Case of Conscience

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 26, 1873

Case of Conscience.

REV. DR. MACLEOD (father of the late Norman MacLeod) was proceeding from the manse to the church, to open a new place of worship. As he passed slowly and gravely through the crowd gathered about the doors, an elderly man, with the peculiar kind of wig known in that district—bright, smooth, and of a reddish brown—accosted him: “Doctor, if you please, I wish to speak to you.” “Well, Duncan,” says the venerable Doctor, “can ye not wait till after worship?” “No, Doctor, I must speak to you now, for it is a matter upon my conscience.” “Oh! since it is a matter of conscience, tell me what it is; but be brief, for time presses.” “The matter is this, Doctor. Ye see the clock yonder on the face of the new church. Well, there is no clock really there—nothing but the face of the clock. There is no truth in it, but only in the twelve hours. Now, it is in my mind very wrong, and quite against my conscience that there should be a lie on the face of the house of the Lord.” “Duncan, I will consider the point. But I am glad to see you looking so well; you are not young now; I remember you for many years; and what a fine head of hair you have still!” “Eh, Doctor, you are joking now; it is long since I have had my hair.” “Oh! Duncan, Duncan! are you going into the house of the Lord with a lie upon your head?” The Doctor heard no more of the lie on the face of the clock.