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doctrine of eternal punishment。 But you may go to the churches of
almost any of our Protestant denominations； and hear sermons by which
you can profit； because the ministers are generally good men； whose
moral and spiritual natures are above the average； and who know that
the harsh preaching of two or three generations ago would offend and
alienate a large part of their audience。 So neither Number Five nor
I are hypocrites in attending church or 〃going to meeting。〃 I am
afraid it does not make a great deal of difference to either of us
what may be the established creed of the worshipping assembly。 That
is a matter of great interest； perhaps of great importance； to them；
but of much less； comparatively； to us。 Companionship in worship；
and sitting quiet for an hour while a trained speaker； presumably
somewhat better than we are； stirs up our spiritual nature；these
are reasons enough to Number Five； as to me； for regular attendance
on divine worship。
Number Seven is of a different way of thinking and feeling。 He
insists upon it that the churches keep in their confessions of faith
statements which they do not believe； and that it is notorious that
they are afraid to meddle with them。 The Anglo…American church has
dropped the Athanasian Creed from its service； the English mother
church is afraid to。 There are plenty of Universalists； Number Seven
says； in the Episcopalian and other Protestant churches； but they do
not avow their belief in any frank and candid fashion。 The churches
know very well； he maintains； that the fear of everlasting punishment
more than any or all other motives is the source of their power and
the support of their organizations。 Not only are the fears of
mankind the whip to scourge and the bridle to restrain them； but they
are the basis of an almost incalculable material interest。 〃Talk
about giving up the doctrine of endless punishment by fire！〃
exclaimed Number Seven； 〃there is more capital embarked in the
subterranean fire…chambers than in all the iron…furnaces on the face
of the earth。 To think what an army of clerical beggars would be
turned loose on the world； if once those raging flames were allowed
to go out or to calm down！ Who can wonder that the old conservatives
draw back startled and almost frightened at the thought that there
may be a possible escape for some victims whom the Devil was thought
to have secured？ How many more generations will pass before Milton's
alarming prophecy will find itself realized in the belief of
civilized mankind？ 〃
Remember that Number Seven is called a 〃crank〃 by many persons； and
take his remarks for just what they are worth； and no more。
Out of the preceding conversation must have originated the following
poem； which was found in the common receptacle of these versified
contributions：
TARTARUS。
While in my simple gospel creed
That 〃God is Love〃 so plain I read；
Shall dreams of heathen birth affright
My pathway through the coming night？
Ah； Lord of life； though spectres pale
Fill with their threats the shadowy vale；
With Thee my faltering steps to aid；
How can I dare to be afraid？
Shall mouldering page or fading scroll
Outface the charter of the soul？
Shall priesthood's palsied arm protect
The wrong our human hearts reject；
And smite the lips whose shuddering cry
Proclaims a cruel creed a lie？
The wizard's rope we disallow
Was justice once；is murder now！
Is there a world of blank despair；
And dwells the Omnipresent there？
Does He behold with smile serene
The shows of that unending scene；
Where sleepless； hopeless anguish lies；
And； ever dying； never dies？
Say； does He hear the sufferer's groan；
And is that child of wrath his own？
O mortal； wavering in thy trust；
Lift thy pale forehead from the dust
The mists that cloud thy darkened eyes
Fade ere they reach the o'erarching skies！
When the blind heralds of despair
Would bid thee doubt a Father's care；
Look up from earth； and read above
On heaven's blue tablet； GOD IS LOVE！
XI
The tea is sweetened。
We have been going on very pleasantly of late； each of us pretty well
occupied with his or her special business。 The Counsellor has been
pleading in a great case； and several of The Teacups were in the
court…room。 I thought； but I will not be certain； that some of his
arguments were addressed to Number Five rather than to the jury；the
more eloquent passages especially。
Our young Doctor seems to me to be gradually getting known in the
neighborhood and beyond it。 A member of one of the more influential
families； whose regular physician has gone to Europe； has sent for
him to come and see her； and as the patient is a nervous lady； who
has nothing in particular the matter with her； he is probably in for
a good many visits and a long bill by and by。 He has even had a call
at a distance of some miles from home；at least be has had to hire a
conveyance frequently of late； for he has not yet set up his own
horse and chaise。 We do not like to ask him about who his patient
may be； but he or she is probably a person of some consequence； as he
is absent several hours on these out…of…town visits。 He may get a
good practice before his bald spot makes its appearance； for I have
looked for it many times without as yet seeing a sign of it。 I am
sure he must feel encouraged； for he has been very bright and
cheerful of late； and if he sometimes looks at our new handmaid as if
he wished she were Delilah； I do not think he is breaking his heart
about her absence。 Perhaps he finds consolation in the company of
the two Annexes； or one of them；but which； I cannot make out。 He
is in consultations occasionally with Number Five； too； but whether
professionally or not I have no means of knowing。 I cannot for the
life of me see what Number Five wants of a doctor for herself； so
perhaps it is another difficult case in which her womanly sagacity is
called upon to help him。
In the mean time she and the Tutor continue their readings。 In fact；
it seems as if these readings were growing more frequent； and lasted
longer than they did at first。 There is a little arbor in the
grounds connected with our place of meeting； and sometimes they have
gone there for their readings。 Some of The Teacups have listened
outside once in a while； for the Tutor reads well； and his clear
voice must be heard in the more emphatic passages； whether one is
expressly listening or not。 But besides the reading there is now and
then some talking； and persons talking in an arbor do not always
remember that latticework； no matter how closely the vines cover it；
is not impenetrable to the sound of the human voice。 There was a
listener one day；it was not one of The Teacups； I am happy to say；
who heard and reported some fragments of a conversation which
reached his ear。 Nothing but the profound intimacy which ex