the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第1节
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The Grey Brethren
The Grey Brethren
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The Grey Brethren
The Grey Brethren
Some of the happiest remembrances of my childhood are of days spent
in a little Quaker colony on a high hill。
The walk was in itself a preparation； for the hill was long and steep
and at the mercy of the north…east wind； but at the top； sheltered by a
copse and a few tall trees； stood a small house； reached by a flagged
pathway skirting one side of a bright trim garden。
I； with my seven summers of lonely； delicate childhood； felt； when I
gently closed the gate behind me； that I shut myself into Peace。 The house
was always somewhat dark； and there were no domestic sounds。 The two
old ladies； sisters； both born in the last century； sat in the cool； dim parlour；
netting or sewing。 Rebecca was small； with a nut…cracker nose and chin；
Mary； tall and dignified； needed no velvet under the net cap。 I can feel
now the touch of the cool dove…coloured silk against my cheek； as I sat on
the floor； watching the nimble fingers with the shuttle； and listened as
Mary read aloud a letter received that morning； describing a meeting of
the faithful and the 'moving of the Spirit' among them。 I had a mental
picture of the 'Holy Heavenly Dove；' with its wings of silvery grey；
hovering over my dear old ladies； and I doubt not my vision was a true
one。
Once as I watched Benjamin； the old gardener … a most 'stiff…backed
Friend' despite his stoop and his seventy years … putting scarlet geraniums
and yellow fever…few in the centre bed； I asked； awe… struck； whether such
glowing colours were approved； and Rebecca smiled and said … 〃Child；
dost thee not think the Lord may have His glories？〃 and I looked from the
living robe of scarlet and gold to the dove…coloured gown； and said：
〃Would it be pride in thee to wear His glories？〃 and Mary answered for
her … 〃The change is not yet； better beseems us the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit。
The 'change from glory to glory' has come to them both long since； but
it seems to me as if their robes must still be Quaker…grey。
Upstairs was the invalid daughter and niece。 For years she had been
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The Grey Brethren
compelled to lie on her face； and in that position she had done wonderful
drawings of the High Priest； the Ark of the Covenant； and other Levitical
figures。 She had a cageful of tame canary…birds which answered to their
names and fed from her plate at meal…times。 Of these I remember only
Roger； a gorgeous fellow with a beautiful voice and strong will of his own；
who would occasionally defy his mistress from the secure fastness of a
high picture…frame； but always surrendered at last； and came to listen to
his lecture with drooping wings。
A city of Peace； this little house； for the same severely…gentle decorum
reigned in the kitchen as elsewhere： and now； where is such a haunt to be
found？
In the earlier part of this century the Friends bore a most important
witness。 They were a standing rebuke to rough manners； rude speech；
and to the too often mere outward show of religion。 No one could fail to
be impressed by the atmosphere of peace suggested by their bearing and
presence； and the gentle； sheltered； contemplative lives lived by most of
them undoubtedly made them unusually responsive to spiritual influence。
Now； the young birds have left the parent nest and the sober plumage and
soft speech； they are as other men； and in a few short years the word
Quaker will sound as strange in our ears as the older appellation Shaker
does now。
This year I read for the first time the Journal of George Fox。 It is
hard to link the rude； turbulent son of Amos with the denizens in my city
of Peace； but he had his work to do and did it； letting breezy truths into the
stuffy 'steeple…houses' of the 'lumps of clay。'
〃Come out from among them and be ye separate； touch not the
accursed thing！〃 he thundered； and out they came； obedient to his
stentorian mandate； but alack； how many treasures in earthen vessels did
they overlook in their terror of the curse！ The good people made such
haste to flee the city； that they imagined themselves as having already； in
the spirit； reached the land that is very far off； and so they cast from them
the outward and visible signs which are vehicles； in this material world； of
inward graces。 Measureless are the uncovenanted blessings of God； and to
these the Friends have ever borne a witness of power； but now the
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Calvinist intruder no longer divides the sheep from the goats in our
churches； now the doctrine of universal brotherhood and the respect due to
all men are taught much more effectively than when George Fox refused
to doff his hat to the Justice； the quaint old speech has lost its significance；
the dress would imply all the vainglory that the wearer desires to avoid；
the young Quakers of this generation are no longer 'disciplined' in matters
of the common social life； yet still they remain separate。
We of the outward and visible covenant need them； with their inherited
mysticism； ordered contemplation； and spiritual vision； we need them for
ourselves。 The mother they have left yearns for them； and with all her
faults … faults the greater for their absence … and with the blinded eyes of
their recognition； she is their mother still。 〃WHAT ADVANTAGE THEN
HATH THE JEW？〃 asked St Paul； and answered in the same breath …
〃MUCH EVERY WAY； CHIEFLY BECAUSE THAT UNTO THEM
WERE COMMITTED THE ORACLES OF GOD。〃 What advantage
then has the Churchman？ is the oft repeated question today； and the
answer is still the answer of St Paul。
The Incarnation is the sum of all the Sacraments； the crown of the
material revelation of God to man； the greatest of outward and visible
signs； 〃THAT WHICH WE HAVE HEARD； WHICH WE HAVE SEEN
WITH OUR EYES； WHICH WE HAVE LOOKED UPON AND OUR
HANDS HAVE HANDLED OF THE WORD OF LIFE。〃 A strange
beginning truly； to usher in a purely spiritual dispensation； but beautifully
fulfilled in the taking up of the earthly into the heavenly … Bread and Wine；
the natural fruits of the earth； sanctified by man's toil； a sufficiency for his
needs； and instinct with Divine life through the operation of the Holy
Ghost。
〃In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread。〃
〃Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood ye
have no life in you〃
〃And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations。〃
From Genesis to the Revelation of the Divine reaches the rainbow of
the Sacramental system … outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual
grace：…
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The sacrament of purging； purifying labour； to balance and control the
knowledge of good and evil：…
The sacrament of life； divine life； with the outward body of
humiliation； bread and wine； fruit of the accursed ground； but useless
without man's labour； and St Paul； caught up into the third heaven； and St
John； with his wide…eyed vision of the Lamb； must eat this bread and drink
this cup if they would live：…
The sacrament of healing； the restoring of the Image of God in fallen
man。
The Church is one society； nay； the world is one society； for man
without his fellow…men is not； and into the society； both of the Church and
the world； are inextricably woven the most social sacraments。
Herein is great purpose； we say； bending the knee； and with deep
consciousness of
