CAST OUT FROM THE FOLD.
A council, of which Galbraith was _ex-officio_ president, controlled
the affairs of the tabernacle, and adjudicated on all offences
committed by members of the congregation against the rules of the
body.
As far as he was able the pastor tempered the decrees of the council
with mercy, and there was yet another thing which made this body weak
in comparison with similar institutions in the West. This was the
natural shallowness of the East Indian, and his inability to feel or
think deeply. In this manner the gloomy tenets of a religious sect,
which called themselves the elect of heaven, and condemned all others
to eternal torment, were softened.
The instances were rare in which those terrible mental struggles so
often described in the annals of Methodism took place. At the same
time the belief in the direct interposition of the Creator in the
smallest matters was intensified almost beyond imagination, and
meanings were often assigned to the most ordinary actions of everyday
life which, if they were not sad, would be laughable to contemplate.
Galbraith was an unconscious doubter, and he was perhaps the only man
there whose faith, unknown to himself, was tottering on its
foundations. In a dim sort of way he was conscious that there was
something wrong with himself, and the impulse to throw off the chains
of the cheerless belief to which he was bound was at times almost
greater than he could endure. It was his hourly duty to exhort his
flock to find Christ. Many of them asserted that they had made the
discovery, and looked with complacent satisfaction on the certainty of
future salvation.
But while John Galbraith was raising his voice and preaching to his
people, there was that within him that told him that he himself was
unable to find the haven of rest, and a longing for a warmer belief,
one full of love and charity, would come upon him.
* * * * *
Elder Bullin, arrayed in a solemn suit of black, stood, hat in hand,
at his doorstep. His brownberry was ready, the lamps flashing brightly
in the darkness of the evening.
It was the date of the monthly meeting of the tabernacle, and the
elder was determined to put Mr. Sarkies out of the fold, that "tainted
wether," whose further touch was contamination. His daughters stood
beside him to see him off, and the elder, rapping his stick on the
fibre matting, impressed upon the girls the necessity for holding
godly communion among themselves during his absence.
His speech was interrupted by the fact that in slipping his hand into
his waistcoat pocket, he suddenly remembered that he had forgotten his
spectacles.
Hastily stopping his discourse, he walked back to his room, and
found the brown leather case lying on a square envelope on his
writing-table. He picked up the case, and, pulling out the glasses,
fixed them carefully over his eyes. He then picked up the envelope. It
was not addressed, but carefully sealed. He rubbed it between his
finger and thumb. There was evidently something inside it. The bright
pink colour aroused his suspicions.
"The livery of the scarlet woman," he said, as he tore it open. As he
read, the expression of his countenance changed from profound
astonishment to anger, and then to utter contempt.
"Verses--poetry--Satan hath lain in wait for this unhappy young man,
and his portion shall be of the wrath to come--verses--and to
me--pah!"
He recognised the writing and the monogram, and was self-complacent
enough to imagine that the verses were addressed to him.
When he returned to the hall his daughters were still dutifully
waiting there. He said no word to them, however, but, entering his
carriage, closed the door after him with a bang, and was rapidly
driven off. The meeting was to be held in the church, and all the
members of the council were already expecting the elder. On his
arrival there was a solemn scene of handshaking all round, and then
the pastor opened the meeting with a short but fervent prayer. At the
conclusion of this, a decorous time was allowed for the members to
recover a sitting posture, and Mr. Bunny, rising, begged permission to
address the assembly. In a few words he explained that it was above
all things desirable that their pastor should be a married man, and
went on to say that the Lord had worked this out in his own manner, so
that the spirit had moved Galbraith to seek the hand of their beloved
sister, Halsa Lamport, in marriage, and that it was proposed to
celebrate the ceremony with all the speed consistent with good taste.
Mr. Bunny trusted that the assemblage would rejoice with their beloved
guide in his choice.
It was scarcely possible to do otherwise than congratulate Galbraith,
and the council did so, but in a half-hearted fashion that showed they
doubted his wisdom. Elder Bullin alone raised his voice in protest.
"She walks forth decked in gay colours that are not of the Lord's," he
said, "and has not found the perfect peace. Far be it for me to
interfere in this matter, but my conscience"--here he smote his breast
with his hand--"tells me that it would have been wiser----" Mr. Bunny
started up, but Galbraith laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.
"Gently, brother," he said; "let the elder say his say."
But the murmur of discontent that arose told the elder he had gone far
enough. "I will say no more on this point," he said; "but as I am now
addressing the meeting, desire to bring to its notice the scandalous
conduct of our brother, James Sarkies, who, on the Sabbath before
last, profaned the Lord's day by cursing within the precincts of the
temple. Of what avail is it that such should be of our fold--better is
it that we cast out the offending member. Does not the Scripture say,
'If thine eye offend thee, cast it out'?"
"The Scripture also says, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged,'" replied
Galbraith. Elder Bullin lifted his eyes in smug satisfaction to the
ceiling.
"I," he said, somewhat irrelevantly, "am sure of my salvation; are you
of yours? Do you know where your footsteps lead you? Mine lead me to
the golden gates."
At that moment the desire to say that he was walking blindly, and
needed light more than any there, swept over Galbraith. He controlled
himself with an effort, however, and sat still, leaning lightly on the
table with his elbow.
"And furthermore," went on the elder, "the misguided youth has so far
lost his respect for age that he has addressed me for forgiveness in
poetry, and mocked me before my face." He laid the offending verses on
the table as he spoke. "This is his writing," he said; "those who wish
may read it."
Mr. Bunny stretched forth his hand and handed the paper to the pastor.
Galbraith read it with an amusement he could not conceal.
"I think, elder," he said, "this was not meant for you."
Bullin fairly gurgled with rage. "I will read it aloud," he said, "and
let the council judge." The paper trembled in his hand as he spoke,
and it was with a voice quivering with anger that he read the
unfortunate Sarkies's production.
Almost as the first verse was begun, however, a smile appeared on the
faces of the members in assembly, and as the elder went on they burst
out into uncontrollable mirth.
Bullin dashed the paper on the table, and made as if he were about to
leave the meeting. "I will depart," said he; "the devil has possessed
you that you laugh at the mockery to my gray hairs."
He had reached the door before restraining hands seized him, and he
was brought back with many apologies.
Notwithstanding their amusement, the council were resolved to make an
example of Sarkies. Galbraith, however, made an effort in his defence.
He hoped, he said, to bring the erring youth back to better ways. But
notwithstanding all his persuasions, he was outvoted in this instance,
even Bunny taking the elder's side, and the expulsion of Sarkies was
decided on.
Bullin was not inclined to let the grass grow under his feet. The
formal letter was then and there written, signed by all the members,
and handed to the clerk for despatch.
It was now deemed advisable to bring the sitting to a close, and this
was done with the same formal ceremony of prayer which opened it.
The members now dispersed, the elder showing his gratitude for Bunny's
support by insisting on driving him home.