Full Chapter The Influence of Mediterranean Modernist Movement of Architecture in Lefkosa 1St Edition PH D Candidate Salar Salah Muhy Al Din Department of Architecture PDF
Full Chapter The Influence of Mediterranean Modernist Movement of Architecture in Lefkosa 1St Edition PH D Candidate Salar Salah Muhy Al Din Department of Architecture PDF
Full Chapter The Influence of Mediterranean Modernist Movement of Architecture in Lefkosa 1St Edition PH D Candidate Salar Salah Muhy Al Din Department of Architecture PDF
https://textbookfull.com/product/the-presence-of-modernist-
architecture-in-government-s-educational-buildings-at-
lefkosa-1st-edition-ph-d-candidate-maryam-iranfar/
https://textbookfull.com/product/a-lesson-from-vernacular-
architecture-in-nigeria-1st-edition-ph-d-candidate-joyce-lodson/
https://textbookfull.com/product/the-influence-of-globalization-
on-distracting-traditional-aesthetic-values-in-old-town-of-
erbil-1st-edition-ma-zhino-hariry-department-of-architecture/
https://textbookfull.com/product/the-scale-of-public-space-
taksim-square-in-istanbul-1st-edition-dr-senem-zeybekoglu-sadri-
department-of-architecture/
https://textbookfull.com/product/the-role-of-advance-composite-
material-in-contemporary-buildings-3rd-edition-ph-d-candidate-
obasanjo-owoyale-adeola-and-ph-d-candidate-mohammed-tauheed-alfa/
https://textbookfull.com/product/adaptive-reuse-of-the-
industrial-building-a-case-of-energy-museum-in-sanatistanbul-
turkey-1st-edition-ma-najmaldin-hussein-department-of-
architecture/
https://textbookfull.com/product/an-agenda-for-the-management-of-
contemporary-sustainable-houses-2nd-edition-dr-ifeanyi-obi-
department-of-architecture/
https://textbookfull.com/product/islamic-palace-architecture-in-
the-western-mediterranean-a-history-1st-edition-felix-arnold/
Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs
2017, Volume 1, Number 1, pages 10– 23
A R T I C L E I N F O: ABSTRACT
Article history: The twentieth century modern architectures in Lefkosia in North Cyprus are
Received 20 October 2016 changing especially in residential building. This change is occurs based on the
Received in revised form 5 client’s orders or because of the dilapidated condition of the buildings.
December 2016 Identify the characteristics of modernist architectural movement will help in
Accepted 25 December 2016
identifying these buildings and recognize the changes applied on them. The
Available online 2 January
2017 paper aims to reach the rationale understanding about the norms of modern
Keywords: architecture in Lefkoşa in the twentieth century. The methodology is based
Modern Architecture; on analyzing the residential buildings designed by local architects and
Mediterranean “Ahmet Vural Bahaeddin” selected as one of the famous modernist architect
modernist architect; in the twentieth century in North Cyprus. Residential buildings from Milan and
Vernacular Rome in Italy, as well as Baecelina in Spain selected for analysis. The paper
architecture; tries to demonstrate the presence of vernacular elements in modern
Cyprus. architecture in Lefkoşa. Two vernacular elements were studied, i) the patio
(outside and inside interrelation), and ii) the façade materials (exposed stone)
as vernacular elements in “Mediterranean modernist architecture”. The paper
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution -
delineated the influence of the “Mediterranean modernist movement” on
NonCommercial - NoDerivs 4.0. modern architecture in Lefkoşa in the 20th century. The findings show that there
"CC-BY-NC-ND" is influence by Modernist movement of architecture in other Mediterranean
cities in Italy and Espain on the modern architecture in Lefkoşa. The results
contribute evidence to promote our understanding regarding the modernist
architecture in Lefkoşa.
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS (2017) 1(1), 10-23.
https://doi.org/10.25034/1761.1(1)10-23
www.ijcua.com
Copyright © 2017 Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs. All rights reserved.
2.2.1. Cyprus and ‘Lefkoşa’ fireplace. Kitchen is widely used in the winter,
Cyprus historically had been returns to whereas the terraces and patio or outdoor
approximately 10000 BC. In the Mediterranean spaces prepared to stay during the day in shady
Sea after Sicily and Sardinia, Cyprus is the third areas or to sleep at night (Zoranic’, 2012). The
biggest island. Cyprus is located in a north- use of local materials, mainly earth and stone, is
eastern corner of Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus one of the characters of vernacular
was divided into north part & south part in 1974. architecture and adapted to regional climate,
North Cyprus area is around 3,355 km2, shares a see figure ‘4’. A good U-Value (Heat transfer
maritime border with Syria to the east, and coefficient value) for the building materials
Turkey to the north. ‘Lefkoşa’ or Nicosia was moderate the indoor temperature ‘keep inner
started to be a capital city, since 600 AD. The space cool in the morning and warm in the
walled city in Lefkoşa surrounded by 8-10 meters night’ (Fernandes, et al., 2014).
high stone walls which were built between 1489 Vernacular architecture reflects the spirit of
and 1571 by Venetian to provided safety local people and the real response to local
(Mesda, 2012). Today, Lefkoşa is the environment, their culture and history. It identify
government center and main business center by the regional characteristics. In general
on the island. It is the last divided capital city in vernacular buildings may not meet, in many
the world and this division gave to it a special cases, with today standards of life style or
character comfort, but could give some advises about
strategies to mitigate the use of non-renewable
2.3. Vernacular Architecture in Mediterranean energy.
area
In the countries of Mediterranean area the sun
is desirable in the winter while in the summertime
sun should be blocked and the cooling and
ventilation are necessary. Clustered
agglomeration houses because of the natural
environment of the Mediterranean climate, is a
part of the landscape. Clustered settlements
are defendable and climatic responded
through creating shades and protection from
harsh winds with green plantation cover around
the buildings extended on agricultural land, Figure 3. Mediterranean vernacular house
(Fernandes, et al., 2014). See figure ‘3’. shows local stones in façade and patio.
Sabatino, 2010). In addition to the diversity of the The houses ostensibly have the elements of
Mediterranean area and its climate character modernist movement in architecture which
and interest for classical and vernacular includes; absence of classical architectural
environment, many other events after the World adornment and elongated or large-pane
War I stimulate to develop this opinion (Vidal, windows. The horizontal surfaces and strong
2008). rectilinear geometry is generally seen in the
Le Corbusier was more than any other modernist modernist houses and architectural elements
interested in the Mediterranean classical and precisely rendered, typically white. Columns,
vernacular environment. Le Corbusier attribute beams and cantilevered parts (roof overhangs,
was reaction for many events. Globally louvers and balconies) often are seen in the
because of the great economic depression in buildings. Steel or reinforced concrete used in
1930s and critique of industrial the construction. Free plan and focuses on
capitalism in, empower the right wing in continuity, transparency of place (Fricker, J. and
Germany etc. in other hand finally the Flicker, D., 2010).
consequences of his loss at the ‘Palais des Figure 5, shows ‘Villa Savoye’ the manifesto of
Nations competition’ in Geneva.His tendency modernist residential houses, which designed by
shifted from an arts and crafts, which was clear ‘Le Corbusier’ and built (1929-1931) in ‘Poissy-sur-
in the first projects in “La Chauxde Fonds” and Seine’, France, (Morrissey, 2010).
his machine oriented Modernism of the
mid1920s (Plan Voisin, 1925) conveyed to a
southern version. The main events were the
great economic crisis and the industrial
capitalism criticism in the 1930s, the rise of
German rightwing parties and the rise of
National Socialism that let Le Corbusier’s in crisis,
which made modernist arguments in the north
difficult. Consequence was his loss at the Palais
des Nations competition in Geneva. These
events coincided with Le Corbusier’s first
meeting with ‘Josep Lluis Sert’ a Spanish
architect in Barcelona and the other journeys to Figure 4. Villa Savoye, Le Corbusier (Morrissey,
Athens as part of the fourth CIAM (International 2010).
Congresses of Modern Architecture) meeting at
which witnessed poor attendance of German Although the concentration on the modernist
architects (Lejeune and Sabatino, 2010). architecture elements could be changed from
The modernity of the North that crystallized in region to other based on climate, culture and
Germany was conceptualized around society. But generally modernist residential
‘Industriekultur’, incorporate art and industry. In buildings consist of the majority of those
Southern Europe like Italy, Spain, Greece, and mentioned characters.
Southern France as the Mediterranean region
include modernity, was shaped less strict in 2.5.1 Mediterranean modernist residents
adherence to technology. In one hand they simulates Patio and Local stone façade
adopted innovation, through Italian Rationalists Patio means "Inner courtyard", that space of
like ‘Luigi Figini and Gino Pollini, and Adalberto house which use for sitting and dining or other
Libera’ as Mediterranean modernists, in other types of outdoor home activities (Anarjani,
hand tended to employ both new materials and 2013). Patio is related with a garden that is
building technologies and traditional ones. depending of the culture, protected from
outside view. The patio creates a comfortable
2.5. Modern Residential Architecture environment if adapted with perfected use of
Residential place is a basic need since the origin water evaporation. It incorporates the external
of humanity. The functions and form of primitive with internal to alleviates the shiny and hot
dwellings changed to new form and functions outside and conveys it to shaded and pleasant
which in modern dwelling. Human always tries to interior. In warmer climates, patios are
improve the quality of his dwelling and update extensions of interiors that can double the living
it according to upgrading life styles standards spaces, and giving to the home penetration in
and according his private needs.
the nature around the house. (Anarjani, 2013). Figini and Pollini were designing their buildings
Despite patio is an vernacular architectural through pure geometric forms and ideal
element, but it demonstrate its functionality in proportions, and applying aesthetic principles of
modern residences, and recall the traditional rationalism. Villa studio for an artist (1933) and
Mediterranean life style which used to spend “Environment with living room and terrace”
part of the day in houses outdoors. Many Italian (1936) are two works of Figini & Pollini during their
architects in the 1930s expressed their interest in partnership. Villa studio for an artist designed by
the Mediterranean patio house, which used to Luigi Figini and Gino Pollini for the Fifth Milan
practice with the typology of patio house Triennale in 1933 was one of modern
according to Mediterranean tradition with new architecture showing a local, Italian declension.
outcomes. Figini and Pollini mixed the modern building
elements and technology with traditional
2.5.1.1. Villa studio for an artist designed by Luigi elements in the patio house, see figure ‘6’. ‘Villa
Figini and Gino Pollini 1933 Studio’ design with one-story, and flat roof,
Luigi Figini is Italian architect he born in 1903 several open air courtyards applied in the
and died in 1984. He was one of the building which give the opportunity to enjoy
considered Italian Rationalist. They were external spaces as extensions of the interiors. The
considered Italian Rationalist. Gino Pollini, design is not symmetrical, the architects gave
(1903–1991) Born in Milan, in 1926 Pollini joined the occupants transparency to outdoor spaces.
Gruppo 7, and from 1929 he worked with his White surfaces on the exterior elevation are
partner Luigi Figini (Blakely, 2011) incorporate with exposed brick, see figure ‘7’,
(Sabatino, 2010).
2. The presence of patio and exposed stone Figure 13. Methodology Framework (Developed
walls in the modernist building design in Cyprus by Author).
in 50s , 60s and beginning of 70s from twentieth
century, as a vernacular elements and one of 3.2. Case Studies
the characteristic of Mediterranean modernist Two case studies selected in Lefkoşa to be
architecture, as elucidated in literature review. analyzed. The case studies selected based on
This was implemented through The Case Study’s several considerations, which are; i) selected
examples are two residential buildings for the buildings are both residential houses, ii) both
north Cypriot modernist architect Ahmet Vural buildings have been design by Architect ‘
Bahaeddin. He was one of pioneers who Ahmet Vural Bahaeddin’, iii) the buildings
adopted modernist architecture in his works in classified as modernist architecture holding the
the North part of Cyprus. He is worth of special characteristic of Modern architecture in the first
attention to focus on his works as one of the half of twentieth century or after that by few
oldest ‘Modernist’ architects. Bahaeddin born in years.
1927, he graduated from Faculty of
Architectural Engineering, Istanbul Technical 3.2.1. Efruz Houses (1962-1976)
University. He started his career between the Efruz Mass Houses or Müdüroğlu Houses are
years 1955-1993. His works were mainly private designed between, 1962-1976 at Kumsal
residences, except few educational buildings Quarther in Lefkosia by Ahmet Vural Behaeddin.
and office buildings, such as building of ‘Turkish These houses are considered one of the
Lyceum’ in Lefkoşa, built in 1962. In his early distinctive mass housing construction in Lefkosia.
professional life, he was a modernist who The construction company was Efruz Company,
focused on importance of function. Later, he one of the famous construction companies in
tended to “Organic Architecture” (Celik and North Cyprus. The houses designed for high
Erturk, 2007). income householders. Typology of the houses is
3. The interview with architect ‘Kashif’ consist the two storey row houses. The total area of one
following question; house is 200 meter square; the plan of the
- Either or not he thinks that his colleague houses consists of two stories. The ground floor
‘Bahaeddin’ was affected by has an entrance, family lounge or living room,
Mediterranean movement in architecture, kitchen, toilet, laundry, garage and back
which arose in south Europe in the beginning courtyard and forecourt. The first floor consists of
of twentieth century? three bedrooms (one of them master bedroom),
Methodology frame work has been developed bathroom with toilet and transition space
by author to reach the answer about the study corridor to other spaces on the first floor
questions assigned in the introduction of the (Esentepe, 2013). See figure ‘15’.
study, as shown in figure ‘14’.
Figure 14. Plan of Ground and first floor Figure 17. Exposed stone facades in Efrus
(Developed by Author). Houses.
There are three different plans for ‘Efruz’ Houses Using the white color to paint the façade and
but all the types have courtyards (forecourt and envelope of the building could be also one of
backyard) of houses. Those backyards and the vernacular characteristic in ‘Bahaeddin’
forecourts can be associated to the patio in designs. Hence the design of these houses holds
vernacular architecture, which is one of the more than one character of the vernacular
main resources to Mediterranean modernist in architecture. It approaches the “Mediterranean
architecture. See figure ‘16’. modernist architecture” in the first half of
twentieth century in south Europe; these
examples could be detected in Spain and Italy
as well as other Mediterranean countries.
- His answer was that “ He cannot aver that design “the Patio and exposed stone facades’,
‘Bahaeddin’ have been influenced by the as shown in table 2.
Mediterranean movement of architecture in
that period, but as architects we were, and Table 2. Shows the vernacular resources in
even ‘Bahaeddin’, respecting the client’s Modern architecture design of ‘Bahaeddin’
opinion which was affecting the decision of buildings in Lefkosia developed by author.
the design deeply”.
4. Discussion
Several samples of modern architecture
(residential buildings) from south Europe
between 1900s-1950s have been showed in the
literature review. Italy and Spain were the main
sources of “Mediterranean modernist
movement” in architecture. Theoretical analysis
applied on four buildings, three of them were in Hence, the case studies as modernist
Italy designed by Italian architects like Figini & architecture in North Cyprus, designed by one
Pollini as well as Adalberto Libera. The fourth of the earliest modernists on the island
building was in Spain designed by Jose Luis Sert demonstrate the similarity to Mediterranean
& Torres Clave’. The analysis focused on the modernist architecture characteristic.
simulation or existence of two main vernacular Moreover, architect ‘Bahaeddin’ represent one
elements ‘Patio and exposed stone façade’ in of the pioneers in the modern architecture
modern design of the buildings which is movement in North Cyprus. Thus, his influence to
concerned in this study. The results Mediterranean modernist movement will
demonstrate that all the projects have the influence other modernist architects to follow
sources of vernacular architecture, three of him. Therefore based on the findings above, the
them combined both elements ‘ Patio & study shows that the modernist architecture in
Exposed stone facades’ and only one of them north Cyprus was influenced by the
has only ‘patio’ elements as vernacular source Mediterranean movement in south Europe. The
in the modern design (See table 1). opinion of ‘Ayar Kashif” who was one of the
modernist architects in that period, clarifies one
Table 1. Vernacular resources in Modern important fact. The fact is that the architects
architecture design in south Europe (Developed were affected by clients opinion, hence that
by author). could be one of the reasons to let architects
follow the needs of the indigenous people on
the island. Indigenous people affected until
today by the vernacular elements in their
houses, which exposed stone facades and
house Patio are part of it. That led us to think the
modernist architects and ‘Ahmet Vural
Bahaeddin’ one of them were influenced by
two main factors. One of them is the
“movement of Mediterranean modernism” in
Mediterranean countries. They were aware
about it, because they studied outside of the
island and had a connection abroad. Another
one is the intendancy of local people who likes
to keep the vernacular elements even in their
The two case studies for the modernist Cypriot modern houses as we see until today. Those
architect ‘Ahmet Vural Bahaeddin’, ‘Efruz results supports hypothesis of the paper, which
House & Somek House’ have been analyzed. Hypothesize that the vernacular elements in the
Both considered as modernist architecture in modern residential buildings designed by
North Cyprus and had been designed later of ‘Ahmet Vural Bahaeddin’ and modernist
the previous bu ildings in South Europe. The architecture generally is somehow affected by
findings demonstrated that both of ‘Bahaeddin’ “Mediterranean modernism movement” in the
houses had the vernacular elements in their first half of last century.
Salar Salah Muhy Al-Din 21
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS, 1(1), 10-23 / 2017
5. Conclusion References:
Many buildings have been built in Lefkoşa in the Anarjani O. A. (2013) Personalization at Social
first and early second half of the twentieth Housing District in Sakarya. Master thesis,
century holding the character of modern Eastern Mediterranean University,
architecture, whereas a several vernacular Gazimagusa. North Cyprus: Eastern
elements interfered in. Those buildings confuse Mediterranean University
the expert beholder to give a final judgment
whether or not those buildings are holding pure Blakely, S. (2011) The Responsibilities of the
modernist architecture features. The paper Architect: Mass Production and Modernism in
conducted following questions to investigate the Work of Marco Zanuso 1936-1972. Ph D
that; whether or not, the Cypriot architects were thesis, Columbia University NewYork. USA:
influenced by “Mediterranean modernist Columbia University.
philosophy” in first and early second half of the
last century? Is there other external factors Benton,Tim. (2007) The Villas of Le Corbusier and
affected the shape of the modernism Pierre Jeanneret 1920-1930. Basel; Boston,
movement in the architectural design of USA: Birkhäuser
residential buildings in that period on the Island?
To evaluate the influence of the Calcerano, F., Cecchini, C.(2014)
“Mediterranean movements in architecture” or Mediterranean Buildings Refurbishment:
other factors on the modernist architecture in Thermal Mass and Natural Ventilation
Lefkoşa, the paper proposed two main paths to Simulated Control. Presented to Fifth
study the subject: 1) investigate the effect of the German-Austrian IBPSA Conference RWTH,
vernacular elements on the Mediterranean Aachen University, Bausim, Germany, 136-
Modernist movement in south Europe, basis on 143.
‘theoretical part’ 2) and evaluate the effect of
the same vernacular elements on the modern Celik, D. (2005) Modern architecture in Cyprus:
architecture in Lefkoşa, basis on ‘Case studies & the first Cypriot Turkish architect "Ahmet Vural
Interview’. The residential buildings of Bahaeddin". Mimarca 16 (72), 62-66.
‘Bahaeddin’ as pioneer modernist architect
were selected as case studies to be analyzed. Celik, D. and Erturk, Z. (2007) Analysis of the
The results obtained based on theoretical Modernist Language in Cyprus: A Case Study
assessment and through the interview. The main on a local architect. 5th International
findings obtained are that there is similarity postgraduate research conference in the built
between the “Mediterranean modernist and human environment in conjunction with
architecture” in Mediterranean countries such the 2nd International Built and Human
as Italy or Spain, and the Modernist architecture Environment Research Week. Dept. of Interior
in Lefkoşa. There is hidden effect of indigenous Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean
inhabitant on the Island through applying their University, Famagusta, Cyprus.
opinion on the architects while designing their
houses. The study concluded that there is two Costanzo, F. (2015) Luigi Figini E Gino Pollini.
main factors which influenced the Modernist [Retrieved] on Dec.23rd, 2016 from
architects to introduce vernacular elements in http://www.architettura.unina2.it/docenti/ar
Lefkoşa in first and second half of 20th century. eaprivata/220/documenti/02_2015-
First is the Mediterranean modernism 6%20Lezione%20-Figini%20e%20Pollini.pdf
philosophy, which started in south Europe in the
beginning of twentieth century. Second is the Esentepe, B.M. (2013) Space Transformation and
effect of the authentic dwellers of Lefkoşa or Change in Mass Housing
Cyprus who tend to involve the vernacular In Nicosia, North Cyprus.Ph D thesis,
elements in their houses as aesthetic value and Eastern Mediterranean University
functional element. ,Gazimağusa. N. Cyprus: Eastern
Mediterranean University
John was there in his Sunday coat and his hair brushed carefully; it was more
than could have been expected. Moreover, almost immediately, by one of
those chance remarks that seem of no importance, an item of political news
was started for discussion, and behold the father and Lewis were stanchly on
one side, and the minister and John on the other. John, roused by a
nettlesome speech of his brother, gave bold utterance to opposing views, and
was strongly approved and supported by Mr. Butler. The interest deepened
and the arguers waxed earnest; but all the while there was in Farmer
Morgan's face, veiled to any but a close observer, such as Louise was that
day, a sense of surprised satisfaction over the fact that his boy John had such
clear views of things, and could talk as well as the minister; and the minister,
whether he was to win souls or not, surely knew one step of the way—he was
winning hearts. They went, all of them together, to the bright parlour again,
and when presently the discussion calmed, and the subject changed to the
delights of corn-popping and apples roasted in the ashes, Mr. Butler said with
zest,—
"John, let's try some. Suppose you get the apples and superintend the
roasting; and, Miss Dorothy, can't you and I pop some corn?"
Dorothy's cheeks were aflame; but the corn was brought, and the evening
waned before even Nellie knew it was late. "He's a good deal likelier chap
than I thought from his sermons," was Farmer Morgan heard to remark to his
wife when the minister had finally bade them good-evening and departed.
"O Lewis," said Louise, when they were alone again, "if he had only asked to
read a few verses in the Bible and offered prayer before he went. I certainly
thought he would do it; isn't it strange that he did not?"
"Why, yes," said Lewis. "As a minister it would have been entirely in keeping. I
wonder he did not suggest it."
"Why didn't you suggest it, Lewis? I was hoping you would; that was what I
meant by all those telegraphic communications I was trying to make."
"My dear Louise," said her husband, "that was my father's place, not mine."
CHAPTER XIV.
DUST AND DOUBT.
Louise, who had not heard him promise, and who had felt much anxiety lest
he would refuse to perform, was so elated over this declaration that, with her
husband's help, she parried her mother-in-law's thrusts with the utmost good-
humour, helped by the fact that, whatever she might say, that strange woman
actually felt glad over the thought of her young people going off together like
other folks.
The efforts of Mrs. Morgan's life had been spent in keeping her children from
being "like other folks," and yet, with strange inconsistency, she liked to see
these approaches to other people's ways of doing things.
If she could have explained what her sore and disappointed heart had meant,
it would have revealed the fact that she intended her children to be superior
to; not isolated from, the society around them.
Wednesday afternoon proved a real gala time to Dorothy. She entered with
zest into the lamp-cleaning, and after a few lessons from Louise, developed a
remarkable talent for making the chimneys glitter in the sunlight. The surprised
and smiling sexton had done his share, and the dust from the long unswept
room lay thick on pulpit and seat-rail. The room was comparatively warm too,
which, if Louise had but known it, was a rare thing on Wednesday evening.
John swung the old organ around in a business-like manner, and applied a
drop of oil here and another there, then gave himself to the mending of one of
the stops; while Lewis tacked on the new binding for the desk, and whistled
softly an old tune. Altogether, Louise's plans were working royally. She had
managed a difficult bit of business in the shape of a lunch, which had been
smuggled into the buggy with them.
"Why, we want it for our supper," said Louise. "You know we shall not have
time to come back before prayer-meeting, and that will make us late for
supper."
"Why, certainly; we want to see whether the lamps are improved. If Dorrie
leaves lint on the glass it will show splendidly when they are lighted. Besides, I
want to hear how that organ will sound when it doesn't squeak."
Mrs. Morgan's face had taken on a deeper cloud of disapprobation, and her
voice was glumness intensified.
This from Louise, in positive tone, albeit she was painfully uncertain about that
very thing; certain only of this, that if John would not stay, the rest would not. It
was no part of her plan to carry him down to the village, simply to be tempted
of Satan, as he always was, at the street corners.
"Humph!" said Mrs. Morgan, senior, and she went her way, giving no sign of
relief or approval, save that the lunch she prepared and packed for their
united suppers was bountiful and inviting.
So Louise dusted and advised as to lamps and pulpit, and prayed heartily
meanwhile. How was she to prevail on John to stay to prayer-meeting? Was it
a foolish scheme? Would it be better to abandon it and go home? What if, at
the last moment, he should rebel, and go away and spend the evening in that
horrid corner grocery? Recent though her introduction into the family was, she
had already learned how they dreaded the influence of that corner grocery.
She lingered near her husband and consulted.
"Lewis, how can we prevail on John to be willing to stay to-night until after the
meeting?"
"Oh, but we mustn't have that kind of staying. I mean how can we coax him to
stay here at the prayer-meeting?"
Her husband regarded her curiously. "I don't believe even you can accomplish
such a result as that," he said at last; "and I am willing to admit that you do
accomplish some very extraordinary things."
"Lewis, why do you speak in that way, as though I were trying to do anything
wonderful? Can any work be simpler than to seek to get one interested in
prayer-meetings who has no natural interest in such things? I want you to ask
him to stay. You said yesterday that you had never invited him to attend. Tell
him we have a nice lunch, and want him to stay with us and enjoy the
meeting. Perhaps all he is waiting for is an invitation."
"Louise clear, you don't know John. He would have no enjoyment from this
meeting, even if he stayed, which he will not do; and now, in all sincerity, I
believe he would be much less likely to stay if I were to ask him than he would
under almost any other circumstances. It is a humiliating fact that he doesn't
care to do anything to please me."
Louise turned away with a sigh. Her work was growing complicated. Meantime
the dusting and cleansing went steadily on, and when all was accomplished
the church was certainly improved.
A somewhat weary but gay little company gather under one of the renovated
lamps just at nightfall, and having made their toilets by folding away large
aprons and sweeping-caps and donning hats and shawls again, sat down to
eat the generous lunch.
"Queer way of having a picnic," said John. "I've always supposed the woods
was the place for such gatherings. We might as well go home for all I can see;
our work is about done."
Lewis glanced significantly at his wife. Her face expressed doubt and anxiety.
Certainly it would be better for them all to go home at once rather than that
John should spend his evening at the corners. Just what should she say at
this juncture? She hesitated but a moment, then said quickly,—
"Why, we are going to stay to prayer-meeting; don't you suppose we want to
see the effect of these improvements on the people?"
Their departure for the church had been delayed, and the work there had
taken longer than had been anticipated, so that as the short winter day drew
rapidly to its close, the lunch had finally to be disposed of in haste, in order
that two or three unfinished matters might be accomplished before the hour for
prayer-meeting. With very little idea as to what she should say, or whether it
would be wise to say anything, Louise followed John to the organ corner,
while he struggled to make the organist's broken seat less objectionable.
"The idea of allowing a church to run into shabbiness in this fashion!" he said
with energy, a sneer in his voice; "shows how interested the people are in it."
"Why doesn't the sexton light the lamps on the other side?" questioned
Louise, unwilling to enter into a discussion concerning the inconsistencies of
the church, and really curious to understand the movements of that worthy the
sexton.
"More than I know. They are all filled and trimmed, I am sure; perhaps he
doesn't know that. He probably economizes by using the lamps on one side
until they are empty, and then taking the other row."
"No," said Louise; "I see what it is done for—to compel the people to sit close
together, and not spread over the entire church. It is a good idea, too."
What strange power John had to throw meaning into a few words. This simple
sentence started Louise; she glanced over the large church. What a very
small corner of it was lighted and made habitable. Yet she felt her own faith
was equal to even less than that amount of room; she struggled for some
satisfying explanation.
"But, John, you know this room has to be large enough for the entire
congregation; and a great many of them are in the country, and could hardly
be expected, I suppose, to attend prayer-meeting."
"I know it," said John; "twice as far down to the village on Wednesday evening
as it is on Saturday. On Saturday evenings the stores have to be kept open
until eleven o'clock, so many country people are in town; but none of them are
affected in that way on Wednesday."
"Well," said Louise, trying to speak lightly, "our party will count four more than
are usually here; that is one comfort."
"Have you any kind of a notion that I intend to stay to this meeting?" he asked
at last, a curious mixture of sarcasm and sneer in his tones. There was
something in John's voice that was constantly reminding one of sneers.
A sudden reaction of feeling swept over Louise, or rather the feeling that she
had held in check rose to the surface. A vision of John at the corner, playing
cards, smoking, drinking beer; of the mother at home, sick at heart, when she
saw him and smelled his breath; of the father's anger and Lewis's gravity,
appeared before her, and her voice faltered and her eyes were full of tears as
she answered, from a full heart—
"No, I am afraid you are not going to; and I am so disappointed about it that I
feel as though I could hardly—"
Here the words stopped, and the tears actually dropped—one of them on
John's hand, that was outstretched just at the moment to grasp the hammer
lying beside her. He withdrew it suddenly, a strange expression crossing his
face; he looked at his hand doubtfully, gravely, then looked back at Louise.
"Why in the name of common sense do you care whether I stay to prayer-
meeting or where I go?"
"I care," said Louise, brushing away the treacherous tears and raising earnest
eyes to his face, "a great deal more than I can explain to you. I never had a
brother; I have always wanted one, and I looked forward to having pleasant
times together with my brother John. But you won't do anything to please me."
"How do you know I won't?" His voice was gruff now, gruffer than it had been
during the day, and he seized the hammer and pounded so vigorously that
she could neither speak nor hear. She turned from him in doubt and anxiety
still, and immediately joined her husband, who had come to say that the
pounding must cease—the people were beginning to come to prayer-meeting.
Nevertheless the pounding did not cease until two more nails were in place.
Then did John, without any effort at quiet, stalk down the uncarpeted aisle and
seat himself in the Morgan pew, Dorothy edging along for the purpose, and
looking her undisguised astonishment.
Louise tried to feel triumphant; but as the hour dragged its slow length along
her heart was very heavy. What a strange meeting it was—strange, at least, to
her who had been used to better things. In the first place, the number, all told,
counting the four who filled the Morgan pew, amounted to twenty-three. Now,
when twenty-three people are placed in a room designed for the
accommodation of three hundred, the effect, to say the least, is not social.
Then these twenty-three seemed to have made a study of seating themselves
in as widespread a manner as the conditions of light and darkness would
admit. Dorothy saw this, and lost herself in trying to plan where the
congregation would have been likely to sit had the other lamps been lighted.
That condition of inability to sing, which seems to be the chronic state of many
prayer-meetings, was in full force here. Mr. Butler announced a hymn, read it,
and earnestly invited a leader; but none responded. Louise felt her cheeks
flushing in sympathy with the minister's embarrassment, and never more
earnestly wished that she could sing. Even Dorothy, conscious that she could
sing, was so far roused by sympathy that she felt the bumpings of her
frightened heart, caused by the courageous question, "What if I should?" Not
that she had the least idea of doing so, but the bare thought made her blood
race through her veins at lightning speed. At last a quavering voice took up
the cross, and made a cross for every one who tried to join in the unknown
and uninviting melody.
This prayer-meeting does not need a lengthy description; there are, alas! too
many like it:—Two long prayers, called for by the pastor, between two
silences, which waited for some one to "occupy the time." A few dreary
sentences from Deacon Jones, who is always in every meeting, detailing his
weary story of how things used to be when Mr. Somebody Else was our
pastor. Another attempt at a song of praise, which made John's lip curl more
emphatically than the first one had; and then the pastor arose to make some
remarks. How interesting he could be at the supper-table; how bright and
pleasant he could be when roasting apples and popping corn! These things
the Morgans knew; so did nearly every one of the other nineteen.
CHAPTER XV.
OPPORTUNITIES.
A CHURCH social had been one of the places against which the senior
Morgans had set their faces like flints. Not that there had been much occasion
for peremptory decisions. John, when he arrived at the proper age for
attending, had grown away from the church into a lower circle, and Dorothy
was frightened at the mere thought of going anywhere alone. So occasional
sharp criticisms as to the proceedings, reports of which floated to them from
time to time, was the extent of their interference. But Louise had weighed the
matter carefully, and was bent on an attendance at the church social. Had she
taken time to notice it, she might have been amused over the various forms of
objection that met her plans.
"I'm afraid they will think the Morgan family have turned out en masse," had
her husband said when he listened to the scheme. "I'm in favour of our going,
because I think the people will like to meet you, and you will like some of them
very well; but wouldn't it be better to get acquainted with them ourselves
before getting Dorothy into society? She will be frightened and awkward, and
will be very far from enjoying it. John won't go, of course."
"Lewis," his wife said impressively, "I believe John will go; I am very anxious to
have him, and I feel impressed with the belief that God will put it into his
heart." The curious look on her husband's face emboldened her to ask a
question which had been troubling her. "Lewis, you sometimes act almost as
though you didn't believe such matters were subjects of prayer at all. Are
these things too small for His notice, when he himself refers us to the fading
wild flowers for lessons?"
Lewis studied his answer carefully; he admitted that, of course, we had a right
to pray about everything; but then—well, the truth was, she certainly had a
way of attaching importance to matters which seemed to him trivial. Take, for
instance, that tea: he had not understood then, did not now, why she should
have been so anxious about it; and as for this matter, what particular good
was it going to do to take John to the church social?
"Don't you see," his wife asked earnestly, "that we must get John into a
different circle, if we would draw him away from the one he has fallen into?"
Yes, he admitted that; in fact, he admitted everything that she could possibly
desire, and yet she knew he went away feeling that it was, after all, of
exceeding little consequence whether John went or stayed.
Nevertheless her desire for the accomplishment of this matter remained firm.
She studied many ways for winning John's consent to the plan, seeking
counsel on her knees, and wondering much that no way opened to her, until
she discovered, on the day in question, that there was no need for an
opening. John, for reasons best known to himself, had settled the matter, and
himself broached the subject by inquiring whether she still believed that the
pleasantest thing she could do was to walk.
"Walk where?" questioned the mother, and the subject was before them.
"Why, to the social this evening," explained Louise quickly. "I propose a walk.
The evenings are perfect now, and I'm a first-class walker; I feel anxious to
show my skill in that line."
"To the church fiddlestick!" said Father Morgan, with more than usual asperity;
and Mother Morgan added—
"I wonder if you and Lewis are going to countenance those gatherings?"
"Why," said innocent Louise, "of course we must sustain the social gatherings
of our church; I think them very important aids."
"Aids to what, I'd like to know? They are just dancing parties, and nothing
else. I'm not a church member, to be sure, but I know what church members
ought to be; and to see them standing up for the world in that way, and helping
it along, is sickening, to say the least." This from Farmer Morgan.
"They stay until near morning, and dress, and gossip, and giggle, and dance;
if that is sustaining the church, the less it is sustained the better, according to
my notion."
Then Louise—
"May not part of the trouble be that those who do not approve of such
management stand aloof and let Satan manage it his own way, and lead the
young people whither he will?"
"Humph!" said Farmer Morgan (and there is hardly in our language one
syllable more expressive than that in the mouths of some people). "The
minister goes."
"In my opinion," said Mrs. Morgan firmly, "he enjoys it all too well to want to do
anything." Her firm lips and eyes said as plainly as words could have done:
"You will do as you like, no doubt, but you won't get my Dorothy to help to
sustain any such thing."
"Well, mother, we are going to-night, to see what we can do toward sustaining,
or something else. I hardly know what we are going for, I'm sure; but I know
this much, we are going."
Perhaps of all the group no one was more surprised than Louise at this
statement from John's lips.
She hesitated, and her heart beat high with anxiety and doubt. John meant to
go, then; but ought he to speak so to his mother? And ought she to seem to
approve of such speaking? Only a second of thought, then she said—
"O John, we wouldn't go if mother disapproved, would we? Lewis says he
always minds his mother, and I'm sure I always minded mine."
This sentence, half-laughing, yet inwardly wholly earnest, was sent forth in
much anxiety, the speaker remembering the fifth commandment, even though
she wished most earnestly, just then, that it were not made so difficult a duty
by the mother in question.
But a change had suddenly come over that mother. To have the boy John
even at a church social, disreputable as she believed those places to be, was
much better than to have him at the corner grocery, or in any of his favourite
haunts. The moment there dawned upon her the idea that he really meant to
go, her objections softened.
"Oh, I don't want to keep any of you from going, sure. Go if you want to, of
course. A church gathering ought to be a nice place, and if it isn't what it ought
to be; it isn't your fault, I suppose. I shan't make any objections."
Which was a remarkable concession when we consider the woman who made
it. So they went to the social; also they walked—Lewis and Louise stepping
briskly along together over the moon-lighted earth, and enjoying every step of
the way, as only those can who have little opportunity for long, quiet walks
together, even though they are bound by the closest ties.
The large modern farmhouse where the gathering was held was a surprise to
Louise; unconsciously she had gauged all farmhouses by her father-in-law's.
But here she was introduced to one of those fair country homes with which our
land abounds—bright and tasteful, and, in its free and easy, home-like way,
beautiful. The large rooms were carefully arranged, and little works of art and
souvenirs of celebrated spots and scenes were freely scattered, and the
books, displayed lavishly, spoke of cultured tastes and leisure for their
indulgence. A large company was gathered, and the scene was social in the
extreme. The new-comers were very heartily greeted, it being evident to all
but herself that Mrs. Lewis Morgan was looked upon as an acquisition to the
society much to be desired. As for that lady, she was so engrossed in making
Dorothy feel at home and have a good time, and so anxious that John should
not slip away in disgust before the evening was over, that she forgot her
position as a stranger, and, with an end in view, made acquaintances eagerly
and searchingly, looking everywhere for the helpers that she hoped to find in
these young people.
Meantime she studied the actual scene, trying to fit it to the reports which had
come to her. The company was very merry. They talked a good deal of
nonsense, no doubt, and it was possible that a sort of giggly, good-natured
gossip came in for its share; and they were, at least the younger portion, too
much dressed for a church social; but though the evening was advancing, she
had as yet seen no indications of the amusement which Father and Mother
Morgan found so objectionable.
During a moment's leisure Mr. Butler came over to her. He had been among
the young people all the evening, the favourite centre of the merriest circles. It
was evident that these young people enjoyed their pastor at a church social,
whatever opinion they might have of him elsewhere.
"I am so glad you came out to our gathering," he said to her cordially. "It was
very kind in you to overlook our lack of courtesy in the matter of calls and
come at once. Our ladies will call on you promptly enough now. Some of them
had the impression that you might not care to make new acquaintances."
"I wonder why?" said Louise in surprise. "My old friends are too far-away to be
made available. Mr. Butler, what a great company of young people! Do these
all belong to your congregation Where were they on Wednesday night?"
"Well," said Mr. Butler, "the plain and painful truth is, that wherever they are on
Wednesday evenings, at one place they are not, and that is the prayer-
meeting. Some of them are church members, but it never seems to be
convenient for country people to come to town on Wednesdays, nor to be out
so late as is necessary in order to attendance at prayer-meeting."
"Oh yes, indeed. That is another matter; they have no objection to being
social."
"Then, what a pity it is that we couldn't have our prayer-meeting social, isn't
it?"
"Well, but, Mrs. Morgan, you do not suppose it is possible to make prayer-
meetings into places where those who have no love for Christ will like to
come?"
"Perhaps not; though more might be done for even that class, I suspect, than
is. But some of these young people belong to Christ, do they not?"
He shook his head.
"Very few. I never knew a church with such a large class of indifferent young
people in it. Oh, some of them are members, to be sure; but the large majority
of those here to-night, the young ones, have no sympathy with the church,
except in its socials."
"Then what a doubly important opportunity this church social is," said Louise,
with kindling eyes. "This is really almost your only chance with the young
people, then, save in calls. How do you manage the work? Or is that too close
a question to answer?"
The bright eyes of the young minister dropped before her. He felt, in truth, that
the question was too close, though not in the sense that she meant it. He
wished, in his truthful heart, that he could just leave her to think that his ways
of working were too intermingled to be explained; but whatever faults he may
have had, deception was not one of them.
"The simple truth is, Mrs. Morgan, I am doing just nothing with these young
people, and I don't know what to do."
"I know," she said quickly; "the work is immense, and little patient efforts
sometimes seem like 'just nothing.' But, after all, how can you tell? The
earnest words dropped here and there, even in such soil as this, may spring
up and bear fruit; so long as you meet your people in this way, once a week,
and can gather them about you as you do, I shouldn't allow myself to get
discouraged."
Evidently she did not understand him. He was leaving her to suppose that he
was moving quietly around among them dropping seed, when, in reality, he
had been chatting with them about the skating and the sleighing, and the
coming festival, and the recent party, and had dropped no earnest, honest
seed of any sort. His honest heart shrank from bearing unmerited approval.
"I am literal in my statement," he said earnestly, "though you are kind enough
to translate it figuratively. I do not feel that I am saying anything to help these
young people, save as I am helping them to have a pleasant evening. I don't
know how that is going to tell for the future, and I don't know what I can do to
tell toward that. I cannot get one into a corner and preach a sermon to him at
such a time as this; now, can I?"
"I shouldn't think it would be a good place in which to read sermons," said
Louise, with smiling eyes and grave mouth. "But, then, we who never preach
at all will not allow you to profess that the sermon is the only way of seed-
sowing."
"I did not mean literal preaching, of course," he said, a trifle annoyed; "but
what I mean is, there is no opportunity here for personal effort of any sort. I
am always afraid to attempt anything of the kind, lest I may prejudice people
against the whole subject. Don't you think there is danger of that?"
"Well, I don't know," Louise said thoughtfully. "If I were to talk with one of my
friends who is not acquainted with you, and tell her how kind you were, and
how interested in all young people, and how pleasant and helpful you were, it
doesn't seem to me that I should prejudice that friend against you. Why should
I feel afraid of prejudicing them against my Saviour?"
"Don't you think that young people look upon this question with different eyes
from that which they give to any other? Aren't they more afraid of hearing it
talked about?"
"Well," said Louise, with bright eyes and smiling mouth, "that, certainly,
wouldn't hurt us. But why should we be called fanatics? I heard you telling
what Professor Proctor says he has recently decided in regard to a scientific
matter, and the young men about you listened and questioned, and didn't act
as though you were a fanatic at all."
CHAPTER XVI.
THE REASON OF THINGS.
JOHN came over to her, speaking abruptly, recognizing the presence of the
pastor only by a nod:—
The minister flushed over the question, as though it had been personal; but
Louise laughed.
"Now, John! didn't you tell me only a few days ago what you expected of me in
that regard? Do you think I want to disappoint your expectations?"
John turned away, a grim smile on his face. Louise, looking after him, feeling
much less bright and undisturbed than she appeared, saw that he was not
displeased with her answers, but wondered uneasily what he might be
enduring, in the way of banter, for her sake. She had grown to have that
degree of confidence in him; she believed that he would endure something for
her sake. She need not have been disturbed; there had been no bantering;
Mrs. Lewis Morgan was at present held in too great respect for that. Still, John
had been surprised into some abrupt admissions, which he had felt obliged to
have corroborated by her.
"Does your sister dance?" had been asked him abruptly by one of the pretty
visions in curls whom his eyes had been following half the evening. He had
given a confused little start, and glanced instinctively at the corner where
Dorothy sat, being kindly talked to by a nice old lady.
"Oh, I don't mean Dorothy," and the pretty vision echoed his surprise in her
voice; "I mean your brother's wife."
Then did John turn and look at her as she stood a little at one side, conversing
animatedly with the minister. How pretty she was; how unlike any one that he
knew! What a strange sound it had to him, that sentence, "your sister," when
he applied it to this fair young woman! She was his acknowledged sister, then,
in the eyes of all his people. He had not realized it before—to be sure she had
called him her brother, and it had pleased him; but, at the same time, the idea
that other people so spoke had not before occurred to him. It certainly was by
no means an unpleasant idea. He was in danger of wandering off over the
strangeness of this relation and its possible pleasantness, unmindful of the
small questioner who waited.
"Well," she said inquiringly, a little laugh closing the word, "are you trying to
decide the momentous question?"
"Never!"
"Dear me! Why 'of course'? You speak as if it were the unpardonable sin!" The
very words that John had used in speaking of this very subject, yet he disliked
this speaker for these words which slipped so smoothly from her pretty lips. All
unconscious of this, however, she continued: "I shall be greatly surprised if
you are not mistaken. She is from the city, and in cities all the young people
dance; the old country ideas on that subject are thought to be absurd. I
believe she would like a little refreshment from this dulness, and really I think
she looks too sensible to have any such silly notions as some of our deacons
indulge. I don't suppose you ever asked her point-blank, did you?"
John did not choose to tell how nearly he had done just this, did not choose to
be catechised longer, so he turned from her with this parting sentence—
"If you are anxious about the matter, it is easy enough to ask her; she can
speak for herself." And his mental addition was, with a curling lip—"She is one
of their Christians!" Though why John Morgan should have any right to pass
judgment upon her for disgracing a profession in which he did not believe is
more than I can understand. This, however, I know—they nearly all do it.
No sooner was he left to himself than it occurred to him that he had been very
emphatic; after all, what ground had he for his positive statements? He
recalled the brief conversation which he had held with Louise on the subject;
what had she said? Not much besides asking him a question or two. He did
not believe that she ever joined in that amusement; he felt positive about it; at
the same time he could not have told why he felt so. Suppose he should be
mistaken? Suppose they should get up a dance here and now, and she
should join them? He grew hot over the thought. "She needn't try to cajole me
into her prayer-meetings or organ-mendings after that," he told himself in
indignation. But then, John Morgan, why not? You believe in dancing; you
know you have sneered at your mother for her views on this subject.
Never mind; whatever he believed, he assuredly did not believe in having this
new sister of his take such a position before this public. A desire to have the
proof of her own words, added to his feelings, sent him across the room to
interrupt that conversation between her and the minister. And though she
certainly did not say much, he had turned from her satisfied that "city lady
though she was, that pert little yellow-curled girl would find herself mistaken."
Meantime Mr. Butler regarded the lady with a curious blending of amusement
and anxiety on his face.
"Your brother has evidently assumed your defence," he said lightly; and then,
as if with a sudden resolution to be earnest, he added; "I could find it in my
heart to repeat and press the question that has just been asked you if I
thought you were willing to enter into the discussion with me. Not—" he
added, with a slightly flushing face, as she turned surprised eyes on him, "not
as to why you do not dance, for of course your position and mine are answer
enough to this question, but as to what reasons you give to others for taking
such views of the question. I confess to you frankly that it puzzles me beyond
almost any other that I meet, how to explain to those bright young girls and
pleasant-faced boys, who gather in this congregational capacity every two
weeks, and who are well acquainted with each other, that there is any harm in
having a promenade together, for really that is all that the sort of dancing in
which they indulge amounts to. Positively, when they say to me, 'What is the
harm?' I am nonplussed. I feel the inconsistency, but am at an utter loss how
to explain it. Now, may I ask you what you do with such questions when they
are asked you?"
"Well," said Louise thoughtfully, "it depends upon the standpoint from which I
am to talk; by which I mean there are various presentations of the subject. You
do not expect to influence one who has no love for Christ with the same
motives that you do an earnest Christian, you know."
"Certainly not; but it is from a Christian standpoint that I want you to speak
now. I have some young Christians here who say to me, 'Now, Mr. Butler, what
harm can there be in our dancing together occasionally, we boys and girls who
know each other so well? We don't go to balls or large parties, but when we
meet in this way, please tell us the harm?' And while it may be a very
humiliating confession, I have never been able to answer them satisfactorily to
myself. Suppose that a young girl who professed to belong to Christ should
ask you the question, what would you say?"
"I should say, 'Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all
to the glory of God.' And then I should ask her to tell me how dancing could be
made subservient to his glory."
"Well, but the difficulty with such reasoning is that it condemns so many things
which we consider innocent; for instance, that corn which Miss Dorothy and I
popped the other evening, would it be possible to fit that to God's glory?"
"I find it by no means difficult," Louise said, giving him a bright smile. "I am not
sure but that, while the corn popped, avenues were opened in the family
which may lead to hearts, and make a road for you to lead them to your
Master. I assure you that I believe even such trivialities as kernels of corn may
tend to his glory. But then, if we became, as a family, infatuated with corn-
popping, so that we spent our evenings away into the midnight, if not away
beyond it, in popping corn, and unfitted ourselves for the next day's duties;
and if some people, or occasionally one person, had been led by the popping
of corn into temptation and danger and death, I should feel that you ought to
use your influence against our amusement in that direction. And this world is
in such a cranky state of mind that in order to use your influence against my
excesses, you would have to refrain from ever popping one single kernel.
Now, wouldn't you?"
"I might say," he answered, laughing, "that if you were so extremely foolish as
to be led astray by such an innocent amusement as that, it was your own fault,
and I was not responsible."
"And I should ask, 'Shall the weak sister perish for whom Christ died?'"
"But, Mrs. Morgan, seriously, many of our young people, or at least some of
them, have so slight a knowledge of the world that they really cannot realize
the possibility of persons being led astray by such causes; and where they
have not wise mothers and tender fathers to influence them, in whose
superior wisdom they can trust, how can I reach such?"
"There is one line of argument that ought to reach all such, I think. Take, for
instance, my brother John; isn't it evident, Mr. Butler, that he doesn't consider
dancing consistent with a Christian profession?"
"Oh, of course," said Mr. Butler promptly; "there is hardly an unconverted man
or woman in the world who does. We are sure to find sneerers among that
class, but I had always supposed that was rather because they had caught
the impression from some advanced Christians, and, being always ready to
sneer, were glad to have this to sneer about."
"Now, we might go off on a side issue, and try to discover where these
advanced Christians got their views. But suppose we do not; suppose we
grant that such is the case, what then? Have I, as a Christian, any right to
indulge in that which is not in itself a duty, and which may cause me to be a
stumbling-block in the way of another? Why, the argument is very old: 'By
meat destroy not the work of God.' If I may not do it for meat, can I possibly
see a right to do it for amusement?"
"Well," said Mr. Butler, after a long pause, "I see the line of argument; it is
capable of covering very broad ground. What do you say to an unconverted
person on this subject?"
"Various things," said Louise, smiling; "among others I try to persuade them to
love the Lord Jesus, and then when he makes it plain to them that there are
greater pleasures in store than these can give, they will be enabled even to
give up dancing for his sake! If the Christian world were a unit on this
question, do you really think it would give us much trouble, Mr. Butler?"
"No," said Mr. Butler gravely; "the trouble grows out of a divided host. Yet
there are arguments against dancing on the side of morals and propriety, but it
is exceedingly difficult to make pure-hearted young girls understand this."
"I know, and herein lies so much of the mischief; because, Mr. Butler, young
men like my brother John know only too well the arguments which might be
advanced in that direction.—Now, tell me, please, who is that young man who
seems to stand aloof? I have noticed him several times this evening; he
appears like a stranger; he is standing now, near the sitting-room door, quite
alone."
"I don't know who he is," said Mr. Butler; "I have noticed him at the socials
once or twice before, but I don't know his name, and can't imagine where he
belongs."
"Won't you please find out for me, if you can, and introduce us?"
Thus commissioned, the minister turned away with heightened colour. Not a
word had Mrs. Morgan said as to the strangeness of having a young man
appear in his church socials two or three times without discovering who he
was. Nevertheless an uncomfortable sense of having appeared indifferent to
his flock haunted the minister as he looked about for ways and means of
making the acquaintance of the stranger.
"That?" said Deacon Shirley's son, to whom he appealed. "Oh, that is young
Martyn; he is a farm hand in summer, and a—well, anything he can find to be
in winter. He is doing odd jobs for Mr. Capron now, on the farm, working for his
board, I believe, and attending the school in the village. I don't know him.
Keeps himself to himself."
"Oh yes; twice, I think. Jennie Capron has to depend on him for an escort; and
so he comes in the line of his work, just as he does everything else. He
doesn't seem to enjoy them much."
"Suppose you introduce me?" said the minister; and young Shirley, much
amazed, complied.
Meantime, while they were making their way to his side, little Minnie Capron,
who had been standing near them, sped away to the young man, who was a
friend of hers, and whispered—