as the one which we shall reverently discuss in
this and subsequent meetings. I thought as I came in here to-night of
the wisdom of Epictitus, who said, 'What do I want? To acquaint myself
with the true order of things and comply with it.' I am sure no
statement so fully expresses our common desire as that."

"Just so!" interrupted Haynerd. "If Adam was a Baptist, I want to know
and comply with the fact."

A general laugh followed. Then Father Waite held up a hand and again
became serious.

"Can we treat lightly even the Adam story, when we consider how much
misery and rancor its literal acceptance has caused among mankind? No.
Out of deepest sympathy for a world in search of truth, let us pity
their stumblings, and take heed that we fall not ourselves."

He paused. A hush lay upon the room. Carmen's hand stole toward the
Beaubien's and clasped it tightly.

"In these days, as of old, it is still said, 'There is no God!' And
yet, though the ignorant and wilful admit it not, mankind's very
existence is a function of their concept of a Creator, a sole
cause of all that is. No question, economic, social, political, or
other, is so vitally related to humanity as this: 'Is there a God?'
And the corollary: 'What is His relation to me?' For there can be
nothing so important as a knowledge of truth. Can the existence
of a God be demonstrated? Can He be shown to be beneficent, in
view of the world's testimony? What is our source of truth? If the
Bible, then can its authenticity be established? The greatest of
our so-called civilizations are known as Christian. But who can say
by them what Christianity really is?"

"I am quite prepared to say what it is not!" again interrupted
Haynerd.

"Doubtless," resumed Father Waite. "And so are we all. But at present
we are seeking constructive criticism, not solely destructive. There
has been quite enough of that sort in the world. But, to go a step
further, can we say positively that the truth is to be found even in
Christianity?"

"Please explain your question," said Miss Wall, with a puzzled look.

"The first essential is always facts," he continued. "The deduction of
right conclusions will follow--provided, as Matthew Arnold so tersely
said, we have sufficient delicacy of perception, subtlety, wisdom, and
tact. And, I may add, sufficient freedom from prejudice and mental
bias--ah, there is the stumbling block!"

"Matthew Arnold," ventured Haynerd, "was dubbed a first-class i