A Mason's Story.

Exemplar , Jesus Christ , come once more in the flesh , he would be the first to raise his voice ancl protest at once and for ever against this theologicosocial ostracism . Oh ! my friends , let ns believe noble things , let us hope noble thing's of our fellow men and women , and , believing what is good , and taking no account of what is bad , we shall be led to believe , and trust , ancl hope nobler things of God than those which an effete superstition has associated Him

with . Perhaps onr atheist friends may not be much further wrong than we are ; at any rate let us learn to hope that for them there may be , if not on this earth , at least beyond , a spiritual Gehenna in which their souls shall be cleansed , so that they too shall walk in white robes ancl sing for ever that grand hallelujah song , " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain , and hath redeemed us to God by his own blood . "

It was not settled that clay , nor for a good many clays , what Penhryn should do . To stay in his native town was admitted to be an impossibilit y under the circumstances . At last an appointment was , by the kindness of a neighbouring nobleman , secured for him as travelling secretary to another nobleman , who was about to travel theOrient . Peuhryn ' s father wrote a characteristic letter to Mr . Mortonwhich threw that gentleman into a state of rihteous

indig-, g nation . When it arrived he was comfortably seated in his study , writing a treatise on the " happiness of the elect , compared with the misery of the predestined . " As soon as he had read it he rang the bell violently , ancl in answer to the old servant who thrust his startled face in at the doorway , as though he expected to see the room on fire , he said " Send Miss Mary to me . " Mary cameand her father gave her the letter to readsaying as he did so

, , that he trusted her acquaintance with tradespeople ancl atheists had been productive of enough annoyance to both him and her , and the sooner she saw her way clear to give it up , the better it would be . Whilst she is reading it , we will take an author ' s licence ancl glance at it over her shoulder . It was as follows -.

—33 , Petersgate , November 27 th . SIR , —My son has this morning informed me that you have rejected his overtures for your daughter ' s hand , on account of his views regarding theological matters . I am mainly responsible for those views , and if your behaviour of last night is the logical outcome of your religion , I am glad to have nothing to do with it . I am not very sorry at what he has told me . When time has passed over his head , the wound will be healed , and then he will be glad that his theory brings forth better fruits than your own . He will know then how to appreciate both his own and yours at their proper value . Religion , sir , has ever Imno- on

to the chariot wheels of freethought , and endeavoured to impede its progress , but the vehicle goes ever forward , and will continue to do so , in spite of love-crossings and other tomfoolery . All history attests this . In 1553 your tutelary deity , Calvin , burned Sevetns , because they could not agree about God . You would , I dare say , burn me , and because you cannot in this world , I am to have it in the next . A great divine has thus written , " God is a yrent word . He who feels and understands that will judge more mildly and more justly of those who confess they do not dare to say they believe in God . " In the eyes of the JewsJesus was an atheistancl the Christians were known among the Greeks and Romans

, , as infidels . I nm the same in your eyes , and you , speaking in all charity , will say that I am a lying empiric or knave or fool . I do not speak in charity , so I will only say you are a pious Christian . Penhryn is leaving here , and he will , I trust , try to forget those who have so bitterly wronged him . — -Yours , & c , W . FALCONER .

" Well , " said her father , when Mary had finished perusing this strange production , " what do you think now ? " " I think , " said Mary steadily , " that both you ancl Mr . Falconer are mistaken in your estimate of Penhryn , ancl I shall refuse to believe any evil of him . Mr . Falconer ' s letter was true , but it was cruel of him to say such things . I do not think he will ever forget me , but I do think that Penhryn will become a Christian yet . "

With that she walked out of the room . Whether Mary , or her father , or Mr . Falconer was right , we shall afterwards see . 2 A 2