[Sidenote: Religious Perplexities]
Mr. Horne had won the respect and devotion of the high school boys by
his efficient and conscientious coaching of the athletic teams.
Therefore, it was not strange that one of the boys, Donald Hope, came to
him one day after school, and, after much hesitation, plunged into a
discussion of religious faith.
“Now, our minister says we ought to believe,” he said, “and I don’t see
how we’re to believe a thing that we never saw or felt or heard, but
that people just tell us is so. It isn’t scientific. I don’t want to be
wicked, you know—he says you’re condemned if you don’t believe; but
how’s a person to believe when he doesn’t?”
Mr. Home was greatly puzzled by this question, and much troubled as
well. He hardly knew whether to attempt to answer it or not; finally, he
decided he would better not.
“You ask Mr. Curtis about it, Donald,” he said. (Mr. Curtis was the
minister whose teaching Donald had reported.) “You see, I’m a public
school teacher, and we are not allowed by law to teach religion.
Besides, I’ve never thought much about such matters, and I might tell
you wrong.”
Donald went away with a heavy heart. Mr. Home was the one person in whom
he had faith enough to take to him this big and serious question, and he
had failed him. He did not think for a moment of going to Mr. Curtis,
who was elderly and inclined to be dogmatic. He resolved to wait until
chance might bring him an explanation of his difficulties.