"I don't think they can have sunk so low as the early Corinthian
Church yet," said Mr Graham, "and St. Paul never seems to have
blamed himself for preaching the gospel to the Corinthians."
"Weel, maybe!" rejoined Mair. "But, meantime, the practical p'int
is--are we to tyauve (struggle) to set things richt again, or
are we to lea' them to their ain devices?"
"What power have you to set things right?"
"Nane, sir. The Baillies' Barn 's as free to them as to oorsel's."
"What influence have you, then?"
"Unco little," said Bow o' meal, taking the word. "They're afore
the win'. An' it 's plain eneuch 'at to stan' up an' oppose them
wad be but to breed strife an' debate."
"An' that micht put mony a waukent conscience soon' asleep again
--maybe no to be waukent ony mair," said Blue Peter.
"Then you don't think you can either communicate or receive benefit
by continuing to take a part in those meetings?"
"I dinna think it," answered all three.
"Then the natural question is--'Why should you go?'"
"We're feart for the guilt o' what the minister ca's shism," said
Blue Peter.
"That might have occurred to you before you forsook the parish
church," said the schoolmaster, with a smile.
"But there was nae speeritooal noorishment to be gotten i' that
houff (haunt)," said Jeames Gentle.
"How did you come to know the want of it?"
"Ow, that cam frae the speerit himsel'-what else?" replied Gentle.
"By what means?"
"By the readin' o' the word an' by prayer," answered Gentle.
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