；无用之物 | |
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33
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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34
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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35
subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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36
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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40
scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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41
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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42
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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43
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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44
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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45
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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46
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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47
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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48
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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49
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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50
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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51
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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52
weaver
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| n.织布工；编织者 | |
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53
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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54
chiselled
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| adj.凿过的，凿光的； （文章等）精心雕琢的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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55
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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56
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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57
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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58
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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59
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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60
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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61
scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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62
ratify
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| v.批准，认可，追认 | |
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63
conclave
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| n.秘密会议，红衣主教团 | |
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64
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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65
pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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66
disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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67
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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68
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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69
exponent
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| n.倡导者，拥护者；代表人物；指数，幂 | |
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70
aspirant
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| n.热望者；adj.渴望的 | |
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71
reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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72
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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73
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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74
lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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75
enthusiasts
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| n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 ) | |
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76
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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77
embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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79
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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80
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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81
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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82
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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83
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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84
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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85
unanimity
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| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
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86
grudgingly
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