Some of the people noticed their pastor’s evident displeasure, and so did one or two of the deacons. But no one dreamed that he would dare to utter any dissent to the service.
Was he mad? Perhaps he was, for the time, as many men and women become, who nurse a groundless, senseless anger and jealousy! He was jealous of this man’s hold upon the people. He had not dreamed that any man could hold his congregation, as this man was holding them. He was angry, too, at the doctrine preached.
With a startling suddenness he leaped to his feet, forgetting his weakness, as he cried:—
“I will not have that lying, senseless nonsense—worse than nonsense—preached in my church, Mr. Doig. You will either announce another text, and take a different subject, sir, or you must cease to preach!”
A slight flush rose into the cheeks of the preacher, as he half turned to the pastor, and in low, but firm voice, heard everywhere amid the sudden strained silence, he said:—
“Dear Pastor, if you insist, (you have the legal right to do so, as pastor of this church, I suppose) I will desist. But I cannot, if I preach on, do other than declare all that God would have me do. Why, even as we are here, our Loving Lord may come, and if I faltered in my testimony I should have to meet Him ashamedly—and—”
“Rot!” muttered the pastor. The word was heard by everyone, and a murmur of strong dissent ran through the place.
With a white angry face, and flashing savage eyes, the Pastor walked to the table, and leant upon it heavily in his weakness, as he cried hoarsely, “This service is now concluded. While I hold the pastorate, no such sentimental rubbish, as Mr. Doig seems bent upon giving us, shall be voiced from this platform.”
One of the deacons protested. The pastor was firm. Passion had rendered him temporarily irresponsible. Another of the deacons, who had been conferring with Doig—who had whispered the facts of the pastor’s evident temporary irresponsibility—now urged the people to disperse quietly.
Doig walked down to his host, and whispered, “if I go at once, it will help matters.” The pair then left the church. The congregation followed quickly. The deacons remained behind to confer together over the situation, which was of a hitherto unheard of character.