Truth About the Split — Page 276
276 their affirmation and defend them against the critics who charged them with denial. Under the circumstances anything commendatory said about them by Hadrat Khalifatul Masih I ra cannot be put to their account, except as proof of their hypocrisy during the lifetime of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra. Or else, what they affirmed during his life-time they need not have denied after his death. It should be remembered that mask is after all a mask. Sometimes some movement of theirs would show even to Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra that they were only simulating. He often expressed such views in public. But then they came and sued for pardon. He would therefore, attribute their dissembling to some mistake and believe them to be honest at heart. Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra was trustful by nature and forgiving in his dealings with men. Their situation was indeed queer. On the one hand, by giving publicity to their erroneous views they were fast losing influence with the Community. On the other, a fear of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra and an apprehension of excommunication from the Community—for they were anxious that so long as he lived they should continue to be members of the Jama'at—led them in his presence to make protestations of the most profound devotion to his person. So that when on