Part 44 (1/2)

”His motive was wrong, sir,” answered the other; ”but his act was good.

The way to convert the Jews is, first to accept their rites. This is one of the greatest discoveries of this age. _We_ must make the first step towards _them_. For myself, I have adopted all which the present state of their religion renders possible. And I don't despair to see the day when b.l.o.o.d.y sacrifices will be offered on the Temple Mount as of old.”

Here he came to a pause; and Charles making no reply, he said, in a brisk, off-hand manner, ”May I not hope you will give your name to this religious object, and adopt the old ritual? The Catholic is quite of yesterday compared with it.” Charles answering in the negative, Zerubbabel wrote down in his book: ”Refuses to take part in our scheme;”

and disappeared from the room as suddenly as he entered it.

CHAPTER VIII.

Charles's trials were not at an end; and we suspect the reader will give a shudder at the news, as having a very material share in the infliction. Yet the reader's case has this great alleviation, that he takes up this narrative in an idle hour, and Charles encountered the reality in a very busy and anxious one. So, however, it was: not any great time elapsed after the retreat of Zerubbabel, when his landlord again appeared at the door. He a.s.sured Mr. Reding that it was no fault of his that the last two persons had called on him; that the lady had slipped by him, and the gentleman had forced his way; but that he now really did wish to solicit an interview for a personage of great literary pretensions, who sometimes dealt with him, and who had come from the West End for the honour of an interview with Mr. Reding.

Charles groaned, but only one reply was possible; the day was already wasted, and with a sort of dull resignation he gave permission for the introduction of the stranger.

It was a pale-faced man of about thirty-five, who, when he spoke, arched his eyebrows, and had a peculiar smile. He began by expressing his apprehension that Mr. Reding must have been wearied by impertinent and unnecessary visitors--visitors without intellect, who knew no better than to obtrude their fanaticism on persons who did but despise it. ”I know more about the Universities,” he continued, ”than to suppose that any congeniality can exist between their members and the ma.s.s of religious sectarians. You have had very distinguished men among you, sir, at Oxford, of very various schools, yet all able men, and distinguished in the pursuit of Truth, though they have arrived at contradictory opinions.”

Not knowing what he was driving at, Reding remained in an att.i.tude of expectation.

”I belong,” he continued, ”to a Society which is devoted to the extension among all cla.s.ses of the pursuit of Truth. Any philosophical mind, Mr. Reding, must have felt deep interest in your own party in the University. Our Society, in fact, considers you to be distinguished Confessors in that all-momentous occupation; and I have thought I could not pay yourself individually, whose name has lately honourably appeared in the papers, a better compliment than to get you elected a member of our Truth Society. And here is your diploma,” he added, handing a sheet of paper to him. Charles glanced his eye over it; it was a paper, part engraving, part print, part ma.n.u.script. An emblem of truth was in the centre, represented, not by a radiating sun or star, as might be expected, but as the moon under total eclipse, surrounded, as by cherub faces, by the heads of Socrates, Cicero, Julian, Abelard, Luther, Benjamin Franklin, and Lord Brougham. Then followed some sentences to the effect that the London Branch a.s.sociation of the British and Foreign Truth Society, having evidence of the zeal in the pursuit of Truth of Charles Reding, Esq., member of Oxford University, had unanimously elected him into their number, and had a.s.signed him the dignified and responsible office of a.s.sociate and corresponding member.

”I thank the Truth Society very much,” said Charles, when he got to the end of the paper, ”for this mark of their good will; yet I regret to have scruples about accepting it till some of the patrons are changed, whose heads are prefixed to the diploma. For instance, I do not like to be under the shadow of the Emperor Julian.”

”You would respect his love of Truth, I presume,” said Mr. Batts.

”Not much, I fear,” said Charles, ”seeing it did not hinder him from deliberately embracing error.”

”No, not so,” answered Mr. Batts; ”_he_ thought it Truth; and Julian, I conceive, cannot be said to have deserted the Truth, because, in fact, he always was in pursuit of it.”

”I fear,” said Reding, ”there is a very serious difference between your principles and my own on this point.”

”Ah, my dear sir, a little attention to our principles will remove it,”

said Mr. Batts: ”let me beg your acceptance of this little pamphlet, in which you will find some fundamental truths stated, almost in the way of aphorisms. I wish to direct your attention to page 8, where they are drawn out.”

Charles turned to the page, and read as follows:--

”_On the pursuit of Truth._

1. It is uncertain whether Truth exists.

2. It is certain that it cannot be found.

3. It is a folly to boast of possessing it.

4. Man's work and duty, as man, consist, not in possessing, but in seeking it.

5. His happiness and true dignity consist in the pursuit.

6. The pursuit of Truth is an end to be engaged in for its own sake.

7. As philosophy is the love, not the possession of wisdom, so religion is the love, not the possession of Truth.

8. As Catholicism begins with faith, so Protestantism ends with inquiry.

9. As there is disinterestedness in seeking, so is there selfishness in claiming to possess.