"I believe everything that Jesus said was meant just as it was spoken," said he; "whether what we call common sense has got anything to do with it or not, is none of our business. Of course we can't live up to it all—we're born in sin and shapen in iniquity; our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked—but what we can't do, he did for us, by dying on the cross. We can never act according to his teachings—we'd go to the poor-house or into our coffins as soon as we attempted it. If we could do it, there wouldn't have been any need of an atonement."
"Then the atonement is an excuse for rascality, is it?" asked Captain Maile. The Captain's own house had been erected by Builder Stott, and many had been his complaints of features which had proved not in accordance with the spirit of the contract.
Leader Bates felt extremely uncomfortable; he never had liked personalities, and hated them all the worse when they interfered with that heavenly feeling which was to him the principal object of all religious meetings. He made haste to call upon Mr. Alleman, and that gentleman replied:
"Mr. Leader, there can be no doubt that this passage was spoken to living men, about living interests, and that it not only can be lived up to by the exercise of such qualities as men already have, but that it must be treated and respected as truth if men do not wish the disgrace and penalties of hypocrisy. Of what consequence is it to true righteousness if men will or will not reconcile scriptural injunctions with business desires? Bring business up to truth, not truth down to business, is the earthly application of Christ's teachings."
"That," said Builder Stott, "may be all right in running a first-class academy, but you can't run the building business on any such basis."
The hour for dismission was reached at that instant, with Mr. Hopper still nervously shaking the coat-tail pocket which contained the review with the article on the "True Location of the Holy Sepulchre." Two or three of the members departed, but the greater number stood about and discussed the discussion.
"Well, everybody had a chance to speak his mind," said Mr. President Lottson.
"That's so," said Mr. Buffle, founder of the class, rubbing his hands enthusiastically. "Nobody was afraid of his neighbor's opinions."
"There seemed a general disposition to view the subject from all points," remarked Mr. Prymm.