The originality of the ideas, the absolute disregard of
the authority of church or creed, the frankness with which opinions
were stated, and the forcefulness of the language in which they were
expressed, combined to make the discussions altogether marvellous.
The passage between Abe Baker, the stage-driver, and Geordie was
particularly rich. It followed upon a very telling lesson on the parable
of the Pharisee and the Publican.
The chief actors in that wonderful story were transferred to the Black
Rock stage, and were presented in miner's costume. Abe was particularly
well pleased with the scoring of the 'blanked old rooster who crowed so
blanked high,' and somewhat incensed at the quiet remark interjected by
Geordie, 'that it was nae credit till a man tae be a sinner'; and
when Geordie went on to urge the importance of right conduct and
respectability, Abe was led to pour forth vials of contemptuous wrath
upon the Pharisees and hypocrites who thought themselves better
than other people. But Geordie was quite unruffled, and lamented
the ignorance of men who, brought up in 'Epeescopawlyun or Methody'
churches, could hardly be expected to detect the Antinomian or Arminian
heresies.
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