And had sent it off to his college friend, Carmichael of Drumtochty,
with a running commentary of a very piquant character.
“Thank you, but I fear that my work will prevent me being with you on
Tuesday; it is no light thing for a man to come straight from college to
St Bede's without even a holiday.”
“So sorry, but by-and-bye you will come to one of our little meetings.
Mrs. Thompson greatly enjoyed your sermon to young men this afternoon;
perhaps just a little too much of works and too little of faith. Excuse
the hint--you know the danger of the day--all life, life; but that's a
misleading test By the way, we are all hoping that you may get settled
in a home as well as in your church,” continued Mr. Thompson, with pious
waggery, and then chilling at the want of sympathy on the minister's
face; “but that is a serious matter, and we trust you may be wisely
guided. A suitable helpmeet is a precious gift.”
“Perhaps you may not have heard, Mr. Thompson, that I am engaged”--and
Rutherford eyed the elder keenly,--“and to a girl of whom any man and
any congregation may be proud. I am going north next week to see her and
to settle our marriage day.”
“I am so pleased to hear you say so, and so will all the elders be,
for I must tell you that a rumour came to our ears that gave us great
concern; but I said we must not give heed to gossip, for what Christian
has not suffered in this way at the hand of the world?”
“What was the gossip?” demanded Rutherford, and there was that in his
tone that brooked no trifling.
“You must not take this to heart, dear Mr. Rutherford; it only shows
how we ought to set a watch upon our lips. Well that you were to marry a
young woman in Glen--Glen----”
“Alder. Go on,” said Rutherford. “Yes, in Glenalder, where we all
rejoice to know you did so good a work.”
“I taught a dozen children in the summer months to eke out my living.
But about the young woman--what did they say of her?”
“Nothing at all, except that she was, perhaps, hardly in that position
of society that a clergyman's wife ought to be, especially one in the
west end of Glasgow. But do not let us say anything more of the matter;
it just shows how the great enemy is ever trying to create dissension
and injure the work.”
“What you have heard is perfectly true, except that absurd reference to
Glasgow, and I have the honour to inform you, as I intend to inform the
elders on my return next week, that I hope to be married in a month
or two to Magdalen Macdonald, who was brought up by her grandfather,
Alister Macdonald of the Black Watch, and who herself has a little croft
in Glenalder”--and Rutherford challenged Mr. Thompson, expounder of
Scripture and speculator in iron, to come on and do his worst “Will you
allow me, my dear young friend, to say that there is no necessity
for this... heat, and to speak with you as one who has your... best
Interests at heart, and those of St. Bede's. I feel it to be a special
providence that I should have called this evening.”
“Well?” insisted Rutherford.
“What I feel, and I have no doubt you will agree with me, is that
Christians must not set themselves against the arrangements of
Providence, and you see we are set in classes for a wise purpose. We
are all equal before God, neither 'bond nor free,' as it runs, but it
is expedient that the minister of St Bede's should marry in his own
position. There are many sacrifices we must make for our work's sake;
and, oh, Mr. Rutherford, what care we have to take lest we cast a
stumbling-block in the way of others! It was only last week that a
valued fellow-worker begged me to invite a young lady to my little
drawing-room meeting who was concerned about spiritual things. 'Nothing
would give me greater pleasure,' I said, 'if it would help her; but it
is quite impossible, and you would not have asked me had you known her
history. Her father was a shopkeeper, and in the present divided state
of society I dare not introduce her among the others, all wholesale
without exception.' You will not misunderstand me, Mr. Rutherford?”
“You have stated the case admirably, Mr. Thompson, and from your
standpoint in religion, I think, conclusively. Perhaps the Sermon on the
Mount might...; but we won't go into that Before deciding, however, what
is my duty, always with your aid, you might like to see the face of my
betrothed. There, in that light.”
“Really quite beautiful, and I can easily understand; we were all young
once and... impressionable. As good-looking as any woman in St Bede's?
Excuse me, that is hardly a question to discuss. Grace does not go with
looks. We all know that beauty is deceitful. Knows the poets better
than you do, I dare say. There is a nurse of my sister's, a cabman's
daughter--I beg your pardon for dropping the photograph; you startled
me. But you will excuse me saying that it is not this kind of
knowledge... well, culture, which fits a woman to be a minister's wife.
Addressing a mothers' meeting is far more important than reading
poetry. Highland manners more graceful than Glasgow? That is a very
extraordinary comparison, and... can do no good. Really no one can
sympathise with you more than I do, but I am quite clear as to your duty
as a minister of the Gospel.”
“You mean”--and Rutherford spoke with much calmness--“that I ought to
break our troth. It is not a light thing to do, sir, and has exposed
both men and women to severe... criticism.”
“Certainly, if the matter be mismanaged, but I think, although it's not
for me to boast, that it could be arranged. Now, there was Dr.
Drummer--this is quite between ourselves--he involved himself with a
teacher of quite humble rank during his student days, and it was pointed
out to him very faithfully by his elders that such a union would injure
his prospects. He made it a matter of prayer, and he wrote a beautiful
letter to her, and she saw the matter in the right light, and you know
what a ministry his has been. His present wife has been a real helpmeet;
her means are large and are all consecrated.”
“Do you happen to know what became of the teacher? I only ask for
curiosity, for I know what has become of Dr. Drummer.”
“She went to England and caught some fever, or maybe it was consumption,
but at any rate she died just before the Doctor married. It was all
ordered for the best, so that there were no complications.”
“Exactly; that is evident, and my way seems now much clearer.. There
is just one question more I should like to ask. If you can answer it I
shall have no hesitation about my course. Suppose a woman loved a man
and believed in him, and encouraged him through his hard college days,
and they both were looking forward with one heart to their wedding day,
and then he--did not marry her--what would honourable men think of him,
and what effect would this deed of--prudence have on his ministry of the
Gospel?”
“My dear friend, if it were known that he had taken this step simply
and solely for the good of the cause he had at heart and after prayerful
consideration, there is no earnest man--and we need not care for the
world--who would not appreciate his sacrifice.”
“I do not believe one word you say.” Mr. Thompson smiled feebly, and
began to retire to the door at the look in Rutherford's eye. “But
whether you be right or wrong about the world in which you move, I do
not know. In my judgment, the man who acted as you describe would have
only one rival in history, and that would be Judas Iscariot.”