The Zeit-Geist | Page 2

believe, which he mistakes for
religion. I do not know him intimately; I do not wish to. I believe he
has some sort of desire to do what is right; but that, you know, is a
house built upon the sand, unless it is founded upon the desire for
instruction as to what is right. Every one cries up his generosity; for

instance, one of my church-wardens tells him that we need a new organ
in the church and the people won't give a penny-piece towards it, so
Toyner says, with his benevolent smile, 'They must be taught to give.
Tell them I will give half if they will give the other half.' But if the
Roman Catholic priest or a Methodist goes to him the next day for a
subscription, he gives just as willingly if, as is likely, he thinks the
object good. What can you do with a man like that, who has no
principle? It's impossible to have much respect for him."
Now I myself am a school-master, versed in the lore of certain books
ancient and modern, but knowing very little about such a practical
matter as applied theology; nor did I know very much then concerning
the classification of Christians among themselves: but I think that I am
not wrong in saying that this young man belonged to that movement in
the Anglican Church which fights strongly for a visible unity and for
Church tradition. I am so made that I always tend to agree with the man
who is speaking, so my companion was encouraged by my sympathy.
He went on: "I can do with a man that is out-and-out anything. I can
work with a Papist; I can work with a Methodist, as far as I can
conscientiously meet him on common ground, and I can respect him if
he conscientiously holds that he is right and I am wrong: but these
fellows that are neither one thing nor the other--they are as dangerous
as rocks and shoals that are just hidden under the water. You never
know when you have them."
We were upon the broad wooden side-walk of an avenue leading from
the central street of the town to a region of outstanding gardens and
pleasure-grounds, in which the wooden villas of the citizens stood
among luxuriant trees. It is a characteristic of Fentown that the old trees
about the place have been left standing.
A new companion came to my side, and he, as fate would have it, was
another clergyman. He was an older man, with a genial, bearded face. I
think he belonged to that party which takes its name from the Evangel
of whose purity it professes itself the guardian.
"You are going to this entertainment which Mr. and Mrs. Toyner are

giving?" The cordiality of his common-place remark had a certain
restraint in it.
"You are going also?"
"No; it is not a house at which I visit. I have lived here for twenty-five
years, and of course I have known Mr. Toyner more or less all that time.
I do not know how I shall be able to work on the same Council with
him; but we shall see. We, who believe in the truth of religion, must
hold our own if we can."
I was to be the master of the new schools. I pleased him with my
assent.
"I am rather sorry," he continued, "to tell the truth, that you should
begin your social life in Fentown by visiting Mr. Toyner; but of course
this afternoon it is merely a public reception, and after a time you will
be able to judge for yourself. I do not hesitate to say that I consider his
influence, especially with the young people, of a most dangerous kind.
For a long time, you know, he and his wife were quite ostracised--not
so much because of their low origin as because of their religious
opinions. But of late years even good Christians appear disposed to be
friendly with them. Money, you know--money carries all things before
it."
"Yes, that is too often the case."
"Well, I don't say that Toyner doesn't hold up a certain standard of
morality among the young men of the place, but it's a pretty low one;
and he has them all under his influence. There isn't a young fellow that
walks these streets, whether the son of clergyman or beggar, who is not
free to go to that man's house every evening and have the run of his
rooms and his books. And Toyner and his wife will sit down and play
cards with them; or they'll get in a lot of girls, and have a dance, or
theatricals,--the thin end of the wedge, you know, the thin end of the
wedge! And