“The occasion?” she repeated, without acknowledging that she had instantly grasped his implication. His eyes were on her gown.
“You are not accustomed, as a rule, to pay much deference to Sunday.”
“Doesn't the Bible say, somewhere,” she inquired, “that the Sabbath was made for man? Perhaps that may be broadened after a while, to include woman.”
“But you have never been an advocate, so far as I know, of women taking advantage of their opportunity by going to Church.”
“What's the use,” demanded Alison, “of the thousands of working women spending the best part of the day in the ordinary church, when their feet and hands and heads are aching? Unless some fire is kindled in their souls, it is hopeless for them to try to obtain any benefit from religion—so-called—as it is preached to them in most churches.”
“Fire in their souls!” exclaimed the banker.
“Yes. If the churches offered those who might be leaders among their fellows a practical solution of existence, kindled their self-respect, replaced a life of drudgery by one of inspiration—that would be worth while. But you will never get such a condition as that unless your pulpits are filled by personalities, instead of puppets who are all cast in one mould, and who profess to be there by divine right.”
“I am glad to see at least that you are taking an interest in religious matters,” her father observed, meaningly.
Alison coloured. But she retorted with spirit.
“That is true of a great many persons to-day who are thinking on the subject. If Christianity is a solution of life, people are demanding of the churches that they shall perform their function, and show us how, and why, or else cease to encumber the world.”