The Rev. Mr. Brantley Elliott was a wiser and truer man than some
who read him superficially imagined. His churchmanship was sometimes
narrower than his humanity, while the social element in his
character, which was very strong, often led him to forget in mixed
companies that much of what he might say or do would be judged of by
the clerical and not the personal standard, and his acts and words
set down at times as favoring worldliness and self-indulgence. Harm
not unfrequently came of this. But he was a sincere Christian man,
deeply impressed with the sacredness of his calling and earnest in
his desire to lead heavenward the people to whom he ministered.
The case of Mr. Ridley had not only startled and distressed him, but
filled him with a painful concern lest other weak and tempted ones
might have fallen through his unguarded utterance or been bereaved
through his freedom. The declaration of Paul came to him with a new
force: "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no
meat while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend;"
and he resolved not only to abstain from wine hereafter in mixed
companies, but to use his influence to discourage a social custom
fraught, as he was now beginning to see, with the most disastrous
consequences.
The deep concern felt for Mr. Ridley by Mr. Elliott and Mrs.
Birtwell drew them oftener together now, and took them frequently to
the Home for inebriates, in which both took a deep interest.
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