Lord of the World

by Robert Hugh Benson

  III

  It was not until mid-day breakfast on the following morning that husbandand wife met again. Oliver had slept in town and telephoned about eleveno'clock that he would be home immediately, bringing a guest with him:and shortly before noon she heard their voices in the hall.

  Mr. Francis, who was presently introduced to her, seemed a harmless kindof man, she thought, not interesting, though he seemed in earnest aboutthis Bill. It was not until breakfast was nearly over that sheunderstood who he was.

  "Don't go, Mabel," said her husband, as she made a movement to rise."You will like to hear about this, I expect. My wife knows all that Iknow," he added.

  Mr. Francis smiled and bowed.

  "I may tell her about you, sir?" said Oliver again.

  "Why, certainly."

  Then she heard that he had been a Catholic priest a few months before,and that Mr. Snowford was in consultation with him as to the ceremoniesin the Abbey. She was conscious of a sudden interest as she heard this.

  "Oh! do talk," she said. "I want to hear everything."

  It seemed that Mr. Francis had seen the new Minister of Public Worshipthat morning, and had received a definite commission from him to takecharge of the ceremonies on the first of October. Two dozen of hiscolleagues, too, were to be enrolled among the _ceremoniarii_, at leasttemporarily--and after the event they were to be sent on a lecturingtour to organise the national worship throughout the country.

  Of course things would be somewhat sloppy at first, said Mr. Francis;but by the New Year it was hoped that all would be in order, at least inthe cathedrals and principal towns.

  "It is important," he said, "that this should be done as soon aspossible. It is very necessary to make a good impression. There arethousands who have the instinct of worship, without knowing how tosatisfy it."

  "That is perfectly true," said Oliver. "I have felt that for a longtime. I suppose it is the deepest instinct in man."

  "As to the ceremonies---" went on the other, with a slightly importantair. His eyes roved round a moment; then he dived into hisbreast-pocket, and drew out a thin red-covered book.

  "Here is the Order of Worship for the Feast of Paternity," he said. "Ihave had it interleaved, and have made a few notes."

  He began to turn the pages, and Mabel, with considerable excitement,drew her chair a little closer to listen.

  "That is right, sir," said the other. "Now give us a little lecture."

  Mr. Francis closed the book on his finger, pushed his plate aside, andbegan to discourse.

  "First," he said, "we must remember that this ritual is based almostentirely upon that of the Masons. Three-quarters at least of the entirefunction will be occupied by that. With that the _ceremoniarii_ will notinterfere, beyond seeing that the insignia are ready in the vestries andproperly put on. The proper officials will conduct the rest.... I neednot speak of that then. The difficulties begin with the last quarter."

  He paused, and with a glance of apology began arranging forks andglasses before him on the cloth.

  "Now here," he said, "we have the old sanctuary of the abbey. In theplace of the reredos and Communion table there will be erected the largealtar of which the ritual speaks, with the steps leading up to it fromthe floor. Behind the altar--extending almost to the old shrine of theConfessor--will stand the pedestal with the emblematic figure upon it;and--so far as I understand from the absence of directions--each suchfigure will remain in place until the eve of the next quarterly feast."

  "What kind of figure?" put in the girl.

  Francis glanced at her husband.

  "I understand that Mr. Markenheim has been consulted," he said. "He willdesign and execute them. Each is to represent its own feast. This forPaternity---"

  He paused again.

  "Yes, Mr. Francis?"

  "This one, I understand, is to be the naked figure of a man."

  "A kind of Apollo--or Jupiter, my dear," put in Oliver.

  Yes--that seemed all right, thought Mabel. Mr. Francis's voice moved onhastily.

  "A new procession enters at this point, after the discourse," he said."It is this that will need special marshalling. I suppose no rehearsalwill be possible?"

  "Scarcely," said Oliver, smiling.

  The Master of Ceremonies sighed.

  "I feared not. Then we must issue very precise printed instructions.Those who take part will withdraw, I imagine, during the hymn, to theold chapel of St. Faith. That is what seems to me the best."

  He indicated the chapel.

  "After the entrance of the procession all will take their places onthese two sides--here--and here--while the celebrant with the sacredministers---"

  "Eh?"

  Mr. Francis permitted a slight grimace to appear on his face; he flusheda little.

  "The President of Europe---" He broke off. "Ah! that is the point. Willthe President take part? That is not made clear in the ritual."

  "We think so," said Oliver. "He is to be approached."

  "Well, if not, I suppose the Minister of Public Worship will officiate.He with his supporters pass straight up to the foot of the altar.Remember that the figure is still veiled, and that the candles have beenlighted during the approach of the procession. There follow theAspirations printed in the ritual with the responds. These are sung bythe choir, and will be most impressive, I think. Then the officiantascends the altar alone, and, standing, declaims the Address, as it iscalled. At the close of it--at the point, that is to say, marked herewith a star, the thurifers will leave the chapel, four in number. Oneascends the altar, leaving the others swinging their thurifers at itsfoot--hands his to the officiant and retires. Upon the sounding of abell the curtains are drawn back, the officiant tenses the image insilence with four double swings, and, as he ceases the choir sings theappointed antiphon."

  He waved his hands.

  "The rest is easy," he said. "We need not discuss that."

  To Mabel's mind even the previous ceremonies seemed easy enough. But shewas undeceived.

  "You have no idea, Mrs. Brand," went on the _ceremoniarius_, "of thedifficulties involved even in such a simple matter as this. Thestupidity of people is prodigious. I foresee a great deal of hard workfor us all.... Who is to deliver the discourse, Mr. Brand?"

  Oliver shook his head.

  "I have no idea," he said. "I suppose Mr. Snowford will select."

  Mr. Francis looked at him doubtfully.

  "What is your opinion of the whole affair, sir?" he said.

  Oliver paused a moment.

  "I think it is necessary," he began. "There would not be such a cry forworship if it was not a real need. I think too--yes, I think that on thewhole the ritual is impressive. I do not see how it could bebettered...."

  "Yes, Oliver?" put in his wife, questioningly.

  "No--there is nothing--except ... except I hope the people willunderstand it."

  Mr. Francis broke in.

  "My dear sir, worship involves a touch of mystery. You must rememberthat. It was the lack of that that made Empire Day fail in the lastcentury. For myself, I think it is admirable. Of course much must dependon the manner in which it is presented. I see many details at presentundecided--the colour of the curtains, and so forth. But the main planis magnificent. It is simple, impressive, and, above all, it isunmistakable in its main lesson---"

  "And that you take to be--?"

  "I take it that it is homage offered to Life," said the other slowly."Life under four aspects--Maternity corresponds to Christmas and theChristian fable; it is the feast of home, love, faithfulness. Lifeitself is approached in spring, teeming, young, passionate. Sustenancein midsummer, abundance, comfort, plenty, and the rest, correspondingsomewhat to the Catholic Corpus Christi; and Paternity, the protective,generative, masterful idea, as winter draws on.... I understand it was aGerman thought."

  Oliver nodded.

  "Yes," he said. "And I suppose it will be the business of the speaker toexplain all this."

  "I take it so. It appear
s to me far more suggestive than the alternativeplan--Citizenship, Labour, and so forth. These, after all, aresubordinate to Life."

  Mr. Francis spoke with an extraordinary suppressed enthusiasm, and thepriestly look was more evident than ever. It was plain that his heart atleast demanded worship.

  Mabel clasped her hands suddenly.

  "I think it is beautiful," she said softly, "and--and it is so real."

  Mr. Francis turned on her with a glow in his brown eyes.

  "Ah! yes, madam. That is it. There is no Faith, as we used to call it:it is the vision of Facts that no one can doubt; and the incensedeclares the sole divinity of Life as well as its mystery."

  "What of the figures?" put in Oliver.

  "A stone image is impossible, of course. It must be clay for thepresent. Mr. Markenheim is to set to work immediately. If the figuresare approved they can then be executed in marble."

  Again Mabel spoke with a soft gravity.

  "It seems to me," she said, "that this is the last thing that we needed.It is so hard to keep our principles clear--we must have a body forthem--some kind of expression---"

  She paused.

  "Yes, Mabel?"

  "I do not mean," she went on, "that some cannot live without it, butmany cannot. The unimaginative need concrete images. There must be somechannel for their aspirations to flow through--- Ah! I cannot expressmyself!"

  Oliver nodded slowly. He, too, seemed to be in a meditative mood.

  "Yes," he said. "And this, I suppose, will mould men's thoughts too: itwill keep out all danger of superstition."

  Mr. Francis turned on him abruptly.

  "What do you think of the Pope's new Religious Order, sir?"

  Oliver's face took on it a tinge of grimness.

  "I think it is the worst step he ever took--for himself, I mean. Eitherit is a real effort, in which case it will provoke immenseindignation--or it is a sham, and will discredit him. Why do you ask?"

  "I was wondering whether any disturbance will be made in the abbey."

  "I should be sorry for the brawler."

  A bell rang sharply from the row of telephone labels. Oliver rose andwent to it. Mabel watched him as he touched a button--mentioned hisname, and put his ear to the opening.

  "It is Snowford's secretary," he said abruptly to the two expectantfaces. "Snowford wants to--ah!"

  Again he mentioned his name and listened. They heard a sentence or twofrom him that seemed significant.

  "Ah! that is certain, is it? I am sorry.... Yes.... Oh! but that isbetter than nothing.... Yes; he is here.... Indeed. Very well; we willbe with you directly."

  He looked on the tube, touched the button again, and came back to them.

  "I am sorry," he said. "The President will take no part at the Feast.But it is uncertain whether he will not be present. Mr. Snowford wantsto see us both at once, Mr. Francis. Markenheim is with him."

  But though Mabel was herself disappointed, she thought he looked graverthan the disappointment warranted.