human
Is this Miss Turner?
gpt
No, madam, Miss Turner is not in. She generally returns about five, but to-day--
human
Very well, we can come again, for it is very important business. Are you the young woman who lives with her? asked Mrs. Dyke, as she seated herself with deliberate dignity.
gpt
This is Mrs. Linberger, and we have called as the church committee to look after Miss Turner's soul,
human
Indeed,
gpt
She belongs to our church, and we have heard she is being led astray by this blasphemous kind of healing, pursued Mrs. Dyke, looking severely at Grace from under her thick grey veil which hung like a lowering cloud just above her eyes.
human
Mr. Narrow requested me and Mrs. Linberger to call and examine into the matter. I hope _you_ don't encourage such wickedness, young woman?
gpt
Certainly I am at enmity with any kind of wickedness, but I am not aware of any particular wickedness in Christian Healing,
human
What! you don't see anything wrong in such awful heresy! exclaimed Mrs. Dyke, again pushing her veil up, and looking with horrified eyes, first at Grace, then at Mrs. Linberger.
gpt
Perhaps you don't understand about it,
human
I must confess I know but very little about it, but what I do know only increases my desire to know more,
gpt
Let me warn you not to read or hear another word about it then, for it will simply be the means of worse than death to you,
human
It destroys the most important doctrines in the Bible, even taking away the belief in the devil and hell,
gpt
Yes; they even deny there ever was a devil or that there ever will be any future punishment. Just think of it, reiterated Mrs. Dyke.
human
I guess they will see, some time!
gpt
Do you really believe they lay aside all future punishment?
human
Yes, they say there is no evil and no devil, so of course there is no need for punishment.
gpt
But do they not regard the devil as Jesus did, after all?
human
U-m, well, Jesus recognized him and talked to him, telling him to get out, and he often referred to the everlasting punishment,
gpt
But, he did not mean a literal fire, did he, when He spoke of everlasting punishment?
human
Of course he did; several places in Matthew he described the lot of the wicked, and referred to the danger of hell-fire. Haven't you studied the Bible, Miss Hall?
gpt
I am very much interested in it, Mrs. Dyke, but when I read that 'God's mercy endureth forever,' and that 'Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil,' I am inclined to think there must be some mistake about the dreadful wrath that is to last forever,
human
And you don't believe in eternal punishment?
gpt
Don't believe in eternal punishment?
human
I did not say that. I _do_ think there is punishment so long as there is sin, but when we believe Christ has destroyed or can destroy sin, sickness, sorrow or death, which are the devil's works, they _will be_ destroyed. It _must_ be so if we trust the words of the gospel.
gpt
Well, I am thankful to find Miss Turner in such Christian company at any rate,
human
Yes, indeed; it is a pleasure to see such an earnest young Christian,
gpt
But, ladies, began Grace,
human
I am not such a----
gpt
We shall be pleased to have you accompany Miss Turner to our meetings some time, Miss Hall, interrupted Mrs. Dyke, not heeding what Grace was saying.
human
Here is a card announcing the regular weekly services, and here are some tracts for you to read.