The chairman began to speak at once. His function was to call upon the
speakers in the order arranged, and to sum up before putting the
resolution to the vote. But now he produced surprisingly a speech of
his own. He reminded the meeting that in 1860 Bishop Colenso had
memorialised the Archbishop of Canterbury against compelling natives who
had already more than one wife to renounce polygamy as a condition to
baptism in the Christian religion; he stated that, though there were
young men present who were almost infants in arms at that period, he for
his part could well remember all the episode, and in particular Bishop
Colenso's amazing allegation that he could find no disapproval of
polygamy either in the Bible or in the writings of the Ancient Church.
He also pointed out that in 1861 Bishop Colenso had argued against the
doctrine of Eternal Punishment. He warned the meeting to beware of
youthful indiscretions. Every one there assembled of course meant well,
and believed what it was a duty to believe, but at the same time...
"I shall write father a letter!" said Edwin to himself. The idea came
to him in a flash like a divine succour; and it seemed to solve all his
difficulties--difficulties unconnected with the subject of debate.
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