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t much scruple； or they may cut a few osiers that belong to some one else； if they happen to want some； but these are mere peccadilloes compared with the wrongdoing that goes on among a town population。 Moreover； the people in this valley seem to me to be devoutly religious。〃
〃Devout？〃 queried the cure with a smile； 〃there is no fear of fanaticism here。〃
〃But；〃 objected Cambon； 〃if the people all went to mass every morning； sir； and to confession every week； how would the fields be cultivated？ And three priests would hardly be enough。〃
〃Work is prayer；〃 said the cure。 〃Doing one's duty brings a knowledge of the religious principles which are a vital necessity to society。〃
〃How about patriotism？〃 asked Genestas。
〃Patriotism can only inspire a short…lived enthusiasm；〃 the curate answered gravely； 〃religion gives it permanence。 Patriotism consists in a brief impulse of forgetfulness of self and self…interest； while Christianity is a complete system of opposition to the depraved tendencies of mankind。〃
〃And yet； during the wars undertaken by the Revolution； patriotism〃
〃Yes； we worked wonders at the time of the Revolution；〃 said Benassis； interrupting Genestas； 〃but only twenty years later； in 1814； our patriotism was extinct； while； in former times； a religious impulse moved France and Europe to fling themselves upon Asia a dozen times in the course of a century。〃
〃Maybe it is easier for two nations to come to terms when the strife has arisen out of some question of material interests；〃 said the justice of the peace； 〃while wars undertaken with the idea of supporting dogmas are bound to be interminable； because the object can never be clearly defined。〃
〃Well； sir； you are not helping any one to fish！〃 put in Jacquotte； who had removed the soup with Nicolle's assistance。 Faithful to her custom； Jacquotte herself always brought in every dish one after another； a plan which had its drawbacks； for it compelled gluttonous folk to over…eat themselves； and the more abstemious； having satisfied their hunger at an early stage； were obliged to leave the best part of the dinner untouched。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the cure； with a glance at the justice of the peace； 〃how can you allege that religious wars have had no definite aim？ Religion in olden times was such a powerful binding force； that material interests and religious questions were inseparable。 Every soldier； therefore； knew quite well what he was fighting for。〃
〃If there has been so much fighting about religion；〃 said Genestas； 〃God must have built up the system very perfunctorily。 Should not a divine institution impress men at once by the truth that is in it？〃
All the guests looked at the cure。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said M。 Janvier； 〃religion is something that is felt and that cannot be defined。 We cannot know the purpose of the Almighty； we are no judges of the means He employs。〃
〃Then； according to you； we are to believe in all your rigmaroles；〃 said Genestas； with the easy good…humor of a soldier who has never given a thought to these things。
〃The Catholic religion； better than any other； resolves men's doubts and fears； but even were it otherwise； I might ask you if you run any risks by believing in its truths。〃
〃None worth speaking of；〃 answered Genestas。
〃Good！ and what risks do you not run by not believing？ But let us talk of the worldly aspect of the matter； which most appeals to you。 The finger of God is visible in human affairs； see how He directs them by the hand of His vicar on earth。 How much men have lost by leaving the path traced out for them by Christianity！ So few think of reading Church history； that erroneous notions deliberately sown among the people lead them to condemn the Church； yet the Church has been a pattern of perfect government such as men seek to establish to…day。 The principle of election made it for a long while the great political power。 Except the Catholic Church； there was no single religious institution which was founded upon liberty and equality。 Everything was ordered to this end。 The father…superior； the abbot； the bishop； the general of an order； and the pope were then chosen conscientiously for their fitness for the requirements of the Church。 They were the expression of its intelligence； of the thinking power of the Church； and blind obedience was therefore their due。 I will say nothing of the ways in which society has benefited by that power which has created modern nations and has inspired so many poems； so much music； so many cathedrals； statues； and pictures。 I will simply call your attention to the fact that your modern systems of popular election； of two chambers； and of juries all had their origin in provincial and oecumenical councils； and in the episcopate and college of cardinals； but there is this difference；the views of civilization held by our present…day philosophy seem to me to fade away before the sublime and divine conception of Catholic communion； the type of a universal social communion brought about by the word and the fact that are combined in religious dogma。 It would be very difficult for any modern political system； however perfect people may think it； to work once more such miracles as were wrought in those ages when the Church as the stay and support of the human intellect。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Genestas。
〃Because； in the first place； if the principle of election is to be the basis of a system； absolute equality among the electors is a first requirement； they ought to be 'equal quantities；' things which modern politics will never bring about。 Then； great social changes can only be effected by means of some common sentiment so powerful that it brings men into concerted action； while latter…day philosophism has discovered that law is based upon personal interest； which keeps men apart。 Men full of the generous spirit that watches with tender care over the trampled rights of the suffering poor； were more often found among the nations of past ages than in our generation。 The priesthood； also； which sprang from the middle classes； resisted material forces and stood between the people and their enemies。 But the territorial possessions of the Church and her temporal power； which seemingly made her position yet stronger； ended by crippling and weakening her action。 As a matter of fact； if the priest has possessions and privileges； he at once appears in the light of an oppressor。 He is paid by the State； therefore he is an official： if he gives his time； his life； his whole heart； this is a matter of course； and nothing more than he ought to do； the citizens expect and demand his devotion； and the spontaneous kindliness of his nature is dried up。 But； let the priest be vowed to poverty； let him turn to his calling of his own free will； let him stay himself on God alone； and have no resource on earth but the hearts of the faithful； and he becomes once more the missionary of America； he takes the rank of an apostle； he has all things under his feet。 Indeed； the burden of wealth drags him down； and it is only by renouncing everything that he gains dominion over all men's hearts。〃
M。 Janvier had compelled the attention of every one present。 No one spoke； for all the guests were thoughtful。 It