lay morals-第16章
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have been many since； and some had more worldly wisdom； though none had more devotion； than our saint。 Before his day； even you will confess； they had effected little。 It was his part； by one striking act of martyrdom； to direct all men's eyes on that distressful country。 At a blow； and with the price of his life； he made the place illustrious and public。 And that； if you will consider largely； was the one reform needful； pregnant of all that should succeed。 It brought money； it brought （best individual addition of them all） the sisters； it brought supervision； for public opinion and public interest landed with the man at Kalawao。 If ever any man brought reforms； and died to bring them； it was he。 There is not a clean cup or towel in the Bishop…Home； but dirty Damien washed it。
Damien WAS NOT A PURE MAN IN HIS RELATIONS WITH WOMEN； ETC。
How do you know that？ Is this the nature of the conversation in that house on Beretania Street which the cabman envied； driving past？ … racy details of the misconduct of the poor peasant priest； toiling under the cliffs of Molokai？
Many have visited the station before me； they seem not to have heard the rumour。 When I was there I heard many shocking tales； for my informants were men speaking with the plainness of the laity； and I heard plenty of complaints of Damien。 Why was this never mentioned？ and how came it to you in the retirement of your clerical parlour？
But I must not even seem to deceive you。 This scandal； when I read it in your letter； was not new to me。 I had heard it once before； and I must tell you how。 There came to Samoa a man from Honolulu； he； in a public…house on the beach； volunteered the statement that Damien had 'contracted the disease from having connection with the female lepers'； and I find a joy in telling you how the report was welcomed in a public…house。 A man sprang to his feet； I am not at liberty to give his name； but from what I heard I doubt if you would care to have him to dinner in Beretania Street。 'You miserable little … ' （here is a word I dare not print； it would so shock your ears）。 'You miserable little … ；' he cried； 'if the story were a thousand times true； can't you see you are a million times a lower … for daring to repeat it？' I wish it could be told of you that when the report reached you in your house； perhaps after family worship； you had found in your soul enough holy anger to receive it with the same expressions； ay； even with that one which I dare not print； it would not need to have been blotted away； like Uncle Toby's oath； by the tears of the recording angel； it would have been counted to you for your brightest righteousness。 But you have deliberately chosen the part of the man from Honolulu； and you have played it with improvements of your own。 The man from Honolulu … miserable； leering creature … communicated the tale to a rude knot of beach…combing drinkers in a public…house； where （I will so far agree with your temperance opinions） man is not always at his noblest； and the man from Honolulu had himself been drinking … drinking； we may charitably fancy； to excess。 It was to your 'Dear Brother； the Reverend H。 B。 Gage；' that you chose to communicate the sickening story； and the blue ribbon which adorns your portly bosom forbids me to allow you the extenuating plea that you were drunk when it was done。 Your 'dear brother' … a brother indeed … made haste to deliver up your letter （as a means of grace； perhaps） to the religious papers； where； after many months； I found and read and wondered at it； and whence I have now reproduced it for the wonder of others。 And you and your dear brother have； by this cycle of operations； built up a contrast very edifying to examine in detail。 The man whom you would not care to have to dinner； on the one side； on the other； the Reverend Dr。 Hyde and the Reverend H。 B。 Gage： the Apia bar…room； the Honolulu manse。
But I fear you scarce appreciate how you appear to your fellow…men； and to bring it home to you； I will suppose your story to be true。 I will suppose … and God forgive me for supposing it … that Damien faltered and stumbled in his narrow path of duty； I will suppose that； in the horror of his isolation； perhaps in the fever of incipient disease； he； who was doing so much more than he had sworn； failed in the letter of his priestly oath … he； who was so much a better man than either you or me； who did what we have never dreamed of daring … he too tasted of our common frailty。 'O； Iago； the pity of it！' The least tender should be moved to tears； the most incredulous to prayer。 And all that you could do was to pen your letter to the Reverend H。 B。 Gage！
Is it growing at all clear to you what a picture you have drawn of your own heart？ I will try yet once again to make it clearer。 You had a father： suppose this tale were about him； and some informant brought it to you； proof in hand： I am not making too high an estimate of your emotional nature when I suppose you would regret the circumstance？ that you would feel the tale of frailty the more keenly since it shamed the author of your days？ and that the last thing you would do would be to publish it in the religious press？ Well； the man who tried to do what Damien did； is my father； and the father of the man in the Apia bar； and the father of all who love goodness； and he was your father too； if God had given you grace to see it。
（1） From the Sydney PRESBYTERIAN； October 26； 1889。
THE PENTLAND RISING A PAGE OF HISTORY 1666
'A cloud of witnesses lyes here； Who for Christ's interest did appear。' INSCRIPTION ON BATTLEFIELD AT RULLION GREEN。
THE PENTLAND RISING CHAPTER I … THE CAUSES OF THE REVOLT
'Halt； passenger； take heed what thou dost see； This tomb doth show for what some men did die。' MONUMENT； GREYFRIARS' CHURCHYARD； EDINBURGH； 1661…1668。 （1）
Two hundred years ago a tragedy was enacted in Scotland； the memory whereof has been in great measure lost or obscured by the deep tragedies which followed it。 It is； as it were； the evening of the night of persecution … a sort of twilight； dark indeed to us； but light as the noonday when compared with the midnight gloom which followed。 This fact； of its being the very threshold of persecution； lends it； however； an additional interest。
The prejudices of the people against Episcopacy were 'out of measure increased；' says Bishop Burnet； 'by the new incumbents who were put in the places of the ejected preachers； and were generally very mean and despicable in all respects。 They were the worst preachers I ever heard； they were ignorant to a reproach； and many of them were openly vicious。 They 。 。 。 were indeed the dreg and refuse of the northern parts。 Those of them who arose above contempt or scandal were men of such violent tempers that they were as much hated as the others were despised。' （2） It was little to be wondered at； from this account that the country…folk refused to go to the parish church； and chose rather to listen to outed ministers in the fields。 But this was not to be allowed； and their persecutors at last fell on the method of calling a roll of the parishioners' names every Sabbath； and marking a fine of twenty shillings Scots to the name of each absenter。 In this way very large debts were incurred by persons altogether unable to pay。 Besides this； landlords were fined for their tenants' absences； tenants for their landlords'； masters for their servants'； servants for their masters'； even though they themselves were perfectly regular in their attendance。 And as the curates were allowed to fine with the sanction of any common soldier； it may be imagined that often the pretexts were neither very sufficient nor well proven。
When the fines could not be paid at once； Bibles； clothes； and household utensils were seized upon； or a number of soldiers； proportionate to his wealth； were quartered on the offender。 The coarse and drunken privates filled the houses with woe； snatched the bread from the children to feed their dogs； shocked the principles； scorned the scruples； and blasphemed the reli
