the grey room(灰房间)-第29节
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indeed silent for some time； while her father…in…law flowed on and uttered
his conviction。 Yet not all his intensity and asseverations could justify
such extravagant assertion。 At another time they might even have
amused Mary； but in sight of the fact that her father was yielding； and that
the end of the argument would mean the clergyman in the Grey Room； she
could win nothing but frantic anxiety from the situation。 Sir Walter was
broken； he had lost his hold on reality； and she realized that。 His
unsettled intelligence had gone over to the opposition； and there was none；
as it seemed； to argue on her side。
Septimus May had acted like a dangerous drug on Sir Walter； he
ppeared to be intoxicated in some degree。 But only in mind； not in
manner。 He argued for his new attitude； and he was not as excited as the
priest； but maintained his usual level tones。
〃I agreed with Mannering and Henry yesterday； as you know； Mary；〃
he said； 〃and at my desire Mr。 May desisted from his wish。 We see how
mistaken I was； how right he must have been。 I have thought it out this
afternoon； calmly and logically。 These unfortunate young men have died
without a reason； for be sure no explanation of Peter Hardcastle's death
will be forthcoming though the whole College of Surgeons examines his
corpse。 Then we must admit that life has been snatched out of these
bodies by some force of which we have no conception。 Were it natural；
science would have discovered a reason for death； but it could not；
because their lives flowed away as water out of a bottle； leaving the bottle
unchanged in every particular。 But life does not desert its physical
habitation on these terms。 It cannot quit a healthy； human body neither
ruined nor rent。 You must be honest with yourself； my child； as well as
with your father…in…law and me。 A physical cause being absolutely ruled
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out； what remains？ To…night I emphatically support Mr。 May； and my
conscience； long in terrible concern； is now at rest again。 And because it
is at rest； I know that I have done well。 I believe that what dear Tom's
father desires to do … namely； to spend this night in the Grey Room … is
now within his province and entirely proper to his profession； and I share
his perfect faith and confidence。〃
〃It is you who lack faith； Mary；〃 continued Septimus May。 〃You lack
faith； otherwise you would appreciate the unquestionable truth of what
your father tells you。 Listen；〃 he continued； 〃and understand something of
what this means from a larger outlook than our own selfish and immediate
interests。 Much may come of my action for the Faith at large。 I may
find an answer to those grave questions concerning the life beyond and the
whole problem of spiritualism now convulsing the Church and casting us
into opposing sections。 It is untrodden and mysterious ground； but I am
called upon to tread it。 For my part； I am never prepared to flout
inquirers if they approach these subjects in a reverent spirit。 We must not
revile good men because they think differently from ourselves。 We must
examine the assertions of such inquirers as Sir Oliver Lodge and Sir
Conan Doyle in a mood of reverence and sympathy。 Some men drift
away from the truth in vital particulars； but not so far that they cannot
return if the road is made clear to them。
〃We must remember that our conviction of a double existence rests on
the revelation of God through His Son； not on a mere； vague desire toward
a future life common to all sorts and conditions of men。 They suspected
and hoped； we know。 Science may explain that general desire if it
pleases； it cannot explain； or destroy； the triumphant certainty born of faith。
Spiritualism has succeeded to the biblical record of 'possession；' and I； for
my part； of course prefer what my Bible teaches。 I do not myself find
that the 'mediums' of modern spiritualism speak with tongues worthy of
much respect up to the present； and it is certain that rogues abound； but the
quesion is clamant。 It demands to be discussed by our spiritual guides
and the fathers of the Church。 Already they recognize this fact and are
beginning to approach it … some priests in a right spirit； some … as at the
Church Congress last month … in a wrong spirit。〃
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A wrong spirit； May？〃 asked Sir Walter。
〃In my opinion； a wrong spirit；〃 answered the other。 〃There is much；
even in a meeting of the Church Congress； that makes truly religious men
mourn。 They laughed when they should have learned。 I refer to incidents
and criticisms of last October。 There the Dean of Manchester； who
shows how those； who have apparently spoken to us from Beyond through
the mouths of living persons； describe their different states and conditions。
Stainton Moses gave us a vision of heaven such as an Oxford don and
myself might be supposed to appreciate。
〃Raymond describes a heaven wherein the average second lieutenant
could find all that； for the moment； he needs。 But why laugh at these
things？ If we make our own hells； shall we not make our own heavens？
We must go into the next world more or less cloyed and clogged with the
emotions and interests of this one。 It is inevitable。 We cannot instantly
throw off a life … time of interests； affections； and desires。 We are still
human and pass onward as human beings； not as angels of light。
〃Therefore； we may reasonably suppose that the Almighty will temper
the wind to the shorn lamb； nor impose too harsh and terrible a
transformation upon the souls of the righteous departed； but lead one and
all； by gradual stages and through not unfamiliar conditions； to the heaven
of ultimate and absolute perfection that He has designed for His conscious
creatures。〃
〃Well spoken〃 said Sir Walter。
But Mr。 May had not finished。 He proceeded to the immediate point。
〃Shall it be denied that devils have been cast out in the name of God？〃
he asked。 〃And if from human tenements； then why not from dwellings
made with human hands also？ May not a house be similarly cleansed as
well as a soul？ This unknown spirit … angel or fiend； or other sentient
being … is permitted to challenge mankind and draw attention to its
existence。 A mystery； I grant； but its Maker has now willed that some
measure of this mystery shall be revealed to us。 We are called to play our
part in this spirit's existence。
〃It would seem that it has endured a sort of imprisonment in this
particular room for more years than we know； and it may actually be the
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spirit of some departed human being condemned； for causes that humanity
has forgotten； to remain within these walls。 The nameless and unknown
thing cries passionately to be liberated； and is permitted by its Maker to
draw our terrified attention upon itself by the exercise of destructive
functions transcending our reason。
〃God； then； has willed that； through the agency of devout and living
men； the unhappy phantom shall now be translated and moved from this
environment for ever； and to me the appointed task is allotted。 So I
believe； as firmly as I believe in the death and resurrection of the Lord。
Is that clear to you； Sir Walter？〃
〃It is。 You have made it convincingly clear。〃
〃So be it； then。 I； too； Mary； am not dead to the meaning of science
in its proper place。 We may take an illustration of what I have told you
from astronomy。 As comets enter our system from realms of which we
have no knowledge； dazzle us a l
