In spite of Varney’s reports that the Wesleyans were slandering him, to Lewis’s relief there had been no repeat of the churchyard incident in Demorestville. He did note, however, that there seemed to be fewer people at the service. Whether this was because he had been neglecting his duties or because they feared retaliation from the Wesleyans, he didn’t know. He stayed to take both the men’s and the women’s class meetings after the service. It was time he spent some of his energies on consolidating his congregation.
Rachel was with Minta at the women’s class meeting. Minta’s condition was evident now, even to Lewis, but she looked a little less pale than she had. Rachel sat circumspectly enough and appeared to be paying rapt attention to his words, but her presence drew a crowd of young men who loitered around the front of the church and kept peering in the windows to see if the meeting was over. As soon as the last hymn was sung, and the women rose to leave, these young men crowded in, nearly knocking Minta over in the process, every one of them offering to walk the ladies home. Rachel smiled back at them, but appeared to favour no particular one.
Willet Caddick had painted her a little picture of wildflowers in a field and his brother Benjamin frowned as he handed it to her. He had nothing but his pins with the prayer on them. Morgan Spicer was there as well, but had brought no offering, nor had a sad-eyed boy who wore the plain Quaker dress.
Lewis passed a few words with the rest of the women, but as he was about to gather up Betsy and little Martha, who had for once behaved herself, Rachel broke away from the crowd around her and approached Lewis.
“A moment, sir?”
“Of course.”
The young men scowled at him for waylaying their prize, but they at least had the decency to realize that their presence was not welcome at a private conversation and made their way out the door. Minta and Betsy each took a hand and swung Martha as they took her outside. Only Morgan Spicer stayed behind, but even he wandered over to a window and stood with his hands in his pockets.
“I know you’re expecting me to join your congregation,” Rachel said in a low voice. “I must admit that I’m very attracted by the lovely singing …” Lewis nodded. He never discouraged honesty in a prospective convert and if it was the music that had drawn her, so be it. The rest would follow. “I know I must settle soon, but I haven’t quite decided where to do it yet.”
Lewis was suddenly not at all sure that she was talking about a church. She might well be referring to the crowd of young men, any of whom would be happy to wed her, he was sure.
“I just feel that I need to be absolutely certain in my mind. Do you think the Lord will be upset if I take a little while to decide?”
“Not at all,” Lewis said. “I think He welcomes a reasoned belief. Just remember, though, that there is many a slip between cup and lip. Don’t delay too long, Rachel, for we never know what comes on the morrow.”
Lewis felt for all the world as if he was speaking to his daughter again. They had had this same conversation many a time. Sarah had heard his words near the end and he was sure that she had felt the presence of the Lord. Just in time as it turned out.
“I’ll bear your words in mind,” Rachel said. “I believe I’ll have an answer for you in a month or so.” Her cheeks dimpled in a smile. “I may even have a request for your services then,” she said, confirming his suspicions that she was close to deciding on her marital state as well as a choice of church. “In the meantime, Minta is waiting for me.”
Her brother Seth was waiting outside with Minta, and again he glared at Lewis.
“Does your brother have something against me?” he asked.
Rachel laughed. “No, he just thinks this is all a waste of time. Seth does nothing but work.” Her brow wrinkled up as a thought struck her. “Oh, I know why he doesn’t like us coming here. It’s the collection money he begrudges.”
She ran down the steps, waved at the crowd of young men, and set sedately off down the street with her family, leaving them with no option but to disperse.
“That’s quite the crowd of admirers,” Betsy remarked, after the boys had all finally left, shuffling and grumbling.
“Yes,” Lewis agreed. “It wouldn’t surprise me if she were to marry one of them soon, but I don’t know which one. Probably one of the Caddick boys.”
Betsy snorted. “Oh, she’s made her choice, don’t worry. She’s not ready to let anyone know it yet, that’s all.”
“Really?” Unwilling to betray a confidence, he managed to put surprise into his voice. “So which one, do you figure?” He knew that Betsy was far more adept at reading female subtleties and that she probably already knew which one. But before she could answer, he realized that Morgan Spicer had hung back and obviously wanted to talk to him. He didn’t like the boy, and it bothered him because he had no reason for it, other than his rather unfortunate appearance. A physiognomist would claim that the close-set eyes indicated stealth, and that his small, low forehead was a sign of mental deficiency, but Lewis rejected these sorts of arguments. People look the way they look because God made them that way, and no matter what the outer mien might signify, salvation was available to all. It wasn’t the appearance he had decided, but the manner. Spicer seemed insincere, somehow, yet his words were good enough. There are too many mysteries today, Lewis thought. Too many things I don’t understand. Perhaps it would all be revealed to him in the fullness of time.
He drew Spicer back inside to talk. He wanted, it seemed, to put in an application to be received on trial as an itinerant preacher.
“But it was only a few weeks ago that you joined us,” Lewis said. “Don’t you think this is all a little hasty?”
“I am convinced of the true way,” Spicer returned. “I received such a blinding insight into the glory of the Lord that it has changed my life. I realize now how empty my life has been, and I want to take God’s great message to anyone who will listen. I am absolutely convinced that the Lord is calling me to go and do His work.”
Lewis was not. He had been present at the great conversion and had seen Spicer’s eyes slide toward Rachel as he cried out to the Lord. He was resigned to accepting at more or less face value anyone’s repentance; after all, there was really nothing else he could do. Those who weren’t entirely sincere would certainly backslide, but at least they might have a few days or a few weeks when they would reform their sinful ways. But it was one thing for a mere member to dissemble; it was something else for one appointed to help lead the flock. Still, he could not in all good conscience discourage anyone from trying to do the Lord’s work.
In order to be received on trial, Spicer must apply first to the Presiding Elder. He outlined the mechanics of the application and warned Spicer that he must make his case before the board.
“You need to be able to give very precise definitions of all the cardinal doctrines of the church and to prove them by quoting the pertinent passages in the Scriptures,” he advised.
“So, I need to memorize the Bible, is that what you’re saying?”
“No,” said Lewis. “You need to know it and understand it. And not only must you know your Bible, you must have at your fingertips information concerning your experience and education.”
The boy looked a little disturbed at this. “What does it matter what books I’ve read, or what education I’ve had? All I want to do is to preach to the people. Why do I have to know anything but the Bible?”
“Because we are constantly accused of being ignorant, illiterate saddlebag preachers, that’s why. It’s hard to counter