Helena. You mean the looking on clergy chiefly as gentlemen, and rating them rather according to their birth or connections than for their office' sake. Miss O. We had better be real. It is impossible not to view a man, so far as he is man, according to his education and powers. Our duty is, to esteem the office more than the instrument; to pay respect and honour to the less gifted or less pleasing, as well to him who commands our admiration; to abstain from judging and criticism; to regard his priesthood more than any mere earthly rank. I do not mean by any disregard of ordinary rules of precedence or politeness, but by really doing so in our hearts. Audrey. Would you say that a person may work on alone, if the clergyman will not guide him, but not go against his orders, even if he be wrong? Miss O. Yes, as a general rule. There is more harm done by contempt of rules than by inefficient or mistaken clergy. It may be very hard to believe so in some cases, but that is the trial. Audrey. I suppose St. Paul's apology to the High Priest is an especial example. Miss O. It carries out his own teaching of leaving all judgment unto the Lord, as he tells us in 1 Cor. iv. As if the priesthood were responsible unto the Lord alone, and not unto man. Audrey. That is not much according to modern notions. Miss O. It all belongs to the one great question, where ancient and modern notions are at issue, whether worship be intended for the glory of God, or for the visible edification of man; whether His ministers are the intrusted stewards of His mysteries, or the mere servants of man's opinion and will. Helena. I suppose the whole is summed up in, 'He that despiseth you despiseth Me, and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me.' Miss O. The sheep refuse to follow the shepherds, even as the subjects cast off their kings, and the children rise against their parents: the whole world acts as if the blessing were on commanding, and not on obeying. Mary. Everybody thinks it would be very nice to give orders. Miss O. Yes, till they try, and then they find that authority brings with it a burden only to be endured through submission to some higher authority. Helena. Do you really think so? Miss O. I should have said, by a conscientious and lowly-minded person. It is only here and there that the strong, decided natures, and quick, sound judgments are found, who have really, I suppose, the Spirit of Counsel and Might in full measure, and I think they are generally devoid of that self-consciousness which, in the good, is scrupulous timidity, in the bad, vanity. Helena. Then you think there are such commanding spirits? Miss O. Yes, I do. But they have always begun by implicit obedience, and their rule is obedience still. Do you remember that French character of our old Duke, which pronounced that where the Frenchman would have thought of honour he thought of duty; and what is duty bat obedience? Audrey. After all, the Church is one great army, and I suppose we ought to regard our several stations like different ranks in that army, like the centurion, men under authority, some of us having soldiers under us. Miss O. So the habit of authority, coupled with impacit obedience, makes the discipline of the army often so excellent a preparation for effectiveness in other stations of life. Depend upon it, no one will do any good who has not first learnt to obey without asking why. As the Frenchman said, who looked at the English sentry, 'L'immoLalué est le premier mouvement du soldat,' so unquestioning submission is the first step to good government. Audrey. It puts me in mind of the complaints about servants, who will think instead of obeying orders. Helena. But who are these orders to come from? Miss O. From the officer next above, whether governor, teacher, or master-always provided they agree with the general orders of the commander-in-chief. Audrey. I suppose governor stands for every one in any authority over us, like a nurse over little children. Miss O. One of the most touching and beautiful connections that ever have been, even since the day when Rachel's nurse was buried at the Oak of Weeping. Helena. Sometimes, not always. Miss O. Of course the feeling between nurse and nursling must depend on a thousand different thingspersonal character, habits, length of service, but in general, those miss a good thing who miss the old-nurse loyalty, the tenderness, gratitude, and honour towards her, which embellish many an ignorance and weakness in an old servant. There is no one with whom people are so willing to be as little children, as with their old nurse. Audrey. O yes, I have heard papa say something very like that, when he has been to see old Dinah; he says it seems to bring back the old home, and all his brothers and sisters, as they used to be to each other. Helena. I never should have thought of all that. I am sure Susan is a great torment to me sometimes, thinking that because I am the youngest, I can never cease to be a baby, and interfering even when mamma has given me leave. Miss O. You are just at the age when servants' authority is a trial, when it is out-grown, and yet fondness will not relinquish it. Indeed, Helena, you will be sorry if you do not bear patiently; I do not say always submit, but keep respect and forbearance before your eyes, even when she may be unreasonable, and it will not be the worse for you, if you do now and then give up a fancy or two. Helena. I did once hear papa and Jane saying to each other, that she fretted my temper so much, that Jane would take her for her little ones, if she were not so necessary to mamma's comfort. Miss O. Then, indeed, you have a double motive for yielding and keeping your annoyance under; if it have made it a matter of debate whether your mother should have the assistance and nursing she needs so much! Helena. I was rather frightened when I heard that. It would be very forlorn without Susan, and I don't know what would become of mamma. Audrey. I went out of the nursery so soon, that my trials have not been of the same kind. Helena. Yours have been more under the head of teachers. Audrey. It is very hard to yield cheerfully for obedience' sake, when one cannot convince one's own judgment! Miss O. If teachers were perfect in judgment and in manner, where would be the trial? Audrey. Oh! but very often it is all my own fault and folly. Helena. How much ought one to obey one's teachers? Miss O. Implicitly, as far as authority is committed to them, and don't be too anxious to mark its boundary. 'Submit,' is a wise and safe word, marking the true pirit of respect. Audrey. Yes, it includes all, from the absolute obedience to the tutor or governess, who represents the parents, down to the hour with the music or French master, to whom one has to be respectful and obedient in his own department, not making game of him like some young Iladies I used to meet in my singing-class. Miss O. In all cases accepting the yoke, which it is good to bear in our youth, and of which it is so hard to own the necessity. Mary. I suppose you mean, Ma'am, what I used to say to our maid, and to the older girls at school, 'I won't do it for you.' Miss O. Exactly. How many, even if the command be right, will not obey, simply because they will not acknowledge the authority. Helena. I used to do that with my sisters, and papa was very angry. Audrey. I think there is great excuse; it is very provoking to be checked, when you do not think the person has any business to do so. Helena. Do you know what that means, Godmamma ? -that Arthur and Fred will not always mind Audrey. Audrey. O Helena! that is too bad! Arthur always does, and so does Fred, unless I am very teasing. Helena. I wonder how often that is. Miss O. I do own that elder sisters, and high-spirited brothers do not often get on without collisions, because there is apt to be a misunderstanding between the manly superiority and the authority of age. Audrey. And what advice would you give? Miss O. If I had the younger brothers here, I should talk of submission to the elder sister. I shall say what I think she has found out already, that the commandment of love is to guard the assumption of authority. Audrey. Ah! you are quite right. I hardly ever knew the boys fly directly in the face of what I told them, unless it was by my own fault. Either I ordered when I ought to have persuaded, or else I was cross and fretful with them. Helena. Believe that if you will, Godmamma! But what are you going to say about the submission to masters? Miss O. Nothing I have to say seems very applicable |