He told
himself that Father Frontford was his Superior, and as such to be
followed, not criticised; he resolved not to think, but endeavored to
give his whole attention to the lecture. Here however he did little
better. The glories of the church upon which the speaker dwelt seemed
to Wynne in his present mood poor and paltry triumphs of dogmatism,--or
even, why not of superstition indeed? He was startled by the sin of his
questioning, yet it seemed impossible to silence the mocking inner
voice.
"This is one of the incidents," he at last became aware that the Father
was saying to close, "which strikingly illustrate the need of implicit
obedience. If the church were a simple organization of man, if it were
for the accomplishment of worldly ends, if its object were the
aggrandizement of individuals, nothing could be more dangerous than the
establishment in it of what seems like arbitrary power. As it is
directed from above; as its aim is nothing less than the spiritual
uplifting of the race; as, indeed, upon it rests the salvation, under
God, of mankind, the case is different. It is necessary that no energy
be lost; that all the power of the church be used to the best
advantage; that the hand assist the head and the head have complete
control of the hand.
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