Ethelmer

[Samuel Moyer]

P.30 
To the children, he (Rev C.) remarks aloud, "Of course, Prayer was what got us through."

"I should have pray'd," murmers Cousin Ethelmer, to Tenebrae's mild astonishment.  Since appearing in the Doorway during a difficult bit of double-back-stitch Filling two Days ago, return'd from College in the Jerseys, he has been otherwise all Boldness.
...
Ethelmer smiles and amiably pollicates the Revd, and less certainly Mr. LeSpark, his Uncle, as if to say, "We are surrounded by the Pious, and their well-known wish to never hear of anything that sets the Blood a-racing."
....

p. 75...
"And they're all Dead," says Ethelmer, "so what's it matter?"
"Cousin." Tenebrae holding a Bodkin in at least an advisory way.
Ethelmer scouls in reply, what was a lambent Spark in his Eyes now but silver'd, cold Reflection.

"Brae, your cousin proceeds unerringly to the Despair at the Core of History, - and the Hope.  As Savages commemorate their great Hunts with Dancing, so History is the Dance of our Hunt for Christ, and how we have far'd.  If it is undeniably so that he rose from the Dead, then the Event is taken into History, and History is redeem'd from the service of Darkeness, - with all the secular Consquences, flowing from that one Event, design'd and will'd to occur.

"Including ev'ry Crusade, Inquisition, Sectarian War, the millions of lives, the seas of blood," comments Ethelmer.  "What happen'd?  He liked it so much being dead that He couldn't wait to come back and share it with ev'rybody else?"

"Sir." Mr LeSpark upon his feet.  "Save that for your next Discussion with others of comparable wisdom.  In this house we are simple folk, and must lavor to find much amusement in Joaks about the Savior."

Ethelmer bows. "Temporarily out of touch with my Brain," he mumbles, "Sorry, ev'rybody. Sir, Reverend, Sir."


Rather than type more.... I point you to Chapter 10, pages 94-5, where Ethelmer flirts with Brae... as they gather round the Orrery.  Near the bottom of 95:  They (Brae and Twins) have imagined and partly compos'd a Book, History of the New Planet, The Twins providing the Wars, and Brae the scientific Inventions and Useful Crafts.

P 261, skeptical Ethelmer suggests keeping track of those experiencing rebirth in Christ, to know how long the rebirth lasted.  Then plays a little of the New Form on the Clavier.

...Ethelmer seems dangerous to him (Rev C) now, and not only because of Tenebrae, - toward whom these days he is undergoing Deep Avuncularity, with its own Jangle of Sentiments pure and impure. Yet, leaving all that out, there remains to the Boy a residue of Worldliness notable even in this Babylon of post-war Philadelphia, - a step past Deism, a purpos'd Disconnection from Christ.... p. 264 and directly followed by Ethelmer who speaks more than I'll type... "History of Music"


If only I had an electronic version of this book...Of course we could go all the way back to V. and find references to History... TRP obviously very interested....

Ethelmer's boldness in his Uncle's home continues in Chapter 35 where he argues that: "Who claims Truth, Truth abandons.  History is hir'd, or coerc'd, only in Interests that must ever prove base."

Sam
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