'GOD'S PEACE' 305
himself to be an eager apostle of the most severe form of Christianity. He took the floor. I sat listening half absent-mindedly. But I understood enough to realise that he was very occupied in clearing up all the old jog-trot routine in which his predecessor had left the town's church affairs. He pictured the old town as a perfect Sodom of un- godliness and indecency. Any number of crimes were committed, such as drunkenness, adultery, gambling and balls at the town-hall. Those who praised the old town did not know it, and were merely taken in by its superficial goodness and amiability. But with God's help the pipe should soon play another tune. Though he had hardly commenced, yet he was already able to notice some effect of his strenuous work.
It was so long ago since I had heard the words of fanaticism. They rattled like stage thunder round my head. How ugly he looked in his furious denunciation, and how absurd it seemed that this angry young man should attempt to teach godliness to these kind-hearted citizens. Once or twice I tried to contradict him, but gave it up. I felt my- self so outside the strife, and never before have I felt so happy to be outside it. To think that here was a man, who imagined himself working for a merciful God, foaming at the mouth with anger, instead of remembering that the world needed peace and gentleness. In truth the wolves devour the Iambs.
When I stood up to go the vicar became again u
