“I don’t see how you can say such a thing, mother,” said Ethel, with painstaking enunciation. “I think it our solemn duty to discuss matters that affect our souls. If there ever comes a time when I can’t believe in God I want to die! I don’t see how any one can live without the hope of a better world than this. Without that nothing would be worth while.”
“Please don’t think I want to destroy any one’s faith,” John replied. “But for myself I try to keep tight hold of the idea that it’s a part of our job to make that better world right here. And if we do that and there is a better place after death I don’t believe anybody’s going to be kept out of it for not believing what he can’t.”
“John,” began Haley with a deprecatory smile, “that’s exactly where I used to stand! You don’t need to feel discouraged about your doubts. If we just will to believe we can overcome everything. That’s the truth, isn’t it, Ethel?”
Ethel promptly affirmed his statement, and Mrs. Durland softened the affirmation out of deference for John’s feelings.
“I think I agree with John,” said Grace; “I’d like to believe a lot of things the church teaches but I can’t; I’m always stumbling over some doubt.”
“I didn’t know you called yourself an agnostic,” said Ethel severely.
“I don’t know that it’s necessary to classify myself,” Grace replied coldly.
Haley volunteered to lend John certain books which he had found helpful in overcoming his own doubts. John listened attentively as Haley named them and replied that he had read them and when Mr. Durland asked John if he had read “The Age of Reason,” Mrs. Durland thwarted Ethel’s attempt to denounce that work by remarking that she thought they could all agree that every effort to promote peace and happiness in the world was worthy of encouragement.
“You’ve said something there, Mrs. Durland,” said John soberly. “I’m strong for that.”
“I guess that leaves us nothing to quarrel about after all,” said Haley, beaming with tolerance.