第45章 Losing One Friend to Gain Another (1)
For toleration had its griefs, And charity its trial.Whittier "Well, Osmond, you got into hot water a few years ago for defending Raeburn in public, and by this time you will find it not merely hot, but up to boiling point.The fellow is more notorious than ever."The speaker was one of Charles Osmond's college friends, a certain Mr.Roberts, who had been abroad for a good many years, but, having returned on account of his health, had for a few months been acting as curate to his friend.
"A man who works as indefatigably as Mr.Raeburn has done can hardly avoid being noticed," replied Charles Osmond.
"You speak as if you admired the fellow!""There is a good deal to admire in Mr.Raeburn.However greatly mistaken he is, there is no doubt that he is a brave man, and an honest man.""You can speak in such a way of a man who makes his living by speaking and writing against God.""I hope I can speak the truth of every man, whether his creed agrees with mine or not.""A man who grows rich on blasphemy! Who sows poison among the people and reaps the harvest!" exclaimed Mr.Roberts.
"That he teaches fearful error, I quite allow," said Charles Osmond, "but it is the grossest injustice to say that he does it for gain.His atheism brought him to the very brink of starvation some years ago.Even now he is so crippled by the endless litigation he has had that he lives in absolute penury.""But that letter you sent to the 'Church Chronicle' was so uncalled for, you put the comparison so broadly""I put it in plain "English," said Charles Osmond, "I merely said, as I think, that he puts many of us to shame by his great devotion.
The letter was a reply to a very unfair article about the Rilchester riot; it was absolutely necessary that some one should speak.I tell you, Roberts, if you knew the man, you could not speak so bitterly of him.It is not true that he leads a selfish, easy-going life; he has spent thousands and thousands of pounds in the defense of his cause.I don't believe there is a man in England who has led a more self-denying life.It may be very uncomfortable news for us, but we've no right to shut our ears to it.I wish that man could stir up an honest sense of shame in every sleepy Christian in the country.I believe that, indeed, to be his rightful mission.Raeburn is a grand text for a sermon which the nation sorely needs.'Here is a man who spends his whole strength in propagating his so-called gospel of atheism.Do you spend your whole strength in spreading the gospel of Christ? Here is a man, willing to leave his home, willing to live without one single luxury, denying himself all that is not necessary to actual health.Have you ever denied yourself anything? Here is a man who spends his whole living all that he has on what he believes to be the truth.What meager tithe do you bestow upon the religion of which you speak so much? Here is a man who dares to stand up alone in defense of what he holds true, a man who never flinches.How far are you brave in the defense of your faith? Do you never keep a prudent silence? Do you never howl with the wolves?'""Thank Heaven you are not in the pulpit!" ejaculated Mr.Roberts.
"I wish those words could be sent through the length and breadth of the land," said Charles Osmond.
"No doubt Mr.Raeburn would thank you," said his friend, with a sharp-edged smile."It would be a nice little advertisement for him.Why, from a Church of England parson it would make his fortune! My dear Osmond, you are the best fellow in the world, but don't you see that you are playing into the enemy's hands.""I am trying to speak the words that God has given me to speak,"said Charles Osmond."The result I can well trust to Him.An uncomfortable truth will never be popular.The words of our Lord Himself were not popular; but they sunk into men's hearts and bore fruit, though He was put to death as a blasphemer and a revolutionary.""Well, at least then, if you must take up the cudgels in his defense, do not dishonor the clerical profession by personal acquaintance with the man.I hear that he has been seen actually in your house, that you are even intimate with his family.""Roberts, I didn't think our beliefs were so very different.In fact, I used to think we were nearer to each other on these points than most men.Surely we both own the universal Fatherhood of God?""Of course, of course," said Mr.Roberts, quickly.
"And owning that, we cannot help owning the universal brotherhood of men.Why should you then cut yourself off from your brother, Luke Raeburn?""He's no brother of mine!" said Mr.Roberts, in a tone of disgust.
Charles Osmond smiled.
"We do not choose our brothers, we have no voice in the growth of the family.There they are.""But the man says there is no God."
"Excuse me, he has never said that.What he says is, that the word God conveys no meaning to him.If you think that the best way to show your belief in the All-Father and your love to all His children lies in refusing so much as to touch those who don't know Him, you are of course justified in shunning every atheist or agnostic in the world.But I do not think that the best way.It was not Christ's way.Therefore, I hail every possible opportunity of meeting Mr.Raeburn or his colleagues, try to find all the points we have in common, try as far as possible to meet them on their own ground.""And the result will be that people will call you an atheist yourself!" broke in Mr.Roberts.