Page:The Toll of the Bush.pdf/82

If it is a sense of humour that prevents me from joining the circle on the beach, then I am thankful I possess it.’

The hymn had come to an end, and Mr. Fletcher was now beginning to address his followers. His voice was powerful, and carried easily to those on the slope of the hill. He began by giving thanks for the success with which his labours had been blessed, and he went on to speak of the methods he had adopted for bringing the sheep into the fold. It was not those who came voluntarily to the House of God for whom the Church need feel its deepest concern. There was more joy in heaven over one sinner who repented than over a hundred of the righteous who needed no repentance. His predecessors had been content to guide and guard their flock, but for him that was not enough. There should be unceasing joy in heaven. The sinner should come daily into the fold, crying out for the salvation of belief. For it was one thing to know of God and another thing to know God. ‘There are many,’ he went on, raising his voice, ‘who have put their reason in the place of their Creator and cried, “This is false, that cannot be; our reason denies the other.” But later, when the spirit of God has possessed them with His knowledge, then reason falls back shamed before the over-reason of the soul.’ He paused, and his voice dropped to a lower key: ‘One such man I have known. With him, as with those of whom I have spoken, reason was the crown of his being. And reason told him that the Bible was false; that the story of Christ was half a lie; that there was no Creator. To what may such a man cling in the