lay morals-第14节
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d in a fine house。
Damien was HEADSTRONG。
I believe you are right again； and I thank God for his strong head and heart。
Damien was BIGOTED。
I am not fond of bigots myself； because they are not fond of me。 But what is meant by bigotry； that we should regard it as a blemish in a priest？ Damien believed his own religion with the simplicity of a peasant or a child； as I would I could suppose that you do。 For this； I wonder at him some way off； and had that been his only character； should have avoided him in life。 But the point of interest in Damien； which has caused him to be so much talked about and made him at last the subject of your pen and mine； was that； in him； his bigotry； his intense and narrow faith； wrought potently for good； and strengthened him to be one of the world's heroes and exemplars。
Damien WAS NOT SENT TO MOLOKAI； BUT WENT THERE WITHOUT ORDERS。
Is this a misreading？ or do you really mean the words for blame？ I have heard Christ； in the pulpits of our Church； held up for imitation on the ground that His sacrifice was voluntary。 Does Dr。 Hyde think otherwise？
Damien DID NOT STAY AT THE SETTLEMENT； ETC。
It is true he was allowed many indulgences。 Am I to understand that you blame the father for profiting by these； or the officers for granting them？ In either case； it is a mighty Spartan standard to issue from the house on Beretania Street； and I am convinced you will find yourself with few supporters。
Damien HAD NO HAND IN THE REFORMS； ETC。
I think even you will admit that I have already been frank in my description of the man I am defending； but before I take you up upon this head； I will be franker still； and tell you that perhaps nowhere in the world can a man taste a more pleasurable sense of contrast than when he passes from Damien's 'Chinatown' at Kalawao to the beautiful Bishop…Home at Kalaupapa。 At this point； in my desire to make all fair for you； I will break my rule and adduce Catholic testimony。 Here is a passage from my diary about my visit to the Chinatown； from which you will see how it is （even now） regarded by its own officials： 'We went round all the dormitories； refectories； etc。 … dark and dingy enough； with a superficial cleanliness； which he' ＇Mr。 Dutton； the lay… brother＇ 'did not seek to defend。 〃It is almost decent；〃 said he； 〃the sisters will make that all right when we get them here。〃' And yet I gathered it was already better since Damien was dead； and far better than when he was there alone and had his own （not always excellent） way。 I have now come far enough to meet you on a common ground of fact； and I tell you that； to a mind not prejudiced by jealousy； all the reforms of the lazaretto； and even those which he most vigorously opposed； are properly the work of Damien。 They are the evidence of his success； they are what his heroism provoked from the reluctant and the careless。 Many were before him in the field； Mr。 Meyer； for instance； of whose faithful work we hear too little： there have been many since； and some had more worldly wisdom； though none had more devotion； than our saint。 Before his day； even you will confess； they had effected little。 It was his part； by one striking act of martyrdom； to direct all men's eyes on that distressful country。 At a blow； and with the price of his life； he made the place illustrious and public。 And that； if you will consider largely； was the one reform needful； pregnant of all that should succeed。 It brought money； it brought （best individual addition of them all） the sisters； it brought supervision； for public opinion and public interest landed with the man at Kalawao。 If ever any man brought reforms； and died to bring them； it was he。 There is not a clean cup or towel in the Bishop…Home； but dirty Damien washed it。
Damien WAS NOT A PURE MAN IN HIS RELATIONS WITH WOMEN； ETC。
How do you know that？ Is this the nature of the conversation in that house on Beretania Street which the cabman envied； driving past？ … racy details of the misconduct of the poor peasant priest； toiling under the cliffs of Molokai？
Many have visited the station before me； they seem not to have heard the rumour。 When I was there I heard many shocking tales； for my informants were men speaking with the plainness of the laity； and I heard plenty of complaints of Damien。 Why was this never mentioned？ and how came it to you in the retirement of your clerical parlour？
But I must not even seem to deceive you。 This scandal； when I read it in your letter； was not new to me。 I had heard it once before； and I must tell you how。 There came to Samoa a man from Honolulu； he； in a public…house on the beach； volunteered the statement that Damien had 'contracted the disease from having connection with the female lepers'； and I find a joy in telling you how the report was welcomed in a public…house。 A man sprang to his feet； I am not at liberty to give his name； but from what I heard I doubt if you would care to have him to dinner in Beretania Street。 'You miserable little … ' （here is a word I dare not print； it would so shock your ears）。 'You miserable little … ；' he cried； 'if the story were a thousand times true； can't you see you are a million times a lower … for daring to repeat it？' I wish it could be told of you that when the report reached you in your house； perhaps after family worship； you had found in your soul enough holy anger to receive it with the same expressions； ay； even with that one which I dare not print； it would not need to have been blotted away； like Uncle Toby's oath； by the tears of the recording angel； it would have been counted to you for your brightest righteousness。 But you have deliberately chosen the part of the man from Honolulu； and you have played it with improvements of your own。 The man from Honolulu … miserable； leering creature … communicated the tale to a rude knot of beach…combing drinkers in a public…house； where （I will so far agree with your temperance opinions） man is not always at his noblest； and the man from Honolulu had himself been drinking … drinking； we may charitably fancy； to excess。 It was to your 'Dear Brother； the Reverend H。 B。 Gage；' that you chose to communicate the sickening story； and the blue ribbon which adorns your portly bosom forbids me to allow you the extenuating plea that you were drunk when it was done。 Your 'dear brother' … a brother indeed … made haste to deliver up your letter （as a means of grace； perhaps） to the religious papers； where； after many months； I found and read and wondered at it； and whence I have now reproduced it for the wonder of others。 And you and your dear brother have； by this cycle of operations； built up a contrast very edifying to examine in detail。 The man whom you would not care to have to dinner； on the one side； on the other； the Reverend Dr。 Hyde and the Reverend H。 B。 Gage： the Apia bar…room； the Honolulu manse。
But I fear you scarce appreciate how you appear to your fellow…men； and to bring it home to you； I will suppose your story to be true。 I will suppose … and God forgive me for supposing it … that Damien faltered and stumbled in his narrow path of duty； I will suppose that； in the horror of his isolation； perhaps in the fever of incipient disease； he； who was doing so much more than he had sworn； failed in the letter of his priestly oath … he； who was so much a better man than either you or me； who did what we have never dreamed of daring … he too tasted of our common frailty。 'O； Iago； the pity of it！' The least tender should be moved to tears； the most incredulous to prayer。 And all that you could do was to pen your letter to the Reverend H。 B。 Gage！
Is it growing at all clear to you what a picture you have drawn of your own heart？ I will try yet once again to make it clearer。 You had a father： suppose this tale were about him； and some informant brought it to you； proof in hand： I am not making too high an estimate of your emotional nature when I suppose you would regret the circumstance？ that you would feel the tale of frailty the more keenly since it shamed the author of your days？ and that the last thing you would do would be to publish it in the religious press？ Well； the man who tried to do what Damien did； is my father； and the father of the man in the Apia bar； and the father of all who love goodness； and he was your father too； if God had given you grace to see it。
（1） From the Sydney PRESBYTERIAN； October 26； 1889。
THE PENTLAND RISING A PAGE OF HISTORY 1666
'A cloud of witnesses lyes here； Who for Christ's interest did appear。' INSCRIPTION ON BATTLEFIELD AT RULLION GREEN。
THE PENTLAND RISING CHAPTER I … THE CAUSES OF THE REVOLT
'Halt； passenger； take heed what thou dost see； This tomb doth show for what some men did die。' MONUMENT； GREYFRIARS' CHURCHYARD； EDINBURGH； 1661…1668。 （1）
Two hundred years ago a tragedy was enacted in Scotland； the memory whereof has been in great measure lost or obscured by the deep tragedies which followed it。 It is； as it were； the evening of the night of persecution … a sort of twilight；
