The chairman went on crossing t's and dotting i's. And soon even Edwin
perceived that the chairman was diplomatically and tactfully, yet very
firmly, bent upon saving the meeting from any possibility of
scandalising itself and the Wesleyan community. Bishop Colenso must not
be approved beneath those roofs. Evidently Edwin had been more
persuasive than he dreamt of; and daring beyond precedent. He had meant
to carry his resolution if he could, whereas, it appeared, he ought to
have meant to be defeated, in the true interests of revealed religion.
The chairman kept referring to his young friend the proposer's brilliant
brains, and to the grave danger that lurked in brilliant brains, and the
inability of brilliant brains to atone for lack of experience. The
meeting had its cue. Young man after young man arose to snub Bishop
Colenso, to hope charitably that Bishop Colenso was sincere, and to
insist that no Bishop Colenso should lead _him_ to the awful abyss of
polygamy, and that no Bishop Colenso should deprive _him_ of that unique
incentive to righteousness--the doctrine of an everlasting burning hell.
Moses was put on his legs again as a serious historian, and the subject
of the resolution utterly lost to view. The Chairman then remarked that
his impartial role forbade him to support either side, and the voting
showed fourteen against one. They all sang the Doxology, and the
Chairman pronounced a benediction. The fourteen forgave the one, as one
who knew not what he did; but their demeanour rather too patently showed
that they were forgiving under difficulty; and that it would be as well
that this kind of youthful temerariousness was not practised too often.
Edwin, in the language of the district, was `sneaped.' Wondering what
on earth he after all _had_ said to raise such an alarm, he nevertheless
did not feel resentful, only very depressed--about the debate and about
other things. He knew in his heart that for him attendance at the
meetings of the Young Men's Debating Society was ridiculous.
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