However, Gordon was presiding one night when this man was preaching; and the evangelist suddenly broke out with the statement that the most moral, or the most philanthropic, man in the whole world would get as hot a place in hell as the worst murderer or thief, if he didn't believe what he ought to believe.
"Isn't that so, Dr. Laird?" he said, turning to my husband.
Well, as you may understand, there was something pretty to pay. The evangelist nearly fainted on the spot; as soon as he came to himself he asked them all to join in prayer--and he prayed that Gordon might be converted that very night. Gordon! whose shoe's latchet he was not worthy to unloose.
"You've denied your Master, sir," Mr. Ashton accused Gordon afterwards, having waited for him at the door; "you've repudiated the great doctrine of salvation--in the presence of a thousand people, sir."
Gordon motioned him aside. When he told me all about it afterwards, he avowed himself ashamed of the degree of temper he had shown, but I said I'd have been ashamed of him if he hadn't.
"What's this you accuse me of?" demanded Gordon.
"You aren't fit to be a minister," affirmed Mr. Ashton hotly; "I'm ashamed of you as the pastor of St. Andrew's, sir."
"Because our church, sir, our church has always been noted for its orthodoxy. We've always held to the simple Gospel--and you've gone back on it, sir. I knew it was coming; I could tell it by the things you preached about."
"What things?" although Gordon knew right well.
"Well, take last Sunday for instance; you preached on the duty of employers of labour--a lot of stuff about fresh air, and short hours, and taking care of sick hands--a lot of unspiritual stuff like that. When I go to church, sir, I want the Gospel, the simple Gospel--and nothing but the Gospel. Mr. Seybold's the same way; he says he's disgusted with many of your sermons, about worldly things. You stick to the Gospel, sir, and worldly things will take care of themselves," concluded Mr. Ashton, wagging his pious head.
"You mean Seybold the brewer, don't you?" enquired Gordon.
"Yes," said Mr. Ashton; "and he's one of the richest men in our church, as you know yourself."
"I don't know anything about it," was Gordon's curt reply; "but I don't wonder at his zeal for the Gospel--or yours either. I don't know any men that have more need to make their calling and election sure. He's a vampire, sir--and so are you."