Clara Maynard; Or, The True and the False: A Tale of the Times

by William Henry Giles Kingston

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating, Mr Lerew,” answered Miss Pemberton, dryly. “I have expressed my resolution, and I hope to adhere to it.”

Mr Lerew was not prepared with an answer; but turning to Clara, he said, “I trust, Miss Maynard, that though you have thought fit to abandon the sacred calling to which I had hoped you would have devoted yourself, you will still remain faithful to the Church.”

“I cannot make any promise on the subject,” answered Clara, being anxious not to say anything to irritate the vicar. “I believe that I was before blinded and led away from the truth, when I was induced to enter the sisterhood of Saint Barbara, and I now desire to retrieve my error.”

“I understand you, ladies,” exclaimed the vicar, losing command of his temper. “Remember that by deserting the Church you are guilty of the heinous crime of schism, for which, till repented of, there is no pardon here or hereafter. General Caulfield, I fear that you have much to answer for in having set the example in my parish; you will excuse me for saying so.”

“It is you and those who side with you who are guilty of the schism of which you speak,” said the general, mildly. “The Church of England protests clearly against the errors of Rome; and you, by adopting many, if not all those errors, are virtually cutting yourself off from that Church, although you retain a post in it. But let me explain that the schism spoken of in the New Testament is the departing from the truth of the Gospel, and the practices it inculcates; in other words, those who leave Christ’s spiritual Church. My great object is to draw my fellow-creatures into that Church; to induce them to accept Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life; to persuade them to grasp that hand so lovingly stretched forth to lead them to the Father. I ignore the schism of which you speak, invented by the sacerdotalists to alarm the uneducated. You have my reply, Mr Lerew, and I wish you clearly to understand that I purpose, with God’s assistance, by every means in my power to make known the truth of the Gospel in this parish and in every place where false teaching prevails.”

“Then I shall look upon you as a schismatic and a foe to our Church,” exclaimed Mr Lerew, rising.

“I have already explained to you the true meaning of schism,” said the general, quietly, “and have particularly to request that all further discussion on this subject may cease. Miss Pemberton and her niece have expressed their sentiments, and you have long known mine. I trust that none of us will change; and anything further said on the subject can only cause annoyance.”

Mr Lerew saw that he had lost his influence over Clara and her aunt, and not wishing to remain longer than he could help in the general’s society, quickly took his departure. He had not as yet seen Mr Lennard since his return, nor had he heard the cause of poor Mary’s death; he at once drove over to his house. Instead of the hearty manner Mr Lennard usually exhibited, he received his visitor with marked coldness. Mr Lerew was puzzled.

“I am sorry that my absence from home has prevented me hitherto from calling on you,” he said; “but I rejoice to have you back, and I hope that you will assist at the celebrations in my church.”

“I come to a sad home, deprived of my young daughter by death, and my son by his perversion to the Church of Rome,” answered Mr Lennard, gravely, not noticing the last remark. “I know that my child has left this world for a far better; but I cannot forget that the seeds of her disease were produced by the system practised at the school you recommended, Mr Lerew, as also that my son’s perversion was much owing to the instruction received from the tutor under whom, by your advice, I placed him. The daughter of my late friend Captain Maynard has happily escaped from the toils you threw around her; and though I am ready heartily to forgive the injuries you have inflicted on me, I feel myself called on to expose the traitorous efforts you and others with whom you are associated are making to uproot the Protestant principles of the Church. I believe that I am actuated by no hostile feeling towards yourself personally; but I will take every means in my power to put a stop to the practices which you pursue in your church.”