"It _is_ horrible," said Mr. Alleman, "that a strong organization like the Church, with respectability, morality, tradition, and authority on its side, should teach such a doctrine; but your own sermons, which I have found to be models of logic, though based upon false premises, prove the truth of your condensation of my statements. Men are urged, not to righteousness as taught by prophets, apostles, and the Master himself, but to take the best possible care of Number One--urged to something which the most miserable savage alive knows is dictated by the strongest instinct of his nature. What must Christ, remembering the intensity and agony of his earthly efforts, think of the Church?" Dr. Humbletop assumed, slowly, his pulpit manner, and at length replied: "My dear friend--for dear I must call you in remembrance of your many self-denying efforts for the good of mankind--I must decline to discuss this subject any further with you. For two thousand years the Church of Christ has endured, and guided itself according to the words of Christ himself--" "All of his words, or only such of them as have been fullest of promise of safety?" interrupted Mr. Alleman. "All of them," boldly replied the doctor. "The Church has taught everything that Christ did. I, myself, have preached from every verse of Christ's sermon on the Mount." "But you have carefully avoided the literal meanings of these verses in nearly every instance," said Mr. Alleman. "I have attached to each one such meaning as the Spirit has indicated to me," said the doctor, with rather chilling dignity. "And I would further say that I have treated them according to the habit of the Church during the nineteen centuries that have nearly elapsed since Christ appeared. If I had taught from my own understanding alone, I might have had misgivings; but with countless prophets, apostles, and martyrs to whom to look for example, I have felt secure in my position. You cannot, therefore, expect me to accept your views as opposed to those of the whole body of Christian teachers. The experience of the world is always of value in teaching the teacher what to do and say, and that experience--" "Is always based upon selfishness," interrupted Mr. Alleman. "And that experience," continued Dr. Humbletop, "has been that the atonement made by Christ is the all in all of Scripture." The doctor called for his letters, bowed in a dignified manner to Mr. Alleman and the Squire, and departed.