from his own pulpit every Sunday。 Contemplate this freak of nature； and
think what a Cardiff giant of self…righteousness is crowded into his
pigmy skin。 If we probe； and dissect； and lay open this diseased； this
cancerous piety of his； we are forced to the conviction that it is the
production of an impression on his part that his guild do about all the
good that is done on the earth； and hence are better than common clay
hence are competent to say to such as George Holland； 〃You are unworthy；
you are a play…actor； and consequently a sinner； I cannot take the
responsibility of recommending you to the mercy of Heaven。〃 It must have
had its origin in that impression； else he would have thought； 〃We are
all instruments for the carrying out of God's purposes； it is not for me
to pass judgment upon your appointed share of the work； or to praise or
to revile it； I have divine authority for it that we are all sinners； and
therefore it is not for me to discriminate and say we will supplicate for
this sinner； for he was a merchant prince or a banker； but we will
beseech no forgiveness for this other one； for he was a play…actor。〃
It surely requires the furthest possible reach of self…righteousness to
enable a man to lift his scornful nose in the air and turn his back upon
so poor and pitiable a thing as a dead stranger come to beg the last
kindness that humanity can do in its behalf。 This creature has violated
the letter of the Gospel； and judged George Hollandnot George Holland；
either； but his profession through him。 Then it is； in a measure； fair
that we judge this creature's guild through him。 In effect he has said；
〃We are the salt of the earth； we do all the good work that is done； to
learn how to be good and do good men must come to us； actors and such are
obstacles to moral progress。〃 Pray look at the thing reasonably a
moment； laying aside all biases of education and custom。 If a common
public impression is fair evidence of a thing then this minister's
legitimate； recognized； and acceptable business is to tell people calmly；
coldly； and in stiff； written sentences； from the pulpit； to go and do
right； be just； be merciful； be charitable。 And his congregation forget
it all between church and home。 But for fifty years it was George
Holland's business on the stage to make his audience go and do right； and
be just； merciful； and charitablebecause by his living； breathing；
feeling pictures he showed them what it was to do these things； and how
to do them； and how instant and ample was the reward！ Is it not a
singular teacher of men； this reverend gentleman who is so poorly
informed himself as to put the whole stage under ban； and say； 〃I do not
think it teaches moral lessons〃？ Where was ever a sermon preached that
could make filial ingratitude so hateful to men as the sinful play of
〃King Lear〃？ Or where was there ever a sermon that could so convince men
of the wrong and the cruelty of harboring a pampered and unanalyzed
jealousy as the sinful play of 〃Othello〃？ And where are there ten
preachers who can stand in the pulpit preaching heroism； unselfish
devotion； and lofty patriotism； and hold their own against any one of
five hundred William Tells that can be raised upon five hundred stages in
the land at a day's notice？ It is almost fair and just to aver （although
it is profanity） that nine…tenths of all the kindness and forbearance and
Christian charity and generosity in the hearts of the American people
today got there by being filtered down from their fountain…head； the
gospel of Christ； through dramas and tragedies and comedies on the stage；
and through the despised novel and the Christmas story； and through the
thousand and one lessons； suggestions； and narratives of generous deeds
that stir the pulses； and exalt and augment the nobility of the nation
day by day from the teeming columns of ten thousand newspapers； and not
from the drowsy pulpit。
All that is great and good in our particular civilization came straight
from the hand of Jesus Christ； and many creatures； and of divers sorts；
were doubtless appointed to disseminate it； and let us believe that this
seed and the result are the main thing； and not the cut of the sower's
garment； and that whosoever； in his way and according to his opportunity；
sows the one and produces the other； has done high service and worthy。
And further； let us try with all our strength to believe that whenever
old simple…hearted George Holland sowed this seed； and reared his crop of
broader charities and better impulses in men's hearts； it was just as
acceptable before the Throne as if the seed had been scattered in vapid
platitudes from the pulpit of the ineffable Sabine himself。
Am I saying that the pulpit does not do its share toward disseminating
the marrow； the meat of the gospel of Christ？ （For we are not talking of
ceremonies and wire…drawn creeds now； but the living heart and soul of
what is pretty often only a specter。）
No； I am not saying that。 The pulpit teaches assemblages of people twice
a week nearly two hours altogetherand does what it can in that time。
The theater teaches large audiences seven times a week28 or 30 hours
altogetherand the novels and newspapers plead； and argue； and
illustrate； stir； move； thrill； thunder； urge； persuade； and supplicate；
at the feet of millions and millions of people every single day； and all
day long and far into the night； and so these vast agencies till nine…
tenths of the vineyard； and the pulpit tills the other tenth。 Yet now
and then some complacent blind idiot says； 〃You unanointed are coarse
clay and useless； you are not as we； the regenerators of the world； go；
bury yourselves elsewhere； for we cannot take the responsibility of
recommending idlers and sinners to the yearning mercy of Heaven。〃 How
does a soul like that stay in a carcass without getting mixed with the
secretions and sweated out through the pores？ Think of this insect
condemning the whole theatrical service as a disseminator of bad morals
because it has Black Crooks in it； forgetting that if that were
sufficient ground people would condemn the pulpit because it had Crooks
and Kallochs and Sabines in it！
No； I am not trying to rob the pulpit of any atom of its full share and
credit in the work of disseminating the meat and marrow of the gospel of
Christ； but I am trying to get a moment's hearing for worthy agencies in
the same work； that with overwrought modesty seldom or never claim a
recognition of their great services。 I am aware that the pulpit does its
excellent one…tenth （and credits itself with it now and then； though most
of the time a press of business causes it to forget it）； I am aware that
in its honest and well…meaning way it bores the people with uninflammable
truisms about doing good； bores them with correct compositions on
charity； bores them； chloroforms them； stupefies them with argumentative
mercy without a flaw in the grammar or an emotion which the minister
could put in in the right place if he turned his back and took his finger
off the manuscript。 And in doing these things the pulpit is doing its
duty； and let us believe that it is likewise doing its best； and doing it
in the most harmless and respectable way。 And so I have said； and shall
keep on saying； let us give the pulpit its full share of credit in
elevating and ennobling the people； but when a pulpit takes to itself
authority to pass judgment upon the work and worth of just as legitimate
an instrument of God as itself； who spent a long life preaching from the
stage the selfsame gospel without the alteration of a single sentiment or
a single axiom of right； it is fair and just that somebody who believes
that actors were made for a high and good purpose； and that they
accomplish the object of their creation and accomplish it well； should
protest。 And having protested； it is also fair and justbeing driven to
it； as it wereto whisper to the Sabine pattern of clergyman； under the
breath； a simple； instructive truth； and say； 〃Ministers are not the only
servants of God upon earth； nor his most efficient ones； either； by a
very； very long distance！〃 Sensible ministers already know this； and it
may do the other kind good to find it out。
But to cease teaching and go back to the beginning again； was it not
pitiablethat spectacle？ Honored and honorable old George Holland；
whose theatrical ministry had for fifty years softened hard hearts； bred
generosity in cold ones； kindled emotion in dead ones； uplifted base
ones； broadened bigoted ones； and made many and many a stricken one glad
and filled it brimful of gratitude； figuratively spit upon in his
unoffending coffin by this crawling； slimy； sanctimonious； self…righteous
reptile！
APPENDIX K
A SUBSTITUTE FOR RULOFF HAVE WE A SIDNEY CARTON AMONG US？
（See Chapter lxxxii）
To EDITOR of 'Tribune'。
SIR；I believe in capital punishment。 I believe that when a murder has
been done it should be answered for with blood。 I have all my life been
taught to feel this way； and the fetters of education are strong。 The
fact that the deathlaw is rendered almost inoperative by its very
severity does n