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superstitious legends； we recognize two chief causes。 The first is
the naked individual protest； the voice of the inspiration which
giveth man understanding。 This shows itself conspicuously in the
modern poets。 Burns in Scotland； Bryant； Longfellow； Whittier； in
America； preached a new gospel to the successors of men like Thomas
Boston and Jonathan Edwards。 In due season； the growth of knowledge；
chiefly under the form of that part of knowledge called science； so
changes the views of the universe that many of its long…unchallenged
legends become no more than nursery tales。 The text…books of
astronomy and geology work their way in between the questions and
answers of the time…honored catechisms。 The doctrine of evolution；
so far as it is accepted； changes the whole relations of man to the
creative power。 It substitutes infinite hope in the place of
infinite despair for the vast majority of mankind。 Instead of a
shipwreck； from which a few cabin passengers and others are to be
saved in the long…boat； it gives mankind a vessel built to endure the
tempests； and at last to reach a port where at the worst the
passengers can find rest； and where they may hope for a home better
than any which they ever had in their old country。 It is all very
well to say that men and women had their choice whether they would
reach the safe harbor or not。
〃Go to it grandam； child；
Give grandam kingdom； and it grandam will
Give it a plum； a cherry and a fig。〃
We know what the child will take。 So which course we shall take
depends very much on the way the choice is presented to us； and on
what the chooser is by nature。 What he is by nature is not
determined by himself； but by his parentage。 〃They know not what
they do。〃 In one sense this is true of every human being。 The agent
does not know； never can know； what makes him that which he is。 What
we most want to ask of our Maker is an unfolding of the divine
purpose in putting human beings into conditions in which such numbers
of them would be sure to go wrong。 We want an advocate of helpless
humanity whose task it shall be； in the words of Milton；
〃To justify the ways of God to man。〃
We have heard Milton's argument； but for the realization of his
vision of the time
〃When Hell itself shall pass away；
And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day；〃
our suffering race must wait in patience。
The greater part of the discourse the reader has had before him was
delivered over the teacups one Sunday afternoon。 The Mistress looked
rather grave； as if doubtful whether she ought not to signify her
disapprobation of what seemed to her dangerous doctrine。
However； as she knew that I was a good church…goer and was on the
best terms with her minister； she said nothing to show that she had
taken the alarm。 Number Five listened approvingly。 We had talked
the question over well； and were perfectly agreed on the main point。
How could it be otherwise？ Do you suppose that any intellectual；
spiritual woman； with a heart under her bodice； can for a moment
seriously believe that the greater number of the high…minded men； the
noble and lovely women； the ingenuous and affectionate children； whom
she knows and honors or loves； are to be handed over to the experts
in a great torture…chamber； in company with the vilest creatures that
have once worn human shape？
〃If there is such a world as used to be talked about from the pulpit；
you may depend upon it；〃 she said to me once； 〃there will soon be
organized a Humane Society in heaven； and a mission established among
'the spirits in prison。'〃
Number Five is a regular church…goer； as I am。 I do not believe
either of us would darken the doors of a church if we were likely to
hear any of the 〃old…fashioned〃 sermons； such as I used to listen to
in former years from a noted clergyman； whose specialty was the
doctrine of eternal punishment。 But you may go to the churches of
almost any of our Protestant denominations； and hear sermons by which
you can profit； because the ministers are generally good men； whose
moral and spiritual natures are above the average； and who know that
the harsh preaching of two or three generations ago would offend and
alienate a large part of their audience。 So neither Number Five nor
I are hypocrites in attending church or 〃going to meeting。〃 I am
afraid it does not make a great deal of difference to either of us
what may be the established creed of the worshipping assembly。 That
is a matter of great interest； perhaps of great importance； to them；
but of much less； comparatively； to us。 Companionship in worship；
and sitting quiet for an hour while a trained speaker； presumably
somewhat better than we are； stirs up our spiritual nature；these
are reasons enough to Number Five； as to me； for regular attendance
on divine worship。
Number Seven is of a different way of thinking and feeling。 He
insists upon it that the churches keep in their confessions of faith
statements which they do not believe； and that it is notorious that
they are afraid to meddle with them。 The Anglo…American church has
dropped the Athanasian Creed from its service； the English mother
church is afraid to。 There are plenty of Universalists； Number Seven
says； in the Episcopalian and other Protestant churches； but they do
not avow their belief in any frank and candid fashion。 The churches
know very well； he maintains； that the fear of everlasting punishment
more than any or all other motives is the source of their power and
the support of their organizations。 Not only are the fears of
mankind the whip to scourge and the bridle to restrain them； but they
are the basis of an almost incalculable material interest。 〃Talk
about giving up the doctrine of endless punishment by fire！〃
exclaimed Number Seven； 〃there is more capital embarked in the
subterranean fire…chambers than in all the iron…furnaces on the face
of the earth。 To think what an army of clerical beggars would be
turned loose on the world； if once those raging flames were allowed
to go out or to calm down！ Who can wonder that the old conservatives
draw back startled and almost frightened at the thought that there
may be a possible escape for some victims whom the Devil was thought
to have secured？ How many more generations will pass before Milton's
alarming prophecy will find itself realized in the belief of
civilized mankind？ 〃
Remember that Number Seven is called a 〃crank〃 by many persons； and
take his remarks for just what they are worth； and no more。
Out of the preceding conversation must have originated the following
poem； which was found in the common receptacle of these versified
contributions：
TARTARUS。
While in my simple gospel creed
That 〃God is Love〃 so plain I read；
Shall dreams of heathen birth affright
My pathway through the coming night？
Ah； Lord of life； though spectres pale
Fill with their threats the shadowy vale；
With Thee my faltering steps to aid；
How can I dare to be afraid？
Shall mouldering page or fading scroll
Outface the charter of the soul？
Shall priesthood's palsied arm protect
The wrong our human hearts reject；
And smite the lips whose shuddering cry
Proclaims a cruel creed a lie？
The wizard's rope we disallow
Was justice once；is murder now！
Is there a world of blank despair；
And dwells the Omnipresent there？
Does He behold with smile serene
The shows of that unending scene；
Where sleepless； hopeless anguish lies；
And； ever dying； never dies？
Say； does He hear the sufferer's groan；
And is that child of wrath his own？
O mortal； wavering in thy trust；
Lift thy pale forehead from the dust
The mists that cloud thy darkened eyes
Fade ere they reach the o'erarching skies！
When the blind heralds of despair
Would bid thee doubt a Father's care；
Look up from earth； and read above
On heaven's blue tablet； GOD IS LOVE！
XI
The tea is sweetened。
We have been going on very pleasantly of late； each of us pretty well
occupied with his or her special business。 The Counsellor has been
pleading in a great case； and several of The Teacups were in the
court…room。 I thought； but I will not be certain； that some of his
arguments were addressed to Number Five rather than to the jury；the
more eloquent passages especially。
Our young Doctor seems to me to be gradually getting known in the
neighborhood and beyond it。 A member of one of the more influential
families； whose regular physician has gone to Europe； has sent for
him to come and see her； and as the patient is a nervous lady； who
has nothing in particular the matter with her； he is probably in for
a good many visits and a long bill by and by。 He has even had a call
at a distance of some miles from home；at leas