I wuz overcome by his simple words, and I bust out onbeknown to me—
“I hain’t found it.” Sez I, and onconsciously I used the words of another—“‘We are all poor creeters,’ but we try to worship the true God—we try to follow the teachin’s of Him who loved us, and give His life to us.”
“The wise man who lived in Galilee and taught the people?” sez he.
“No,” sez I, “not the wise man, but the Divine One—the God who left His throne and dwelt with us awhile in the form of the human. We try to foller His teachings—a good deal of the time we do,” sez I, honestly and sadly.
For more and more this strange creeter’s words sunk into my heart, and made me feel queer—queer as a dog.
“I have read His words. I loved Him when a boy, I love Him still. I go into your great churches sacred to His name. I find in one grand church they say He is there alone, and not in any other. I go into another, just as great, and they say He is there, and not in the one I first visited; and then I go to another, and another, and yet another.
“All have different ways and beliefs. All say God is here within the narrow walls of this church, and not in the others. Oh! I get so confused, I know not what to do. How can I, a poor stranger, trace His footsteps through all these conflicting creeds? I grow sad, and my heart fills with doubt and darkness. Well I remember His words that I had pondered in my heart when a boy—‘That they who loved Him should bear the cross and follow Him,’ and love and care for His poor. In all these great, beautiful churches I hear sweet music. In some I see grand pictures, and note the incense floating up toward the Heavens; in some I see high vaulted roofs, and the light in many glowing colors falls on the bowed forms of the worshippers. I hear holy words, the voice of prayer, but I see no crosses borne, and all are rich and grand. I go down in the low places. I see the poor toiling on unpitied and uncared for. I see these rich people worship in the churches one day, and pray—‘Grant us mercy as we are merciful to others.’
“And then the next day they put burdens on the poor, so hard that they can hardly bear them, the poor, starving, dying, herded together like animals, in wretched places unfit for dumb creatures.
“And ever the rich despise the poor, and the poor curse the rich—both bitter against each other, even unto death.
“I find no God of Love in this.