CHAPTER XLII. THE RESULT.

eirnorthernbrethrenshouldstandfirm,andholduptheirhands.Alas!howdifferenthasbeentheircourse!Theirapologiesforthismightysinhaveweakenedusmorethanallthingsputtogether.Publicopinionisgoingback.Thechurchisbecomingcorrupted.Ministersaredrawnintoconnivancewithdeadlysin.Childrenandyoutharebeingruinedbyhabitsofearlytyranny.Ourlandisfullofslave-prisonsandthepoortrader—nomancarethforhissoul!Ourpoorwhitesaregivenuptoignoranceandlicentiousnessandourministers,likeourbrotherBonnie,here,begintodefendthisevilfromtheBible.BrotherCalker,here,talksofthePresbyterianChurch.Alas!inherskirtsisfoundthebloodofpoorinnocents,andsheiswilling,forthesakeofunion,todestroythemforwhomChristdied.Brethren,youknownotwhatyoudo.Youenjoytheblessingsoflivinginalanduncursedbyanysuchevils.Yourchurches,yourschools,andallyourindustrialinstitutions,aregoingforward,whileoursaregoingbackwardandyoudonotfeelit,becauseyoudonotliveamongus.Buttakecare!Onepartofthecountrycannotbecomedemoralizedwithout,atlast,affectingtheother.Thesinyoucherishandstrengthenbyyourindifferencemayatlastcomebackinjudgmentsthatmayvisitevenyou.IprayGodtoavertit!But,asGodisjust,Itrembleforyouandforus!Well,good-by,brethrenImustbeonmyway.Youwillnotlistentome,andmysoulcannotcomeintoyourcounsels." AndfatherDicksonrosetodepart. "Oh,come,come,now,brother,don'ttakeitsoseriously!"saidDr.Cushing."Stay,atleast,andspendthedaywithus,andletushavealittleChristiantalk." "Imustgo,"saidfatherDickson."Ihaveanappointmenttopreach,whichImustkeep,forthisevening,andsoImustbidyoufarewell.IhopedtodosomethingbycomingherebutIseethatitisallinvain.Farewell,brethrenIshallprayforyou." "Well,fatherDickson,Ishouldliketotalkmorewithyouonthissubject,"saidDr.Cushing."Docomeagain.Itisverydifficulttoseethepathofdutyinthesematters." PoorDr.Cushingwasoneofthosewhoaredestined,likestationaryships,forevertofloatupanddowninonespot,onlyusefulinmarkingtheebbandfloodofthetide.Affection,generosity,devotion,hehad—everythingbutthepowertomoveon. Clayton,whohadseenatoncethatnothingwastobedoneorgained,rose,andsaidthathisbusinesswasalsopressing,andthathewouldaccompanyfatherDicksononhisway. "WhatagoodfellowDicksonis!"saidCushing,afterhereturnedtotheroom. "Heexhibitsaveryexcellentspirit,"saidDr.Packthread. "Oh,Dicksonwoulddowellenough,"saidDr.Calker,"ifhewasn'tamonomaniac.That'swhat'sthematterwithhim!Butwhenhegetstogoingonthissubject,Ineverhearwhathesays.Iknowit'snousetoreasonwithhim—entirelytimelost.Ihaveheardallthesethingsoverandoveragain." "ButIwish,"saidDr.Cushing,"somethingcouldbedone." "Well,whodoesn't?"saidDr.Calker."Weallwishsomethingcouldbedonebut,ifitcan't,itcan'tthere'stheendofit.Sonowletusproceed,andlookintobusinessalittlemoreparticularly." "Afterall,"saidDr.Packthread,"youoldschoolbrethrenhavegreatlytheadvantageofus.Althoughyouhaveafewpoorgoodsouls,likethisDickson,theyareinsoinsignificantaminoritythattheycandonothing—can'tevengetintothegeneralassembly,orsendinaremonstrance,orpetition,oranythingelsesothatyouareneverplaguedasweare.Wecannotevenchooseamoderatorfromtheslave-holdingstates,forfearofanexplosionbutyoucanhaveslave-holdingmoderators,oranythingelsethatwillpromoteharmonyandunion."