“I am getting to understand him better every day,” she said to Phyllis.
“He knew that I loved him and him only. He has given me this work to do,
and with God’s help I will do it thoroughly. You did not believe in
the value of George Holland’s doctrines. Neither did I: I never thought
about them. I will accept my husband’s judgment regarding them, and
perhaps I may think about them later on. Our Church will be the most
potent influence for good that the century has yet seen. Yes, I will
throw myself heart and soul into the work. After all, it must be
admitted that the Church has never done its duty as a Church.”
Phyllis said nothing.
But the Rev. George Holland had a good deal to say on the subject of the
codicil, when he was alone with Mrs. Linton, a few days later. He had
by no means made up his mind to sever his connection with the dear old
mother Church, he said. He could not see that there was any need for
his taking so serious a step--an irrevocable step. It was his feeling at
that moment, he declared, that he might be able to effect the object
of his life--which was, of course, the reform of the Church--better by
remaining within its walls than by severing himself from it. He must
take time to consider his position.
He left Mrs. Linton greatly disappointed. It had been her belief that
Mr. Holland would jump at the chance--that was the phrase which she
employed in expressing her disappointment to Phyllis--of becoming the
founder of a brand-new religion.
She was greatly disappointed in Mr. Holland. If Buddha or Edward Irving,
or some of the other founders of new religions had had such a chance
offered to them in early life, would they not have embraced it eagerly?
she asked.
And it was to be such a striking Church! She had made up her mind to
that. It was to be a lasting memorial to the largeness of soul of her
husband--to his appreciation of the requirements of the thinking men and
women of the age. She had made up her mind already as to the character
of the painted windows. The church would itself, of course, be the
purest Gothic. As for the services, she rather thought that the
simplicity of the Early Church might be effectively combined with some
of the most striking elements of Modern Ritualism. However, that would
have to be decided later on.
But when the bishop heard of the codicil he had another interview with
George Holland, and imparted to that young cleric his opinion that he
should avail himself of the opportunity offered to him of trying what
would undoubtedly be a most interesting experiment, and one to the
carrying out of which all true churchmen would look forward most
hopefully. Who could say, he inquired, if the larger freedom which would
be enjoyed by an earnest, sincere, and highly intellectual clergyman,
not in immediate contact with the Establishment, might not avail him to
perfect such a scheme of reform as would eventually be adopted by the
Church?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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