"We believe that Christ offered himself on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of men, that he was buried, rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father. We believe in the Holy Spirit as being sent by the Father to convict men of sin and righteousness and judgment to come." "What about that, daughter?" "Father is pinning me down, Mr. Sterling, as we go along," she said with a smile. "I think I can accept those doctrines because the New Testament teaches them--at least that is my recollection from my reading of the New Testament." "We believe that Christ in organizing the church gave two ordinances, baptism and the Lord's Supper; that baptism is a sign and seal of God's regenerating grace and that the Lord's Supper is a memorial of his death--the bread typifying his broken body and the wine his shed blood. We believe that Christ speaks of his church as his bride." "Yes, I remember that." "Sterling, you seem to be making good progress," said the father. "Do you accept the doctrines as he has announced them thus far, daughter?" "I think so. They seem to be in accord with what I have read. I have only read the New Testament through twice." "In mentioning our doctrines," he said, "I am not attempting a logical order, nor am I confining myself to strict theological terminology. I am giving our doctrines just as they come before my mind." "Go ahead," said the father. "I think Dorothy will soon find herself a Presbyterian." "I ought to have stated," continued Mr. Sterling, "that we believe that salvation comes by faith in Christ. All of the redeemed in Christ will be received by him when he shall come again and shall live with him in everlasting happiness, but the unbelievers will be banished into everlasting punishment." "Hold on," said Mr. Page; "you don't endorse that last awful doctrine, do you, daughter?" "It is awful, father, but I have to endorse it, for I have read it in the Bible with my own eyes and I remember it was declared by Christ himself." Sterling was delighted at the progress he was making. The thought of Dorothy coming into his church filled him with joy. "Another doctrine," he said: "We believe in Christ's words concerning the little children--'of such is the Kingdom of Heaven'--and that, as Peter said, God's promise is unto his people and to their children and their children's children, and as baptism is the door to the church--" "Oh, yes," exclaimed Dorothy, "I saw a baptism once. Do I have to be baptized, too, Mr. Sterling?" "Yes, indeed." "That was a very interesting baptism I saw in Nebraska, where I was visiting. It was in a river and they put the people under the water." "Oh, Miss Dorothy, that was not baptism," exclaimed Sterling, apparently horrified by her remark. "It was not? What was it, Mr. Sterling?" "It was merely an odd practice observed by certain curious sects. I beg that you will get that well fixed in your mind."