Part 25 (1/2)
”Yes, sir, that's my name.”
”You signed the pet.i.tion, I see.”
”Yes.”
”Well, then, you must know about these charges which are made against your rector. Now, as regards the first. It states here that he is neglecting certain parts of the parish. Is that true?”
”I understand so.”
”Where?”
”Oh, I hear he hasn't been to Hazel Greek an' Landsdown Corner fer over two years.”
”Any other place?”
”No, I guess them's the only two, but it seems to me to be a purty serious matter fer sich places to be neglected so long.”
”Ah, I see,” and the Bishop looked keenly into Tom's face.
”You're not a vestryman, Mr. Fletcher?” he remarked.
”No, never was one.”
”Did you ever attend an Easter Monday meeting?”
”No, never had time.”
”Do you take a church paper?”
”Should say not. Much as I kin do is to pay fer the newspaper.”
”But, of course, you read the Synod Journal, which is freely distributed.
It contains each year a report from this parish.”
”Yes, I read it sometimes, but there isn't much to interest me in that.”
”But surely, Mr. Fletcher, you must have read there that Hazel Creek and Landsdown Corner were cut off from Glendow over two years ago, and added to the adjoining parish, and are now served by the rector of Tinsborough.
They are more accessible to him, and the change has been a good one.”
”What! Ye don't tell me!” and Tom's eyes opened wide with surprise. ”I never knew that before. The parson never said a word about it.”
”Did you ever ask him? Or did you inquire why he never went to those places?”
”No. I thought----”
”I don't want to know what you thought,” and the Bishop turned sharply upon him. ”Explanations are not needed now. You have proven conclusively that you know nothing about the church affairs in this parish, and care less. According to these registers I find that you never come to Communion and never contribute one cent to the support of the church. But we will let that pa.s.s, and consider the next charge made here.”
”What, about Uncle Billy?”
”Yes. You know the charge made, and as you signed the pet.i.tion you must have some substantial proof to bring forth.”