the ministry."

The Bishop was plainly amazed, and his long, aristocratic nose
seemed longer than ever as he gazed keenly at his caller.

"But have you had any formal training in theology?"

"None, right reverend Bishop," said Gissing, "But it's this way,"
and, incoherently at first, but with increasing energy and
copious eloquence, he poured out the story of his mental
struggles.

"This is singularly interesting," said the Bishop at length. "I
can see that you are wholly lacking in the rudiments of divinity.
Of modern exegesis and criticism you are quite innocent. But you
evidently have something which is much rarer --what the Quakers
call a CONCERN. Of course you should really go to the theological
seminary and establish this naif intuitive mysticism upon a
disciplined basis. You will realize that we churchmen can only
meet modern rationalism by a rationalism of our own--by a
philosophical scholarship which is unshakable. I do not suppose
that you can even harmonize the Gospels?"

Gissing ruefully admitted his ignorance.

"Well, at least I must make sure of a few fundamentals," said the
Bishop. "Of course a symbological latitude is permissible, but
there are some essentials of dogma and creed that may not be
foregone."