Besides, although, as
you know, I am not a convert myself, I do lose a little patience when
I hear it preached as a gospel to every poor conceited creature who
goes to your Sunday evening atheist lecture, that he is to believe
nothing on one particular subject which his own precious intellect
cannot verify, and the next morning he finds it to be his duty to
swallow wholesale anything you please to put into his mouth. As to
the tyranny, the day may come, and I believe is approaching, when the
majority will be found to be more dangerous than any ecclesiastical
establishment which ever existed.'
Baruch's lips moved, but he was silent. He was not strong in
argument. He was thinking about Marshall's triumphant inquiry
whether God is not responsible for slavery. He would have liked to
say something on that subject, but he had nothing ready.
'Practical people,' said Dennis, who had not quite recovered from the
rebuke as to the warmth of the room, 'are often most unpractical and
injudicious. Nothing can be more unwise than to mix up politics and
religion. If you DO,' Dennis waved his hand, 'you will have all the
religious people against you. My friend Marshall, Miss Hopgood, is
under the illusion that the Church in this country is tottering to
its fall. Now, although I myself belong to no sect, I do not share
his illusion; nay, more, I am not sure'--Mr Dennis spoke slowly,
rubbed his chin and looked up at the ceiling--'I am not sure that
there is not something to be said in favour of State endowment--at
least, in a country like Ireland.
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