idea to be here enounced that was to dominate the sermon。
The sermonso much of it as I can find room forwas as follows：…
〃My friends； let there be no mistake。 At such a time； as this； it
is well we should look back upon the path by which we have
travelled； and forward to the goal towards which we are tending。
As it was necessary that the material foundations of this building
should be so sure that there shall be no subsidence in the
superstructure； so is it not less necessary to ensure that there
shall be no subsidence in the immaterial structure that we have
raised in consequence of the Sunchild's sojourn among us。
Therefore； my friends； I again say； 'Let there be no mistake。'
Each stone that goes towards the uprearing of this visible fane；
each human soul that does its part in building the invisible temple
of our national faith； is bearing witness to； and lending its
support to； that which is either the truth of truths； or the
baseless fabric of a dream。
〃My friends； this is the only possible alternative。 He in whose
name we are here assembled； is either worthy of more reverential
honour than we can ever pay him； or he is worthy of no more honour
than any other honourable man among ourselves。 There can be no
halting between these two opinions。 The question of questions is；
was he the child of the tutelary god of this worldthe sun； and is
it to the palace of the sun that he returned when he left us； or
was he； as some amongst us still do not hesitate to maintain； a
mere man； escaping by unusual but strictly natural means to some
part of this earth with which we are unacquainted。 My friends；
either we are on a right path or on a very wrong one； and in a
matter of such supreme importancethere must be no mistake。
〃I need not remind those of you whose privilege it is to live in
Sunch'ston； of the charm attendant on the Sunchild's personal
presence and conversation； nor of his quick sympathy； his keen
intellect； his readiness to adapt himself to the capacities of all
those who came to see him while he was in prison。 He adored
children； and it was on them that some of his most conspicuous
miracles were performed。 Many a time when a child had fallen and
hurt itself； was he known to make the place well by simply kissing
it。 Nor need I recall to your minds the spotless purity of his
lifeso spotless that not one breath of slander has ever dared to
visit it。 I was one of the not very many who had the privilege of
being admitted to the inner circle of his friends during the later
weeks that he was amongst us。 I loved him dearly； and it will ever
be the proudest recollection of my life that he deigned to return
me no small measure of affection。〃
My father； furious as he was at finding himself dragged into
complicity with this man's imposture； could not resist a smile at
the effrontery with which he lowered his tone here； and appeared
unwilling to dwell on an incident which he could not recall without
being affected almost to tears； and mere allusion to which； had
involved an apparent self…display that was above all things
repugnant to him。 What a difference between the Hanky of Thursday
evening with its 〃never set eyes on him and hope I never shall；〃
and the Hanky of Sunday morning； who now looked as modest as
Cleopatra might have done had she been standing godmother to a
little blue…eyed girlBellerophon's first…born baby。
Having recovered from his natural； but promptly repressed； emotion；
the Professor continued：…
〃I need not remind you of the purpose for which so many of us； from
so many parts of our kingdom； are here assembled。 We know what we
have come hither to do： we are come each one of us to sign and
seal by his presence the bond of his assent to those momentous
changes； which have found their first great material expression in
the temple that you see around you。
〃You all know how； in accordance with the expressed will of the
Sunchild； the Presidents and Vice…Presidents of the Musical Banks
began as soon as he had left us to examine； patiently； carefully；
earnestly； and without bias of any kind； firstly the evidences in
support of the Sunchild's claim to be the son of the tutelar deity
of this world； and secondly the precise nature of his instructions
as regards the future position and authority of the Musical Banks。
〃My friends； it is easy to understand why the Sunchild should have
given us these instructions。 With that foresight which is the
special characteristic of divine； as compared with human； wisdom；
he desired that the evidences in support of his superhuman
character should be collected； sifted； and placed on record； before
anything was either lost through the death of those who could alone
substantiate it； or unduly supplied through the enthusiasm of over…
zealous visionaries。 The greater any true miracle has been； the
more certainly will false ones accrete round it； here； then； we
find the explanation of the command the Sunchild gave to us to
gather； verify； and record； the facts of his sojourn here in
Erewhon。 For above all things he held it necessary to ensure that
there should be neither mistake； nor even possibility of mistake。
〃Consider for a moment what differences of opinion would infallibly
have arisen； if the evidences for the miraculous character of the
Sunchild's mission had been conflictingif they had rested on
versions each claiming to be equally authoritative； but each
hopelessly irreconcilable on vital points with every single other。
What would future generations have said in answer to those who bade
them fling all human experience to the winds； on the strength of
records written they knew not certainly by whom； nor how long after
the marvels that they recorded； and of which all that could be
certainly said was that no two of them told the same story？
〃Who that believes either in God or manwho with any self…respect；
or respect for the gift of reason with which God had endowed him；
either would； or could； believe that a chariot and four horses had
come down from heaven； and gone back again with human or quasi…
human occupants； unless the evidences for the fact left no loophole
for escape？ If a single loophole were left him； he would be
unpardonable； not for disbelieving the story； but for believing it。
The sin against God would lie not in want of faith； but in faith。
〃My friends； there are two sins in matters of belief。 There is
that of believing on too little evidence； and that of requiring too
much before we are convinced。 The guilt of the latter is incurred；
alas！ by not a few amongst us at the present day； but if the
testimony to the truth of the wondrous event so faithfully depicted
on the picture that confronts you had been less contemporaneous；
less authoritative； less unanimous； future generationsand it is
for them that we should now providewould be guilty of the first…
named； and not less heinous sin if they believed at all。
〃Small wonder； then； that the Sunchild； having come amongst us for
our advantage； not his own； would not permit his beneficent designs
to be endangered by the discrepancies； mythical developments；
idiosyncracies； and a hundred other defects inevitably attendant on
amateur and irresponsible recording。 Small wonder； then； that he
should have chosen the officials of the Musical Banks； from the
Presidents and Vice…Presidents downwards to be the authoritative
exponents of his teaching； the depositaries of his traditions； and
his representatives here on earth till he shall again see fit to
visit us。 For he will come。 Nay it is even possible that he may
be here amongst us at this very moment； disguised so that none may
know him； and intent only on watching our devotion towards him。 If
this be so； let me implore him； in the name of the sun his father；
to reveal himself。〃
Now Hanky had already given my father more than one look that had
made him uneasy。 He had evidently recognised him as the supposed
ranger of last Thursday evening。 Twice he had run his eye like a
searchlight over the front benches opposite to him； and when the
beam had reached my father there had been no more searching。 It
was beginning to dawn upon my father that George might have
discovered that he was not Professor Panky； was it for this reason
that these two young special constables； though they gave up their
places； still kept so close to him？ Was George only waiting his
opportunity to arrest himnot of course even suspecting who he
wasbut as a foreign devil who had tried to pass himself off as
Professor Panky？ Had this been the meaning of his having followed
him to Fairmead？ And should he have to be thrown into the Blue
Pool by George after all？ 〃It would serve me；〃 said he to himself；
〃richly right。〃
These fears which had been taking shape for some few minutes were
turned almost to certainties by the half…contemptuous glance Hanky
threw towards him as he uttered what was obviously intended as a
challenge。 He saw that all was over； and was starting to his feet
to declare himself； and thus fall into the trap that Hanky was
laying for him； when George gripped him tightly by the knee and
whispered； 〃Don'tyou are in great dan