irtue of tolerance. All creeds, all shades of religious opinion, were
allowed, and it was generally conceded that one was as good as another.
It is fair to say, however, that Black Rock's catholicity was negative
rather than positive. The only religion objectionable was that insisted
upon as a necessity. It never occurred to any one to consider religion
other than as a respectable, if not ornamental, addition to life in
older lands.

During the weeks following the making of the League, however, this
negative attitude towards things religious gave place to one of keen
investigation and criticism. The indifference passed away, and with it,
in a large measure, the tolerance. Mr. Craig was responsible for the
former of these changes, but hardly, in fairness, could he be held
responsible for the latter. If any one, more than another, was to be
blamed for the rise of intolerance in the village, that man was Geordie
Crawford. He had his 'lines' from the Established Kirk of Scotland, and
when Mr. Craig announced his intention of having the Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper observed, Geordie produced his 'lines' and promptly handed
them in. As no other man in the village was equipped with like spiritual
credentials, Geordie constituted himself a kind of kirk-session, charged
with the double duty of guarding the entrance to the Lord's Table, and
of keeping an eye upon the theological opinions of the community, and
more particularly upon such members of it as gave evidence of possessing
any opinions definite enough for statement.

It came to be Mr. Craig's habit to drop into the League-room, and toward
the close of the evening to have a short Scripture lesson from the
Gospels. Geordie's opportunity came after the meeting was over and Mr.
Craig had gone away. The men would hang about and talk the lesson over,
expressing opinions favourable or unfavourable as appeared to them good.
Then it was that all sorts of views, religious and otherwise, were aired
and examined. The originality of the ideas, the absolute disregard of
the authority of church or creed, the frankness with which opinions
were stated, and the forcefulness of the language in which they were
expressed, combined to make the discussions altogether marvellous.
The passage between Abe Baker, the stage-driver, and Geordie was
particularly rich. It followed upon a very telling lesson on the parable
of the Pharisee and the Publican.

The chief actors in that wonderful story w