Well then, he believes, does not he, that Jehovah filled men with the spirit of wisdom to help them make a suit of clothes for Aaron!

Fellowes, after a pause, replied:—­That is certainly written in the 28th chapter of Exodus.

Now, my fine fellow! (said Harrington), here is a question to rile Mr. Rogers.  If Aaron’s toggery needed one portion of the spirit of wisdom from Jehovah, how many portions does the Empress Eugenie’s best crinoline need?

Really (said Fellowes, somewhat offended), such ridicule seems to me profane.

Forgive me, dear friend (replied Harrington, with a sweet smile). Your views I never will ridicule; for I know you have imbibed somewhat of Francis Newman’s fancy, that one ought to feel tenderly towards other men’s piety.  But Henry Rogers is made of stouter stuff; he manfully avows that a religion, if it is true, ought to stand the test of ridicule, and he deliberately approves this weapon of attack.

I cannot deny that (said Fellowes, lifting his eyebrows).

But I was going to ask (continued Harrington) whether Mr. Rogers does not believe that Jehovah filled Bezaleel with the Spirit of God, for the work of jeweller, coppersmith, and mason?

Of course he does (answered Fellowes), the text is perfectly clear, in the 31st of Exodus; Bezaleel and Aholiab were both inspired to become cunning workmen.

By the Goose (said Harrington)—­forgive a Socratic oath—­I really do not see that Mr. Rogers differs much from Theodore Parker.  If a man cannot hack a bit of stone or timber without the Spirit of God, Mr. Rogers will have hard work to convince me, that any one can make a rifled cannon without the Spirit of God.

There is something in that (said Fellowes).  In fact, I have sometimes wondered how Mr. Rogers could say that which looks so profane, as what he said about the Eureka shirt.

Pray what is that? (said Harrington;) and where?

It is in his celebrated “Defence,” 2nd edition, p. 155. “If Minos and Praxiteles are inspired in the same sense as Moses and Christ, then the inventor of lucifer matches, as well as the inventor of the Eureka shirts, must be also admitted”—­to be inspired.

Do you mean that he is trying to save the credit of Moses, by maintaining that the Spirit of God which guides a sculptor is not the same in kind as that which guides a saint?

No (replied Fellowes, with surprise), he is not defending Moses; he is attacking Parker.

Bless me (said Harrington, starting up), what is become of the man’s logic!  Why, Parker and Moses are in the same boat.  Mr. Rogers fires at it, in hope to sink Parker; and does not know that he is sending old Moses to Davy’s locker.

Now this is too bad (said Fellowes), I really cannot bear it.

Nah!  Nah! good friend (said Harrington, imploringly), be calm; and remember, we have agreed that ridicule—­against Mr. Rogers, not against you—­is fair play.